Earlier in the week we discussed the top Canadian hitters in the Major Leagues. Today the focus is on the hurlers, and while there likely aren’t any future Hall of Famers to one day join Fergie Jenkins in the Hall, there are five pitchers filling up fantasy rosters across the continent.
5) John Axford, RP, Brewers
A year ago John Axford was at the top of his game, racking up 46 saves with a 1.95 ERA and 86 strikeouts. This season the Brewers closer bounced back from his usual slow start to produce 10 saves and a 3.22 ERA through June 7. Suddenly, the wheels went off the track as Axford walked five batters and surrendered seven runs in the next three outings. The ERA spiked to 5.55, with three blown saves on the season.
Just as there were some rumblings that Brewers setup man Francisco Rodriguez could return to the closer’s role, Axford was used for a third consecutive day on Friday, and he responded with a perfect inning for his 11th save of the season.
At his best, Axford could be an elite closer who shuts the door for a National League contender. At his worst, Axford is a middle reliever with control issues for a team that falls in the middle of the pack in the NL Central.
4) Erik Bedard, SP, Pirates
Injuries have certainly marred Erik Bedard’s career, as he is now the answer to a trivia question in Baltimore: "Who was traded in return for MVP candidate Adam Jones?" Of course, at the time of the trade, Bedard was a legitimate ace who had picked up 28 wins from 2006 to 2007, while fanning nearly 400 batters. Since then, Bedard has barely been able to pitch because of an array of injuries. He is now flying under the radar in Pittsburgh, where he hopes to turn around a losing culture.
Bedard remains a strikeout artist, though he is frustratingly inconsistent. He has failed to get out of the fourth inning in two of his last three starts and only on three occasions has he pitched at least seven innings this season. The potential remains sky-high, as suggested by his 2.45 ERA at home, but Bedard needs to improve his control and prevent hitters from reaching base.
3) Jesse Crain, RP, White Sox
Slowed by an oblique injury to open the season, Jesse Crain has picked up from where he left off a year ago when he went 8-3 with a save, a 2.62 ERA, and averaged more than a strikeout per inning. Though he remains in a middle relief role with the White Sox, Crain has been extremely dependable with a 2.29 ERA and excellent control. The big difference this year has been that Crain is practically unhittable, as suggested by the .189 average against. The Toronto native will soon turn 31-years old, and seems to be reaching his peak.
2) Scott Diamond, SP, Twins
A 25-year-old southpaw, Diamond has been the best performer for the Minnesota Twins so far this season. With a record of 5-2 and a 2.13 ERA, Diamond has turned things around from a year ago when he was 1-5 with a 5.08 ERA and nearly a 1:1 strikeout to walk ratio. That ratio has improved to 29:6 this season, as his lone foible has been that he remains a bit too hittable with a .270 average against and six home runs surrendered.
Diamond is not exactly a top prospect, but you can’t argue with the results so far. This season he has been the second best representative of Canada on the hill in the Major Leagues this season.
1) Ryan Dempster, SP, Cubs
Eight starts into the season, Ryan Dempster had yet to pick up a win, and still he was as dominant as ever with a 2.14 ERA through 54.1 innings. That’s the reality of being a Chicago Cubs pitcher right now, as the team’s hopes are mostly tied to the long-term as run support and good defense is hard to come by at Wrigley Field.
It is becoming clear that baseball’s best Canadian pitcher is likely going to find himself a new work address as the Cubs continue to struggle and Dempster’s value soars. Dempster is actually peaking in June, as he has yet to surrender a run this month through three starts. He has picked up his first three wins of the season and now boasts a 2.11 ERA.
The 35-year-old right-hander boasts 115 career wins with four straight seasons of 10+ wins following three straight seasons of 20+ saves. He is not quite of the same caliber as the great Canadian pitcher Ferguson Jenkins, but he has certainly carried the torch in his era.