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
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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!