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.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Trey Yesavage (TOR) @ NYY (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 95 pitches.
If you followed me during the off-season, you’ll know how hard I found it to rank Trey Yesavage entering the season, even before we knew he’d miss time entering the season. Through his first four games, I wasn’t sold that he was picking up where he left off, featuring chaotic command of all his pitches, save for a strong performance with his slider only recently. However, Wednesday night against the Yankees was different. His 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 95 pitches (W) was everything we’ve been waiting for.
We saw an uptick in velocity on everything, sitting 95+ mph (a tick higher than last year!) and he mostly held it throughout the game. His four-seamer came with crazy vert, averaging 20″ (some came with 24″ of rise!), which is still impressive even with the highest release point in the league. That release point amplifies his splitter’s effectiveness, creating the steepest splitter in baseball, and…well, it was not what you’d expect in this one. In fact, this was mostly four-seamer and slider dominance, while the splitter feel is still poor (41% strikes, just 2/29 whiffs). Its presence certainly helped, but this wasn’t peak Yesavage, if you can believe it.
The main point here is the four-seamer and slider feel with improved velocity. His slider has been cooking and he wisely adapted to feature more of them to LHB when the splitter kept failing. There was some great fortune here via a high foul-ball rate that I’d attribute to preventing balls-in-play vs. preventing whiffs, allowing for a whopping 75% two-strike rate that opened the door for eight punchouts. Remember, the splitter wasn’t cooking, and he needed that good fortune to rack up the Ks.
Regardless, Yesavage is more-or-less the guy we wanted him to be, with my assumption of the splitter performance improving in more outings. Not necessarily the peaks of last fall, but a 55% strike rate with more than 2/29 whiffs is a low bar to jump. Treat him like a steady Holly moving forward. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:
Kyle Harrison (MIL) @ CHC (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 11 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 94 pitches.
This was absolutely incredible. Just look at his player card at the end of this blurb. Harrison’s Golden Goal was absurdly warranted with his four-seamer as elite as ever (95/96 mph!) and sitting in the upper half at a 1.8 HAVAA with ease. Who cares about the changeup when curveballs are perfectly executing their role in the BSB at a 79% strike rate. It was incessant. It was glorious. It makes me want to give him an AGA label. I won’t. Just do it one more time, okay? The 32% strikeout rate and sub 8% walk rate with a 16% SwStr rate for the year are already knocking on the department’s door. (View Game Card)
Carmen Mlodzinski (PIT) @ STL (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 95 pitches.
It’s hilarious to see Carmen snag so many cheap Wins while doing so little to make us believe in him. One strikeout? HAISTBMBWT?! He’ll get the Cubs, Twins, and Hotlanta next, making it so easy not to hold on. So long, and thanks for all the Swiiiiish. (View Game Card)
Shohei Ohtani (LAD) @ SDP (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 88 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fifth to secure another dub and keep the ratios absurdly low, but four strikeouts should help you understand that this was not the Ohtani we’ve seen thus far. (View Game Card)
Drew Anderson (DET) vs CLE (ND) – 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 63 pitches.
Anderson has quietly gone 4+ frames for two games now, stretching from 39 pitches prior to 46 pitches and now 63, and I have to wonder if he’ll get another chance to start even when Troy Melton appears. He nailed the top of the zone with 95 mph heaters and a flat HAVAA, while the curve, change, and slider all stayed down effectively. Five punchouts from that dotted high heater alone is fun to see. Don’t rule him out for bulk vulture Wins or a spot start against a poor offense now that he could go 70+ pitches. (View Game Card)
Tanner Bibee (CLE) @ DET (ND) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 104 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! That’s a Gold Star given eight full frames, even if he didn’t secure a dub. Is there anything new? Why, YES! The four-seamer vert! IT’S BACK! 19″ of vert here (+3″ from the season average), which meant plenty of can-of-corn outs off the fastball. Zero changeup and curveball whiffs are a bit of a surprise, in addition to just a 58% strike rate and 2/19 cutter whiffs, and given the volatility we’ve seen of Bibee’s vert this year, I wouldn’t bank on the vert sticking for another start. The Nationals pack thump and force the changeup and four-seamer to come through with their LHB lineup (sorry sinker and cutter, you’re going to take a breather here), outlining a trap start if you’re chasing after this one. (View Game Card)
Chris Sale (ATL) @ MIA (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He really wants that SP #2 spot. (View Game Card)
Joe Ryan (MIN) vs HOU (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 99 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Three straight starts since the injury scare of 93/94 mph with exactly six frames and one earned run. It’s now a 3.02 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 27% K rate, 6% walk rate, and how could you possibly not like this guy? (View Game Card)
Shane Baz (BAL) @ TBR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 94 pitches.
This is the first start all year where Baz has returned six frames and 2 ER or fewer. How did he do it? Why, with the good grace of Koufax, of course. And maybe he just missed Tropicana Field. Nah, his four-seamer had a 45% strike rate and his 50% curveball clip nearly matched it. The cutter was the savior at a slower velocity without movement gains and the Orioles obliged. It’s his Werewolf outing. (View Game Card)
Michael Wacha (KCR) vs BOS (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 105 pitches.
Atta boy Wacha. Now you get the Yankees and we’re all scared about it. He’s only had two disappointing starts out of ten this year, and took down the Yankees in the middle of April. With the way his four-seamer is holding 19-20″ of vert + legit command upstairs, it’s hard to say no. (View Game Card)
Andrew Abbott (CIN) @ PHI (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 96 pitches.
It’s kinda hilarious how Abbott has strung together five straight stellar outings with four dubs and only four ER total, and this is the first one that actually suggests improvement. It’s not all the way there, but his LHB attack was excellent with great separation between up-and-in fastballs + low-and-away sweepers (32% SwStr rate on 22 sweepers!), while the changeup found the outer third of the plate to RHB for a 68% strike rate. He also avoided the heat of the zone with his heater like he used to, and we finally have a moment of Abbott actually executing well. It’s not prime Abbott (1/15 changeup whiffs, for example), but I’m suddenly down to grab him with @NYM, KCR, and @STL up next. (View Game Card)
Steven Matz (TBR) vs BAL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 67 pitches.
This was a Still ILL and he performed admirably. It wasn’t the same sinker and changeup command I fell for before his IL stint, though, and I’m a little cautious trusting this in a repeat matchup on Monday. I should note, Jesse Scholtens followed for 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 60 pitches (W), and he did a great job spotting his four-seamer and breaking balls, albeit some of those sweepers were tugged way too far to RHB. Still not a fan of his overall schtick, but keep him in mind for future vulture win chances. With Matz likely stretched out to 75 pitches now, I wouldn’t consider Scholtens for an opportunity on Monday. (View Game Card)
Edward Cabrera (CHC) vs MIL (L) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 61 pitches.
ECab left this one early with a blister and we’re not sure what happens next. I labeled him a HIPSTER in the latest edition of The List, and even if he gets the Pirates next, I wonder if you’re better off streaming and/or chasing the young arms out there. (View Game Card)
Cam Schlittler (NYY) vs TOR (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 106 pitches.
Aces gonna Careful, Icarus with a dumb seventh frame that began with a dribbler to third, walk, bunt single, 3-2 walk to score a run, and another coming in after the hook. That’s two extra ER, two hits, and his only two walks after six glorious frames. Just understand how dope he was before the unbearable pain. (View Game Card)
Emerson Hancock (SEA) vs CHW (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 86 pitches.
How is the vert getting even worse. We’ve gone from 14/15″ of four-seamer vert to 12/13, to 10/11, to 9/10, and now to 8.8″ of vert. How. He spotted the pitch with ease at the top of the zone to LHB and I’m happy he’s pairing it with a cutter instead of a sweeper to LHB, but this really was not a strong showcase of talent. It’s just that four-seamer keeping it all together and it’s getting worse with each start. I’m scared. Me too, but remember, he’s only had one game above 3 ER all year. He’s making it work. for now. Do we bench in Sacré Verde? Maybe? (View Game Card)
Zack Littell (WSN) vs NYM (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 60 pitches.
That’s one beautiful start for Littell in his second straight dub across five productive frames. Let’s not do anything silly here – the slider/splitter combo is still mostly just the slider and there’s a good reason why he’s holding a 6% SwStr rate on the year. You may be tempted to go for his @CLE, vs. SDP two-step next week, but I’d be very cautious. He’s not the guy. We also saw Andrew Alvarez get a four-inning save, coming in right after Littell to go 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 56 pitches (SV), and that’s a fun time for the fella. The stuff isn’t too exciting as a high-release southpaw at 93 mph with a standard slider, but the curve? Ohhhh I dig it. 83/84 mph with legit two-plane break at 13″/11″ is hot. I wish the slider wasn’t an 84/85 mph gyro that is objectively worse with just one tick faster at way less break. (View Game Card)
Sean Burke (CHW) @ SEA (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 83 pitches.
He walked his first batter of the fifth, hit the next one, allowed a single, and someone got two outs with the bases juiced before Newcomb came in and induced the final out. Way to not make this a true clunker on a day when you really had terrible command. Like horrendous. (View Game Card)
Connelly Early (BOS) @ KCR (W) – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 93 pitches.
Hmmmm. I love that Early is getting his changeup down, but it was too far down, with just 1/21 whiffs and a poor 52% strike rate. However, the four-seamer cooked upstairs for a 26% SwStr rate to RHB and the curveball helped snag early (Early?) strikes. He also allowed two stupid sub 68 mph EV singles against Jac with up-and-in sinkers, and I generally feel great about Early. I do wonder if the curve or slider can do more against RHB, though. With his changeup inconsistency, I want him to have another secondary he can go ham with. (View Game Card)
Merrill Kelly (ARI) vs SFG (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 85 pitches.
A PQS isn’t exactly what we wanted against the Giants, but fine, he got a dub so we’re cool. Too many pitches over the plate in this one. (View Game Card)
Jack Kochanowicz (LAA) vs ATH (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 94 pitches.
A Bailey Special is cool with us for a struggling Jackie K. Kinda funny to see his four-seamer and sinker strikezone plot to RHB look like they were sliders in a diagonal toward the down-and-away corner, almost making an arrow to where he should be throwing his slider, but instead failing miserably. I’m not seeing anything here outside of a highly productive four-seamer that had no business being this effective. (View Game Card)
Michael McGreevy (STL) vs PIT (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 91 pitches.
The regression is hitting, with these 11 baserunners raising McGreevy’s WHIP to…0.99. Without the ratios and just one strikeout (HAISTBMBWT?!), he gave us a Wonka. I hope you learned your lesson. What lesson? It was the Pirates and you had him as a questionable start. Huh. Well, he’s a coin flip for decent ratios against the Brewers next, how about that? Strikeouts? THERE’S YOUR LESSON. (View Game Card)
Kyle Freeland (COL) vs TEX (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 89 pitches.
Is it bad that this is kinda decent for Freeland in Coors? Yikes. (View Game Card)
Randy Vásquez (SDP) vs LAD (L) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 74 pitches.
The Dodgers are rough and Vásquez didn’t have his A-game. We move on and hope he recovers against the Phillies as he settles into the role of Toby. (View Game Card)
Mike Burrows (HOU) @ MIN (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 88 pitches.
Cool changeups and nothing else. A good bad ole worse than VPQS. I’ll keep twiddling my thumbs over here. (View Game Card)
Aaron Nola (PHI) vs CIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 77 pitches.
I talked about this start with Eno Sarris on this morning’s episode of The Craft and I simply don’t believe Nola can be the same guy he used to be in this day and age, unless he has pristine fastball command. It’s just how it is. You should swap him out. (View Game Card)
Jack Leiter (TEX) @ COL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 83 pitches.
Coors Field for a HIPSTER? Yeah, easy pass. It was 55 degrees, which may have caused his 1-2 tick velocity drop. Leiter did a decent job of trying to find the edges, but failed to get whiffs at the lower velocity and depressed movement. It’s Coors. He’ll have a chance to impress back home for three starts (HOU, KCR, CLE), and I have to believe he’ll work out in at least one, but which? That’s not the game I want to play. (View Game Card)
Zach Thornton (NYM) @ WSN (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 80 pitches.
This was a PILOT Rule for the Mets’ southpaw and there are elements to like, and others to question. He has a high release point at 91/92 mph, heavily dampening the effectiveness of its 17″ vert, with a sinker he didn’t spot, an 80 mph sweeper that had a pair of whiffs at just nine thrown, and a cutter. Ohhhh a cutter. This was his best pitch easily, and I’d argue he had two different ones – a higher vert cutter and a gyro slider. There’s a lot of promise in this one, but he was burned on two well over the plate and his fastballs need to set a stronger foundation for it/them to work. In addition, we saw just one changeup and as a southpaw, you need a slowball if you’re spouting 91 mph. Chase another arm. (View Game Card)
Aaron Civale (ATH) @ LAA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 61 pitches.
The HR regression is hitting, with three bombs in his first two frames. I implore you to look past the ERA to understand how his 3.31 mark (that includes this one!) is not going to hold. (View Game Card)
Tyler Mahle (SFG) @ ARI (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 79 pitches.
Womp womp. I would have been in on this a month ago, and, fortunately, we were out of it now. We wait until he shows us he can handle it. (View Game Card)
Janson Junk (MIA) vs ATL (L) – 5.0 IP, 8 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 86 pitches.
This outing is the perfect example of how a handful of poorly executed pitches + some bad luck can turn a great performance into a terrible one. Junk allowed a three-run shot in the first on a terrible breaker to Riley (The two hits were meh and super unlucky), then he went four shutout. It was a great start through five, save for that one pitch. Enter Careful, Icarus. He made some poor pitches in the sixth, leading to five straight baserunners, capped with a three-run bomb on a 3-2 curve right at the bottom of the zone. It’s kinda wild, isn’t it? The pitcher card doesn’t lie. His stuff was excellent. His locations? As a conglomerate, excellent! That makes his overall PLV, guess what, excellent! However, Junk put himself in danger at the wrong times and on other days, those mistakes would go unpunished. Against Hotlanta? Punished. That’s why there’s an F in results. That’s also why we like Junk and it’s so frustrating to watch starts like these. Fortunately, we all benched him against Hotlanta and I think it’s wise to hold off against the Jays next, too. However, @NYM and vs. TBR could be far better, especially if he elects to live a touch more out of the zone, relying on his stuff to get chases. He doesn’t have to be a 72% strike arm. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Spencer Strider vs. Sandy Alcantara – I just want both to have fun.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire | Featured image by Ethan Kaplan (@djfreddie10.bsky.social on Blue Sky and @EthanMKaplanImages on Instagram)
