Big Woo, Big Cutter
The newest pitch in Brandon Woodruff’s arsenal was his most effective tonight. Woodruff threw 31 cutters for a 45% usage rate – both of which are career-highs for a single game. Here’s the kicker, Woodruff didn’t start throwing it until this season.
Cutters are not traditionally “swing & miss” pitches, unless you’re Corbin Burnes. But tonight, Woodruff did an impersonation of his former teammate with 8 whiffs on the cutter – also a career-high.
Woodruff has been processing his new lower velocity fastball by introducing the cutter. Hitters now have to contend with three distinct fastballs from Woody from a movement perspective. Righties see sinkers in on their hands, cutters tailing away, and four-seamers riding true at the top of the zone.
And right when you think you have the fastballs timed up, oh no, there’s his changeup.
I got five on it
The Brewers lead baseball with 26 innings with five or more runs, they also lead in four-run innings, they also lead in three-run innings without a homer.
You get the picture? When the Brewers get going, they continually apply pressure to their opponent. October will be a different story since the arms are a notch tougher to crack.
The Brewers are 10-for-25 with runners in scoring position this series and they lead the National League in batting average with RISP overall (.283)
Trevor Megill’s return
Pat Murphy offered insight on the road to recovery for Trevor Megill. His most recent throwing session still didn’t feel as crisp as Megill wished while he recovers from a right flexor strain.
“I’m hopeful,” Murphy said in regards to Megill potentially being activated off the injured list before the end of the regular season. But he also presented the simple reality his All-Star closer is faced with.
“He doesn’t want to, obviously, pitch with a flexor strain, nobody does – we wouldn’t want him to. His health is paramount. So he’s working through the process of trying to hurry up. And that’s not always the best thing for a flexor strain,” Murphy said. “He’s gotta have some time to heal, but we don’t have that time.”
Bullpen musings
Let’s have some rapid fire observations about non-closer pieces in the bullpen for the last 10 games:
- Erick Fedde went 6 up, 6 down with mostly just a cutter/slider combo against the righties in the Angels lineup. Don’t sleep on Fedde, righties are just 1-for-18 against him as a Brewer.
- Nick Mears returned from the injured list and allowed a solo homer to Taylor Ward. Despite the hanging slider, his movement and velocity were on-par with his season averages.
- Chad Patrick was popping 96 MPH cutters on Tuesday night, when confronted about his additional velo, “well, I hit 97 on Sunday.” That’s on me, Chad. I need to pay attention more.
- Granted, with Jose Quintana landing on the injured list today, Chad Patrick probably re-joins the rotation to make a start this weekend against the Cardinals & perhaps the final weekend of the year vs the Reds.
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