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.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Shane McClanahan (TBR) @ PIT (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 90 pitches.
I just want Shane McClanahan to be great again. Not an ace, just great. A rock for teams rooted in a solid 95/96 mph fastball that can push to 98 mph, an elite changeup he can turn to in any count, and a slide piece to mix to both LHB and RHB. It’s right there. We see it often. Until it’s gone, like the fifth frame Sunday against the Pirates. He was cruising through four, then one after another, the Pirates strung four hits together around a groundout, kicking McShane out of the game with a final line of 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 90 pitches (L). Is this just what we’re going to get?
Who knows. My brain says “Get value now vs. value later,” which suggests managers drop McShane if something looks great this week and next on your wire. My heart believes it’s early-season rust and the Twins + Giants ahead still make for decent starts that could avoid the fifth-inning struggles, which could have been solved by a little Koufax generosity (and not allowing a bunt single), and also could have been solved by earning more than zero whiffs in the frame. It was yet another start where McClanahan failed to feature his best changeup and we cannot remove his TIARA until the pitch comes back. Your call on drop or hold, at the very least, he has to fall a bit more on The List today.
Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:
Ryan Weathers (NYY) vs KCR (W) – 7.1 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 95 pitches.
There we go. He’s sitting around 95 mph and probably shouldn’t have come for the eighth inning, but I can’t truly tell you that he’s so much better of a pitcher now than he was during the rough games, even with a King Cole award. Okay, that’s not entirley fair, as he’s suddenly going heavy with his slider to LHB and it’s obviously the way to go over the sweeper at five ticks harder and solid sweep. He also used it to RHB for a massive 55% CSW and maybe that really had a huge impact on the whole approach. I sure hope so, and if he can succeed at a lower velocity, it could signal a healthier season ahead, too.
Bailey Ober (MIN) vs CIN (ND) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 10 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 102 pitches.
If you missed it, you could see Ober with a jolly ole stroll down the Reds Carpet on Sunday, where his sweeper was able to return a 29% SwStr rate despite worse movement, and his fastball sat under 89 mph. No, I don’t believe this is his renaissance. I wouldn’t chance it.
Eury Pérez (MIA) vs MIL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 84 pitches.
We really needed this one. Well, from a results standpoint. His skills are still the same, and he decided to hurl four-seamers over the plate instead of leaning on secondaries, which is not the path toward success for Pérez as he continues to throw that heater down the pipe. But it worked here. Absolutely, I’m talking about ace-like success in the future. Pitching like this is fine, but will be capped as a Cherry Bomb.
Michael King (SDP) @ LAA (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 105 pitches.
This is not what a great King start is supposed to look like, but we’ll take it all day. It’s still surprising to see him struggle with his four-seamer, while the changeup and sweeper worked + the sinker stunned to create four strikeouts. It’s a great schedule ahead, and hopefully it’s the reps he needs for a confident May and beyond.
Miles Mikolas (WSH) vs SFG (L) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 61 pitches.
He was opened for once again, and would you look at that! A successful game! But not a Win. Because he was pulled with two outs in the fifth, shortly before the Nationals scored three runs in the bottom half of the frame. Wow. Yuuuup. It’s that kind of year for Mikolas.
David Peterson (NY-N) @ CHC (L) – 3.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 47 pitches.
He was opened for by Tobias Myers and this should concern y’all. Not the results, but the limited usage. I have to believe they’ll give him a little more of a runway hosting Rockie Road over the weekend, but who really knows at this point. I’m not sure I have to hold for that.
Framber Valdez (DET) @ BOS (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 98 pitches.
The curveball is so back, but the changeup? Oh that fella was SO back. Framber also refused to land the sinker away to RHB, allowing him to get to two strikes on a whopping 78% of the batters he faced (I normally see around 55-60% rates). That’s so good, y’all. Imagine if he were like this and had the elite curve…
Matthew Liberatore (STL) @ HOU (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 82 pitches.
It’s lovely to see a quiet, productive game from Liberatore. It’s not nice to see the cutter disappear to RHB, nothing good against LHB except the slider, and only 2/65 whiffs against RHB. Koufax is rarely so kind.
Javier Assad (CHC) vs NYM (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 82 pitches.
This was a Mets thing, not an Assad thing. I’m not sure he even starts again with the return of Matthew Boyd, but there could be another stream for Assad out there in time. Just not right now.
Noah Schultz (CHW) @ ATH (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 82 pitches.
WHOA WHOA WHOA. Where was the changeup last game?! Why did he throw one before and now 14?! It had a poor 43% strike rate, but earned a few whiffs and completely transformed his attack. I’m still a little worried about his overall command (the sweeper’s 36% strike rate and 14% CSW is alarming + the cutter wasn’t jammed to RHB like we saw last week + many non-competitive offerings), but now I feel more comfortable letting Schultz fly against the Nationals next. Just a little bit better each day.
Jacob Misiorowski (MIL) @ MIA (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 97 pitches.
I want to give him AGA and yet, that’s a poor 1.40 WHIP and he’s holding an 11% walk rate on the year. But a 38% strikeout rate. I know. It’s awesome. Congrats on the Gallows Pole, you were one whiff above your season average of 17 whiffs per game.
Mitch Keller (PIT) vs TBR (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 89 pitches.
Nice! I’m happy for you. Not happy enough to pick you up given, you know, everything, but keep throwing 10/11 sliders for strikes. That’s a cool thing.
Bryan Woo (SEA) vs TEX (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 85 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Wheeler 2.0 stood up straight when he realized the OG was likely returning this week.
Walbert Ureña (LAA) vs SDP (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 92 pitches.
Huh. Ureña throws hard at 98 mph, with a poor four-seamer but a sinker with 16″+ ride and not quite the depth you want to see, but not bad at his average arm angle. What makes him cool is how he pairs the sinker with his changeup at seven mph slower – they look exactly the same. Same movement, just slower. It allows him to excel with the pitch away to LHB, and I’m surprised it had so much success as a 35% usage offering to RHB, where he consistently got it down-and-in with a 71% O-Swing. You’d think batters would recognize it as a sinker or change, resulting in a take either way (it moves the same as the sinker!), but what that logic misses is the 19% four-seamer usage on top of it. It’s kinda fascinating. With a sweeper too! What? Oh, that thing? Maybe, but he has terrible feel for it right now. Would be great at 84/85 mph and nearly 10 inches of sweep, but we’re not there yet. So yeah, I’m kinda down for this, but it requires Ureña to get away with the four-seamer to set up the sinker/change combo, and that heater is as Empty Velocity as it gets. But it’s 98 mph. Yes. Can’t really hate that. Alright, fine, I’ll spec add him for the Royals and go from there. Questionable Start there, with Mets + CrySox after that could work very well.
Kevin Gausman (TOR) @ ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 86 pitches.
Gasuman feels like he’s getting caught with his hand in the jar. What, you thought we’d let you have a sub 1.00 WHIP this year?! Gotta get those BABIP numbers up!
Grant Holmes (ATL) @ PHI (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 81 pitches.
Really, Atlanta? You couldn’t just let him get one more out up 4-2 with a runner on second? It was Schwarber up, who hit a two-run shot off Holmes in the first on a low two-strike slider. Oh. Well, okay then. He doesn’t really have anything else to throw him.
Robbie Ray (SFG) @ WSN (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 93 pitches.
An unfriendly PQS with seven strikeouts. It’ll happen a bit, that’s how Ray goes. That slider was pretty great down to RHB, but he couldn’t quite nail it to LHB.
Brady Singer (CIN) @ MIN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 104 pitches.
Ayyy, a classic VPQS from Singer with two strikeouts, making those in normal Win leagues infuriated. I yam what I yam.
Michael Lorenzen (COL) vs LAD (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 88 pitches.
This is actually kinda great given Coors + Dodgers + Lorenzen being Lorenzen. But I get nothing outside of three strikeouts. Did you not see all the nuance?
Roki Sasaki (LAD) @ COL (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 78 pitches.
You started Roki? Why? Because of the new slider? The one he threw two times this entire game?! I can’t even with you right now.
Joey Cantillo (CLE) vs BAL (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 89 pitches.
The command is so frustrating, and the ratios will hurt when he can’t go more than 50% strikes on his slider, let alone 35% between both breaking balls. Yikes. It was a day of poor feel for Cantillo and it’s a little scary against the Jays. That said, Cherry Bomb types are generally more independent of matchup than others. Good luck, the 3.20 ERA and 29% strikeout rate are great, but the 1.30 WHIP and 12% walk rate are not.
Andrew Painter (PHI) vs ATL (L) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 84 pitches.
Blegh. Not really a terrible start (he allowed two singles in the fifth, who both came around to score), just an inefficient one. Think of him as a low-end Holly in time, a Toby for now.
Mike Burrows (HOU) vs STL (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 87 pitches.
Burrows. Buddy. Pal. I’m kinda shocked at how much leeway I gave with the fella this year. And sure, 37% CSW, seven strikeouts n all, but he once again collapsed in a heartbeat, throwing a perfect game through 4.2 innings until he allowed five straight baserunners and got the hook. That’s baseball, Suzyn. I really felt so smart for a while there. And to think it was just a trio of singles, too. Welp, it’s the Yankees, Fenway, and Dodgers next anyway, so it doesn’t matter if I spin it as “so close,” you cannot hold him.
Trevor Rogers (BAL) @ CLE (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 95 pitches.
Rogers. Buddy. Hang in there. This was another game of “He pitched well, it just didn’t work out.” Look, maybe you’re not an ACE ace, and you’re going to have these rough games a little more than the proper studs. That’s alright. You’re still hitting spots consistently with high CSW marks on the four-seamer + sweeper, and your changeup misses bats. Maybe get the heater higher than 92 mph in the future, sure, but everything is alright.
Garrett Crochet (BOS) vs DET (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 93 pitches.
Aces gonna conclude a week he wishes never happened. And so do his managers. He was actually cruising through four, then fanned the first two of the fifth before a solo shot, walk, single, three-run blast. Both HRs were on terribly placed fastballs, and there is obviously something up with Crochet right now. His stuff is still great, but he’s not quite as overpowering as he usually is. It does suggest some tipping, but I hate saying that and moving on. Right now, I’ll call this a tough two-game stretch (eight strikeouts here, after all) and expect him to improve.
MacKenzie Gore (TEX) @ SEA (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 90 pitches.
Two HRs on curveballs – one a poor 0-2 pitch, another not quite low enough at 0-2 – one on his first pitch of the game to Refsnyder, and that’s your ballgame. Stupid HRs messing everything up. That said, if he had his changeup working (23% strike rate is horrific) or had more confidence in the slider, it’s possible both curveballs aren’t thrown in those counts. He’ll get the Athletics at home next time and I’m still starting him despite the last two clunkers. At least the walks are gone.
Jeffrey Springs (ATH) vs CHW (L) – 5.0 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 85 pitches.
It wasn’t Sunshine and Rainbows for Springs in Sacré Verde where his four-seamer was its 2025 self for the second straight outing. At least the changeup is still solid and he should be a decent play in Arlington next time out.
Cole Ragans (KCR) @ NYY (L) – 4.1 IP, 7 ER, 4 Hits, 8 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 97 pitches.
This was unreal. I wonder if the rain delay of three hours messed up Ragans (yes, Weathers had to deal with it, too), as he came out of the gate with a walk, HR on a first-pitch curve, walk, K, two more walks. That’s rough. It was a little better in the second and third, but two walks in each of the fourth and fifth brought it all back. It was a week of really terrible starts from some surprising names and with Ragans getting the Angels, @TEA, and Cleveland next, I’m not going to do anything but celebrate that this one is behind us.
Ryne Nelson (ARI) vs TOR (L) – 0.1 IP, 8 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 30 pitches.
This was absolute PAIN. I’m not sure I’ve seen a talented arm get so Singled Out before, as these weren’t doubles and HRs, no, it was grounders here, flares there, a few well-hit ones, and it just kept going. And going. Sure, the Jays were aggressively targeting his four-seamer, BUT EVERYONE TRIES TO DO THAT. He even allowed a pair of hits on breakers and it was such a terrible inning. No, I’m not rage-dropping him. This truly was ridiculous.
Game of the Day
Dylan Cease vs. Reid Detmers – All. The. Strikeouts.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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