SLIDER? CUTTER?
BY WHATEVER NAME,
AN EFFECTIVE PITCH
Zack Wheeler’s slider is so good that it confuses even pitch-tracking systems. Wheeler maintains that many of his sliders, particularly to left-handed batters, are actually cutters. The pitches look similar and are differentiated only by subtleties in their horizontal movement.
Regardless, the evolution of Wheeler’s slider/cutter is a big reason for his ascension from the ranks of very-good pitchers to elite. Here’s a breakdown of his usage of the slider/cutter and its effectiveness over the years:
Put-away rate
(two-strike pitches
that result in a strikeout)
with sliders/cutters
Percentage of
overall pitches
that are sliders/cutters
Swing-and-miss rate
on sliders/cutters
32.7%
29.3%
25.8%
in 2021
in 2021
in 2021
PREVIOUS SEASONS
PREVIOUS SEASONS
PREVIOUS SEASONS
2013
2014
2015
2016
2013
2014
2015
2016
2013
2014
2015
2016
15.6%
15.0%
Injured
28.6%
29.5%
Injured
20.2%
22.7%
Injured
2017
2018
2019
2020
2017
2018
2019
2020
2017
2018
2019
2020
20.3%
19.3%
19.8%
15.9%
31.0%
26.9%
26.6%
38.5%
19.1%
17.0%
19.5%
18.8%
SOURCE: MLB Statcast
Photo by JOSE F. MORENO / Staff Photographer
JOHN DUCHNESKIE / Staff Artist
JOSE F. MORENO / Staff Photographer
SLIDER? CUTTER? BY WHATEVER NAME, AN EFFECTIVE PITCH
Zack Wheeler’s slider is so good that it confuses even pitch-tracking systems. Wheeler maintains that many of his sliders, particularly to left-handed batters, are actually cutters. The pitches look similar and are differentiated only by subtleties in their horizontal movement.
Regardless, the evolution of Wheeler’s slider/cutter is a big reason for his ascension from the ranks of very-good pitchers to elite. Here’s a breakdown of his usage of the slider/cutter and its effectiveness over the years:
Percentage of overall pitches that are sliders/cutters
25.8%
25%
20.3%
20
15.9%
25.8%
15.6%
15
in 2021
10
5
Injured
0
’13
’14
’15
’16
’17
’18
’19
’20
’21
Swing-and-miss rate on sliders/cutter
38.5%
40%
32.7%
35
31.0%
28.6%
30
25
32.7%
20
15
in 2021
10
5
Injured
0
’13
’14
’15
’16
’17
’18
’19
’20
’21
Put-away rate (two-strike pitches that result in a strikeout)
with sliders/cutters
29.3%
30%
25
20.2%
19.1%
18.8%
20
29.3%
15
in 2021
10
5
Injured
0
’13
’14
’15
’16
’17
’18
’19
’20
’21
SOURCE: MLB Statcast
JOHN DUCHNESKIE / Staff Artist
JOSE F. MORENO /
Staff Photographer
SLIDER? CUTTER?
BY WHATEVER NAME,
AN EFFECTIVE PITCH
Zack Wheeler’s slider is so good that it confuses even pitch-tracking systems. Wheeler maintains that many of his sliders, particularly to left-handed batters, are actually cutters. The pitches look similar and are differentiated only by subtleties in their horizontal movement.
Regardless, the evolution of Wheeler’s slider/cutter is a big reason for his ascension from the ranks of very-good pitchers to elite. Here’s a breakdown of his usage of the slider/cutter and its effectiveness over the years:
Percentage of overall pitches
that are sliders/cutters
25.8%
in 2021
PREVIOUS SEASONS
2013
2014
2015
2016
15.6%
15.0%
Injured
2017
2018
2019
2020
20.3%
19.3%
19.8%
15.9%
Swing-and-miss rate on sliders/cutters
32.7%
in 2021
PREVIOUS SEASONS
2013
2014
2015
2016
28.6%
29.5%
Injured
2017
2018
2019
2020
31.0%
26.9%
26.6%
38.5%
Put-away rate
(two-strike pitches that result in a strikeout)
with sliders/cutters
29.3%
in 2021
PREVIOUS SEASONS
2013
2014
2015
2016
20.2%
22.7%
Injured
2017
2018
2019
2020
19.1%
17.0%
19.5%
18.8%
SOURCE: MLB Statcast
JOHN DUCHNESKIE / Staff Artist
