Yesterday’s top StrikeZone rated pitchers were:
- Brady Singer (KC) 9.7 (This was also the highest rating of the Opening Weekend)
- Paul Blackburn (OAK) 9.0
- Jack Flaherty (DET) 7.9
- Garrett Whitlock (BOS) 7.9
- Reid Detmers (LAA) 7.4
Worst pitcher of the day:
Bailey Ober (MIN) -2.3
Roundup: Top Pitchers for 31 March
Brady Singer (KC) delivered the highest StrikeZone rating of the entire Opening Weekend yesterday with a 9.7 rating. Singer went 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, BB, 10 K as the Royals won their first game of the season against their division rivals the Twins.
The best part about this is that Singer did it with only two pitches. He threw his sinker and slider for 94 out of his 98 pitches. It helped that he was pitching with a big lead so he could pound the strike zone with his sinker and then get the whiffs with his slider. The Twins hitters didn’t have much plate discipline as they looked like they just wanted to get out of Kansas City as soon as possible on the get away day.
Singer had good command all day. HIs slider generated an incredible 62% whiff rate (16 ouf of 26) as the Twins hitters struggled to come to terms with it. I’m not quite buying that Singer will be consitently good until I see some other pitches in his arsenal. Apparently he has been working on some other pitches, so I will hold my judgment until I see them. Otherwise he could prove to still be too inconsistent.
Paul Blackburn (OAK) threw six different pitches as kept the Guardians hitters guessing all day. His stuff isn’t exactly electric, but when his command is on point and his defense if firing behind him, he can be very useful. Blackburn never got into trouble except when he worked himself out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth inning. Blackburn went 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, BB, 3 K as the Athletics got their first win of the season.
Jack Flaherty is looking to resurrect his career in Detroit. His first game of the season was a good one. Flaherty went 6 IP, 4 H, ER, 0 BB, 7 K as the Tigers swept the White Sox. Flaherty’s slider was very good with a 43% CSW. His fastball still leaves me a little concerned. He left some fastballs over the middle yesterday and one went for a Home Run. The White Sox, or a better lineup could have done more damage. Having said that, Flaherty’s start looks promising and he can build on this.
Garrett Whitlock (BOS) 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks was good too as the Red Sox tied the four game set with the Mariners in Seattle. Reid Detmers (LAA) 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks pitched well as the Angels secured their first win of the season.