Who throws the best sweeper slider? Breaking down the MLB’s most lethal arms

Like most sports, baseball introduces new elements to keep the game exciting.  More recently, one of the notable refinements we’ve witnessed in the sport is the sweeper slider. This is different from the traditional slider, and it is engineered to project maximum horizontal movement across the strike zone.

When executed perfectly, the sweeper slider is a beauty to behold, and it is a lethal pitch. The wider horizontal break creates an illusion that the pitch is floating away from the hitter’s bat, which alone makes it more difficult to contain.

Over the years, several MLB pitchers have implemented the sweeper slider into their game, but only a few have really made it work as they truly want. These few have become favorites for those who love to bet against the spread to win big. And that is the subject of our discussion in this piece, so read on as we analyze MLB’s most lethal arms.

Breaking down the best sweeper slider throwers

Let’s look at the most elite pitchers who have mastered the sweeper slider:

Shohei Ohtani

Ohtani is a true master of this tactic, with the sweeper slider known to be one of his strongest weapons. His sweepers are sharp, have precise spin rate, and the horizontal movement is very unpredictable. When you look at the replays, you’ll realize why it fools hitters very easily – the horizontal movement comes in almost at the tail end.

He made his pitching debut in 2018 and has really mastered the sweeper sliders’ technique. With 17 to 20 inches on average, Ohtani’s horizontal break is one of the widest among MLB pitchers, and with over 45% whiff rate on the sweeper, his ability to provoke misses is very evident. He has under .150 against the pitch (which is lower than the league’s average of .250).

Above all, Ohtani is consistently able to find the balance between speed and technique. Even with proper form and ball movement, he comfortably generates 100 mph fastballs that make hitters helpless for the most part.

Clayton Kershaw

Kershaw is not a new name in this sport, and this veteran is also a master of sweeper sliders. With his veteran level, he has a lot of tricks up his sleeve, and adding the sweeper made him a more lethal pitcher. That way, he is always keeping the hitter guessing on what he is going to do next. Let’s look at some of Kershaw’s standout stats:

With a 15-17 inch average horizontal break, Kershaw can put himself miles ahead of the competition. With up to 50% put-away percentage, Kershaw constantly weaponizes the strikeout pitch rule. He throws a sweeper 25% to 30% of the time, showing how well he has mastered the technique.

Kershaw’s strength lies in his ability to lock in on a specific angle that he wants to pitch. Then he uses the sweeper technique to swerve the ball towards the extreme edge of the zone, especially if it is a right-handed hitter. That way, even if there is contact with the bat, it is very weak, or even a swinging strike.

Carlos Rodón

Rodón’s sweeper and left-handed hitters are two things that never like each other. He has mastered the technique while still maintaining power, creating a lethal two-pitch combo. Here are some notable stats about his pitches:

• 16-18 inches horizontal break
• Up to 40% strikeout percentage
• High opponent chase rate

Rodón has mastered his throw by starting it within the strike zone. Then as the ball progresses, it sweeps away, and that explains the high chase rate. Even if the hitter can meet it, they generate very awkward swings.

Spencer Strider

Strider was first known for his regular fastballs; however, he began to integrate the sweeper slider, making it a force to reckon with. Now, he is well known for generating high-power balls that swerve unbelievably. Let’s look at some notable stats:

• Over 40% whiff rate
• High velocity

Overall, Strider has weaponized his sweeper to be a strikeout pitch, especially when he puts that speed behind it.

Overview of MLB’s most lethal arms

Here is a general overview of the MLB’s best sweeper slider in table format:

Evolution and future of the sweeper slider

Contrary to popular opinion, the sweeper slider is not a new technique per se. It was coined from the traditional slider, which is a technique that has been around for decades.

At first, the focus was combining downward and lateral movement to pitches. This had a great deal of success in fooling hitters. However, it was only a matter of time before hitters got better and started to adapt. So, to make throws even more unpredictable, some pitchers started experimenting with different grip styles and release points. With this, they were able to sacrifice vertical drop for a wider horizontal movement – something that hitters detest.

In fact, in the earlier days, there wasn’t any formal term for that throw with a wider horizontal break. But, with time, baseball analytics termed it a “sweeper”, after being able to prove that the movement was truly dynamic.

Today, we have data from Statcast and other pitch design tools to analyze sweepers. And most importantly, this proves that it is truly an intentional technique.

Wrap up

The sweeper technique is here to stay, but it isn’t for everyone. While different pitchers may attempt the technique successfully a few times, only a handful of them have attained mastery. Those who have made it a consistent technique are reflected in the statistics, and we have outlined the best of them. So, who is your favorite? And who do you think is the most lethal to watch?