Reid Detmers' Dominance. Andrew Painter's Evolution

Reid Detmers, Parker Messick, Brandon Sproat, Andrew Painter

An updated top 100 will be linked in tomorrow’s post. I hope you’ve enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend!

• Reid Detmers dominated the Rangers (8 IP, H, ER, 14 K). In this outing, Detmers did what I’d suggested—throw fewer four-seam fastballs. 54% usage of the pitch to righties in yesterday’s game was a season high and his third consecutive game above 50% usage. I still don't think this is his optimal approach, but it may not matter given his 21% K-BB through 11 starts. (Yes, that’s me saying he could be even better.) His slider continues to dominate lefties and righties, and yet he’s throwing it less over his last four outings in favor of his fastball. In early count situations against righties in particular, he's throwing 54% four-seamer with just 21% pre-two-strike slider usage.

  • This start was a product of good game planning by the Angels. The Rangers have the worst xwOBA in MLB against left-handed four-seamers this season. Their .222 mark is 30 points lower than the second-worst team (Giants). I’ve always been a bit skeptical of things Mike Maddux did over the last few years with the Rangers, but I’ve also always been told he’s a good game planner. That was very much the case in yesterday’s outing. It doesn't explain why Detmers has been leaning more on his four-seamer in his last few outings, but if there was ever an outing to rip a bunch of four-seamers, it’s against the Rangers.