Melanated Mound Marauders Shoved Across The Board | Here’s An Update On The Top MLBbro Pitchers Across The League

The Melanated Mound Marauders have seen plenty of action through the first couple of weeks of the season, so let’s give you MLBbro fans an update on who’s hot and who’s on the cusp of greatness. 

 

Hot Starter: Marcus Stroman 

 

 

 

After his first two starts, Marcus Stroman has kept it squeaky clean. He’s collected two wins after twirling 12 innings, fanning 14 batters and allowing nobody across the dish, giving up just five total hits in that span. 

 

Stroman got the contract he wanted before the 2022 season, signing a 3-year, $71 million deal, and in turn, Chicago is getting every cent’s worth of the ace they needed. 

 

Both of Stroman’s starts were quality, going six scoreless in each. He’s just the fourth Cubs pitcher to toss at least six innings and allow zero runs in his first two starts of a season, joining Mike Bielecki (1991), Bill C. Lee (1934), and Mike Prendergast (1916), per Elias Sports Bureau.

 

His third start saw the first blemish on his ‘23 resume. Stro Show Marcus Stroman was his same steady self in his third start of the 2023 season, allowing his first two runs of the season over six solid innings while fanning six in the Cubs’ 5-2 loss to the Seattle, giving Stroman his first loss (2-1) of the season. Stro has a minuscule ERA of 1.00 this year. 

 

Just like he did in 2017, the right-hander is feeding off the energy and his performance in the World Baseball Classic. 

 

“When I played in that WBC [in 2017], I felt like I had one of the best starts to my season,” Stroman told MLB.com. “It puts you in that competitive mind frame and gets you going much earlier than Spring Training. Playing super competitive, playoff-level-atmosphere baseball in March is extremely fun, but not only fun, it makes you get ready for the start of the season.”

 

Although high-level reps play a major factor in Stroman’s early success this season, the 5-foot-7, 180-pound hurler’s confidence and mindset never seem to waver. His swagger on the mound is on visual display with his durag poking out from under his cap, but he also shows off his mindset in the apparel he sports off the field. The bounce back from last year’s slow start, where he allowed 13 earned runs in his first three games, is evident in how Stroman carries himself. 

 

“I think the mental point of that is just knowing that I’ve been through spurts where I haven’t been great, and then I’ve always come out on the other end pretty well,” Stroman said. “So I look at adversity as something to grow from. I look at bad times as something to turn into better times. So I never shy away from struggle, you know, or adversity. I truly believe that it makes you a better individual.”

 

Stroman is the model for the saying, “no crying in baseball”, as he’s been seen wearing an Enfants Riches Deprimes “ERD” hat with text on the front read “Wasted Tears.”

 

“I think ‘Wasted Tears’ means exactly what it says,” Stroman said. “I think a lot of people put themselves in a position where they’re either stressed or overwhelmed. I think that ‘Wasted Tears’ should be looked at as the positive moments, or smiles, in that sense, honestly.”

 

Stroman is making the most of the positive moments, whether it’s fanning eight batters on Opening Day or showing off his electric smile in the WBC. This melanated mound marauder is pound-for-pound one of the most exciting pitchers to watch, and you won’t want to miss the rest of his games this season. 

 

On the cusp of greatness: Hunter Greene 

 

Hunter Greene is one inning away from being one of the most dangerous flamethrowers in the league.

 

At just 23 years old, the young ace is one of five active Black starting pitchers and has carried a heavy load since entering the league with high expectations from the Reds. 

 

In Greene’s second season in the Majors, he was the Opening Day starter for Cincinnati. After his first three starts, he sits with a 5.14 ERA, allowing eight runs over 14 innings while fanning 23 batters. 

 

 

 

Each of the right-hander’s first two starts had laborious innings or a key homer allowed that derailed his opportunity to go deeper into the game.

 

But Greene was able to display his ability to overcome adversity in his third start, giving up two early runs against a powerhouse Atlanta lineup. But the flamethrower persevered, twirling his first quality start allowing three runs over six innings while striking out 10 batters along the way.

 

Greene is one of three Reds pitchers with multiple games striking out 10 batters without allowing a walk before turning 24 (since at least 1901). The other former Reds pitchers that also have two such games are Don Gullett (1973-1974) and Gary Nolan (1967).  

 

Greene has relied heavily on his fastball, throwing it 156 times already this season with an average velocity of 99.9 mph. 

 

“Pretty incredible,” said catcher Tyler Stephenson. “Obviously, we know how great he is and how great he is going to be. It’s fun. I was telling him my [left index] finger is a little sore today. He was throwing hard.”

 

Greene’s potential is through the roof with his blazing fastball and sweeping slider, but he’ll need to keep making the necessary adjustments to avoid long innings to elongate his time on the mound. 

 

Josiah Gray 

 

 

Josiah Gray falls into the category of being on the cusp because of his lack of run support from the Nationals.

 

Admittedly so, Gray’s first outing against the Braves, where he allowed five runs over five innings, including three home runs, wasn’t an ideal start to the season. But the 25-year-old was able to redeem himself with two back-to-back solid performances yet still ended up with the loss, moving his record to 0-3. 

 

Over his last two starts, the right-hander allowed just three runs over 11 2/3 innings. The Nationals’ offense hasn’t given Gray any leeway, as they have only scored one run over his three starts. 

 

“It’s always going to sting to get an ‘L’ with your name attached to it, but I know I’m going out there doing my job, keeping my team in the game and just making it simpler on myself,” Gray told MLB.com. “I’m seeing the results I want to see in terms of getting softer contact, getting more ground balls, getting off the barrel.

 

“These last two starts are really beneficial, and they will bear fruit a week from now, two weeks from now, months from now, to where I have the year I’m looking to have.”

 

The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder going pitch for pitch with Shohei Ohtani in his latest outing on Tuesday is proof that he can hold his own against the best, but he’ll need support from the players behind him to have the success he’s hoping for. 

 

Hot Relievers: Devin Williams 

 

Devin Williams is doing it all for the Brewers. 

 

In three appearances out of the bullpen, Williams has earned a win and a save while maintaining a clean ERA over three innings, allowing just two hits while fanning two batters. 

 

 

The right-hander picked up the save in his first appearance of 2023 in a 3-1 win over the Cubs. The two hits Williams has allowed thus far were both in this game but struck out the game’s final batter to protect the lead. 

 

He collected his first win of the season four days later in a 7-6 walk-off win against the Mets after slamming the door in the top of the 9th, allowing no hits or walks. 

 

Carl Edwards Jr.

 

Carl Edwards Jr. has been dominant in all five of his appearances this season. 

 

The 31-year-old garners a 1.81 ERA over five innings, striking out five. If fans are into angel numbers, Edwards might be your guy this season. 

 

The right-hander has allowed one hit or less in all of his appearances thus far this season, except for his outing against the Rockies on April 8. 

 

 

The 6-foot-3, 165-pounder came into the game after Anthony Band had already given up three runs on two hits and a walk without recording an out in the ninth. Edwards was tasked with cleaning the mess and preserving a then two-run lead. He gave up three hits and his lone earned run of the season to Colorado, but Edwards got the last laugh as he struck out Kris Bryant to secure his first save of the season in the Nationals’ 7-6 win. 

 

In 2022, Edwards was arguably Washington’s best reliever, leading the bullpen in ERA (2.76) and finishing eighth on the team with 1.3 WAR. 

 

But his resurgence to success wouldn’t have been without the trust that manager Dave Martinez instilled in Edwards in 2018. 

 

Martinez and Edwards’ relationship was built around a championship. Martinez was the bench coach, and Edwards was a key figure out of the bullpen during the Cubs’ World Series title run in 2016.

 

Martinez became the manager of the Nationals in 2017, and in 2018 Edwards’ injury-riddled seasons began. This is when Martinez reached out to Edwards telling him, “If you are ever in a bind, we have a place for you [in Washington].” 

 

Then, when it seemed like no team wanted Edwards, the Nationals signed Edwards to a Minor League contract on March 8, 2022. His contract was selected by the team on May 10. Martinez had reached out with a reminder of his promise years earlier: “Remember, I told you, ‘I got you, man. You got me.’”

 

Now Edwards comes out of the bullpen with a revitalized sense of urgency, picking up the guy in front of him, figuratively reiterating what Martinez had once done for him to save his career, “I got you, man. You got me.”

 

On the cusp relievers: Taylor Hearn

 

Taylor Hearn was nearly perfect through his first two appearances, allowing just one walk over 3 1/3 innings while fanning four batters. 

 

But the Cubs got the best of him in his third outing. Hearn gave up four runs on five hits and a walk while fanning two batters over 1 2/3. innings. This performance launched his ERA from squeaky clean to 7.20. 

 

If Hearn can display more signs of his first two impressions and keep the big innings to a minimum, he’s well on his way to having a prosperous season. 

 

Jordan Hicks

 

Jordan Hicks has had scattered performances throughout the year.

 

In five game appearances, Hicks has tossed five innings, allowing six earned runs and five strikeouts. 

 

The right-hander has given up two or fewer runs in each of his appearances, but this consistency of runs allowed over his reliever inning load has skyrocketed his ERA to 10.80. 

 

The 26-year-old flamethrower is a prospect that you’ll definitely need to keep your eyes on as he topped out at 104.6 in a spring training game against the Mets. That is the fastest-tracked pitch (regular season, playoffs, or Spring Training) since Hicks threw 105 mph twice in May 2018.

 

 

In addition, Hicks also hit 102 mph 10 different times. That feat has been accomplished only by four other pitchers in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008): Aroldis Chapman (14 times), Ryan Helsley, Bruce Rondon, and Jhoan Duran. Hicks himself has done it six other times before Saturday.

 

Hicks is readjusting to pitching out of the bullpen after earning the opportunity to start last year after his first three seasons were spent in the ‘pen. 

 

The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder was only alerted that he’d be starting in the final week of a compressed Spring Training in 2022, with the coaching staff saying that he would be eased in. Hicks went 0-4 with a 5.47 ERA over eight starts before an injured list stint last year. 

 

But Hicks, now as healthy as he’s been since 2019, is ready to embrace his reliever role but adamant that fans do not diminish the chance that he’ll earn another opportunity to start if he continues to showcase his talents. 

 

“No, I don’t feel like I got my fair shot [starting],” Hicks told MLB.com. “I didn’t come in built up, I built up during the season, and I don’t agree with people who come up and say, ‘You feel like you got the starting bug out? Are you done starting?’

 

“I don’t have an [ambition to start] or want to start because it’s not in the plans right now; things aren’t lining up for that this season,” added Hicks. “But, down the road, sure. This year, I am preparing for [relieving], and why would I want to go back to doing something else? Overall, I’m in a good position, and I’m happy to be in the bullpen right now.”

 

Honorable Mention: 

Jack Flaherty

After walking 13 batters in his first two starts, St. Louis Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty rebounded with just one walk over 5.1 innings while striking out six and allowing just one earned run, on Wednesday (April 12) against the Colorado Rockies. Glad he’s got his control together because he’s only surrendered three runs in 15.1 innings pitched.

 

Taj Bradley

When the Tampa Rays placed starting pitcher Zach Eflin on the IL, they called up top prospect Taj Bradley

 

 

The talented pitcher had eight strikeouts, surrendered five hits and three runs in his MLB debut in the Rays’ 12th straight win to begin the season.