Is Junk Food Impacting the Phillies’ Performance Without Harper? Discover the Surprising Truth!

Earlier this week, I discussed how Nick Castellanos is facing different pitches this season. A reader commented on how opposing pitchers might not be throwing as many good pitches since Bryce Harper has been sidelined with an injury. Harper’s absence is noticeable. The team struggles more without his strong bat. Even the beloved Phanatic seems a bit down. But what’s happening beneath the surface?

In baseball, stats can tell a lot. When Harper got injured on May 27, the approach to pitching against the Phillies changed. Teams might be feeling bolder when they face a lineup without Bryce. After all, Harper’s absence can influence strategy. But just assuming things based on common sense isn’t enough; we can look at the data.

After Harper’s injury, we can spot changes in pitch types the Phillies are facing. For instance, players like Bryson Stott, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber saw an increase in breaking balls thrown their way. When Harper is not in the lineup, pitchers might be more aggressive, hoping to exploit the weaker parts of the batting order.

Changes in Pitch Types

Here’s a quick look at how pitch types changed from May to June:

• Bryson Stott: 19.1% to 25.5% breaking balls
• Trea Turner: 33.1% to 38.3%
• Kyle Schwarber: 32.8% to 36.4%

Interestingly, Castellanos experienced a decrease in breaking balls thrown at him, from 45.9% to 44.6%. This might seem counterintuitive since he’s known to struggle with breaking pitches. But perhaps pitchers feel confident enough not to need to change their strategy much against him.

Offspeed Pitches

In terms of offspeed pitches, the data is a bit mixed. Some players saw an increase, while others didn’t:

• Edmundo Sosa: 10.4% to 18.5%
• Kyle Schwarber: 12.2% to 16.6%

Half of the hitters saw more offspeed pitches, while the other half saw fewer. It’s hard to pinpoint if this is solely because Harper is out. Similarly, players like Turner and Schwarber faced more offspeed deliveries, potentially due to pitchers looking for safer options without Harper on base.

Impact on Player Performance

So, has this new pitching approach worked? Kyle Schwarber’s performance has taken a hit. His OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) dropped from 1.047 in May to .721 in June. Trea Turner saw a slight dip in batting average but managed a solid OPS of .916.

Each June, Schwarber usually sees an uptick in performance, but this year seems different. It’s possible that without the expected fastballs he thrives on, he’s struggled. Of the hitters near Harper in the order, only Schwarber is seeing a decline.

While it’s not clear how much Harper’s absence has impacted the rest of the team, it’s evident they miss his influence. Fans eagerly await his return—he can’t come back soon enough to lift both the team and the spirits of the Phanatic.

Bryce’s presence not only strengthens the lineup but also brightens the atmosphere around the team.

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