Triston McKenzie evolving into frontline starter for Guardians
The maturation of Triston McKenzie as a frontline starting pitching option is beginning to arrive.
McKenzie always carried the designation of a high-ceiling prospect, albeit one as a pitcher who wasn't always as aggressive as he could be on the mound, not to mention any question marks with his ability to handle a starter's workload with his 6-foot-5, 165-pound frame.
Intrigue peaked with his 10-strikeout MLB debut in 2020, a sparkling outing that showcased how his stuff can play at the major league level. His 2021 season ended up being a learning experience with some growing pains, as he posted a 4.95 ERA in 120 innings. It was the type of grind that so often accompanies a sophomore season once the league adjusts.
McKenzie, who just turned 25 earlier this month, has put it all together over the last several weeks, capped by his gem of an outing in Sunday's 1-0 win over the Houston Astros in which he struck out eight and allowed just three base runners in eight scoreless innings. His ERA has dropped to 3.16. And for the last several weeks, he has been the best starter in the Guardians rotation.
"I mean yeah, the guy that we had last year had a lot of growing up to do and he did that throughout last year and came into this year as a mature adult big leaguer, and I think we're seeing how much that paid off," said Austin Hedges in mid July.
Sunday's performance was McKenzie's fourth career outing with at least seven scoreless innings with three or fewer baserunners allowed, passing both Shane Bieber and Addie Joss (three each) for the most in franchise history for a pitcher before turning 26 years old. In his last seven outings (since July 3), McKenzie has posted a 1.70 ERA and held opponents to a .167 record with 48 strikeouts. In that stretch, he ranks first amongst qualified pitchers in opponent OPS (.451), is tied for first in opponent average, third in strikeouts, fourth in WHIP (0.82) and sixth in ERA.
In a way, McKenzie hasn't had the type of step back that he experienced in 2021. He has built upon each start, helping him to navigate each lineup whether he has his best stuff or not.
"I wouldn’t say it’s any one thing specifically," McKenzie said of this recent stretch. "I think it’s a culmination of talking to Carl [Willis] and figuring out like, hey, I pitched well in this start, what did I do well to continue that? And I didn’t throw so hot in this one, what can I improve upon? Then just kind of figuring out how to attack each lineup and figuring out what works for me."
He's saved his best outings for the best opposing lineups. In three combined starts against the New York Yankees and Houston Astros this season, he's 3-0 with a 0.41 ERA.
Catcher Luke Maile sees McKenzie's fastball as the key. When it's working, and he's hitting his spots on the outside (against right-handed hitters), his off-speed offerings are more effective.
"I think it’s just staying in his lanes. What I mean by that is when he tries to go away, he starts with his fastball and his fastball is able to get to the extension side, away to right-handed hitters, more often than not, those are the days when his breaking stuff plays best," said catcher Luke Maile, who hit a solo home run in Sunday's 1-0 win over the Astros. "To me, it’s about as simple as that. There are a few other things here and there, but it’s usually about as simple as that."
There was a point, a little more than a year ago, when McKenzie needed to be optioned to Triple-A Columbus because he couldn't escape the first inning. His command was effectively lost. Now, McKenzie has been able to reel problem innings in much quicker, thereby limiting the damage and escaping unscathed.
"Yeah, he’s had a couple times where it’s been one inning here, one inning there where it gets away, so it’s not completely universal in that regard, but when he’s hitting — I think today he threw a couple 90-mph fastballs by some pretty good hitters when they were expecting fastballs," Maile said. "Obviously, he has 95-96 (mph) in the tank, but when 90 is getting them, you know that they’re trying to pick a side and that speaks to how good his command is with the fastball leading up to that particular pitch."
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians starter Triston McKenzie evolving into frontline option
