8-21-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X
With a dominant performance from Mitch Keller in game 2, the series-decider falls to Domingo German facing the Rangers and veteran southpaw starter, Andrew Heaney.
The journeyman lefty has a 4.20 ERA through 124.1 innings this season, a serviceable mark but hasn’t stood up in his starts as he is 4-13 over his 25 appearances in 2024 – the most losses by any pitchers this season.
Heaney works mostly fastball/slider with the heater sitting low-90s and the breaking ball is the low-80s while adding in a mid-80s changeup.
Hitters should target the fastball, which can run flat in the middle. It has the highest wOBA at .311 and the highest xwOBA (.318) with the lowest whiff rate among his main offerings (20.1%).
He doesn’t face a ton of left-handed hitters but when he does, they’ve fared well against him posting 65 points higher than righties in batting average, 70 points in on-base percentage and 75 points in OPS (.767 compared to .692).
Look for Bryan Reynolds to hopefully break out of his slight rut of late as 2-hole hitters have a .379/.423/.788 line against Heaney.
Attack that heat and get to Heaney early. Everything is bigger in Texas – and that includes series wins!
Let’s Go Bucs!
Steel City Pirates 