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.
Jack Flaherty (DET) vs STL (ND) – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 14 Ks – 24 Whiffs, 46% CSW, 93 pitches.
I don’t love leaning into the concept of the “revenge game” when a pitcher faces their former club, but hot dang did Jack Flaherty look like a man on a mission today against the Cardinals. The newly minted Detroit arm was brilliant across almost seven frames, returning a Golden Goal and the hearts of fantasy managers everywhere via 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 14 Ks – 24 Whiffs, 46% CSW, 93 pitches. And a Win, right? Uhhh, that was blown in the ninth. IT HAPPENS.
What doesn’t usually happen is a pitcher suddenly chucking 1-2 ticks harder on everything, including a four-seamer that is typically an Achilles Gil heel. That “mortal” fastball was absurd, returning 10/37 whiffs and a bonkers 51% CSW in the process. And with his four-seamer taken care of like dobermans devouring lamb chops, Flaherty had an absolute field day with his slider and curve. These pitches have been great for a while now, but were able to blossom without batters knocking fastballs into play before two-strike counts.
In no way should we anticipate Flaherty dominating with his four-seamer like this with any real frequency. The Cardinals are laboring as an offense, his velocity was higher than we’ve seen all year at 95 mph (97.8 mph peak!), and he even located the pitch well around the zone. That said, we also got a glimpse of how good Flaherty could be if he doesn’t get burned by hitters exploiting poor fastballs. Let’s hope this was a wake-up call and steers Flaherty into an approach that frequently keeps those fastballs out of the heart of the zone. Let’s get some more pork chops up in here!
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Luis Castillo (SEA) vs ATL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 103 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. This is what the AGA label means – stop looking at the matchups and start the dang man.
Cooper Criswell (BOS) vs SFG (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 79 pitches.
Ayyyy, it worked! Criswell has a two-start week and was able to come through for a full five frames and a Win in his first bout. WE’RE PLAYING WITH HOUSE MONEY NOW. I wouldn’t trust the heavy called strike rate on his sinker to stick around this Criswell, though, so temper your expectations moving forward.
Yu Darvish (SDP) vs CIN (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 70 pitches.
We saw the old sinker/slider version of Darvish here, and I’m thrilled it worked for five full innings, granting him a proper Win despite a limited pitch count. I’d imagine it’s a different version of Darvish in his next outing against the Cubs and I don’t see a reason not to start him there.
Brandon Hughes (ARI) vs LAD (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 17 pitches.
A bullpen game for the Diamondbacks as if they knew there would be a bee delay before the first pitch. That’s some 3D chess, y’all. But seriously, Bryce Jarvis appeared for three frames and he returned four strikeouts across three shutout frames. Decent work, but nothing to actually note, sadly.
Jon Gray (TEX) vs WSN (W) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 98 pitches.
Hey, we take this all day and then some. But just three strikeouts! Everything else is bliss, deal with it. No, it’s not sustainable n whatnot, and I’d avoid him against the Royals. Just be happy he gave you so much in this one.
Kyle Gibson (STL) @ DET (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 98 pitches.
This looked like a decent deep stream and would you look at that, Gibson actually came through! When we thought he might! So we inherently thought he wouldn’t. WHICH IS WHY HE DID WELL. It all makes sense now…This was a game of sweepers and sinkers doing great things and not one that I’d trust moving forward. Gibson’s success comes and goes like hours in the day. You think it’s yours, but nay, it’s ours. Nick, I hate this. Me too.
Cole Ragans (KCR) @ TOR (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 105 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He nearly made it through seven, but walked his two final batters (why did he continue pitching after the first walk and at 100 pitches?!) and ruined his WHIP to land just above 1.00. Whatever, this is dope and makes us feel dope. PEW PEW PEW y’all.
Spencer Turnbull (PHI) @ LAA (ND) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 98 pitches.
WHY WOULD THE PHILLIES REMOVE THIS. His slider and sweeper are doing great things and I recommend holding onto Turnbull until he’s officially removed from the rotation. Don’t do anything until they actually do something.
Sean Manaea (NYM) vs CHC (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 92 pitches.
Yoooo, that’s a LEGIT BSB tonight! Four-seamers up, changeups down, and it catalyzed 13 whiffs between them. That K-per-BB, though. If he has those two pitches working moving forward, the rest will sort itself out. Count me in against the floundering Rays next.
Javier Assad (CHC) @ NYM (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 78 pitches.
Looks like this Vargas Rule lives on. But he gave us a HAISTBMBWT?! Pfffft, that’s Assad the point. Follow the rule, y’all.
Landon Knack (LAD) @ ARI (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 62 pitches.
After waiting an extra two hours to get the pearl, (Bees?! BEES?!), Knack was able to go five strong and was arguably pulled a bit too early with just 62 pitches in the book. That said, I wasn’t too impressed by his arsenal and if I were to jump to conclusions, I would Landon the concept that the Dodgers aren’t too confident in Knack through the line three times. I get it, I’m not sure I would either with a poor CSW and 6% SwStr rate. That’s lower than Angel Hernandez’s strike zone. How is he still in the league. I. Don’t. Know.
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) @ CHW (ND) – 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 81 pitches.
Bleeeeggggghhhh. His heater was down a tick to just 92 mph and his overall command didn’t take the step forward that I thought it would from last week. Welp, Out of the Woods, it’s time to go, I hate to leave, I have to though. Yes, even against the Mariners, please don’t interrupt my melody. Out of the Woods…
Dean Kremer (BAL) vs NYY (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 93 pitches.
This was a game of Kremer doing whatever he could to figure out a way to get through the game. Not the kind of start that should give you confidence moving forward, but props to him for finding a way. That’s Baseball, Suzyn.
José Berríos (TOR) vs KCR (L) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 92 pitches.
He allowed so much hard contact and got away with it, for the most part. We keep riding Berríos for as long as we can, though the signs of degradation are starting to appear. Oh great, now I’m starting to worry about the Phils next. Hmmmm. You may want to be conservative there, but at least his curveball is still generally located well? I think we ultimately just keep starting Berríos and not try to get in our own heads.
Freddy Peralta (MIL) vs TBR (W) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 66 pitches.
Aces gonna get ejected while losing his command on a 3-0 pitch. BASEBALL CAN BE SO DUMB. The results are great, the four-seamer command was not, and I want to thank Peralta’s slider for taking over in the very best way. We needed you, friend.
MacKenzie Gore (WSN) @ TEX (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 91 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! That’s a pair of dope starts for Gore despite facing the Dodgers and Rangers. Yes, this has a feeling of stud if Gore gets the proper matchups throughout May…
Michael Soroka (CHW) vs MIN (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 67 pitches.
Yeah, we’re still not in a place to trust Soroka yet. I just don’t see the gain in this Mike.
Alex Wood (OAK) vs PIT (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 93 pitches.
I think this is the only time I’ve ever wanted a starting pitcher to have returned two more runs. Yep, that’s all I have to add here, don’t trust Wood in the slightest.
Ryan Feltner (COL) @ MIA (ND) – 8.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 89 pitches.
Huh. That’s a line of a clear starter who allowed a whole lot of balls in play and was able to exhale when they found gloves constantly. Take a moment, and really soak in that line. This is the ceiling of Feltner. He was given the most ideal context – on the road vs. Miami – and that’s the ceiling you got, filled with that weird plaster popcorn stuff. Well, if I just scrape it all off…Orrrrr you can find one that doesn’t require highly questionable DIY work to make it decent?
Tyler Anderson (LAA) vs PHI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 92 pitches.
We’ll take a PQS from Anderson and it’s all thanks to his changeup going 56% CSW with nine whiffs. That’s classic Anderson and I’d consider giving it a shot against the Pirates.
Mitch Keller (PIT) @ OAK (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 96 pitches.
So poor ratios without a Win with seven strikeouts? Yep that’s Keller, the Cherry Bomb.
Reynaldo López (ATL) @ SEA (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 88 pitches.
This is the downside of López and even here, you still salvaged seven strikeouts. That 39% CSW with 14 whiffs should outline how he was a bit bamboozled here. Don’t hesitate against the Sawx up next.
Nick Martinez (CIN) @ SDP (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 78 pitches.
Annnnnd now it’s just 13% changeups while the rest of his secondaries went 2/37 whiffs. WHY MUST YOU DO THIS, MARTINEZ.
Tyler Alexander (TBR) @ MIL (L) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 85 pitches.
Hey that was some decent pitch separation, but T-Lex needs a little sprinkle of Hockey Sticks to get through each game successfully. What, Lance Lynn? No no no, Lady Luck ya dingus. I wonder if they open for Alexander next time out, granting a higher Win chance than usual. That would mean the Rays would need to actually score a few runs. Touché.
Nestor Cortes (NYY) @ BAL (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 92 pitches.
Ehhhh, this wasn’t Cortes’ best. His fastball was all around the zone without precision, while his cutter returned just a 15% CSW. That ain’t it. This was also the Orioles, though, and I’m willing to give him a pass. The Tigers should be far easier to deal with.
Matt Manning (DET) vs STL (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 89 pitches.
Blegggggh. Manning earned some punchouts with four-seamer whiffs, but the pitch wasn’t well spotted, and neither was his sweeper. But at least he’s at 95 mph on his four-seamer now? Just locate like you used to, dangit. You’re nearly Manning the ship you’re meant to sail. Free to face the life that’s ahead of me.
Logan Webb (SFG) @ BOS (L) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 91 pitches.
Noooooo. His changeup wasn’t as pristine as we normally see and he got a bit Singled Out as a result with seven of his nine hits coming off the slowball. Hey Webb, maybe you should have changed it up. Oh wow, such humor. Asking Webb to focus on something other than his changeup is like asking a poet not to express. A guitarist not to listen. An artist not to observe…Yeah, that. Let the hurled wide Webb catch a break, will ya?
Steven Matz (STL) @ DET (ND) – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 73 pitches.
Uhhh, Matz sat three ticks lower on his heater. Yep. Rats, Matz. That’s splats.
Sixto Sánchez (MIA) vs COL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 68 pitches.
It was Rockie Road and not meant to be, even if he went under 30% fastballs. Most importantly, remember that if you’re with Sixto, you can’t wear normal socks. That doesn’t seem like the fun time you want.
Hunter Brown (HOU) vs CLE (ND) – 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 97 pitches.
He has a lot of great moments with his heater, but hot dang, those secondaries are so not what they need to be. You should be completely fine letting Hunter live on the wire until we see something actually dependable to chase.
Carlos Carrasco (CLE) @ HOU (ND) – 4.0 IP, 8 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 76 pitches.
Aging pitcher with declined velocity does poorly against a strong offense. More at eleven.
Game of the Day
Luis Gil vs. Corbin Burnes – This whole series has extra energy around it and I’m stoked to watch Gil get a shot at redemption + Burnes face the pinstripes.
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)