Upon first glance, Jake Arrieta has pitched very well this season. In three starts he has a 2-1 record, 2.25 ERA, and 1.150 WHIP in 20 innings. His seven-inning, 108 pitch performance Friday night guided the Phillies to a 5-1 victory over the Marlins.
However, the further you look into Arrieta’s numbers, the more issues start to emerge. It doesn’t bode well for a rotation that has had more than its fair share of struggles three and a half weeks into the season.
To begin with, Arrieta is walking a lot of batters.