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.
David Sandlin (CHW) vs MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 61 pitches.
We had another MLB debut on Wednesday and despite being a name we didn’t circle in the preseason, David Sandlin should have your attention after a fantastic 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 61 pitches (W) performance against the Twins. It gets even more impressive when you consider he followed in the footsteps of JR Ritchie by allowing a solo shot to Buxton on his second major league pitch. Wait, he threw six perfect innings after that?! Sure did.
We typically see a velocity boost during debuts and this as no exception. Sandlin had showcased 2-3 tick gains on his heater in the minors from 94 mph, but we mostly saw 98 mph on the four-seamer here, while the 92 mph cutter and 92/93 mph changeup were all kinds of fun to watch. Those secondaries are what you want to see – a stabilizing cutter for strikes and a changeup with legit whiffability (just watch his second at-bat) – and I wonder what we’ll get from his breakers in the future. The curve was the trusted offering to both LHB and RHB near 30% usage for both and I’m a little concerned that it may not be as effective at ~81 mph, making it hard to come close to replicating a 78% strike rate without damage.
There is a sweeper at 86 mph for RHB he whipped out in the sixth (saved it!) that I hope to see a little more as it should be a fantastic putaway pitch if he can get it away consistently. This is a ton of praise for Sandlin, leaving one last box to tick: His four-seamer. At first glance, it seems to be Empty Velocity at 16-17″ vert and 7/8″ cut, but my concern comes from its precision. I’m not sure what his intent will be in the long run after yesterday – is it middle away to RHB and up to LHB? – after nearly all of them to LHB were down the pipe, while RHB saw a mix of middle-middle and living up-and-down on the outside edge. Among all the strikes from curves and cutters, I was a bit surprised to see him struggle to wrangle the velocity. That may be adrenaline talking, though.
Overall, he’s worth the spec-add. I don’t think I’m ready to give a proper assessment due to the small sample with an aggressive Twins offense that didn’t know how to handle the unknown arm. Sandlin will have a challenge in his second MLB start – a repeat of the same Twins squad – followed by a date in Philly, and why not. Let’s see what he can do. To put it bluntly, 97+ mph velocity, 3/4 secondaries he likes, including a hard cutter for strikes and a whiffable changeup + an ability to pitch efficiently, is a remarkable resume. Gotta take a chance on that, right?
Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) @ SDP (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 100 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. What is that, 40+ IP of scoreless baseball? Five straight 0 ER outings, averaging nearly eight innings per outing, is hilarious. Sure, that schedule has been as soft as a Weaver “heater”, and I don’t care. I was completely wrong on Sánchez’s hittability that would lead to more volatility. I love being wrong this way.
Connelly Early (BOS) vs ATL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 97 pitches.
Yeeeessssss. You’re a SWATCH, Connelly. The high heater + low changeup ruled the day, champions, loitering over the plate that Hotlanata couldn’t knock off its podium. For Early to take the next step, I need to see a third offering in between, with a bit more swing and miss on something outside of the four-seamer (His best mark was a 14% Swstr rate shared by his four-seamer and change). Have no fear against Baltimore up next.
Gerrit Cole (NYY) @ KCR (W) – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 79 pitches.
Aces gonna ace with a 29% SwStr rate slider at 89 mph that gets me all giddy. IT’S TOO SOON. Is it? Tell me, everyone who has Cole on their rosters, if he faced the Dodgers or Hotlanta or Sacré Verde, would you bench Cole? …No. We’re done here.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) @ ATH (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 91 pitches.
It’s a lovely line, but the performance? Ehhhhh. Gilbert wasn’t precise and his four-seamer was the only reliable strike pitch. Splitters got some whiffs against LHB, but was all of the place, and his slider stayed low to RHB (nice!) but forced Gilbert to go heater a little too often with its 59% strike rate. But it was a good outing! Sure was, I just want the skills to match and feel awesome moving forward.
Casey Mize (DET) vs LAA (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 58 pitches.
I feel so terrible for Mize. He was cruising through four, featuring an uptick of velo to 94 mph and featuring the improved slider that has become the rock he’s searched for across his career. He didn’t record another out, however, due to a groin injury that has us holding our breath for the MRI results. Whatever they are, don’t expect Mize to start next time out, let alone for weeks. Ugh.
Eury Pérez (MIA) @ TOR (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 73 pitches.
Just like Mize, Pérez was pitching his best outing until getting removed due to injury. For Eury, it was a massive hamstring spasm, and he’s also set for imaging as we wait for more. The fella hit 101 mph and was actually separating his pitches horizontally against LHB. Eighteen whiffs in four frames is no easy task, let alone nine strikeouts. Why can’t we have nice things? I hope it was just a blip and he can pick up where he left off.
Miles Mikolas (WSH) @ CLE (L) – 3.2 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 60 pitches.
Oh you think we’re convinced after you’ve returned 0 ER two straight games? Across 8.2 total innings? And a game with just one strikeout? HAISTBMBWT?!
Jonah Tong (NYM) vs CIN (W) – 3.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 76 pitches.
Aha! The cutter appeared! It played the role of Ben Wyatt auditing Entertainment360, doing everything it could at a 76% strike rate in 22% usage while the four-seamer, changeup, and curve flung all around the zone without focus. There’s so much I have to fix. Just having that cutter is a big deal, especially one with its success, now he just needs to get the four-seamer in check. And the split-change. It’s a list.
Dustin May (STL) @ MIL (L) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 44% CSW, 87 pitches.
I watched this live yesterday while recording The Craft with Eno, and felt directly responsible for breaking up the no-hitter to kick off the eighth. We talked about his viability moving forward and his changes, concluding that May’s cutter is great to LHB, his new arm angle is helping, the sweeper has room to grow to RHB (and was dope to LHB?!), and we’d pick him up for a TEX + @NYM up next. By the way, after his first two starts of the year, May now holds a 3.02 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across nine games. No, he won’t win another King Cole for a while, but he doesn’t need to. QS leagues should heavily consider this.
Gavin Williams (CLE) vs WSN (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 94 pitches.
Whoa, this was a shift. Gavin is now throwing four-seamers in two-strike counts a ton (44-50% vs.LHB and RHB), and turning to his sinker early in the count. The result? A few punchouts to RHB, and a 0/8 putaway rate to LHB. Womp womp. At least everything is at a 60% strike or higher, still, and we’re all good here. The true breakout is here.
Shohei Ohtani (LAD) vs COL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 0 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 99 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Four walks against Rockie Road, Shohei?! You forgot the HBP. SHOHEI. PLEASE.
Trey Gibson (BAL) vs TBR (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 100 pitches.
Hey, I’m happy for the fella, and I’m here to tell you that the four walks with a HAISTBMBWT?! is a bit misrepresentative. His slider has elite movement at 88 mph and there will be better days for Gibson’s K/BB ratio. I’m not going to expect it for bit, and that’s not even acknowledging his hazy playing time ahead. Who knows when he starts next.
Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs MIA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 95 pitches.
Wow, such an honor to have a decent outing given the circumstances. I’m looking at you, splitter, with your sub 40% strike rate. Don’t make me go back to the old grip I had with the Orioles. Hahaha, I kid, I kid. Special thanks to the Marlins for making this happen. I don’t know how I could have done it without you. And one final shoutout to my four-seamer, my long-time companion. We’ve been through some tough times together, battling every night without the same advantages of our peers, and look where we are today. Thank you all and let this be the day you remember KG said Anything Is Possible!
Chad Patrick (MIL) vs STL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 61 pitches.
Patrick did well with his Ras-Pack arsenal (Cutter, Sinker, Four-seamer, and those random others no one remembers), and it’s so Milwaukee to give him the ole hail-a-cab-clap-clap-give-me-the-dang-ball after four frames. You can’t roster a guy like this, sadly.
Mike Burrows (HOU) @ TEX (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 91 pitches.
Burows has reduced the slider to just seven thrown, featuring four-seamers, changeups, and curveballs as his main approach, which…is fine? This was a Blame it on the Rangers (and their home park) with a four-seamer that produced a high 35% CSW you shouldn’t get used to. I’m not jumping back in yet.
Trevor McDonald (SFG) vs ARI (L) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 86 pitches.
I don’t quite understand McDonald. Why is he suddenly going 61% sinkers and 24% sliders? Doesn’t he know the breaker is his best pitch?! I’m glad he was able to give you six strong, then worsen that WHIP in the seventh, and I sincerely hope it means he sticks around instead of Houser or Mahle. He’s a better arm for a Giants team that needs the help. If he does stick, it would be in Milwaukee up next, and I’m cool with that one.
Jacob deGrom (TEX) vs HOU (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 97 pitches.
Aces gonna ace with a Gallows Pole as he quells your fears. It was another game of deGrom’s fear of throwing too many four-seamers, while the slider is what allowed the solo shot to Alvarez in the fourth. That’s the second time we saw Alvarez demolish a hung slider from a RHP in what, two? Three days? WHEN WILL YOU LEARN!?
Andrew Abbott (CIN) @ NYM (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 101 pitches.
This was the most confident I’ve been in Abbott since the second week of the season, and I appreciate the Mets for making it easy. I feel I cheated, though. I was down because Abbott had his changeup and four-seamer working last time to RHB. Here? One in the right spot. ONE. The sweeper was the most impressive offering to LHP (he got it away! Mostly!) and I guess we keep going against the Royals. Are we back to simply not understanding how he does it? I hate that life.
Michael Soroka (ARI) @ SFG (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 83 pitches.
Standard elite pitch separation from Soroka, save for the cutter going all willy-nilly around the plate for whatever reason, kinda like me when I don’t take my ADHD medication (and also sometimes when I do. Mental health, y’all. It’s legit important). If you were looking for a time to consider moving on from Soroka, it may be now with LAD, WSH, @CIN on the docket. I can’t get myself to do it personally, but I can understand it. That’s just too big brain for me.
Walker Buehler (SDP) vs PHI (L) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 58 pitches.
He survived. How? I don’t really know, but he did. I’m just gonna yell at Philly. That’s usually the wise move.
Noah Cameron (KCR) vs NYY (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 94 pitches.
I’M TELLING Y’ALL. Cameron’s 2025 command is back with 92/93 mph velocity and if it weren’t for @CIN next, I’d be picking him up now. Let him prove it one more time, right?
Jeffrey Springs (ATH) vs SEA (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 84 pitches.
Oh hey, sunshine and rainbows for Springs in Sacré Verde. It was a rare moment of 30% sliders to RHB with just one hit allowed and I wonder if that sticks around. It was flipped in there without fear, and that may be the way it is moving forward. It’s not a good enough pitch to change my tune (I see this as a SUPRISE! Double the usage! game, not a real step forward), and I’m out against the Cubs.
José Soriano (LAA) @ DET (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 105 pitches.
Blegh. How do you want to frame Soriano? 50/50 good vs. bad across his last four or 33/67 across his last six? The thread has been his four-seamer’s strike rate, which dipped under 60% here, but more importantly, it was ball four on three of those four walks. Ohhhh dangit. He also went curve/splitter happy, which can work, but not if the splitter is just a 48% strike rate. Gotta fix that, and he should be comfortably in the zone next time against Rockie Road. Should be.
Tomoyuki Sugano (COL) @ LAD (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 83 pitches.
He got burned on a strike-three call to Ohtani whilst out of challenges, but it didn’t ultimately affect this one. Really? What did then? Being Sugano against the Dodgers did. Ohhh, right. Sorry fella.
Bubba Chandler (PIT) vs CHC (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 91 pitches.
Sigh. The command is still highly suspect. I’m watching a PEAS akin to Leiter in front of me and I can’t tell you when he’ll fix it. He just doesn’t work at-bats properly.
Jameson Taillon (CHC) @ PIT (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 75 pitches.
Blegh. I love seeing him go more inside to RHB, setting up outs on the sweeper away, but two four-seamers left the yard for all four runs and that’s your ballgame. I won’t rule out one or two six inning outings of production with ATH, SFG, @SFG on the horizon, and hopefully he can nail the fastball a little better.
Bryce Elder (ATL) @ BOS (L) – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 59 pitches.
This is the regression we expected to see – not longballs, but just guys getting far more hits on his pitches over the plate. He had allowed five hits in his first three frames without damage (you rascal!), but it felt like the Red Sox were catching a gazelle and eventually tired it out to take out Elder in the fourth. I was then shook when I saw the man who came in for cleanup duty in the fifth – our longtime friend Carlos Carrasco, who tossed four decent innings with two runs, five hits, no walks, and two strikeouts. Anyway, Elder has been so good for ages and it’s not fair to let him loose after not just one game, but one inning of true luck regression, but it sure does feel like this was a long time coming. I wonder if we’re waking up in a room lined with orange goo and seeds. IT WAS A PUMPKIN THIS WHOLE TIME?!
Connor Prielipp (MIN) @ CHW (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 93 pitches.
You may not have noticed that last Saturday’s SP Roundup was written by Jake Crumpler, and not me. He did a fantastic job (and will be writing it routinely on Saturday and Sunday this season!), aligning with me on nearly every take. There was one that he differed on, and guess what it was? Prielipp. He wasn’t buying the changeup coming together and the slider command was waning. And what do you know – the slider command was poor again + the changeup, albeit much more in the right spot to RHB, returned 1/17 whiffs. I should mention that the White Sox are a tougher squad than we remember, but after two poor days at the park, do you want to start Connor in another game against them? I’m inclined to let him loose for a moment, even if I see a legit arm over the course of the season. It happens all the time – some adjust quickly, others need more time to lock into place. Look at Roupp from last year to this one for a long-term one, and McCclanahan this year for a short-term example. You never know. If you can afford benching and holding, he’ll get the Royals + Cardinals after, and those may be appealing if he takes a step toward recovery.
Steven Matz (TBR) @ BAL (L) – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 62 pitches.
Matz located the changeup well, but the sinker was bad. Its sub-50% strike rate allowed the Orioles to thwack slowballs more than they should, and that’s your ballgame. The Tigers are next and that doesn’t spell start in my book. Just wait for Matz to prove his worth again until adding him.
Game of the Day
Chris Sale vs. Payton Tolle – Old school vs. new school vs. west coast kids stuck in school. It’s sad they can’t watch this live.
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 Ethan Kaplan (@djfreddie10.bsky.social on Blue Sky and @EthanMKaplanImages on Instagram)
