ANALYSIS: Underlying Stats Might Explain Reliever's Up-And-Down Season

Legumina is better than his surface stats indicate, so let's go under the hood.

The former Gonzaga product has a four-pitch mix including a four-seam fastball, sweeper, two-seam fastball (sinker) and changeup.

Legumina's received balanced results from all four offerings. His only pitch where he's allowed more than a .250 batting average is his sweeper (.258), per Baseball Savant. He has a put-away rate of 19.8% or better on three-of-four pitches. Legumina has thrown his four-seamer the most (361 times), followed by his sweeper (115), sinker (79) and changeup (76).

From a numbers standpoint, Legumina's changeup is his best offering. He's allowed an opposing batting average of .190 with it, has generated a whiff rate of 14.3% and has a 21.8% put away-rate with it — the highest put-away rate in his arsenal. He throws it predominently against lefties, and his sweeper sees more action vs. righties. Even though the options become more limited depending on who is hitting, Legumina has demonstrated that each pitch can be successful.

Even with the way he utilizes his pitch mix depending on matchups, Legumina is above-average in the majors in chase rate (29.4%), whiff rate (25.3%) and strikeout rate (25.5%).

Legumina's walk-rate is the one outright disappointing aspect of his game, and the one that may have the biggest negative impact on his overall outcomes. His 11.8% walk-rate ranks in the eighth percentile of baseball. His other above-average numbers should allow him to work around that, but he's been one of the unluckiest relievers on the team.

Legumina's expected ERA (xERA) and expected batting average (xBA) are 3.49 and .221, respectively. Those numbers rank in the 69th and 80th percentile in the league and those are consistent with his pitch usage. With the exception of his fastball, every single pitch in Legumina's arsenal has a lower expected batting average than actual batting average.

His sweper has a .208 xBA compared to .258 BA; His sinker a .162 xBA and .200 BA; and his changeup a .139 xBA compared to .190 BA.

At the end of the day, results matter more than anything. But Legumina's underlying numbers have been there, and he has legitimately impressive stuff that has been there the whole season.

If Legumina can cut down the walk-rate, it will eliminate some run-scoring opportunities for opposing teams and might allow his stuff to shine through.