9-4-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X
With a potential payback sweep on the line, the Pirates send out Domingo Germán to start off against rookie Japanese southpaw, Shota Imanaga.
This is Imanaga’s second game against the Pirates this season after pitching 7 shutout frames on May 18th with 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 7.
Imanaga started the season hot and on everyone’s radar but following a lackluster June where he had a 5.67 ERA over 27 innings, has fallen out of favor in the national media (for the most part).
He is, however, somehow is putting up an underrated rookie showing despite ranking 16th in fWAR among NL starting pitchers (2.7) and 10th ERA for those with at least 100 innings pitched.
Entering today’s game, Imanaga has an 11-3 record to go with his sparkling 3.14 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 148 strikeouts to just 23 walks but the problem for the Korean southpaw has been the long-ball – an issue which plagued him in his KBO career as well.
Among NL starting pitchers, Imanaga has allowed the 8th most home runs (23) and has the 4th highest HR/9 among qualified pitchers in the Senior Circuit.
Looking at his pitch mix, Imanaga offers a mostly 2-pitch mix, leaning on a low-90s 4-seam up in the zone with a low-80s splitter dropping down against hitters, as those two offerings encompass nearly 85% of his total pitches this season.
He’ll add in some other pitches, mostly utilizing the low-80s sweeper down and in against left-handed hitters but primarily works off the fastball/splitter repertoire.
While opposing hitters have a near identical batting average against both of his main pitches, the clear difference comes in the power aspect as the fastball has an average exit velocity of nearly 7 MPH more than the splitter and the slugging – both actual and expected – is more than 100 points higher with 18 of his home runs allowed coming against the heater.
The old adage of “If it’s high, let it fly” should play here today. Shota can get too hung up on spotting the fastball, and that will be especially prevalent if Bucs batters can lay off the splitters dropping under the zone.
Attack the heat. Spit on the splitter. Sweep the Cubbies.
Let’s Go Bucs!
Steel City Pirates 
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