John Gant

Gant won as many games (11) as Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, Jack Flaherty, Zack Wheeler, Sonny Gray, Kyle Hendricks, Trevor Bauer and Masahiro Tanaka. He also logged 18 holds and three saves, indicating high-leverage usage. This was despite Gant's 22.3% strikeout rate and 12.6% walk rate both being below average. However, Gant allowed only four homers in 66.1 frames, hence the late-inning trust. While his 12.3% swinging strike mark should have resulted in more punchouts, a low 63% strike level reduced his effectiveness. A former starter, Gant still features a four-pitch arsenal, led by a 96-mph fastball. Firmly entrenched as a reliever, perhaps Gant refines his repertoire, improving his control. Until he does, he'll be risky since it's not wise to assume repeating the low home run rate. His 2020 usage is in question since a late-season swoon kept the right-hander off the Cardinals' playoff roster.

Gant and Austin Gomber are two of the names fighting at the back end of the rotation in St. Louis; Gant is the one with more upside. He has the better fastball and a (vulcan) changeup, but had more difficulty with control between the two of them. Gant made a spot start in May, but once he came up for good in the rotation in late June, he went 6-4 with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP over 16 starts. The ERA was low for a WHIP in that range, and the 5.5 K-BB% as well as the 4.43 FIP back up the risks of considering last year's numbers his current baseline. The stuff is there for Gant to possibly take another step forward, but his control issues need to be resolved in order for that to happen. If you're wondering how much his odd windup impacts his control, understand his walk rate worsens when he is pitching from the stretch and not using it.

Traded to the Cardinals in December 2016, Gant was opening eyes for his new club with a strong early showing in the Grapefruit League. However, a strained groin in mid-March dashed his slim hopes of heading north, instead landing him on the disabled list. Upon being activated in mid-July, Gant was optioned to Triple-A Memphis, and he went on to post a 3.83 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 18 starts before being called up in late August. Gant toiled in the Cardinals' bullpen before starting a couple games to close the season. In 17.1 frames, he walked 10 with only 11 strikeouts -- not a good omen heading into 2018. St. Louis' rotation is set, so expect Gant to battle for a bullpen role, working mostly in mop-up duty.

A strong spring training performance landed Gant on the Braves' 2016 Opening Day roster, but he was quickly demoted to Triple-A Gwinnett after surrendering four runs in his first two big league innings. The young righty was a serviceable starter in Triple-A, posting 3.14 ERA and 48:13 K:BB over 43 innings. In early June, an injury to Williams Perez opened the door for Gant to join the big league rotation and he responded well with a 3.38 ERA and 17:6 K:BB over 18.2 innings in four starts. An oblique injury caused him to miss nearly two months and he was placed in a bullpen role for the last couple weeks of the season. Now that he's been traded the Cardinals, a team with far more talent in the rotation, Gant will likely remain in the bullpen, and he's not even assured of a spot there.

An unheralded 21st-round pick out of high school in 2011, Gant was acquired by the Braves last summer via trade. At 6-foot-5, he has an unusual delivery, which has seemingly made it difficult for opposing hitters to square up his offerings. Upon being acquired by Atlanta, Gant pitched well at Double-A Mississippi, finishing with a 43:14 K:BB over 40.2 innings (seven starts). At age 23, he may end up back in the minors even if the Braves give him the ball as their fifth starter to begin the season, but he appears to be near the top of the list to step into the rotation with Mike Foltynewicz returning from injury, and Manny Banuelos slowed by elbow soreness again this spring.