GDT 8/24/21 Tampa Bay Rays (Rasmussen) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Suárez, R)

[Sabin]

Suarez does need to work on his slider much more. He has been mostly a fastball (2 and 4 seam) and changeup guy as a starter. He used the slider much more percentage-wise in the past.

This has generally been working in limited exposure, but hitters will learn and start to sit on his fastball more (which can be hittable). I think this is part of the reason Suarez is doing less well the 2nd and 3rd time through the order. He simplified his stuff as a reliever and it is really tough to diversify that mix in the middle of the season. His long term success as a starter probably depends upon him doing that.

Agreed. Suarez has been leaning heavily on his sinker this year, and has has success inducing a high % of ground balls as a result. Hitters will eventually adjust, especially as a SP.

[Austinfan]

Though with a good sinker and changeup, the 4 seamer and slider just have to be show-me pitches (each 10% or so of all pitches). Probably with time to prepare as a starter, he can get that slider back, he was a starter in the minors.