Outstanding debut for Cleveland pitcher Tristan McKenzie: 10 K's and a win

[Auggie]

McKenzie tossed six strong innings, allowing just one run on two hits with 10 strikeouts in the Indians’ 6-1 victory over the Tigers on Saturday night at Progressive Field.

McKenzie’s 10 strikeouts are the second most by an Indians player in their Major League debut, trailing only Luis Tiant’s 11 in 1964. The 23-year-old also became the first pitcher with a double-digit-strikeout performance in his MLB debut since Freddy Peralta (13) in 2018, and he is the 28th pitcher since at least 1901 with at least 10 strikeouts in his first career game.

According to Statcast, he threw 46 fastballs that averaged 94.5 mph and maxed out at 96.5 mph. Of the 26 swings on the heater, 11 were whiffs (42 percent whiff rate), while nine of his 10 strikeouts were on the four-seamer. His second-most-used pitch was his curveball (18), which prompted two whiffs on four swings.

https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/triston-mckenzie-makes-historic-major-league-debut

McKenzie got the start because regular starters Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac ignored COVID-19 protocols during a Chicago road trip.

McKenzie is 6? 5? and weighs 165.

Cleveland pitching gets even deeper.

[luvs2sing]

1. That was great fun to watch!

Mike who? 😁

[Ohiogal]

2. I watched that game.

McKenzie was stellar. He ended his first inning (1-2-3) by striking out Miggy. That had to be a confidence booster! Even though Miggy is 37 and not the player he once was. And he was so poised. His fastball appeared unhittable. If I were Plesac and Clevenger, I’d sure sit up and take notice.

Triston’s friend Nolan Jones made sure he saw his friend’s debut as well.

https://www.mlb.com/news/nolan-jones-watches-triston-mckenzie-from-garage?partnerId=zh-20200823-156906-MLB&qid=1026&bt_ee=gPJDNXYhY8CeMJJd8Ek1AJK56GCp0TWOjoJ6pPrUb0mFEZVoEtLmvJT%2FrG581Cvs&bt_ts=1598182883758

[Auggie]

3. I understand he's had some health issues ...

hope its not a recurring theme.

Does this put Clevinger on the trading block? They've done a good job trading pitchers (with a few exceptions) as their talents begin to wane. Cleveland needs another bat as you've pointed out elsewhere.

[Ohiogal]

4. I wonder.

The two “bad boys” will be re-joining the team very soon. Antonetti will have a decision to make, for sure.