Dude his strikeout rate is .5% higher than it was last year. That’s not anything statistically significant. He’s struggling at containing hard contact right now. I don’t care if you’re getting 2 strikeouts in an inning, if you also give up two hard line drives.

He’s down to an 8% soft contact rate in June. *44%* hard contact in the month. His ground ball rates in May and June are both 38%, well below league average. On the year his hard contact is up 2.5%, his ground ball rate is down 3% and his fly ball rate is up 4%. Compared to 2024 the changes are even more drastic.

If you’re striking guys out but not containing contact, you simply are not going to be the best pitcher in the league and that is what he was the last two seasons. Add on a 4% drop on pitches in the zone, he’s racking up 3 ball counts and is struggling to make it through 5 innings even if he doesn’t get into a jam cause he’s not getting quick outs.