Chris Sale, when healthy, has a celebrated career marked by a dominant fastball-slider combination. In recent performance, his pitch distribution has dramatically changed, with an unusual focus on his slider, thrown nearly 50% of the time, surpassing the fastball usage for the first time in his career. This shift is likely a response to his fastball struggles, as evidenced by poor xwOBA metrics. The article poses questions about whether this adjustment is sustainable or if Sale will eventually revert to a more conventional pitch mix as the season progresses.
When healthy, Chris Sale has been good, with an epic-tier career defined by a fastball-slider repertoire that confounds hitters.
Currently, Sale leans heavily on his slider, with usage nearing 50%, driven by its effectiveness contrasted with struggles from his fastball.
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