Snap Pitcher Judgments, 2024

Some might say it's too early, but pitchers can change quickly, and this is the time to pounce.

By looking at per-pitch metrics, or what we like to call “sub-indicators”, like ball percentage (Ball%; league-average 36%) and swinging-strike rate (SwK%; league-average 11%), we can perhaps pick up on early signs of a breakout… or of looming disaster. 

Last week's exercise used Quality of Batted Ball (QBaB) data to make some snap hitter judgments; we'll go back to that well with pitchers for 2024, asking ourselves the following question:

If this early performance is real, what might it look like over a full season?

***

More whiffs, more strikes
Pitchers with 15+ IP, a 2% jump in swinging-strike rate, and a 2% dip in Ball%. Ordered by rise...

Almost!

You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!

Already a subscriber? Sign in here

More From Speculator

We continue our "UP"side updates on the pitching side, plus a look at all players with "DN"-side boxes in the 2025 Baseball Forecaster
Jan 29 2025 3:05am
The Speculator returns with our annual update on Baseball Forecaster "UP:" siders whose outlooks may have changed since the book went to press.
Jan 22 2025 3:02am
We follow up on some early (and mid) season speculations to find out what went right, what went wrong, and what actually happened.
Sep 10 2024 3:03am
Our annual exercise of giving out second chances to those who, frankly, stunk up the joint in 2024.
Sep 4 2024 3:04am
Things get weird in September. We look through some fantasy-relevant playing time experiments, with tidbits from the remaining schedule.
Aug 28 2024 3:07am

Tools