Three Starting Pitchers Who Gained Stuff and Command
In the realm of baseball, the art of pitching is a delicate dance between stuff and command. Last week, we delved into the struggles of pitchers who lost their grip on these essential elements. This week, we shift our focus to three starting pitchers who have made remarkable strides in gaining stuff and command, and we're here to analyze their journey and determine whether they're worth buying, selling, or holding onto.
Emerson Hancock: A Rising Star in the Mariners' Rotation
Emerson Hancock, a pitcher for the Mariners, was once on the outside looking in, but he has since impressed with a career-high 20.3% K-BB% this season. Hancock's stuff has improved significantly, with his Stuff+ rating jumping 12 points to 102. The addition of a new cutter and curveball has been instrumental in this improvement, but it's his sweeping slider that has truly stood out. Hancock's sweeper now has a 124 Stuff+, up from 104 last year, and it's causing nightmares for right-handed hitters, who struggle to make solid contact against it.
Hancock's command has also improved, particularly with his four-seam and sinker pitches. He's been able to locate these pitches better, leading to a 62.2% groundball rate from the sinker and a 121 Stuff+ rating for the four-seam. Hancock's lower arm angle has helped him command these fastballs better, and he's now a hold if you're lucky enough to have him. If not, it might be time to buy, especially if his manager is still skeptical.
Gavin Williams: A Commander of Command and Stuff
Gavin Williams, a pitcher for the Guardians, has historically struggled with command and control, but this season has seen a significant improvement in both areas. His swinging-strike rate has increased to 13.6%, and his K-BB% has reached a career-best 21.1%. Williams' Stuff+ and Location+ ratings have both improved by 4-5 points, and his curveball has climbed to a 113 Stuff+. Interestingly, his curveball is more effective against right-handed hitters, who struggle to make solid contact against it.
Williams' four-seamer has also improved, jumping 5 points to a 104 Stuff+. However, he continues to struggle with command of this pitch, given his career-low 89 Location+ this season. Despite this, Williams is a buy if possible, as his improved skills and command have led to better outcomes and aligned with expected metrics.
Roki Sasaki: A Forkball and Splitter Master
Roki Sasaki, a pitcher for the Dodgers, has made a remarkable recovery from a right shoulder impingement that caused him to miss most of 2025. He's now showing above-average stuff, with a massive jump to a 104 overall Stuff+ from 91. Sasaki's three primary pitches have all increased in Stuff+, with a notable 22-point increase on the splitter. He's also started mixing in a forkball with a whopping 137 Stuff+.
Sasaki's splitter forkball is softer than his splitter and features just a 599 RPM spin rate, almost like a knuckleball. His splitter and forkball both lead his arsenal from a command standpoint, with high-end command grades for these two best pitches. Sasaki's changes this season have been impressive, though the results haven't quite translated consistently. He's a keeper or dynasty-league buy with long-term thoughts in mind, as a pitcher with strong stuff and improving command is someone to chase.
