InDepth Spotlight: Kyle Drabek vs. Alex Rodriguez

Rookie Kyle Drabek (TOR) has pitched left-handed batters fairly well this season, holding them to a .200/.351/.333 line.  However, righties have hit him a little better: .267/.327/.422.

Alex Rodriguez (NYY) has hit right-handed pitching better than left-handed, particularly over the last three years.  In that time, he's put up a .406 wOBA against righties, 36 points higher than against lefties.

(Click to enlarge)

Alex has been turning on balls up and in very well this season, while Kyle has had his troubles trying to jam righties.  He'll likely try to work Arod down in the zone as much as possible this afternoon.

Update on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 4:26PM by Jonathan Scippa

Arod not starting today - day off for the third baseman.  Save this one for the next matchup.

Alex Rodriguez Up in the Zone

Alex Rodriguez(NYY) (Click to enlarge) A-Rod wOBA by Pitch Location

	Up	Middle	Down
2008-2010	.415	.424	.348
2011	.819	.460	.312

Best Hitters on Inside Pitches

Top MLB Hitters on Inside Pitches (Click to enlarge)

Interesting notes: Alex Rodriguez (NYY) is actually making less contact on inside pitches compared to his three previous seasons (72.2% to 80.9%.)  However, he's yet to strike out on an inside pitch this season.  In his three previous seasons, 19.3% of his plate appearances decided on an inside pitch were strike outs.
Stephen Drew's (ARZ) 2010 batting average on inside pitches ranked in the bottom half of the league; his .636 currently ranks second this season.
Ten of Matt Kemp's(LAD) thirty-one HRs since the beginning of 2010 have come on inside pitches.
Brandon Inge (DET) is swinging at 13.6% fewer inside pitches compared to last season; his .377 BAbip on inside pitches since 2008 is 7th best in all of baseball.
Of Starlin Castro's (CHC) 29 hits this season, 14 have come on inside pitches, including one HR, one triple, and three doubles.