Logan Gilbert is off to a tremendous start in his 2024 campaign. In three starts, the tall righty has pitched to a 2.66 ERA over 20.1 innings. Yesterday Gilbert threw 7.2 innings allowing just a run on 5 hits. He walked one and struck out eight. The only blemish, a Vladdy Guerrero Jr 457ft bomb. Still, a tremendous outing which the Mariners desperately needed in am extra innings 6-1 victory over the Blue Jays. Gilbert Splitter gets the most attention and rightfully so. But according to Run Value so far this year, his best pitch is: his newest addition in his arsenal.
The Cutter:
Gilbert added the Cutter this season and so far it’s a good addition. He has thrown his new pitch 15.1% of the time, mostly instead of his 4 Seam Fastball. His 4 Seamer went from 41.9% in 2023 to 29.1% early this year.
So far, the Cutter collected a plus 2 run value, which accounted for 7.6 value every 100 pitches. It leads all his pitches in Run Value per 100 pitches ever! Obviously it’s to early to tell and hard to keep this up for a season, but so far, so good.
In the 28 Cutters Gilbert threw, hitters haven’t collected a hit. His expected slash is also strong so the contact against hasn’t been great as well. His expected slash against is .191/.216/.311 his best against a pitch that got contact and thrown for more then 10% (Hitters haven’t made contact on his Splitter). The Cutter is currently 8th in the majors in Run Value per 100 pitches.
It’s obvious still very early, but so far him adding the Cutter has been a very good addition. It helps him throw his 4 Seamer less, which in 2023 was an average pitch for him.
The Splitter deserves all the attention it gets, as it’s a filthy outpitch. It’s the pitch that gets a lot of Whiffs, but adding a Strong Cutter is an underrated help for Gilbert. However, let’s watch a couple of Nasty Splitters below, because that’s a beauty.
