What is MLB Chase Rate?
Major League Baseball (MLB) chase rate is a statistic used to measure the effectiveness of a pitcher’s ability to get batters to chase pitches outside the strike zone. It is calculated by dividing the number of pitches a pitcher throws outside the strike zone (chase pitches) by the total number of pitches thrown by that pitcher. The higher the chase rate, the more likely a pitcher is to induce batters to swing at pitches outside the strike zone.
MLB chase rate is an important statistic for pitchers and can be used to measure their effectiveness in getting batters to swing at pitches outside the strike zone. It is also useful for evaluating a pitcher’s ability to throw off-speed pitches, as pitchers with higher chase rates are more likely to be successful when throwing off-speed pitches.
Calculating MLB Chase Rate
Calculating MLB chase rate is relatively simple. The formula is as follows:
Chase Rate = (Number of Chase Pitches / Total Number of Pitches)
Chase pitches are defined as any pitch thrown outside the strike zone that induces the batter to swing. The strike zone is defined as the area over the plate between the batter’s knees and shoulders.
Understanding Chase Rate
Chase rate is a statistic used to measure a pitcher’s ability to induce batters to swing at pitches outside the strike zone. It is important for pitchers to have a high chase rate, as it means that they are more likely to be successful in getting batters to swing at their pitches.
A pitcher’s chase rate can vary depending on the type of pitches they throw. For example, pitchers who throw a lot of off-speed pitches are likely to have a higher chase rate than pitchers who throw mostly fastballs.
Importance of Chase Rate
Chase rate is an important statistic for pitchers, as it is an indication of their effectiveness in getting batters to swing at pitches outside the strike zone. Pitchers with a higher chase rate are more likely to be successful in getting batters to swing at their pitches, which can lead to more strikeouts and fewer hits.
Chase rate is also important for evaluating a pitcher’s ability to throw off-speed pitches. Pitchers who can successfully get batters to swing at off-speed pitches are more likely to be successful in getting batters to swing at their pitches.
Factors Affecting Chase Rate
There are several factors that can affect a pitcher’s chase rate. These include:
1. Pitch Selection
Pitchers who throw a variety of different pitches are more likely to have a higher chase rate than pitchers who only throw one type of pitch. This is because different pitches have different levels of effectiveness in inducing batters to swing at pitches outside the strike zone.
2. Location
The location of the pitch is also important in determining a pitcher’s chase rate. Pitchers who can accurately locate their pitches outside the strike zone are more likely to have a higher chase rate than pitchers who cannot.
3. Count
The count of the game can also affect a pitcher’s chase rate. Pitchers who are able to throw pitches outside the strike zone when the count is in their favor are more likely to have a higher chase rate than pitchers who cannot.
4. Velocity
The velocity of the pitch can also affect a pitcher’s chase rate. Pitchers who can throw pitches with a higher velocity are more likely to have a higher chase rate than pitchers who cannot.
Examples of High Chase Rate Pitchers
There are several pitchers in Major League Baseball who have a high chase rate. Some examples include:
- Jacob deGrom – deGrom has a chase rate of 48.1%, which is one of the highest in the league.
- Max Scherzer – Scherzer has a chase rate of 47.5%, which is another one of the highest in the league.
- Yu Darvish – Darvish has a chase rate of 45.9%, which is one of the higher chase rates in the league.
Examples of Low Chase Rate Pitchers
There are also several pitchers in Major League Baseball who have a low chase rate. Some examples include:
- Noah Syndergaard – Syndergaard has a chase rate of 33.2%, which is one of the lowest in the league.
- Justin Verlander – Verlander has a chase rate of 33.3%, which is another one of the lowest in the league.
- Clayton Kershaw – Kershaw has a chase rate of 37.1%, which is one of the lower chase rates in the league.
Conclusion
MLB chase rate is an important statistic for pitchers, as it is an indication of their effectiveness in getting batters to swing at pitches outside the strike zone. It is calculated by dividing the number of pitches a pitcher throws outside the strike zone (chase pitches) by the total number of pitches thrown by that pitcher. The higher the chase rate, the more likely a pitcher is to induce batters to swing at pitches outside the strike zone.
Pitchers who have a high chase rate are more likely to be successful in getting batters to swing at their pitches, which can lead to more strikeouts and fewer hits. Chase rate is also important for evaluating a pitcher’s ability to throw off-speed pitches, as pitchers with higher chase rates are more likely to be successful when throwing off-speed pitches.