Colorado Rockies: Mid-season ranking of the 2018 starters

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 30: Starting pitcher Kyle Freeland #21 of the Colorado Rockies delivers the ball against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 30, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Rockies 3-2. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 30: Starting pitcher Kyle Freeland #21 of the Colorado Rockies delivers the ball against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 30, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Rockies 3-2. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – APRIL 09: Starting pitcher Jon Gray
DENVER, CO – APRIL 09: Starting pitcher Jon Gray /

4. Jon Gray

Gray came into the season with very high expectations. Expectations that were probably too high for the 26-year-old and, in a surprising move, the Rockies sent him to Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday afternoon.

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Gray has struggled with mechanics and has allowed those struggles to get to him during his starts. He has said that he has focused more on his mechanics rather than just going out and pitching which has affected his performance.

He is 7-7 with a 5.77 ERA. Gray’s ERA+ is 82 thus far this season. So if Marquez has a better ERA and ERA+ than Gray, why do I have Gray ranked above him? For me, it goes back to the strikeouts.

Gray has the stuff to be great. I think that is clear by the amount of strikeouts he racks up. Thus far this season he has 119 strikeouts and has 11.6 strikeouts per nine, which ranks fifth in the league.

His downside is the amount of hits and runs he gives up. Gray has given up the third most hits in Major League Baseball with 108. That is also why he has given up the second most earned runs with 59.