MLB: Highest and Lowest Whiff% on Sliders (Full 2019 Season) – Pitchers’ Edition

Over the past few weeks, we have gone over Whiff% rates on various pitches. However, the vast majority of those have focused on the second half of 2019. Today we expand our look into Whiff% rates, as we look at which pitchers had the highest and lowest Whiff% rates throughout last season.

Most Whiffs on Sliders in 2019

Before we get into the Whiff% rates, let’s take a look at which pitchers induced the most swings and misses on the slider last season. And as you might expect, a familiar face is in the top spot.

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# Team Player # of Whiffs  # of Swings
1 Nationals Patrick Corbin 342 658
t-2 Astros Justin Verlander 231 578
t-2 Tigers Matthew Boyd 231 532
t-4 Dodgers Clayton Kershaw 216 633
t-4 Diamondbacks Robbie Ray 216 488

 

Nationals pitcher Patrick Corbin takes the spot, as opposing batters whiffed 342 times off his slider. That number was over 100 swings more than the two pitchers who tied for second, Justin Verlander and Matt Boyd.

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Highest Whiff% on Sliders

In order to qualify for this list, a pitcher must have faced at least 200 swings on the slider against opposing hitters.

Here are the pitchers who had the highest Whiff% rate on the slider last season:

# Team Player # of Whiffs  # of Swings Whiff%
1 Blue Jays Ken Giles 111 204 54.4%
2 Reds Amir Garrett 145 267 54.3%
3 Twins Kyle Gibson 159 302 52.6%
4 Reds Robert Stephenson 165 316 52.2%
5 Nationals Patrick Corbin 342 658 52.0%
6 Nationals Max Scherzer 159 314 50.6%
7 Cardinals Giovanny Gallegos 124 250 49.6%
8 Indians Mike Clevinger 116 240 48.3%
9 Orioles Dylan Bundy 146 305 47.9%
10 Giants Will Smith 123 259 47.5%

 

Not only did Corbin induced the most swings and misses off the slider, the lefty finished with the fifth-best Whiff% rate among pitchers who qualified for this list. Also not surprising is that fellow Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer, who had yet another dominant season in 2019, finished in sixth.

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Lowest Whiff% on Sliders

# Team Player # of Whiffs  # of Swings Whiff%
1 Athletics Mike Fiers 46 245 18.8%
2 Reds/Athletics Tanner Roark 64 304 21.1%
3 Phillies Zach Eflin 84 378 22.2%
4 Red Sox Rick Porcello 65 292 22.3%
5 Tigers Jordan Zimmermann 71 310 22.9%
6 Athletics Brett Anderson 62 264 23.5%
7 Rangers Mike Minor 73 310 23.5%
8 Cardinals Miles Mikolas 79 328 24.1%
9 Angels Jaime Barria 83 341 24.3%
10 Indians Adam Plutko 53 211 25.1%

 

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