Tony Hawt

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 weekday mornings from 9 am-11 am ET.  

Tony Gonsolin (LAD) @ ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 92 pitches.

Last week I ranked Tony Gonsolin relatively low compared to what his season-long marks would have suggested. He’s a guy who’s had a decent amount of hype next to his name since a stellar 2020 campaign, and now with a locked spot in the Dodgers rotation, many believed I was grading him too harshly.

My reasoning was simple — his slider wasn’t what it used to be + he’s throwing softer. Without that slider, his worse fastball + a good but inconsistent splitter makes for a tough time.

Well, he dominated with his slider last week and did so again against the Diamondbacks via 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 92 pitches and it’s time for me to raise him up a decent amount on The List, likely to ~#45 or so. The slider wasn’t actually that great — 7/12 strikes with little impact — but the curveball showed up, the four-seamer owned the zone, and the splitter helped. He’s a good arm and stretched to 90+ pitches here and while the 1.80 ERA, 0.93 WHIP is absurd and will fall dramatically (hellllo 9%+ walk rate, 8% LOB rate, sub 10% HR/FB rate, and .250 BABIP!) he’s still someone worth rostering and rolling with until further notice, obviously. Yes, I’d sell high if someone buys Gonsolin as an SP #3 or so.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:

 

Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs HOU (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 100 pitches.

You love to see it. The secondaries still aren’t exactly what I want to see — 1/26 whiffs on sliders is such a disheartening stat — but it earned enough strikes to keep the Astros at bay. Meanwhile, the curveball showed up for a 69% strike rate and the fastball did its thing, and it makes for a starter you’re putting out there every five days. SP #3/4 is what I see for Gilbert given the lack of secondary consistency.

Joan Adon (WSH) vs COL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 89 pitches.

Whoa. This may be the Joan and only start we celebrate this year. Enjoy the Birthday Party as he collected four total whiffs here. Yikes.

JT Brubaker (PIT) @ SD (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 96 pitches.

That’s a streaming victory as Coffee Cakes wasn’t spectacular but put up a goose egg. The slider is back, and that paves the way for another possible stream against the Diamondbacks later in the week.

Matthew Liberatore (STL) vs MIL (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 93 pitches.

You love to see Liberatore get that free real estate with his curveball (seven called strikes, 67% strike rate) and do a better job of locating heaters. He executed the BSB decently well with secondaries down, though I think there’s still something missing here. Maybe it’s my skepticism of his heaters (and their tendency to fall into the heart of the plate), maybe it’s the slider/changeup being a bit too pedestrian. He could be worthwhile against the Cubs next time, but that’s not going to get a resounding endorsement from me.

Shane Bieber (CLE) @ DET (W) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 94 pitches.

Are you feeling weird seeing Bieber go eight strong with just five strikeouts or is it just me? The heater velocity is still down and I’d see this as a prime sell high given the lack of indication for it to come back any time soon. At least the breakers are still good, but anyone seeing a 3.19 ERA from Bieber and thinking he’s returned in some fashion should temper their expectations.

Sandy Alcantara (MIA) @ ATL (W) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 14 Ks – 27 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 108 pitches.

ACES. GONNA. ACE. It’s so wonderful to see Sandy do the thing and earn a Golden Goal, marking three straight starts of 8+ frames. I should have never doubted the man as he earned at least eight whiffs on each of his four-seamer, slider, and changeup. This start alone raised his strikeout rate to 24% as his Pitcher List page is all red, save for the walks that happened early in the season. Sigh. What a stud.

Corey Kluber (TB) vs NYY (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 80 pitches.

Awesome job from Kluber, though I will say that the Yankee offense is a bit…hampered at the moment without Donaldson or Stanton. He earned a ton of strikes with cutters and curveballs and found his way through six frames and could repeat that against the Rangers.

Gerrit Cole (NYY) @ TB (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 10 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 105 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. The slider is back — 10/29 whiffs — and it makes for fun days at the park.

Joe Musgrove (SD) vs PIT (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 96 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Oddly enough, the slider took a backseat to the curveball here, which did its part for a 43% CSW across 29% usage. He’s really good.

Vladimir Gutierrez (CIN) vs SF (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 83 pitches.

This is a Birthday Party that came with a 1.40 WHIP. Let that sink in.

Keegan Thompson (CHC) @ CWS (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 77 pitches.

I’m a bit surprised this one worked: This was the first game Thompson went above 65 pitches, and just the second game over five frames, armed with a middling fastball and not much else. I wouldn’t say I like KT Perry very much for your 12-teamers.

Tucker Davidson (ATL) vs MIA (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 77 pitches.

Hey, this isn’t bad from Tucker, fueled by a strong slider, but it looks like Spencer Strider is entering the rotation tomorrow and ousting Davidson. I wouldn’t expect much from Strider tomorrow as he’s not stretched out at all, but that’s an add in 12-teamers…if you can hold onto him for 10 days. It’s Arizona on a limited pitch count tomorrow, then a date in Coors. Rough.

Denyi Reyes (BAL) @ BOS (ND) – 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 61 pitches.

Ah yes, the non-bullpen-but-essentially-bullpen game from the Orioles. Let’s move on.

Nathan Eovaldi (BOS) vs BAL (W) – 9.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 108 pitches.

Hot dang, look at you! It’s as if you have to hit rock bottom to be the best man you can be. Funny enough, after his splitter was the hero of his last start, the pitch went just 2/25 CSW here, albeit with a good amount of outs in the field. Four-seamers and curveballs dominated like the good ole days and it was wonderful. And now the Athletics?! Yeeessss.

Chad Kuhl (COL) @ WSH (W) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 95 pitches.

Oh hey Kuhl, why couldn’t you do this against the Pirates?! His slider was back and did what it was supposed to, while the curve went 10/12 strikes. Atlanta is next and that’s a toss-up given Atlanta’s struggles against right-handers.

Alex Faedo (DET) vs CLE (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 94 pitches.

After Friday’s postponement (man, Faedo’s starts are constantly postponed), he was able to survive against the Guardians, kinda making this a posthumous streaming victory…? Nah. The slider wasn’t its amazing self (2/30 whiffs, yuck) and I’m out against the Twins.

Taylor Hearn (TEX) @ OAK (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 92 pitches.

That’s one ER away from a VPQS but I’m happy he Hearned a Win. Sadly, I think the jury has returned and made a verdict: This was a “streamable” start that didn’t instill enough confidence moving forward, making Hearn someone to keep ignoring. Court adjhearned.

Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) @ LAA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 87 pitches.

Are you happy with this start? That’s a 2.00 WHIP on the books for just a 3.60 ERA and four strikeouts. And now it’s the Twins and I’d rather sit this one out. I really don’t believe there’s a whole lot new to Kikuchi, though I will say I’m happy he sat 95/96 mph instead of 94/95 in this one. Okay if that sticks for a while, then I may be back in, but I doubt it. 96+ was where he succeeded last year.

Taijuan Walker (NYM) vs PHI (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 88 pitches.

I bet Walker’s middle name is Kenneth because he is Tai-one K. Walker. HAISTBMBWT?! Annnnnnyway, the four-seamer is still 93.3 mph and I don’t want to play this game with his lack of strong secondaries. Move on from Taijuan.

Michael Lorenzen (LAA) vs TOR (ND) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 103 pitches.

The Jays haven’t been as fearsome as I expected them to be in the preseason, and Lorenzen was able to survive nearly seven frames because of it. The man is essentially a Toby with a touch of strikeout upside and now the Phillies await. Can’t say I’m thrilled for that one, but I think you I’m letting him go there.

Alex Wood (SF) @ CIN (L) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 96 pitches.

Hmmmmmm. If this were 2 ER I think everyone would be feeling better about Wood, but 3 ER makes the ERA look a bit off and now we’re all ready to drop Wood. Nope, not me. COME ON NICK. Nah, the slider was legit! 41% CSW! 85% strike rate! His heater was at 92.8 mph as well and now it’s Miami + Rockie Road. I’m still leaning in, so grab yourself a root beer, sit back, and enjoy that AW.

Brady Singer (KC) @ MIN (W) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 90 pitches.

I’m happy the strikeouts were still here, but the changeup was not while the slider whiffs disappeared here. Now it’s the Astros and Jays and it could be some tough days ahead. We’ve seen this story of Singer as a two-pitch guy, and it doesn’t look a whole lot different these days, save for a guy locked in with his sinker currently (19 called strikes!).

Merrill Kelly (ARI) vs LAD (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 91 pitches.

Kelly is a Toby facing the mighty Dodgers. The changeup isn’t the same pitch we saw in April and while the 93/94 mph fastball has returned (yay!) it wasn’t enough. But now it’s the Pirates, so don’t do anything silly like benching him.

Jordan Lyles (BAL) @ BOS (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 93 pitches.

Lyles had to bring his best self and it wasn’t here. It was a low chance anyway and not what you wanted to go after.

Chris Archer (MIN) vs KC (L) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 78 pitches.

Oh hey, it’s Archer going just four frames once again for a HAISTBMBWT?! It’s wild for an Archer to miss our target of five frames so often.

Josh Winckowski (BOS) vs BAL (L) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 62 pitches.

If only their entire roster were 40-Wincks…wait, unless he were the full representation of Bugs Bunny or Agent Smith, that would be horrible. Josh sat 95 mph with a decent slider and it’s not worth 15-teamer consideration.

Zach Logue (OAK) vs TEX (L) – 2.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 56 pitches.

Okay fine, we’re done here. There was a touch of intrigue before but he struggled here and it’s time to Frozen Banana this at best for the left secondary switch trigger. Yeah, I went there for ZL.

Johnny Cueto (CWS) vs CHC (L) – 6.2 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 98 pitches.

And the story has reached its inevitable conclusion, even before the start against Toronto. At least he saved some of you there.

José Urquidy (HOU) @ SEA (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 12 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 93 pitches.

Blegh. The velocity came back down and we’re in droppable territory now as it seems like we experienced a Dennis last week. Okay, maybe hold for the Royals and take it from there…?

Adrian Houser (MIL) @ STL (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 73 pitches.

That’s a HAISTBMBWT?! for a guy who has a secure rotation spot for now…but may lose it when Freddy Peralta returns. Just a thought if Aaron Ashby does what we all think he should do. H*ck, let’s see how Ethan Small does tomorrow (91/92 mph with a good changeup). Unlikely for that to happen, but who knows what August looks like.

Zach Eflin (PHI) @ NYM (L) – 6.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 92 pitches.

While he did bring back the curveball — 24% usage! — but it didn’t matter as his sinker was demolished. I am slightly encouraged by that curveball’s return, though, and I wonder if all the hate drops/lack of interest from the wire makes for a solid stream in the future. The Angels are next and I could see that working as a desperate coin flip.

Aaron Sanchez (WSH) vs COL (ND) – 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 75 pitches.

Despite it being Rockie Road, Sanchez is a far cry from his exciting 2015 self. Some things change, Morpheus, and other things don’t. Man, I never liked that line.

Austin Gomber (COL) @ WSH (L) – 1.1 IP, 8 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 59 pitches.

Womp woooooomp. I was thinking of Gomber as a possible streamer here and it’s 2021 vs the Giants all over again. It doesn’t mean he won’t be of any value this point this year but boy do I feel bad for those who took a chance here. That’s baseball, Suzyn. 

 

Game of the Day 

Luis Severino vs. Shane McClanahan – GO WATCH THIS. NOW.

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 Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)