Miami Marlins: Post Series Grades vs Boston

Kyle Barraclough +.135

Kyle Barraclough, known affectionately around these parts as “Bear Claw,” is a 6’3″, 225 lb. right-hander. Now 27-years-old, he was a 40th round pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2011. After not signing, he later was a seventh round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012.

Barraclough has long been considered a fireballer with little control, and his walk and strikeout totals “bear” that out. In 109 minor league contests, he struck out 188 in 149 innings, saving 28 games and putting up a 6-6 record with a 2.66 ERA and a 1.309 WHIP. He was striking out opposing batters at an 11.4K/9 clip. Conversely, despite allowing only 6.9 hits per nine, he was also walking 4.9 per nine.

Barraclough struck out 30 in only 24 1/3 innings in 2015, but also walked 18 in the same time. He surrendered only 12 hits. Through his career at the major league level thus far, he his 14-6 with a 2.82 ERA, 224 K’s in 166 innings, and A 1.271 WHIP.

Barraclough has shown us a little better results this season, small sample size notwithstanding. He has gone three innings thus far without allowing a hit. He has walked one batter and struck out five Cubs and Red Sox.

In this series, Barraclough pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out Hanley Ramirez in the eventual 13-inning loss.