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Let's take a look at some of the pitching-related rate stats through the same point of the previous two seasons:
Year
ERA
WHIP
K%
BB%
HR%
Runs/Game
BABIP
wOBA
SB%
2026
4.08
1.30
22.1%
9.3%
2.8%
4.40
0.287
0.311
76.2%
2025
4.04
1.29
21.9%
8.7%
2.9%
4.34
0.290
0.311
78.0%
2024
3.95
1.26
22.3%
8.5%
2.8%
4.33
0.287
0.306
79.0%
Walks are up, which has inched up scoring. The likely cause is ABS System with the umpires missing most at the top and bottom of the zone. The issue at the bottom is pitches often cross through a blind spot caused by where the umpire sets up. The problem with the top is they're still getting used to the definition based on height.
Some have suggested walks will decrease as umpires get a better feel for ABS. Maybe, but the calls will be same even if they receive fewer challenges. It just means they got it right and a challenge wasn't needed. However, walks could decline if pitchers get a better idea at the top of the zone for each batter. Here's some challenge data through Friday's action:
Let's take a look at some of the pitching-related rate stats through the same point of the previous two seasons:
Year
ERA
WHIP
K%
BB%
HR%
Runs/Game
BABIP
wOBA
SB%
2026
4.08
1.30
22.1%
9.3%
2.8%
4.40
0.287
0.311
76.2%
2025
4.04
1.29
21.9%
8.7%
2.9%
4.34
0.290
0.311
78.0%
2024
3.95
1.26
22.3%
8.5%
2.8%
4.33
0.287
0.306
79.0%
Walks are up, which has inched up scoring. The likely cause is ABS System with the umpires missing most at the top and bottom of the zone. The issue at the bottom is pitches often cross through a blind spot caused by where the umpire sets up. The problem with the top is they're still getting used to the definition based on height.
Some have suggested walks will decrease as umpires get a better feel for ABS. Maybe, but the calls will be same even if they receive fewer challenges. It just means they got it right and a challenge wasn't needed. However, walks could decline if pitchers get a better idea at the top of the zone for each batter. Here's some challenge data through Friday's action:
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Todd has been writing about fantasy baseball since 1997. He won NL Tout Wars and Mixed LABR in 2016 as well as a multi-time league winner in the National Fantasy Baseball Championship. Todd is now setting his sights even higher: The Rotowire Staff League. Lord Zola, as he's known in the industry, won the 2013 FSWA Fantasy Baseball Article of the Year award and was named the 2017 FSWA Fantasy Baseball Writer of the Year. Todd is a five-time FSWA awards finalist.
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