Biographical

Portrait of Chris Tillman

Chris Tillman PRangers

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2019 Projections (Preseason PECOTA - seasonal age 31)
IP ERA WHIP SO W L SV WARP
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Birth Date4-15-1988
Height6' 5"
Weight200 lbs
Age36 years, 0 months, 11 days
BatsR
ThrowsR
-1.82015
1.32016
-3.12017
-1.02018
-0.42019
proj
WARP Summary

MLB Statistics

Historical (past-seasons) WARP is now based on DRA..
cFIP and DRA are not available on a by-team basis and display as zeroes(0). See TOT line for season totals of these stats.
Multiple stints are are currently shownClick to hide.
YEAR Team Lg G GS IP W L SV H BB SO HR PPF H/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/9 GB% BABIP WHIP FIP ERA cFIP DRA DRA- WARP
2009 BAL MLB 12 12 65.0 2 5 0 77 24 39 15 107 10.7 3.3 2.1 5.4 0% .302 1.55 6.13 5.40 121 6.57 140.9 -0.7
2010 BAL MLB 11 11 53.7 2 5 0 51 31 31 9 115 8.6 5.2 1.5 5.2 0% .256 1.53 5.86 5.87 137 7.30 164.8 -1.3
2011 BAL MLB 13 13 62.0 3 5 0 77 25 46 5 106 11.2 3.6 0.7 6.7 0% .348 1.65 4.02 5.52 111 5.76 133.8 -0.5
2012 BAL MLB 15 15 86.0 9 3 0 66 24 66 12 101 6.9 2.5 1.3 6.9 0% .221 1.05 4.19 2.93 117 5.01 114.9 0.2
2013 BAL MLB 33 33 206.3 16 7 0 184 68 179 33 99 8.0 3.0 1.4 7.8 0% .269 1.22 4.45 3.71 109 4.68 112.1 0.7
2014 BAL MLB 34 34 207.3 13 6 0 189 66 150 21 99 8.2 2.9 0.9 6.5 0% .267 1.23 4.04 3.34 114 4.85 119.0 0.0
2015 BAL MLB 31 31 173.0 11 11 0 176 64 120 20 114 9.2 3.3 1.0 6.2 0% .293 1.39 4.41 4.99 115 5.94 138.8 -1.8
2016 BAL MLB 30 30 172.0 16 6 0 155 66 140 19 111 8.1 3.5 1.0 7.3 42% .282 1.28 4.18 3.77 108 4.69 103.7 1.3
2017 BAL MLB 24 19 93.0 1 7 0 125 51 63 24 106 12.1 4.9 2.3 6.1 39% .334 1.89 6.91 7.84 136 8.56 182.2 -3.1
2018 BAL MLB 7 7 26.7 1 5 0 42 17 13 6 107 14.2 5.7 2.0 4.4 44% .364 2.21 7.28 10.46 137 8.46 188.9 -1.0
CareerMLB2102051145.07460011424368471641069.03.41.36.741%.2841.384.714.571175.62129.1-6.3

Statistics for All Levels

'opp' stats - Quality of opponents faced - have been moved and are available only as OPP_QUAL in the Statistics reports now.
Minor league stats are currently shownClick to hide.
YEAR Team Lg LG G GS IP W L SV H BB SO HR PPF H/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/9 GB% BABIP WHIP FIP ERA cFIP DRA DRA-
2006 EVE A- NWN 5 5 19.1 1 3 0 25 15 29 4 97 11.8 7.1 1.9 13.7 0% .457 2.09 5.77 8.01 94 7.51 157.7
2006 MRN Rk AZL 5 0 11.0 2 0 1 9 5 16 0 113 7.4 4.1 0.0 13.1 0% .346 1.27 2.99 0.82 76 2.30 48.3
2007 WIS A MDW 8 8 33.0 1 4 0 31 13 34 1 94 8.5 3.5 0.3 9.3 0% .313 1.33 2.90 3.55 87 3.92 80.4
2007 HDS A+ CLF 20 20 102.7 6 7 0 107 48 105 12 120 9.4 4.2 1.1 9.2 0% .322 1.51 5.00 5.26 95 3.99 81.8
2008 BOW AA EAS 28 28 135.7 11 4 0 115 65 154 10 103 7.6 4.3 0.7 10.2 0% .303 1.33 3.43 3.18 84 3.55 72.6
2009 BAL MLB AL 12 12 65.0 2 5 0 77 24 39 15 107 10.7 3.3 2.1 5.4 0% .302 1.55 6.13 5.40 121 6.57 140.9
2009 NOR AAA INT 18 18 96.7 8 6 0 85 26 99 5 101 7.9 2.4 0.5 9.2 0% .302 1.15 2.70 2.70 78 3.37 70.9
2010 BAL MLB AL 11 11 53.7 2 5 0 51 31 31 9 115 8.6 5.2 1.5 5.2 0% .256 1.53 5.86 5.87 137 7.30 164.8
2010 NOR AAA INT 21 21 121.3 11 7 0 120 30 94 10 99 8.9 2.2 0.7 7.0 0% .301 1.24 3.60 3.34 0 0.00 0.0
2011 BAL MLB AL 13 13 62.0 3 5 0 77 25 46 5 106 11.2 3.6 0.7 6.7 0% .348 1.65 4.02 5.52 111 5.76 133.8
2011 NOR AAA INT 15 15 76.3 3 6 0 77 38 54 17 92 9.1 4.5 2.0 6.4 0% .263 1.51 6.28 5.19 140 6.00 122.6
2012 BAL MLB AL 15 15 86.0 9 3 0 66 24 66 12 101 6.9 2.5 1.3 6.9 0% .221 1.05 4.19 2.93 117 5.01 114.9
2012 BOW AA EAS 1 1 3.3 0 1 0 4 2 2 0 98 10.8 5.4 0.0 5.4 0% .364 1.80 3.79 8.10 111 5.75 119.8
2012 NOR AAA INT 16 15 89.3 8 8 0 85 30 92 5 93 8.6 3.0 0.5 9.3 0% .323 1.29 2.93 3.63 77 3.77 78.6
2013 BAL MLB AL 33 33 206.3 16 7 0 184 68 179 33 99 8.0 3.0 1.4 7.8 0% .269 1.22 4.45 3.71 109 4.68 112.1
2014 BAL MLB AL 34 34 207.3 13 6 0 189 66 150 21 99 8.2 2.9 0.9 6.5 0% .267 1.23 4.04 3.34 114 4.85 119.0
2015 BAL MLB AL 31 31 173.0 11 11 0 176 64 120 20 114 9.2 3.3 1.0 6.2 0% .293 1.39 4.41 4.99 115 5.94 138.8
2016 BAL MLB AL 30 30 172.0 16 6 0 155 66 140 19 111 8.1 3.5 1.0 7.3 42% .282 1.28 4.18 3.77 108 4.69 103.7
2017 BAL MLB AL 24 19 93.0 1 7 0 125 51 63 24 106 12.1 4.9 2.3 6.1 39% .334 1.89 6.91 7.84 136 8.56 182.2
2017 FRD A+ CAR 1 1 5.0 0 1 0 8 1 2 1 101 14.4 1.8 1.8 3.6 48% .350 1.80 5.79 7.20 120 6.00 127.8
2017 BOW AA EAS 2 2 6.3 0 1 0 7 1 6 2 103 9.9 1.4 2.8 8.5 63% .294 1.26 5.91 5.68 105 4.69 99.8
2017 NOR AAA INT 1 1 5.0 0 1 0 5 2 6 4 112 9.0 3.6 7.2 10.8 31% .111 1.40 13.14 9.00 134 5.55 118.0
2018 BAL MLB AL 7 7 26.7 1 5 0 42 17 13 6 107 14.2 5.7 2.0 4.4 44% .364 2.21 7.28 10.46 137 8.46 188.9
2018 DEL A SAL 1 1 3.3 0 1 0 4 1 3 0 80 10.8 2.7 0.0 8.1 50% .400 1.50 2.56 5.40 98 5.70 120.4
2018 ABE A- NYP 1 1 2.0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 86 9.0 9.0 0.0 4.5 71% .286 2.00 5.48 13.50 115 5.54 117.1
2018 FRD A+ CAR 1 1 6.3 0 1 0 5 3 4 1 112 7.1 4.3 1.4 5.7 45% .211 1.26 6.04 5.68 122 4.42 93.4
2018 NOR AAA INT 3 3 15.0 0 1 0 25 6 5 2 95 15.0 3.6 1.2 3.0 55% .383 2.07 5.79 6.60 130 8.05 170.2
2018 ROU AAA PCL 4 4 9.0 0 1 0 11 8 5 1 87 11.0 8.0 1.0 5.0 52% .333 2.11 7.41 9.00 134 7.49 158.3

Plate Discipline

YEAR Pits Zone% Swing% Contact% Z-Swing% O-Swing% Z-Contact% O-Contact% SwStr%
2009 1156 0.4957 0.4299 0.8290 0.6178 0.2453 0.8814 0.6993 0.1710
2010 942 0.4597 0.4236 0.8396 0.6212 0.2554 0.8922 0.7308 0.1604
2011 1163 0.4721 0.4411 0.8402 0.6266 0.2752 0.8837 0.7515 0.1598
2012 1431 0.4927 0.4493 0.7932 0.6454 0.2590 0.8352 0.6915 0.2068
2013 3470 0.5259 0.4571 0.7963 0.6356 0.2590 0.8319 0.6995 0.2037
2014 3403 0.5190 0.4531 0.8223 0.6484 0.2425 0.8699 0.6851 0.1777
2015 2939 0.5155 0.4519 0.8148 0.6403 0.2514 0.8619 0.6872 0.1852
2016 2926 0.4956 0.4525 0.7795 0.6469 0.2615 0.8316 0.6528 0.2205
2017 1795 0.4228 0.4468 0.8217 0.7365 0.2346 0.8837 0.6790 0.1783
2018 520 0.4327 0.4212 0.8721 0.6933 0.2136 0.9551 0.6667 0.1279
Career197450.49630.44840.81170.64930.25200.85990.68950.1883

Injury History  —  No longer being updated

Last Update: 12/31/2014 23:59 ET

Date On Date Off Transaction Days Games Side Body Part Injury Severity Surgery Date Reaggravation
2014-05-12 2014-05-16 DTD 4 4 - Groin Soreness - -
2013-03-22 2013-04-06 15-DL 15 4 - Abdomen Recovery From Strain - -
2013-03-04 2013-03-22 Camp 18 0 - Abdomen Strain - -
2012-09-03 2012-09-17 DTD 14 13 Right Elbow Nerve Injury Ulnar Neuritis - -
2012-07-26 2012-07-26 DTD 0 0 - General Medical Illness - -
2011-05-16 2011-05-16 DTD 0 0 Trunk Soreness Rib Cage -
2010-02-20 2010-02-26 Camp 6 0 Low Back Tightness -
2009-05-24 2009-06-02 Minors 9 0 Groin Tightness -

Compensation

Year Team Salary
2018 BAL $3,000,000
2017 BAL $10,050,000
2016 BAL $6,225,000
2015 BAL $4,315,000
2014 BAL $546,000
2013 BAL $508,500
2011 BAL $417,000
YearsDescriptionSalary
8 yrPrevious$25,061,500
8 yrTotal$25,061,500

 

Service TimeAgentContract Status
6 y 113 dBeverly Hills Sports Council1 year/$3M (2018)

Details
  • 1 year/$3M (2018). Signed by Baltimore 2/19/18 as a free agent. Performance bonuses: $1M each for 125, 150 innings pitched. $1.5M each for 175, 190 IP. $2M for 200 IP. Some earned performance bonuses are to be deferred, though deferrals are voided with trade.) DFA by Baltimore 7/20/18. Refused assignment, elected free agency 7/25/18. Signed by Texas as a free agent 8/2/18 (minor-league contract).
  • 1 year/$10.05M (2017). Re-signed by Baltimore 1/13/17 (avoided arbitration).
  • 1 year/$6.225M (2016). Re-signed by Baltimore 1/15/16 (avoided arbitration). Performance bonuses: $25,000 each for 180, 190, 200 innings pitched.
  • 1 year/$4.315M (2015). Re-signed by Baltimore 1/16/15 (avoided arbitration).
  • 1 year/$0.546M (2014). Re-signed by Baltimore 3/11/14.
  • 1 year/$0.5085M (2013). Re-signed by Baltimore 3/8/13. Award bonuses, including $25,000 for All-Star selection.
  • 1 year (2012). Re-signed by Baltimore 3/10/12.
  • 1 year/$0.417M (2011). Re-signed by Baltimore 2/11.
  • 1 year (2010). Re-signed by Baltimore 3/9/10. Optioned to Triple-A 3/30/10. Recalled 5/29/10.
  • 1 year (2009). Contract purchased by Baltimore 7/29/09.
  • Acquired by Baltimore in trade from Seattle 2/8/08.
  • Drafted by Seattle 2006 (2-49) (Fountain Valley HS, Calif.). $0.68M signing bonus.

2019 Preseason Forecast

Last Update: 1/27/2017 12:35 ET

PCT W L SV G GS IP H BB SO HR BABIP WHIP ERA DRA VORP WARP
90o 0 8.7 0 16 16 82.0 78 33 52 12 .262 1.35 4.71 4.79 -13.5 -1.5
80o 0 8.6 0 15 15 76.1 77 33 48 12 .275 1.44 5.12 5.21 -15.9 -1.7
70o 0 8.4 0 14 14 71.9 76 32 46 12 .284 1.51 5.42 5.52 -17.4 -1.9
60o 0 8.3 0 14 14 68.5 76 32 43 11 .292 1.57 5.68 5.79 -18.5 -2.0
50o 0 8.2 0 13 13 65.3 75 32 41 11 .299 1.63 5.92 6.05 -19.4 -2.1
40o 0 8.1 0 12 12 62.1 74 31 39 11 .307 1.69 6.17 6.31 -20.2 -2.2
30o 0 7.9 0 12 12 58.9 73 31 37 11 .315 1.75 6.45 6.59 -20.9 -2.3
20o 0 7.7 0 11 11 55.1 71 30 35 11 .325 1.83 6.77 6.92 -21.5 -2.3
10o 0 7.4 0 10 10 50.1 68 29 32 10 .338 1.95 7.23 7.4 -22.1 -2.4
Weighted Mean08.10131364.874314111.2981.625.896.02-19.1-2.1

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BP Annual Player Comments

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BP Articles

Click here to see articles tagged with Chris Tillman

BP Chats

DateQuestionAnswer
2018-12-18 13:00:00 (link to chat)Do you know if DRC+ was created just as a means to new content? You know. For the clicks.
(Henry Hucklebuck from Honolulu)
Well, you don't expect me to say "yes," do you, Henry? But having been involved with the testing, I can tell you that we saw an opportunity to move offensive stats forward by incorporating factors that other metrics don't use, like opposing pitcher and defense quality, batted ball quality, more sophisticated park factors, and the like. wRC+ and OPS+ are great metrics that moved offensive analysis forward, but they're outcomes-oriented. If Dee Gordon beats out a dribbler up the third base line off Chris Tillman, and Joey Gallo hits a rocket off Blake Snell that Kiermaier chases down, Gordon wins and Gallo loses. We think there's more to it than that. And, as Jonathan Judge showed, DRC+ is both more descriptive and more predictive than other metrics. (Rob Mains)
2016-08-01 16:00:00 (link to chat)I see Musgrove has been promoted. I want to pick him up in my dynasty league my options of pitchers to drop are McCarthy, Stroman, Shoemaker, Cody Reed, Tillman. I'm leaning towards McCarthy strictly because of his age
(Mason from Texas)
I'd drop Chris Tillman but I can see why you might drop McCarthy. (Mike Gianella)
2016-05-17 14:00:00 (link to chat)Tillman real deal or no deal?
(McRatSandwich from chi)
So Chris Tillman has been doing a funny thing this year. He's throwing his fastball *way* less often. Go check out his BrooksBaseball page and look at the usage rates year-to-year. He's been way more of a junkball guy this year. We'll see if that keeps itself going, but it's not like there's been a sudden shift in the mood of the BABIP dragons or whatever. This is a different Tillman. Fun stuff. (Nicolas Stellini)
2014-10-31 13:00:00 (link to chat)How much, if at all, did last year's struggles dampen Xander Bogaerts' prospects? Still a future role 6 type guy?
(Mario66 from Pittsburgh)
Adjusting to MLB pitching is difficult. I do think he is still a top guy, but it didn't piece together this season. Might not next season, but he has the ability. I watched him take an AB against Chris Tillman this season and it was the most impressed I had been all year. Tillman worked two inside FB for a strike and then a foul tip. Then he tried to 12-6 CB on the outside and Xander fouled it off. Tillman wasted 2 FB up and outside and then tried the CB down in the dirt, and Xander kept his hands back after initially cocking them. Next pitch he belted a FB inside off the monster. I watched him grow up in that AB (Tucker Blair)
2014-10-23 14:00:00 (link to chat)What does Chris Tillman's season look like next year? Asking because it seems like he overperformed his PECOTA projections this year
(Aaron from MD)
The lazy answer is that he'll give half of it back, regress some to the mean, but raise his baseline for expected performance, right? Well, I see an upward trajectory for a pitcher going into his age-27 season, who has consecutive seasons of 200-IP under his belt. He could continue his upward trajectory, though a pitcher who has outplayed his FIP for 3 consecutive seasons will have his share of doubters. The fastball is his main weapon, and Tillman has lost about 1.5 mph over the past couple of seasons while upping his usage of the pitch - with progressively better results - a combination that will further confuse prognosticators. I think that it has more to do with his refinement of pitch command and movement, and if that trend continues, then he will outplay his FIP once again in 2015.

On the jukebox: Jimi Hendrix, "Stone Free" (Doug Thorburn)
2014-07-25 14:00:00 (link to chat)Thanks for the great work you do here, Doug. What are you seeing when you watch Chris Tillman and Kevin Gausman? What does each do well and what could improve?
(Matt from Austin)
Gausman has an insane change-up, and he can play off the change-fastball combination given his elite raw velocity, though his breaking stuff lags behind and will likely impede his chances of hitting K-related ceilings. There is great power in Gaus' delivery, and he has the upside for plus stability but is still a bit volatile as he continues to mature physically.

Tillman has an exceptionally tall arm slot, releasing the ball at heights of 6.75 feet or higher. His ultra-high release stems from a combination of physical height (he's 6'3"), a tendency to stay tall in the delivery (high center-of-gravity with minimal flex in the knees), and a spine-tilt that artificially raises his slot. The power grades out as average, and Tillman has room for improvement in the balance department, but downhill plane is not an issue.

On the jukebox: Pantera, "Cemetery Gates" (Doug Thorburn)
2014-04-08 14:00:00 (link to chat)Using BrooksBaseball, I noticed Chris Tillman used his cutter a lot more against the Tigers than the Red Sox. His control of the pitch on Sunday was the best its been in his career. In 2013, he only threw it 6% of the time because he didn't know where it was going. If he's able to get the frequency of the pitch above 10%, will he become more than just a solid #3?
(Ace from PA)
The cutter adds another weapon with a different velocity range than his other pitches, and it will be interesting to see if he adjusts his usage patterns. He currently uses the pitch almost exclusively vs RHB's, and I think that had as much to do with his DET-BOS split as anything. Detroit had just three batters from the left side in that game - VMart, Tyler Collins, Bryan Holaday - while the Sawx had a more intimidating 5-pack that included Papi, Carp, Nava, Sizemore, and Pierzynski. I like Tillman's upside, and though his mechanics report card is full of average-ish grades, the guy has an incredibly tall release point (avg of 6.75 feet of height in 2013) that gives him the downhill-plane advantage. (Doug Thorburn)
2014-02-26 19:00:00 (link to chat)Are you riding the Chris Tillman train? The movement on his pitches is insane according to pitch f/x, his velocity is back up, and his mechanics are above average.
(NightmareRec0n from Boston)
I'm not on it full time but I think there's something there. He has to fix his homer happy tendencies but I think he's going to be a solid mid rotation guy. (Mauricio Rubio)
2014-02-20 13:00:00 (link to chat)12 tm, AL Only, both Chris Tillman $6 + AJ Griffin $3 need extensions. Do you extend both or just one: Tillman $11 or Griffin $8? I worry that I'll extend the wrong one (leaning Tillman).
(Teenwolf from Vancouver, BC)
I could extend both for one year, but if it's just one, then Griffin (and I love Tillman, but gimme the better park and $3) (Paul Sporer)
2014-02-18 14:00:00 (link to chat)What do you make of it when we see highly touted prospects who still have excellent stuff don't produce the results we expect? Garrett Richards comes to mind. He throws gas,has a plus slider/curve, but can't strike anyone one out. Chris Tillman is another guy good fastball with life, dropping curve ball, and a slider with a ton of movement
(NightmareRec0n from Boston)
The gap between the highest level of the minor leagues (Triple-A) and the major leagues is the biggest gap across any professional sport. I think Tillman could still be a good starter, though. (Ronit Shah)
2014-01-29 19:00:00 (link to chat)Thoughts on Chris Tillman in a QS league?
(Mitch from Iowa)
Tillman is underrated. I'm a fan. I actually prefer him to Tanaka in 2014. (Ben Carsley)
2014-01-21 18:00:00 (link to chat)Dynasty points league with a salary cap of $162. My team is currently around $125 and likely to add another $10 through the draft. Before the next round of free agent bidding, I can choose to lock up one of these three: David Ortiz $9/2 yrs, Iwakuma $9/2, or Chris Tillman $5/3. Which do you prioritize? For the other two, I'll have the right to match the highest bid placed on them. If you need more context, please let me know. Thanks!
(doog7642 from Blaine, mn)
Hey doog.

Given raw ability/value I'd probably want Papi but given age and probably want Iwakuma. It's a close call between those two but I'd go Iwakuma just based on age and the fact that your salaries are so low. (Mike Gianella)
2014-01-21 18:00:00 (link to chat)16 team dynasty league. My current OF (3) is a combo of Leonys Martin, Wil Myers, BJ Upton, Nick Swisher, Mike Morse. Ive got an offer of George Springer for my Michael Wacha. Im up in the air on it as I think my rotation (Verlander, Teheran, Ian Kennedy, Chris Tillman, Jose Quintana and Ubaldo) can handle the loss but Im wondering how you see a deal like that shaking out long term? Springers hit tool worries me long term as I could see him being a .240 hitter which impacts his counting stats production as well. What do you see he and Wacha turning into?
(dzemens from Adrian, MI)
I think I would make that deal in a dynasty. Springer's average might never be great, but his power/speed combo in fantasy is enticing and a Raul Mondesi type wouldn't surprise me. I like Wacha a lot, but I see him as more of a 2/3 type than an ace. Springer might not be a top real life hitter but he could be in fantasy because of the speed. I'd make the deal. (Mike Gianella)
2014-01-14 13:00:00 (link to chat)Do you think what we saw out of Chris Tillman in 2013 is legit? Or do you think he will regress?
(Tom from Dallas)
I'll reference myself on that one - http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=22482 and http://painttheblack.com/2013/09/have-you-noticed-chris-tillman/ Tl;dr - I'm a fan. (Paul Sporer)
2013-11-14 13:00:00 (link to chat)Thoughts on Chris Tillman's future prospects?
(Kevin from Montpelier)
I was really impressed with what he showed in 2013 and I think you're looking at a nice middle of the rotation arm for the next few years. (Mark Anderson)
2013-04-16 20:00:00 (link to chat)Is Felix Dumbrount worth keeping on a 12 team mixed roster? He's pitching today and don't feel confident in starting him. Any high upside pitchers to target for end of the rotation SP spots?
(RC from PDX)
Was that a Freudian slip? He's not really worth owning in a 12 teamer for now. You can find better pitching on the wire. How about someone like Chris Tillman or Ervin Santana? Or Francisco Liriano?? Someone help me. Seriously. (Bret Sayre)
2013-04-10 20:00:00 (link to chat)What is ur feeling on Tillman? First start was bad, but a step forward was expected. Wait & see, or don't start again until he shows something. Lost Weaver, any other low end starters to help out in a deep league.
(Donald Loria from Milwaukee)
Like a lot of the BP staff, I was high on Chris Tillman coming into this year. He was limited in Spring Training and then went on the DL due to an abdominal injury. There's probably some rust here. If Tillman's available in your deep league and you need to replace Jered Weaver, he's probably going to be one of your better choices. (Mike Gianella)
2013-03-26 13:00:00 (link to chat)Tillman, Bedard, or Kazmir for a backend starter in fantasy?
(Manny from NY)
I don't know much about how fantasy stats work, but if it's not Chris Tillman, then I don't think I want to play. (Zachary Levine)
2013-02-15 12:00:00 (link to chat)In your opinion who may be a few pitchers outside the top 100-150 or so that will possibly take a leap forward or make a name for themselves in 2013 that could be possible steals at the end of some drafts?
(Chris from NJ)
Using the bottom 100 names from the PFM: Lucas Harrell, Nate Eovaldi, Chris Tillman, Alex Cobb, Jason Hammel (Jason Collette)
2013-01-07 13:00:00 (link to chat)Who's a good buy-low MLB regular for SP this season?
(Sara from Tacoma)
I'll give you a few to cater to leagues of a variety of sizes. Hisashi Iwakuma is a sleeper I like a great deal. His high groundball percentage will help him in the transition to Safeco's new ballpark dimensions. Brett Anderson was impressive in his brief return to the hill at the end of last year and is currently a draft value at his current draft position in Mock Draft Central mocks. A few ugly starts to begin Ryan Dempster's time with the Rangers seem to have driven down his value. He'll be fine pitching in Boston and remains an undervalued starter. Chris Tillman enjoyed his first taste of success in the majors last year. He's not as good as his sub-3.00 ERA suggests, but some backlash from those looking at the peripherals may make him a value in AL-only in deep mixed leagues. I think he's capable of improving his underlying stats and staving off some of the regression that would otherwise come from him pitching at the same level this year. (Josh Shepardson)
2011-04-12 13:00:00 (link to chat)Chris Tillman: 88 mph buzzkill like Hughes, or kid working on his mechanics and will see his velocity return?
(Drungo from SoMd)
To paraphrase Joe Morgan, I haven't seen him pitch this season, so I'll reserve judgement. I read that the velo drop was at least partially an intentional measure to increase control and movement, but I'm skeptical. Progressive velo decline is the norm for pitchers, unfortunately, but big velo drops are usually a cause for concern. (Ben Lindbergh)
2010-11-09 14:00:00 (link to chat)What's your general approach to pitchers that struggle in their first couple exposures to major league hitters but keep getting it done in the minors? Do you keep running Chris Tillman out there next year until he figures it out?
(Aaron from YYZ)
I think you have to approach it on a player by player basis. You need to find out what the stuff is and why it isn't working in the big leagues. Tillman is very frustrating, as his stuff has backed off, but just a little, and not enough to define his struggles. (Kevin Goldstein)
2010-06-28 14:00:00 (link to chat)Orioles fan. Nobody in the majors is performing. Nobody in the minors is performing. I know they won't always be this bad, but realistically, when is the earliest they could contend? Last year pundits thought it was 2011/2012, but now that seems ridiculous. Will I have to wait until a salary cap is implemented or Angelos sells the team?
(Dan from Maryland)
This has been pretty much a lost year, as just about all of the key youngsters on whom the Orioles' future hinges has taken a step backwards - Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman... In retrospect, I think the team waited too long to pull the plug on Dave Trembley, because the situation has just festered, but keep in mind the Orioles' poor standing also has to do with the fact that the other four teams in the division are especially strong; the O's are 8-25 (.242) against them, which is worse than the 1962 Mets' pace.

In terms of contention, I think a lot depends upon whom they hire as a manager. Buck Showalter might be able to get them playing respectable baseball by sometime next year, but contention will take some front office smarts, and I'm not sure the guy who signed Garrett Atkins need apply. (Jay Jaffe)
2010-05-14 13:00:00 (link to chat)We're approaching 40 games into the season, and the shock of the O's dismal start is starting to fade, and now I can't help but feel bitter. Wasn't this the year they were supposed to make it to .500, beginning an upward trend for at least a few years? Can you help me make sense of it all?
(tmcghan from Bay Area, CA)
Well, losing Brian Roberts for a couple of months is a major blow, but you're right, there's some disconcerting stuff going on there, such as Adam Jones' chilly start, the odd shipment of Nolan Reimold to Triple-A, and the inexplicable continuing presence of Garret Atkins. Still, Matt Wieters is making progress, as is Brian Matusz, and Chris Tillman appears to be coming around at Triple-A. Just remember that a turnaround for an organization with such a back history of losing takes time, and probably a change at the helm -- I'd have bet that Dave Trembley would get the axe before Trey Hillman, and I doubt he'll be around for much longer. (Jay Jaffe)
2010-03-26 13:00:00 (link to chat)Any thoughts on the Orioles' Chris Tillman? For such a highly regarded prospect last year with a guaranteed job in the bigs, I find there to be surprisingly little buzz about him.
(Aaron from YYZ)
He's a bit overshadowed by Brian Matusz, who seems more big-league ready at the moment and who as a lefty has skills that are a bit more rare. Tillman's 2.1 HR/9 last year suggests he's got some growing pains still ahead of him, but as a long-term play, there's a lot to like. (Jay Jaffe)
2010-03-24 11:00:00 (link to chat)Is it just me or is Chris Tillman or the Orioles something of a forgotten man the young pitcher discussions this year?
(Aaron from YYZ)
"The Forgotten Man" struck me as superficial, but Chris Tillman's future does not. I think he'll be a solid middle of the rotation guy. I don't think his ceiling is quite what Matusz' is, but it's very nice for the Orioles to have that young talent. As for right now, he's gonna struggle a little bit. (Tommy Bennett)
2010-02-09 13:00:00 (link to chat)I read today that the Orioles were thinking of putting Chris Tillman in AAA to start the year. Does this make sense? Thanks for your reply.
(Paul from San Francisco)
I think that's your basic February pre-camp motivational cloud talk of the nobody's-guaranteed-nuthin' variety. That said, Tillman gave up 2.1 HR/9 in his trial last year, and he's got to seriously improve that to survive in the majors. The Orioles aren't winning anything this year, so I don't see the harm in making sure he irons that out in Triple-A rather than burning more service time. (Jay Jaffe)
2010-01-26 14:00:00 (link to chat)Which young dynamic duo would you choose for your team long term? Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland or Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz?
(Chad from Arlington)
Feliz/Holland, I think. The combined upside is higher. (Tommy Bennett)
2009-12-29 15:00:00 (link to chat)Thanks for the chat. Here's the order in which I rank the following young SPs in projected career value - Tommy Hanson, Rick Porcello, Brett Anderson, Neftali Feliz, Chris Tillman, Mat Latos, Madson Bumgarner. I realize that guessing at career value for young SPs is a crapshoot but do you violently disagree with any aspect of this order?
(KerryFam4 from Atlanta, GA)
I'd have Feliz higher, and I'm not totally convinced the last two belong in this discussion. Porcello might be best, too. (Joe Sheehan)
2009-05-07 14:00:00 (link to chat)With Chris Tillman's good start, do you think we'll see before the ASB?
(NG from NYC)
I think you'll see him, but probably not that soon. Seems like a perfectly good waste of service time to me. (Kevin Goldstein)


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PITCHf/x Pitcher Profile

A Collaboration between BrooksBaseball.net and Baseball Prospectus - Pitch classifications provided by Pitch Info LLC


Although he has not thrown an MLB pitch in 2024, Chris Tillman threw 19,904 pitches that were tracked by the PITCHf/x system between 2009 and 2018, including pitches thrown in . In 2018, he relied primarily on his Fourseam Fastball (90mph) and Slider (83mph), also mixing in a Change (83mph), Sinker (89mph) and Curve (76mph).