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 delirium in advance. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Playback.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Andrew Heaney (PIT) vs NYY (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 100 pitches.
We’ve seen a whole lot of turmoil from Andrew Heaney over the years and a date with the Yankees at this point in his career with heaters desperately trying to stay above 90 mph looked grim. Nah, he killed it: 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 100 pitches. Wait, that’s a share of the Gallows Pole. Is Heaney legit now? Hold on.
Heaney has always been this way. He’s absurdly inconsistent and you’re playing Eeny Meeny Miny Mo to determine in which outing he’ll avoid the heart of the plate and have his best secondaries. This had a touch of luck, but he nailed his changeups and curveballs constantly while saving the heater and locating it well. There’s a chance he can build off this outing and carry it moving forward against the Reds, though I think you’re better off trying to chase an arm that can actually stick. I don’t blame you if you want to give it a whirl.
Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:
Kris Bubic (KCR) vs BAL (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 99 pitches.
Oh snap. Bubic with 8/20 changeup whiffs for a co-share of the Gallows Pole is a lovely sight + the heater held a 30%+ CSW with 18-19″ of vert at 92 mph, while the slider and sweeper each returned 70%+ strikes. This is the Bubic we wanted to see (okay, at 93 mph, not 92 mph, BUT LET’S NOT GET GREEDY) and I’m signing up for more.
Martín Pérez (CHW) @ DET (ND) – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 82 pitches.
He’s in a groove. Is it one that you want to bet on when he hosts the Red Sox next week in the battle of the pink laundry? Probably not. But there could be a Vargas Rule brewing…
Chad Patrick (MIL) vs CIN (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 80 pitches.
Two first names. But he did well! Sure, with a 19% CSW cutter at 45% usage. His whole thing bugs me out and I’m not sticking around for the Sneks. Absolutely not.
Kumar Rocker (TEX) vs TBR (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 14% CSW, 77 pitches.
Atta boy Rocker! He’s turned into a sinker-first arm overnight and it made him look like Jack Kochanowicz all of a sudden. 14% CSW? Four Whiffs? One strikeout?! HAISTBMBWT?! He had some nice sliders against RHB, but y’all know this is weird and not a complete arm. No, I’m not willing to accept Kumar as a Koufax cultist. That’s not the ticket I want to punch.
Drew Rasmussen (TBR) @ TEX (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 79 pitches.
Yep, he’s still dope and makes us feel dope. He actually didn’t have his best cutter here, either. He’ll get to six frames soon enough.
David Peterson (NYM) vs TOR (ND) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 91 pitches.
Peterson left this one with blurred vision and nausea, which explains his horrific command here. Let’s ignore it and move on, alright?
Sean Newcomb (BOS) vs STL (ND) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 94 pitches.
Say whatever you want about the horrible WHIP, the dude fought to let just one run cross the plate. He gets a welcome pat on the back as I sneak a Do not do this expression to everyone watching.
Bowden Francis (TOR) @ NYM (L) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 90 pitches.
Hmmmm. He was 91/92 mph with 18″ vert and a 33% CSW on the heater, while the splitter went 3/25 whiffs and the curve flipped into the zone for called strikes. I still feel a bit icky about Francis, but I think that’s just going to be me, isn’t it? Sigh. So it goes.
Jackson Jobe (DET) vs CHW (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 86 pitches.
It’s gonna take some time for him to click. He pulled back on the four-seamer to 33% usage this time around, favoring sinkers and cutters to RHB and focusing on the main heater against LHB. The curve, sweeper, and change all had minimal impact, sadly, and I don’t like Jobe as a fastball/cutter arm. I want to see the full arsenal working + a bit improved command along the way. In due time. It’s a tough moment of wondering whether you want to hold onto Jobe, and I think you still do, but don’t deny a legit arm in 12-teamer in the hopes that Jobe puts it together soon.
Tyler Anderson (LAA) vs CLE (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 81 pitches.
Changeups did great work against RHB for 44% CSW and he quietly made it through five frames, even if four walks make it look a lot uglier than the actual 1.00 WHIP you’ll get on the record. You can stream Tyler, just pick your spots well. Probably not against Houston next.
Hunter Dobbins (BOS) vs STL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 93 pitches.
Welp, it looks like Boston has Dobbins until they give him one of their red socks as they brought him up as the extra man for their double-header. His debut came with the standard uptick in velocity at 96 mph before it fell to 94+ mph and I’m not a major fan. His curve has moments and he has a decent slider, but the heaters are generally hittable and I don’t see an explosive arm in here. There’s Toby ability in time, but why risk the Shag Rug for that?
Andre Pallante (STL) @ BOS (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 92 pitches.
The slider was better than usual at 7/21 whiffs, but the four-seamer still has less movement and the curve + sinker are not refined. Until Andre is a Giant, I don’t think see him as a large impact. He’s going to be traded to San Francisco? It’s his destiny, no?
Luis L. Ortiz (CLE) @ LAA (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 81 pitches.
A PQS isn’t the worst thing out there and at least he got the slider down to RHB. I don’t like anything else, though, and I heavily suggest trying something else here.
Jordan Hicks (SFG) vs SEA (ND) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 90 pitches.
He’s still 97/98 mph and had strikes on both his sinker and sweeper, but he featured the latter too much against LHB and allowed a few too many hits. Bummer. I’m still very much in.
Trevor Williams (WSN) vs ARI (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 96 pitches.
It’s weird to see him earn 5/28 four-seamer whiffs at 87/88 mph, and he spotted enough changeups and sweepers down to get through for a Win. Still, those ratios and…you know. #NeverTrevor.
Chris Paddack (MIN) vs HOU (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 68 pitches.
He actually located well and that’s the result. Cool cool cool. 93.8 mph isn’t exactly what we want on the four-seamer and he did face a ton of RHB again (he’s better against LHB), but still. Stop holding on.
Bryan Woo (SEA) @ SFG (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 89 pitches.
Woo had himself a rough fourth with all four runs scoring then, peaking with a three-run shot and a slam of the reset button. Otherwise, he was his normal self + a 57% CSW slider that I hope he can locate a bit better. He’s a little too reliant on surprise called strikes at the moment.
Cade Povich (BAL) @ KCR (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 13 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 88 pitches.
Thirteen hits and just four earned is a blessing for Povich. I think you know my take already and I don’t consider Povich rosterable in 12-teamers. You’re better off streaming.
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) vs LAD (ND) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 43% CSW, 88 pitches.
Those four runs? All Teoscar with two HRs and a double. Give the fella a break. Sánchez otherwise dominated the Dodgers with a King Cole via his 96 mph sinker and legit…sliders?! The changeup had just a 47% strike rate while the slider returned 75% strikes, 55% CSW, and 7/20 whiffs. You love to see it. We’re all good to go here.
Chase Dollander (COL) vs ATH (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 79 pitches.
I just wish he wasn’t on the Rockies. Yes, he throws hard at 98 mph, but it doesn’t have good shape (even accounting for the Coors effect) with terrible extension and its good attack angle doesn’t make up for it, explaining 4/34 whiffs on the pitch. The secondaries can work at times, but I need something absurd to risk both the undefeated Coors and the Shag Rug. Not for me.
Corbin Burnes (ARI) @ WSN (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 89 pitches.
Uhhhh. 66% cutter usage with 13″ of iVB and 58% strikes ain’t it. You gotta find it, Burnes, I may have to lower you this week and I sure want to regret it next week.
Will Warren (NYY) @ PIT (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 87 pitches.
Ehhh the sweeper and fastballs tried to do everything here and I’m not seeing a guy to lean into quite yet. Maybe he’ll get there in time, but I think we’re better off going after many others.
Carson Spiers (CIN) @ MIL (L) – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 66 pitches.
Milwaukee took the advance of gamers everywhere to slay the Spiers and got him to hit the showers before the fourth inning ended. Spiers didn’t spot his arsenal perfectly and there’s your game. I mean, 0/17 CSW on the changeup? Wow.
Ronel Blanco (HOU) @ MIN (ND) – 1.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 62 pitches.
Yes, you have permission to let go of Blanco. I’m shocked to see him toss nearly 20% curveballs here as an extra tool for LHB while the four-seamer held an atrocious 46% strike rate. The slider needs more help and I don’t think the curve is quite the answer. The changeup? Sometimes the answer, but it hasn’t been great either. Do you want to hold Blanco, hoping he clicks into place? I don’t think the ceiling is worth the unknown.
Ben Brown (CHC) vs SDP (ND) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 79 pitches.
Please stop trying to make this work. PLEASE. There is no third pitch. The four-seamer isn’t good enough. Make it stop.
Tyler Glasnow (LAD) @ PHI (ND) – 2.0 IP, 5 ER, 2 Hits, 5 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 60 pitches.
Glasnow was not feeling it. 50% strikes on 32 four-seamers with -1.6 mph of velo change while the slider was horrific. Hopefully it was just one of those days and not a problem for the future.
Kyle Hart (SDP) @ CHC (ND) – 0.2 IP, 5 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 0 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 39 pitches.
Oh no. Hart had one of those days where Donut command appeared as he either threw a meatball or couldn’t find the strike zone. We didn’t like this one anyway against the Cubs, but hot dang this makes us feel weird for considering Rockie Road up next. I think you still can spin the wheel, right? This was just a silly day at the park against a legit offense.
Joey Estes (ATH) @ COL (L) – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 61 pitches.
There is no Estes flask that can heal y’all from this. The line? No, your decision. Come on y’all.
Miles Mikolas (STL) @ BOS (ND) – 2.2 IP, 8 ER, 11 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 81 pitches.
I wouldn’t walk 500 inches to be that man with Miles.
Game of the Day
Dustin May vs. MacKenzie Gore – I hope Dustin can go more than five + I’d love to watch Gore have his secondaries cooking.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)
Do you think Corbin Burnes is going to be an AGA this year or do you have some concerns about?
Nick does not know the racist origins of the title phrase, which is okay, but should perhaps be reconsidered. Look up “Eeny Meeny Miny Moe and slavery” and you’ll find it.