The Nationals' pitching staff is turning heads early in the season, thanks to the influence of new pitching coach Simon Mathews. Among the pitchers making waves is Jake Irvin, who showcased significant improvements during his recent outing at Wrigley Field. Let's dive into what these changes mean for Irvin's prospects in 2026.
First up, Irvin's velocity has seen a notable uptick. His fastball clocked in over 1 MPH faster than last year, with his breaking and offspeed pitches also gaining some speed.
This is a promising sign, especially since velocity issues plagued him from the outset last season. If he can maintain this pace, it could spell a strong year ahead.
Irvin has also been tinkering with his arm angle, dropping it for the fourth consecutive season. Starting at 32 degrees when he debuted in 2023, he's now down to 25 degrees. This adjustment has completely transformed the movement of his pitches, giving his arsenal a fresh look.
The slider, in particular, has undergone a remarkable transformation. With a change in grip and arm angle, it's lost nearly 2 MPH but gained almost 9 inches of vertical break.
This turns it more into a sweeper than a classic slider. Pitch models are loving this tweak, with Thomas Nestico’s Stuff+ formula rating it at 111, placing it among the top sliders in the league.
Irvin has also fine-tuned his pitch selection. Against right-handed batters, he leaned heavily on his sinker, throwing it 30% of the time, while increasing his cutter and slider/sweeper usage. His strategy focused on attacking the outside, aiming to miss barrels with horizontal movement, while occasionally surprising hitters inside with his fastball and sinker.
Against lefties, Irvin reduced his fastball and curveball usage significantly. Instead, he ramped up his cutter, changeup, and slider usage. His approach involved keeping the sinker low, attacking inside with the curveball and cutter, and keeping hitters guessing with outside-corner fastballs.
In summary, Irvin's enhancements in velocity, slider refinement, and strategic pitch usage paid dividends against a formidable Cubs lineup. The only blemishes were a couple of solo home runs, but if he continues on this trajectory, we might witness a resurgence reminiscent of his standout 2024 first half.