MLB wants to raise profile for pitching

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Max Scherzer logged at least 179 innings in 10 of his first 16 years in the majors. And the three-time Cy Young Award winner learned some tough lessons on the road to pitching deep into games.

That’s one reason why the Texas Rangers right-hander thinks Major League Baseball needs to look a lot deeper than a roster limit if it wants to return starting pitching to prominence.

“I became a better pitcher once I went through three times in the lineup and was failing on that third time through the lineup,” the 39-year-old Scherzer said. “That’s every young pitcher’s struggle, is learning how to pitch three times through a lineup. … We’re so scared now to let guys fail.”

The state of starting pitching has the attention of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, who said in October the league is considering lowering the maximum of 13 pitchers per team to 12 possibly as soon as the 2025 season – with the goal of placing a greater emphasis on starting pitchers.

Big league starters averaged 15.4 outs and 85.1 pitches last year, according to Sportradar, and 15.6 outs and 84.9 pitches in 2022. But the numbers were 17.4 and 93.1 as late as 2015, and 17.8 and 98.6 in 2000.

“I grew up a fan of the game, and me and my dad used to pick Astros games based on when Roy Oswalt was pitching,” Chicago Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon said. “We would look at pitching matchups, that’s what we would do. Nowadays, I feel like that allure is gone a little bit.”

MLB wants to put that allure back in the game, but it’s a tricky, multifaceted issue.

Pitching prospects are closely monitored on their way to the majors, and deviating from the organization’s plan could put the careers of minor league managers and coaches at risk. There is more arm talent in big league bullpens than ever before, and reams of data that illustrate the danger of leaving a pitcher in for too long.

“From a fan perspective, yeah, to see a guy in there to go seven, eight innings, I absolutely get it,” Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Doesn’t necessarily help you win baseball games, and I’m in the business of winning games.”

While a 12-pitcher limit could incentivize teams to let starting pitchers go deeper into games, it would add more stress to bullpens. It also could prompt teams to shuttle their middle relievers from the majors to the minor leagues even more – regardless of their performance.

The long-term answer most likely

TE Jake Briningstool

Briningstool will also have to contribute consistently in the passing game. He is coming off his best season in college, setting career highs with 50 receptions, 498 yards and five touchdowns (led the team).

Yet, most of Briningstool’s production came in three games last season against Miami, NC State and Kentucky (total of 310 receiving yards). Outside of those games, he never exceeded over 50 receiving yards.

The senior’s production was limited because of the passing struggles last season, but he will be crucial for Clemson’s offense as the team figures out its wide receiver room. Briningstool brings size and athleticism to the Tigers.

DE Cade Denhoff

With the losses of defensive ends Xavier Thomas and Justin Mascoll because their eligibility ended, someone has to step up opposite T.J. Parker, who was second on the team in tackles for loss (12.5) and tied first in sacks (5.5).

Defensive ends coach Chris Rumph has his work cut out for him, but the player expected to fill that opening is Denhoff, a junior. He played in 170 snaps across 13 games last season and logged 15 tackles (one for loss).

Denhoff hasn’t excelled so far at Clemson, but this spring is a chance for him to showcase why he can hold down the starting defensive end job.

CB Avieon Terrell

Replacing Wiggins, who many NFL Draft analysts say will go in the first round, in the secondary won’t be a simple task. Yet, Terrell, who started the last five games, showed he can hold down the starting cornerback position in his freshman year.

The sophomore logged one interception and five pass deflections in 2023 and displayed physicality at the corner position that can throw receivers off their game. Terrell and sophomore Shelton Lewis had solid debut seasons.

K Robert Gunn III

Gunn lost the starting kicker job last season after missing three field goals and an extra point in the first three games. This led to Swinney bringing on former walk-on Jonathan Weitz, citing maturity as a factor.

After not place kicking in the final 10 games, the sophomore can prove he can be the starting kicker again in 2024. He must display it during spring practice to get coaches to believe in him.

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00