Pitching strategy: What to throw to each hitter in a batting order

Major league pitchers can study hitters before a game so they know what to throw when they face them. But what do you do when you're facing a new team or a lineup that is unfamiliar to you?

Here are some general pitching-strategy guidelines on how to approach all nine hitters in a batting order:

1. Lead-off hitter: This hitter's job is to get on base. He will test your control right away and is probably going to take every pitch until you throw a strike. He takes pitches so his teammates can get a peek at what you've got. Don't be too fine. Throw strikes and make him swing. If he crowds the plate and has a good eye for the ball, bust him in on the inner half of the plate for strikes.
2. The second hitter is usually the best bunter and hit-and-run guy on the team. He's probably let-handed. If you walk the lead-off hitter, chances are he'll take pitches until you throw a strike. If it looks like he's going to bunt, throw a curve ball over the plate to try to get him to put the ball in the air. Keep the ball in the lower half of the strike zone. I'd like to see a ground ball out.
3. The third, fourth, and fifth hitters are power hitters. Many will attack the baseball even if it's not a strike, so you can "extend" the strike zone and pitch to the corners of the plate. Never let up, even when ahead in the count 0-2. Keep them off balance by showing a good mix of pitches, but don't rely too heavily on off-speed pitches. these hitters are just as susceptible to a well-placed fastball as any other hitter. The key is moving the ball around and being aggressive with it.
   
4. The sixth hitter many times is a slap hitter and can spray the ball to all fields with equal consistency. He may have a good eye but not a lot of power. He's looking for a walk in much the same way that the lead-off hitter is. Go right at him. If you have confidence in all your pitches on a particular day, never throw the same speed pitch twice. A sequence might look like this: FB, CB, FB, CH.
5. The 7, 8, and 9 hitters have troubles, which is why they're buried in the lineup. Don't be too fine with these hitters. Throw strikes, throw strikes, throw strikes. Pitch with the same mentality as you would the 3, 4, and 5 hitter. You do not want these guys to get on base under any circumstance. Fastballs in and out were usually what I went with.

In summary: When you pitch, know where you are in a batting order and pitch accordingly. Make a mental note of what guys do when you face them -- what pitches do they have trouble with? -- and make adjustments as the game progresses.

That's how to be a winning pitcher.