What can Atlanta Braves fans expect from Cole Hamels in 2020?

My projections for Cole Hamels

I think the Fangraphs projection is a fair one to use for the 2020 season. Although, I believe that he will do a little better than it suggests.

It won’t be an easy task pitching in a tough NL East that features some great offenses. But I think he can handle it. Again, if he is able to stay healthy.

I believe Hamels will pitch between 150-160 innings this year and finish with an ERA around 3.65 or so.

I think his K/9 rate will sit around 9.0 and his BB/9 rate will stay around 3.0 where it’s sat for most of his career. He is a pretty consistent pitcher so I believe those are fairly easy numbers to project.

His FIP projection from Fangraphs is pretty accurate to what he’s produced in previous seasons and I believe it will sit around 4.20-4.30 for the 2020 season.

It also seems like a given that Cole will produce a really good groundball rate in 2020. He is known for being able to get the ball on the ground.

In 2019, Hamels had a groundball percentage around 47% and that will likely remain the case in 2020 for the Atlanta southpaw. For the sake of being different, I’ll say he will produce a groundball percentage of 49%.

If anything, Hamels will provide the Braves with a great veteran presence and eat some valuable innings so that the bullpen doesn’t exhaust itself.

I know the recent injury has placed some doubt around his start in an Atlanta Braves uniform, but I have a good feeling that he could be a very important part of Atlanta’s success in 2020.

I hope that’s not overly optimistic of me, but I really think this was a great pick-up for the Braves and the right fit for our rotation.

Here’s to hoping I’m not wrong and we aren’t lamenting this decision when the offseason rolls around.