Since rejoining the Texas Rangers’ starting rotation in June, Kumar Rocker has shown signs of progression by incorporating a new cutter into his arsenal, a change that aligns with improved recent outings. While his overall numbers stand at a 4.61 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP across 13.2 innings, much of this is skewed due to a rough first start versus the Rays. In his following two starts against the Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates, Rocker allowed only two runs over 10.1 innings, demonstrating better command and effectiveness alongside his refreshed pitching style.
Analysis of Rocker’s pitch distribution reveals a significant shift toward cutter usage, which has become his primary offering in the last three starts. This strategic adjustment accompanies the complete removal of his slider and an increased reliance on his curveball, signaling a notable evolution in his pitching approach since returning to the majors.
Distinct Differences in Rocker’s Cutter and Slider Pitches
Although it may appear that Rocker replaced his slider with a cutter, these pitches differ significantly in velocity and movement. His slider averages 84.1 mph, moving horizontally nearly two inches and dropping almost four inches before accounting for gravity, resulting in a considerable 41 inches of total drop. The cutter, meanwhile, is faster at nearly 91 mph, with slightly over two inches of horizontal movement and about 28 inches of drop once gravity is factored in.
Rocker’s use of both pitches primarily in similar zones—low and glove-side for right- and left-handed batters—reflects some overlap in approach. However, the cutter appears to have better command and feel. For instance, he throws the cutter to righties in the middle of the strike zone less frequently than he did the slider, indicating refined control. His cutter boasts a 61% zone rate and 81% strike rate against righties, compared to the slider’s 44% zone and 67% strike rate. Moreover, the cutter induces a higher called strike percentage (17%) than the slider did (under 13%).
Despite these improvements, the slider still has merits, particularly in missing bats and functioning effectively as a two-strike pitch with a 28% PutAway rate. However, Rocker’s curveball is emerging as a solid two-strike weapon, especially against right-handed hitters, combining an above-average swinging strike rate with a 25% PutAway rate to potentially fill the void left by the slider’s absence.
Addressing Left-Handed Batters: Rocker’s Key Challenge
Rocker’s performance against left-handed hitters remains a critical area for improvement, with a concerning .333/.407/.490 slash line over his career and a modest 19% strikeout rate. The slider contributed to this difficulty as it was less effective as a two-strike pitch against lefties, having an 11% PutAway Rate and a 19% chase rate, placing it below average in effectiveness. Additionally, lefties made strong contact against the slider, reflected in a 50% Ideal Contact Rate (ICR).
The cutter, on the other hand, presents a much more promising solution for Rocker against left-handed opponents. It has an impressive 30% swinging strike rate, coupled with a 31% PutAway Rate and a respectable 31% chase rate with two strikes. Rocker uses it effectively in the down-and-in zone to keep hitters off balance and can utilize it to get ahead in counts or finish at-bats. Expanding his cutter usage against lefties, supported by his fastball, sinker, curve, and occasional changeups, could elevate his success and make him more reliable overall on the mound.
This new pitching approach offers a tangible pathway forward for Rocker, and deeper league managers should consider adding him to evaluate if he can build on these positive changes.
Michael Soroka’s Adjustments Signal Possible Resurgence
Michael Soroka’s recent performances have drawn attention, particularly after a 10-strikeout outing against the Dodgers. Though initially appearing as a one-off, a deeper look reveals consistent adaptation since mid-May, including an altered pitch mix and arm angle adjustments that may signal a coming hot streak. Over seven starts since May 17, Soroka records a 4.58 ERA and ranks 24th in starting pitcher SIERA with a 3.29 mark, coupled with a 20.7% K-BB%, ranking 29th in baseball.
A key evolution in Soroka’s approach is his decreased reliance on the four-seam fastball and increased deployment of his sinker, especially against right-handed hitters. The sinker now comprises 24% of pitches to righties versus 14% earlier in the season, used mainly inside to generate weak contact and ground balls, evidenced by a 65% groundball rate and a low 29% Ideal Contact Rate. This strategic shift has allowed Soroka to reduce four-seam fastballs inside and high in the zone and instead utilize it across a broader area, improving his putaway capabilities and increasing his swinging strike rate against righties from 14.3% to 17.4% in recent outings.
Such adjustments also extend to his sequencing, as Soroka has reduced the use of four-seamers in two-strike counts to right-handed batters, favoring his curveball more in these critical moments. His curve boasts a solid 15% swinging strike rate and 34% PutAway Rate on the season, rising to nearly 20% SwStr and 39% PutAway against righties, signaling its importance as a decisive offering in late counts.
Arm slot changes accompany these tactical shifts, with Soroka elevating his release angle by about two degrees on the curveball and nearly four degrees on the four-seam fastball. This new angle and an increase of 1.2 mph on the curveball velocity have likely improved the vertical drop and overall effectiveness of the pitch, enhancing its role in his repertoire.
Soroka’s curveball appears vital for success against all batters, while the sinker grants him more control and effectiveness against righties. However, he may remain vulnerable against lineups heavy with left-handed hitters, limiting some fantasy appeal in those matchups.
Chase Burns’ Dominant MLB Debut and Pitch Arsenal Breakdown
On Tuesday, Chase Burns delivered an eye-catching major league debut for the Cincinnati Reds against the New York Yankees, featuring a dominant first three innings with nine strikeouts, earning comparisons to Stephen Strasburg’s early performances. Burns struck out all three batters in both the first and second innings and retired the side on three pitches in the third, setting a strong initial impression.
However, the fourth inning exposed some growing pains. Ben Rice hit a middle-middle slider for a home run, followed by a single from Aaron Judge. Although Burns retired two batters afterward, singles from Jazz Chisholm Jr. and a two-run triple from Anthony Volpe highlighted moments where mistakes were punished, underscoring the adjustment challenges close to the big league level.
Reviewing his pitch offerings, Burns’ four-seam fastball averaged 98.1 mph with impressive vertical movement but was let down by average extension and attack angle metrics. Command issues were apparent, with too many four-seamers left over the middle of the plate, especially to right-handed batters, making the pitch more hittable than desired. While this fastball garnered six swings and misses, its control needs refinement to translate fully to sustained MLB success.
Burns’ slider emerged as a critical pitch in this debut, averaging 89.4 mph with robust horizontal and vertical movement. This pitch resulted in six whiffs and a strong 37.5% called strike plus whiff rate (CSW), aided by smart location choices such as backdoor sliders to lefties. However, lapses in command, demonstrated by some cutters too far over the plate, also led to some costly hits, as seen with the home run allowed.
Burns supplemented his arsenal with eight changeups thrown exclusively to left-handers, which performed better than initially anticipated with a 75% strike rate, despite a modest zone rate of 25%. Some mistakes came in the form of pitches left high in the zone, emphasizing the need for improvement in control.
Overall, Burns showcased two strong pitches for right-handed hitters—four-seam fastball and slider—but requires development in secondary offerings and command to avoid inconsistencies. While his slider has elite potential, the fastball command and sequencing against MLB lineups will determine his long-term success. Despite some rough moments, Burns is a promising talent worth adding in all formats and should be started soon, including upcoming matchups against the Boston Red Sox.
Grant Holmes Shows Promise by Shifting Pitch Usage with Braves
With the Atlanta Braves facing rotation challenges due to Chris Sale’s injury, Grant Holmes has stepped up with notable improvements over his last eight starts, pitching to a 2.96 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and posting a strong 20.1% K-BB%. Since May 20, in six starts, Holmes ranks eighth among starting pitchers with a 24.3% K-BB%, reflecting enhanced strikeout ability and overall reliability.
Holmes has adjusted his pitch mix by decreasing four-seam fastball usage while boosting slider volume and eliminating occasional changeups and sinkers. His four-seam fastball grades below average due to poor strike rates and a low swinging strike percentage (6.6%), and it allows a high 55% Ideal Contact Rate, making it a pitch to minimize. His cutter usage dipped during late May and early June but rebounded to 25% in the most recent start, where it was effectively thrown early in counts to both righties and lefties. The cutter limits hard contact with a 32% ICR overall and stands as a better option than their four-seamer early in at-bats.
Slider usage has increased sharply, rising from 28% in early season to 44% in June. Primarily utilized as a two-strike pitch, Holmes has also deployed it earlier in counts this season, with a first pitch strike rate that supports setting up strikeouts. Against right-handed hitters, the slider is a potent weapon, featuring a 37.4% two-strike chase rate and a 31% PutAway Rate, complemented by a 27% seasonal swinging strike rate.
An interesting trend is Holmes’ increased slider usage against lefties, where it shows a 16% swinging strike rate and an improved capacity to induce weak contact by varying location more widely. In his first eight starts, he threw the slider low 80% of the time to lefties, but more recently he has diversified, increasing outside corner placements. Although this has slightly reduced its effectiveness in two-strike counts, resulting in a 21.4% ICR, it has maintained the same swinging strike rate, suggesting the pitch induces softer contact rather than missing bats outright.
Holmes’ curveball boasts an 84th percentile PutAway Rate against lefties, indicating it can serve as a reliable strikeout pitch in critical situations. His pitching strategy could involve using the cutter early in counts against righties, complemented by sliders for strikeouts, and employing the cutter and slider combination against lefties for weak contact before turning to the curve for finishing pitches. While the limited use of the four-seam fastball remains a drawback, this approach shows potential if he continues to increase his cutter usage consistently. Without that balance, his profile may raise concerns moving forward.