Colorado Rockies: Grading and Analyzing the 2016 Rotation

CHAD BETTIS: 2016 GRADE B (fWAR 2.6)

In terms of just wins and losses, Chad Bettis was Colorado’s best pitcher in 2016. Considering this, one would expect Chad to lead the team in ERA as well. In contrast, only Jorge De La Rosa sported a worse ERA than Bettis out of regular rotation members. That isn’t to say Chad wasn’t deserving of being the staff leader in wins for 2016.

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In regards to durability, no one was better than Bettis. Notably, Bettis was the only Rockie to start over 30 games, pitching a club-high 186 innings. Bettis saved his best performance of 2016 for rival San Francisco. On Sept. 5, Bettis hurled a complete game shutout, allowing only two baserunners while and striking out seven Giants in the process. Bettis’ year took a very scary turn when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in December and underwent surgery. In the end, Bettis has been declared cancer-free and is expected to be 100% on Opening Day.

Thus far in his Rockies career, Bettis would only need 10 wins in 2017 to rank 10th on the franchise’s all-time wins list. At just 27, Bettis could eventually rank much higher than tenth on that list.

Here are a few key reasons to be optimistic about Bettis’ 2017 potential. Firstly, Chad’s walk rate has improved every year since 2013. Secondly, Chad’s groundball rate has improved every year and currently sits above 50%. With both of those things in his favor, expect Chad to reach double-digit wins again in 2017.