Gonzalez morphing into one of MLB's most consistent starters

BALTIMORE - For all his big-picture success in seven seasons with the Nationals, Gio Gonzalez is never going to earn praise for his consistency. The left-hander's erratic performance from start to start - sometimes even from inning to inning - can drive anyone mad.

Here's a dirty little secret for anyone who still feels that way about Gonzalez, though: He has become one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball over the last two seasons. Consistently good.

Today's outing during the Nationals' 6-0 victory over the Orioles - 7 2/3 scoreless innings on 114 pitches - was merely the latest evidence of this. This win leaves Gonzalez with a 6-2 record and 2.10 ERA in 11 starts this season. In all 11 starts, he has allowed three or fewer earned runs. In 10 of the 11 starts, he has allowed two or fewer earned runs.

This, however, is merely a continuation of 2017 for Gonzalez. In 43 total starts over these last two seasons, he has now allowed three or fewer earned runs 37 times. Only Justin Verlander, with 39, has been better. And he has now allowed two or fewer earned runs 32 times. Only teammate Max Scherzer, with 33, has been better.

How, then, has a pitcher known for being so erratic over the majority of his career, turned into one of the sport's most consistent starters?

"I'll tell you, we've been all over him about throwing strikes," manager Davey Martinez said. "Strike one. Getting ahead of hitters. And he's worked adamantly about doing that. It's been working out for him. He's going deep in games, and he feels really strong. Kudos to him for allowing us to help him, and for him going out there and do what he's supposed to do."

It may feel like Gonzalez is throwing more strikes, but it's not actually true. His strike percentage each of the last two seasons has been slightly better than 60 percent. That's down from the rate of 62 to 63 percent he maintained through his first five seasons in Washington.

What Gonzalez is doing, it appears, is throwing more quality strikes, especially down in the zone. That is allowing him to get himself out of trouble as well as anyone else in the game.

During today's game, Gonzalez induced three double-play grounders. He also didn't surrender a hit in three at-bats with runners in scoring position, leaving opponents batting a paltry .113 (6-for-53) this season and .158 (31-for-196) over the last two seasons, best in MLB.

"Years of working on it, just trying to get the rhythm of it," Gonzalez said of his improvement down in the zone. "Earlier in my career, it was definitely not at the knees. Some of these baseballs were not coming back. Definitely now, I'm working on it in my bullpen, I'm working on it in game. I have the privilege to watch some pretty good starters go out there and do that same routine."

Gonzalez also is thriving despite a drop in velocity. His fastball averaged 94.2 mph in 2012, his first season with the Nationals. It dropped into the 92 mph range in 2015-16. Now it's down to 90.4 mph the last two seasons.

"When I was younger, I was just trying to throw it over the plate," the 32-year-old said. "Now I'm out there trying to hit my spots. It's good. I mean, I'd love to have 95 in the bag, but I can also feel comfortable knowing I can throw all three of my pitches when I want."

Gonzalez is throwing his curveball and changeup effectively, allowing those well-located 90-mph fastballs to be more successful. He's working at a faster pace - 19.4 seconds between pitches this season, 21.9 seconds last season - and keeping hitters off-balance.

"It helps a lot," Martinez said. "He wants to get the ball and keep going. Guys have to get in the box and get ready to hit."

Put that all together, and the Nationals have themselves one of the most consistently effective starting pitchers in baseball. And this is a rotation, mind you, that is anchored by guys named Scherzer and Strasburg.

"He's going after hitters," third baseman Anthony Rendon, "not trying to be too fine, and letting his defense work."

It sounds simple enough. For Gonzalez, it merely took a career to perfect.