Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Tuesday 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.
Bowden Francis (TOR) vs BOS (L) – 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 72 pitches.
We saw a lovely second-half run from Bowden Francis last season and despite a sub 20% strikeout rate and a near 1.20 WHIP, I imagine many managers haven’t regretted chasing that ceiling for the season ahead. After all, Francis allowed 3 ER or fewer in each of his first five starts. But the sixth? Oh dear. The sixth: 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 72 pitches (L).
Boston got to him and it hurt. The four-seamer tried to work its old magic, but the supporting cast of splitters, curves, and sliders let him down. It’s the conspicuous wart on Francis’ body of work – a lack of secondaries to complement a good-not-elite four-seamer. It may seem as though this start was just a fluke (it could be!), but the arsenal should lead to a higher frequency of these types of disaster outings than what we saw last fall.
It doesn’t mean Francis can’t be a Toby for the season or that he isn’t capable of having another great run. However, this start feels like the magic is wearing off, and he can’t continue featuring the same approach moving forward if he wants to remain on our 12-teamers.
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Jacob deGrom (TEX) vs ATH (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 65 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He sat 97.4 mph this time around and obliterated the Athletics, averaging under 11 pitches per inning. Fun story, Kyle Bland actually spent the time to research efficiency numbers and found “very efficient” to be 14 pitches per inning or fewer and “very inefficient” to be 17 pitches per inning or more. What is this then? Very deGOAT.
Shota Imanaga (CHC) @ PIT (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 87 pitches.
Imanaga was pulled early with leg cramps and we can all breathe a sigh of relief. I guess we’ll all just forget about the 15% CSW on his four-seamer, right?
Bryce Miller (SEA) vs LAA (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 83 pitches.
Apparently, Bryce tweaked his back before this one and was not himself in the slightest. Way to power through it fella, we’ve all been there.
Tanner Bibee (CLE) vs MIN (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 92 pitches.
HOT DANG IT’S ABOUT TIME. The cutter, y’all. The cutter! He threw it 37% of the time for 7/34 whiffs and a lot of weak contact, and it steered the ship while the changeup and curve were lost at sea. The sinker wasn’t even great as he carelessly threw it over the plate to RHB, but it didn’t matter because the cutter saved the day. Don’t you dare leave us ever again.
Michael Lorenzen (KCR) @ TBR (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 88 pitches.
You wanted six innings for a potential Win and Quality Start and look at that. Lorenzen, we appreciate you and shake our heads wondering if we should push our luck by starting him against the White Sox next time out. I guess so? No Whammys…STOP! You landed on a poor slider over the plate to Robert Jr. Uh oh.
David Peterson (NYM) vs ARI (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 85 pitches.
The slide piece and changeup earned few whiffs, but were low and got a whole lot of outs as the sinker lived above them for called strikes. I’ll take it, though this is the life of a Toby, not an exciting Holly. It’s too bad he needs to deal with the Sneks a second time in a row. I’m awfully tepid about it.
Chris Paddack (MIN) @ CLE (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 13% CSW, 76 pitches.
Despite featuring a sub 12% CSW on his four-seamer, curve, and split-change, Paddack made it through five. Oh Koufax, you rascal.
Tyler Gilbert (CHW) vs MIL (ND) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 36 pitches.
Oh yay, another opener. It was followed by 3.1 IP and 3 ER of Bryse Wilson. Woot.
Jack Dreyer (LAD) vs MIA (ND) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 43% CSW, 28 pitches.
We had an opener for Matt Sauer, which was wonderful news for those aiming to vulture a Win – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks (W). I’m not advocating y’all to chase his 4/78 whiffs via a four-seamer, sinker, cutter approach, and I’m imagining Casparius and Gonsolin will take it from here. This was just a temporary move to cover a hole in the rotation. You know, a Sauer Patch.
Taj Bradley (TBR) vs KCR (L) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 101 pitches.
We will take this on every day ending with a y. Why? Are you asking what I said or the reasoning? Yes. THAT’S NOT HELPING. The cutter failed him at just 42% strikes, the splitter missed few bats but returned a decent number of outs, and the four-seamer was taken for called strikes. I don’t love this version of Bradley (high strikes on four-seamers and splitters but few whiffs without a good cutter) and I’d be cautious continuing to roster him in my leagues.
Garrett Crochet (BOS) @ TOR (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 94 pitches.
Aces gonna…feature yet another decline in extension. Now we’re at 6.5/6.6 feet?! WHAT IS GOING ON?
Zack Wheeler (PHI) vs WSN (ND) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 106 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Four-seamer is cooking. Cutter is cooking. Splitter is cooking. Sweeper is cooking. WE GOT A FEAST IN PHILLY.
Freddy Peralta (MIL) @ CHW (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 93 pitches.
Ehhh, this is pretty lackluster and we can blame both the changeup and slider holding strike rates around 35%. That’s horrible. It sure is. Throw in a four-seamer that often found itself low or thigh-high, and you have yourself an unwelcome Professor Chaos visit. I brought Entenmann’s! I BET IT’S STALE.
Carlos Rodón (NYY) @ BAL (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 91 pitches.
Hey Rodón, I really appreciate you. I remember seeing your name constantly after all the fun names were taken inside the Top 30 SP and I’d shrug my shoulders and grab you past the 10th round because it was the right thing to do. And look at you, featuring the changeup and slider constantly, pounding the zone with 95+ mph four-seamers, and taking down the Orioles with ease. That’s a 3.43 ERA and sub 1.00 WHIP with a 32% strikeout rate to go with your four Wins in seven games. Gotta love it.
AJ Smith-Shawver (ATL) @ COL (W) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 59 pitches.
Listen, the Rockies are simply a really poor offense. Like historically poor. AJSS threw a ton of four-seamers and splitters down the pipe, and they didn’t punish them nearly as much as they should have. He’s not ready, y’all, even if he has seven feet of extension and usually around 17″ of vert. I don’t trust that command at all and he doesn’t have a reliable third pitch. Maybe the slider? I said reliable. Maybe in time.
Ryan Gusto (HOU) vs DET (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 90 pitches.
Despite just 4.2 innings, Gusto was allowed to go a full 90 pitches here and I was sad to see his four-seamer take a major step back. It still had its 18″ of vert, but the command was off, returning just 54% strikes and only 2/26 whiffs. We did get to see a lovely curve to LHB and a decent sweeper to RHB, while the cutter earned strikes over the middle of the plate constantly to LHB, and I’m not sold we can rely on that as a trusty #2/3 offering. If we expected Gusto to have an extended stay in the rotation, I’d be encouraged and tell you how the four-seamer is likely to be better in the future, and Gusto getting a chance to showcase his secondaries should help in the long run. Sadly, this could be the last start we see from Gusto for a bit and I wouldn’t hold hoping he gets one more turn.
MacKenzie Gore (WSN) @ PHI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 96 pitches.
Despite the bottom line failing to replicate his opening day outing against the Phils, a Gallows Pole with a PQS and sub 1.00 WHIP is nothing to be ashamed about. There are still elements to iron out with Gore – sub 50% strike rate on the curve, imprecise changeups, etc. – but when they work, oh is it beautiful. 5/11 changeup whiffs…and some clobbering. We’re just going to roll with it and bank on that new slider being the key against LHB moving forward and the game-changer from last season.
Jack Kochanowicz (LAA) @ SEA (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 91 pitches.
A PQS with four walks and a Loss. This doesn’t do a whole lot outside of QS leagues but look at this! He has a sweeper! And despite the fact that he couldn’t command it well in the slightest, it returned a 39% CSW. I was hoping The Jack of One Trade could show us more. Not just an improvement in the secondaries, but actually flexing that one trade of his to perfection. He’s lost his touch.
Reese Olson (DET) @ HOU (L) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 90 pitches.
Ehhhh, one out away from a Bailey Special ain’t so bad, especially against a RHB-heavy team that Olson’s changeup shouldn’t be able to exploit as much as—I take it back. 8/20 whiffs on the pitch as it landed at will under the zone. Gorgeous work on the slowball along with sliders returning 50% CSW as they were dotted down and away. So what’s the problem? The dang sinker was thrown 44% of the time to RHB and too many leaked over the middle of the plate. So close, Olson. I still wish you tried to jam the thing instead of leaning on the backdoor so much. Still, you pitched great here and I’m encouraged for the road ahead. Go take down the Angels next.
Nick Pivetta (SDP) vs SFG (W) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 89 pitches.
A bit of Careful, Icarus with his two final runs scoring in the sixth, ruining what was a glorious evening at the park through five. No reason to stop starting Pivetta now with the Pirates on the horizon and I’m sorry, did you just average 21.1″ of vert on your four-seamer?! That’s absurd.
Jacob Lopez (ATH) @ TEX (L) – 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 84 pitches.
It’s strange to see 90 mph four-seamers featured 54% of the time, but at least it came with seven feet of extension. So there’s something else? Uhhhh, a 79 mph “slider” underneath. That doesn’t seem like enough. You saw the line, you don’t know his name, of course it’s not enough.
Andrew Heaney (PIT) vs CHC (L) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 70 pitches.
Yeaaaaaah. We wanted the Vargas Rule to be real, but it just seemed so wrong. That said, if Heaney pitched the same way in this one as he did in his previous outings, he may have had a chance. Welp, he wasn’t on his game, and the great rhythm he was in will likely be difficult to find again. HAISTBMBWT?!
Logan Webb (SFG) @ SDP (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 79 pitches.
Bleeeegggh. Wow, I was suggesting that both Flaherty and Webb were on the verge of AGA and both gave us frustrating outings. Whatareyagonnado. Nothing worrisome here, save for the changeup being a little more off than usual and an odd number of sweepers to LHB over the slowball. Carry on.
Germán Márquez (COL) vs ATL (L) – 5.1 IP, 7 ER, 11 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 86 pitches.
It’s not an easy job, but someone’s gotta be in the Colorado rotation.
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) @ LAD (L) – 2.2 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 5 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 79 pitches.
This wasn’t a start to chase, given the circumstances of the Dodgers and Sandy’s rust over his last few starts, and this did little to suggest that redemption is near. He’s really not in a good place at the moment and he has to endure the Dodgers once again. Sigh. I’m stashing for now. Just give it one or two starts and I’m sure he’ll either come out of the funk or reveal an underlying problem that has him hit the IL.
Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI) @ NYM (L) – 4.0 IP, 8 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 14% CSW, 69 pitches.
Jeeeeeez, I didn’t like this start, but those ratios with just one strikeout?! HAISTBMBWT?! His fastball was all the way down to 90.4 mph while the right-handed Mets did a stellar job laying off the changeup down-and-away and pouncing on mistake cutters and sliders. He’s a Toby and they often come with floors like these. It doesn’t mean he can’t succeed next time out. True, facing the Phillies then the Dodgers is the reason why he won’t succeed. Ah. Yeah, you’re probably right.
Kyle Gibson (BAL) vs NYY (L) – 3.2 IP, 9 ER, 11 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 73 pitches.
Gibson allowed 4 HR across the first five batters he faced. Welcome back. This was the plan to cut costs on SP, eh? We even saw Charlie Morton pitch in this one, that’s how rough it got. And here’s the kicker – this was initially supposed to be Cade Povich, but now that he’s starting on Wednesday, I have to push back my interview with him until Thursday. GIBSON, NOT COOL.
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