Joey Wentz has rapidly become a key figure in the Atlanta Braves pitching staff following his midseason acquisition. After beginning the year with the Pittsburgh Pirates and spending some time with the Minnesota Twins, Wentz was claimed off waivers by the Braves in June. Since his move, the 27-year-old left-hander has transformed into a dominant presence, posting a 1.50 ERA, a minuscule .072 WHIP, and an impressive 21-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 18 innings across four appearances (three starts). This sudden spike in performance has shed light on how a subtle adjustment in his pitching approach has sparked his success.
The Braves’ coaching staff has made a few targeted modifications, notably shifting Wentz’s pitch usage and hand positioning that led to substantial gains in his four-seam fastball’s quality. Wentz stopped relying on his rarely used changeup and increased his curveball usage, but these changes alone don’t explain the dramatic improvement. Instead, the key has been the enhanced ‘rise’ on his fastball and altered cutter deployment, leading to better command, especially against right-handed hitters.
Technical Improvements Behind Wentz’s Performance
Wentz’s four-seam fastball has gained about 1.2 inches in Induced Vertical Break (iVB) since joining the Braves, alongside a reduction in arm-side run, making the pitch flatter and more effective up in the strike zone. This enhancement likely reflects a grip or mechanical change implemented by Atlanta. The result is a pitch that appears to rise more sharply to hitters, contributing to a surge in swinging strikes and limiting quality contact.
Against right-handed batters, his four-seam fastball now produces a 15% swinging strike rate, coupled with a 43.2% called-strike-whiff percentage and an uncharacteristic 0% in-play contact rate. Such numbers indicate no hard contact allowed by righties during his Braves starts. This success can be partly attributed to Wentz locating the fastball inside right-handed hitters 51% of the time, up from 34% before his arrival in Atlanta, presenting a new, challenging look for opponents accustomed to pitches elevated in the zone.
His cutter has undergone a major transformation as well. The Braves have shifted the cutter’s velocity down by 1.2 mph while adding nearly two inches of horizontal movement, treating it more like a slider. This adjustment has allowed Wentz to keep the cutter low in the strike zone 83% of the time against righties, which contributes to disrupting hitters‘ eye levels by elevating the fastball while keeping the breaking ball low.
Further, Wentz’s cutter is now thrown 45% of the time during two-strike counts to right-handed hitters, compared to just 26% before. Meanwhile, against lefties, he uses the cutter less often with two strikes but maintains the pitch low and out of the zone more frequently. This combination, alongside increased curveball usage in two-strike situations, creates a multi-dimensional approach that keeps hitters off balance and enhances his strikeout potential.
Outcome of Pitch Mix Changes on Wentz’s Effectiveness
These strategic adjustments have tightened Wentz’s overall performance metrics. His swinging strike rate has risen from 11.3% prior to joining Atlanta to 13.7%, while his strikeout rate jumped significantly from 17.1% to 32.8%. At the same time, his in-play contact rate has dropped from 43.5% to 29.7%. Such improvements underscore how technical nuances in pitch sequence, location, and movement can dramatically affect a pitcher’s dominance on the mound. For fantasy baseball enthusiasts and Braves supporters alike, Wentz’s breakout signals a valuable addition to Atlanta’s rotation and a promising career trajectory.
Additional Braves Starter Hurston Waldrep’s Season Introduction
Another Braves pitcher making waves this season is Hurston Waldrep, who debuted strongly despite unusual circumstances surrounding his start. Learning of his assignment just the night before, Waldrep undertook a five-hour drive to the ballpark and entered a game in progress with runners on base. Despite these challenges, he allowed only one run on three hits across 5.2 innings and struck out four batters.
Waldrep has made notable changes to his pitching arsenal and mechanics. He replaced his ineffective four-seam fastball—previously characterized by low induced vertical break and inconsistent command—with a sinker tailored to right-handed hitters. This sinker is now positioned up in the strike zone and is thrown with improved control, generating weaker contact than the earlier fastball.
In addition, Waldrep has integrated a new cutter into his repertoire. In his debut, this pitch averaged 93.7 mph and featured roughly 10 inches of vertical break with minimal horizontal movement. Though primarily used high in the zone and less frequently early in counts, the cutter pairs effectively with his 88 mph slider, which he reserves for right-handed hitters. These pitches form a complementary duo that supplements his most effective offering: his splitter.
Waldrep’s most profound development may be mechanical. After consultation with Baseball Prospectus analyst Gaurav Vedak and insights from pitching analyst Lindsay Crosby, it was noted that Waldrep reduced the aggressiveness of his leg lift. Previously, a high knee lift contributed to inconsistent landing points and erratic command, limiting his effectiveness. Switching to a less exaggerated knee drive has enhanced his control and enabled him to finish his delivery in a more upright position.
This mechanical refinement, combined with his pitch adjustments, has resulted in better command of early-count pitches like the sinker and improved opportunities to deploy his splitter, a true strikeout weapon. Since mid-June, Waldrep posted a 1.94 ERA over 46.1 innings, with a 40/18 strikeout-to-walk ratio, demonstrating promising progress. Though he currently lacks a high swinging strike rate, the elimination of his worst pitch and a refined five-pitch mix offer a more sustainable starting profile.
Johan Oviedo’s Challenging Season Debut for the Pirates
Johan Oviedo, pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates, struggled with command in his season opener Monday following a lengthy absence from <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB action. His four-seam fastball commanded the strike zone only 44% of the time, and his curveball posted a scant 17% zone rate, leaving the slider as his best-located pitch.
One encouraging sign is Oviedo’s fastball extension, measured at 7.4 feet, up considerably from 7.1 feet in 2023, alongside an Induced Vertical Break of 14.1 inches compared to 9.1 inches previously. This flatter, harder-to-hit fastball theoretically performs like a 97-98 mph pitch despite its listed 95 mph velocity, enhanced by a more aggressive attack angle. Oviedo appeared to attempt lifting the fastball in the strike zone as part of his strategy, which could yield dividends if sustained.
Oviedo’s slider velocity decreased from 88.2 mph in 2023 to 86.7 mph in this start, but it gained horizontal and vertical movement, adding roughly 1.5 inches in both directions. This added movement has not compromised his ability to command the pitch, as indicated by a solid strike zone rate of 71%. His curveball velocity dropped by over three mph this season, accompanied by more horizontal movement but less vertical drop. Its effectiveness, especially against left-handed hitters, remains to be seen.
Despite the rough outing and limited command, Oviedo’s refined fastball and increased slider movement make him a pitcher to watch. The Pirates have since optioned him to Triple-A, but a recall appears likely as he continues fine-tuning his arsenal and execution.
Justin Verlander’s Adjusted Pitching Strategy with the Giants
Veteran Justin Verlander has shown notable improvement across his last three starts for the San Francisco Giants, delivering 15 innings with just one earned run allowed and a 14-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The recent surge prompted an evaluation of his current pitching tactics.
Verlander’s curveball usage has undergone the most significant shift. Against right-handed batters, curveball frequency has more than doubled, rising from 11% early in the season to 28% in recent outings. Conversely, curve usage to lefties has decreased. Location changes emphasize pitching the curve outside and lower in the strike zone against righties, resulting in a lower zone rate and a corresponding increase in swinging strikes.
Against lefties, Verlander’s curveball is now rarely thrown in the strike zone—down to 35% from an earlier 55%—and he is burying the pitch low and away more frequently. These adjustments have led to an impressive 17.6% swinging strike rate on the curve versus lefties in the last three starts, up from 7.5% previously.
In addition, Verlander has slightly increased the velocity on his four-seam fastball and altered its placement against right-handed hitters. Rather than predominantly attacking the outside corner, he now attacks up and inside more often. His usage of the fastball during two-strike counts against righties also increased notably, accompanying a small rise in his put-away rate.
While these adjustments may not represent a full return to his prime, they have revitalized Verlander’s ability to miss bats and limit hard contact, making him a viable option for fantasy managers seeking an effective rotation streamer.
Summary and Forward Outlook on Starting Pitcher Developments
Analyzing the recent performances and pitch mix adjustments across several starting pitchers, Joey Wentz’s transformation with the Braves stands out as the most significant breakout. The fine-tuned tweaks to his four-seam fastball and cutter have allowed him to dominate hitters at a historically high level, hinting at sustained success if these improvements hold.
Meanwhile, Hurston Waldrep’s evolving pitch arsenal and adjustments in mechanics offer a foundation for future progression, while Johan Oviedo’s potential remains promising despite early setbacks. Justin Verlander’s refined approach late in his career shows adaptability that continues to yield results.
For fans and fantasy baseball participants, these developments underscore the importance of monitoring subtle pitch changes and usage patterns, as they can dramatically influence a pitcher’s effectiveness. Joey Wentz, in particular, should be on watch lists everywhere as his Braves pitching breakout reshapes the team’s rotation and adds much-needed stability.