Frequently Asked Questions
What contract did the Cubs sign Tyler Chatwood to?
The Cubs signed Tyler Chatwood to a three-year, $40 million deal to be essentially a younger John Lackey.
How much better were Tyler Chatwood's road stats compared to his home stats in 2017?
Chatwood's road ERA was 3.49 with a .197 opponents batting average, compared to a terrible 6.01 ERA at home with teams batting .299. He also reduced his hard contact ratio from 32.4% at home to 25.8% on the road.
Why did Tyler Chatwood struggle so much pitching at Coors Field?
The thin air in Colorado forced Chatwood to pitch differently, which drastically altered his fastball and curveball movement. He essentially stopped throwing his curveball despite it generating a 70% groundball rate and .164 slugging percentage against.
What makes Tyler Chatwood's spin rate so special?
Chatwood has an extremely high spin rate on his pitches, which could make his four-seam fastball and curveball mirror each other and be difficult for batters to distinguish. This high spin rate gives his curveball an extra three inches of drop.
How could Tyler Chatwood improve his strikeout numbers with the Cubs?
By utilizing his elite spin rate more effectively and pairing his high-90s four-seam fastball with his curveball, Chatwood could easily improve upon his 7.31 K/9 from last season and become a more effective strikeout pitcher.