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 Twitch.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Matthew Liberatore (STL) @ MIL (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 101 pitches.
I’ve been pretty out on Matthew Liberatore since his first few starts of the year, but after today’s 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 101 pitches (L) against the Brewers, Liberatore has now fanned nineteen in two games, and that’s worth chatting about.
First of all, yes, his two-strike and putaway rates are unsustainably high. You’re a smart one and figured that one out quickly. But I’ll still praise Liberatore for featuring his best slider of the year at 70% strikes and 25% SwStr (just move past that three-run HR to Yelich, alright? He should have thrown him something else rather than his fourth slider in five pitches, let alone another down the pipe), while all six pitches returned at least a 14% SwStr rate. I was expecting his curveball to be the champion of the arsenal, but he kept tugging the pitch too far armside, and he adapted to make use of the rest of his arsenal after the first frame.
And yet, I don’t love it. I’M SORRY. The command of each offering is still…wonky. It was the best performing slider, but he infrequently nailed it down-and-armside. The four-seamer failed to land in great locations. The cutter was random. The changeup went up and down. I have no idea what his sinker intent was. It was a jumbled mess and while the whiffs and strikeouts came out the chute, I don’t want to take another tour of the factory’s assembly line.
It’s not the easiest schedule ahead, with the Cubs + Reds up next + a date in Minnesota, and while the strikeouts are tantalizing, the fella is still on the same path along the sidewalk. That is, he hasn’t turned a corner, in my view. I hope he proves me wrong. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:
Jesús Luzardo (PHI) @ SDP (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 104 pitches.
That’s six of seven great outings from Luzardo, and this one came with some of the best pitch separation to RHB he’s had all year. No reason to stop now. (View Game Card)
Tatsuya Imai (HOU) @ TEX (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 97 pitches.
It’s so weird. Imai tossed six frames of a combined no-hitter for Houston, featuring 56% four-seamer strikes (down 1-2 ticks) and reverse sliders galore. No, it’s not impressive, no I’m not buying back in. It’s unnerving, honestly. It just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense and I hate when I feel that way. I need control of the world around me, dangit! (View Game Card)
Shane McClanahan (TBR) @ BAL (ND) – 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 84 pitches.
After allowing four runs last in a terrible frame, McShane is back to laying goose eggs, with his fifth 0 ER outing in six starts. A bit surprising given the poor changeup feel, but his slider stepped up for a whopping 76% strike rate and 6/21 whiffs, making it easy to keep starting him against the Angels twice, sandwiching a start in Miami. (View Game Card)
Luis Castillo (SEA) @ ATH (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 68 pitches.
Does it work for fantasy? Nah. Is it working well for Seattle? Sure is. This was some of the best slider command I’ve seen from Castillo in a long time (17/20 strikes?!), but it seemed to cost him his feel for both his four-seamer and sinker. It clearly didn’t matter, though, and if Castillo could replicate a 55% CSW slider regularly, he wouldn’t be limited to 68 pitches. You should continue ignoring him. (View Game Card)
Bryce Miller (SEA) @ ATH (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 83 pitches.
It doesn’t feel right to have Miller come in after Castillo, but at least it meant he secured a dub. The velocity was a little lower than before, but he’s still 96/97 (not 95 mph) and pumping strikes, while his split cutter and slider dominated at 73% strikes and a 20% SwStr rate (and one hung for a solo shot). We even saw reliable splitters (6/20 whiffs!) and the only wish is for his four-seamer to land upstairs more often. Hold onto tight, y’all. (View Game Card)
Zack Littell (WSH) @ CLE (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 106 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! That’s a Gold Star for Littell, featuring 1-2 ticks more velocity on everything but his four-seamer, making a fool of Rhys Hoskins for three strikeouts on a trio of breakers, and coasting against the LHB-heavy lineup. Maybe everyone should follow an opener… I know some of y’all are thinking of his hot stretches in the past, but this really doesn’t seem like much more than getting a few more swings on splitters out of the zone than usual + a lack of punishment on his four-seamers. I’m out against the Padres next. (View Game Card)
Jacob Misiorowski (MIL) vs STL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 12 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 44% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna ace for another Golden Goal. I don’t think I can put him anywhere but in the same tier as Skenes at this point. It’s the best fastball in baseball, possibly ever. We have hitters ready for high velo and he’s returned a 22% SwStr rate, 42% CSW, and 70% strike rate on the pitch this season, averaging just under 100 mph with 7.5 extension, 16″ vert, and a 2.0 HAVAA. It’s unreal. (View Game Card)
Ben Brown (CHC) @ PIT (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 83 pitches.
I keep telling y’all he can’t do it, and what does he do? He does it. Three straight games of 30%+ SwStr rates on his curveball is bananas. What’s even stranger to me is how his curveball is really just an 87 mph gyro slider. Isn’t that average? YES, IT IS. Maybe its spin looks different out of the hand and throws batters off, but I refuse to believe Brown can keep pulling it off like this. I’m going to Blame it on the Pirates and…well hot dang. It’s a date in St. Louis, then hosting the Giants. Fine. It’s possible he does it again, but I implore you to reconsider. He breaks the Huascar Rule and fastballs should not continue to return 70-80% strikes and deny so many hits. Nick, he even got unlucky! How did Oneil Cruz hit that heater for a single?! Because it’s a hittable fastball. IT’S MY POINT. (View Game Card)
Kyle Bradish (BAL) vs TBR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 92 pitches.
I’m a bit shocked his curve didn’t return more strikes given he was around the zone all game with the great hook, but alas, the pitch had a horrific 46% clip, and was saved by his slider’s ability to find the zone, albeit not with the level of polish we’ve seen from it in the past. Bradish has found a feel for his fastballs, though. The four-seamer is landing upstairs to LHB, the sinker is gnawing at the handles of RHB bats, and both pitches avoid the heart of the plate constantly while boasting 70% strikes. We like this. We don’t love this (I need more whiffs, fella), but we’re cool with the Jays up for two. (View Game Card)
Nick Lodolo (CIN) @ NYM (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 98 pitches.
Meet the Mets, meet the Mets, come on down and beat the Mets! Sorry, my father used to sing that during the Dallas Green days and I tried to spin it to outline how starters get their grooves back when they face the Mets (Lodolo’s struggling curveball woke up for a 31% SwStr rate and 65% strikes). This was everything you wanted Lodolo to be, making him considerable even against Hotlanta next week. (View Game Card)
Anthony Kay (CHW) vs MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 94 pitches.
This feels like the ceiling of Kay now that’s he fanned exactly five in four of his last five games. This outing featured his best execution of the year, delivering high heaters, low changeups, and sweepers in between with ease, even returning at least a 60% strike rate on his five most thrown pitches (3/7 sliders for strikes just HAD to ruin the party). I am more encouraged than usual, but it’s DET, @PHI, ATL on the horizon, and I sure ain’t riding this horse. Nay, Kay, get me back to the saloon. (View Game Card)
Carmen Mlodzinski (PIT) vs CHC (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 86 pitches.
Sure, it’s one earned run, but no dub, a 1.60 WHIP, and just two strikeouts. That’s a Dusty Donut, which is kinda impressive against the Cubs…? Ehhhh, I’m still very much out. (View Game Card)
Janson Junk (MIA) @ TOR (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 93 pitches.
Will he ever properly dominate with his heaters and breakers? It’s a ton of vert at a flat attack angle and 94/95 mph, but he doesn’t spot it quite right, while the mega slider and sweeper aren’t forcing batters to quiver in their boots. But fine, we’ll take this and his ability to wriggle out of a few jams, especially with the Mets up next. That has to be the start where it clicks, right? (View Game Card)
Tanner Gordon (COL) @ LAD (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 80 pitches.
That’s pretty dang good, Gordon. So does that mean…No. You’re not getting my dud light. Awwwww. (View Game Card)
Merrill Kelly (ARI) @ SFG (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 96 pitches.
I wasn’t expecting the world, just some solid, low-end Holly production. Thanks, fella. If y’all jumped in for his start against the Mets and held, you’d be celebrating four straight Wins, a 2.17 ERA, and a 0.83 WHIP across 29 frames. Just a thought. (View Game Card)
Michael Wacha (KCR) vs NYY (ND) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 93 pitches.
Even against the Yankees. Wacha is quietly putting up a stud season on the back of his changeup and curveball + an 18″+ inch vert four-seamer at 93/94 mph. It’ll still be a challenge at Cincy next time out, but it sure seems like you have to chase it after this one, no? (View Game Card)
Will Warren (NYY) @ KCR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 85 pitches.
Is he just a Toby at the end of the day? I know his 27% strikeout rate begs to differ, but that’s bolstered by 20 strikeouts in two games, and a 23% strikeout rate otherwise. That’s still solid. Yeah, fair. I dunno, I can’t help but get bored by Warren’s lack of secondary excellence and I’ll remain highly skeptical that he can continue to perform throwing this 93 mph four-seamer 52% of the time. It’s not that good. (View Game Card)
Landen Roupp (SFG) vs ARI (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 93 pitches.
Hmmmmm. This wasn’t the smooth command of Roupp that we usually see, but that curveball was off the charts. We’re talking 9″ drop and 19″ of sweep, one registering 25″ inches worth. Why yes, that is over two feet of movement. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The Roupp breakout season is here. Get on the train, y’all. (View Game Card)
Emmet Sheehan (LAD) vs COL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 92 pitches.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, he sat 94 mph. At least he held it for most of the start with 19″+ of vert on the heater, helping it return a 21% SwStr rate (we’re so back). That slider was deadly to RHB, too, and now we’re on the other side of the coin again with Sheehan. SNIP SNAP, SNIP SNAP. The @ARI, LAA, @CHW schedule is lovely, giving us no reason to stop now. (View Game Card)
Griffin Canning (SDP) vs PHI (L) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 97 pitches.
I’m happy he produced a solid line, though it wasn’t the most impressive stuff. His changeup was nothing like we wanted to see, the four-seamer wasn’t the exceptional offering we saw in his season debut, and he got away with far more pitches than was saw in previous outings. He’ll get the Phillies again next week and I wouldn’t test the waters again. (View Game Card)
Zebby Matthews (MIN) @ CHW (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 88 pitches.
I know you weren’t looking for a PQS, but I’ll take it. Zebby concerned me in his first two outings and I was worried this would be a lot worse. His breakers are still featuring 1-2 ticks less velocity than their 2025 iterations (four-seamer the same but less vert and more run…? Don’t like it), but the slider had a field day against the White Sox with a sparkling 32% SwStr rate on 28 thrown. Thing is, that was the only legit pitch I saw from Zebby here (flipping curves for called strikes doesn’t count), and can he really get away with that? After all, the four-seamer was blasted for a pair of HRs both in the same exact spot inside to LHB, and even with this better slider, he still allowed those blasts. I’m still skeptical this is the guy you want. (View Game Card)
Kumar Rocker (TEX) vs HOU (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 85 pitches.
Whoa, BSB execution with high sinkers and low sliders?! Can’t say I expected that one from Rocker. He spiked a ton of sliders and the sinker returned 11% CSW and 71% strikes (34% foul balls is stellar for Rocker), and I’m going to continue ignoring the fella completely. It’s just too blegh. (View Game Card)
Trey Yesavage (TOR) vs MIA (L) – 6.2 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 98 pitches.
Yesavage tossed five great frames until two walks and two doubles scored three in the sixth for a Careful, Icarus. We saw the splitter do far more work in this one, and yeah, I know. THE MARLINS?! It happens. He’s not the greatest command artist, after all. He is a solid arm who should be just fine against the Orioles up next for back-to-back outings. Let’s move on. (View Game Card)
Aaron Civale (ATH) vs SEA (L) – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 73 pitches.
I know back-to-back two-run shots can’t really exist, but I’m gonna say it does anyway. That was just part of Civale’s monstrosity of a third frame as he sat three ticks down on both heaters at 88 mph. No, this wasn’t because he threw 31 pitches in the third – he sat 89 mph in the first inning, alone. Oh no. I have some moves to make. Wait, that is what’s changed your tune? Not the whole, 7 ER in four innings with a 1.47 WHIP and 16% strikeout rate?! (View Game Card)
Nolan McLean (NYM) vs CIN (L) – 3.1 IP, 7 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 78 pitches.
Ummmm that’s two straight disasters from McLean and you’re panicking. This was a game of terrible secondary command, allowing for a pair of HRs against batters sitting dead red heaters. In fact, all but one hit was off fastballs, and for what it’s worth, the Reds were shockingly efficient at scoring each and every baserunner they earned off McLean. No, he’s not washed up now. He’s going to dominate the Marlins in his next start and forget this ever happened. I do have to take away his AGA tag, though. Sorry bud, you’ll get it back, I’m sure. (View Game Card)
Tanner Bibee (CLE) vs WSN (L) – 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 61 pitches.
It was a wet rain. The man in front of me had seen better days, defeated, wearing a tan trenchcoat turned brown by the last five minutes. His head turned up as he heard the clink of the quarter leaving my hand, turning over and over in the air. It fell back on my palm, disappearing under my clenched fingers after a moment of relaxation. I kept my head down, internalizing the truth. “Well?” the man blurted in panic. I tilted my head up to lock eyes with my old friend. “Not today.” (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Griffin Jax vs. Shane Baz – Baz, sure, but JAX! I hope he can keep dominating and keep his velocity across 70-80 pitches.
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)
