May 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) pitches during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Pitchers are unique - that's an explanation for why Houston Astros ace Dallas Keuchel is so outspoken when it comes to the topic of extra rest between starts.
Because of the Astros' schedule in the second half, Keuchel pitches every six days for the club right now.
Whereas some pitchers may prefer extra rest, and could be statistically better with MORE rest as opposed to 'regular' rest, Keuchel isn't one of them.
As he explained to Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle,
Drellich points out that Keuchel, who has made 25 starts on five or more days' rest over 2014 and 2015, has a 2.84 ERA in those games - as opposed to a 2.54 ERA in the 25 starts he's made on four days' rest.
Part of the issue, Keuchel told Drellich, is that the lefty doesn't see much value in just one extra day per start: "At this point in time, one day is not going to help out the body. So, I think we all just would like to prefer to stay on five days. A lot of guys have good routines and I don't think I'm any different."
Where Keuchel is different, of course, lies in his status as one of the premier pitchers in the American League over the past two seasons regardless of how much rest he's had between outings.
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