Let's dive into the fascinating world of baseball and explore the stories of three starting pitchers who have undergone significant transformations in their pitching arsenal and command. This week, we're taking a deep dive into the factors that have contributed to these pitchers' gains and discussing whether it's time to buy, sell, or hold onto them in your fantasy leagues.
Emerson Hancock: Sweeping Changes
Emerson Hancock, a pitcher for the Mariners, has made some intriguing adjustments to his repertoire. One of the most notable changes is the introduction of a new cutter and a sweeping slider, which have significantly impacted his performance. His Sweeper pitch, a combination of a slider and a sweeper, has seen a remarkable 12-point increase in Stuff+, now grading at an impressive 124. This pitch has become a nightmare for right-handed hitters, with a minuscule .144 wOBA and .122 xwOBA. The key to its success lies in Hancock's ability to consistently throw it low and away from right-handed hitters, inducing weak contact rather than whiffs.
On the other hand, Hancock has increased his cutter usage against left-handed hitters, and this pitch has also improved, dropping an additional 3 inches with more glove-side movement. As a result, the cutter has become his best weapon against lefties, generating weak contact with a .132 wOBA and .227 xwOBA.
Hancock's command has also improved, particularly with his sinker and four-seamer. He has learned to locate these pitches more effectively, leading to an increased groundball rate from the sinker. Additionally, a change in his mechanics, lowering his arm angle, has contributed to better command and a unique attack angle for his four-seamer.
Gavin Williams: Command and Control
Gavin Williams, a pitcher for the Guardians, has historically struggled with command and control, but this season, he's turned things around. His ball rate has improved to 32%, and he's increased his swinging-strike rate to 13.6%, resulting in a career-best K-BB% of 21.1%. This improvement is backed by enhanced Stuff+ and Location+ metrics.
Williams' curveball, a strong pitch, has climbed to a 113 Stuff+, and it has been particularly effective against right-handed hitters. However, there's a curious trend against lefties, where his curveball has allowed a higher wOBA this season. The heat maps reveal that his curveball is sitting more in the middle of the plate against left-handed hitters, which might be a fluke given the small percentage of pitches thrown in that location.
Williams now has two near-elite pitches: his curve and slider, both with a 113 Stuff+. Additionally, his four-seamer has jumped to a 104 Stuff+, relying on arm-side run rather than vertical break. Despite this, hitters continue to do damage against his four-seamer, and he struggles to command it, as indicated by his career-low 89 Location+ this season.
Williams has also improved his command of his sinker and cutter, which now grade well overall. However, his cutter is less effective against left-handed hitters this season.
Roki Sasaki: Above-Average Stuff
Roki Sasaki, a pitcher for the Dodgers, has made a remarkable comeback after missing most of the 2025 season due to a right shoulder impingement. His stuff has improved significantly, with an overall Stuff+ jump to 104 from 91. All three of his primary pitches have increased in Stuff+, with a notable 22-point increase on his splitter. He's also introduced a forkball with an astonishing 137 Stuff+.
Sasaki's splitter forkball is softer than his splitter and features a unique spin rate, almost like a knuckleball. His command of these pitches is exceptional, with high-end Location+ grades. This has led to an overall increase in his Location+ this season.
Sasaki's slider has also seen an 18-point jump in Location+, and it has become a filthy pitch against right-handed hitters. Additionally, his four-seamer command has improved in recent games, but opposing hitters still crush his heater, especially when it's left in the heart of the zone.
Final Thoughts
These three pitchers have made significant strides in their pitching arsenals and command. Hancock's sweeping slider and cutter have become powerful weapons, while Williams' improved command and near-elite pitches make him a force to be reckoned with. Sasaki's comeback and enhanced stuff are impressive, but his heater remains a concern. Personally, I think these pitchers are worth holding onto, as their growth and adjustments show a promising future. It's always fascinating to see how pitchers adapt and evolve, and these three certainly have me intrigued. What do you think? Are you buying, selling, or holding onto these pitchers in your fantasy leagues?
