What's up with MacKenzie Gore? Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said he's seeing "a pitcher struggling for command and mechanics," during his weekly appearance Wednesday with 106.7 The Fan's The Sports Junkies, which is presented exclusively by our partners at MainStreet Bank — Cheer Local. Bank Local. Put Our Team in Your Office. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
"A guy with great stuff that hasn't harnessed it, yet," he continued. "I like to think that he's such an intelligent person and intelligent pitcher, [Nationals pitching coach Jim] Hickey and [pitching strategiest Sean] Doolittle and he will get their heads together and figure out what the issue is and correct it."
"I like the totality of his game. He's got great stuff, he's got great athleticism, he's got a great body, and I think it's just a matter of time where he flips the switch and turns it back on. Don't forget the first [11] starts of the season he was No. 1 starter on anybody's rotation and the last 13 haven't been nearly as good."
Over the first 11 outings for Gore on the season, he pitched to a 2.91 ERA (2.85 fielding independent pitching) with a 1.278 WHIP over 58.2 innings pitched. He had 72 strikeouts to 17 walks. With opposition hitters batting .257 with a .696 OPS off him.
But in the 13 starts beginning in June, he has pitched to a 6.02 ERA (4.51 FIP) with a 1.842 WHIP over 61.1 innings pitched. He's got 58 strikeouts and 35 walks. With opposition hitters batting .306 with a .856 OPS during that span.
"Consistency throughout a long seasons, have to learn that. Have to learn how to pitch without your Grade A stuff," Rizzo said. "I think that he's learned these lessons – like a lot of our young pitchers have learned their lessons this year – when he comes out the other side of it, he'll be better for it."
Rizzo said the left-hander's velocity isn't an issue and there are no injuries, but pointed to another reason for Gore's struggles.
"I see some of these crazy stats all the time, when he's ahead in the count hitters are hitting .126 against him and when he's behind in the count they're hitting .426," the GM said. "The difference of strike one in an at-bat is very important for a starting pitcher and every pitcher in general, but for him it's extremely important because it sets up all his really good secondary stuff.
"I think he's just gotta get back into the model where his mechanics allow his arm to get into position to have all four of his pitches come out of the same window and at the same release point. And when that happens he'll get back to that guy that was pitching the first 12 starts for us and not the guy who has pitched the last 13 starts for us."
Despite the recent down cycle, the one thing that isn't up for debate is Gore's ability.
"He's got a lot of talent, there's no question, a lot of talent," Rizzo said. "And he really, really wants it, sometimes wants it too much and is too tough on himself. I want settle a guy down rather than lift a guy up, so I think that's all indicative of his makeup and where he's gonna be at in his career.
"The needle is definitely moving north on this guy. A guy that we have high hopes for in the future to lead this rotation."