Earlier in his career, Cristian Javier leaned heavily on his four-seam fastball and slider/sweeper combination, followed by usually positive results. That peak between 2021 and 2022 was special to watch. But Javier’s performance since then has gradually regressed, including Tommy John surgery. This regression involved less-than-desirable changes to his mechanics that made his “invisiball” fastball increasingly susceptible to damage and a noticeable decline in velocity. For a pitcher with less margin for error than others, that combination has led to some real questions about his long-term role.
Even amid his struggles since 2023, one can’t accuse Javier of being reluctant to make adjustments. He implemented a changeup in 2024 prior to his Tommy John surgery, with the pitch supplanting his sweeper as his main secondary pitch against left-handed hitters. Against right-handed hitters, however, he has kept a primarily four-seam/sweeper approach, with varying results. But the numbers in 2026 haven’t been kind to Javier, with his four-seam being hammered thus far (.545 SLG, .531 xSLG). With ABS also impacting pitches thrown atop the strike zone, where Javier’s four-seam has thrived in years past, another adjustment felt more like a mandatory development rather than optional at this point.
For a while, I’ve wondered if Javier would benefit from a consistent third pitch against right-handed hitters. He briefly flirted with his changeup in 2024 before his season-ending Tommy John surgery. But he has largely scrapped that pitch against right-handers since his return in 2025. Still, the idea of a third offering to lessen the exposure of his four-seam fastball appeared like a good idea. If Javier can’t fully recapture that pitch’s effectiveness, he needs to find a way to adjust.
Well, Javier might’ve found his adjustment: a cutter.
While he has only thrown it in game action 20 times across his last two appearances, the cutter offers itself as a bridge pitch between his four-seam and sweeper.
The cutter offers some glove-side movement away from right-handed hitters, around 4.2 inches. Much less than his sweeper movement (14.6 inches), but it offers a potentially valuable contrast compared to his four-seam (4.8 inches of arm-side movement). Limited data disclaimer here; however, the release points between the two pitches don’t appear all that dissimilar from a release point angle.
In his last appearance against the Blue Jays, Javier threw his cutter 12 times against right-handed hitters, matching his sweeper usage. In turn, he threw fewer four-seam fastballs, lessening that pitch’s exposure while offering a different look with his cutter. Now, will the cutter lead to any long-term success? That’s uncertain at this point, but I really like the idea of the cutter in his arsenal. With a four-seam fastball that has become noticeably less effective, it makes sense for him to adjust. If it doesn’t work, then I am not particularly optimistic about Javier’s staying power, regardless of his contract status or pay rate.
Feature photo from Astros on X
The “cutter” is one of the young players idea to reinvent baseball. Sweeper, slurve, cutter….guys, everything has been invented already. The cutter is a two seamer. If you move the grip slightly, the two seamer will sink a little, tail to the right, or tail to the left. You open the finger a little more and is the fork. You open the fingers a lot and is the splitter. You throw it like the four seamer so it doesn’t have the dramatic effect of a breaking ball and is just 2-3 miles per hour slower than the four seamer.
Call me old fashion, but pitchers have been experimenting with the grip and the seams forever.
Good article, Cody.
The cutter has a rich history which touches the Astros. Mariano Rivera made the cutter famous, and some consider Rivera’s cutter the best single pitch in baseball history. Given Rivera’s success with the cutter, the Yankees encouraged their young pitchers to throw the cutter, sometimes with Rivera’s guidance. Mark Melancon was a Yankees prospect/closer who learned to throw the cutter. The Astros traded for Melancon (Berkman trade) and he threw his cutter for several years with the Astros. The Astros later traded Melancon to the Red Sox. In the mid- to late- 2010s, Melancon became one of the best closers in baseball with his version of the cutter.