Predicting Derek Lowe

It's been a while since I predicted a players stats for the upcoming season. I'm still on my starting rotation, and so I decided to do Derek Lowe this time. It's hard to not be real optimistic of Lowe considering him being named NL pitcher of the month for Septemeber and his strong performance in the playoffs. Take it with a grain of salt, but he's having a pretty good spring training as well.

Lowe has been a disappointing pitcher during his time in Atlanta so far. He certainly hasn't lived up to the contract he signed in January of 2009. Perhaps we will see it payoff this season?

I'll have to keep in mind that Derek Lowe will be turning 38 years old this season. So I really can't expect him to have a season like he did in 2008 with the LA Dodgers. One plus is that the guy is never injured, and he should be a lock for at least 190 innings pitched. He hasn't pitched less than 193.2 innings in the last 6 seasons, and his lowest was 182.2 innings (2004) in the last 9 years.

With all that being said, I think he will have his best season as an Atlanta Brave yet for 2011. I like Bill James projections for Lowe on fangraphs.

I'll give it my shot.

14-11, 191 IP, 3.80 ERA, 128 K, 1.27 WHIP