An analyst indicated that a pitcher has pitched very well after being traded in a podcast show. In particular, that analyst demonstrated that the pitcher only allowed a few hard-hit balls.
After listening to the podcast show, I was just wondering which pitchers have done a great job this season to limit hard-hit balls.
To understand a little bit more, I decided to check on the statcast website.
Michael King was traded to the Padres in December 2023. It’s his first season with the Padres. So far this season, he made 30 starts and 1 relief appearance. King owns a 2.95 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over 173.2 innings. He’s been pitching well for the Padres this season and an important thing to notice is that opponents can’t hit his pitches hard. King has a hard-hit rate of 30.3%.
In addition, Hunter Brown already tossed a career-high 170 innings this season. Brown now has a 3.49 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. He’s a reliable starter for the Astros. This season, he doesn’t let opponents hit his pitches hard and has a hard-hit rate of 30.3%. Back in 2023, Brown’s hard-hit rate was over 40% and his ERA was over 5.
Meanwhile, Corbin Burnes, who won the 2021 NL Cy Young award, was traded to the Orioles in February. In his first season with the Orioles, he now owns a 2.95 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP over 189.1 innings. He doesn’t let the Orioles fans down and has pitched well. A key thing to Burnes’ first season success with the Orioles is that his hard-hit rate is only 31.5%. Back in 2021, Burnes’ hard-hit rate was only 30.5% and he posted a 2.43 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP.
Moreover, Michael Wacha has pitched in the majors for 12 seasons. So far in 2024, he already made 28 starts for the Royals, posting a 3.28 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over 161.2 innings. Wacha has done a great job avoiding hard hits with a hard-hit rate below 33%.
Tyler Anderson inked a 3-year deal with the Angels in November 2022. Last year, he finished the season with an ERA over 5. Nonetheless, things have changed this season. Anderson was selected to the All-Star game and he now has a 3.70 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP after making 30 starts. His hard-hit rate is below 33%.
Finally, let’s take a look at 2 aces. Zack Wheeler has been pitching well with a 2.56 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP over 193.2 innings thus far. And opponents can’t hit him hard. Wheeler’s hard-hit rate is below 34%. At the same time, Tarik Skubal has a fantastic season. He now posts a 2.39 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP over 192 innings. Skubal doesn’t let opponents hit well with a hard-hit rate of 34%.
Looking at the leaderboard of hard-hit rate, it’s not a surprise to see that Corbin Burnes doesn’t let opponents hit well. And the Orioles front office certainly did a good job to acquire him. In the meantime, 2 aces Zack Wheeler and Tarik Skubal are tough pitchers to face. Furthermore, Michael King and Michael Wacha have pitched well during the regular season because they know how to avoid hard hits.
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