Throwing Heat Week 15

The season has begun and we are back with Throwing Heat! For those who didn’t read these articles last season, this weekly article focuses on pitchers who are pitching well. When we are further into the season it will be based on a pitcher’s previous three starts but for now, it will just be their most recent starts.

This article’s beauty is that it highlights all types of pitchers from the best in the league to pitchers who are barely rostered. If someone is on a hot streak they will be in this article. I will also tell you if the hot streak is legit or if it appears to be a façade. I hope you enjoy it!

*Stats as of 8/15*

Blake Snell, SDP

Last three starts: 1.02 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 39.7 K%

Blake Snell has been exceptionally good in his last five starts and he is pitching like the Ace that he can be. In his last five starts, he has produced a 0.94 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 35.5 K%. All of those numbers are flat-out elite.

Snell has done one thing differently, he has stopped walking hitters. His walk rate this season sits at 10.8% which is above average but in these five starts, his walk rate has been just 4.5%. He was able to do so by having one of the highest first strike rates in the league.

While the LOB% of 93.5% in this five-start stretch is alarming his BABIP doesn’t show any luck at all. He’s just been flat-out very good and getting hitters out when he needs to.

On the season Snell’s ERA has come down to 3.66 in 15 starts and his strikeout rate has now reached 31.4%. He has always had the stuff and I think by the end of the season he could finish with a low three ERA.

Jacob deGrom, NYM

Last three starts: 1.62 ERA, 0.42 WHIP, 50.0 K%

If you are on this website it most likely means you have seen Jacob deGrom pitch. If that is not the case please start watching him it is literally an event every time. He is just far and away the best pitcher in the league.

Jeffrey Springs, TBR

Last three starts: 2.81 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 28.8 K%

This is nothing new for Jeffrey Springs as he has a 2.92 ERA on the season as a starter. Springs is very interesting to me because I see a ton of potential here and he could become another great Tampa Bay Ray’s success story.

Underlying metrics show Springs as a mid to low three ERA pitcher and it’s mainly because of his exceptional control over his pitches. He has just a 5.3% walk rate on the season and if you match that with his 26.8 K% and 6.9% barrel rate against he seems to be the complete package. He barely lets anyone on base and even when he does he limits the damage.

Springs throws three pitches in a four-seam, changeup, and slider. The four-seam isn’t bad it gets a decent amount of whiffs and limits hard contact for the most part. His changeup is special, on the season it has a 21.6 SwStr% and 47.7 O-Swing%, both are elite numbers. The slider doesn’t really miss bats but it does have a .089 ISO against it.

Springs has two solid pitches with another being an elite pitch. He seems to do everything right and is a pitcher you can confidently start week in and week out. Just keep an eye on some potential innings limits in the future.

Daniel Lynch, KCR

Last three starts: 2.20 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 23.2 K%

Daniel Lynch has been on a hot streak for seven starts now with a 2.94 ERA and 26.0 K% in 33.2 innings pitched. I’m not fully buying into it for a few reasons. First off, his WHIP in these seven starts is 1.43…that’s a tough pill to swallow. Second, I don’t see any changes in his arsenal in terms of movement, velocity, or pitch mix. Lastly, his 5.7% HR/FB rate is just not sustainable and it’s no wonder his xFIP calls for a 3.59 ERA.

Lance Lynn, CHW

Last three starts: 3.50 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 28.2 K%

I mention Lance Lynn here because he had a tough start to the season after coming off of the injured list. It’s nice to see Lynn start to rebound and he actually has a 3.34 ERA in his last five starts. Keep throwing those fastballs big man!