How to Set a Batter Up for a Strikeout

The strikeout is an integral part of pitching. Striking out a batter keeps a hitter from hitting the ball in play, avoiding hits and errors and reducing the amount of base runners and runs. Occasionally pitchers face game situations where a strikeout is required to keep the other team from scoring. Setting up the batter for a strikeout depends on the pitches a pitcher throws and how he uses those pitches.

Instructions

    • 1

      Get ahead in the count. This means throwing strikes early in the at-bat. A hitter must get two strikes on him before he can be struck out. The deeper in the hole the batter falls, the more likely he will swing at pitches that are out of the strike zone, resulting in more strikeouts.

    • 2

      Change speeds during the course of the at-bat. Each pitch approaches the batter at different speeds. Avoid throwing only fastballs or only curveballs during the course of an at-bat. A mixture of pitches and speeds will keep the batter off balance and guessing what you may throw next.

    • 3

      Throw pitches to different locations on the plate. This includes pitches on the inside and outside corners along with changing the height of the pitches, also called changing the eye level of the hitter.

    • 4

      Avoid establishing patterns in the pitching sequence. The pitch sequence is the arrangement of pitches within an at bat. For example, do not start every batter with a fastball and throw a curveball when he reaches two strikes. Hitters look for patterns and if one is established they can anticipate what is coming and have a better chance to put the ball in play.

    • 5

      Make the hitter swing at a pitcher's pitch. A pitcher's pitch is a ball that is out of the strike zone that the batter will either miss or if put in play will not hit hard. Pitches that look like a strike to the hitter out of the pitcher's hand but end up out of the strike zone are a type of pitcher's pitches. Sliders, curve balls and split finger, or fork balls are all pitches that can accomplish this task.

    • 6

      Throw fastballs that "climb the ladder." Climbing the ladder references the height of a pitch. If the first two strikes are in the strike zone, throwing a fastball above the strike zone is an effective pitch to induce strikeouts. A hard fastball above the strike zone is a difficult pitch to hit.

    • 7

      Know your batter and have a plan. Having a scouting report on the batter, even if it is just the previous at-bat, will provide the pitcher knowledge of the hitter's strengths and weaknesses. The pitcher and catcher can then devise a pitch sequence or plan to set the batter up for a strikeout more effectively.