Switching grips could save Michael Pineda’s changeup

Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty ImagesIf Michael Pineda never puts it together, no one will ever be able to say that it was due to a lack of effort from internet analysts trying to diagnose his problems. His excellent strikeout numbers and walk numbers, combined with his below average ERA have perplexed many, with a few explanations floating out there. Common theories as to why he isn’t pitching at an ace-caliber level include poor fastball command, a lack of a third pitch, and not attacking the corners as much with runners on base.

Today, we’ll focus on the elusive third pitch. In 2016, he threw his changeup 8.5% of the time, according to Pitch F/X data. He wasn’t particularly bad at locating…