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World Series recap: What MLB teams can learn from Phillies-Astros

The Astros won the World Series using 11 pitchers. Only one of them—Lance McCullers Jr.—was drafted and developed by Houston, and he gave up seven of the 17 earned runs the team allowed. Houston built the rest of its staff through international free agency (5, signed for a combined $180,000, or less than a year’s supply of baseballs for a team), trades (3) and lower-tier free agency (2).

Mostly all of Houston’s World Series pitchers throw fastballs with elite ride and breaking pitches with elite spin. Of all pitchers who threw at least 100 curveballs this year, the Astros had six of the top 23 spin rates.

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