1. What’s wrong with Gausman?

Technically, the burning question at No. 1 could be, what’s wrong with the rotation, which is 29th of 30 teams in starters’ ERA? However, the only member of that group whose 2017 has been a true surprise is Kevin Gausman’s, and not in a good way. Certainly, Chris Tillman is better than a near-8.00 ERA, but his shoulder injury and late start explains the poor numbers, at least partially. Dylan Bundy got off to a tremendous beginning and he leads the team in wins (8), strikeouts (84) and innings pitched (108), among other categories. But his ERA currently sits at 4.33, which is probably about right for most mortals is their first full year starting in MLB (and the AL East). Wade Miley’s 4.97 ERA, Ubaldo Jimenez’s 6.67 ERA and the duo’s penchant for head-shaking inconsistency is frowned upon, but not shocking. So that leaves Gausman, who was supposed to be the anchor of this staff, especially with Tillman’s health woes. Instead, Gausman is 5-7 with a 5.85 ERA. It’s rather befuddling as to why. The guy throws 97 mph routinely. He has solid breaking stuff that should keep hitters honest. He hadn’t posted an ERA above 4.25 in his last three big league seasons. But his fastball command has been shaky, and it’s made his other offerings, as well as his blazing fastball, hittable if in the strike zone. Given the talent, expectations and first-half results, Gausman’s performance (and the rotation’s overall inability to pitch deep) has to be the No. 1 storyline. Will he turn it around in the second half? You’d think so, but you also never thought he’d be at this point 19 starts into his season, either. This is hard to predict, but it just doesn’t seem like Gausman will be this bad for a full season.

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