Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Sunday game. I apologize for the jokes written in my delirium in advance. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Playback.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Pablo López (MIN) @ OAK (W) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 14 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 102 pitches.
The madman did it. Pablo López got out of his funk and obliterated all fears of his demise with a brilliant 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 14 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 102 pitches outing against the Athletics. What. A. STUD.
All the hits were playing. 95 mph four-seamers with 10/45 whiffs. 39% CSW changeups (as his second-most thrown pitch!). Sweepers earned strikes. Sinkers earned strikes. Curveballs– Well, curveballs were a little off, BUT HE DIDN’T NEED ‘EM.
This isn’t to say that Pablo has officially put the TIARA back on and is immune to returning back to the valley. That’s not the case exactly – you have to throw in some “Blame it on the Athletics” with a dash of “it’s one game” – but hot dang, we needed a start like this one. Go enjoy the Mariners next, you wonderful man.
Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) vs ARI (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 80 pitches.
Changeups were located well as the Diamondbacks couldn’t handle his sinker and slider. That’s your ballgame; hope you enjoyed the Cracker Jacks.
Luis Severino (NYM) @ CHC (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 102 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! The four-seamer was on fire as it propelled ten strikeouts and a Gold Star that magically appeared and floated into Severino’s outstretched hands. I’m not ready to accept a 22% SwStr fastball, but hurling it a tick harder at nearly 97 mph is always a plus. The sinker survived inside the zone (how?) while the sweeper earned the rest of the punchouts, both of them highly suspect over the plate. I still feel weird about it all with Sevy and I’d strongly avoid the Astros next. I even wonder if he’s worth the hold for the Nationals after. Oh come on, you have to! No, you really don’t.
Kyle Freeland (COL) vs WSN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 69 pitches.
Oh. Are we doing this again?! Freeland did have marvelous command here, but like gas station sushi, it can’t be trusted.
Max Scherzer (TEX) vs KCR (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 57 pitches.
Ayyyy, he’s back! Huge props to him for making the most out of a limited pitch count and granting all of you excited managers a Win despite this being a Still ILL. I’m still a little lost as to where to rank Scherzer on The List (is the heater that good? Is his command okay?), but obviously he helps your team now. Obviously? Probably. Pretty sure.
Zack Kelly (BOS) @ CIN (ND) – 2.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 33 pitches.
Oh look darling, a bullpen game. But there are no bulls! Quite observant, my dear. Quite.
Sonny Gray (STL) vs SFG (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 80 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He held a perfect game until a solo shot. That’s it. That’s how good Sonny was in this one, grabbing a King Cole as a lovely cherry atop a mountain of cream. Am I the only one who doesn’t eat the cherry? You are not alone. THERE ARE DOZENS OF US.
Framber Valdez (HOU) vs BAL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 104 pitches.
Try to predict the success and you’ll get (Fram)burned. That’s how the phrase goes, right? I’m pretty sure that’s how it goes. His change and curve were on and he pulled off the Neckbeard approach well. That’s how he does it.
Paul Skenes (PIT) vs TBR (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 98 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. For what it’s worth, the slider went 0/15 whiffs and could learn a thing. You heard that right, Skenes, I’M NOT IMPRESSED. Really? No, I’m super impressed, he’s so dope.
Max Fried (ATL) @ NYY (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 87 pitches.
Aces. Gonna. Ace. This is why we don’t look at matchups for AGA pitchers.
Jake Irvin (WSN) @ COL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 22 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 98 pitches.
Remember his last start when the curveball was off? Yeah, not today. The curve was pristine, the heaters were delicately spotted upstairs, and Irvin pulled off a proper BSB for a Gallows Pole in Coors. H*ck yeah. WE HOLDING TIGHT Y’ALL. Okay, not too tight, but this is such a fun ride.
Tobias Myers (MIL) @ SDP (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 78 pitches.
The man keeps cruising and it’s fueled by an 18″ iVB four-seamer with solid extension, a decently low angle, and more importantly, decent locations. It still feels awfully like an overperforming fastball (and arsenal, for that matter), but I guess we’re in Vargas Rule mode now. Here we GOOOooooooo.
Aaron Civale (TBR) @ PIT (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 61 pitches.
Am I happy with the line? Absolutely. Do I feel weird that his curveball wasn’t much of a factor and sad he only went 61 pitches? Dang straight. He should get the Nationals next and we’re still rolling with it, hoping for that hook to get bit.
Slade Cecconi (ARI) @ PHI (L) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 46 pitches.
This wasn’t an injury, just an early hook. Cool cool cool. Nah, it was stupid hot out there. Why are you the way you are?
Reese Olson (DET) vs CHW (W) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 97 pitches.
Oh snap, Olson did the whole “Dancing with the Disco” thing – you know, pitching like Tony Disco and chucking sliders galore to get through a game – and I’ll take it. I would have wanted more strikeouts, but nah, this works for me. It’s a really good slider and with the Angels next, we should all feel better about Olson moving forward. He’s past the adversity and is stronger for it.
Kyle Tyler (MIA) vs SEA (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 65 pitches.
He stepped up with every other Marlin on the IL (or something close to that) and you can continue forgetting about him now. It’s just mediocre cutters with some sliders and cutters. You don’t want this.
Nestor Cortes (NYY) vs ATL (L) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 102 pitches.
Hey, we’ll take that all day against Atlanta, with ten whiffs on his cutter for good measure. We keep riding this one out, of course.
Hogan Harris (OAK) vs MIN (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 83 pitches.
Ehhhh, I feel like he got away with this one for a PQS without much to write home about. He should get the Sneks next and it’s a big ole shrug from this guy.
Alec Marsh (KCR) @ TEX (L) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 101 pitches.
He did what he could and located his four-seamer decently well. He’s a 15-teamer Toby and I’d personally try for something else against the Guardians. Or in general.
Nick Lodolo (CIN) vs BOS (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 77 pitches.
And here I thought I wasn’t giving enough respect to Lodolo after his demonstrative outing with his curveball. Welp, Cherry Bomb it is.
Triston McKenzie (CLE) vs TOR (ND) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 74 pitches.
He had the things you wanted – increased velocity and curveball whiffs – and this was the result. Think about that.
Logan Webb (SFG) @ STL (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 105 pitches.
His low changeup that traditionally earns outs instead earned hits as he was Singled Out in this one. That’s what happens and I think it’s time for me to remove the AGA tag from Webb. It’s not a fun moment, but it’s the right thing to do. The eight strikeouts are cool as the sweeper was thrown more than anything, but that’s likely not sustainable + the hit problem isn’t going away.
Javier Assad (CHC) vs NYM (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 90 pitches.
Oh dear. After earning strikeouts galore over his last month, Assad returned a HAISTBMBWT?! on National TV. Is it time to jump ship? Eh, I’d give him another shot first…if it weren’t the Brewers and Phillies up next. Oh. Yeah, that schedule will make it worth it to drop him for a streaming spot in 12-teamers.
Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) @ CLE (L) – 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 63 pitches.
The good news: The changeup has been banished to the shadow realm. The bad news: The four-seamer can’t find the upper third of the zone again, with all hits allowed in the bottom half of the zone. You’re so dang close. I won’t give up on you and yes, I think he’s worth holding despite benching for the Yankees up next.
Michael King (SDP) vs MIL (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 97 pitches.
Blegh. This wasn’t the command we wanted to see from King, as this one turned into a Singled Out start rooted in a horrific second frame where all five runs scored. At least we got eight strikeouts and we expect better ratios moving forward.
Albert Suárez (BAL) @ HOU (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 78 pitches.
Honestly, this came with great pitch separation and I think if he faced a different team, he would have been properly rewarded for it. It’s the Rangers next, so we’re still out. Womp womp.
Jonathan Cannon (CHW) @ DET (L) – 1.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 42 pitches.
Oh wow. Cannon was blasted for two home runs as the Tigers came out swinging and landed more hits than expected. So we’re dropping him now? Nah, I’m still down. Maybe he’s just a Cherry Bomb in the end, but this wasn’t a cataclysmic event that tells us that Cannon is cooked. It’s more WELCOME TO THE BIGS, KID. He’ll be fine as long as they don’t strip away his roster spot. That would be foolish and I don’t want to write angry letters right now. But I will.
Bryce Miller (SEA) @ MIA (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 61 pitches.
Dude. THE MARLINS. This was a case where his four-seamer wasn’t getting strikes as we wanted it to and he had to turn to his sinker or anything else. As we know, it’s all about the four-seamer, and without that cooking, there’s not much else to get him to the finish line. It’s always darkest before the dawn. I’m not sure that applies to pitching, but sure. I hope you’re right.
Game of the Day
Bryan Woo vs. Taj Bradley – Please let Woo flirt with 90 pitches. And Taj, go and dominate with heaters.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
Have Questions? – Join my morning Playback.tv livestream! I answer all questions there for free: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET Monday through Friday.
Photos by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X)
I mean, it was the minors, but Scherzer absolutely demolished his rehab starts.
You’re right, Scherzer is going to help our teams, his heater is good, and his command is okay.
If anyone in today’s game is going to come back from back surgery and absolutely *shove*, it’s gonna be Scherzer. The man is probably the fiercest competitor in the game. He’s the definition of a bulldog. A lesser man would look at stepping down a mound with force 100 times in 3 hours after back surgery, and have his mechanics subtly suffer from the subconscious trepidation, leading to more injury-proneness and less command. This isn’t a Kershaw back injury, it’s a Scherzer back injury. He’s gonna get on that mound, and STAY on that mound until someone forces him off of it.