Mets: Three Marcus Stroman predictions for the 2021 season

Second All-Star Game Appearance

Stroman had a strong first half of 2019 when he was selected to his first career All-Star game. After struggling the year before in 2018 and missing time due to injury, he came out of the gate strong and was selected to the All-Star team as a result.

Taking out the 2018 season where he missed time to in injury, the seasons surrounding it in 2017 and 2019 proved to be very strong. Stroman posted ERA’s of 3.09 in 201 innings and 3.22 in 184.1 innings. He proved that when healthy he can be a solid pitcher and easily worthy of an All-Star game nod.

Going into the 2021 season should be no different for Stroman as he did not play in the shortened 2020 season and had all the much more time to focus on his health and work on the mound to get even better.

With 2019 his most recent full season of being fully healthy, it is a good sign of what kind of pitcher Stroman truly is. His first-half ERA was a strong 3.18 ERA in 104.2 innings which is definitely deserving of an All-Star game selection.

Stroman is more than capable of duplicating that same success again in 2021 which is exactly why I see him in the All-Star game.

Although he struggled a little when the Mets acquired him, he settled in nicely with a 2.91 ERA in September and October. Once he got settled in and comfortable he was a great pitcher and now that he will start the season with the Mets and already be settled in, he should be just as good.

Stroman’s expected nice first half will continue into the second half as well, with my third and final prediction for him in 2021.

A top-10 Cy Young finish

Originally drafted in the eighteenth round out of high school and again as the 22nd pick in the first round years later, there is no question that Stroman has the potential to be one of the best pitchers in the game.

Back in 2017, Stroman finished eighth in Cy Young voting when a member of the Blue Jays.

Stroman has always been extremely vocal about improving his game on the field. He is constantly posting on social media about trying out new pitches, working out, and trying different methods for body recovery and strengthening. With not playing in 2020, Stroman has had extra time to continue to improve his health and game on the mound.

In 2019 Stroman ranked in the 73rd percentile in xERA, xwOBA, and xSLG. xERA is a pitcher’s expected ERA, xwOBA is expected weighted on-base average, and xSLG is expected slugging percentage. Stroman also ranked in the 88th percentile in fastball spin, which as a result makes the ball appear different as it comes to the batter and making it harder to hit. As a result, Stroman ranked in the 94th percentile in barrel percentage, which refers to how often players were barreling up the ball.

In his career, he has always been known to be a ground ball pitcher as well. In 2019 his ground ball percentage was down from his usual numbers which were usually around 60% to 53.7%. With improved defense now with gold glove winner Francisco Lindor at shortstop and Jeff McNeil at second base with more range than the aging Robinson Cano, this will only help Stroman and his usual above league average ground ball rates.

In addition to the Mets improved defense up the middle of the infield, they now have a better defensive catcher in James McCann, and the Mets are still looking to improve defense in center field, Stroman’s numbers can be helped a great amount.

With Stroman’s defense around him being greatly improved, a full season of rest and strengthening, and well above average percentile rankings, Stroman can do some serious damage and find himself finishing in the top ten of Cy Young voting.

With a season full year off of in-game action, it gives Stroman plenty of time to prepare for the 2021 season. Going into the new season fully healthy and prepared, I expect great things from the Long Island native.

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What are your 2021 Stroman predictions?