Don't be fooled by the effeminate last name or slight build, Lilly is gonna come right atcha.

Most lefties who stand six-foot nothin', tip the scales at 190, and throw their fastball at an average speed of 88.4mph don't pitch like Ted Lilly. In fact, righties who stand 6'5'' and tip the scales at 230 don't pitch like Ted Lilly either. Nobody really does.

Lilly uses his repertoire in an inverse fashion that takes a lot of intestinal fortitude...and it's pretty awesome to watch. Facing mostly RHBs all year, Lilly pounds his 88.4 mph four-seamer inside like he throws 95mph, backdoors his short slider away, and then baits RHBs with changeups inside.

Lilly also favors his fastball as his out-pitch, and shows his curveball early in counts to set it up. (In two-strike counts, Lilly throws his fastball twice as often as his 2nd most frequent offering, his curveball.)

All of this is wildly atypical. About 19 out of 20 lefties are going to use their fastball away to RHBs in order to get ahead, and throw their changeups away and their breaking balls down-and-in to get Ks in two-strike counts.

Not so much for Lilly. The fact that his command has been magnificent all season has allowed him to get away with such an approach. There's a reason nobody else in the league pitches like Lilly: It's not very safe. But Lilly's used it to become the Cubs' most reliable pitcher this year, while, believe it or not, having only one above average WHIFF offering. However, it's the best one to have.

Ted Lilly WHIFF Breakdown

Fastball - .172 (MLB AVG .142)
Curveball - .195 (MLB AVG .273)
Slider - .141 (MLB AVG .302)
Changeup - .238 (MLB AVG .276)