2017 Dodgers In Review: RHP Kenta Maeda

Photo: Stacie Wheeler IP K% BB% HR/9 ERA FIP xFIP WAR MLB 134.1 25.1 6.1 1.47 4.22 4.07 3.89 2.0 What Happened In 2017: Stumbled some in the regular season, but excelled as a reliever in the postseason.

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In a few areas, Kenta Maeda was better last year than he was in his MLB-debut season of 2016. His strikeout and walk rates both improved, which are encouraging signs going forward. However, overall, Maeda took a step back in 2017 from the previous year.

A key difference for Maeda last season was the home run ball. He certainly wasn’t unique in that respect, as a record number of home runs were hit (or allowed, depending on how you look at it). Part of the problem, though, was that Maeda’s…