Framber Valdez's Sinker. Luis Castillo's Four-Seam Location. Louie Varland's Death Ball

Apr 03, 2024

Astros Framber Valdez’s sinker has 5” less vertical break than last season (dropping more). His extension is up 4”, release height up <2”. Tough to tell how he picked up the drop. Added drop is often a byproduct of a lower release. I’d assume an orientation change, but grip looks identical. Maybe it’s something mechanically affecting shape? The pitch currently has a -12° launch angle. Average sinker launch angle was 4° in 2023. Driveline Stuff+ of ~95 last year, 106 yesterday (which still feels low). ⭐️
Mariners Luis Castillo’s four-seam location to lefties is messy. See below for a plot comparing four-seam location from 2023 to 2024 versus left-handed hitters. His four-seam usage is also down from 55% to 42% versus lefties, more sinkers to lefties as a result. To righties, however, his four-seam usage is up to 61% from 41% last season. 🔱

Phillies Spencer Turnbull has a new sweeper. It averaged 83 mph with 4.5” vertical break and 18.5” sweep, 5” more sweep than average. He had the sweeper late last year, but it was inconsistent—84 mph with 8” sweep. Driveline Stuff+ of 160, plus-plus pitch. 🧹
Twins Louie Varland has a death ball curveball. It’s 84-85 mph with -7” vertical break and 0-1” glove-side movement. It gives him a 3rd secondary over 10% usage to left-handed hitters on top of his changeup and cutter. He also used it 5 times to righties. Driveline Stuff+ of just 94, it wants more velo or drop. ☠️
DBacks Zac Gallen’s fastball velocity is still down… but climbing back? He averaged 93.5 last season, 91.8 on Opening Day and 92.2 mph yesterday while touching 94. Driveline Stuff+ down from ~107 last year to 100 this year. More interesting to me is that he’s using the slower version of his slider more to righties. Last year this pitch ranged from 86-91 with varying shape (the harder one is tracked as a cutter). This year to righties his average slider is just 84 mph with the same shape, but it’s still missing bats. 🐍
White Sox Garrett Crochet dealt again. Worth noting his fastball to righties this season has been living up and inside. Heatmaps below. 🧦

Lance's Pitcher Notes