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.
Ryan Gusto (HOU) vs TOR (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 80 pitches.
The Astros seem to have a random arm vault into fantasy relevancy each season and I can see why many believe Ryan Gusto to be this year’s favorite after returning 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 80 pitches (W) against the Jays on Wednesday. I’m sad to report that there is one major flaw that may hold him back.
You see, The Pasta Pirate had a wide arsenal. Ronel Blanco needed a third pitch and found a changeup. José Urquidy and Luis García Jr. had great sliders, with the former having a large arsenal to back it up, and the latter adding a legit cutter to fuse it together. Gusto? It’s just a four-seamer.
It’s a good four-seamer, but save for a sweeper that I’m not ready to bank on for 30% SwStr rates at 35% usage against RHB, that 93/94 mph heater with 18-19″ of vert is getting peppered over 50% of the time and sitting upstairs, hoping it can do enough to mask the horrible changeup and curve. The cutter and sinker are erratic as well, and the sweeper is quietly sipping its Diet Coke through a straw and hoping they don’t have to calm the heater down.
NICK, it was enough tonight! How can you say that? That’s very true and I may be underrating his four-seamer inside the zone + the quality of the sweeper. Gusto could also need some time to get a feel for his full repertoire and emerge as a legit starter by the middle of the summer. That said, the extension and HAVAA are dead-on middle of the road, which makes this a vert-reliant four-seamer that Gusto needs to continue locating upstairs. It just seems like there’s too small of a margin for error without the velocity or supporting cast to catch him on the bad days. But fine, it’s the Tigers next. Give it a shot, he could keep hitting spots with heaters, extend to 85 pitches, and maybe keep up the same sweeper success for a winning club.
Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:
Reese Olson (DET) vs SDP (W) – 7.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 85 pitches.
Oh hey! You did it! Man, I was getting really bummed about Olson after he hadn’t flexed a start with premium changeups and sliders, BUT GUESS WHAT?! He had premium changeups and sliders? HE SURE DID. 57% CSW on 21 sliders, 9/26 whiffs on his changeup, and even the sinker was spotted like a Waldo legend down-and-away to RHB. This is peak Olson where it didn’t matter that he faced the Padres. That changeup and slider are just too dang filthy when they cook. Enjoy the King Cole, I hope you flirt with it again next start.
Carlos Rodón (NYY) @ CLE (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 90 pitches.
Mmmmm that’s the good stuff. The changeup did work with 5/19 whiffs while the slider returned to 72%+ strike land. Thanks Rodón, we needed this.
Logan Webb (SFG) vs MIL (W) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 106 pitches.
Wow, we’re back down to 14% changeups and 23% to LHB. He really loves that sweeper and I get it – 42% CSW and 6/36 whiffs is a pretty thing. You do you, Webb, the sinker is still as good as ever.
Andrew Heaney (PIT) @ LAA (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 24 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 95 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! Heaney is on an absolute roll with a stupid good 24-whiff performance deserving of a Golden Goal, but he’ll have to settle for a Gallows Pole with a stunning exhibition of the BSB. It’s pretty awesome seeing him locate his fastballs upstairs and have that changeup working down. Next he’ll get a real test against the Cubs, but we have to follow the Vargas Rule…right?
Miles Mikolas (STL) @ ATL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 89 pitches.
That’s 3/5 games totaling 4 ER this season for Mikolas as he went six shutout against Atlanta for a Gold Star. Ugggggh. Yeah, you and me both. Yes, I recognize that if you’re the coin-flip champion of the world, you can make this work. Is that a thing? I honestly hope so.
Ben Casparius (LAD) @ CHC (ND) – 2.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 40 pitches.
Casparius is the next youngin’ to get some time as a “starter” and I’m sad they didn’t let him stretch out a bit more. He’s pretty interesting with a solid trio of 96 mph four-seamers, 91 mph cutters, and a slower slider at 85 mph, but it’ll be some time before we actually see the Dodgers give Casparius some runway in the rotation, if ever.
Bryce Elder (ATL) vs STL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 99 pitches.
Respect your Elder! Okay Bryce, but next time can you tell us in advance that you’ll have what is likely your best start of the year? Yeeesh, then maybe we’d actually show up to your Birthday Party.
Trevor Williams (WSN) vs BAL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 99 pitches.
The thing is…nah. #NeverTrevor. The line is better than the person on the bump in many ways.
Bryse Wilson (CHW) @ MIN (ND) – 2.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 55 pitches.
Ah. Yep, that’s about right. Let this Wilson float out to sea.
Emerson Hancock (SEA) @ BOS (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 92 pitches.
In Fenway?! Wow Hancock, I guess your name made Bostonians welcome you enough to make you feel comfortable in that claustrophobic park. I don’t think he pitched particularly amazing here, just that the Red Sox let him pound sinkers for 13/31 called strikes while he geared up his four-seamer a tick to 94+ mph for a handful of whiffs. I’m happy for him and I see this as a Birthday Party more than anything.
Brady Singer (CIN) @ MIA (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 88 pitches.
Four-seamers returned a bit against LHB and they helped for 32% CSW, and given the lack of RHB in the lineup, the slider failed to reach its typical SwStr heights, but look at that line! Glorious. And pretty surprising given how his sinker got so much of the plate to RHB, but this doesn’t matter once we exhale, smile, and give our appreciation to the Marlins.
Jack Kochanowicz (LAA) vs PIT (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 81 pitches.
Ayyyy, I’ll take this stream all day. The Jack of One Trade expanded to sliders and four-seamers a bit, the latter sitting 96/97 mph and generally effective as a surprise offering. Stupid Cruz with his ridiculous missiles adding blemishes to a good night at the park.
Zack Wheeler (PHI) @ NYM (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 107 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. The sweeper and splitter are still around and that’s cool, but the four-seamer was the dominant one that made this work. It’s always the four-seamer.
David Peterson (NYM) vs PHI (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 89 pitches.
Blegh. ERA is not the only things that matters y’all, and Peterson couldn’t get his change nor slider under the zone, making the Phillies take all their pent up swings from their start against Megill on Monday and let them out with the fury of a thousand suns. But just two runs. A fury of thousand sons. Is that a typo? The sons of ants. Ahhhh. So still threatening but not like skin cancer threatening. Yeah, you get it. I wish I felt better about Peterson prior to his Arizona start up next, but this doesn’t change much at all, even with a velo dip on the sinker (none on the four-seamer). That’s a Questionable Start and don’t feel like you need to hold Peterson tightly.
JP Sears (ATH) vs TEX (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 86 pitches.
Nice job from Sears, who didn’t see a single LHB the entire night. It led to Dancing With The Disco with sweepers all over the plate for a whopping 48% CSW (why did y’all take so many?) and a four-seamer up a tick to 93 mph that managed to find enough strikes without too much damage (and why did y’all take so many of those, too?). I need to give props on the low changeup, even at 44% strikes. He didn’t float them here and it helped. I still don’t trust Sears at all, even with their seasonal discount.
Kyle Hart (SDP) @ DET (L) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 70 pitches.
I’m waiting for the day Kyle deserves a roundup focus as an add on your teams. You gotta have Haaaarrrrrt! Today is not that day, but props for having a 38% CSW on both your sweeper and changeup. I guess he had to keep up with Olson in this duel of breaker/slowball arms. He’ll get the Giants next and maybe he’ll be able to go 80 pitches there and secure a solid outing. I’m not ready to do this.
David Festa (MIN) vs CHW (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 84 pitches.
Blegh. I hate how Festa still has such inefficiency on his slider, but the changeup wasn’t getting the bites down low as expected either. He’s tough to watch with far more inefficiency than you’d think and I wonder if he gets the boot back to the minors with Pablo López returning on Saturday. I think he should – Festa has to figure out a way to confidently spot his arsenal to let them play off each other.
Tomoyuki Sugano (BAL) @ WSN (ND) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 94 pitches.
Sugano allowed two HRs in the first for all three runs, then tossed six shutout frames…with one strikeout. HAISTBMBWT?! It’s almost like you could see Koufax running out of the bathroom in a towel as he lost track of time. I’m sorry, I’m sorry! 31% splitter usage at 17% CSW that relies on outs in play shouldn’t be an outcome you depend upon for your fantasy squads.
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) vs CIN (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 102 pitches.
102 pitches with 17 whiffs and 97/98 mph velocity? Yep, that’s much better. The slider wasn’t very good and his four-seamer to LHB/sinker to RHB command was horrendous, but this should feel better than his previous outings with the disgusting changeup we know and love getting featured 34% of the time.
Matthew Boyd (CHC) vs LAD (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 92 pitches.
It’s the Dodgers, so a VVVPQS from Boyd is a great thing, especially with a dub. Boyd Boyz, Unite! I wish I liked the curve and change more to RHB, but at least he landed the big hook over the plate for 56% CSW. I’m stoked you get the Pirates up next, go and have a field day.
Taj Bradley (TBR) @ ARI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 103 pitches.
A PQS against a tough offense ain’t so bad, right? I’m in a standard 5×5. Ohhhh, so you got nothing. I hate this. Yeah, me too. The command is still pretty dang all over the place. Taj, ma’ whole draft approach revolving around you. Well that doesn’t seem real, but whatever. A pun is a pun, that’s what I always say.
Freddy Peralta (MIL) @ SFG (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 95 pitches.
Bleeeeeegh. Professor Chaos glimmered in those eyes and it was difficult to watch Peralta wrestle with himself to return just five frames in 95 pitches. Come on Peralta, take yourself back.
Bowden Francis (TOR) @ HOU (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 79 pitches.
It’s almost as if the moment I said FINE, I’LL RANK YOU HIGHER, Francis felt like he won and was able to let go and be free. Then again, he was at 19″+ of vert with seven feet of extension…but yeah, the secondaries are not great at all. I STAND BY MY PRESEASON TAKE.
Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI) vs TBR (ND) – 6.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 92 pitches.
We had a Careful, Icarus here with Erod leaving with two on and two outs only for both to score shortly after. Sigh. So close to a strong one here, but no shock that the K rate fell to under a strikeout per inning. He’s not a strikeout-heavy arm, just a Toby with a good team behind him.
Sean Newcomb (BOS) vs SEA (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 97 pitches.
Ah, a textbook Dusty Donut. You don’t need me to tell you not to do this. I’m not even sure how much more time he has in the rotation.
Luis L. Ortiz (CLE) vs NYY (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 8 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 104 pitches.
Twenty whiffs with his four-seamer not landing upstairs a whole lot as it came with a checks notes 41% strike rate across 28% usage. Yikes. The whiffs came from the slider, cutter, and change all earning five apiece and you may be thinking Wait, Ortiz doesn’t throw a changeup. No, he doesn’t. But this one was solid and surprised Yankee batters at 89/90 mph at a 62% strike rate and I have to wonder if that returns in the future. I think we can call this a weird one against the Yankees and roll with him against the Twins, but I just wish I could trust his command a bit more, you know?
Kumar Rocker (TEX) @ ATH (L) – 1.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 63 pitches.
Oh dear. Rocker had to face more LHB and I’m actually impressed he was able to spot his slider and four-seamer as well as he did…most of the time. He’ll get the Athletics again and I don’t want to put myself in harm’s way for this.
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Game of the Day
Drew Rasmussen vs. Corbin Burnes – Raz ma taz is working his cutter better than Burnes these days and maybe Corbin won’t stand for it.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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