Final week, I speculated about how the Red Sox might change Dustin May’s arsenal to take him to the next level. My options included throwing his four-seam increased, throwing backdoor sinkers, and growing his cutter utilization to righties. As a result of no person else will, I’ll pat myself on the again and be aware that he did two of these three issues on Tuesday in opposition to the Astros. I’ll additionally pat Matt Gross on the again for arising with the headline for this.
Could put in his finest outing of the season on Tuesday night time. He fired six shutout innings, putting out eight and strolling one in opposition to a right-handed-heavy Astros’ lineup.
By two innings, I used to be anxious that the wheels have been going to fall off for Could. On his first journey by the lineup, he jumped forward of 5 hitters 0-2 or 1-2. Non-competitive pitches and foul balls created a number of six and seven-pitch at-bats, forcing Could to throw 44 pitches by two innings.
After that, he settled in and cruised by the following 4 innings. So, how did he do it?
Towards righties, he continued to make use of his cutter earlier in at-bats. It was his third most-used pitch to right-handed hitters behind his sweeper and sinker, however he didn’t throw it a single time with two strikes. It returned 71% strikes, permitting Could to work from forward within the depend. He additionally used his sinker constantly on the within a part of the plate, jamming righties for foul balls commonly.
As soon as forward, he used his sweeper on the glove aspect and excessive fastballs to attempt to punch out hitters. His four-seam wasn’t overly efficient; 4 of eight two-strike four-seams have been fouled off, one went for a success, and one other was properly above the zone. His sweeper solely returned one strikeout in opposition to lefties, however he stored the ball off the plate and away from hazard.
Towards lefties, he used his sweeper to nice impact. Could threw his sweeper in any depend, getting strikes at an 86% fee. He threw it to the again foot and on the skin edge, for known as strikes and whiffs. Whereas sweepers don’t usually carry out properly in opposition to opposite-handed hitters, Could executed his constantly and stored hitters off steadiness with a mixture of four-seams, sinkers, and cutters behind it.
Video is cooler than phrases [Ed. Note: no it’s not], so let’s see it in motion.
2nd Inning – Taylor Trammell
Could begins Trammell off with a sweeper and will get an early whiff. Trammell was clearly sitting fastball and was fooled by the 0-0 breaking ball.
At 0-1, Could tries to return inside with the sweeper, however misses exterior. After back-to-back sweepers, he ought to go to one thing else.
He tries to go inside with the four-seam, however misses once more. Whereas this pitch will get a number of the plate, it’s not a disastrous miss. At 96 mph with a flat method angle, Sanchez can solely foul it off. Now, with two strikes, Could can throw no matter feels most assured in.
He goes to the sweeper, however it’s a bit too low to get a swing. I’d throw it once more, however he won’t wish to repeat the sweeper-sweeper-fastball sequence.
He once more tries to go inside with the four-seam however can’t hit his spot. Trammell fouls it off once more, although the swing tells me this might need labored. It’s an emergency swing, indicating that Trammell was searching for one thing comfortable. If he noticed a pitch inside, he might need watched it, assuming it could proceed working in the direction of him. As an alternative, it stays out, and he will get a bat on it on the final second.
Nice pitch. Could goes again to the sweeper, and Trammell is fooled. It’s dotted within the nook of the zone, and the stuff does the remainder.
third Inning – Carlos Correa
It is a actually good pitch to start an at-bat. It’s a cutter that lands on the skin edge and is fouled off by Correa. He’s searching for one thing, most likely a sinker, middle-in, however as a substitute will get a cutter. The motion carries it to the skin edge, and he’s rapidly down 0-1.
At 0-1, Could hits his spot with the sinker and will get a foul ball. At 0-2, Could can use no matter he feels most assured in. I’d most likely go to the sweeper away, however a backdoor sinker may also work if he’s feeling cheeky.
He tries to go to the sweeper exterior, however misses on the arm aspect. He’s just a little lucky that Correa can solely foul this off. Could can nonetheless throw no matter he needs, however he may wish to avoid the sweeper with Correa timed up for it.
Good. Could does place confidence in executing the sweeper and spots it completely. Correa is searching for one thing else, lunges at it, and rolls right into a double play.
General, I’m nonetheless not completely offered on Could, however I’m extra assured going ahead. He was wonderful in opposition to righties, and the method seems to be repeatable. Towards lefties, I’m not as offered. As you noticed, he actually needed to combat with Trammell after going forward 1-2. He’s had stroll points in opposition to lefties up to now, partially resulting from his 60% strike fee along with his sweeper. Utilizing the pitch within the zone extra regularly, as he did tonight (67% zone fee, up from season 45%), will result in extra strikes, however he may additionally see opponents begin looking sweepers. All in, this was good, however I’d wish to see him do it once more earlier than I really feel assured about Dustin Could bump days going ahead.
