PITTSBURGH — Trevor Williams is off to strong start to his 2018 season, sporting 1.93 ERA after his fourth start of the year on Tuesday in the Pirates’ 2-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies.
Williams’ success, on the surface, is somewhat mystifying. He’s never had overwhelming stuff, and his 4.07 ERA in 31 appearances in 2017 seemed to be more in line with what to expect for the right-hander in his second full year in the majors in 2018. In fact, ZiPS (4.58) and STEAMER (4.71) projected him to take a step back.
So far in 2018, Williams has pitched three of his four starts in miserable conditions.