Exploring the Arsenal will run prior to each game, providing you with a brief scouting report on the starting pitcher expected to oppose the Pirates. The chart below shows the horizontal and vertical movement of every pitch thrown by that particular pitcher in 2012. This chart is from the catcher’s point of view. Click here for a general guide to pitch types and classifications. Graphs are courtesy of Brooks Baseball and The Hardball Times , unless otherwise specified. Statistics are courtesy of FanGraphs .
Sunday, 1:35 PM – Anibal Sanchez
| 2012 | |
|---|---|
| IP | 114.0 |
| K/PA | 21.4% |
| BB/PA | 6.9% |
| HR/9 | 0.87 |
| GB% | 47.6% |
| ERA | 3.95 |
| FIP | 3.45 |
Sanchez has an easy, almost casual delivery. His fastball averages about 91-92 MPH, but has a pretty wide range of velocity. He will often drop into the 87-88 range, but also regularly dials it up to 95 MPH. His velocity has been down just a tick this year, with his average fastball coming in around 1 MPH slower than in 2011. He also has not missed as many bats with the heater as he has in the past. Sanchez mostly works with a four-seam fastball, but mixes in a two-seamer with decent tailing movement as well. His main secondary pitch is an 83-86 MPH slider that has been pretty effective the past couple years. Sanchez has an above average 83-86 MPH changeup, a pitch that has a decent amount of sink. He mostly uses it against lefties, but is not afraid to go to it against a right-hander at times. He also mixes in a slow curve on occasion, a pitch that sits 75-78 MPH and is generally pretty hittable.
