Top 5 "What Have You Done for Me Lately" Starters of the 2011 MLB Season

At the beginning of spring training, the rumor mill starts churning about the reasons why certain players are about to have a breakout season. This pitcher is tinkering with a cutter. This player lost 15 pounds using P90X. So-and-so is working with Dr. Phil to improve the mental side of his game. Most of that stuff can be thrown out of the window as it won’t carry any merit into the season. 

Most of the time, the true breakout players will never give any indication that they will burst onto the scene. In some cases, they defy any logic as to their sudden improvement. Here are the top five starting pitchers that have fared much better than what was expected of them during the 2011 MLB season.

Jeff Karstens, Pittsburgh Pirates

Not that many people can name any Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers anyways, but Jeff Karstens wasn’t even on the radar at the beginning of the season. Karstens has been the best starting pitcher on a Pirates team that is on track to have their best season in eight years.

Karstens and his 5.07 career ERA started the year out of the bullpen. After a few successful games, "The River Wizard" moved into the rotation and was torched in his first start against Cincinnati for five earned runs in 4.1 innings. However, he would go on a streak of 19 straight starts without giving up more than three earned runs.

The Buccos hurler has as many wins this season as he has had in the past three years to go along with a career best 3.32 ERA.

	Jeff Karstens
Season GS IP W L SO K/BB ERA WHIP QS 2011 24 152 9 8 91 3.03 3.32 1.19 15 2010 19 122.2 3 10 72 2.67 4.92 1.41 10 2009 13 108 4 6 52 1.16 5.42 1.48 4 2008 9 51.1 2 6 23 1.77 4.03 1.34 5

Last updated by StatSheet on 2011-08-31

Kyle Lohse, St. Louis Cardinals

How does a starting pitcher with a 6.55 ERA and a 1.78 still have a job? Other than talking to a Tibetan monk, you may want to ask Kyle Lohse. After signing a four-year, $41 million extension with St. Louis in 2008, Lohse suffered through a couple forearm related injuries and has been downright awful since.

However, the 11-year veteran earned a spot in the starting rotation with a strong spring training and proceeded to carry that success into the regular season. He has dropped his ERA by nearly three full runs to 3.72 from last season. Lohse has been the most consistent of all the Cardinals pitchers this season and is quietly having the best season of his career.

2011 St. Louis Cardinals Pitching Rotation

	GS	IP	W	L	SO	BB	ERA	WHIP	QS
Kyle Lohse	26	162	12	8	89	37	3.72	1.17	12
Jaime Garcia	27	164	10	7	132	46	3.73	1.36	14
Chris Carpenter	28	191.1	8	9	154	47	3.76	1.32	17
Edwin Jackson	26	167	11	9	124	51	3.83	1.42	14
Jake Westbrook	27	155.1	10	7	83	61	4.75	1.49	11

Last updated by StatSheet on 2011-08-31

Justin Masterson, Cleveland Indians

Last year was Justin Masterson’s first full season with the Cleveland Indians, and you could say he was a little too attached to Progressive Field. Masterson had a respectable 3.28 ERA at home, but was almost twice as bad (6.23 ERA) on the road.This season has been a completely different story as he has a 2.62 ERA in 12 starts on the road, which is better than the 2.99 ERA he sports in his own backyard.

Another problem last season was the awful start Masterson got off to when he went winless in his first 10 starts. He came strong out of the gate this year, recording wins in his first five starts.

The improvements have led the 6'6" righty to the fourth best ERA in the AL. His 21 quality starts (fourth in the MLB) are a large reason the Indians are still alive in the playoff race.

	Justin Masterson
Season GS IP W L SO K/BB ERA WHIP QS 2011 28 187.1 10 8 139 2.73 2.83 1.21 21 2010 29 180 6 13 140 1.92 4.70 1.50 12

Last updated by StatSheet on 2011-08-31

Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds

At the start of the season, it was hard to be riding on the Johnny Cueto bandwagon. The infamous brawl last season that forced Jason LaRue into retirement due to injuries sustained at the hands (or legs) of Cueto has given the 25-year-old a bad reputation. Combine that with a shoulder injury that would force the Reds’ pitcher to miss the first 33 games of the year and it is understood why he wasn’t getting much fanfare.

However, when he returned on May 8th, he came out guns blazing. He did not allow an earned run in his first 18.1 innings and has continued to put up impressive numbers in his breakout season. Cueto currently has the lowest ERA in the majors at 2.05.

Hate him or love him, you can’t deny his talent. This is very similar to his idol and fellow Dominican pitcher, Pedro Martinez.

Fourth Full Year Player Comparison

	GS	IP	W	L	SO	BB	ERA	WHIP	CG	SHO	QS
Johnny Cueto	21	140.1	9	5	97	44	2.05	1.06	3	2	17
Pedro Martinez	33	216.2	13	10	222	70	3.70	1.20	4	1	18

Last updated by StatSheet on 2011-08-31

James Shields, Tampa Bay Rays

Early in his career, Jamie Shields was a very effective pitcher who relied on great control and a nasty changeup. After a few years of success, teams started to figure him out. Shields needed an identity change in more ways than one. Shields started going by his real name of James and began adding to his pitching arsenal.

Last season did not bring back a good return as Shields threw the ball with more velocity, but at the expense of his control. Many questioned whether he was instead heading the wrong direction in the way he pitched.

This season, all the gears have been turning in unison. Shields has been a workhorse for Tampa Bay, leading the MLB in complete games with 10, on top of being ranked fourth in innings pitched and fourth in quality starts. He ranks in the top 10 in numerous AL pitching categories, including ERA (sixth), WHIP (fifth) and strikeouts (third). Shields may not win the AL Cy Young this year, but he has put himself in the discussion.

2011 MLB Player Leaders for Complete Games

CG	Player	Team	GS	IP	W	L	SO	ERA	WHIP	SHO	QS
10	James Shields	Tampa Bay Rays	27	201	12	10	192	2.96	1.05	7	21
7	Roy Halladay	Philadelphia Phillies	27	196.2	16	5	191	2.47	1.04	0	21
5	Cliff Lee	Philadelphia Phillies	26	186	14	7	191	2.71	1.06	9	19
5	Clayton Kershaw	Los Angeles Dodgers	28	198.2	17	5	212	2.45	1.02	4	21
4	Felix Hernandez	Seattle Mariners	28	200.1	12	11	195	3.37	1.20	0	19
4	Justin Verlander	Detroit Tigers	29	215.2	20	5	218	2.38	0.90	4	25
4	Jason Vargas	Seattle Mariners	27	169.1	7	12	104	4.52	1.35	6	14
4	Ervin Santana	Los Angeles Angels	28	197	10	9	153	3.24	1.16	2	18
4	Ricky Romero	Toronto Blue Jays	27	187	13	9	152	2.84	1.16	3	21
4	Derek Holland	Texas Rangers	27	165.1	12	5	127	4.30	1.43	8	15
4	Jered Weaver	Los Angeles Angels	28	201.1	15	7	168	2.28	1.00	4	24

Last updated by StatSheet on 2011-08-31