Carlos Estévez has gradually rediscovered his changeup — and just in time…
Acquired at the trade deadline to stabilize the bullpen, Estévez was expected to bring more consistency than Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto were providing at the time.
“It’s interesting to be in those conversations,” said Dave Dombrowski. “For me, it comes down to this: we want the best guy to give us a chance to win this year. Maybe there were others with more club control, but we didn’t think they were as good for the postseason. We felt Estévez was the right choice.”
Since joining the team, Estévez’s performance has had its highs and lows, a typical scenario for a 2024 MLB reliever. Initially, his changeup was used sparingly, with more emphasis placed on his four-seam fastball and slider. However, recently, the changeup has seen a resurgence and become a more effective weapon in his arsenal.
This could prove critical come October.
Every reliever needs a swing-and-miss pitch for high-pressure situations. For Estévez, that’s been his slider, even during his time with the Angels. The Phillies have emphasized it as his second pitch since the trade, which led to his changeup taking a back seat. Working with the Phillies’ pitching coaches, this shift has been evident in the months since his arrival.
Looking at his whiff rate, the slider has consistently become more effective at generating swings and misses over the years.
However, sliders against left-handed hitters can sometimes be risky, especially if they hang. To counteract this, Estévez has leaned on his changeup, although he hasn’t used it against right-handed batters this season.
After moving to Philadelphia, his changeup saw less usage as the focus shifted to the slider. But in recent weeks, the changeup has slowly reentered his pitching repertoire.
This pitch has started to generate the kind of swings that could be crucial as the season approaches October. While pinch-hitting has decreased due to the universal designated hitter, teams still look for platoon advantages late in games. For Estévez to remain effective in high-leverage moments, having a reliable third pitch, like his changeup, will be essential.
It seems he’s starting to regain that confidence in it.
