We’re into late June now and I still have no freaking idea who the real Tatsuya Imai is. To be fair, I don’t think many people do either.
Including today’s six shutout innings against the Tigers, Imai has struck out 21 hitters in his last twelve innings. Three runs allowed total, with only eight hits and one walk. That’s downright impressive, especially on the heels of that disastrous start against the Royals on June 12, when he failed to even finish the first inning with a 9-0 lead.
If you were to follow Statcast’s pitch classifications, you would have seen Imai throw three pitches, but really only two: his four-seam and slider. But that slider looked like a different pitch multiple times. Sometimes you’d see some arm-side movement. In other instances, more glove side. Changes in horizontal and vertical breaks. 14 whiffs on 23 swings from his slider alone. I had high hopes for that slider when the Astros signed Imai in the offseason. I have even higher hopes for it now, if he can maintain this kind of consistency.
That’s the real question about Imai moving forward. This isn’t the first time this season that he has impressed before imploding again. But, then again, he hadn’t impressed to this level. And he hasn’t thrown the ball like this in two consecutive starts this season. This development warrants additional optimism. Whether he can keep it up is another matter, though.
Between Imai and Troy Melton, we were treated to a wonderful pitching matchup. Both pitchers were nearly unhittable, with Taylor Trammell’s solo home run in the sixth being the only mistake in Melton’s case.
Isaac Paredes’s sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning to drive in Houston’s second run proved consequential as Dillon Dingler’s solo home run in the bottom half off of Enyel De Los Santos caused some heartburn. But, all said and done, the Astros walked away with a 2-1 win.
Now 40-43, the Astros only trail the Mariners by 1.5 games for the division lead and are tied for the third AL Wild Card spot. While there is plenty of baseball left, and the mediocrity of the AL is helping them out, Houston has to feel increasingly confident at the moment. Especially if Imai can continue to pitch as he has in his last two starts.
Feature photo from Astros on X
The Astros… are in playoff position. 👀
Can you imagine the freakout if Houston went into the all star break in first place? 🤯
According to Imai, he was indeed throwing three distinct pitches. Asked how many split finger fastballs he threw in today’s game, he estimated 5-10. Savant identifies 4 thrown in this game.
From what Blum said, Statcast has problems correctly categorizing his pitches and tends to lump those it can’t classify as “sliders.” Apparently, (again according to Blum) Statcast recently re-categorized some of the “sliders” in the previous few games as splitters. It’s one of those things you can’t be sure about unless you know Imai’s grip on the pitch, and Imai says he has been throwing some splitters. I really believe this confusion probably helps Imai, because hitters are also going to be confused about what pitches he is throwing and this will lead to more difficulty reacting to the pitches.
Recall that the Astros told Imai to reduce his pitch mix to just sinkers and sliders when he returned from the “IL” stint. At the time, Espada was asked, “Would Imai’s performance today have been improved if he threw a few change ups (which is also a splitter)? Espada said, “Yes. But we felt it was best to start off simplifying his pitches.” At some point, in the last few starts, Imai returned to throwing splitters, but we didn’t know it because Statcast was classifying it as slider.
Hey, Espada, who is “we”?
The Astros offense is rather weak, but I’m of the belief Lamonte Wade, Jr. is really going to help when he returns. If they are able to add another outfield bat at the deadline, preferably a LHB, the offense can be, at the very least, average. The key will be whether this is the Burrows and Imai we are going to get for the rest of the season.
I am a believer in Loperfido. Wade looked good for us, no doubt. But there are reasons he did not have a team. I think one of the biggest boons we can get to our outfield is Smith not sucking at a .220 avg or whatever it is, and never allowing Bryce to start a ballgame again.
Smith’s and Matthews’ job is to protect DB’s job. They are not doing a great job.
I mean Cam has been at a .243 BA over the last 107 at bats, .305 OBP, and a .430 Slug(.735 OPS). He is still being marred from a truly awful portion of play between April and May.
I believe Astros offense is grossly mismanaged by Espada
Yeah it will be nice when Wade is back, I disagree with there being a reason that he was not on a team. He is a niche veteran that added something important that we probably can’t replicate in a better way until the trade deadline.
I would agree with this. Short of star level talents a lot of success sometimes comes from being on teams that need you. Loperfido wouldn’t have much opportunity on the Red Sox with all their LHHs, but he can be a great piece here. Wade probably doesn’t get much run in an OF full of + offensive players but here he can play a valuable role putting the ball in play and running the bases.
Just in case you didn’t know. Ronel Blanco last night with the Hooks. 3.1 innings, 2H, 2W, 2K.
This was a truly great pitching performance on a night when Melton was absolutely dealing. Blubaugh also gets props for 2 high-leverage innings.
Melton was ON last night. He hit 100 on the gun in a pitch against Isaac. (Well, 99.5 but on the TV they marked it as 100)
All the pitchers yesterday put out a great effort. Imai, Blu, even DLS, who has been absolutely run into the ground and overused. It took luck to close it out at the end due to that, but not imploding and getting a groundball does involve some skill and not just luck.
Imai might always be a guy who occasionally can’t find the zone and lays an egg, but the good outings are getting better and more frequent. His stuff plays.
That “hold on” lean by Trammell brought giggles… one of the better “wishing it fair” leans I’ve ever seen. lol
It’s time that guy doesn’t get pinch hit for.. just let the guy whom hits homers take his AB’s