Colby Lewis: Analyzing The Rangers’ World Series Game 3 Starting Pitcher

Vitals

6’4, 230
Right-handed
201 innings
3.72 ERA
8.8 K/9
2.9 BB/9

2010 Playoffs

18.2 innings, 3 runs, 11 walks, 18 strikeouts

Last Start Summary

Lewis started Game 6 of the ALCS against the Yankees and was terrific, keeping his opponent to three hits and one run over eight innings. He peppered the zone with strikes and limited the Yankees to weak contact, and though all three of their hits were for extra bases, that was all they were able to do. The run wound up scoring on a double, a fly ball, and a wild pitch. Lewis’ best inning was his last one, as he pitched around a walk to strike out the other three batters, including Derek Jeter to end the frame. He was effective, and a bit less wild than usual.

Repertoire

Lewis doesn’t have the blazing fastball he used to have as a prospect in his younger days. Injury and age have sapped him of his standout velocity. However, he can still get into the low-90s, so his fastball is by no means a weakness. He complements his heat by throwing a lot of his 82-84mph slider, which has good, sharp movement. Lewis throws a second breaking ball - a curve in the high-70s - when he wants to catch hitters by surprise. And finally, lefties will see a mid-80s changeup that moves a lot more like a two-seam fastball, with a good amount of tail and sink. Lewis is a four-pitch guy, and though he has his preferences, he’ll throw all four pitches in a game.

Facing Righties

Against right-handed hitters, Lewis acts a lot like a righty reliever. He’s almost pure fastball/slider, throwing those two pitches nearly 90% of the time. Much of the rest goes to his curve, which is basically a slower slider. It’s difficult to work out any patterns, as he will throw his slider in any count, no matter how far he’s behind. He’ll also throw all his pitches all over the zone, although in strikeout counts, his slider will end up outside, and frequently low. Just to mix things up, Lewis will occasionally throw his changeup to righties, and he’ll use it to pound them down and inside.

Facing Lefties

Not that Lewis is predictable against righties, but against lefties, he mixes it up even more. He’ll throw his fastball about 60% of the time, and the rest of the time is basically an even mix between three different pitches. He likes to try to get ahead by putting heat or something offspeed over the outer edge. He’ll use his breaking balls in different ways, often dropping his slider down and in while trying to go backdoor with the curve. He keeps his changeup away, and uses it more for a strike in fastball counts than he does as a swing-and-miss pitch in strikeout counts. Lewis is a nibbler. He’ll get into deep counts against lefties because he doesn’t want to give in, the result being a lot of whiffs and a lot of walks.