The 2023 Major League Baseball season is just around the corner, and there are many exciting matchups to look forward to. One of the most interesting pitching matchups of the season will be Cole Irvin vs. Tanner Houck. These two young pitchers have shown great potential in their early careers, and both have a bright future ahead of them.
Cole Irvin is a left-handed pitcher who made his MLB debut in 2019 with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was traded to the Oakland Athletics in December 2020 and had a strong first season with the team. In 2021, Irvin pitched 169 innings, finishing with a 3.98 ERA and 125 strikeouts.
Tanner Houck is a right-handed pitcher who was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2020 and had a solid rookie season, finishing with a 1.82 ERA in 17.1 innings pitched. In 2021, Houck pitched 46 innings, finishing with a 3.43 ERA and 51 strikeouts.
When comparing these two pitchers, there are a few key areas to consider.
First, let's look at their pitching styles. Cole Irvin is a finesse pitcher who relies on his ability to locate his pitches and keep hitters off balance. He doesn't have overpowering stuff, but he has a good fastball and a solid changeup. He also throws a curveball and a slider, but those pitches are more of a show-me pitch to keep hitters honest.
Tanner Houck, on the other hand, is a power pitcher who relies on his ability to blow hitters away with his fastball. He has a four-seam fastball that sits in the mid-90s, and he also throws a sinker, a slider, and a changeup. His slider is his best secondary pitch, and he uses it to get a lot of swings and misses.
When it comes to their effectiveness on the mound, both pitchers have shown that they can get the job done. Cole Irvin's ability to locate his pitches and keep hitters off balance allows him to induce weak contact and limit hard-hit balls. He also does a good job of keeping the ball on the ground, which helps him avoid giving up home runs.
Tanner Houck's power pitching style allows him to blow hitters away with his fastball, but he also has good secondary pitches that he can use to keep hitters off balance. He has a high strikeout rate, and he does a good job of limiting walks and home runs.
Another area to consider when comparing these two pitchers is their durability. Cole Irvin has shown that he can handle a heavy workload, as evidenced by his 169 innings pitched in 2021. He also does a good job of staying healthy, as he has never been on the injured list in his career.
Tanner Houck, on the other hand, has yet to pitch a full season in the majors. He pitched just 46 innings in 2021, and he has yet to prove that he can handle a heavy workload. He has also dealt with some injury issues in his career, as he was on the injured list with a flexor strain in 2021.
When it comes to their overall potential, both pitchers have a lot of upside. Cole Irvin has shown that he can be a reliable back-of-the-rotation starter who can eat up innings and keep his team in the game. If he can continue to improve his secondary pitches and increase his strikeout rate, he could become a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter.
