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HAPPY BLAKE SNELL DAY!
Today's Starting Pitchers:
| W | L | ERA | FIP | K% | BB% | AVG | BABIP | HR | GS | IP | fWAR | |
| Blake Snell (AAA) | 1 | 1 | 2.51 | 2.95 | 33.3% | 11.1% |
.273 |
.424 | 1 | 3 | 14.1 | NA |
| Masahiro Tanaka | 1 | 0 | 3.06 | 2.98 | 22.5% | 7.0% | .200 | .250 | 1 | 3 | 17.2 | 0.4 |
On this date exactly one year ago, Blake Snell was in the midst of his season opening almost 50 inning scoreless streak. He had just wrapped up a short performance for the Stone Crabs, then would be promoted to Montgomery following his next outing. Over the course of the next few months, Snell would become a household name for prospect gurus as he made stops in Triple-A and Double-A, while also making an appearances at the Futures' Game in July.
So far in Durham this year, Snell has struggled some with his control and hasn't been able to pitch deep into games due to those control issues as well as his high strikeout totals. Nonetheless, he has still been exceptional while on the mound, sporting a low ERA/FIP despite a rather high BABIP.
Masahiro Tanaka Scouting Report:
Tanaka is entering his third season stateside after dealing with injuries his first two years, while he still put up terrific numbers whenever he did grace the mound for New York. Tanaka has been solid each time out so far in 2016, putting up his best start of the season his last time out against the Mariners as he gave up two earned runs on six hits, walking none and striking out six en route to his first win of the season.
His arsenal:
| PITCH | VELOCITY | FREQUENCY | vs LHB | vs RHB |
| Fastball | Low 90's |
7.1% vs LHB *** 3.8% vs RHB |
Tends to stay low and away | Pitches middle-away |
| Sinker | Low 90's |
17.1% vs LHB *** 32.8% vs RHB |
Anywhere | Anywhere |
| Cutter | Mid 80's |
6.4% vs LHB *** 7.6% vs RHB |
Sporadic | Low and away |
| Splitter | Mid 80's |
45.0% vs LHB *** 29.0% vs RHB |
Below the zone | Below the zone |
| Slider | Low 80's |
13.6% vs LHB *** 24.4% vs RHB |
Low and away | Low and away |
| Curveball | Mid 70's |
10.7% vs LHB *** 2.3% vs RHB |
Low and in | Low and away |
His splits:
| 2016 | TBF | wOBA | AVG | OBP | SLG | HR | K% | BB% |
| vs LHB | 39 | .182 | .158 | .179 | .237 | 0 | 20.5% | 2.6% |
| vs RHB | 32 | .363 | .259 | .375 | .444 | 1 | 25.0% | 12.5% |
| HOME | 49 | .249 | .208 | .224 | .354 | 1 | 20.4% | 2.0% |
| AWAY | 22 | .295 | .177 | .364 | .235 | 0 | 27.3% | 18.2% |