The Twins' 5 Most Effective Pitches

[Nash Walker]

As we approach the postseason, it’s important to know which pitches (and from whom) we may see in the biggest spots. Who has the five best pitches on the team?5. José Berríos’ curveball

 

JB has been great over his last three starts. Opponents are hitting .175/.268/.254 during his last 17 ⅔ innings pitched. His curveball command has been a massive factor in that. It showed Wednesday against the White Sox. 2019 breakout Yoán Moncada opened Berríos’ 2020 campaign by blasting a three-run homer in Chicago. On Wednesday, though, Berríos battled Moncada into a strikeout, burning him with a nasty curveball in a full count. Opponents are hitting .125 against his breaker this year

 

 

4. Matt Wisler’s slider

 

Ew. This pitch is disgusting. Wisler joined the Twins as a waiver wire pickup and made them look brilliant for bringing him in. He’s tied with Max Kepler and Randy Dobnak for the fourth most bWAR (0.7) on the club. Wisler came into the ninth inning to face Eloy Jiménez, Luis Robert and Nomar Mazara with a 3-2 lead in Tuesday’s win. Ehire Adrianza helped with a great play at third, but Wisler diced up Robert with sliders away and struck out both he and Mazara to break the six game losing streak.

 

Wisler is throwing his slider over *81%* of the time, generating a 40% whiff rate and .125 opponent batting average. ‘

 

 

3. Tyler Duffey’s curveball

 

The Doof has been one of the best relievers in baseball for over a calendar year. Duffey was excellent in 10 starts in 2015; he posted a 3.10 ERA in 58 innings with 53 strikeouts. In his next 229 innings, his ERA ballooned to 6.05. He seemingly hit rock bottom in 2019 when he started the season at Triple-A with his career hanging in the balance.

 

Duffey then reverted to a mostly strict fastball-slider/curve combo to get outs. It worked wonderfully. In 2020, he’s thrown more of a 12-6 curve nearly 60% of the time. Opponents are hitting .103 with a 48.3% whiff rate against the pitch. Duffey has become a weapon.

 

2. Kenta Maeda’s slider

 

Maeda is off to a great start in a Twins uniform. He’s produced more bWAR (1.3) in 42 ⅔ innings this year than he did in 153 ⅔ innings last year (1.2). A few changes in pitch mix, specifically more reliance on his slider, and less on his fastball, has propelled him to sparkly heights. Maeda generated a 40.7% whiff rate on his slider in 2019, holding opponents to a .158 average.

 

 

1. Sergio Romo’s slider

 

Sergio has carved out a terrific career, one with three World Series titles, with his insanely efficient slider. Since his debut in 2008, Romo has faced 1,623 right-handed hitters. They’ve hit .196/.240/.336 off him. Among pitchers who’ve faced 1,500 righties or more during that span, Sergio ranks fourth in opponent OPS. The reason? The slider. Romo throws a mid 80s fastball with little life, but his slider is so effective that his lack of velocity hasn’t mattered for over a decade.

 

Romo has thrown his slider more than ever in 2020. He’s showing the pitch 70% of the time and 78% of the time versus righties. Opponents are hitting .133 with a .220 wOBA against it. When righties Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres find the plate in October, I want Sergio and his slider on the mound in the late innings.

 

 

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[jimbo92107]

Two things: Duffey's not even using his best benders because the throwing motion is too different from his fast ball.

 

Berrios should consult Romo on improving his slider. Or maybe he already did.

 

Bonus thing: Can somebody interview Caleb Thielbar on how he increased his spin rate so radically?

[Seth Stohs]

I'd throw these out for consideration:

 

1.) Jorge Alcala fastball

2.) Trevor May fastball

3.) Trevor May changeup

4.) Randy Dobnak one-seamer

5.) Kenta Maeda splitter thingy

6.) Tyler Clippard's changeup 

[mikelink45]

 

I'd throw these out for consideration:

 

1.) Jorge Alcala fastball

2.) Trevor May fastball

3.) Trevor May changeup

4.) Randy Dobnak one-seamer

5.) Kenta Maeda splitter thingy

6.) Tyler Clippard's changeup 

THANKS SETH - I missed have a FB in the mix.  

[ashbury]

THANKS SETH - I missed have a FB in the mix.  

Odorizzi's four-seamer teasing its way just above the strike zone for a futile swing is an underrated pleasure to watch, as well.

 

[Sielk]

Odorizzi's four-seamer teasing its way just above the strike zone for a futile swing is an underrated pleasure to watch, as well.

 

Totally agree. But speaking of Odo's high fastballs, during his last start I got the impression that he barely threw it.

 

Was that just my imagination or doesn't he throw them that often anymore?

[Seth Stohs]

I love seeing a good two-seamer... Like the Maddux one.I think that's such a tough pitch.

 

[Linus]

Romos slider

[Rosterman]

Jorge Alcala's fastball.

 

Trevor May is FANTASTIC or HORRID.

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Maeda just...PITCHES!