Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup: Con Fedde

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 elirium in advance. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Playback.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.

Erick Fedde (CHW) vs TBR (W) – 8.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 108 pitches.

Annnnd Erick Fedde now has 20 strikeouts in just two starts after returning a magnificent 8.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 108 pitches against the Rays today. Yes that’s a Win and a second ER in the 9th inning. No, I don’t think it’s going to stick.

Look, it’s a sweeper that did stupid well with a ton of outs in play and a fair number of whiffs, but it wasn’t the greatest pitch I’ve ever seen as they fell into the zone. His sinker and cutter were decent as well, but unless we’re suddenly becoming massively enamored with Fedde’s sweeper as an elite pitch, I didn’t watch a properly dominant pitcher who is expected to routinely sweep the floor.

Should he be rostered? Well sure! It’s the Cardinals and Rays again across his next two starts, and neither is a deterrent for a Toby like Fedde, who hopes to hold onto that strikeout rate for another start or two. At the very least, it’s a Vargas Rule and we see how far it goes. Just don’t bank on him being that arm for you this season – it’s not who he is meant to be.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:

 

Jose Quintana (NYM) vs STL (ND) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 99 pitches.

Quintana chucked sinkers into the zone and paired it with well spotted four-seamers, curves, and changeups, as the Cardinals were grounded. Tampa Bay is next and it’s not out of the question he repeats there. He’s a QS Toby after all.

Tarik Skubal (DET) vs KCR (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 91 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Many heaters were down the pipe with just 4/49 total fastball whiffs, but at least he’s back at 97 mph and his stupid good changeup helped turn those heaters into outs. We good, but it could be better…

Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs LAD (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 93 pitches.

Aces gonna survive. That’s a brilliant line, but with just four splitter whiffs, you can’t help but pair it with a “Hey, are we all good?” like getting excused from jury duty within the first hour. I can’t help but be a little weirded out, though against the Nationals up next, you just let it ride, let it ride.

Tanner Houck (BOS) vs CHC (ND) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 95 pitches.

Atta boy Houck. The slider did all the work in the zone while his sinker sat armside all game + his splitter did legit work along the edges. This is the Houck we want every time and we’re going hold onto the rails as we keep this train from derailing. Don’t let me down, Thomas. WE NEED YA.

Keaton Winn (SFG) vs PIT (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 80 pitches.

Winn showed up with solid splitters once again, plodding his way across six frames. It’s pretty Toby-esque and I still wish his slider were better, but we’ll take it all day. Should I hold him even with the Phillies next? Ehhhh, I’m not into it. I don’t think Keaton is all too special and worth the hold over grabbing yourself a streaming spot, personally.

Dane Dunning (TEX) vs CIN (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 69 pitches.

Hot dang, look at you! A Golden Goal for Dunning and 40%+ CSW across his four main pitches. Solid pitch separation, a middling Reds team, and boom, there’s your ball game. It’s nice to see Dunning do this from time to time, I’m kinda ehhhh on leaning into it against the Royals next. Feel free to take a shot, though – anytime you see a game like this, why not take a shot to see if they are in a long-term rhythm?

Lance Lynn (STL) @ NYM (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 87 pitches.

Ehhhhh, is that WHIP worth the ERA and just three strikeouts? Why are you putting yourself in a position to ask this question? Lance’s last name is a mix of Loss & Winn, after all. Even he can’t decide.

Ben Lively (CLE) @ ATL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 88 pitches.

No joke, there might be something here. Lively is throwing solid fastballs upstairs with great extension, and here he is surviving almost five strong against Atlanta. With the Angels up next, he’s a decent deep stream option.

Hayden Wesneski (CHC) @ BOS (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 63 pitches.

He’s in the rotation with Wicks on the mend and surprisingly, the sweeper wasn’t the star of the show. I have my doubts regarding Wesneski’s command and I sincerely doubt we’ll see that four-seamer return a 38% CSW again. This isn’t worth it, and that’s before you consider the low pitch count that’s sure to cap him around five innings.

Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs ARI (ND) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 97 pitches.

Yeah, this is dope. Sure, he had some wild heaters, but cutters + sliders for strikeouts mixed with his 96+ mph heater is everything you want these days from Gilbert. Keep it going, please. I love Gilbert with two strong secondaries and a heater that doesn’t get bamboozled in the zone.

Zack Littell (TBR) @ CHW (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 97 pitches.

Unfortunately, it didn’t come with a Win, but we’ll certainly take this from Littell. I guess we’re holding for the Mets up next.

Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) @ SEA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 96 pitches.

That sweeper coooooooooked like a bolognese done right. Throw in some solid changeups and heaters that were rarely exploited and you have yourself a punchout stew brewing. Does this make him more than a Toby? I guess…? I still have my doubts that Pfaadt can have continued success on the back of that sweeper, but sure, let’s start him against the Padres and hope for the best.

Bryce Elder (ATL) vs CLE (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 85 pitches.

Yep, that’s Elder, alright. He did his part, going just over five with only two runs, but the Atlanta offense wasn’t able to support him. So it goes, I’m not a fan of chasing this in the first place, let alone against the Dodgers.

Framber Valdez (HOU) @ COL (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 71 pitches.

This was a Still ILL in Mexico City and IT DOESN’T MATTER. Pretty dang awesome for Valdez mangers if you had the courage to stick him into your lineup. I mean, how could you have possibly known he’d show up with a brand new slider? At three ticks slower and 10 inches of vertical break? For 46% CSW?! WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY SOMETHING FRAMBER.

Jared Jones (PIT) @ SFG (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 83 pitches.

Oh dang, the command was terrible. It’s just one start, right? Right?!

Michael Grove (LAD) @ TOR (L) – 2.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 34 pitches.

He opened for the eventual mid-game appearance of the Fratty Pirate, and while Ryan Yarbrough was able to do his part with four scoreless frames, there was no booty to plunder. Thar be Groves. 

Austin Gomber (COL) vs HOU (L) – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 79 pitches.

Honestly, this is so much better than expected. Like this is an absolute WIN for Gomber against the Astros in Mexico City. Huge props despite it barely helping any of your fantasy teams if you somehow had the wild urge to start Gomber here, you rascal.

Michael Wacha (KCR) @ DET (L) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.

Blegh. The changeup was better, the other stuff not so much. Lugo is leading the way against Wacha so far this year and a date with the Rangers next doesn’t look promising, though Wacha always has the chance of coming through. Seriously though, 6/14 curveball strikes? Be better.

Andrew Abbott (CIN) @ TEX (L) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 85 pitches.

Seven strikeouts are a lovely sight, but some came on questionable heaters and a stupid high changeup. I’m not going after this still, especially with the Orioles on the horizon.

Pablo López (MIN) @ LAA (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches.

Uhhh, Aces gonna…scare me some more? Sure, you got everything you wanted except allowing 3+ ER for the fourth time in five starts, and if that doesn’t scare you from your ace, I’d be a little surprised. López didn’t dominate with his secondaries here, which is always surprising to see from his changeup that “is always there.” You should still be starting him against the Sawx in Minnesota, of course (he’s not terrible, after all), but hot dang, I feel y’all’s anxiety like the chill of a winter’s breeze. Shudders.

Tobias Myers (MIL) vs NYY (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 64 pitches.

I still really dig him. His four-seamer has all the attributes you like, his cutter earns strikes, and his slider + changeup…well the slider was decent, but the changeup wasn’t there. Still, this was a HR problem of a start and he was generally effective with the upside of an efficient starter. Keep an eye on him, I’m a believer.

Albert Suárez (BAL) vs OAK (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 83 pitches.

Awwww. On the plus side, Suárez earned 11/51 four-seamer whiffs as it sat 95+ once again. On the downside, he didn’t throw enough in the zone + his changeup was far more hittable in this one. Is he even going to start again after this? I’m not sure. With Means + Bradish returning this week, only one of Suárez, Kremer, and Irvin can stick around in the rotation (or two if it’s a six-man). Kremer is the only one with options left, but would they really demote him? Either way, it’s Cin City next and I think I’d pass on Suárez there.

Marcus Stroman (NYY) @ MIL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 88 pitches.

Blegh. Stroman oddly leaned into his slider more than any other secondary, despite it going just 10/25 strikes. That’s terrible. SURE IS. What about the splitter? Zero. Whiffs? Strikes. OH NO. It was an off day and those happen. The Win was there on a silver platter if he could have found three more outs, though. Poor fella.

Patrick Corbin (WSN) @ MIA (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 93 pitches.

Corbin threw five different pitches in this one, with his cutter being thrown…the least. ONE DAY I WILL HAVE MY DREAM.

Reid Detmers (LAA) vs MIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 87 pitches.

It’s starting to catch up to him. The overall arsenal isn’t clicking together as he’s missing plenty over the plate, without his deadly slider doing its job at just 2/12 whiffs. It could be there against the Guardians next time out, but I’m becoming more and more tepid for a potential breakout 2024 season which each outing.

Taijuan Walker (PHI) @ SDP (W) – 6.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 90 pitches.

Oh hey, welcome back. You’re still at just 91 mph on the fastball? Yeaaaah. Cool cool cool. The Phillies better not shut down Turnbull for this. YOU CAN’T.

Michael King (SDP) vs PHI (L) – 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 95 pitches.

Bleggggh. Not fun watching King hang a ton of heaters and seeing them blasted for six runs. I’m still a long-term believer and will hold on tight vs. trying something else on the wire, even if he’s allowed 14 ER total in three of his last four outings.

Paul Blackburn (OAK) @ BAL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 79 pitches.

Remember, Blackburn is a decent streaming option against poor matchups. This was obviously not that.

Ryan Weathers (MIA) vs WSN (ND) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 87 pitches.

Womp womp. He cruised for three, then ran into trouble in the fourth and fifth. I don’t hate his arsenal, but if you can’t take on the Nationals, it’s hard to trust him against anyone. Suitman whispers in my ear.  Okay fine, maybe you can trust him against Oakland, BUT THAT’S IT.

 

Game of the Day

 

Joe Ryan vs. Garrett Crochet – I want double digit strikeouts from both arms here.

But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.

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Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X)