David Price
Arsenal
Fastball: 93-97 MPH
Changeup: 82-84 MPH
Slider: 88-91 MPH
Curveball: 77-80
The Skinny: David Price and his fastball are obviously not a secret around the league. But, that exploding plus-plus fastball is not the key to his success. Price has his share of outings where he gets badly roughed up and those are the days he is lacking the command of his secondary pitches. The opposition can tell very early what type of night it will be based on his early command of the changeup and slider. Price is still very much primarily an aggressive fastball pitcher, but he’s used his changeup more in 2011 than he ever has before and it gives righty hitters something else to ponder aside from the slider. His slider is still the better, more dominant type offering but his command lacks at times and this is when we see Price get hit.
Colby Lewis
Arsenal
Fastball: 88-92 MPH
Slider: 82-85 MPH
Curveball: 75-77 MPH
Changeup: 81-84 MPH
The Skinny: When a team goes up against Colby Lewis they are thinking about that slider at all times. While he hasn’t been quite as effective as he was in 2010, it’s still a big weapon for him that hitters need to be aware of. It’s a true slider that can be read as a fastball out of his hand and can be effective against lefties as well as righties. Lewis will also try to sneak in the slow curveball, often dropping it in through the back door against left-handed batters. It’s how he uses it and not so much the downward snap that makes it a usable pitch. You’ll also see some changeups on the outside corner to keep lefties honest, but he’ll primarily go to that plus slider against righties.
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