Washington Nationals pitcher Foster Griffin relies on seven-pitch arsenal for career-best start
Griffin struck out nine batters and recorded 17 whiffs against the Miami Marlins using a cutter, changeup, and splitter acquired during his time in Japan
Washington Nationals left-handed pitcher Foster Griffin has recorded a career-high 17 whiffs and nine strikeouts while surrendering only one earned run over seven innings against the Miami Marlins. This performance was underpinned by a unique mix of seven different pitches, including a cutter, 4-seam fastball, sweeper, sinker, changeup, curveball, and splitter, which allowed him to maintain a 2.12 earned run average.
The Nationals' front office secured Griffin with a one-year, $5.5 million deal after he had accumulated just eight career innings in the majors prior to joining the club. His deep arsenal and outstanding command have been cited as key factors in his success, with analysts noting that while no single offering is elite, the combination creates a coherent strategy that keeps batters off balance.
Griffin utilised a cutter, 4-seam fastball, sweeper, sinker, changeup, curveball, and splitter to navigate the game against the Marlins. His cutter and changeup proved particularly effective against right-handed hitters, while his sweeper generated a high whiff rate against lefties. The pitcher possesses two distinct offspeed pitches, a rarity among Major League Baseball starters, having adopted the splitter during his three-year stint in Japan.
In his most recent start, Griffin threw 38 cutters, 15 changeups, 14 sweepers, 13 4-seamers, 11 curveballs, 10 sinkers, and two splitters. His cutter is his most trusted pitch, used 31 per cent of the time, generating an average exit velocity of 85.5 mph against it. The changeup was his second-most used pitch in the recent game and has yielded a .111 batting average against him this season.
Despite averaging only 91 mph on his fastballs, batters are hitting just .200 against his 4-seamer and .118 against his sinker. Griffin has not thrown a changeup to a left-handed hitter all year, reserving it primarily for righties. His sweeper has a 35.9 per cent whiff rate, making it his most effective pitch against left-handed hitters.
Analysts suggest he could be a valuable trade asset for contenders needing starting pitching, though the Nationals' potential selling strategy remains uncertain. Griffin signed the one-year, $5.5 million deal after having only eight career innings in the majors prior to joining the Nationals, and his performance has exceeded expectations for a pitcher with such a limited major league history.
