At times this season, Caleb Smith looked like a potential ace, showing great stuff and a superb ability to accumulate strikeouts in bunches. At other times, he was the opposite, unable to find a putaway pitch and susceptible to home runs.
The lefty emerged as the Fish’s number one starter at the beginning of 2019, their true ace. Smith delivered quality starts against strong rivals such as the Braves, the Cubs, the Nationals, and the Phillies. No matter who it was, he was getting out after out. By the end of May, the 28-year-old had thrown 61 innings, allowed 41 hits, 21 earned runs, and punched 80 guys out.