Astros’ Pitchers: MVPs, surprises, and disappointments

Wade Miley – Surprise Performer

I have to give the nod for pitching surprise of the season at this early juncture to Wade Miley. When the Astros signed Miley this past offseason I have to admit, I was a little disappointed in the choice and I think many of the fans were also.

Everyone seemed to be hoping for someone like, then free agent, Patrick Corbin or a big-time trade for an elite pitcher like Noah Syndergaard. But it never happened. Instead, they inked a one-year deal with Wade Miley. Although at $4.5 million, it did seem like a low-risk, high-reward type of transaction.

As we’ve witnessed from Miley so far this season, Houston is getting the high reward part of that deal. He has the team’s second-best ERA at 3.18 and an ERA+ of 135, also second under Verlander. His record this year sits at 3-2 and if not for poor run support he could easily be 5-0. In the two losses he has suffered this season, the Astros only scored one run in one game and two runs in the other loss.

Miley hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any of his eight starts this year. In fact, he has kept his opponents to three runs or less in 24 straight games. Quite an impressive streak to say the least. You can’t ask for better consistency than that.

So maybe it really shouldn’t be a surprise at all that he’s pitching this well. If you look at his career stats, it isn’t very eye-popping. I guess Jeff Luhnow and Company were banking on the fact that his 2018 performance and 2.57 ERA wasn’t a fluke and so far their decision is looking pretty smart.