MLB Daily Notes: Wednesday, September 7
Introduction / Explanation For New Readers
Wade Miley weirdly had a 20.3% SwStr% yesterday, something he never does. That was over just four innings against the Reds. It means nothing so I don’t even know why I mention it.
Framber Valdez kept the K% on the rise with an elite 20.3% SwStr% yesterday. He brought the sinker usage down, which has turned into a pattern:
The red line is the curveball there and the teal one is the sinker, so you can see those usages moving up and down pretty much in synchronization.
The curveball is the strikeout pitch, clearly. It seems to me that Valdez just picks if he wants to go for strikeouts or not, he knows the sinker is going to result in contact. Could be worth a deeper dive there but we don’t have time for it! You’re profiting off the Valdez pickup this year, big time.
Let’s check on the top and bottom team offenses since the All-Star Break!
Top Team OPS since 7/19
STL → .270/.347/.488 .835 OPS
LAD → .270/.340/.478 .818 OPS
ATL → .267/.332/.449 .781 OPS
PHI → .270/.325/.426 .752 OPS
NYM → .263/.326/.423 .750 OPS
Bottom Team OPS since 7/19
MIA → .206/.271/.314 .585 OPS
PIT → .216/.275/.339 .614 OPS
DET → .225/.280/.339 .618 OPS
LAA → .223/.276/.385 .661 OPS
CLE → .251/.302/.363 .665 OPS
This TJ Friedl fellow has hit .404/.458/.808 with five homers over his last 59 plate appearances. He has an 8.3% Brl%, an 8.5% K%, and a 79.8% Contact% over that time. He has six steals this season as well, so he has a pretty high ceiling as a fantasy player. Take a look at him if you’re in a pinch for some bats here as we approach the playoffs.
The Jake McCarthy thing continues to go really well, he now has 15 steals in 250 plate appearances, a pretty striking number. He’s added seven homers and a .457 SLG to boot - he’s been awesome for fantasy teams that added him quickly, and he should be 100% rostered right now - so check your waiver wires.
Emmanuel Rivera has gone cold, so that’s a bummer. No steals there and seemingly “good not great” power when he’s going right - he can probably be cut/ignored - although the Snakes do have a Coors series this weekend.
Oneil Cruz hit the two hardest balls of the night, but his K% and Contact% marks aren’t improving.
Max Muncy hit two homers on two barrels after a bit of a lull there. For the second half, Muncy is hitting .236/.322/.480 with 9 homers, a 15.7% Brl%, and a 28.7% K%. The walks are down, but not low by any means at 11.1% - and he’s hitting a ton of fly balls with a nice .338 xwOBA. He looks much, much better in the second half than he did in the first. Since August 1, the slash line is .268/.349/.571 with all 9 of those homers in just 129 PAs.
CSW% Leaders - Yesterday
1. Wade Miley (CHC): 20.3 SwStr%, 40.6 CSW%
2. Framber Valdez (HOU): 23.4 SwStr%, 37.4 CSW%
3. Aaron Nola (PHI): 16.5 SwStr%, 35.1 CSW%
4. Chad Kuhl (COL): 18.9 SwStr%, 35.1 CSW%
5. Brandon Woodruff (MIL): 14.3 SwStr%, 34.1 CSW%
6. Hayden Wesneski (CHC): 13.1 SwStr%, 32.8 CSW%
7. Rich Hill (BOS): 10.9 SwStr%, 32.8 CSW%
8. Jesus Luzardo (MIA): 20.7 SwStr%, 32.6 CSW%
9. Merrill Kelly (ARI): 11.5 SwStr%, 32.3 CSW%
10. Kyle Wright (ATL): 16.0 SwStr%, 32.0 CSW%
Top Pitcher JA Scores - Yesterday
1. Framber Valdez - 6.67 IP - 66.5 JA Points
2. Logan Gilbert - 6.0 IP - 59.5 JA Points
3. Jesus Luzardo - 7.0 IP - 59.25 JA Points
4. Brandon Woodruff - 7.0 IP - 59.25 JA Points
5. Aaron Nola - 6.33 IP - 53.75 JA Points
6. Wade Miley - 4.0 IP - 51.25 JA Points
7. Hayden Wesneski - 5.0 IP - 46.0 JA Points
8. Jose Quintana - 5.0 IP - 45.0 JA Points
9. Kris Bubic - 5.67 IP - 44.0 JA Points
10. Merrill Kelly - 7.0 IP - 37.75 JA Points
Pitcher JA Scores - Season
1. Spencer Strider (ATL) - 17.0 GS - 57.59 JA Points
2. Shane McClanahan (TB) - 24.0 GS - 51.93 JA Points
3. Corbin Burnes (MIL) - 27.0 GS - 51.21 JA Points
4. Shohei Ohtani (LAA) - 23.0 GS - 50.36 JA Points
5. Dylan Cease (CWS) - 27.0 GS - 48.26 JA Points
6. Carlos Rodon (SF) - 27.0 GS - 48.25 JA Points
7. Gerrit Cole (NYY) - 27.0 GS - 47.51 JA Points
8. Blake Snell (SD) - 19.0 GS - 46.77 JA Points
9. Max Scherzer (NYM) - 20.0 GS - 46.76 JA Points
10. Cristian Javier (HOU) - 20.0 GS - 45.34 JA Points
Velo Changes - Yesterday
Kyle Bradish's SL velo (28 pitches) UP 2.4mph to 89.0
Kris Bubic's CU velo (19 pitches) UP 1.8mph to 80.9
Wade Miley's CH velo (30 pitches) UP 1.8mph to 82.4
Rich Hill's FC velo (14 pitches) DOWN -1.5mph to 82.9
Aaron Nola's FC velo (13 pitches) DOWN -1.6mph to 85.3
Logan Gilbert's SL velo (25 pitches) DOWN -2.2mph to 85.0
Taijuan Walker's SL velo (11 pitches) DOWN -2.6mph to 82.2
Johnny Cueto's SL velo (13 pitches) DOWN -2.8mph to 80.7
Pitch Mix Changes - Yesterday
Chad Kuhl's SL usage (48.6%) up 12.7 points
Glenn Otto's SL usage (41.2%) up 12.6 points
Jesus Luzardo's SI usage (37.0%) up 14.0 points
Joe Musgrove's FC usage (38.4%) up 20.6 points
Johnny Cueto's FC usage (29.2%) up 12.9 points
Kyle Bradish's SL usage (52.8%) up 24.2 points
Kyle Wright's SI usage (40.0%) up 17.5 points
Mike Mayers's SL usage (50.0%) up 16.8 points
Rich Hill's FC usage (21.9%) up 11.1 points
Shane Bieber's FC usage (41.4%) up 27.2 points
Wade Miley's CH usage (43.5%) up 16.1 points
CSW% Leaders - Last 3 Weeks
Jacob deGrom - 72 TBF, 37.8% CSW%
Andrew Heaney - 92 TBF, 37.7% CSW%
Aaron Nola - 107 TBF, 36.4% CSW%
Patrick Sandoval - 79 TBF, 36.1% CSW%
Spencer Strider - 75 TBF, 34.6% CSW%
Corey Kluber - 97 TBF, 34.3% CSW%
Charlie Morton - 71 TBF, 34.2% CSW%
Ross Stripling - 94 TBF, 33.9% CSW%
Lance Lynn - 96 TBF, 33.3% CSW%
JT Brubaker - 76 TBF, 33.0% CSW%
K% Leaders - Last 3 Weeks
Spencer Strider - 75 TBF, 42.7% K%
Andrew Heaney - 92 TBF, 39.1% K%
Jacob deGrom - 72 TBF, 37.5% K%
Carlos Rodon - 94 TBF, 35.1% K%
Lance Lynn - 96 TBF, 34.4% K%
Zac Gallen - 94 TBF, 34.0% K%
Aaron Nola - 107 TBF, 32.7% K%
Blake Snell - 89 TBF, 32.6% K%
Triston McKenzie - 93 TBF, 32.3% K%
Charlie Morton - 71 TBF, 31.0% K%
K-BB% Leaders - Last 3 Weeks
Spencer Strider - 75 TBF, 38.7% K-BB%
Andrew Heaney - 92 TBF, 35.9% K-BB%
Jacob deGrom - 72 TBF, 34.7% K-BB%
Lance Lynn - 96 TBF, 31.2% K-BB%
Aaron Nola - 107 TBF, 29.9% K-BB%
Zac Gallen - 94 TBF, 28.7% K-BB%
Kevin Gausman - 97 TBF, 26.8% K-BB%
Carlos Rodon - 94 TBF, 26.6% K-BB%
Blake Snell - 89 TBF, 25.8% K-BB%
Triston McKenzie - 93 TBF, 25.8% K-BB%
GB% Leaders - Last 3 Weeks
Alex Cobb - 73 TBF, 71.7% GB%
Framber Valdez - 117 TBF, 65.8% GB%
Max Fried - 91 TBF, 63.6% GB%
Ranger Suarez - 88 TBF, 63.2% GB%
JT Brubaker - 76 TBF, 62.7% GB%
Jordan Montgomery - 99 TBF, 59.7% GB%
Marcus Stroman - 101 TBF, 58.8% GB%
Kyle Wright - 96 TBF, 56.5% GB%
Chris Archer - 77 TBF, 55.9% GB%
Dakota Hudson - 71 TBF, 55.6% GB%
Magic Formula Qualifiers - Pitchers - Last 3 Weeks
George Kirby - 83 TBF, 27.7 K%, 2.4 BB%, 54.4% GB%
Luis Castillo - 76 TBF, 28.9 K%, 3.9 BB%, 55.1% GB%
Ross Stripling - 94 TBF, 28.7 K%, 4.3 BB%, 48.4% GB%
Shane Bieber - 106 TBF, 29.2 K%, 4.7 BB%, 52.9% GB%
Zac Gallen - 94 TBF, 34.0 K%, 5.3 BB%, 45.6% GB%
Hot Pitcher Tracker - Last 3 Weeks vs. Career
Aaron Nola - +3.6% CSW%, -1.9 BB%
Lance Lynn - +5.4% CSW%, -2.9 BB%
Zac Gallen - +2.9% CSW%, -2.7 BB%
Andrew Heaney - +7.1% CSW%, -3.5 BB%
Patrick Sandoval - +5.5% CSW%, -5.8 BB%
JT Brubaker - +2.9% CSW%, -3.8 BB%
Spencer Strider - +2.1% CSW%, -4.2 BB%
Corey Kluber - +2.1% CSW%, -5.6 BB%
Bailey Falter - +3.3% CSW%, -2.1 BB%
Mitch Keller - +2.4% CSW%, -1.5 BB%
Jakob Junis - +2.7% CSW%, -2.6 BB%
Chad Kuhl - +3.6% CSW%, -4.6 BB%
George Kirby - +4.5% CSW%, -1.5 BB%
Multiple Barrels
Garrett Cooper (MIA) 4 PA, 6 Swings, 2 Barrels, 0 HR
Max Muncy (LAD) 4 PA, 9 Swings, 2 Barrels, 2 HR
Nolan Gorman (STL) 3 PA, 8 Swings, 2 Barrels, 1 HR
Oneil Cruz (PIT) 5 PA, 7 Swings, 2 Barrels, 1 HR
Randal Grichuk (COL) 5 PA, 7 Swings, 2 Barrels, 2 HR
Top Hitter JA Scores - Yesterday
1. Max Muncy - 4.0 PA - 73.0 JA Points
2. Bo Bichette - 5.0 PA - 54.0 JA Points
3. Garrett Cooper - 4.0 PA - 51.0 JA Points
4. Yu Chang - 4.0 PA - 48.0 JA Points
5. Edmundo Sosa - 3.0 PA - 47.0 JA Points
6. Oneil Cruz - 5.0 PA - 46.0 JA Points
7. Josh Bell - 4.0 PA - 45.0 JA Points
8. Randal Grichuk - 5.0 PA - 44.0 JA Points
9. Alejandro Kirk - 5.0 PA - 43.0 JA Points
10. Nolan Gorman - 3.0 PA - 41.0 JA Points
Hitter JA Scores - Season
1. Aaron Judge (NYY) - 566.0 PA - 141.41 JA Points
2. Juan Soto (SD) - 557.0 PA - 133.43 JA Points
3. Yordan Alvarez (HOU) - 459.0 PA - 131.24 JA Points
4. Paul Goldschmidt (STL) - 563.0 PA - 112.61 JA Points
5. Freddie Freeman (LAD) - 594.0 PA - 109.29 JA Points
6. Alejandro Kirk (TOR) - 455.0 PA - 108.4 JA Points
7. Yandy Diaz (TB) - 501.0 PA - 104.19 JA Points
8. Alex Bregman (HOU) - 551.0 PA - 96.84 JA Points
9. Adley Rutschman (BAL) - 364.0 PA - 93.74 JA Points
10. Bryce Harper (PHI) - 311.0 PA - 93.5 JA Points
Hardest Hit Balls
Oneil Cruz (PIT) - 115.3mph - double
Oneil Cruz (PIT) - 113.4mph - home_run
Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL) - 113.0mph - double
Leody Taveras (TEX) - 112.9mph - single
Jorge Alfaro (SD) - 112.9mph - single
Jack Suwinski (PIT) - 112.2mph - foul
Nathaniel Lowe (TEX) - 111.7mph - single
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR) - 111.0mph - foul
Oneil Cruz (PIT) - 110.9mph - single
Avisail Garcia (MIA) - 110.3mph - field_out
Last 3 Weeks - Brl% Leaders
Aaron Judge - 74 PA, 41 BIP, 12 Brls, 29.3 Brl%
Oneil Cruz - 61 PA, 34 BIP, 9 Brls, 26.5 Brl%
Cal Raleigh - 60 PA, 41 BIP, 9 Brls, 22.0 Brl%
Shohei Ohtani - 72 PA, 43 BIP, 9 Brls, 20.9 Brl%
Seth Brown - 70 PA, 37 BIP, 7 Brls, 18.9 Brl%
Eugenio Suarez - 73 PA, 43 BIP, 8 Brls, 18.6 Brl%
Ryan Mountcastle - 81 PA, 54 BIP, 10 Brls, 18.5 Brl%
Joey Gallo - 48 PA, 22 BIP, 4 Brls, 18.2 Brl%
Nathaniel Lowe - 83 PA, 62 BIP, 11 Brls, 17.7 Brl%
Joc Pederson - 50 PA, 30 BIP, 5 Brls, 16.7 Brl%
Last 3 Weeks - xwOBA Leaders
Aaron Judge - 74 PA, 0.511 xwOBA
Nathaniel Lowe - 83 PA, 0.484 xwOBA
Cal Raleigh - 60 PA, 0.453 xwOBA
Eloy Jimenez - 66 PA, 0.443 xwOBA
Yandy Diaz - 74 PA, 0.441 xwOBA
Bo Bichette - 89 PA, 0.432 xwOBA
Justin Turner - 71 PA, 0.429 xwOBA
Joc Pederson - 50 PA, 0.417 xwOBA
Shohei Ohtani - 72 PA, 0.411 xwOBA
Corey Dickerson - 54 PA, 0.402 xwOBA
Last 3 Weeks - Contact% Leaders
Luis Arraez - 75 PA, 132 Swings, 93.9 Cont%
Nick Madrigal - 66 PA, 115 Swings, 92.2 Cont%
Steven Kwan - 76 PA, 117 Swings, 90.6 Cont%
Yandy Diaz - 74 PA, 128 Swings, 90.6 Cont%
Brendan Donovan - 66 PA, 99 Swings, 89.9 Cont%
Adam Frazier - 59 PA, 94 Swings, 89.4 Cont%
Josh Naylor - 67 PA, 123 Swings, 89.4 Cont%
Isiah Kiner-Falefa - 51 PA, 75 Swings, 89.3 Cont%
David Fletcher - 83 PA, 114 Swings, 88.6 Cont%
Jeff McNeil - 77 PA, 152 Swings, 88.2 Cont%
Magic Formula Qualifiers - Hitters - Last 3 Weeks
Albert Pujols - 57 PA, 14.0 K%, 14.0 Brl%
Bo Bichette - 89 PA, 19.1 K%, 15.4 Brl%
Cal Raleigh - 60 PA, 16.7 K%, 22.0 Brl%
Eloy Jimenez - 66 PA, 13.6 K%, 14.0 Brl%
Lars Nootbaar - 90 PA, 14.4 K%, 15.0 Brl%
Matt Olson - 75 PA, 17.3 K%, 14.8 Brl%
Nathaniel Lowe - 83 PA, 15.7 K%, 17.7 Brl%
Sean Murphy - 78 PA, 15.4 K%, 14.3 Brl%
Hot Hitter Tracker - Last 7 vs. Career
Leody Taveras - +4.8% Contact%, +5.2 mph exit velo, -4.1 Chase%
Tommy Edman - +7.7% Contact%, +4.7 mph exit velo, -3.3 Chase%
Yandy Diaz - +6.4% Contact%, +4.0 mph exit velo, -4.0 Chase%
Michael Harris II - +11.8% Contact%, +6.1 mph exit velo, -7.4 Chase%
Cal Raleigh - +6.9% Contact%, +5.0 mph exit velo, -17.3 Chase%
Oneil Cruz - +10.1% Contact%, +5.5 mph exit velo, -6.9 Chase%
Starling Marte - +10.5% Contact%, +4.7 mph exit velo, -4.4 Chase%
Nicky Lopez - +9.4% Contact%, +3.3 mph exit velo, -10.5 Chase%
Super Ultra Mega Hot Hitters - Last 15 Days
Carlos Correa - 0.392 xwOBA, 15.4% Brl%, 82.4% Contact%, 21.7% Chase%, 16.4% K%
Nathaniel Lowe - 0.482 xwOBA, 16.3% Brl%, 80.5% Contact%, 21.5% Chase%, 12.3% K%
Cold Hitters - Last 2 Weeks
Emmanuel Rivera - 45.1% Whiff%, 72.7% Weak%, 0.951 Cold Rating
Jose Siri - 35.5% Whiff%, 76.0% Weak%, 0.934 Cold Rating
Jose Barrero - 31.9% Whiff%, 79.2% Weak%, 0.921 Cold Rating
Trea Turner - 31.4% Whiff%, 78.0% Weak%, 0.91 Cold Rating
Jo Adell - 42.2% Whiff%, 69.6% Weak%, 0.908 Cold Rating
Jon Berti - 39.3% Whiff%, 68.2% Weak%, 0.888 Cold Rating
Gilberto Celestino - 30.1% Whiff%, 77.8% Weak%, 0.877 Cold Rating
Javier Baez - 36.7% Whiff%, 66.7% Weak%, 0.856 Cold Rating
Taylor Walls - 29.1% Whiff%, 73.9% Weak%, 0.84 Cold Rating
Mitch Haniger - 33.7% Whiff%, 66.7% Weak%, 0.829 Cold Rating
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