The best pitching staff in Diamondbacks history
2017 Diamondbacks: 3.66 ERA, .240 BAA, and 1,482 SOs
In 2017, the Arizona starting rotation was loaded…
- Zack Grenkie (3.20 ERA)
- Patrick Corbin (4.03 ERA)
- Robbie Ray (2.89 ERA)
- Tajuan Walker (3.49 ERA)
- Zack Godley (3.37 ERA)
With a team ERA of 3.66, the Diamondbacks had the 3rd best pitching attack in the league. Led by a stellar rotation that had two starters in Ray and Greinke, that were in the top 10 in the league in ERA, Arizona won 93 games in 2017…
Robbie Ray was lights out in the 17’ season. He finished the year with a 15-5 record, a 2.89 ERA, and a .199 BAA. To date, 2017 has been the most dominant season of Ray’s career. Not too far behind Ray was Grenkie. In 2017, Grenkie went 17-7 and had a 3.20 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP. Two dominant starters, in a rotation that was above average 1 through 5. Too bad none of the starting pitchers from 2017 are currently on the team…
The rotation wasn’t the only solid piece of the puzzle for Arizona pitching in 2017; the bullpen was good too. Most of the bullpen was solid, but Archie Bradley was superb. In 73 innings pitched that season, Bradley went 3-3 with a 1.73 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and a .207 BAA. Those numbers are unreal. No wonder he got his number called so often. Another vital piece of the bullpen that season was Andrew Chafin; good to have you back sheriff. In 51.1 innings that season, Chafin went 1-0 with a 3.51 ERA and 61 strikeouts. Bradley and Chafin provided a solid 1-2 punch to set up closer Fernando Rodney. Rodney’s ERA was a little high in 2017, but he was good at getting the job done. Out of 45 save opportunities, Rodney recorded 39 saves and down the stretch after the all-star break, he was 17 out of 18 on save opportunities. As I said, he was good at getting the job done…
The question is, will we ever see an elite Diamondbacks pitching staff as we witnessed in 2017? With a 1-2 punch of Gallen and Kelly, the exciting prospects emerging, and some key additions to the bullpen over the course of the offseason, maybe 2023 is the year the 3.66 team ERA record gets broken…