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 .
Saturday, 7:10 PM – Mike Leake
| 2012 | |
|---|---|
| IP | 119.2 |
| K/PA | 15.6% |
| BB/PA | 5.5% |
| HR/9 | 1.13 |
| GB% | 48.5% |
| Whiff% | 16.6% |
| ERA | 4.44 |
| FIP | 4.15 |
Leake does not have overwhelming stuff, with a fastball that sits 88-91 MPH and occasionally touches 92. He leans heavily on a two-seamer with good sink, which allows him to generate a decent number of ground balls. However, the pitch does not miss many bats and its ground ball rate is far from elite. Leake often uses his 87-90 MPH cutter, which also has good sinking movement. He misses plenty of bats with an above average 79-82 MPH slider, and his 83-84 MPH change is also a relatively difficult pitch to put in play. He rounds out a deep arsenal with an occasional curve in the 77-79 MPH range. Leake’s strikeout rate is down a bit this year, and his overall whiff rate is comfortably below average.
