Blue Jays: A deep dive into how Patrick Corbin is exceeding expectations

"One of those potential bright spots that came out of nowhere this season has to be left-hander Patrick Corbin, whom the team signed to a 1-year, $1 million contract back on April 3rd. Corbin was signed as additional insurance for the rotation when the injuries started piling up early in the campaign. Since then, Corbin is actually fifth on the Blue Jays' pitchers in WAR (0.7), and has now earned a spot in the starting rotation for the team going forward."

"With a 3.93 ERA across 34 1/3 innings of work, it's interesting to see how one of the statistically worst starters over the last decade is suddenly serving as a great stopgap in a major league rotation. The positives about Corbin are that he generates a lot of whiffs on his pitches. Especially his slider, which batters are only hitting .181 against, to go along with a .200 xwOBA and a 40.6% strikeout rate."

"With a whiff rate of 38.6%, he is really making opposing batters chase his slider, whether it's down and away or dropping in the strike zone. It's one of Corbin's best pitches, and he has been using it the most this season to try to work his pitch counts. The other top pitch for the left-hander this season has been his sinker, which boasts a +2 pitching run value."

"Hitters might boast better numbers off the pitch compared to his slider, but he uses it effectively to mix up the counts while also dropping in a changeup on occasion, which boasts a strong 31.6% whiff rate as well. While Corbin's track record is not ideal over the past few seasons, he is genera"

The Blue Jays entered a game with a 18-24 record while dealing with injuries, inconsistency, and unfavorable outcomes. Starting pitching has varied widely, with 10 different starters used and some games beginning with bullpen openers. Patrick Corbin, signed on April 3 to a one-year, $1 million deal as rotation insurance, has emerged as a productive option. He ranks fifth among team pitchers in WAR at 0.7 and has a 3.93 ERA over 34 1/3 innings. His slider generates frequent swings and misses, with a .181 batting average against, a .200 xwOBA, and a 40.6% strikeout rate. His sinker adds run value and helps him mix counts, occasionally paired with a changeup.

Read at BlueJaysNation