Anderson Super

Tyler Anderson @ SD (L) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.

If you didn’t hear, Tyler Anderson had a no-hitter going until the seventh frame against the Padres yesterday, eventually landing on 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks with 11 whiffs and 26% CSW. Why does this matter? Because it’s the fourth straight start of two ER or fewer, including two against San Diego. It’s weird.

Anderson is doing it with his four-seamer, earning 32% CSW on the pitch in this one, pairing it with a slider that zooms over the plate plenty + a changeup that dances off the plate. Over the course of a full season, it doesn’t work as often as you like, but Anderson is capable of little stretches like this one that raises our eyebrows.

Don’t get pulled in. I take no joy telling you that, but I don’t see an approach resistant to the blowup, and to put it bluntly, the man is due. He’s slated to get the Cubs on Sunday and while it could make for a desperate stream, I have a bad feeling it’s a trap for weak managers. The stuff just isn’t that good.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:

 

Kenta Maeda vs TEX (W) – 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 94 pitches.

Well look who decided to finally show up. You’re wondering if he’s finally “back” and sadly I wouldn’t say that — his split-changeup returned just 20% CSW while he still has to do too much with his four-seamer and that slider isn’t quite the overwhelming force it once was — it’s obviously encouraging and could be the start of a fantastic two-start week as he gets Detroit next. We could talk about this for ages, but all know we’re starting him in Detroit, let’s just talk about that, hmmm?

Miguel Díaz vs PIT (ND) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 50 pitches.

With Dinelson Lamet and Ryan Weathers out of the picture, Díaz stepped in and gave the Padres a solid three frames with a 95 mph heater and decent changeup. Good on him, y’all don’t want to consider it. You already knew that, didn’t you.

Erik Swanson vs BAL (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 27 pitches.

Welcome to a bullpen game. I’m surprised Erik went first, I had thought he would have been the Swansong of the evening. I’ll see myself out.

Dean Kremer @ SEA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 94 pitches.

Ayyy, Kremer did it! DK IS HERE. Okay, not really. It was HYPER reliant on called four-seamers (15 called strikes!) as his curveball went 2/15 CSW and his cutter did little better. This isn’t the Kremer we want, and I have to preach caution if you’re considering Kremer after this.

Vince Velasquez vs MIL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 98 pitches.

Look at VV give me cold daggers, staring me down as I elected to turn elsewhere for my streaming pick of the day. The rule of thumb with Velasquez is success = four-seamers profiting, and this is no exception with 36% CSW on the pitch at 93 mph. Yeah, it’s not the heater of old but he kept it up, paired with changeups and curveballs down. Not bad at all against a Brewers offense who got Cain and Yelich back, but are still a bit lackluster. Don’t get too confident here, though — he gets Atlanta next and that’s an easy pass.

Adrian Houser @ PHI (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 95 pitches.

Not too bad for Houser, but can you really buy just two strikeouts? Don’t trust pitchers who rely on called strikes with sinkers, and that’s 15 of Houser’s 18 CSW in this one. The good news is that it’s Miami to close off this two-start week and I guess that’s acceptable. I have a bad feeling Houser will find a way to mess it up, I mean, three whiffs! 19% CSW!

Dane Dunning @ MIN (L) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 76 pitches.

Solid work from Dunning as he earned eight whiffs across 30 sliders + changeups. It’s what you want to see from a guy with a 90 mph sinker that’s trying to sneak across the edges of the plate. I’m not much of a Dunning fan long-term with his underwhelming repertoire, but I could see this work against the Mariners.

Daniel Lynch vs CLE (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 74 pitches.

Here we are. After an apparently continuous call of suggesting y’all to pick up Lynch and see what happens, we were given 74 pitches and a bit of an erratic arm. He sat 95 mph on his four-seamer with a solid slider for whiffs and a developing changeup, focusing on the BSB with high heaters and low sliders. The conclusion? I think nerves got to him a bit — shocking in an MLB debut, I know — and the raw stuff is good enough to constitute a hold…if he wouldn’t be slated to face the White Sox next. I’m not against stashing for another start and seeing if he can be a bit more in the zone with fastballs, in turn making his slider more seductive and returning more than three strikeouts. I dig Lynch long-term if he gets to stick around in the bigs for the season, but for those that need another start this week, don’t feel bad for letting him go back to the wire. Streaming Record: 19-11.

Tyler Glasnow @ LAA (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 8 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 99 pitches.

Aces gonna have that ridiculous slider for 52% CSW and still walk four batters, ruining our WHIP and fueling a PQS. At least he’s going six frames, though, and somehow still earning a King Cole despite the many free passes. That’s the Glasnow life — NO BBE FOR YOU. Imagine if he had precise command on his stuff. What a world that would be.

Aaron Civale @ KC (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 100 pitches.

It’s been an interesting season for Civale, who is boasting an impressive 3.20 ERA and 1.05 WHIP but does so in the most unconvincing way. Maybe it’s the lack of definitive money pitch in the arsenal, maybe it’s the low 92 mph fastball. I want to believe his curveball can be that major pitch for him — 33% CSW here! — but throwing it just 21% of the time and isn’t quite right, and I have to wonder if Civale is — dare I say it — a sell-high. He’s a touch better than a Toby and while I don’t think he’ll hurt you this year, he’s surrounded by arms who have a skill set that could propel them into the Top 25. I just don’t see Civale getting there.

Frankie Montas vs TOR (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 88 pitches.

I expect many are getting frustrated with Montas, but you really shouldn’t be after this one. The man just gave you a PQS against the elite Blue Jays. He’s still pumping 96 mph, and while his slider and splitter aren’t quite at the levels we want, Montas isn’t pitching down to his 2021 numbers. He’s a great buy-low and will make many managers thrilled as the schedule eases up, like next time out against Tampa Bay.

Adam Wainwright vs NYM (W) – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 93 pitches.

Blegh. Waino ran into trouble early in this one and was so courteous to survive at least five to give you a dirty dub. Don’t throw him back to the wire yet as he should profit from Rockie Road next. And for the most part, I think Wainwright can be pretty serviceable as he constantly goes deep into games with a solid curveball/cutter combination.

Steven Matz @ OAK (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.

Welp, I gave Matz the courtesy of a Vargas Rule Plus One, and it’s time to cut ties, especially with Houston on the horizon. It is pretty cool to see him throw sliders again today, though. Pretty cooler to see them return 38% CSW. Are you getting sucked back in…No no no. This is a clear drop with Houston ahead. The man needs to earn his spot again.

Jose Quintana vs TB (L) – 3.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 22 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 73 pitches.

Wait what?! Quintana earned a Gallows Pole with twenty-two whiffs?! WITH 17 CURVEBALL WHIFFS?! Absolutely incredible, especially from a pitcher I feel like I’ve waited years to get his curveball back. It may have been a product of feeling very unsuccessful with his heater, but man, I. Just. Wow. It’s crazy. 9 out of 11 outs via the strikeout. From Quintana. You know, I wonder if we’ll be able to get this again from him. Doubtful, but hey, maybe.

Joey Lucchesi @ STL (L) – 2.2 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 63 pitches.

He’s throwing a tick softer without anything new to suggest Lucchesi can be a worthy member of your fantasy team, let alone the Mets’ rotation. The man can only fan only batter — HAISTFMFWT?! — which isn’t totally fair as he may have actually gotten Nolan Arenado on a bounced churve, but they called it a foul ball. On the very next pitch… Arenado crushed a 3-run homer. That’s baseball, Suzyn. There’s no reason this has to be your life.

 

Game of the Day 

 

Jacob deGrom vs Johan Oviedo – It’s deGrom + I think Oviedo can develop into a legit arm over time.

 

But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.

 

Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)