10 MLB Starters Who Struggle in the First Inning

Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles

Chris Tillman has been one of the better starters for the Orioles this season, logging the most starts for the AL East division leaders. He has been solid the past two months with a 2.35 ERA and a 1.98 BB/9 ratio, improving from his 4.18 ERA and 3.63 BB/9 numbers from the first three months.

In the first inning, Tillman has a 6.11 ERA and batters have a .364 on-base percentage against him. Two early-season outings in particular have hurt Tillman’s numbers in the first, where he only went one inning in each. He let up 13 runs between those two innings, making up for a large portion of his earned runs in the first inning.

Another huge problem in the first for Tillman is he’s let up nine doubles, two triples and three home runs. In addition to the first inning being a major struggle for Tillman, he has a 5.19 ERA in the second and is the only other inning where he’s allowed double digit walks besides the first (15).