Carlos Carrasco is a popular breakout candidate for Indians

The Cleveland Indians starting rotation has been a popular topic for the sporting world as they prepare for the 2015 MLB season. Corey Kluber winning the Cy Young has been referenced by nearly everyone writing a breakout candidate column and Danny Salazar has already been named a sleeper Cy Young candidate for this season despite not having yet won a rotation spot for the team. But, the most popular pitcher by analysts looking for a breakout candidate continues to be Carlos Carrasco. WFNY’s own Kirk Lammers understandably predicted a small drop-off from last year for Carrasco, but others are expecting big things from the once highly touted prospect.

Sports Illustrated has Carrasco listed first when discussing five American League players likely to breakout as a star this season.

Attributing his success in relief in part to an increased emphasis on his slider and always pitching from the stretch, Carrasco continued those two habits upon his return to the rotation and peeled off a 1.30 ERA, more than ten strikeouts per nine innings and a 7.10 strikeout-to-walk ratio over ten starts to finish the season, including a 12-strikeout, two-hit shutout of the Astros on Sept. 17.
On the season as a whole, Carrasco posted the fourth-best fielding independent mark (2.44) in the majors among pitchers with 100 or more innings pitched, ranking behind only Cy Young winners Clayton Kershaw and Corey Kluber and 28-year-old Cubs breakout righty Jake Arrieta.

As we penned last week, Jonah Keri at Grantland continued on with his fascination of our entire staff by listing Carrasco, but also Salazar and Trevor Bauer as potential breakout candidates and sprinkles some praise for Yan Gomes in as well.

Carlos Carrasco/Trevor Bauer/Danny Salazar, SP, Cleveland Indians

The same factors that led me to tout Salazar and Kluber last year are in play again this season. Catcher Yan Gomes is a great pitch-framer, but, more importantly, these are pitchers with good stuff and at least stretches of putting up strong peripheral stats. Plus, they’re all at an age and experience level where a breakout often occurs.

The soon-to-be-28-year-old Carrasco hails from the Hutchison camp, coming to 2014 off of a strong final 10 starts: 69 innings pitched, 78 strikeouts, 11 walks, 45 hits and two homers allowed, and a 1.30 ERA.

Not to be outdone, USA TODAY also listed Carrasco as a pitcher poised to take the next step towards stardom this season. And, you might want to go and check out the source for their Carlos Carrasco slider GIF.

Carrasco’s hardly a sleeper after posting a 2.55 ERA over 134 innings in 2014, but the way last season ended suggests there could be a lot more success to follow. After working on his mechanics to stabilize his release point while pitching out of the Indians’ bullpen for most of the year, Carrasco moved back into the rotation in mid-August and yielded a 1.30 ERA with 78 strikeouts against only 11 walks in 69 innings over his final 10 starts.

The right-hander’s hard slider was his best weapon in 2014. When it’s working, it makes Major League hitters look very, very bad.

Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day everyone (maybe even at Progressive Field). The Cleveland Indians much anticipated season is coming up quickly.