From Mlb · · 1m 30s
Brewers Pitch Caminero in World Series
Brewers target Caminero's swing with high fastballs in World Series clash.
In brief
Brewers target Caminero's swing with high fastballs in World Series clash. Brewers will use high fastballs to challenge Caminero's swing in World Series Game 1. Originally reported by Mlb.
Caminero's World Series Moment
Junior Caminero hit a two-run home run off a first-pitch splitter in Game 6 of the ALCS.
“Caminero's signature postseason moment arrived late Monday night via a parabolic two-run home run that ricocheted off the left-field foul pole and incited delirium at Tropicana Field, springboarding the Rays into the World Series”
Caminero's Postseason Struggle
Caminero went 36 plate appearances without a home run this postseason before his Game 6 blast.
“For Caminero, it was better late than never. The 23-year-old slugged 42 home runs in the regular season, more than all but three players in baseball, but had gone 36 plate appearances without a long ball this postseason before his seventh-inning blast in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series”
Guardians' Pitching Strategy
Guardians threw 37.8% four-seam fastballs in ALCS, targeting Caminero's swing.
“Cleveland’s pitching staff threw four-seam fastballs 37.8% of the time in the ALCS, including 30.4% of the time to Caminero”
Caminero's Fastball Strength
Caminero ranked top 10 in slugging percentage against four-seam fastballs.
“Caminero ranked in the top 10 in slugging percentage (.641) and expected slugging percentage (.652) against four-seamers this season, among hitters to have at least 100 plate appearances end in fastballs”
Caminero's Swing Mechanics
Caminero uses flat swing to hit high fastballs with elite bat speed.
“Part of Caminero’s excellence originates in his flat swing, which is tailor-made to hammer high fastballs, the sort of heat that tends to give hitters trouble. The combination of elite bat speed and a flat, level swing help Caminero stay on plane with high heaters”
Guardians' High Heat Strategy
Guardians threw elevated fastballs 3.70 feet above ground to Caminero.
“The average pitch height of those 13 four-seamers that he chased out of the zone was 3.70 feet above the ground, which is to say extremely high”
Caminero's Swing Adjustments
Caminero jumped 19 degrees ahead of pitches to hit Game 4 double.
“Caminero’s solution seemed to be to jump out way in front of these pitches. His go-ahead double in Game 4 off Espino featured a 19-degree swing path, extremely flat, and an extremely fast 81.8 mph bat speed”
Brewers' Pitching Plan
Brewers use 24.1% four-seam fastballs with low strikeout rate.
“Milwaukee is using four-seamers 24.1% of the time and has recorded just 10 strikeouts on four-seam fastballs, this after setting a record for most four-seam fastball K’s by a starting rotation in the pitch-tracking era”
Brewers' Key Pitchers
Jacob Misiorowski targets Caminero with high fastballs.
“The obvious guy who fits the bill of Cleveland’s power pitchers with electric fastballs is, of course, Jacob Misiorowski. But The Miz’s fastball has been more vulnerable in the playoffs, generating a pedestrian 16.1% whiff rate on his four-seamer”
Caminero's Changeup Weakness
Caminero has low slugging percentage against changeups.
“Caminero’s .328 slugging percentage against changeups was his lowest off any individual pitch type”
Brewers' Game 1 Strategy
Brewers will use high fastballs to challenge Caminero's swing.
“The Brewers will be careful. They have had plenty of time to devise a game plan, and it likely won’t look exactly the same as Cleveland’s”
Caminero's World Series Impact
Caminero's at-bats could dictate World Series series outcome.
“Caminero’s at-bats could dictate the series, and that makes this cat-and-mouse game fascinating”
World Series Game 1
World Series Game 1 starts Friday at 8 p.m. ET on FOX/FOX Deportes/FOX One.
“World Series Presented by Capital One, Game 1, Friday, 8 p.m. ET on FOX/FOX Deportes/FOX One”
The essence
Brewers will use high fastballs to challenge Caminero's swing in World Series Game 1.
