Bryce Harper hit Brewers pitcher DL Hall’s first pitch back to the mound for the second out of the seventh Wednesday, with Philadelphia trailing 4-1. Before the game, Harper’s September line was .278/.346/.375; SB Nation says he was swinging more than during his August surge.
Harper hit .333/.496/.573 in August and posted a 194 wRC+, according to the article. Its author says that month coincided with Harper taking more pitches and chasing less, while cautioning that the relationship does not prove fewer swings caused his production rise.
The piece says pitchers have used more fastballs and changeups against Harper and fewer breaking pitches; it reports that he has missed more often against offspeed pitches. The author suggests the pitch-mix shift may also be part of the change, rather than attributing the dip solely to swing frequency.
