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As I type this, I’m in a small, but expected depression as a disgruntled Mets fan living in Minnesota after today’s non-waiver trade deadline. In the middle of thermal packaging related activities, I saw deal and deal and deal swing by. All I get from both the teams that I follow most? A Kurt Suzuki extension. Oye. All that did was disgruntle me more, as I like Josmil Pinto quite a bit. I figured at least Bartolo Colon would get traded for some PTBL or a BoB (bucket o’ balls). Ah well.

On the other hand, if you’re a Tigers fan (I’m not a bandwagon A’s fan until the Mets are good, I decided today), you must be pretty excited. Drew Smyly wasn’t as dominating as a starter and Austin Jackson continued to short-come expectations. Instead you have an second ace, and can now appropriately consider Justin Verlander your number 3 or 4 or 5. [Jay’s Note: Or playoff closer?] Verlander has not been good, but he’s also been almost as unlucky as he’s been bad, or he’s hurt and isn’t saying anything/doesn’t know it.

July 1st, I noted the luckiest pitchers to date, but the one thing I didn’t do at that time was look at the pitcher’s luck/bad luck relative to their career rates. So for this post, for luck, I z-scored each pitcher’s luck stats relative to their career stats (homerun to flyball ratio, left on base% and BABIP). I weighed each z-score by the stats correlation to ERA. Therefore the luckies pitchers (using luck alone and excluding skill) as of 7/27 is: Josh Beckett, Jake Arrieta, Collin McHugh, Scott Kazmir, Garrett Richards, Zach Britton, Jordan Lyles, Drew Pomeranz, Dellin Betances, Alfredo Simon and Danny Duffy. Chris Young, Jason Hammel and Jesse Chavez (update: both Hammel and Chavez were rocked in their last start). However, this all excludes skill (contact rate, strikeout% minus walk% and ground ball to flyball ratio). Incorporating this, here are the actual luckiest pitchers as of 7/27:

1. Chris Young

2. Mark Buehrle

3. Chris Tillman

4. Jordan Lyles

5. Doug Fister

6. Danny Duffy

7. Bud Norris

8. Rick Porcello

9. Edinson Volquez

10. Jon Niese.

Other obvious lucky starters, David Hale and Alfredo Simon are also in the top 16.

So who are the least lucky/have the worst rates according to their career (it’s not all luck-related): Brandon McCarthy, Clay Buchholz, Jose Fernandez!, Cliff Lee, Justin Verlander, Matt Cain, Josh Tomlin, Dan Haren, Stephen Strasburg, Mike Minor, C.J. Wilson and Wade Miley. An Interesting list here: a bunch of impending injured pitchers and sh*t-shows Clay Buchholz and Cliff Lee (update: 2nd/same strain to Lee’s left elbow again on 7/31). Based on this list, I’m also concerned about Madison Bumgarner and even David Price a little. The difference and concern-appeaser is that both still have solid skill scores: 9th overall for Price and 23rd overall for Bumgarner. If the skills drop-off then I’ll be concerned from an injury perspective.

Who are the skillsiest pitchers exclusive of luck: Dellin Betances, Clayton Kershaw, Jose Fernandez, Masahiro Tanaka, Felix Hernandez, Chris Sale, Stephen Strasburg, Zach Britton, David Price, Tyson Ross!, Corey Kluber! (I was irrationally and now rationally in love with both of Kluber’s and Ross’ repertoires/pitch f/x prior to this year), Yu Darvish, Max Scherzer, Zack Greinke and solid reliever but bad starter, Yusmiero Petit.

Now incorporating luck as well, here are your best Skill-Luck scores:

1. Jose Fernandez

2. Clayton Kershaw

3. Stephen Strasburg

4. Dellin Betances

5. Masahiro Tanaka

I think the top 5 verifies the value of this assessment, no?

6. David Price

7. Felix Hernandez

8. Yu Darvish

9, 10 and 13 will make make this list lose integrity somewhat:

9. Yusmiero Petit – all about the slider

10. Brandon McCarthy (just so unlucky)

and now to bring back integrity:

11. Chris Sale

12. Madison Bumgarner

13. Josh Tomlin

14. Tyson Ross

15. Zack Greinke

You can follow me on Twitter @Rotobanter for the full sortable list. Below is the list cut off by the right-hand margin as usual. It’s sorted as you see it by my Skill-Luck Score. There are 3 columns on the left prior to each name. The first column is the average of the next two. The “ERAdiff” column is simply each pitcher’s SIERA-ERA (expected ERA) differential. The third column is my Skill-Luck (1 being the most lucky and 124 being the most skillsy). The 3 columns after IP are the skill stat z-scores (contact, K%-BB% and GB/FB). The next 3 columns are the luck stat z-scores (HR/FB, LOB% and BABIP). Next up is the overall Skill Score (skill z-scores summed up) followed by the Luck Score (luck z-scores summed up) followed by my Skill-Luck score and lastly the SIERA-ERA differential. 

Stats as of 27-Jul Skill/Luck Skill Skill Skill Luck Luck Luck Skill Luck Skill – SIERA –
Correlation to ERA 0.315 0.367 0.066 0.123 0.225 0.11 Score Score Luck ERA
Rank ERAdiff Sk-Lu Name IP zContact zK-BB% zGB/FB zHR/FB zLOB zBABIP Skill Luck Sk-Lu ERAdiff
1 1 1 Chris Young 117.1 -0.45 -0.53 -0.10 -0.07 0.36 0.13 -1.08 0.42 -1.50 -2.58
3 4 2 Mark Buehrle 132.1 -0.52 -0.45 -0.04 0.12 0.26 -0.05 -1.00 0.33 -1.33 -1.98
13.5 24 3 Chris Tillman 131 -0.51 -0.61 -0.05 0.13 -0.05 0.00 -1.17 0.08 -1.25 -0.86
26 48 4 Jordan Lyles 69 -0.39 -0.44 0.09 0.04 0.39 0.07 -0.74 0.50 -1.24 -0.31
9 13 5 Doug Fister 83.1 -0.65 -0.18 -0.02 -0.10 0.40 0.07 -0.84 0.37 -1.21 -1.15
4.5 3 6 Danny Duffy 98.1 -0.40 -0.24 -0.07 0.05 0.16 0.24 -0.72 0.44 -1.16 -2.17
28.5 50 7 Bud Norris 97.2 -0.42 -0.32 -0.04 -0.02 0.17 0.17 -0.77 0.31 -1.08 -0.28
22 36 8 Rick Porcello 126.1 -0.35 -0.38 0.01 0.04 0.17 0.15 -0.72 0.35 -1.07 -0.61
26.5 44 9 Edinson Volquez 116.2 -0.26 -0.49 -0.01 0.05 0.09 0.14 -0.76 0.28 -1.04 -0.36
21.5 33 10 Jon Niese 109.1 -0.52 -0.22 0.01 0.04 0.20 0.05 -0.74 0.30 -1.03 -0.70
21 31 11 Dan Otero 59.2 -0.68 -0.41 0.13 -0.11 0.01 0.16 -0.97 0.06 -1.03 -0.74
15.5 19 12 Tommy Milone 96.1 -0.37 -0.38 -0.06 0.02 0.06 0.11 -0.81 0.20 -1.01 -0.93
21.5 30 13 Shelby Miller 110 -0.40 -0.75 -0.05 -0.01 -0.21 -0.03 -1.20 -0.26 -0.95 -0.76
14 14 14 Drew Pomeranz 55.2 -0.23 -0.21 -0.02 -0.02 0.37 0.12 -0.46 0.48 -0.94 -1.09
8.5 2 15 David Hale 62.1 -0.23 -0.88 0.05 -0.03 -0.19 0.04 -1.06 -0.17 -0.89 -2.27
13 10 16 Alfredo Simon 121.2 -0.16 -0.27 0.00 -0.04 0.31 0.18 -0.43 0.45 -0.88 -1.44
13 9 17 Andrew Cashner 76.1 -0.40 -0.18 0.04 0.24 0.02 -0.05 -0.54 0.20 -0.74 -1.52
16.5 15 18 Henderson Alvarez 130.2 -0.32 -0.26 0.07 0.15 0.17 -0.09 -0.51 0.23 -0.73 -1.08
19.5 20 19 Jason Vargas 125 -0.16 -0.27 -0.04 -0.01 0.31 -0.04 -0.47 0.26 -0.73 -0.92
33.5 47 20 Dillon Gee 69.2 -0.32 -0.15 -0.04 -0.05 0.12 0.14 -0.51 0.21 -0.72 -0.32
35 49 21 Daisuke Matsuzaka 74.1 -0.12 -0.40 -0.04 0.06 -0.05 0.13 -0.57 0.13 -0.70 -0.29
13.5 5 22 Jake Petricka 52.1 -0.26 -0.52 0.13 -0.05 0.04 0.05 -0.64 0.04 -0.68 -1.95
44 65 23 David Phelps 100.1 -0.54 -0.19 -0.04 -0.01 -0.08 -0.03 -0.77 -0.12 -0.65 0.07
21 18 24 Aaron Harang 130.1 -0.11 -0.29 -0.05 0.19 0.04 -0.05 -0.45 0.18 -0.63 -0.96
16 7 25 Todd Redmond 53.1 -0.28 -0.13 -0.07 0.22 -0.05 -0.05 -0.48 0.11 -0.60 -1.66
29 32 26 Josh Collmenter 111.1 -0.44 -0.38 -0.05 0.01 -0.25 -0.04 -0.87 -0.28 -0.59 -0.73
42 57 27 Tom Koehler 119.1 -0.08 -0.32 -0.04 0.08 -0.01 0.06 -0.43 0.13 -0.56 -0.19
41 54 28 Charlie Morton 126.1 -0.22 -0.18 0.06 -0.03 0.07 0.16 -0.34 0.21 -0.55 -0.19
22.5 16 29 Josh Beckett 107.1 0.12 0.13 -0.04 -0.11 0.66 0.21 0.21 0.76 -0.55 -1.06
28.5 27 30 Kyle Lohse 140.2 -0.22 -0.05 -0.04 0.02 0.06 0.10 -0.32 0.18 -0.50 -0.76
41 51 31 Miguel Gonzalez 96.2 -0.22 -0.35 -0.06 -0.10 0.09 -0.12 -0.63 -0.13 -0.49 -0.26
50 68 32 Erasmo Ramirez 60 0.27 -0.44 -0.05 -0.04 0.34 -0.07 -0.22 0.23 -0.45 0.13
49.5 66 33 A.J. Burnett 144.2 -0.13 -0.35 0.03 0.09 -0.11 0.00 -0.45 -0.02 -0.43 0.09
55.5 77 34 Wei-Yin Chen 117 -0.33 -0.09 -0.04 -0.08 0.10 -0.06 -0.46 -0.04 -0.42 0.41
44 53 35 Jesse Chavez 120.1 -0.12 0.08 -0.02 0.10 0.29 -0.04 -0.07 0.35 -0.42 -0.23
57.5 79 36 Yovani Gallardo 121 -0.33 -0.18 0.02 -0.11 -0.01 0.02 -0.49 -0.09 -0.40 0.42
22.5 8 37 Adam Wainwright 142.2 -0.06 0.14 -0.01 0.16 0.11 0.15 0.07 0.42 -0.36 -1.63
49.5 61 38 Drew Smyly 94.2 -0.14 -0.18 -0.06 -0.09 0.06 -0.02 -0.38 -0.04 -0.34 -0.01
33.5 28 39 Lance Lynn 127 -0.09 -0.10 -0.02 0.09 0.01 0.02 -0.21 0.12 -0.33 -0.76
56.5 73 40 Wily Peralta 125.2 -0.19 -0.18 0.05 -0.15 0.15 0.01 -0.32 0.00 -0.32 0.35
71.5 102 41 Mike Leake 140 -0.39 -0.06 0.05 0.00 -0.01 -0.08 -0.40 -0.09 -0.31 0.83
68.5 95 42 Tony Cingrani 63.1 -0.21 -0.34 -0.07 -0.07 -0.16 -0.15 -0.61 -0.38 -0.23 0.64
68.5 94 43 Dallas Keuchel 120.1 0.08 -0.10 0.15 0.24 0.14 -0.03 0.13 0.35 -0.22 0.63
30.5 17 44 Scott Kazmir 124.1 0.10 0.28 -0.03 0.06 0.33 0.19 0.36 0.57 -0.22 -0.98
54 63 45 Seth Maness 52.1 -0.35 -0.12 0.07 0.09 -0.29 0.01 -0.40 -0.19 -0.21 0.00
29 12 46 Tommy Kahnle 54.2 0.13 -0.34 -0.02 0.00 -0.02 -0.02 -0.23 -0.04 -0.19 -1.17
59.5 72 47 Collin McHugh 82.1 0.33 0.28 -0.04 0.13 0.40 0.21 0.57 0.74 -0.18 0.32
42.5 37 48 Tim Hudson 132.1 -0.14 -0.12 0.08 0.07 -0.01 -0.07 -0.17 0.00 -0.17 -0.58
39 29 49 Jake Arrieta 85 0.11 0.47 0.01 0.31 0.42 0.02 0.59 0.76 -0.17 -0.76
71.5 93 50 Trevor Bauer 84.2 -0.11 0.03 -0.07 0.03 0.07 -0.11 -0.15 0.00 -0.14 0.61
43 35 51 Jered Weaver 139.1 -0.03 -0.09 -0.08 -0.04 -0.08 0.05 -0.20 -0.06 -0.13 -0.64
74 96 52 Nathan Eovaldi 130.2 -0.30 -0.17 -0.03 0.00 -0.36 -0.03 -0.51 -0.39 -0.11 0.67
57.5 62 53 Matt Garza 132.2 -0.11 -0.26 -0.04 0.14 -0.55 0.08 -0.41 -0.34 -0.07 -0.01
37.5 21 54 Tanner Roark 120.2 -0.19 -0.07 -0.03 -0.05 -0.10 -0.07 -0.29 -0.22 -0.07 -0.92
83.5 112 55 Roenis Elias 118.1 0.05 -0.11 -0.03 0.00 -0.02 -0.02 -0.09 -0.04 -0.05 1.17
48.5 41 56 Chris Archer 119.2 -0.01 -0.18 0.01 0.15 -0.18 -0.13 -0.18 -0.16 -0.02 -0.41
57.5 58 57 Chase Anderson 60.1 0.16 -0.17 -0.03 0.00 -0.02 -0.02 -0.04 -0.04 0.00 -0.17
56.5 55 58 Anibal Sanchez 107 -0.12 -0.10 -0.03 0.16 -0.52 0.11 -0.25 -0.25 0.01 -0.19
42.5 26 59 Sonny Gray 132.1 -0.03 -0.06 0.05 0.00 -0.04 -0.01 -0.04 -0.05 0.01 -0.79
70 80 60 Jason Hammel 115.2 0.20 0.25 -0.04 -0.03 0.32 0.11 0.42 0.40 0.02 0.42
79.5 98 61 Gerrit Cole 85.2 -0.10 -0.04 0.02 -0.09 -0.03 -0.01 -0.11 -0.14 0.02 0.70
85.5 109 62 Justin Verlander 135.2 -0.15 -0.38 -0.05 -0.01 -0.45 -0.13 -0.57 -0.59 0.03 1.06
66 69 63 Tim Lincecum 120.2 0.12 -0.12 0.00 -0.12 0.00 0.09 0.00 -0.03 0.03 0.17
90 116 64 Dan Haren 122.1 -0.40 -0.09 -0.02 -0.20 -0.33 -0.03 -0.52 -0.56 0.04 1.37
44 23 65 Johnny Cueto 148.2 -0.01 0.35 0.00 -0.01 0.10 0.20 0.34 0.30 0.04 -0.90
68.5 71 66 Marcus Stroman 67.1 -0.15 0.17 0.00 0.00 -0.02 -0.02 0.02 -0.04 0.06 0.29
53 39 67 Garrett Richards 137.1 0.37 0.22 0.02 0.20 0.23 0.10 0.61 0.54 0.07 -0.50
83.5 99 68 John Lackey 130.1 -0.09 0.12 -0.01 -0.06 -0.03 0.02 0.02 -0.07 0.09 0.71
66.5 64 69 Yordano Ventura 107.2 0.11 -0.18 0.01 0.03 -0.13 -0.06 -0.05 -0.15 0.10 0.04
58 46 70 Jeff Samardzija 138 0.08 0.16 0.01 0.04 0.06 0.04 0.25 0.14 0.11 -0.32
65 59 71 Jose Quintana 131.1 -0.19 0.08 0.01 0.14 -0.31 -0.05 -0.11 -0.23 0.12 -0.06
47 22 72 Gavin Floyd 54.1 0.25 0.01 0.00 -0.04 0.25 -0.06 0.26 0.14 0.12 -0.92
39.5 6 73 Jeurys Familia 51.2 0.41 -0.23 0.05 0.08 0.00 0.04 0.23 0.11 0.12 -1.76
56 38 74 Jeff Locke 62 0.08 -0.11 0.01 0.04 -0.22 0.05 -0.02 -0.13 0.12 -0.52
99.5 124 75 Mike Minor 86.1 -0.30 -0.01 -0.04 -0.18 -0.02 -0.29 -0.35 -0.49 0.13 2.67
79 82 76 Jenrry Mejia 67.1 0.26 -0.14 0.00 0.01 -0.04 -0.01 0.12 -0.05 0.17 0.45
44 11 77 Tom Wilhelmsen 55.2 0.52 -0.30 0.07 -0.24 0.17 0.19 0.29 0.12 0.17 -1.27
81 84 78 Matt Cain 90.1 -0.09 -0.28 -0.03 -0.27 -0.29 -0.02 -0.40 -0.58 0.18 0.47
92 105 79 Craig Stammen 52.1 0.16 0.07 0.00 0.06 -0.08 0.06 0.23 0.04 0.19 0.87
101 122 80 Clay Buchholz 91.2 -0.16 -0.36 -0.03 -0.05 -0.47 -0.23 -0.55 -0.74 0.19 2.19
78 75 81 Hiroki Kuroda 123 0.02 -0.15 -0.02 0.00 -0.34 -0.01 -0.15 -0.35 0.20 0.38
97.5 113 82 C.J. Wilson 116.1 -0.08 -0.14 0.02 -0.28 -0.08 -0.04 -0.20 -0.41 0.21 1.21
98.5 114 83 Carlos Carrasco 58.1 0.35 0.19 0.02 0.15 0.03 0.15 0.56 0.33 0.23 1.22
81 78 84 Hyun-Jin Ryu 111.2 -0.14 0.18 -0.02 0.05 -0.27 -0.07 0.02 -0.29 0.30 0.41
84 83 85 Carlos Torres 60.1 0.40 0.21 0.00 0.09 0.37 -0.15 0.61 0.30 0.30 0.45
85.5 85 86 James Shields 143.1 0.00 0.08 -0.02 0.00 -0.16 -0.09 0.06 -0.26 0.32 0.48
101 115 87 Homer Bailey 123.2 0.29 -0.07 0.02 -0.20 0.15 -0.03 0.25 -0.08 0.33 1.28
103 118 88 Carlos Martinez 67 0.45 -0.21 0.03 -0.06 0.00 0.00 0.27 -0.06 0.33 1.69
87.5 86 89 Alex Wood 91.2 0.07 0.31 -0.04 -0.11 0.05 0.06 0.35 0.00 0.34 0.48
62 34 90 Michael Wacha 90.1 0.14 0.11 -0.03 0.01 -0.13 -0.02 0.22 -0.14 0.36 -0.67
95.5 100 91 Zack Wheeler 114.1 0.05 -0.04 0.04 -0.01 -0.19 -0.11 0.06 -0.31 0.37 0.73
67 42 92 Jacob deGrom 80.2 0.27 0.08 -0.02 0.00 -0.02 -0.02 0.34 -0.04 0.37 -0.39
76.5 60 93 Adam Warren 52 0.28 0.12 0.00 0.20 -0.19 0.01 0.40 0.02 0.37 -0.03
59.5 25 94 Julio Teheran 143.1 0.25 0.22 -0.06 0.02 -0.05 0.05 0.41 0.02 0.39 -0.83
101 107 95 Ian Kennedy 135.1 0.08 0.30 -0.04 0.06 -0.07 -0.12 0.34 -0.14 0.48 0.98
69.5 43 96 Jon Lester 137 0.03 0.45 -0.03 0.14 -0.13 -0.04 0.45 -0.04 0.48 -0.38
71 45 97 Cole Hamels 122.1 0.30 0.25 0.00 0.10 0.03 -0.06 0.55 0.07 0.48 -0.36
82.5 67 98 Zach Britton 50.2 0.50 0.06 0.49 -0.45 0.68 0.30 1.05 0.52 0.52 0.12
95.5 92 99 Hisashi Iwakuma 110.2 -0.12 0.36 0.02 0.02 -0.26 -0.09 0.25 -0.32 0.57 0.58
88 76 100 Corey Kluber 149.1 0.28 0.55 0.00 0.10 0.12 0.03 0.83 0.25 0.58 0.38
95.5 90 101 Gio Gonzalez 86.2 0.42 0.08 -0.04 0.08 -0.18 -0.04 0.45 -0.13 0.58 0.54
106 110 102 Alex Cobb 88.2 0.35 0.05 0.05 -0.03 -0.10 -0.02 0.44 -0.14 0.59 1.08
88.5 74 103 Jordan Zimmermann 118 0.13 0.29 -0.02 0.04 -0.04 -0.19 0.40 -0.19 0.59 0.36
110.5 117 104 Wade Miley 134 0.11 0.11 0.01 -0.21 -0.20 0.01 0.23 -0.40 0.63 1.53
108 111 105 Cliff Lee 73.2 -0.22 0.23 0.01 -0.03 -0.32 -0.28 0.02 -0.62 0.64 1.11
104.5 103 106 Francisco Liriano 88.1 0.67 -0.15 0.03 -0.14 -0.01 0.02 0.54 -0.13 0.67 0.85
106.5 106 107 Max Scherzer 139 0.32 0.54 -0.06 0.04 0.14 -0.07 0.80 0.10 0.70 0.98
106 104 108 Ervin Santana 123.1 0.44 0.00 0.01 0.09 -0.20 -0.17 0.45 -0.28 0.72 0.85
103 97 109 Brad Ziegler 50.2 0.29 -0.06 0.20 -0.20 -0.14 0.05 0.44 -0.29 0.73 0.67
95.5 81 110 Zack Greinke 124.1 0.26 0.46 0.01 -0.18 0.25 -0.10 0.73 -0.03 0.75 0.42
83.5 56 111 Tyson Ross 142.2 0.57 0.19 0.10 -0.11 0.14 0.06 0.85 0.09 0.76 -0.19
116 120 112 Josh Tomlin 81.1 -0.06 0.32 -0.04 -0.18 -0.29 -0.09 0.22 -0.57 0.79 2.08
101 89 113 Madison Bumgarner 141 0.13 0.33 0.00 -0.02 -0.18 -0.13 0.46 -0.32 0.79 0.52
77 40 114 Chris Sale 102 0.42 0.74 -0.04 0.18 0.04 0.08 1.12 0.30 0.83 -0.48
119 123 115 Brandon McCarthy 128.1 -0.23 0.16 0.08 -0.38 -0.20 -0.23 0.02 -0.81 0.83 2.57
118.5 121 116 Yusmeiro Petit 68 0.37 0.39 -0.07 0.12 -0.16 -0.10 0.69 -0.14 0.84 2.14
102 87 117 Yu Darvish 126.1 0.26 0.63 -0.07 0.10 0.01 -0.15 0.82 -0.04 0.87 0.48
85 52 118 Felix Hernandez 151.1 0.49 0.67 0.05 0.16 -0.07 0.12 1.21 0.21 1.00 -0.25
113.5 108 119 David Price 155.2 0.20 0.76 -0.05 -0.10 -0.04 -0.09 0.91 -0.23 1.14 1.02
95 70 120 Masahiro Tanaka 129.1 0.60 0.67 0.00 0.00 -0.02 -0.02 1.26 -0.04 1.30 0.20
104.5 88 121 Dellin Betances 60.1 0.60 1.41 0.00 0.04 0.28 0.15 2.01 0.47 1.54 0.48
120.5 119 122 Stephen Strasburg 137.1 0.38 0.68 0.00 -0.09 -0.20 -0.24 1.06 -0.53 1.59 1.91
107 91 123 Clayton Kershaw 103.1 0.74 1.23 0.03 -0.10 0.18 -0.07 2.00 0.01 1.99 0.55
112.5 101 124 Jose Fernandez 51.2 0.70 1.03 -0.01 -0.09 -0.49 -0.13 1.72 -0.70 2.42 0.73