JUPITER, Fla. • The first time through a lineup last year, Michael Wacha had better stats than Max Scherzer did. And Clayton Kershaw. He was so good, he was, dare I, “Michael Wacha 2013 playoffs good.”
And twice through the lineup, Wacha’s ERA for the year still stood at a sturdy 3.77.
But his overall ERA? It was 4.10 – respectable at 17th in the National League, but plumped by his brutal third forays through a lineup.
Nationally, a baseball story this offseason has been bullpen bolstering so starters won’t go through the turnstile a third time.