Angels' Reid Detmers having better season than you would think

Based on the surface stats, Los Angeles Angels pitcher Reid Detmers is having a solid season.

The former top prospect has begun to live up to expectations, having posted a 3.93 ERA and a 1.053 WHiP in his 94 innings entering Monday, striking out 104 batters with 28 walks. Opponents have mustered a meager .207/.270/.321 batting line against Detmers in their 382 plate appearances, hitting seven homers.

While Detmers' overall numbers are solid, they could be even better. He has a 2.88 FIP (a measure of ERA based on events the pitcher can control)  and has generated plenty of weak contact (36.7% hard-hit rate — league average is 39.4%). Detmers' numbers could improve as the season goes on.

Reid Detmers - Los Angeles Angels hidden Cy Young candidate?

However, there is one metric that puts Detmers among the best pitchers in the majors. His 2.9 fWAR is fourth in the majors for pitchers, trailing only Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (4.2 fWAR), Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (3.8 fWAR) and Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (3.6 fWAR). 

As it currently stands, Schlittler is the prohibitive favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award. Detmers, despite having a solid season in his own right, may receive the odd down-ballot vote but is not among the favorites. 

That could change. If Detmers can continue to dominate the opposition and have better luck, he could move up the rankings. While he may not overtake Schlittler for the Cy Young Award, Detmers quietly deserves consideration.