The Braves dodged a bullet yesterday when righty Jesse Chavez was hit in the leg by a comebacker and helped off the field, as initial x-rays did not reveal a fracture. The team originally believed Chavez would be able to avoid an IL stint entirely, that didn’t prove to be the case. Atlanta placed Chavez on the 15-day injured list, per a club announcement, and recalled right-hander Ben Heller from Triple-A Gwinnett in his place. Losing Chavez even just for two weeks or so will sting. The 39-year-old has been outstanding for Atlanta, pitching to a 1.55 ERA with a career-best 30.8% strikeout rate against a 7.7% walk rate. Chavez has already picked up a save and a dozen holds for the Braves, and he was on an 11-inning scoreless streak prior to his injury.
A few more notes from the NL East…
- The Mets announced Thursday that they’ve reinstated right-hander Stephen Ridings from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse. The move fills a spot on the team’s 40-man roster, increasing their count from 37 to 38 players. Ridings, 27, has yet to throw a pitch for the Mets, spending the entire season to date on the injured list due to a lat strain. The Mets claimed the right-hander off waivers from the Yankees back in mid-November, just before teams set their rosters in advance of the 2022 Rule 5 Draft. Shoulder troubles derailed Ridings’ 2022 season, but he posted a 1.24 ERA and 42-to-4 K/BB ratio in 29 innings between High-A and Double-A in the Yankees system back in 2021.
- Veteran lefty Sean Doolittle was transferred from the Nationals’ Double-A affiliate to their Triple-A club Thursday, signaling that he’s completed his rehab work and is now considered fully healthy. The 36-year-old Doolittle, who signed a minor league deal with the Nats over the winter, is being formally reinstated from the injured list and will try to pitch his way back into the Majors with a strong showing in Rochester. Doolittle allowed three runs and posted a 10-to-2 K/BB ratio in seven rehab frames between Class-A and Double-A. The lefty pitched just 5 1/3 frames for the Nats in 2022 before requiring an internal brace procedure in his elbow over the summer.
How is Chavez successful and manage a ridiculous k per nine throwing 88 mph fastballs? I’m so happy for him and hope he gets better. I’d like to know more about what his pitch mix does that allows him to accumulate strikeouts that high when most soft tossers rely on soft contact.
This is essentially me pasting Google.com but anyway, take a look here:
baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/jesse-chavez-…
He is one of the best pitchers this year at limiting barrels.
Changes with Atlanta:
He has ditched his 4-seamer and his slider.
Throws cutters and sinkers mostly.
Some changeups and added a few curveballs.
Very good stuff guys, however I’m wondering more about the strikeout rate. There has been plenty of pitchers who threw slow with great success but I can’t remember a soft tosser with a k rate like that. Other than “circus pitchers” or players with a weird arm angle. (The goat Darren O’Day, pat neshek, etc.
Not every pitcher can throw 98-100 mph. Look at Greinke. He throws in the 80’s all the time and still gets hitters out. If you can’t overpower hitters you have to fool them with pitches that move and where you locate them.
Announcers get a woodie if they can say a pitcher can throw 96-100.
Who gives a rat posterior if a pitcher can throw 100 mph, but can they “pitch”, or hit their target?
Where have you gone Joe Dimaggio?
@curly
I love how you said “rat posterior” haha.
In 2016, Kyle Hendriks finished 2nd in Cy Young voting with a 2.16 ERA despite throwing no harder than 89mph. Velo isn’t everything if you know how to pitch.
If you watch him pitch, you’ll see that his pitches are consistently hitting the edges of the zone. He rarely puts one down the middle. I’m not an analyst, but it looks like he regularly throws something the batter isn’t expecting. Fun to watch.
I would Jesse is just in the zone. Honestly, Jesse just loves Atlanta. The Braves traded him at the deadline last year and did so well for that team that he was released. Atlanta picked him up again and he finished with the Braves and has been with them since. He has been excellent for the Braves this year, think he just likes Atlanta.
Chavez turns 40 in August and is having his best season yet. Good for him!
Chavez is the GOAT.
Uncle Jesse is the new Bartolo. We love him.
It’s a good comparison. Everyone loves both these dudes. And I dislike the Braves a lot (simply because they’re a division rival).
It probably has a lot do with the lab safety glasses he pitches in haha
Still pains me to see Ridings as a Met. DD should have brought him back where he belongs, SE PA.