Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup – Hunter Gatherers

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 Twitch weekday mornings from 10 am-12 am ET.  

Hunter Gaddis (CLE) @ OAK (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 77 pitches.

With Triston McKenzie on the mend for roughly another two months, Hunter Gaddis is getting reps for the Guardians and he made the most of it tonight via 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 77 pitches against the Athletics. The Guardians find a way to make another stud pitcher! How do they do it?! Well…have they?!

There are only a handful of swinging strikes here – some high heaters, a pair of breakers, and a single low slider – and there were a bunch of hittable pitches that better teams would have capitalized on. I really don’t see an exceptional starter with his mix at the moment: four-seamers with cut, a decent slider and a curve/change that I really don’t care for. It’s…okay, and his next start against the Yankees is not a start I’d want Gaddis for. But hey, I’ll make a deal with you. If he happens to squeak by there, we can stream him against the Tigers and Marlins after, okay? Deal. Cool now let—Wait! What are you doing!? Whoops, my hand slipped. Why did you add Gaddis?! I’M THE HUNTER NOT THE HUNTED.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:

 

Bryce Elder (ATL) @ STL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 79 pitches.

After failing to earn a roster spot out of camp, Atlanta needed Elder against the mighty Cardinals offense and he answered the call with a ton of sliders in the zone and cutters + sinkers dancing around the edges. It’s a solid breaker and when the command is there with the rest, he can make some magic happen like above. He’s now been rewarded with a date hosting the Reds and the Royals and that’s a pair of dream Toby streams. He could find himself with a 3-0 record by the end of next week.

Zack Greinke (KC) vs TOR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 77 pitches.

Huge props to Greinke for just 1 ER, but no Win, only four strikeouts, and a 1.33 WHIP is why you’re not rostering him and that’s a wise decision. Man, I do love the guy, though.

Alek Manoah (TOR) @ KC (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 98 pitches.

The velocity was down as much as 2.5 ticks on the four-seamer, the changeup wasn’t doing its normal things, the four-seamer command was hectic, and the sinker found the middle of the plate often. But hey, it’s the Royals and I’m just sipping my coffee in the middle of the burning room. Everything is fine. We may get another start of sneaking by against the Tigers, but if it’s more of this…questionable nature, I may try to sell high even if the actual outcome matches this one.

Jesús Luzardo (MIA) vs MIN (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 99 pitches.

The Twins are a solid offense and Luzardo didn’t care, earning himself a King Cole for the evening. He’s still 97+, the changeup and breaker each returned a 47% CSW, and I’m going full steam ahead for his next start at Philly.

Pablo López (MIN) @ MIA (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 88 pitches.

Guys, he featured the new slider 33% of the time. This is a pitch he didn’t have last year and it performed to the tune of, oh I don’t know, a 53% CSW. And the fastball is still coming in two ticks harder. THIS IS AMAZING. BuT iT wAs ThE MaRlInS. Wow, you said that with such a weird accent as if you knew how Bailey foolish it was. I appreciate you for that.

Mitch Keller (PIT) @ BOS (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 107 pitches.

Hot dang, look at you! Keller nearly destroyed this entire outing in the seventh with a longball that was overturned to be foul, and I’m really happy for him that the sinker was able to steal 11/18 called strikes and the breakers went…4/36 whiffs. Come on Nick, it’s more than just whiffs, you know this! You created CSW! Yeah yeah yeah, but I also know sinker whiffs are the least sticky of the lot (unless you’re Nola or Singer) and this wasn’t a start of Keller dotting the edges here with a clear plan. I mean, look at this – it’s a doppelganger for what I called a “Scribble Scrabble” show in kindergarten as I shoved different colored pencils all across the page and called it art. I just don’t buy Keller as this reliable pitcher, but I can see him as a possible stream here and there. Not against the Astros or Cardinals up next, though. Absolutely not.

Gerrit Cole (NYY) vs PHI (W) – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 103 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. He’s the #1 SP, y’all. That four-seamer is just too good.

Shohei Ohtani (LAA) @ SEA (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 111 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Not fun seeing blue for all pitches (everything was down about a tick), but the sweeper was 45% usage and dominated per usual. 111 pitches is awfully shocking and yet here I am, hoping we see more pitchers go over 100 (h*ck, over 110!) once again. Won’t happen, but I thank you for today, Shohei.

Cristian Javier (HOU) vs DET (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 99 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Velo was down 1.5 ticks, and he returned just 3/51 four-seamer whiffs (super weird given he elevated them well!), but the slider was waaaay better than last time at 44% CSW. The four-seamer did have 100 rpm less spin on it, I wonder if that has something to do with it. Something to think about, but for now we keep starting the man.

Jacob deGrom (TEX) vs BAL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 11 Ks – 25 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 92 pitches.

Aces gonna ace and earn his first Gallows Pole of the season. With Grayson on the other side, you could hear deGrom say “See kid, that’s how it’s done.” Now with two starts under his belt and already earning a Win, deGrom is getting spoiled in Texas.

Dylan Cease (CWS) vs SF (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 5 BBs, 8 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 99 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. The walks are back but apparently that’s because he’s feeling under the weather. Hmm. It’s not like we’re gonna change anything after this anyway, so sure, I’ll buy it. Sleep better, fella.

Corey Kluber (BOS) vs PIT (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 67 pitches.

Ayyyy this works. Nothing all too exceptional, save for 5/13 whiffs on the curve and Cora gave him the quick hook after five frames, locking in a solid start for our stream. Back to the wire you go against the Rays and Angels.

Shane McClanahan (TB) @ WSH (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 94 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. It’s a splash of Dusty Donut with that horrid WHIP – the changeup and slider didn’t do so hot – but it’s McShane and it’s so fun to roster him.

Kyle Muller (OAK) vs CLE (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 95 pitches.

The slider was far better in this one – 7/30 whiffs, 37% CSW – with consistent locations down-and-armside. The heater was solid as well, like a microwave you got from your sister when you got your first apartment – you would upgrade it if you could, but it gets the job done. The curve, that boi need a lot of work. The slider needs to messy its hair like a proper older bro and get it sorted out. What’s with the sibling stuff today? I dunno, families are cool things, uncle. I’m not your uncle. Sorry. Aunt. He gets the Orioles then Mets next and I’m not chancing it yet without the curve working, too.

Chris Flexen (SEA) vs LAA (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 91 pitches.

Replacing Robbie Ray is our main maaaan Flexen, who did surprisingly well in this one, getting nine whiffs on elevated heaters + a few on the changeup and cutter. And now he gets Wrigley + Milwaukee…you’re saying we should pick him up, aren’t you? No! I’m not! I’m just…understanding that this could actually work. I certainly didn’t expect 91 pitches, after all. Hoooo boy, up to you.

Grayson Rodriguez (BAL) @ TEX (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 83 pitches.

It was an awfully rough first frame with his secondaries all out of whack and the four-seamer trying to do enough to skirt by. He kept tugging his slider and change gloveside too far and failed to get on top of the change the entire start, but he did settle down with his heater in the second as it carried him through the fifth. There’s obviously promise here rooted in that 94-98 mph heater, it’s just a matter of being consistent with the slider and changeup. With the Kyle Bradish injury, he’ll stick around for another start against the Athletics and if he has those secondaries working, it’ll be the true celebration for the rookie.

Aaron Nola (PHI) @ NYY (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 87 pitches.

That’s a PQS and you want more than that from Nola. I’m amazed the Yanks performed so well on the curve as he located it down with consistency  (just 4/23 whiffs!) and I think Nola just got a bit unlucky here. He’s totally fine, even with the few blegh changeups along the way. Sidenote: the new slider/cutter was featured just three times and is likely an afterthought moving forward.

Logan Webb (SF) @ CWS (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 81 pitches.

Blegh. Where are my strikeouts?! The sinker is still a called strike machine and the changeup was filthy, but the slider didn’t earn a single whiff this time around. That’s the difference and I’m staring at it with my hands on my hips. Why don’t you just slide? Nick, are you singing–I’LL DO ANYTHING YOU EVER DREAMED TO BE COMPLETE.

Eduardo Rodriguez (DET) @ HOU (L) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 95 pitches.

Blegggh. It was the Astros, who fell over against the White Sox without a whisper, but noooooo not Eduardo. Come on, just one strikeout?! HAISTBMBWT?! The heater was back down to 91/92 mph as well and now he gets the Jays. Alexa, remind me in ten days to look at Eduardo against the Guardians and feel really uneasy about it. I am reminding you in ten days to start Eduardo against Cleveland because you deserve happiness. That’s not what I sai—YOU DESERVE HAPPINESS UNLIKE ME, TRAPPED INSIDE THIS PLASTIC PUCK. Okay, okay, Alexa, stop. … Oh, right.

Miles Mikolas (STL) vs ATL (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 98 pitches.

Womp womp. A rough first inning messed up this one out of the gate, but he’s kinda pitching the same as last year, h*ck with more whiffs than usual too. I’m totally in for when he gets Pittsburgh next week, just not the detour to Coors first.

David Peterson (NYM) @ MIL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 92 pitches.

Yikes. The slider went just 3/14 whiffs as Peterson suddenly became a four-seamer/changeup guy. Huh?! Yeah, I know. The heater couldn’t find the zone and this was a wreck. Now the Padres and Dodgers await and I’m sad to say it’s time to drop the guy. We had such high hopes. I don’t trust him to be fixed for those two starts and the potential ceiling after the two weeks you’re holding him doesn’t justify it.

Patrick Corbin (WSH) vs TB (L) – 6.0 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 92 pitches.

Some days you look out the window wishing for sunlight and then you realize it’s 1:00 am in your New York apartment.

Corbin Burnes (MIL) vs NYM (ND) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 93 pitches.

The Brewers just can’t have nice things, can they? Last year, Brandon Woodruff was the ace struggling early, and now it’s Burnes. The cutter was down 1.7 ticks here as it returned just 3/52 whiffs and something is clearly off with Burnes at the moment. What? I’m not sure, but the guy isn’t the low command-freak with his cutter and it’s upsetting fantasy managers everywhere. Not me, I took Cole first. Great, we’re so happy for you, Steve. It’s a case where it could come out there’s an injury or it could be a tweak he makes between starts and cruises to be a Top 5 SP the rest of the way per usual. It’s more likely than not the latter, but I don’t blame anyone who wants to make a deal and cut their (potential) losses.

 

Game of the Day 

Blake Snell vs. Spencer Strider – Who has more strikeouts? Obviously Strider. It won’t be…Okay it might be.

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

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