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, 2:20 PM – Chris Volstad
| 2012 | |
|---|---|
| IP | 91.2 |
| K/PA | 12.6% |
| BB/PA | 8.7% |
| HR/9 | 1.08 |
| GB% | 49.8% |
| Whiff% | 14.1% |
| ERA | 5.99 |
| FIP | 4.73 |
Volstad’s four-seam fastball sits around 89-92 MPH and is fairly straight. His two-seamer comes in at a similar velocity with good sinking movement. His 83-86 MPH changeup also has good downward break. He throws two breaking balls, an 82-85 MPH slider and a 78-80 MPH curve. All of Volstad’s pitches are very hittable, particularly so in 2012. Only the slider misses bats on occasion. However, other than the four-seamer, all of his pitches generate a good number of ground balls. His strikeout rate has fallen to a career worst and dangerously low 12.6%, which has made it difficult for him to limit base runners.
