Great Dane

Dane Dunning vs SEA (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 10 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 89 pitches.

I wouldn’t call myself the biggest advocate for Dane Dunning this season, but after naming him today’s streamer, he went 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 10 Ks with 17 Whiffs and 37% CSW, and that’s pretty dang cool. That’s a King Cole as he produced against the Mariners, albeit with a 1.60 WHIP along the way. Streaming Record: 23-13. I should also mention, he left the bases loaded in the fifth, nearly allowing a grand slam that landed just foul, which I’m sure would have soured many, but here we are. Dunning succeeded, he fanned ten, and many are curious if he’s worth the pickup.

Look, it’s pretty simple. Dunning is just a streamer, and with Houston + NYY next, that’s a drop. I watched this one, and while I was impressed with his confidence in locating sliders down (12 whiffs because of it!), I just don’t think there’s enough here. His fastball had great command on the edges, but that hasn’t been the story all season. It’s just too risky start to start. Just play the match-ups with him, and hope he’s there when the moment arises next. See? This is easy.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:

 

Brett Anderson @ MIA (ND) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 52 pitches.

Uggggh this was supposed to be Eric Lauer, who had a 90 mph cutter and was effective with it last time out, but noooooo. We got him in relief for 20 pitches and an 88 mph cutter instead. This is why we can’t have nice things.

Chris Paddack @ SF (ND) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 53 pitches.

Paddack returned from the COVID-IL and was limited to just 53 pitches. That’s completely fine with me as he showcased his fastball of old at 95 mph and 41% CSW, located well in the upper third. This was old Paddack, we just didn’t get enough of it. Now it’s STL, hosting COL (yes!), @MIL and I get a feeling now’s the time to buy low. He could soar during this stretch, I just hope they won’t force him to build up the pitch count slowly. Just give me 75-80 pitches next time, okay?

Adam Wainwright vs COL (W) – 8.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 113 pitches.

After a rocky start against the Mets, Waino recovered and made the two-start week worth it, nearly going the distance as he exploited Rockie Road. It’s just so sweet when you’re not dealing with a rolled ankle (cough CARMART cough). The bad news is that Wainwright gets the Padres next and that’s a bench. Totally understand if you want to hold through it for the Cubs after, though.

José Quintana vs LAD (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 97 pitches.

Quintana went curveball heavy last time and it returned plenty of strikeouts (17 whiffs on the deuce, too!). In this one…not so much. Just 3/24 curveball whiffs, and I’m not liking this guy I’m looking at. We want breaker-heavy Quintana! BRING HIM BACK TO ME.

Huascar Ynoa vs PHI (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.

THIS JUST IN. Ynoa is still dope. 51% sliders for 45% CSW while his four-seamer sat 97 mph and earned all the outs. There it is, that’s the story and the man can’t be stopped. And now he gets the Brewers and Pirates?! Yessssss.

Germán Márquez @ STL (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 90 pitches.

These are the kind of starts that if you can’t start Márquez, then the whole season is lost. And for those that had the brass to do so after last week’s cataclysm, well, you got a lovely ERA and six strikeouts. Sure, a loss and a 1.50 WHIP, but stop being greedy. Great to see both his slider and curveball working here, but I ain’t starting Márquez in Cincy next time. Nope.

Jacob deGrom vs ARI (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 68 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. deGrom was pulled after five with tightness in his side — the reason this start was pushed back in the first place. Keep it together y’all, keep it together.

Lucas Giolito @ KC (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 93 pitches.

What is going on with Giolito? This is the fourth start in a row, and honestly, I was okay making excuses for the first three. 1) It was too early in the morning. 2) He got a cut on his finger. 3) Okay, now he’s getting back into rhythm. 4) NOPE NO MORE EXCUSES. He sat 94 mph and was down to 92.8 mph here while his changeup and fastball found the middle of the zone instead of expanding it north and south. His slider hasn’t turned into the “strike-earner” that would help him pitch backward and it’s frustrating. He’s going to fall a bit tomorrow on The List because of it. Do I think he’s done for? Absolutely not — if there’s one mantra I keep preaching, it’s “just because he deserved to be bad today doesn’t mean he’ll be bad tomorrow.” That means it’s a bit pointless quoting xStats and whatnot — just look at Zack Wheeler getting into his groove. Or Ray finding the strikezone. Or Kluber feeling the changeup. I could go on, but you get the point. With Giolito, the two issues are velocity and command, and I’m hoping they can be fixed in tandem. At the end of the day, this start still helped and I think you keep starting him as he powers through it. He gets the Royals again, after all.

Sandy Alcántara vs MIL (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 103 pitches.

It’s time. Aces gonna ace. Alcántara is a Quality Start Albert Pujols machine who hyper relied on his changeup in this one for 46% thrown. A bit surprising as I think his heater is flat-out phenomenal, but it obviously worked and I won’t question it. Don’t let me down with that tag, Sandy, I know you have the Dodgers next, and it means we’re still starting you. You gots this.

Trevor Bauer @ LAA (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 113 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Here’s a Gallows Pole, Bauer. You’ve taken the #5 spot on The List, and I really don’t see you relinquishing it anytime soon.

Tyler Anderson @ CHC (W) – 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 102 pitches.

It’s pretty wild to me how Tyler just keeps doing it. Maybe I’m not giving enough credit to the cutter/four-seamer/changeup mix he’s utilizing as he keeps racking up the CSW on fastballs, getting some strikes with cutters, and keep batters off-balance with changeups. I’m just so used to it come in little bursts from Anderson and then disappearing entirely, but here we are, now with the Brewers ahead. I guess we gotta pick him up for that, right?

Riley Smith @ NYM (L) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 51 pitches.

He was only allowed to 51 pitches and I still believe there are worse starters out there, but that doesn’t mean you need to subject yourself to one strikeout. One strikeout?! “HASITFMFWT?!” 

Domingo Germán vs WSH (ND) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 80 pitches.

Sooooo I’m not digging that his fastball fell back down to ~92.5 mph in this one and his changeup was hung up plenty. He was just off his game completely, and it still worked out. That’s cool and fortunately he gets Baltimore + Texas next. I’ll just ignore all of this then, he should be fine. I hope. Yeah, he’ll be fine. Shifty eyes.

Joe Ross @ NYY (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 97 pitches.

Yes, that’s a poor 1.80 WHIP, but 7 Ks and a 3.60 ERA? That’s kinda great from Ross if you desperately streamed him in the Bronx. Most of his success came from sinkers and four-seamers and I’m not that sold on them, though he is elevating that four-seamer with some success, so that’s cool. There’s just too low of a floor here for me to regularly consider him, but he’s not the worst stream against Arizona next weekend.

Nick Pivetta @ BAL (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 103 pitches.

So I streamed Pivetta for two starts against the Tigers and Orioles, and I’m thrilled it actually worked. He’s certainly making me stressed along the way, though, as he still can’t get his curveball back. His slider’s okay, I guess, but we need a lot more than okay. You can drop him now — that LAA, @TOR, ATL, @HOU stretch is worse than rain on your wedding day. Or really any day when you want to do things outside. The rain kinda stinks. #NickHotTakes.

Nate Pearson @ HOU (L) – 2.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 64 pitches.

Hey it’s Pearson! Hey, he’s walking everybody and their uncles! I would have said mothers, but they couldn’t have been bothered today — they had important plans (Happy Mother’s Day!). I imagine this was nerves and whatnot, but to see him at 96 mph and 0 whiffs on sliders is just…ugh. Come on man, let’s not do this dance again. He could stick around for the Phillies next and that’s a naaaaaah.

Dean Kremer vs BOS (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 85 pitches.

Ohhhh snap, Kremer is back and doing absolutely nothing to get me amped again. I’m still searching for that curveball, and it’s making my hypothetical partner worried as it’s keeping me up all night. What is this joke, they don’t exist. Just like Kremer’s curveball right now. Ahhhh.

Shane McClanahan @ OAK (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 80 pitches.

So I guess the kid is mortal but I don’t really care? He’s up to 80 pitches now, his heater is still 97+ mph (topped at 100.1!) and his slider went 32% CSW. We’re getting close to that moment when he actually gets let loose, and it’s going to be such a wonderful time.

Cole Irvin vs TB (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 82 pitches.

I know he just fanned 17 in his last two starts, but this is more like the real fella, earning a PQS against the Rays with just three strikeouts. He’s just not built to be good at punch-outs, like little ol’ Nick struggling to figure out how the NES worked. I was terrible at that boxing game.

Kyle Hendricks vs PIT (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 88 pitches.

HA. Ha. ha….make it stop. Hendricks, you showed up — FINALLY — against the Dodgers and then you relapse against the Pirates?! Fastball was down to 86 mph, changeups returned 7% CSW, and it’s driving us all up the wall. Look, you get the Tigers, Nationals, and Pirates ahead, and surely you’re not going to spoil this, right? I hate it when I have to type for us to hold and not freak out but yeah, we have to hold and not freak out. BUT I WANT TO FREAK OUT. I know, I do too. Ugh.

Zack Greinke vs TOR (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 88 pitches.

Hear me out — he gets the Rangers and Oakland next. Yes, I’m dropping him on The List to the 40s or 50s, but I’d want to hold him for those two starts and hope that he shows me the steady eddy we want him to be. The Jays are a solid squad after all. That’s it? Yeah, there’s really not much more to say. I think Greinke is better but we just gotta wait and see. At least he has the weak teams to ease back into it.

Mike Minor vs CWS (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 91 pitches.

I really wish Minor could find that spring velocity again. Him sitting 92-94 mph was so much better than this 91 mph we’re getting now. It’s like a half step down from major success, you know?

Justus Sheffield @ TEX (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 78 pitches.

You see Sheffield against the Rangers and you may have thought he was a lock ‘n’ load streamer. I get it, he had some consideration from me as well. The problem is his slider hasn’t turned into the money pitch we want it to be, while his changeup is still developing and his sinker is kinda meh. But it was a 35% CSW! Not wrong at all, but that was a product of pumping the zone, not commanding it. And his heater is no Robbie Ray four-seamer + he doesn’t have the secondaries to back it up. Your restaurant should get a new Sheff.

Johnny Cueto vs SD (L) – 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 64 pitches.

Cueto is back and…still has a lot of bubble gum left. He does get Pittsburgh next and that’s a sneaky stream considering this was an easy Still ILL, and Cueto can still shove from time to time. They’ll let him go past 90 pitches, I’d imagine.

Aaron Nola @ ATL (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 58 pitches.

Awww it was Nola day, and I normally love Nola day. For those that are worried, he had a sub-3.00 ERA and 0.98 WHIP before this game. You know he’s fine — he didn’t have his curveball (just ten thrown!), and y’all know that won’t be the case moving forward. I am sad he gets the Jays in Dunedin next — ugh — followed by Boston but I think I’m still starting him in both regardless.

 

Game of the Day 

 

Kyle Gibson vs Alex Wood – There isn’t much to get excited about on Monday, but at least we have two solid pitchers squaring off. I’d love to see both of them keep their momentum.

 

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)