Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake has been rigorously testing bullpen arms over the past few weeks, aiming to identify competent pitchers among less heralded players. This approach sometimes risks the potential backfire when relying on pitchers with specific pitch mixes.
Jake Cousins: A Promising Addition to the Bullpen
The Yankees hope they have uncovered a valuable asset in Jake Cousins, a former Milwaukee Brewers right-hander. At 29 years old, Cousins spent the last three years with Milwaukee, recording a modest 9.1 innings last season with a 4.82 ERA.
Since joining the Yankees this year, he has shown significant improvement, delivering an impressive 10.2 innings over eight appearances with a 1.69 ERA, 3.17 FIP, and an exceptional 14.34 strikeouts per nine. His 77.6% left-on-base rate and 31.8% ground ball rate also highlight his effectiveness.
Cousins’ Pitching Mechanics and Success
Despite a decrease in ground ball percentage, Cousins is striking out more batters than ever before, and he has managed to reduce his walk rate to a career-low 5.06 per nine innings. He primarily utilizes a slider and a sinker, occasionally mixing in a four-seamer. His reliance on the slider, which he throws 62.4% of the time at an average speed of 81.7 mph, has been particularly effective. This pitch is generating a mere .071 batting average and slugging rate against him, coupled with a 47.3% whiff rate and 34.7% put-away rate.
The Efficacy of Cousins’ Slider
Cousins’ slider stands out, producing 93% more horizontal movement than the average pitcher’s—making it one of the best sliders on the Yankees’ team. While his sinker has resulted in a higher .300 batting average against, it features 23% more horizontal movement and 5% additional vertical movement compared to the average.
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Future Prospects and Strategic Use
Although some regression may be inevitable, the Yankees plan to use Cousins situationally to capitalize on his exceptional slider, especially against batters who struggle with this type of pitch. His recent performance against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he struck out three batters in one inning, demonstrates his potential. With his growing success, Cousins could soon be considered for high-leverage situations, gaining further trust from coach Blake and potentially becoming a critical asset in the Yankees’ bullpen strategy.