PIvetta is the poster child for why velocity is overrated, but even watching Wheeler, his 95-97 FB gets hit, and Howard saw some 95 MPH FBs get pounded. A four seamer without good movement is a HR waiting to happen.
Once you throw 92 on average (Nola), additional velocity has only marginal value these days relative to other qualities - I think b/c the "juiced" baseballs and the increase in FB velocity has selected for batters with quicker swings, so now even high 90 FBs get hit - and when you barrel a high 90s FB, it travels further.
What is more important is movement, which is why a 2 seamer has so much value, command (not control, not just throwing strikes, but avoiding the sweet spot in the center of the plate from the thighs to the top of the belt), and secondary pitches. Nola is a clinic on how to pitch. Pounds with the 2 seamer, spots the 4 seamer, and puts hitters away with a curve and changeup (the change is his key pitch, when it's on, he's unhittable).
That's why I think Eflin has a lot of potential, he has a 2 seamer (the PC who tried to make him throw mostly 4 seamers was an idiot) with movement similar to Nola and Arrieta and better command than Arrieta. He needs to work on his repertoire, 4 seamer high in the zone, changeup, curve, slider/cutter. But the raw materials are there.
Velasquez lacks command and has never developed a good 2 seamer or secondary pitches, same with Pivetta.
In the pen, you need one plus plus secondary pitch (Neris' splitter) or one plus and one average (show me pitch) to keep hitters off-balance. For most top RPs, it's usually a killer slider though changeups work as well.
