Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Saturday game. I apologize for the jokes written in my delirium in advance. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Twitch.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Trevor McDonald (SFG) @ ATH (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 90 pitches.
We all remember how Trevor McDonald saved our seasons in September last year, matched up against Rockie Road and producing a stud fantasy line. Back in the majors this season and with the Dodgers and Sacré Verde on the horizon, I didn’t have the highest expectations for a sinker/slider arm. I was wrong. He looked solid against the Dodgers and had a field day in Sacramento via 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 90 pitches. Yes, you should pick him up.
His breaker is hard to quantify. It was labeled a curve last year, is arguably a sweeper or a slurve, or you could call the 86/87 mph pitch with -11″ sweep and -6″ drop a slider as Savant does. Regardless of its label, it’s McDonald’s golden arc, his champion to unleash in any situation, and it did a wonderful job to RHB, while taking a step back for the changeup against LHB. The sinker was fearless over the plate to RHB with its elite sub 1.0″ vert (a true sinker!) and churned outs galore without a single flyball. Oh dang. Yeah. I wish I could praise his slowball a little more, but he spiked the pitch a ton, ending with 4/11 strikes, requiring McDonald to nail the edges of the zone with his sinker and grind as he failed to give in. It forced sub 60% strikes across everything to LHB and it’s his biggest area for improvement – it’s always the problem with sinker/slider guys, after all.
There’s concern that McDonald is out of the rotation in the near future if Logan Webb is able to return on Friday, and it’s truly the only hurdle before I can get properly hyped. My feeling is that Houser will get bounced from the rotation instead of McDonald, not to mention it’s not 100% clear that Webb will be able to return so soon. If McDonald starts against the White Sox on Friday, he’s a probable start for me. Seems like a good stash to make for a few days as the haze clears.
Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) @ PIT (W) – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 13 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 108 pitches.
Aces gonna ace for a King Cole. He’s brought his WHIP all the way down to 1.20 with a 1.82 ERA. The sinker is back to 95/96 mph. This is so dope. (View Game Card)
Casey Mize (DET) vs TOR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 71 pitches.
This was a Still ILL and look at him go, gliding through six frames at just 71 pitches. And guess what? The slider I was hyped about is still here. 48% CSW across 30% usage is hot while the sinker got inside to RHB, the splitter down to LHB, and the four-seamer upstairs. Dude had it all working and now gets the Guardians, where that splitter should roll up its sleeves and get er done. Sign me up. (View Game Card)
Nick Martinez (TBR) vs MIA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 77 pitches.
Martinez, what a gift you have been for so many fantastic managers. Now comes the hard part: Do you start him against the Yankees? He’s so BABIP reliant with few HRs allowed that I’m awfully hesitant, but over 50 frames of a 1.51 ERA is staring you in the face. Good luck, everyone. The changeup is rocking, for what it’s worth. (View Game Card)
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) @ TBR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 101 pitches.
The world is better when Sandy is rolling. We saw a different version here with two different sliders – one a cutter around 90 mph, and one more like a poor 81-83 mph curveball – with the former steering the way for the rest of his arsenal. The changeup stayed low, too, while the sinker and four-seamer did a fantastic job of avoiding the heart of the plate, unlike many other previous outings. In fact, it seemed as though Sandy was being ultra-cautious against RHB, throwing changeups and sliders aplenty, while the sinker stayed backdoor or elevated. I wonder if that sticks. We have a tough decision ahead with Hotlanta on the docket and that’s your call. I like this version more, but I’d personally bench and be happy if he performs. (View Game Card)
Kai-Wei Teng (HOU) vs TEX (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 76 pitches.
Teng was finally given a longer leash and he didn’t waste any time to go frolicking into the fifth frame. He earned a ton of whiffs with his big sweeper away to RHB, while he got away with many sinkers and four-seamers over the plate, though he sequenced the former effectively for a massive 53% called strike rate. Sadly, the walk rate isn’t going to disappear overnight and his massive per-batter putaway rate of 64% (as opposed to his season average of 43%) does plenty to showcase his unreliability. He’s peak McCullers at best, current McCullers at worst. So he’s McCullers. …Yes. (View Game Card)
Spencer Miles (TOR) @ DET (L) – 3.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 56 pitches.
Miles stepped in after the Jays DFA’d Lauer and I can’t say I’m a big fan of what he does. It’s an 90 mph curve, 85/86 mph guyro slider, and a pair of 95 mph fastballs that overperformed here. Its way too meh. (View Game Card)
Connor Prielipp (MIN) vs MIL (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 86 pitches.
This is what happens when it’s 80 degrees outside for Prielipp. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MEET A STRANGER IN THE ALPS. What are you on about?! Sorry, dude, I was out of my element. He didn’t even have his prime slider command (so many floated up and gloveside), and his changeup + curve are both still a work in progress, but said slider killed it at 41% CSW, with his four-seamer cleaning up the rest. Relax, go bowling or something. Just abide. (View Game Card)
Davis Martin (CHW) vs CHC (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 91 pitches.
Cubs? No problem. Apparently, Martin added not just a tick of velocity, but also half a foot of extension to 6.9 ft instead of 6.4ft…?! WHAT. I know, right?! He’ll head to Oracle Park next and we’re obviously starting him there and we can see if that’s in any way real. Boy, that would be fun. A 95 mph four-seamer with roughly seven feet extension (poor vert, though) and three other pitches to mix to both LHB and RHB. Makes it more real if true. (View Game Card)
Kyle Leahy (STL) vs KCR (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 90 pitches.
Wow. That’s two runs total across his last three and as much as I want to celebrate, I still don’t see sustainability. Nooooo. I know, this is the process, y’all. I don’t just look at the results (I mean, 1.33 WHIP here, too), I need validation in his approach to buy in. I see a lot of strikes and whiffs only on his changeup to LHB. Everything else is either a hope for an out or called strike and that’s not it. I can’t even bank on that changeup getting more whiffs. (View Game Card)
Logan Henderson (MIL) @ MIN (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 84 pitches.
I really hope y’all didn’t miss the boat. This start marks his first Gallows Pole and his third of 2 ER to kick off his time in the rotation. The wild part? I was amped by Hender’s Bender in his first start, and he threw…once. For a called strike at 1-1 in the fifth to Jeffers. And that’s alright with me – the cutter has found new movement (3″ inches depth, 2″ cut) at the same velocity, turning it into a true weapon to RHB and a stabilizer for LHB. Chill, WE COOL Y’ALL. He gets the Dodgers next and despite the matchup, I’m kinda tempted. He’s on a legit heater due to his…legit heater. (View Game Card)
Payton Tolle (BOS) @ ATL (W) – 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 85 pitches.
Speaking of legit heaters, Tolle leaned into it 45% of the time for just 3/38 whiffs and he had the good graces of Koufax allowing him to take down Hotlanta. He barely saw two strike counts as the Atlanta bats attacked early and often (a bit of a surprise given Tolle’s control questions in the past, but I digress), and it can be as simple as that. Sure, they hit the ball in play more, but shouldn’t Tolle force more whiffs and prevent them from hitting the ball in play so often? That’s a great point. Yes, he should. And also, he induced more weak contact than hard, and those ratios are glorious. This is beautiful for those low-whiff games. (View Game Card)
Justin Wrobleski (LAD) @ LAA (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 103 pitches.
Oh, we’re back to making y’all tempted to hold, eh? At least he’s trying to figure out the changeup, and he added over an inch of vert to the four-seamer in this one. Still no whiffs, but the overall four-seamer and slider command was solid. Guess we roll against the Brewers, Rockie Road and Arizona. Gain the skills before the regression comes back, please. (View Game Card)
Tomoyuki Sugano (COL) vs ARI (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 88 pitches.
It’s a real achievement for Sugano to carry a 4.02 ERA through nine starts this season, even if it comes with the 13% strikeout rate as this HAISTBMBWT?! suggests. I’m just happy for the guy. (View Game Card)
Walker Buehler (SDP) @ SEA (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 101 pitches.
He’s such a kitchen sink guy that I think it’s helping him navigate at-bats decently well despite lacking great stuff or premium locations. The cutter’s -5″ cut at 90 mph is fun, though. Mind not landing it over the heart of the plate to LHB and actually going inside with it? It’s also kinda funny to see either 2 or 4 ER in each of his last six starts with just one above 5.1 frames. Good luck against the Athletics back in San Diego, I think he’s a desperate 15-teamer stream. (View Game Card)
Chris Paddack (CIN) @ CLE (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 78 pitches.
Oh wow, 2 ER in five frames for the new squad is kinda awesome. His velocity is back to 93 mph with seven feet of extension, and he had good pitch separation with his heater and change. The first start for a new club is generally “Give me the blueprint and we’ll play it by ear”, which explains the elevated 50% usage on his heater. No, I’m not buying in. I just can’t after the season he’s already had. (View Game Card)
David Peterson (NYM) vs NYY (W) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 82 pitches.
He’s loving the follower lifestyle, even if this is a 4.50 ERA and 2.25 WHIP. Great to see the slider cooking against LHB like it used to (48% CSW and five of those eight strikeouts), but I’m not chasing this at all. The floor is far too low. (View Game Card)
Carlos Rodón (NYY) @ NYM (L) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 88 pitches.
Blegh. The Mets fouled off a ton and led to much longer at-bats than usual, while Rodón certainly had his wild misses along the way. He’s not back yet, but I wouldn’t worry at this point. Rust is rust and his velocity + pitch count are both where we want them to be – in fact he’s a tick up across the board with improved movement on both the sinker and four-seamer. I’m starting him against the Jays and would buy-low. (View Game Card)
Bryce Elder (ATL) vs BOS (L) – 8.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 103 pitches.
The legend grows, and could have reached further if not for a two-run shot in the eighth (Careful, Icarus). No, this one did not make sense to me either and I’m going to stop trying to analyze and just do what everyone else is doing – starting him until this wild ride runs out of juice. Man, this party was LIT with all this juice! (View Game Card)
Cade Cavalli (WSN) vs BAL (W) – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 94 pitches.
Cade tossed six shutout frames, allowed a solo shot to kick off the seventh, then went all Khaled and allowed another one, surrendered a single, struck out Mayo, then was relieved, where his baserunner scored. It’s all to say Cavalli was locked in for sixth, then the wheels came off in the seventh, even if the uptick in velocity at 97+ mph held in the seventh. I really want to love Cavalli – some of these strikeouts are fun with fastballs up-and-in or big breakers at 87 mph – and I’m not totally against the Mets up next. I do worry about the LHB-heavy Guardians after, though. I think he’s a decent streamer but not a hold. After all, he fanned just six across the Twins and Marlins in his last two starts. (View Game Card)
Noah Cameron (KCR) @ STL (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 82 pitches.
A PQS with a low WHIP is right up our alley for Cameron. It’s good to see one with a 15% SwStr, too, and his overall command was some of the best I’ve seen all year with cutters inside and changeups away to RHB + four-seamers staying up. The curve also went 40% CSW and you can see him come out of the hole. The Mariners are a stream up next, but I understand not going for it given the low floor + NYY and @CIN after, enforcing a one-off regardless of the results. (View Game Card)
Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI) @ COL (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 91 pitches.
Not the worst for Coors, eh? Now you get them back at your own house, kinda like when you lose at Smash using your friend’s third-party controller and you invite them over to your place next week. (View Game Card)
Jacob deGrom (TEX) @ HOU (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 94 pitches.
Four solo shots?! 17 whiffs with just four strikeouts?! All longballs came off the heater near the middle of the zone and whatareyagonnado. You were peak last time, deGrom. I want that guy back. (View Game Card)
Chris Bassitt (BAL) @ WSN (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 82 pitches.
Bassitt had to deal with LHB and you know by now that his cutter is lacking compared to the past. It was better here, but still not where he needs it to be, let alone a 46% strike rate on his curve failing to back it up. I don’t think Bassitt is an arm to consider these days. (View Game Card)
Joey Cantillo (CLE) vs CIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches.
Wow, if Cantillo had the same line in just four frames, I’m pretty sure he would have become a Jedi. He can’t be trusted, y’all, and he’s returned four strikeouts or fewer in each of his last five starts. Is this really worth your time? (View Game Card)
Bubba Chandler (PIT) vs PHI (L) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 73 pitches.
If you haven’t dropped him yet, I would. I already have, personally. He needs to make a major tweak and if he hasn’t made it by now, I’m not going to believe he will next time out. Or the one after. Sigh. He should be so much better than this. I’m sorry y’all, it was another Jobe all over again. (View Game Card)
Luis Severino (ATH) vs SFG (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 96 pitches.
Don’t start Sevy in Sacré Verde and most of the time on the road. Oh dear. Yeah, not a great play on most nights. (View Game Card)
José Soriano (LAA) vs LAD (L) – 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 1 Hits, 6 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.
This was the test and it was actually going great through five frames of 1 ER ball on just 67 pitches (walk, single, small ball run in the first, one walk after), but that sixth inning, OH BOY that sixth. He induced a groundout on two pitches to Ohtani, then five straight reached on four walks and a HBP. FIVE. He clearly lost it and that’s your ball game. The line looks like ridiculous regression, but it was one terrible, no good, very bad inning where he should have been pulled so much sooner. Now he gets the Athletics and I say you keep going for that one. Or move on, that’s not the worst idea ever given his track record and three terrible starts across his last four. We expected regression like this to come, after all. You do you. (View Game Card)
Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs SDP (L) – 6.2 IP, 7 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 97 pitches.
Annnnd that’s why I didn’t just award him AGA against after his last start. Sigh. Three HRs here did most of the damage on two poor sliders and an 0-0 fastball over the plate that doesn’t always get launched. Is he just a Cherry Bomb? I sure hope not. (View Game Card)
Jameson Taillon (CHC) @ CHW (L) – 5.0 IP, 8 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 90 pitches.
This was so brutal. Murakami smacked three HRs off him alone, including a bamboozlin’ in the first, and two more tacked on for five HRs on the day. I’m retiring the CrySox, y’all. These guys pack some thump. It’s the Astros and Pirates next and that’s not worth it for me. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Lucas Giolito vs. George Kirby – I gotta see how Giolito looks, y’all. I’m so curious.
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)
