10 MLB Starters Who Struggle in the First Inning

Jeremy Guthrie, Kansas City Royals

Jeremy Guthrie has had a bit of a down season in 2014 and the way he’s been starting games off might be a major contributor to the cause. Although Guthrie has a decent BB/9 at 2.67 in the first frame, opponents have a .318 batting average against. The Royals’ starter only has a K/BB below 2.00 before the eighth in two innings, one being his 1.75 ratio in the first.

Guthrie’s second inning is much better than his first, with a 3.00 ERA and his opponents are only hitting .233 against him. Even though his ERA is highest in the fourth and eighth, he gets better in almost every category as the game progresses.