For nearly every pitcher in baseball, establishing a quality fastball is one of the most essential steps for someone to find success. Fastball pitches (4-seam, 2-seam, sinker, cutter) make up just shy ...

Harrison Bader got a first-hand look at Jhoan Duran's electric stuff — try a four-seam fastball that averages 100.2 mph — in ...

There are differences among them, of course: some heaters have more run and others more cut, and while they are all generally ...

Gil allowed five runs on five hits in 3.1 innings while walking four and striking out three. But if we look beyond the ...

ATLANTA — In an eventful seven days for the Atlanta Braves that began with a win at the speedway in Bristol, Tenn., and ended ...

A four-seam fastball, thrown with backspin, has many RPMs. The average spin rate on a four-seamer in 2020 was 2,306 RPMs. Several Orioles rate above average.

Being able to command the fastball better is critical for the rest of Duran’s mix. This season, he’s throwing his four-seamer in the strike zone 57.5 percent of the time, up from 53.5 percent ...

CINCINNATI — Brad Keller grinned at the mention of his fastball velocity. After his four-seam fastball sat at 93.8 mph last year, Keller’s heater is averaging 97 mph with the Chicago Cubs.

Opponents are batting .232 with a .406 slugging percentage against Sasaki’s fastball—numbers that are league average for most, but a major disappointment for a guy throwing 97-98 mph consistently.

When Sasaki’s fastball has ticked up, he’s gotten results, too. On heaters thrown at 97 mph or above, opponents are batting just .133 with a .333 slugging percentage, and swinging-and-missing ...