Serving Up Their Bread and Butter.

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Author: Chen, Albert

SINKER

The former closer attacks hitters with a sinking fastball that clocks in at 89 to 93 mph. Braves third baseman Chipper Jones says it has "the most movement on a fastball that I've ever seen." Lowe, who tossed a no-hitter for the Red Sox four years ago and was 4-3 with a 2.68 ERA at week's end, has a ground-ball-to-fly-ball ratio of better than 3 to 1 since he became a full-time starter in 2002.

CUT FASTBALL

The game's premier closer owes his Hall of Fame career (390 saves at week's end) to this pitch. Unleashed with an easy, simple motion, the ball buzzes toward the hitter like a straight fastball, then suddenly breaks down and to the left. Rivera uses the cutter, which he throws at 91 to 94 mph, high and low, and when it's at its best, he collects as many broken bats as he does strikeouts.

SINKER

Known for impeccable command of his sinker (only nine walks in 188 1/3 innings last year), Silva mysteriously struggled early this season (2-7,7.76 ERA in nine starts). He seemed to have rediscovered the pitch after a demotion to the bullpen (allowing two runs in seven innings), but in his return to the rotation on Sunday, the A's roughed him up for nine hits and four runs in five innings.

FOUR-SEAM FASTBALL

The Angels discard, who had 54 saves since joining Milwaukee last season, has emerged as a top closer while relying almost exclusively on his 98-mph heater, which he occasionally sets up with a low-80s curve. "The key for him is that he can throw [his four-seamer] over and over again for strikes with very good location," says Milwaukee pitching coach Mike Maddux.

FOUR-SEAM FASTBALL

The All-Star closer (11 saves, 2.57 ERA) can hit 100 mph on the radar gun--particularly impressive given his 5'11", 205-pound frame--but he's most effective when he throws his four-seamer in the mid-90s, which better facilitates its late, dizzying movement, inside or outside. Wagner occasionally mixes in a hard slider to keep hitters off-balance.

KNUCKLEBALL

The 39-year-old innings-eater, Boston's most consistent starter last season and 4-7 with a 4.05 ERA this year, continues to confound hitters with balls that flutter and dip across the plate. He doesn't try to spot the knuckler because he doesn't know how it will break, but he continually changes speeds and occasionally surprises hitters with a batting-practice fastball.

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By Albert Chen