Jonathan Sanchez: Analyzing The Giants’ NLCS Game 6 Starting Pitcher

Vitals

6’2, 189
Left-handed
193.1 innings
3.07 ERA
9.5 K/9
4.5 BB/9

2010 Playoffs

13.1 innings, 4 runs, 4 walk, 18 strikeouts

Earlier Start Summary

Sanchez started against the Phillies in Game 2, and had a very standard Sanchez start - he worked 6+ effective innings, alternating dominance with some struggles with command. He battled in the first inning and walked in a run with the bases loaded. He blanked the Phillies over the next three. He then gave up some hits in the fifth before throwing an excellent sixth. He wasn’t as good as he was in his first start of the postseason, but he was solid outside of the first, and that’ll be the thing for him to avoid.

Repertoire

Sanchez has a fairly standard pitch mix, as he comes with a fastball/slider/changeup repertoire. His fastball - which he likes to throw about 65% of the time - sits around 89-91, and is unspectacular in its movement, although it does manage to miss a number of bats. Which secondary pitch he prefers depends on the hitter, and on how Sanchez is feeling that day. His changeup is in the low-80s, and tails like his fastball with a lot more drop. His slider also sits in the low-80s, and it makes for an excellent swing-and-miss pitch.

Facing Righties

The left-handed Sanchez doesn’t give in to anyone, and both his strikeout rate and walk rate against right-handed hitters was terrific. Righties see a lot of fastballs from Sanchez - especially early in the count - and he likes to work high and away. If he falls behind, he’ll lean on his fastball and, to a lesser extent, his change. If he gets ahead, then he goes to his secondary pitches a lot more often. When he’s going for a strikeout, Sanchez likes to try and drop his slider low and in, out of the zone. He’ll also pitch with his changeup outside and occasionally bury it low. He’ll miss up a lot with his heater, and he allows a lot of fly balls, but it’s hard for anyone to go up and take aggressive swings.

Facing Lefties

As you’d expect, Sanchez goes to his breaking ball more often against same-handed hitters. There’s nothing here that’s really unpredictable. He likes to use his fastball to get ahead, and he doesn’t favor any particular area in the zone over any other. When behind, he stays with his heat. When he gets ahead, he switches to his breaking ball to go for strikeouts. Sanchez will drop a ton of sliders down and away, trying to get lefties to chase. That is not a pitch they hit with much success.