The printed strike zones are overlaid with converging blue and red blocks. The blue signifies an area to be attacked, the red a region to be avoided.



In the days before their scheduled starts, Dodgers pitchers receive data packets that colorfully display opposing hitters’ averages and slugging percentages against each pitch in each area. Ross Stripling likes to check those numbers against video evidence. If a hitter only has tallied a .400 average on sliders down and away because of bloop hits over second base, he notes that.



“I don’t care about average,” Stripling said. “I just want to know where he pulls the ball at 100 mph. I’m a believer in limiting slug, which is basically limiting exit velocity.”



This being 2018, Stripling is not unique in that regard. He knows other pitchers do the same, probably some in more advanced ways. He knows that hitters will catch up, perhaps whenever the long-discussed virtual-reality...