To say things have been interesting for Michael Pineda this year would be an understatement.  Pineda is one of the lucky few pitchers to actually overcome shoulder surgery and make a return to major league baseball.  The timetable was said to be one year however it ended up taking two years for Pineda to make it back to the majors as this is his first action since 2011.  Then there have been he pine tar issues.  Two starts ago in his first game against the  Red Sox, Pineda was fortunate that nobody in the game saw the pine tar as it was only noticed by those watching on their TV’s.  The second time out Pineda was not so lucky as he came out in the second inning with baseball size amount of pine tar on his neck and the Red Sox manager instantly went out to an umpire.  This resulted is ejection from the game and a ten game suspension.

Amidst all of this Pineda has been dominant for the Yankees in his four starts.  As expected after major shoulder surgery there has been a drop of velocity, but Pineda has compensated with sharper off speed pitches and better command.  In 2011 Pineda averaged 94.7mph with his fastball as opposed to the 92mph he has averaged in 2014.  The drop in velocity is the likely result in Pineda striking out fewer batters.  In his rookie season Pineda averaged a strikeout per inning but that rate has dropped all the way down to 6.9K/9 this year.  Pineda is compensating for his lack of strikeouts with a much improved walk rate.  In 2011 Pineda had a walk rate of 2.9BB9, where as this year his walk rate is more than cut in half at an impressive 1.4BB9. Granted it is a small sample size it’s encouraging to see that Pineda is content with striking out fewer batters if it means walking fewer batters.

Pine tar or no pine tar Pineda has done nothing but impress this year.  He has faced some good offenses as well as he’s seen the Red sox twice and the Blue Jays once.  His good numbers against AL East opponents is encouraging as he’s bound to see those teams multiple times every year.  Pitching at Yankees stadium has also not been a problem for Pineda as he has given up only one earned run in 12 innings of work.  These are all positive signs for Pineda that he can regain his form from 2011, and improve this year as a more polished pitcher.

Going forward Pineda should continue to be a productive fantasy option.  While a regression is certainly likely, especially when a pitcher is pitching to a 1.83ERA, it doesn’t mean he can’t produce ace like stats.  With his devastating slider and much improved command there is little doubt that Pineda has the making to be a number one type pitcher that everyone envisioned him as when he was pitching in Seattle.