The Philadelphia Phillies have been one of the top teams in baseball to start the year, despite not having a division lead. The offense led by Alec Bohm and Trea Turner has been above average, while the pitching staff has been excellent, with Zack Wheeler leading all NL pitchers in WAR. However, a teammate, Ranger Suárez, is having an even finer season.
Suárez emerged as a key player for the Phillies in 2021 and has now established himself as a third ace for the team. His recent performances have been outstanding, including a 32-inning scoreless streak. He has shown improvement in his command and the synergy of his pitches, leading to great results.
Suárez has a diverse repertoire of pitches, with his sinker being his most common choice to start off hitters. He complements this with his curveball and changeup, with the latter showing the most improvement this season. Suárez’s command of his changeup has improved significantly, leading to better results.
One of Suárez’s strengths is his ability to induce weak contact and generate swings on pitches outside the strike zone. His out-of-zone pitches have been effective at both keeping the ball on the ground and generating strikeouts. His improved command has led to better results in this area, allowing him to pitch deeper into games.
Overall, Suárez’s performance this season has been impressive, with improvements in various aspects of his game. His ability to control his pitches and induce swings outside the strike zone has been a key factor in his success on the mound.
