Player Review/Preview: Kyle Kendrick

Aug 6, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick (38) delivers to the plate during the third inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Kendrick 

Key 2013 Stats: 4.70 ERA/10-13 W-L/110 SO/1.40 WHIP

What Happened In 2013

Kyle Kendrick was the Philadelphia Phillies 4th man in their starting pitching rotation. Kendrick had a very rough first start to the season, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits, just managing to stay in the game for 5.2 innings. Following that loss, Kendrick got on a bit of a roll and finished the first half of the season with an impressive 8-6 record and 3.68 ERA.  Unfortunately, his second half was less encouraging as he had a disappointing 4-8 record and 6.91 ERA.

While he had his struggles throughout the year, there were several strong performances as well. Despite his inconsistency, overall Kendrick proved to be a solid contributor to the Phillies’ rotation.

What To Expect In 2014

The Phillies starting pitching rotation is looking a bit shaky this season, but I still expect Kendrick to either be the Phillies 3rd or 4th man in the rotation. He is only 29, making him one of the few younger players on this roster.  He is likely going to be an important piece this season as well as years to come.

I expect him to have another season with some ups and downs, but overall it should be a solid one. The potential is definitely there, and heading into another season with aging veterans and injury-prone players, hopefully he can be just a little more consistent and reliable.