Masahiro Tanaka was a big strikeout pitcher when he broke into the league in 2014, but has since seen his Ks taper off. Could this be a sign of trouble?
Although strikeouts aren't everything to a pitcher, piling up Ks is often a hallmark of dominance. This isn't to say a starting pitcher can't be among the best in baseball without gaudy strikeout totals, but it's always a bit disappointing and worrisome when a player stops putting batters away like he used to.
A player that has gone through that downward trend is Masahiro Tanaka. Yes, he's been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season, and his 2.