Five National League players hoping to be more consistent in 2020

Felix Hernandez (LiAnna Davis, Wikimedia Commons)

The Major League Baseball regular season is now only 15 days away. In a second of a two-part series we will now take a look at five players from the National League who are hoping for a much better 2020 season than 2019 season.

1) Felix Hernandez–Atlanta Braves–For most of his career, Felix Hernandez was definitely considered a lock to be headed to Cooperstown. However over the last two seasons, Hernandez has only looked like half of his former self. In 2018, he had a record of eight wins and 14 losses and an earned run average of 5.55. Then in 2019, Hernandez struggled mightily going 1-8 with an earned run average of 6.40. After 15 seasons in Seattle, Hernandez joined the Braves in the offseason, where he is expected to be fifth in the starting rotation.

2) Craig Kimbrel–Chicago Cubs–For four consecutive seasons with the Atlanta Braves from 2011 to 2014, Craig Kimbrel led the National League in saves. Then after one season in San Diego, Kimbrel was with the Boston Red Sox for three seasons, where he was an all-star from 2016 to 2018. However 2019 was a year Kimbrel would like to forget. He did not sign with the Cubs until June 7, and then when he did he struggled mightily on the mound. In 23 games, he had an earned run average of 6.53 and a horrible WHIP of 1.60.

3) Isan Diaz–Miami Marlins–The Miami Marlins made a lot of changes to their offense in the offseason. They brought in Jonathan Villar from the Baltimore Orioles, Corey Dickerson from the Philadelphia Phillies and Jesus Aguilar from the Tampa Bay Rays. One change where they did not make was at second base where Isan Diaz played 48 games last season. Despite batting only .173 in 201 plate appearances in 2019, Diaz is set to be a starter for the Marlins in the infield again this year. More is expected, or the Marlins will make a change there too.

4) Kyle Freeland–Colorado Rockies–After a fantastic 2018 Major League Baseball season where Kyle Freeland won 17 games and became the ace of the Colorado Rockies pitching staff, one can legitimately ask why was Freeland so terrible in 2019? In 22 starts, Freeland only had a record of three wins and 11 losses, with a horrendous earned run average of 6.73. Freeland’s WHIP was also a poor 1.58. Heading into this season, Freeland will be the third starter in Colorado’s rotation. Two other projected starters for Colorado this season also had horrible 2019 seasons. Antonio Senzatela’s earned run average was 6.71 and Jeff Hoffman’s earned run average was 6.56. To have three pitchers in the starting rotation with an earned run average over six is down right shocking for a team managed by former pitching star Bud Black.

5) Trevor Williams–Pittsburgh Pirates–Like Freeland, Trevor Williams took a step back in 2019 after a solid 2018 regular season where he had a record of 14 wins and 10 losses and an excellent earned run average of 3.11. Last season, Williams only had a record of seven wins and nine losses, and saw his earned run average rise to 5.38. He also gave up 27 home runs in 145 2/3 innings pitched in 2019 after only giving up 15 home runs in 170 2/3 innings pitched in 2018.