RADIO
Pablo Lopez 2020 Outlook: Strong Control, Ground-ball Tendencies
5 years agoPablo Lopez had an inconsistent rookie season, posting a 5.09 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 5.8 BB%, and 20.3 K% in 111.1 IP. His numbers are inflated by a disastrous outing against the Mets, where he allowed 10 ER and 10 H in only 3.0 IP. When you look past this meltdown, you can see glimpses of a promising pitcher. Lopez demonstrated pinpoint control, ranking 15th in MLB in walk rate. He was also a bit unlucky with stranding baserunners, as evidenced by his low 66.4 LOB%. Lopez combines a solid changeup (2.0 PitchVal, 57.8 GB%, 16.5 SwStr%) with a four-seamer that touches 94 MPH (41.4 GB%). The key to success for Lopez is to continue inducing groundballs at a high rate (47.6 GB%, 21st-best in MLB), maintain his strong control, and limit any blow-up outings like his start against the Mets. With a season under his belt, Lopez is projected to approach 150 IP in his sophomore campaign. The Marlins’ ballpark is one of the best places to pitch, which makes Lopez a strong streaming option in his home outings. Lopez is currently being drafted at 326 ADP, making him a solid sleeper in the later rounds.
