RESEARCH: Controlling the running game

By Jeffrey Zimmerman February 2nd, 2017 1:04am

Jon Lester struggles to control the running game. Horribly. In 2015, He allowed a league-leading 44 stolen bases. Besides topping the 2015 list, he had the highest total of stolen bases allowed since 2002, which is as far back as we have pitcher stolen base data. The top mark lasted just one season, as Noah Syndergaard allowed 48 stolen bases in 2016. Fantasy owners could expect these pitchers, who freely allow base runners to advance, to post higher than expected ERAs. They kind of do—but just barely.

Full text available to BaseballHQ full subscription subscribers only. Please Subscribe at https://www.baseballhq.com/subscribe

Click here to subscribe

For more information about the terms used in this article, see our Glossary Primer.