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 Playback.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Edward Cabrera (MIA) vs SFG (W) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 89 pitches.
I’m so happy to finally watch Edward Cabrera come through on his stuff. Yesterday’s 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 89 pitches outing against the Giants featured a near 70% strike rate with stellar changeups and sliders leading the way. But three walks! Pffft, one was strike three, and the other two walks I’m happy to hand wave. This was not the chaotic Cabrera of old.
We’ve seen this improved version of Cabrera for three straight games now and while he’s oddly hittable with 99 mph fastballs at times, his changeup + slider + curve combo are looking fantastic. He attacked batters with a gameplan instead of aiming for the middle of the plate, dangit! And now he has @TBR, @WSN, PHI, @SFG ahead. I’m so in for this, even if this rose will have a thorny game every so often.
Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:
Sonny Gray (STL) @ TEX (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 91 pitches.
Awwww yis. We got a Sonny day in Texas with a share of the Gallows Pole. The sweeper is BACK BAYBEE. We’re talking 9/20 whiffs and eight of Sonny’s ten punchouts all on the breaker and you keep twirling the finger demanding another round. Keep it coming.
Michael Wacha (KCR) vs DET (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 99 pitches.
Mmmmm that’s some good Wacha. His changeup is still fantastic and the rest of his arsenal filled in the gaps. Have a great time with the White Sox next.
Tarik Skubal (DET) @ KCR (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 90 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. No, he shouldn’t be pushed over 100 pitches every game. I know we all want the old era of starting pitchers, but you can’t just force that.
Bailey Falter (PIT) @ SDP (W) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 79 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! That’s a Gold Star for Falter along with a HAISTBMBWT?! as Koufax granted him six calm frames. Strange to see more sinkers than four-seamers and a large emphasis on the slider, though the latter looks like a new offering with two ticks extra velocity and a touch less break. It wasn’t the greatest weapon with just 2/17 whiffs and 18% CSW, but it got outs. We like outs. I don’t dig it enough to start him against the Phils, sadly, but maybe the Rays are reaching toward the phone soon…I CAN FEEL IT.
Spencer Schwellenbach (ATL) vs BOS (W) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 99 pitches.
YES. A King Cole for “Mr. Crescnedo” as he obliterated the Sawx with his four-seamer at a 49% CSW and 8/53 whiffs, while the splitter woke up for 7/16 whiffs on its own. He really just pounded the zone with fastballs and Boston gave him no reason to stop. This is the reverse of the Spencer we thought we were getting this year. Funny how that works.
Nick Lodolo (CIN) @ CHC (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 94 pitches.
Ohhhh baby. The changeup was killer against RHB here, used 40% of the time against them for 31% CSW and a ton of outs. I love Lodolo when the slowball is cooking and understanding that this came on an off-day for both his curve and four-seamer should reinforce its importance. Atta boy.
Drew Pomeranz (CHC) vs CIN (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 44% CSW, 9 pitches.
Kinda wild to see Pomeranz’s name in here again. Alas, it was just as an opener for Ben Brown, who strutted with pizzaz on the Reds Carpet, boasting 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 77 pitches in a redemption outing. It’s the same ole Brown as before with four-seamers and curves doing all the work and I’m still waiting for something else to help. Horton is the more refined pitcher of the two, which may take a rotation spot away from Brown when the logjam arrives.
Robbie Ray (SFG) @ MIA (L) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 98 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He’s been a stud for seven straight outings now, here earning a Gallows Pole via a changeup that went 12/32 whiffs. Wait, the changeup?! IT HAS COME ALIIIIIIVE!
Landon Knack (LAD) vs NYY (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 102 pitches.
Those walks are annoying, but hot dang Kanck, that’s a lovely outing. It sure helps to have a massive lead to get the runway for 102 pitches and six full frames, though the kick change went 7/32 whiffs and his heater pounded the zone for a 34% called strike rate – as it should in a blowout. Blame the slider and curve going 3/14 strikes between them for the worse WHIP. I don’t love the fastball/change combo a ton and would be surprised if he found five frames in his next outing against the Cardinals after getting pushed + unlikely to have such a large cushion on the scoreboard.
Dean Kremer (BAL) vs CHW (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 102 pitches.
Mr. Dean Werewolf has had a pattern of two duds and two studs for a while now, though this one clearly had Blame it on the White Sox written all over it. So many strikes on sinkers that weren’t hit into play and the splitter nor cutter were all that special. Be afraid of the Athletics and Tigers next.
Kodai Senga (NYM) vs COL (W) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 92 pitches.
Good ole Rockie Road, making us feel all cozy and safe. The cutter wasn’t the focus against RHB, with Senga exploring an 84 mph slider instead and it was…fine. Even had a few against LHB as well and overall, I’m for it. Why not expand the arsenal a touch for some different looks?
Chad Patrick (MIL) @ PHI (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 94 pitches.
He had to go just five frames to secure an easy Win and the mad man went a full six. No surprise to see the cutter as the star of the show, with a wide range of movement across all 52 he threw for a whopping 42% CSW. It’s a weird situation where I don’t quite buy the cutter as an elite pitch, nor do I trust Milwaukee to give him a long leash constantly. Throw in the Padres and I’m likely out, but I do like that cutter. If only he had one other pitch we could embrace. Great stuff here fella.
Patrick Corbin (TEX) vs STL (L) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 83 pitches.
Uhhh, we’ll take it. Corbin, look at you continuing to maintain some semblance of fantasy relevance. Maybe Washington was the problem all along…I don’t suggest going after him for the Rays and Twins, but stranger things have happened. Yeah, for four seasons. I can’t believe that show has one more season still on the docket.
Bailey Ober (MIN) @ SEA (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 97 pitches.
Great pitch separation from Ober and the slider did a great job at 75% strikes. Too many foul balls ruined his efficiency here, sadly, and it really does look like Eno nailed it on Ober in the preseason. He’s fine as a low-end Holly, but he won’t have a major impact on your team.
Zack Littell (TBR) @ HOU (W) – 9.0 IP, 3 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 117 pitches.
Whoa, they really let Littell go a full nine frames and 117 pitches?! It was a blowout. Ohhhh, right right. Still, pretty bonkers. And those who want to get all hyped about it, that’s a 3.00 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. Not really that spectacular, you know? We normally see a hangover from 110+ pitch games, too, which may come to bite those who lean into Littell after this. But it’s the Marlins! That’s true and yet I still won’t circle it.
Dylan Cease (SDP) vs PIT (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 95 pitches.
Cease. Buddy. Pal. You can’t keep doing the same thing over and over again. We need you. You need you. The cutter will save you…
Bryce Miller (SEA) vs MIN (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 71 pitches.
He’s back! And still favoring sinkers over four-seamers to RHB, albeit 13-to-12. It’s so weird. Just 6/13 strikes on the sinker, too, though 1/26 whiffs on four-seamers isn’t the greatest endorsement. Oh, can you also get the splitter down? And the curve? You know, can you just fix all of this Points at everything. Fine, this was a Still ILL and I should give him some slack, though he mentioned he can absolutely feel the problem in his elbow and he’s pitching now instead of getting season-ending surgery. Take that as you will.
Davis Martin (CHW) @ BAL (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 82 pitches.
A pair of poor cutters returned two bombs and three runs, ruining what was otherwise a strong performance. I can see how the changeup, four-seamer, and cutter (when it’s not terrible) can work as a trio + they can welcome in a surprise with sinkers over the plate to RHB for called strikes. Not the most upside and the White Sox ruin his Win chances, but I can see 15-teamer production. Not against the Tigers, though.
Kyle Hendricks (LAA) @ CLE (ND) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 86 pitches.
A pair of longballs in the fifth and sixth prevented a QS for Hendricks and I’m sure many of you were twisting your mustaches thinking you were soooo smart. At least you know it’s still in there for Hendricks to pull off a PQS and maybe you’ll chase that later in the year.
Michael Soroka (WSN) @ ARI (W) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 94 pitches.
After getting an eight run lead before picking up the pearl, Soroka just had to throw strikes and get through five for an easy Win. Nice job, I think you’re good enough to face the laboring Rangers crew.
Colton Gordon (HOU) vs TBR (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 75 pitches.
Not so terrible here from Gordon as the roof blew off this one like…Sorry. He’s facing the Rays, they don’t deserve that. Ahem. This became a blowout with the Rays scoring 12 runs in the final three frames, little at fault of Gordon. Still, he’s not bringing anything special to the table for me to consider him for my leagues.
Walker Buehler (BOS) @ ATL (L) – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 106 pitches.
The fourth messed him up, sure, but so did the sinker over the plate as he’s still trying to navigate at-bats without dominating them. You really can’t trust him to come through against the Yankees and I don’t recommend holding tight past that one.
Slade Cecconi (CLE) vs LAA (ND) – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 95 pitches.
I didn’t expect much from Cecconi here and his heater got blasted. Keep him on the wire for the Astros, but the Reds Carpet may get us interested.
Braydon Fisher (TOR) vs ATH (ND) – 1.1 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 35 pitches.
He was opening for Easton Lucas (whoops) and at least Lucas performed well for 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks and a Win after. He found the plate more than we saw in his horrible outings prior, and we got his heater up to 95 mph in this one, with the same 17/18″ of vert. Don’t love the locations over the plate, though, and I’m not interested if he gets more spots.
Antonio Senzatela (COL) @ NYM (L) – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 82 pitches.
Senz-A recorded his tenth loss of the season. Senz-A does what Senz-A does.
Will Warren (NYY) @ LAD (L) – 1.1 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 57 pitches.
Saturday was a day of destruction. Warren had the most understandable nightmare with a date against the Dodgers and I don’t think he was as atrocious as the line looks. It doesn’t help allowing a three run shot in the fourth, of course, but he did strikeout Ohtani on a filthy set of changeups. IT’S STILL THERE. I’m starting him against the Sawx and not thinking twice.
Gunnar Hoglund (ATH) @ TOR (L) – 6.0 IP, 8 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 93 pitches.
Hoglund was the least likely of these arms to be on your fantasy squads, but that doesn’t make it hurt less. I’m still shocked to see him lean more sinker than four-seamer, but it didn’t really matter as the Jays had his number across the board. Let’s not touch this at all.
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs WSN (L) – 0.0 IP, 8 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 31 pitches.
He got got. Baseball will do that to you at times. A pair of HBPs and some questionable defense, sure, but the Nationals were able to put the ball in play and they were able to knock out Pfaadt without inducing an out. No, he’s not cooked. Yes, I’m starting Pfaadt in Cincy. He’s not terrible, y’all.
Jesús Luzardo (PHI) vs MIL (L) – 3.1 IP, 12 ER, 12 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 76 pitches.
Oh. Oh. When we say regression will hit, we don’t mean all of it in one game. I could say lots of things, like some weird hits and getting squeezed and STOP THROWING OUTSIDE FASTBALLS TO HOSKINS but in the end, we accept the result and forget about it. His velocity is still there, the sweeper is still there, and he probably should have tried a few more changeups to RHB. We definitely start him against the Pirates.
Game of the Day
Hayden Birdsong vs. Ryan Weathers – Two Frizzle arms facing weaker lineups. (I’m sorry I got this out so late and this game already happened. It was a lovely wedding!)
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 Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)
