Ivan Nova’s Success In Pittsburgh

Since changing to primarily a sinker ball pitcher, Nova has doubled up on the pitch more than he doubled up the four-seam when that was his primary pitch. But by increasing his changeup usage, Nova can also play off of that pitch. He has been more willing to double up on the pitch and play other pitches off of it. In fact, despite using the four-seam less, Nova has thrown the four-seam more after he throws a changeup now than when he was a Yankee.

Nova has changed his pitches, and therefore his sequencing because of the change from a four-seam to a sinker. Part of pitching is not making the same pitch pairings over and over again, at which point the batter knows what it is coming. That could…