Cubs Stats to Monitor: Tyler Chatwood’s Cutter Whiffing 3X More Hitters Than League Average
In his first two starts, Tyler Chatwood has pitched like the guy Theo Epstein envisioned three years ago. We’re seeing sharp-breaking cutters that dive out of the zone, similar to those of Jake Arrieta circa 2015. And when Chatwood’s sinkers look like cutters, but tail the opposite direction, how can hitters even make contact?
Tyler Chatwood, 94mph Sinker and 90mph Cutter, Overlay pic.twitter.com/MF0mDYekK5
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 2, 2020
Extreme is the one word we can use to describe Chatwood’s cutter this season His usage of the pitch is not only up three-fold compared to last year, but he’s generating nearly three times greater whiffs with it than the average MLB cutter. 
I can’t help but be all-in on Chatwood’s stuff now that his command has been on point. Just like Arrieta during his breakout 2015 season, Chatwood is stifling batters with a lethal sinker/cutter combination.