Groovy Shane

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 Twitch weekday mornings from 9 am-11 am ET.  

Shane McClanahan vs BOS (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 86 pitches.

I don’t mean to get the Shane McClanahan SP Roundup lead out of the way early this year, but that’s kinda what I’m doing after he went 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 86 pitches against the Red Sox today. That’s seven frames. Against the Red Sox. With a Gallows Pole. For the Win…literally. Still worried about the Rays limiting his frames? How about his heater performance, which returned a 30% CSW as he sat 96.6 mph?

I bet we’re going to see a rotation of approach from McShane over the season, where some days he’ll heavily hold back the heater to sub 30% levels, then others where he pushes 40%. Gotta keep em on their toes + roll with what’s working best. In this one, his elite curveball wasn’t the star of the show and because he led with the heater, his changeup prospered with 9/23 whiffs and 61% CSW. Yeah, his changeup.

That makes it a legit four-pitch mix now for Shane as we’re all McClanafans now. Don’t expect this to slow down anytime soon.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:

 

Gerrit Cole vs CLE (W) – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 92 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. The breakers still aren’t the pitches we want them to be, but the heater sure is at 43% CSW. There’s a reason we named the award after him. Imagine how good he’ll be when the slider & cutter are legit once again.

Aaron Nola vs MIL (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 89 pitches.

Ahhhh. That sweet sweet feeling of relief. Nine strikeouts. Seven innings. 59% CSW on curveballs. Changeups for strikes. Fastballs commanded. H*ck, even cutters got in the game and were well executed. NOLA DAY IS BACK ON THE MENU.

Eric Lauer @ PHI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 13 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 98 pitches.

YEEESSSSS. I had a few concerns last week when I led with Lauer as his velocity was up but just a tick to 93.5, but tonight not only did we see 94 mph, we saw 11 whiffs and 46% CSW on the four-seamer. AMAZING. Sure, Angel Hernandez gave him a ton of favors in this one and made this line better than it should have been, but this dude was dealing with cutters, curves, sliders, and elevating that four-seamer so dang well. Against the Phillies! Ahhh it’s awesome. The Cubs are next and it’s a clear situation of “pick him up and start him and maybe you never drop him.” Just take it one start at a time now but this sure looks good. And they let him go a full six frames! SO GOOD.

Madison Bumgarner vs NYM (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 78 pitches.

Bumgarner was battling a flu and pitched anyway (it’s a common theme today, oddly enough) and he still had near 91 mph velocity with a solid curveball and cutter. Props to him, seriously. I don’t think I’d stream him against the Cardinals, but you could do worse.

Cole Irvin vs TEX (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 87 pitches.

Irvin is a Toby and performed at his peak with his heaters and changeup to overcome the tough Rangers. He gets the Guardians next and I’m kinda cool with streaming him for that. Weird.

Rich Hill @ TB (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 62 pitches.

He survived, but unless you were looking for a little bit of help in the ERA department, he didn’t do much of anything. I mean, one strikeout?! HAISTBMBWT?!

Garrett Richards @ OAK (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 34 pitches.

Hey, it’s Garrett! For a bullpen game/opener for Spencer Howard! Why am I using exclamation points! I’m not excited! I heavily despise this!

Chad Kuhl @ DET (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 81 pitches.

Whoa, another start and Kuhl survives. This time? His slider was INSANE. I’m talking 14/38 whiffs with a 47% CSW insane. That’s really cool and I love it, I just wish it came with anything else — his sinker is at 93 mph and was lucky to earn outs. I’m not buying this without that heater being better than it is.

Nick Lodolo vs STL (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 79 pitches.

With Detmers, Lauer, and Lodolo, it’s felt like we’re waiting for that one start when everyone takes them seriously and they fly off the waiver wires. Lauer clearly just had his (if it wasn’t last week) and while we’re still waiting for Detmers’ ascension, Lodolo sure looks to be there now. I wish he had slightly better command of his heater, but it did a wonderful job deceiving batters with 8/48 whiffs in this one. The breaker did a great job at getting effective strikes on a ridiculous 81% strike rate in this one, and the changeup…well that was pretty rough today. We saw it perform last time, though, and I can imagine all three offerings will come together with time. I’m not as excited for Lodolo as I am for some of the other young arms because of his slightly questionable command, but he’s absolutely worth the waiver wire add. I’d love to have him in all 12-teamers.

Clayton Kershaw @ SD (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 75 pitches.

Aces gonna ace for TATIAGA. You want to see him go a little deeper into the game, but it’s early and they didn’t need it from him. Oh, and his slider wasn’t nearly as good as we’ve seen at just 19% CSW. Take the overall productive outing and be happy.

Jesús Luzardo @ ATL (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 8 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 87 pitches.

So it wasn’t as good as the first one, but way better than the second. He’s still sporting 40%+ curveballs (YES!) and a 97+ mph heater en route to a King Cole. Sure, the walks aren’t what you want — command is his worst asset — but you shouldn’t care. Luzardo is lookin’ fiiiiine.

Lucas Giolito @ MIN (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 76 pitches.

I gotta say, I’m thrilled Giolito is back so soon. His velocity was down — understandable as he jumped straight back in — but he managed to go 43% CSW on four-seamers and  47% CSW on changeups. Oh, so he’s totally fine? Yeah, he’s good to go. Expect more than 80 pitches next time out against the Angels.

JT Brubaker @ CHC (ND) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 48% CSW, 44 pitches.

This was actually pretty solid with sliders and curveballs earning a crazy good 15/27 CSW, but I question if he can keep that alive. At least he’s only going 34% heaters these days, though, and he apparently went just three frames because he was sick. The dude powered through this one as much as he could. What a champ. While I like the new reliance on breakers, I don’t think it’s enough to trust him against the Padres, sadly.

Chris Archer vs CWS (ND) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 61 pitches.

Just 3/31 slider whiffs and sub 93 mph velocity. Archer is still missing the mark.

Yusei Kikuchi @ HOU (ND) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 77 pitches.

77 pitches to just get knocked out before the fourth is over? While sitting sub 95 mph on yer heater? Kikuchi is a Frozen Banana and we should accept that.

Robbie Ray vs KC (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 94 pitches.

The velocity is still behind at 92/93 here and not 2021’s 94/95 mark, yet he still succeeds despite it. I think we’re at the point of just shrugging so keep starting him, especially when Miami is next.

Bryce Elder vs MIA (L) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 6 BBs, 4 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 96 pitches.

Oh dear. I know we’re supposed to respect our Elders, but do we have to start them? No? Phew.

Tylor Megill @ ARI (W) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 92 pitches.

HIS NAME IS TYLORD MEGILL. The heater was just under 96 mph (fine with me) and while his slider wasn’t pristine, the curveball went 5/6 strikes and the changeup was stellar at 16/18 strikes. You gotta love the fella.

Logan Webb @ WSH (W) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 98 pitches.

Aces gonna mostly ace. This is awfully close to a PQS but let’s be happy Webb can consistently go six frames and continue to earn a good amount of strikeouts along the way. His breaker wasn’t nearly as good in this one as we’ve seen before, but he still made it work. You’re paying for the floor here with some lovely upside sprinkled through the year as well. Works for me.

Carlos Hernández @ SEA (ND) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 81 pitches.

He’s still a Frozen Banana without a whole lot to latch onto here. Maybe one day.

José Suarez vs BAL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 78 pitches.

I think there will be a point where Suarez is a streamer once the curveball and changeup get into a strong groove. Now is not that time.

Justin Steele vs PIT (L) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 79 pitches.

This is why you don’t trust two starts in April that relied heavily on good BABIP. Don’t follow the JS Script. That’s redundant, like ATM Machine. YOU’RE REDUNDANT.

Adam Wainwright @ CIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 94 pitches.

Blegh. Waino isn’t doing the best replication of his 2021 self so far and he’s looking more and more like a Toby. That means avoiding Great American Small Park, but starting him next time against the Diamondbacks. If there’s a tough stretch of opponents in the future, that may be the time to cut bait.

Luis Garcia vs TOR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 66 pitches.

It’s a touch of Careful, Icarus as he allowed a three-run bomb in the sixth that ruined what was a wonderful night prior. The heater was still up at 95 mph (sweet) and the cutter was decent, while the changeup/slider/curve combined for 6/9 strikes. So I guess this is solid, I’m just still weirded out that Garcia has changed himself overnight to be heater first, cutter & friends second. Sadly he has to endure the Jays again and I can’t help but be nervous. That’s one h*ck of an offense.

Joan Adon vs SF (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 70 pitches.

This was swapped out from Josiah Gray and it meant a tougher matchup for Adon that went pretty much as expected. He doesn’t have the fastball/breaker combo you want to see and I’d consider him a Frozen Banana til then.

Tyler Alexander vs COL (L) – 3.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 80 pitches.

I imagine you only went with T-Lex because you were short-handed on a Sunday. Hey, that’s mean towards the dinosaur. Fine fine fine. You went with him because…you wanted to be the alpha dino? Much better. But you weren’t. You weren’t at all.

Chris Ellis @ LAA (ND) – 0.0 IP, 5 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 14% CSW, 21 pitches.

Ellis left this one in the first without recording an out due to injury. Poor guy.

Sean Manaea vs LAD (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 86 pitches.

Ouch, this is a massive blast of cold water as Manaea got shellacked by the Dodgers. Sinker hovered 90 mph (not 91+) and failed to overwhelm as we’ve seen, while the changeup returned just 15% CSW over 33 thrown. It’s gonna happen, you gotta brush it off and start him with confidence against the Pirates. Whatareyagonnado.

Aaron Civale @ NYY (L) – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 61 pitches.

The velocity was a bit harder in this, but it’s still at just 90/91 mph and the curveball was missing the entire game. Yikes. This may take some time to get fixed so if you haven’t dropped Civale yet for something else, you know what to do.

 

Game of the Day 

Shane Bieber vs. Michael Lorenzen – Hopefully we get peak Bieber & this could be a big day for Lorenzen.

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

Have Questions? – Join my morning Twitch livestream! I answer all questions there for free: 9:00 am – 11:00 am ET Monday through Friday.

Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)