Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup: Brady Slinger

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.  

Brady Singer (KCR) vs MIN (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 98 pitches.

Tide comes in, tide goes out. Brady Singer fails to leave camp with a true third pitch and still has brilliant games here and there. Today’s Win via 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 98 pitches certainly fits the latter, but since it’s his first game of the year, it’ll be scrutinized far more than the rest we see this year.

Yes, that means I’m not buying this as Singer suddenly exorcising himself of the lamented Cherry Bomb tag – you have to have the sweet or you’re just a Bomb. But how else did he do it? With his slider, like he always does. 16/53 whiffs in this one via ole faithful, and it didn’t come with new extension or break, or really anything special. I’d hang it up to a meh Twins offense, sinkers that were able to sneak in effectively (with three inches more iVB, akin to 2021…which isn’t good for a sinker), and we still can’t trust Singer to be a consistent arm as he sticks to the same sinker/slider plan he’s had his whole career.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:

 

Paul Blackburn (OAK) vs CLE (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 88 pitches.

Paulie Punchouts with the dopeness! He deftly spotted changeups and sliders, while the four-seamer and sinker left the zone often, leaning on his cutter to steal a strike here and there. That can work when you have a mediocre lineup in front of you, which means he could do it again when he faces the Tigers later this week. However, that would require Blackburn to have the same feel as tonight, which is a longshot. It isn’t worth it, is it. Like the misspelling of what comes before Ledge, no.

Jack Flaherty (DET) @ CHW (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 87 pitches.

Yessssss. The slider was stupid precise once again, hovering at the bottom of the zone and earning a whopping 40% CSW across 46% usage. His heater could be better with far too many comfortably landing in the zone, but this was the White Sox and he was able to get away with it. Let’s run it back against Oakland, k thx.

Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs COL (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 87 pitches.

This is the story of Rockie Road, not Pfaadt carrying over the great feel he had from the playoffs and starting his journey of acedom in 2024. Or it could be and that would be awesome. Okay, it’s possible, but it’ll require more than what I saw today: Just five changeups and a four-seamer that went 2/33 whiffs at a tick softer with mediocre pitch shape. At least the sweeper is still solid.

Reid Detmers (LAA) @ BAL (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 88 pitches.

I was in on Detmers right up to the start of opening day for two straight years and when I finally understand why Detmers has struggled (oh snap, his fastball shape was terrible!), he suddenly goes bonkers with 12/53 four-seamer whiffs. Not slider domination, FASTBALL domination. And what do you know, Detmers is ALSO super improved across the board. He’s added a bit more extension (still blegh at 6.1, but better) while adding, oh I don’t know, 2.5 inches of iVB. That turns the blegh heater into nearly 18″ of iVB, which he was able to spot upstairs comfortably. Seriously, Detmers was stellar at avoiding the heart of the zone here and it’s honestly annoying he was able to generate just 5/35 whiffs on his secondaries. I’m hoping this fastball shape sticks around and he can nail down his slider like he’s shown in the past, which would make him the stud we’ve dreamed of. That said, it’s hard to believe he’ll have this good of a heater in his next outing (either the same iVB or, more likely, not having the same precision), which will put more burden on the breakers being their best selves. Let’s hope they are and I’d take a shot on Detmers if he’s out there in his next start hosting the Red Sox.

Colin Rea (MIL) @ NYM (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 84 pitches.

Cutters did their job as the Mets didn’t take advantage of his fastballs. Some days, it’s just about giving yourself a chance in the zone and letting the seams go their way. Find your thread, little man. All seems lost when the seams are lost.

Garrett Whitlock (BOS) @ SEA (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 81 pitches.

Whitlock, you looked so good. The man was Whitlocked In, you could say. The changeup was pristine under the zone, sliders hung out gloveside, and his sinker had the elite extension he carried back in 2022. IT RETURNED. Obviously it’s a sample size of one, but this certainly looks like the guy we were excited about this time last season before injury struck.

Kevin Gausman (TOR) @ TBR (ND) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 69 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Next is 75-80 pitches and likely five frames. You love to see it.

Tylor Megill (NYM) vs MIL (L) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 78 pitches.

TY. LORD. MEGILL. Nick, that’s a terrible line, why are you saying that. Because the dude showcased a brand new heater. He located it upstairs. He threw it a touch harder to sit 95/96 mph. He changed his attack angle massively, to go from steep to flat. And he added not one, not two, but FOUR inches of iVB on his four-seamer to make it a legit pitch upstairs, especially paired with his elite 7+ feet of extension. Megill went from “I have a poor fastball I can’t locate” to “I have a legit heater I can spot upstairs.” Then why was the line bad. Because everything else was terrible. His fastball went 8/46 whiffs (17% SwStr!), but the slider and cutter were mediocre and that “American Spork” is still a sub 50% strike pitch. Just give the man one legit secondary downstairs and he can be the Tylord we want him to be. Update: In my delirium, I completely blocked out that Megill left this game with a “tender shoulder” and is scheduled to get an MRI. So you see all of that positive emotion? JUST TAKE IT ALL AWAY.

Shawn Armstrong (TBR) vs TOR (L) – 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 26 pitches.

As expected, Tyler Alexander followed for 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. And? Oh, you want more? I dunno, don’t make any sudden movements you may have a T-Lex in your proximity? Be better, Nick. IT’S SUPER LATE.

Chris Sale (ATL) @ PHI (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 83 pitches.

Hey, he’s sitting 95 mph! And earned a 40% CSW with his slider! And went 5+ frames for a dope offense! This is everything you wanted, even if the Win didn’t show. Get pumped.

Steven Matz (STL) @ LAD (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 81 pitches.

Huge props to Matz here. He located both his sinker and changeup well and by the good grace of Koufax, he survived. Feels like a Birthday Party more than a sign of legitimacy, of course.

Erick Fedde (CHW) vs DET (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 96 pitches.

Fedde is kinda fun to watch. He’s a command freak with his sinker, cutter, splitter, and sweeper, and he works at-bats incredibly well. His velocity isn’t as high as I think it would be (just 93 mph, not 94/95), but the splitter and sweeper are far better than what we saw previously. I’m not in love with his next start against the Royals, but that can work out in his favor, too. He could nestle into your Toby cubby by May.

Jordan Wicks (CHC) @ TEX (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 85 pitches.

I had to double-check this three times before realizing this was Wicks, not Hicks who just earned a Gallows Pole with 19 whiffs. So it must have been the changeup. Well, he did locate that well, sure, but 6/25 whiffs there. Nooo….Yup. The dude went 11/34 four-seamer whiffs for a whopping 41% CSW. The pitch sat a tick up, featured three inches extra iVB from 15″ to an elite 18″, and he worked the BSB after I watched him passively feature the pitch in 2023. Now, four-seamer/change isn’t quite enough and I’d want to see the slider or cutter get a little more of a focus, but that’s such an interesting foundation that I’d be circling Wicks on the wire. Just wait until after his next start against the Dodgers.

Michael King (SDP) vs SFG (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 7 BBs, 6 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 88 pitches.

Okay what is this. Velocity was down about a tick-and-change from his time as a starter and the typical elite command was just not there. I have nothing for y’all but a reminder that late-March starts can be awfully weird. Try to forget about this.

Tyler Wells (BAL) vs LAA (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 82 pitches.

Wells recovered after a pair of rough innings to kick off the day, turning in a sub 1.00 WHIP, seven strikeouts, and a Quality Start to ease our nerves. Unfortunately, he matched up against Detmers’ renaissance outing, which meant no sneaky Win for us smart fantasy managers. Sigh. Guess we’ll just have to settle with Wells matching up against Falter and the Pirates next time out. Poor us.

J.P. France (HOU) vs NYY (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 94 pitches.

I love the cutter approach and I hate the four-seamer approach. Far too many weak offerings across the plate and I hope we see an adjustment made to steer away from 40% four-seamers moving forward. It’s just not a good pitch at 92 mph.

Clarke Schmidt (NYY) @ HOU (ND) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 75 pitches.

Schmidt pumped all the strikes with cutters and sinkers and I’m glad it went his way against a tough Astros crew. I still see him as a Toby on a winning ball club, and he’ll go six frames more often as he stretches out over the next two weeks.

Ryan Feltner (COL) @ ARI (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 86 pitches.

Still just 3/34 whiffs on the slider and even at 96 mph and a decently flat attack angle, the four-seamer still gets hit. COL story, bro.

Nick Martinez (CIN) vs WSH (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 90 pitches.

Just 8/19 changeup strikes is not the sight you want to see for Martinez. That should be 35%+ and the ticket to domination, but he had to turn away from it as he macheted his way through the thicket of five frames with it. I’d hold off from rostering Martinez until we see the pitch return + get another matchup where he can cruise with two machetes.

Jake Irvin (WSH) @ CIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 80 pitches.

Well, yeah. Irvin doesn’t have a whole lot, even if he’s throwing harder with more iVB (it’s still not enough) and this was in Cincy. More at eleven.

Ranger Suárez (PHI) vs ATL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 83 pitches.

I still hold my theory that the Phils figured out how to neutralize the Atlanta bats – a whole lot of changeups. Suárez didn’t lean into it as much as I expected (just 20%), and he’s two ticks down on the heater. But seven strikeouts! Weird, right? I guess it’s okay to start him against the Nationals…he said, before heavily regretting starting Suárez against the Nationals. It’s too logical to work.

Carlos Carrasco (CLE) @ OAK (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 79 pitches.

This is a worse version of Carrasco at two ticks down and 2x more curveballs than sliders. That’s the legit weird one for me – when did Carrasco start liking curves more than sliders?! Anyway, there’s an outside chance he’s a streaming option through the year, but you can do better.

Gavin Stone (LAD) vs STL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 85 pitches.

Fastball is still up as it was in the spring at 95/96 (phew) and his changeup is still dope with 9/35 whiffs. However, there isn’t much else at the moment and that’s the last piece of the puzzle. I’m not sure I dig four-seamer/sinker/change alone and with just a sprinkle of curves and cutters, I’m not as sold on Stone. But 16 whiffs! He won’t be bad, just not the ticket to stardom in my view without a proper third offering.

Trevor Rogers (MIA) vs PIT (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 97 pitches.

Okay, so at least he’s sitting 93 mph now and generally low with his changeup and slider, but he needs to actually get those pitches down and not lose batters. I’m optimistic about Rogers, though you don’t have to chase his next outing against the Cardinals.

Bryce Miller (SEA) vs BOS (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 91 pitches.

I watched this one and I found myself buying more into Miller’s command than I had previously. My worry about his splitter and needing something different vs. LHB still remains (55% strike rate, but some filthy whiffs!), while the slider still needs more polish of its own, but the heater was looking more in control than I saw many times last year. I’m encouraged here.

Jon Gray (TEX) vs CHC (ND) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 67 pitches.

Womp womp. I had some hopes he could sneak a Win against the Cubs, but you can’t go 1/27 whiffs on the slide piece. That’s like the thing, Gray. What if I also go a tick down on my fastball? HOW IS THAT HELPING.

Daulton Jefferies (SFG) @ SDP (L) – 2.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 55 pitches.

Okay this wasn’t good. At all. But maybe at some point…

Bailey Falter (PIT) @ MIA (ND) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 67 pitches.

He’ll be a Tampa Bay Ray. I can feel it in my bones, and the bones are their money. What. Don’t worry about it, just recognize how Falter will be displaced by Skenes in like two weeks, then the Rays will trade for him and maybe turn into a decent Opener/Follower. Okay, whatever you say.

Bailey Ober (MIN) @ KCR (L) – 1.1 IP, 8 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 53 pitches.

Oh no. No no no. He allowed a pair of longballs on changeups, then a big HR on a solid heater up-and-in, and the whole outing felt like a slap in the face. Ober got absolutely bamboozled by the Royals and even after watching it, it doesn’t make a ton of sense. Was he tipping? I’m not sure, but it didn’t feel like a guy who is just bad now. We carry on.

 

Game of the Day

 

Luis Gil vs. Ryne Nelson – Y’all know I’m stoked for Gil and maybe Nelson is the guy he flashed at times this spring? Two young arms with good heaters paired with sliders. You love to see it.

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.

Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)