In baseball, there are two ways for pitchers to be able to improve their run prevention skill. The first is by limiting the amount of chances the opposing lineup has to hit the ball by increasing strikeouts and lowering walks. The second is by improving the outcome of balls in play, by coercing hitters to hit the ball to spots where the seven to eight other defenders on the field can convert into outs. Teams are continuously searching for pitchers who fit into either category, whether it’s a pitcher with nasty stuff that can generate whiffs almost at will or a pitcher who aims for weak fly ball or ground ball contact to get outs.
Strikeouts and Walks vs. Quality of Contact: Which input has a larger effect on run prevention?
