Heading into 2013, Kyle Kendrick had spent the previous two seasons as a versatile swingman. In 2011 and 2012 combined, Kendrick posted a 3.61 ERA with 5.7 K/9 IP (career high) and 2.6 BB/9 IP (career low) with a 1.252 WHIP.
Through eight starts, Kyle Kendrick posted a 2.47 ERA with a .231 BAA. It looked like the strides Kendrick had made in ’11 and ’12 were real and that he had finally taken a big leap, just as Roy Halladay hit the disabled list, in his first year since 2010 as being a full-time starter. There was even talks of Kendrick possibly making the All-Star team.
But in reality, he fooled us all.
The wheels that appeared to be falling off for Kendrick starting in start nine simply shot off the vehicle after the All-Star Break. Kendrick would post a 4-7 record with a 6.91 ERA and a .385 OBPA. Kendrick’s overall numbers (4.70 ERA in 30 starts, 1.400 WHIP) in 2013 weren’t too far off his career norms however, the pendulum swung in the wrong direction: the brief look into “All-Star caliber” Kendrick was quickly replaced by a seemingly deteriorating Kendrick.
Kendrick’s advanced stats (FIP, xFIP) were actually career-lows, painting a different picture. Kendrick suffered from the highest BABIP of his career, attributable to a horrible Phillies defense and a career-low LOB%, facing some bad luck and said horrible defense. In short, Kendrick’s second-half meltdown was not entirely his fault.
Grade: C. Kyle Kendrick was… Kyle Kendrick in 2013 and not an All-Star pitcher. He will be offered a contract for 2014, according to Ruben Amaro, likely in the neighborhood of $6-7 million a year but the Phillies could look to trade the 29-year old righty in the offseason.
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