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Zack Greinke 2020 Outlook: Expect Another Ace Caliber Season
5 years agoHouston Astros pitcher Zack Greinke earned a win in eight of his 10 starts last year after being traded from Arizona. On the whole for 2019, Greinke went 18-5 with a 2.93 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. Greinke turned 36 this past October. His average fastball and slider velocities have taken some slight dips the past two years. From 2006 to 2017, Greinke's average fastball velocity never dipped below 91, yet it hit 89.6 in 2018 and 90 in 2019. However, there really aren't many other red flags across the board that would suggest Greinke is headed towards a disappointing season. His command last season was excellent, evidenced by his career-best 3.7% walk rate, which ranked amongst the top two percent of the league. This year, Greinke will have a full season of support from one of the league's most dangerous offenses. He's won at least 15 games in each of his past three seasons, logging over 200 innings in each season. Assuming he stays healthy this year, he should easily be able to keep that streak alive and be a reliable mainstay at the top of your rotation. He's a great target in drafts once the top tier of starting pitchers starts to thin out. Target him in the fourth round if you go heavy with hitters at the top. He's an absolute steal in the fifth round.
