Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu is using his slider a season-high 20.9 percent of the time in July, according to BrooksBaseball.net. It's now his second-most used pitch behind his fastball.
Although Ryu has a season-worst 4.45 ERA in five July starts, he is 3-1 and is striking out a season-best 10.2 batters per nine innings this month. Ryu has improved his slider with the help from Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, and it's become an integral part of his repertoire.
"Not just this win, but the last three wins, it’s become a very key part of my pitches," Ryu said through a translator, per The Orange County Register. "It’s become now a pitch I can’t win without.
"After studying video and imitating how (Kershaw) throws the ball and the velocity and the arm angle, I was able to sort of make it my own pitch. Ever since then, it’s been a go-to pitch for me."