Quality of pitch average (QOPA) is the most advanced way to evaluate pitchers on a pitch-by-pitch basis. It uses PITCHf/x data in a comprehensive manner to come up with a single metric (consult the BREW MATHs QOP/QOPA Page for a full explanation). Here, we rank every pitch thrown by the Brewers starters in 2018! Who has the best curveball? Who was most accurate? It’s all here…

PITCH-BY-PITCH AWARDs

BEST CURVE

BEST CHANGE UP

BEST TWO SEAMER

BEST SLIDER

BEST CUTTER

BEST FASTBALL

BEST SPLITTER:

Jhoulys Chacin is the only pitcher in the starting rotation with a splitter. It comes in below average at a QOPA of 3.99.

*** BEST OVERALL ***

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

1. Jhoulys Chacin

• BEST: Two Seam Fastball
• WORST: Curveball
• NOTES:
  • Relatively speaking, the movement on Chacin’s pitches outweigh the velocity
  • Chacin’s ability to locate his lively slider is key to his success

2. Brandon Woodruff

• BEST: Two Seam Fastball
• WORST: Changeup (but it is still pretty good)
• NOTES:
  • The interplay between Woodruff’s fastball and changeup keeps hitters off-balance
  • His pitches have little to no late break but have top-tier velocity

3. Corbin Burnes

• BEST: Four Seam Fastball
• WORST: Slider (but it is still pretty good)
• NOTES:
  • Overall, Burnes has good command of his arsenal – all of these pitches are of high quality
  • His fastball has a lot of natural movement

4. Chase Anderson

• BEST: Two Seam Fastball
• WORST: Cutter
• NOTES:
  • Anderson’s game is control-based and is quickly exposed when he is not locating pitches
  • He will not win games by blowing hitters away; Anderson is at his best when he is using all five of his pitches in strategic balance

5. Zach Davies

• BEST: Two Seam Fastball
• WORST: Cutter
• NOTES:
  • Davies has a lot of late movement on his pitches which minimizes hitter’s reaction time
  • Like Anderson, he will not win games with his velocity and must employ a crafty approach that banks upon deception

6. Freddy Peralta

• BEST: Changeup
• WORST: Curve
• NOTES:
  • Peralta’s sample size is relatively small and is primarily made of fastballs (1109 vs 321 offspeed); that said, his changeup was his most effective pitch in 2018
  • Peralta has a lot of late break / natural movement on his pitches which will benefit him moving forward

7. Jimmy Nelson – NO QOP / QOPA DATA for 2018

If you like this article, BREW MATHs did the same thing with the projected relievers!