Michael Wacha has surpassed all expectations
In 2022 Michael Wacha has been a bright spot for the Red Sox
Photo Credit: Boston.com, Conor Roche
Coming into the 2022 campaign, Michael Wacha was at a crossroads. The former first-round pick was on his third team in as many seasons. He had only posted an ERA under 4.00 once since 2016. However, with the Red Sox, he has flashed his 2015 form when he won a career-high 17 games for the Cardinals.
In 17 starts this season, Wacha has posted a 2.56 ERA in 95 innings. The Texas A&M product has also struck out 76 batters and is holding opponents to a .205 batting average. While he has limited opposing offenses, Wacha’s success has been partly due to improved control.
From 2018-2021, Wacha allowed an average of 19 home runs a season. He has only given up nine in his first stint with the Red Sox. He also has not walked more than one batter in an outing since June 28th against Toronto, his last start before going on the disabled list. The 31-year-old returned to the rotation on August 14th and has been lights out.
Over his last four starts, Wacha has gone 4-0 and pitched into the sixth inning in each start. In that span, he has struck out 26 batters which is his most in a four-game span this season. In August, the 2015 NL-All Star held opponents to a .172 batting average, and only his former team, the Rays, was able to score more than two runs against him.
With less than six weeks left in the regular season, Wacha is peaking at the perfect time. He will be a free agent in the offseason, and he is only getting better as the innings pile up. In 13 of his 17 starts this season, Wacha has allowed two earned runs or fewer.
Although the Red Sox will be interested in a reunion during the offseason, they will have plenty of competition. Wacha has posted career lows in ERA, WHIP, and opponents’ batting average. He has been a vital piece for the Red Sox and could get a multi-year deal on the free agent market. The Red Sox have not met expectations during the 2022 campaign, but Wacha has been one of the bright spots.
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He has been nothing short of fantastic all year and I was not optimistic when they signed him, I could not be happier about being wrong