I was born and raised in Los Angeles, so the Doyers, not the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, are my team. My first memories were of Fernandomania. What a glorious time it was. Ever since then, it’s been the pitchers that have captivated my attention. From Orel Hershiser to a young Pedro Martinez. NOOOOOOOOOOOO! For Delino DeShields! I digress. The Hideo Nomo no-no in Coors. Eric Gagne and his roids running out from the bullpen to “Welcome to the Jungle.” Man, we would all get so freaking amped. For much of my adult life, though, it’s been about Clayton Kershaw. From 2009 to 2017, Kershaw had one of the most dominant stretches ever for a starting pitcher. In 1827.1 innings, Kershaw struck out 2020 batters. In the history of the game, only Chris Sale’s 2007 strikeouts in 1629.2 innings is better. Coincidentally, we are mired in a most unforgettable year of 2020. Is it time to move on from Kershaw for fantasy? Especially since he’s being drafted as the 10th pitcher off the board and 37.53 overall player in NFBC drafts from 6/1 to 7/12?
We’ve known the fastball velocity has been declining for years now, but man….90.5 mph last season isn’t good. Yet, the brilliance that is Kershaw still managed a 9.54 K/9, 2.07 BB/9 and 3.5 xFIP. Amazing. Most impressive was the 12.9% swinging strike rate.
How’d he do it?
A change in pitch mix and location. When Kershaw had more velocity on his fastball, his fastball, slider, and curveball were all potent pitches, with the slider and curveball his main putaway options. In 2018, though, when the average fastball velocity decreased to under 93 mph for the first time in his career, plummeting to 91.4 mph, the slider garnered a whiff percentage of a measly 25.9%. That number was often in the 40%+ range. Kershaw got scared of throwing his fastball due to the decrease in velocity. 2016 was the first time the fastball usage dipped below 50%. In 2017, that number was at 46.5%. In 2018, it culminated in a career-low 42.1% usage. Last season, though, Kershaw ramped up the fastball usage 1.8%, which helped the whiff percentage for both the fastball and slider.
Location of his pitches also changed. Kershaw is now throwing more pitches off-the-plate: down-and-in to righties and low-and-away to lefties. There are fewer pitches inside the strike zone, while off-the-plate frequency has increased. In addition, up-in-the-zone usage has decreased.
On the left shows the pitches and location from 2008 to 2018. On the right is from last season.
Last season was also a tale of two halves for Kershaw.
| K/9 | BB/9 | HR/9 | BABIP | LOB% | FIP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Half | 8.27 | 1.45 | 1.18 | .278 | 78.3 | 3.6 |
| 2nd Half | 11.12 | 2.84 | 1.7 | .239 | 91.9% | 4.18 |
His career LOB% is 79.4% while the BABIP is .270. The inflated second half makes his 2019 numbers look much better.
Steamer has Kershaw projected for 75 innings, 8.67 K/9, 2.05 BB/9, and a 3.85 FIP. Those are good numbers but are they top 10 pitcher worthy? There’s something for safety and floor, but the upside is lacking for someone being drafted as one of the elites.
VERDICT
As much as it pains me to do it…..
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 184309352 ORIG FILE ID: 184645519
SON!!
Great report, usual appreciated insight!!!
a. CK looks like he’s on the decline. He could do a JV revival, but I doubt it unless he can ramp up the velocity on his fastball.
b. My pitching for team 1
SP Gore, Hill, May, Giolito, SGray, Lynn, Pearson, Odorizzi and Robbie Ray
RP Yates and Hand
Knebel, Pressly, Renato Lopez (your boy), Stephenson and there are many others on the WW.
Would you add drop for any on the WW?
c. My pitching for team 2
SP SGray, Heaney, Odorizzi, GRichards, Ryu and Pearson
RP Chapman, NAnderson, Kintzler, Workman, Helsley
Knebel, Lopez, Pressly, Stephenson and others on WW.
Add / drop any for guys on WW.
d. I have O’Neill. Carlson is available. Would you add Dylan over Tyler?
Cheers,
Ante
Thanks, Ante!
I’m not seeing a JV-esque revival for CK. The velocity is what it is.
Team 1
Unless it’s a dynasty team, I’m not sure you can hold onto Gore and Pearson. I’d grab Knebel and Lopez out of that group
Team 2
Again, not sure you can hold onto Pearson. Knebel then Lopez for me from that group.
If you think Pearson gets enough innings and balls out, then hold. You drafted him for a reason.
I’d keep O’Neill
SON!
it’s redraft for this year only. So Renato and Knebel it is. Thanks, will keep Tyler.
Cheers,
Ante
Good luck. Just know that things could go horribly wrong with Lopez
SON!!
He could also seriously breakout. Been checking out fangraphs data and they confirm a lot of what you reported much earlier. And I know you said Knebel first, then Lopez.
So you’re telling me there’s a chance??
SON!!
The gist of what I got from the article.
1. He has pitched recently (2018) with an ERA under 4.00.
2. K/9 on the rise.
3. His FIP and xFIP from last year all point to bad luck and his 5.23 ERA or whatever it was.
4. He just needs to put it all together and Yasmani IS the man!
Okay, #4 was from your article. But you can see many commonalities with your work. Maybe they plagiarised your work!
Cheers,
Ante
He’s shown he can do it. Unfortunately, he’s shown that the floor is literally hell. I do think Yasmani is a big addition for the pitching staff