Carlos Rodon (SP-NYY) took the L against the Reds on Wednesday evening as he allowed 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks while racking up 8 punchouts over 5.1 IP. The 31 year-old lefty served up a pair of dingers while throwing 57 of his 95 offerings for strikes in the contest. Rodon might have started the 2024 season healthy (as was not the case in 2023), but the results have certainly proven disappointing, as he now owns a 4.45 ERA, 9.1 K/.9, 2.6 BB/9, and 4.32 xFIP through his first 18 starts (99 IP) of the campaign. While his BB/9 is back to where it was when he was at his peak in 2021-2022, the strikeout rate remains down as his swinging-strike rate sits at 12.5% compared to the 14-15% it was in 2021-2022. The opposition is actually making more contact on pitches inside the zone this season (85%) than they have in against him in any season since 2020 while Rodon's Statcast profile is more like last season's than 2021-2022, with a 43.5% hard-hit rate, 10.5% barrel rate, and 90.5 mph average exit velo. He lines up to face the Rays in Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
Andrew Abbott (SP-CIN) picked up the W against the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and 4 walks while fanning a pair over 6.1 innings of work. The 25 year-old southpaw tossed 60 of his 98 offerings for strikes while keeping the ball in the yard. Abbott now owns a solid 3.28 ERA through his first 17 starts of the campaign, but his other figures - which include a 4.91 xFIP, 6.9 K/9, and 3.4 BB/9 - are less impressive. As was the case a season ago when he posted a 3.6 BB/9 in 109.1 IP, control has been an issue in 2024, but Abbott has benefited from a bloated 85.5% strand rate and suppressed .231 BABIP. Especially given his inability to miss bats (8.5% swinging-strike rate, which is down from 11% a season ago), Abbott is a prime regression candidate going forward. He's on tap to face the Rockies at home next Monday.
Brayan Bello (SP-BOS) earned a win against the Marlins on Wednesday as he allowed just 1 run on 7 hits and a walk while recording 7 punchouts over 6.2 IP. The 25 year-old righty tossed 61 of his 91 pitches for strikes in the contest while serving up no round trippers. Although Bello's ERA is ugly at 5.19 through his first 15 starts (78 IP) of the season, his 3.86 xFIP points to an inflated 18% HR/FB and low 68.5% strand rate are inflating that ERA. On the other hand, Bello's 8.2 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 are pretty unimpressive while his Statcast profile is a bit of a mixed bag with a 41% hard-hit rate, 8% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 88.5 mph. Given his performance against the Marlins, Bello should probably be started against a subpar Oakland lineup next Tuesday.
Nolan Arenado (3B-STL) continued to scuffle as he went 0-4 with a strikeout against the Pirates on Wednesday. The 33 year-old has been less than stellar in his 4th season with the Cardinals, as he now owns a .256 average to go with 7 homers, 34 RBI, and 30 runs scored in 333 PA, with a subpar wRC+ of 96. Other than the weird 2020 season, Arenado's wRC+ is his lowest since his rookie campaign back in 2013 as his Statcast metrics have taken a nosedive, with a 27.5% hard-hit rate, 3% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 85 mph all representing his worst in each department since the Statcast era began in 2015. His 82% contact rate is right about his career norm (81%), but Arenado just isn't hitting many balls hard.
Mark Vientos (3B-NYM) stayed hot as he went 1-4 with a 2-run homer against the Nationals on Wednesday evening. The 24 year-old has excelled since returning to the majors back in mid-May and now owns a .303 average to go with 11 dingers, 29 RBI, and 26 runs scored in 159 PA, with a wRC+ of 168. Vientos has slashed his strikeout rate to 23.5% from 30.5% a season ago while drawing more walks (up to 8% from 4.5%). His contact rate, though, is barely up from 67% to 67.5% as he's actually making less contact on pitches inside the zone (z-contact is down from 77.5% to 76%) while some of his key Statcast metrics are down, with a 42.5% hard-hit rate (51% in 2023) and average exit velocity of 90 mph (92.5 in 2023).
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