San Francisco Giants:2016 Team Award Predictions-Pitching

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Mar 31, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija (29) throws the ball against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /

ERA Champ: Jeff Samardzija

I know, I know, doesn’t make any sense does it. I could be totally wrong, but “The Shark” posted a 2.99 ERA in 2014 (Bumgarner was 2.98) while going 7-13 for the Chicago Cubs and Oakland A’s. Of that ERA, he had a 2.83 in the windy city, with balls flying out of there left and right. He wasn’t settled over the last couple of seasons, going from Oakland back to Chicago in a new White Sox uniform. He ended last season with a 4.96 ERA, but he is in a much better place to pitch in half of his games. And with Buster Posey behind the plate, it will go a long way to keep the consistency where it needs to be to be comfortable on the mound.

The entire staff is primed for a good year on the mound, and it isn’t a snub to anyone else in the rotation that Samardzija is picked as the ERA champ. My prediction: 3.05 ERA, good for 7th in the National League, with Bumgarner finishing 2nd on the team with a 3.12 and Cueto not too far behind at 3.27. Cain will finish sub-3.50 as well.

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