Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Saturday 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.
Roddery Muñoz (MIA) @ CHC (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 77 pitches.
We had a surprise MLB debut from rookie Roddery Muñoz for the Marlins yesterday against the Cubs and after seeing his line of 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 77 pitches, you’re wondering if this is the next guy to chase on your wire.
Nope. He’s a cutter/sinker arm reliant on grounders who was able to get more strikeouts with his stuff than you’d expect. I watched this and saw a guy who could be a Toby if he spots the edges with his 4/5 pitch mix, but ultimately, he’s trying to be a strikethrower with decent movement, hoping he avoids the barrel of the bat. But seven strikeouts! One walk! MLB debuts are weird, y’all. The reports are slim and things can happen. I’d normally say he’s not worth the pickup, though a start against the Nationals has a chance to go well at 80-85 pitches. It’s not clear if he’s even making that start and we can chat about this later this week instead.
Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:
Zack Wheeler (PHI) vs CHW (W) – 7.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 106 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. This was a no-hit bid that we could say Blame it on the White Sox, but also, it’s Wheeler. And he’s cooking.
Luis Castillo (SEA) @ COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna ace with a Gallows Pole. Three starts of “warming up” and now two of hotness. That’s the Castillo way.
Nestor Cortes (NYY) vs TBR (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 102 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! I’ve been suggesting that Cortes doesn’t have the upside of his 2022 season and here he is, boasting the upside of his 2022 season. Much better four-seamer and cutter command here and I sure hope he has this rhythm for the forseeable future. Oakland is next and I’m ready to watch him feast.
José Berríos (TOR) @ SDP (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 91 pitches.
Don’t question it, just start Berríos these days. What is he doing differently? Honestly, I’m not entirely sure, but his sinker is working better than the four-seamer of old and his curve isn’t missing as many spots.
Zach Eflin (TBR) @ NYY (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 78 pitches.
Sweeeet. Curve and sweeper are working well, while the cutter is…okay. Whatever, ChiSox are next and that is sure to be bliss.
Kutter Crawford (BOS) @ PIT (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 100 pitches.
That’s a King Cole for Crawford, despite a horrid WHIP and highly questionable command. I can’t shake the feeling that Crawford is due for ERA regression given his inability to wield his full arsenal properly, nor carry a true “money pitch” in his back-pocket. Like a Jack of All Trades, Master of None, kind of a guy. A JATMON?! Oh dear. I won’t make that a thing y’all. Probably. Let’s hope he quells my fears against the Cubs up next.
Trevor Williams (WSN) vs HOU (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 77 pitches.
Sure, that happened. #NeverTrevor.
Bailey Ober (MIN) vs DET (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 82 pitches.
That’s 2 ER in his last three games after allowing 8 ER in 1.1 frames. That’s Baseball, Suzyn. And this one didn’t even have his best four-seamer.
Randy Vásquez (SDP) vs TOR (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 97 pitches.
Randy got his chance in the rotation with Darvish on the mend and after a poor showing in the spring, he calibrated his reputation with his lucious outing. I think he got a bit fortunate overall and I wouldn’t chase it against in Coors. Nothing stands out as exceptional here.
Javier Assad (CHC) vs MIA (ND) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 87 pitches.
The ER is still low, but hot dang Assad isn’t doing much else to convince you he can keep it going. That tether is slipping between your fingers…
Ronel Blanco (HOU) @ WSN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 98 pitches.
Blame it on the Nationals. Kinda. Blanco was not at his best here, floating so many sliders and changeups over the plate, but he got away with it, even with just a 50% strike rate on his four-seamer. Thank you, Washington. Let’s hope it’s not the man losing his rhythm.
Jesús Luzardo (MIA) @ CHC (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 104 pitches.
I made Luzardo a Probable Start for this one, but it felt precarious and I’m happy it turned out well. 10/32 slider whiffs is glorious and Luzardo did a great job splitting up the strikezone across his different pitches. Phew.
Charlie Morton (ATL) vs TEX (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 91 pitches.
Ayyyy it worked! Starting Morton is always a terrifying proposition and facing Texas adds a whole extra layer of Whyyyyyyy. He found a way and got you the Win you drafted him for, but do you want to live a life of fear every week? I sure don’t.
Shota Imanaga (CHC) vs MIA (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 92 pitches.
He’s doing a phenomenal job of keeping his four-seamer upstairs, just as we wanted him to when he signed in the off-season. Today came with seven splitter whiffs as well, though I’m still hoping to see more of his curve and sweeper in future outings. I still believe he’ll need that extra reliable breaker for strikes in the future. I’m not quite ready to give him the AGA tag that his last name demands until I see something more dependable in his secondaries, but then again, Joe Ryan got his with a similar makeup, right? Let’s wait until Shōta gets the Astros next at the very least.
Reese Olson (DET) @ MIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 95 pitches.
Mmmm okay. The slider returned, but the changeup faltered as a result. If he had both working, this would have been the start you desired. I’d go for it against the Royals – the slider improvement is a big deal.
José Buttó (NYM) @ LAD (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 95 pitches.
The Legend…continues? That’s five walks and a horrible WHIP, but hey, the Dodgers, right? I think you’re fine against the Cardinals. After all, Buttó is a Toby.
Gavin Stone (LAD) vs NYM (ND) – 3.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 72 pitches.
Yiiiikes. His changeup is everything and its command suddenly disappeared, like 2023 or something. Not great, especially with the Jays up next. Not sure I want to chase that, but we should give Stone the benefit of the doubt that he can bounce back.
Corbin Burnes (BAL) @ KCR (W) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 98 pitches.
Aces gonna serve a Philly and fan just four. Not his best stuff here and we move on.
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) @ ATL (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 6 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 105 pitches.
He did everything he could to keep the runs off the board with 11/39 splitter whiffs, and trying to sneak in heaters, cutters, curves, and sliders when needed. Whatareyagonnado. Fortunately, Eovaldi won’t have to face Atlanta again. Wild, I know.
Logan Allen (CLE) vs OAK (W) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 93 pitches.
Allen got you the Win, BUT AT WHAT COST?! I hope Allen can spot his four-seamers better in future games as this one was not it. There is value here if he can execute the BSB properly.
Kyle Harrison (SFG) vs ARI (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 74 pitches.
Instead of choosing between his changeup and curve, Harrison elected to choose neither and go 70% four-seamers. It kinda worked, but to do that, you need to have a better four-seamer. It just doesn’t feel right.
Mitch Keller (PIT) vs BOS (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 88 pitches.
Ah yes, the Cherry Bomb hath live to thine name. You can do better.
Alex Wood (OAK) @ CLE (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 86 pitches.
Let’s not become tree-huggers, alright?
Dakota Hudson (COL) vs SEA (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 5 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 91 pitches.
COL story, bro.
DL Hall (MIL) @ STL (ND) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 90 pitches.
Hall hit the IL after this one with a hurt knee. Welp, it’s been a ride.
Zac Gallen (ARI) @ SFG (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 99 pitches.
Aces gonna poorly spot his fastball and get burned for it. This is a One Night Bland and we move on.
Graham Ashcraft (CIN) vs LAA (W) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 88 pitches.
That’s a dirty Win and Ashcraft still can’t spot his cutter. More at eleven.
Michael Soroka (CHW) @ PHI (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 100 pitches.
He’s now sinker/slider with changeups to LHB and it’s all incredibly blegh. Womp womp.
Miles Mikolas (STL) vs MIL (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 80 pitches.
I’m not sure I like Mikolas at 40% fastballs. You didn’t like him at 20% fastballs. IT’S A SPECTRUM.
Patrick Sandoval (LAA) @ CIN (L) – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 83 pitches.
In Cincy? Ummm yeah, The Irish Panda wasn’t going to make this work unless he was at his very best. Narrator: He was not.
Cole Ragans (KCR) vs BAL (L) – 1.2 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 62 pitches.
Aces gonna…wow. I watched all of this one and obviously, this was painful. He struck out the side in the first, but also allowed a hit on a beautiful changeup out of the zone (foreshadowing!), then was met with an eight hit brigade in the second frame. One was a poor changeup in the zone for a double, four were bad sliders or cutters, and the rest were OH COME ON. This was a One Night Bland and a clear case of getting Singled Out, though I would be dishonest if I didn’t mention some concern in Ragans’ inability to command his slider. That’s the pitch that prevented innings like these and turned him into a true front-line starter last year. However, we’ve only seen him use the pitch 10% of the time in 2024, with just a 13% SwStr rate and stupid high 58% ICR. It’s an issue and to say this is just “whatever” and “it happens” is ignoring why this doesn’t happen to every ace. He needs to find that slider again to be the guy he’s supposed to be. What if he doesn’t? Then he’s still really good, just not “The Unicorn” as I’ve called him.
Game of the Day
Casey Mize vs. Louie Varland – I want both of these arms to blossom against middling lineups.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)