Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Wednesday 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.
Landen Roupp (SFG) @ HOU (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 83 pitches.
What I like the least about the opening week of the season is patiently waiting for the pitchers I want to watch get their turn on the bump. We had to wait until Wednesday evening for the talk of San Francisco to get his opportunity and Landen Roupp both impressed and disappointed against the Astros via 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 83 pitches. I should note, he entered the fifth with 1 ER and 2 BBs before a walk, infield single, walk, and pulled for a reliever who allowed two runs to score.
Should you pick him up? Absolutely. Yes, Roupp didn’t have his best command after he struck out the side in a clean first. The sinker and curve both returned mid-50% strike rates despite facing a hefty majority of RHB, though the curve did so with 11/34 whiffs as its massive horizontal break spun Astros hitters around constantly. Meanwhile, the sinker has nearly 20″ of run to create a three-feet difference of movement between the two offerings, and without discussing the changeup or cutter, that combo itself is destined to confound batters.
I do think the changeup is a strong offering as well and will step up to the task when he faces more LHB in the future – unlike the easy comp of someone like Brady Singer or Tanner Houck – SP in the past who have the sinker/slider combo but had failed to take down LHB. With a regular rotation spot and runway to get his footing as he expands the arsenal (where was the four-seamer?), Roupp is someone I’m signing up for with his next start hosting the Reds. I think you’ll want to hold on for a while.
Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:
Garrett Crochet (BOS) @ BAL (W) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 102 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. We saw some more changeups than usual, but this was Four-Seamer and Cutter City and yes, I love it. But 4/11 changeup whiffs! Okay, that’s cool, though I wonder if that’s actually going to stick. Who cares, he’s dope and makes us feel dope.
Paul Skenes (PIT) @ TBR (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 102 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Great pitch separation with the four-seamer up and splinker down as we all laugh about how Skenes doesn’t have a reliable third pitch and it doesn’t matter.
Zac Gallen (ARI) @ NYY (W) – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 13 Ks – 24 Whiffs, 46% CSW, 101 pitches.
Oh dang. OH. DANG. Gallen Gals, WHERE YOU AT?! An absurd bar has been set for the King Cole within the first seven days of the season as Gallen’s four-seamer has suddenly found two inches of vert at an elite 19.2″, while the curve was its deathball self and the changeup had its moments underneath. Oh, and the slider and cutter actually helped, too. But seriously, that curve was disgusting for 60% CSW across 30 thrown. The Yankees couldn’t do anything about it on both sides of the plate. The fastball wasn’t as well spotted as I’d like, but yeah, the hook y’all. THE HOOK. I hope it can sustain this.
Jack Leiter (TEX) @ CIN (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 70 pitches.
Look at Jack Zippo acting like the man we want him to be. His slider returned 7/31 whiffs with a ton of strikes, boasting a stupid high 44% usage as the four-seamer was pulled back to just 21% usage. Wild, I know. And it obviously worked. Maybe not allowing batters to sit heater is a good thing, eh? Suitman whispers into my ear. He left early with a blister?! Ugh, I know they said it was precautionary and he could have pitched through it, but those can last throughout the year. I really hope he’s alright as we hold tight and act like everything is okay.
Easton Lucas (TOR) vs WSN (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 74 pitches.
Gives a blank stare at Lucas before kneeling down and attaching a Gold Star to his sweater vest. The southpaw had a good low changeup and somehow returned 9/41 whiffs on his four-seamer. Sure, 17″ of vert, but 93 mph and poor extension and attack angle. HOW. You shouldn’t get behind this.
Blake Snell (LAD) vs ATL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 80 pitches.
Seriously Snell? Do you really have to be such a slow starter? Four whiffs and 1.5 ticks down on the fastball + 3/10 strikes with changeups is normally concerning, but Snell always recovers, right? Right?! Yeah, he probably will. You already decided he would when you drafted him, after all.
Freddy Peralta (MIL) vs KCR (ND) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 97 pitches.
Oh dang. I guess Professor Chaos never heard his alarm. The four-seamer was a tick up and came with a stupid flat 1.7 HAVAA, which obliterated the Royals, while the curve showed up at his convenience for 7/11 whiffs. I wish he could store that forever. We even saw competitive changeups to LHB, and boy this is a great start to the year, Peralta. You keep this up and I may become enamored once again.
Pablo López (MIN) @ CHW (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 98 pitches.
ATTA BOY. I don’t love the super casual “Sure, here’s another heater and changeup well in the zone” approach to LHB, and the sweeper + heater found the middle far more than I’d like against RHB, but the man attacked a poor offense and had the stuff to cruise for seven strong. We’ll take it all day and I’ll bottle up my emotions for another day.
Zack Wheeler (PHI) vs COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 25 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 105 pitches.
Aces gonna ace for a very competitive Gallows Pole. Pretty cool to see the sweeper, splitter, curve, and cutter all earn multiple whiffs here, returning 14/35 between them. That’s some good ole pitchin’ against a terrible offense.
Hunter Greene (CIN) vs TEX (L) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 22 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 94 pitches.
Remember how good he’s looking? Well he’s now averaging 100 mph. On the nose. But even better is the 74% strike slider that went 12/27 whiffs. I mean, when you throw 100 and plop 88 mph in the zone, you’re going to miss bats. Greene has it figured out, y’all. He’s arrived.
Dylan Cease (SDP) vs CLE (W) – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. The changeup was floated and pretty terrible against LHB, but the slider was pristine as he incessantly landed them down-and-away for strikes. 47% CSW on the pitch is no joke and he’s doing it with 19-20″ of vert on the four-seamer. Sure, he threw just 53% strikes on the heater and he’s still a little weird locating the pitch to LHB, but y’all know that’s hot.
Connor Gillispie (MIA) vs NYM (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 73 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! He saved the four-seamer to surprise for called strikes, going sweeper/cutter against RHB, and spitting out changeups all over the place against LHB and it…worked?! What a weird pitcher. I can’t do this. Maybe the distinct movement bands are disrupting batters more than I’m giving credit, but this just doesn’t seem like a sustainable pitcher. All three of his cutter, sweeper, and change returned an xwOBAcon of .395 or more. Noooooope.
Cole Ragans (KCR) @ MIL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 97 pitches.
Aces gonna PEW PEW PEW. The sole blemish was a Chourio HR early while the four-seamer sat 95/96 mph with 13/56 whiffs. The slider and cutter are still figuring things out and the changeup is oddly failing to dominate as we’ve seen in the past (1.40 WHIP after all), but yes, we take this. Duh.
Clay Holmes (NYM) @ MIA (ND) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 85 pitches.
Ah, so now when he’s able to throw cutters and sinkers for strikes, the changeup and sweeper fail to be as consistent as he wants. Got it. We’ll continue to start The Adobe and hope he can get locked in, but like many of you, I’m starting to see him in plaid and asking for a PBR at 4:00 pm. Oh no. He’s turning into a HIPSTER and STAY OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD. Just babies and puppies here, thank you.
Luis Castillo (SEA) vs DET (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 92 pitches.
Pretty wild to see Castillo sit comfortably in the lower third of the zone all evening with sinkers to RHB and get away with it. LHB had a different combo of high four-seamers and low sliders + changeups, which worked decently well, but it’s still strange to see such a hittable version of Casty, you know? 10/92 whiffs at T-Mobile Park against a meh offense isn’t the greatest display of dominance and I still think I have it right ranking him around the 30th SP. He’s a Holly y’all.
Jameson Taillon (CHC) @ ATH (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 94 pitches.
Ayyyy, well done Jameson. The sweeper was generally effective to RHB with four-seamers up while backdoor cutters and changeups to LHB did enough to get the job done. And look! You nibbled with the four-seamer and cutter more! Sure, three walks, but who cares, right? Nineteen whiffs are the life! I wonder if we’ll see this slightly-outside-the-zone approach again in the future.
Ryan Pepiot (TBR) vs PIT (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 88 pitches.
I was astonished to see Pepiot not only go 35% changeups here, but 90% strikes along the way. That’s unheard of and it wasn’t the greatest approach with many left over the plate and getting hit. It was a product of an unruly fastball and slider – just 3/40 whiffs between them – and I was really hoping this volatility wouldn’t appear so early. At least the WHIP is all that got hurt here. We’ll survive and he should have productive days far more often than struggles like these.
Kyle Freeland (COL) @ PHI (L) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 90 pitches.
A better-than-VPQS against the Phillies is generally a good outcome for Freeland. COL. Story. Bro.
Zach Eflin (BAL) vs BOS (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 87 pitches.
A PQS against the Sawx is totally cool with us…right? I think that’s where we are with Eflin…? Why are you upspeaking so much? Can he continue to get all these whiffs…? MAKE IT STOP.
Yusei Kikuchi (LAA) @ STL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 104 pitches.
Our first VPQS of the year belongs to Kikuchi as he’s still down in velocity and vert with his heater. At least the slider had 10/38 called strikes, but batters connected when they swung, and the changeup went 2/8 strikes, and the curve was crushed and and and and an–NICK. GET A GRIP. Sorry, sorry, I’ll get more pine tar. I’m not saying Kikuchi isn’t rosterable, I’m just saying you may regret doing so. He’s a HIPSTER, y’all. I hate not knowing.
Tarik Skubal (DET) @ SEA (L) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 23 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 93 pitches.
Aces gonna…struggle again for a near VPQS?! With 23 whiffs?! What a weird one from Skubal and I wouldn’t worry about this at all. He didn’t earn the quick outs, some at-bats went longer than usual, etc. He earned ten whiffs each on his four-seamer and changeup – he’s still dope.
MacKenzie Gore (WSN) @ TOR (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 95 pitches.
Annnnnnd LIFE IS PAIN. The new slider was all kinds of present against LHB, but he barely faced them and his curveball was a worse sidekick than Robin following the Batmobile on a Citibike. Can you imagine how hot it must be behind that thruster? ANYWAY, I’m sad to report that Gore’s heater isn’t getting the support it needs and we’re back to the drawing board. He’s a HIPSTER and I regret moving him up so aggressively on Monday. So it goes.
Bryce Elder (ATL) @ LAD (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 70 pitches.
Anyone who expected anything different from Elder against the Dodgers isn’t watching closely. My monitor is four inches from my face. CLOSER! Isn’t that Rick Graham’s job? CLOOOSSSEEEER!
Carlos Rodón (NYY) vs ARI (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 96 pitches.
Blegh. The changeup was an atrocity and it ruined the whole gameplan. The elite two-plane movement on his four-seamer is rad n all, but can you do it without sitting 93 mph? Maybe 95+? Please?! He also didn’t have the best slider feel and I’m going to cough this up to a blegh day. It happens, we move on.
Ben Lively (CLE) @ SDP (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 86 pitches.
Womp womp. It’s the Padres and we’re waiting for Lively to find a groove with good matchups. There’s value to be had here, I promise!
Jeffrey Springs (ATH) vs CHC (L) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 82 pitches.
No sunshine and rainbows for Springs in Sacramento, even if his changeup returned 76% strikes. I will also mention that we saw Mitch Spence follow and display a 92 mph cutter that didn’t find the edges well enough to avoid damage. I still wish he’d get a chance to start over Estes, but can you give us 92/93 with a slider that doesn’t go 0/9 whiffs? Anywho, Springs should still be fine moving forward as I don’t see him as an arm destined to walk four on a given night.
Sonny Gray (STL) vs LAA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 22 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 88 pitches.
He was cruising with just one hit for six frames until he came out for the seventh, allowed a grand slam, and quickly got the hook. The sweeper is absolutely back as he nailed the pitch down-and-gloveside while the four-seamer is properly sitting 92/93 mph once again. Phew. We’re all good here.
Framber Valdez (HOU) vs SFG (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 88 pitches.
Valdez faced nearly all RHB, which is generally bad for him given he has to serve them sinkers that run over the plate constantly. At least the curve is looking pretty solid, and y’all know how I feel about Valdez. Just keep starting him and I’ll let you know if you need to worry.
Sean Burke (CHW) vs MIN (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 77 pitches.
Today is the day I looked my fears in the eye. It’s about time you stopped hiding in the shadows. Sadly, that didn’t do anything as my fears of Burke sitting below 95 mph with a poor strike rate with few breaking ball whiffs still existed despite my cringey edgelord speech. I know it was a fun opening day, but he’s not the guy from September quite yet. Give it a start or two.
Game of the Day
Hunter Brown vs. Joe Ryan – It’s the far and away best matchup. Let’s hope it’s a proper duel.
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)
