Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Monday 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.
Carmen Mlodzinski (PIT) vs STL (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 92 pitches.
You’re looking at the wire and stop. Carmen Mlodzinski?! Yeah, the fella has been converted to a starter for the Pirates and had a great outing against the Cardinals, tossing 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 92 pitches (W) and now you’re wondering if he can be considered for a pickup before heading into Cincy?
Mlodzinski goes sinkers down-and-in to RHB with 19″ of run at 95 mph with four-seamers trying to hang above, but both failed to come with the strike rates you’d expect with just 47% on the four-seamer and 56% on the sinker. Yikes, how did he survive then? Well, that would be due to a lot of success with his 88 mph slider to both RHB and LHB. The sweeper was used more against LHB, if you can believe it, and I can’t say I’m a big fan of that.
This was a start of getting away with plenty while flexing some upside if Carmen can locate his heaters better in the future. It could happen over time, but I think you can pass on this one for now.
Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:
Hunter Greene (CIN) @ SFG (W) – 8.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 104 pitches.
It’s taking a whole lot out of me to resist saying AGA for Greene, but hot dang, a Golden Goal and just missing a CGSHO with 99 mph velocity and 76% slider strikes? This is the best version of Greene we’ve ever seen and I wish I had him rostered in more leagues. Sigh. You know he’s going to kill it against the Pirates and I’ll have no choice but to award the coveted title.
Justin Steele (CHC) vs TEX (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 91 pitches.
There we go. The Steele we knew we’d find in time. But he was sitting just 90.2 mph and his slider was erratic. That breaker went 40% CSW and the heater was well-spotted in freezing cold temperatures. This is good. Be happy y’all.
Logan Webb (SFG) vs CIN (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 97 pitches.
This is awesome and kinda hilarious coming from Webb featuring sub 20% changeups. However, he earned 6/19 whiffs on those slowballs, and filled the gaps with cutters and sweepers and even some great four-seamers upstairs for whiffs. This was a clear anomaly of a start, but he’s cooking. You want what he’s having.
Kodai Senga (NYM) vs MIA (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 77 pitches.
The fastball is still down a ton at 94.1 mph (-1.7 mph) and I’m sad to see Senga pull back on the arsenal to go four-seamer, splitter, and cutter as he did in 2023. But he was good in 2023 and this was a good start! With five whiffs and 23% CSW for a 1.40 WHIP against the Marlins? Oh. Yeah, I’m concerned again about Senga. Life comes at ya fast.
José Berríos (TOR) @ BOS (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 88 pitches.
He’s great. He’s terrible. He struggles when he shouldn’t, he excels in the toughest moments. He is…The Great Undulator. The man went 7 IP and 1 ER with just two whiffs. TWO. Both on his changeup. THE MAD MAN!
Casey Mize (DET) vs NYY (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 88 pitches.
I lowered Mize on The List today before seeing how this one went and y’all may be upset about it. After seeing the results…I still stand by it? His heater sat 94 mph in his first start (not 95/96) and it was the same today, while his curve + slider returned 1/35 whiffs. HOWEVER, I should mention the ridiculous conditions in Detroit with snow flurries all over the place. It makes me want to throw this one out the window and focus on the next one against the Twins, but I’m still skeptical he’s turned a corner and is anything massively different from last year.
Michael Lorenzen (KCR) vs MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 89 pitches.
Am I underrating Lorenzen? No, it’s the children who are wrong. This was Lorenzen flinging a whole lot of offerings over the plate and staying down-and-away from RHB as much as possible with cutters, sinkers, four-seamers, and sweepers. I don’t like it. Go take your quality start and hope you get to face the Twins every day. But I won’t. AHA!
Dustin May (LAD) @ WSN (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 86 pitches.
I’m a little worried seeing the sinker down to just 93.8 mph and 0/19 whiffs on his four-seamer, without any reliable cutters or sweepers helping out. This was a step back, even if he went six frames, and just one strikeout?! HAISTBMBWT?! We keep holding because obviously this line helps, but that velocity decrease is a little scary.
Zach Eflin (BAL) @ ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 73 pitches.
You’re happy with this, even without a Win, but hot dang, one strikeout?! HAISTBMBWT?! He’s a Toby who can’t be a Holly with just four whiffs to his name.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs HOU (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 99 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. The slider is back doing slider things while the four-seamer did a great job of staying away from the bottom of the zone. The splitter was disgusting, too, with 9/24 whiffs and absurd consistency right at the bottom of the zone and below. You love to see it.
Valente Bellozo (MIA) @ NYM (L) – 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 76 pitches.
Why do you keep starting Valente? I didn’t hear no Bellozo. THAT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE.
Hayden Wesneski (HOU) @ SEA (ND) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 82 pitches.
Mmmmm that’s the good stuff. The cutter was fantastic to LHB with 87% strikes and it steered the ship against the Mariners. It was another start of Wesneski’s famous sweeper not doing a boatload of damage (59% strikes and 2/17 whiffs) and I’d expect that to get better, while I hope the cutter sticks around for more. And sure, the curve can come too. Here’s to hoping there’s a consistent six-pitch mix in here (change-up, why don’t you come along!), championed by the cutter to LHB and sweeper to RHB. Then again, this was in Seattle so I could very well be overreacting…
MacKenzie Gore (WSN) vs LAD (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 100 pitches.
SNIP SNAP SNIP SNAP. The four-seamer sat 95 mph and found the middle super often, yet still went 40% CSW while the curve was a mix of filth and super uncompetitive (36% CSW but a 46% strike rate?!), the change returned 1/10 strikes, and his slider wasn’t nearly as devastating to LHB. And it worked. Against the Dodgers. WHAT IS THIS? Risk it, go ahead. Maybe the fastball is just that good now. I think he’s going to be frustrating as a HIPSTER all year.
Richard Fitts (BOS) vs TOR (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 102 pitches.
A VVPQS for Fitts with a 94.2 mph heater and 6.6 feet of extension isn’t exactly what I was hoping to see. The curve and slider were better than against Texas, but I’m not seeing a dominant “ZOMG! HE’S UNREAL!” starter. He’s more like a Kutter Crawford type and that’s fine? He should be a solid play against the White Sox up next at the very least.
Michael King (SDP) @ ATH (W) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 101 pitches.
Aces gonna have a near VVPQS with just two strikeouts. Blegh. He got Singled Out here and I dig what he’s doing, save for leaving a few too many sweepers upstairs and four-seamers over the plate to LHB. I still love the guy.
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) @ CHC (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 87 pitches.
The List Curse is real. You know, I still dig the curve that made me excited, but the real problem? Eovaldi sat 91.9 mph. Oh no. It was also super cold in Chicago so I’m not going to read into this.
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) @ KCR (L) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 107 pitches.
Zebby when? Yes, I should have had him on my stash list today, though I don’t consider him a glorious element of facial hair. Hmmm? You know, a “Must Stash”. Oh dear. It really should be Zebby soon, though, and I’d spec add him the moment he gets the call.
Luis Severino (ATH) vs SDP (L) – 7.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 96 pitches.
Severino is not the kind of pitcher you start against the Padres. It’s really that simple. Probably not against the Mets either. Let’s move on.
Matthew Liberatore (STL) @ PIT (L) – 6.1 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 89 pitches.
The slider was devastating to both LHB and RHB with 6/21 whiffs and a 52% CSW, but the fastball was down to 93/94 mph and a pair of tough early innings did Liberatore in. I dug his general approach to RHB with low changeups and inside cutters, but the fastballs are too dang hittable. Gotta fix that.
Carlos Rodón (NYY) @ DET (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 103 pitches.
Jeeeez Rodón, I know it was snowing, but could you have not thrown that terrible changeup for a three-run shot? You can also throw the new one-seamer sinker a little more than nine times. Success is right there in front of you, TAKE IT.
Zac Gallen (ARI) vs BAL (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 96 pitches.
Annnnnd that’s the Gallen I was afraid of. 17″ of vert?! What happened to the 19″ we saw last time out? And just 27% strikes on the curveball?! This was terrible, y’all, You should be scared. But his last game was so good! Doesn’t matter, this is scary.
Game of the Day
Pablo López vs. Cole Ragans – HELP. I don’t know what to do.
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)
What, the graphic designer writes one goofy 4/1 SP Roundup, and now they get to just do Eovaldi’s again, instead of making a proper new one? [I kid, I kid.]
I think you know what to do, Pollack. Pew, pew, and pew.