Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup: T-Lex Exhibition

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 Playback.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.

Tyler Alexander (TBR) vs CHW (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 75 pitches.

Sure, it was just four frames, but Tyler Alexander has brought up an interesting question tonight – where do we draw the line at value? His 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 75 pitches line against the White Sox doesn’t come with beneficial ratios, but seven strikeouts without a massive downside should not be overlooked. Blame it on the White Sox, Nick. There’s no reason to dawdle. You might be right…but maybe not?

It’s the first start Alexander has fanned more than four batters and he located all of his pitches incredibly well around the zone – all four earned at least three whiffs apiece. But he’s getting ousted from the rotation! Bradley is showing up and Pepiot will be fine, leaving Alexander the odd man out. Yup. Why are you okay with this? Because now he’ll likely be the backup and steal Wins in the fifth frame from Bradley. YOU MAD MAN.

In all seriousness, I understand those who want to play that game with T-Lex. He does enough with his slow repertoire to steal a Win at the back-end of a piggy-back start, especially if the Rays offense steps up as we expect them to. Is it my favorite game to play? Not really, but don’t overlook it as an option. It’s a good thing that T-Lex isn’t expected to start moving forward.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:

 

Zack Wheeler (PHI) vs SFG (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 11 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 102 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Is he ready to be SP #1? Probably…? That’s a Golden Goal and it’s honestly expected these days. That four-seamer is arguably the best in baseball.

Alex Wood (OAK) vs TEX (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 78 pitches.

Excuse me Wood, I didn’t know you wanted to earn tonight’s Gold Star so badly. This was filled with plenty of luck because, you know, It’s Alex, and you’re better off forgetting this happened. But hey, nice job locating your changeup, I dare you to do it again. Awwww, now you’ve jinxed it. Don’t worry, I’ve already knocked on Wood. AYYYYY.

Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) vs SEA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 82 pitches.

This was the best commanded game from SWR with four-seamers up-and-armside, changeups down underneath the fastball, and sliders + curves around the rest of the zone. I’m not a major believer after this one, sadly. I’m not ready to believe he can locate like this constantly + his stuff isn’t the demanding success. I think I’d pass against the Jays next.

Bryse Wilson (MIL) @ KCR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 89 pitches.

Ummmm that’s just three ER allowed in 20 IP as a starter for Wilson this year and this one might be my favorite. Wilson was impeccable as he avoided the heart of the plate, staying up and out of the zone with four-seamers, while landing down and along the edges with both his cutter and curve. He deserved this one, and yeah, I know how wild that sounds. I guess I’m slightly endorsing him for a stream against the Cardinals next…WHAT IS THIS WORLD??

Yu Darvish (SDP) @ CHC (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 83 pitches.

Great low sliders + enough fastballs and friends inside the zone got Darvish through this one. As long as that slider holds a 35%+ CSW like this one, all should work well.

Justin Steele (CHC) vs SDP (ND) – 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 68 pitches.

He returned from the IL and his command was off. Both the heater and slider were erratic and I’m happy he was able to get through the outing without his premier stuff. Expect better moving forward.

Mitch Keller (PIT) vs LAA (W) – 9.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 109 pitches.

It’s incredibly rare to see just three total pitchers in one game as Keller led the way with a Complete Game against the Angels…with a 6% SwStr rate. A diminished rate is expected for a CG – you need to be efficient with your pitches per out! – but hot dang, does Keller still struggle to showcase sustainable skills we can latch onto. Sorry Keller, I just can’t lean into your Cherry Bomb ways.

Andrew Heaney (TEX) @ OAK (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 97 pitches.

Atta boy Heaney! The BSB is alive and well + I’m starting to believe he’s figured out a tweak to locate his arsenal more consistently than ever before. With Coors up next, I think I’d take the gamble – Heaney is locked in.

Triston McKenzie (CLE) vs DET (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 83 pitches.

Ummmm. It’s really weird how Triston announced he was pitching through a torn ligament and has since shoved. Thing is, this was very clearly a Blame it on the Tigers with a sub 50% strike on both his slider and curve, while the four-seamer was terribly spotted over the plate. But it’s the CrySox next! Okay fine, that’s the last one. You gotta run him out while you still can.

Jack Flaherty (DET) @ CLE (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 101 pitches.

Another start of Flaherty’s four-seamer coming through at 94/95 mph and 46% CSW, while his slider and curve did their part, and that’s your ballgame. Why can’t he always have a good four-seamer…

Cole Ragans (KCR) vs MIL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 95 pitches.

Aces gonna ace for a share of the Gallows Pole. A 95 mph heater down-and-in to Gary Sánchez was the only blemish in this one, accounting for both runs as the ball sailed over the left-centerfield fence. The Kraken will always haunt me. He still has some work to do with his slider (just 4/12 strikes), but the change and curve were disgusting here. Pew Pew Pew, y’all.

Kyle Gibson (STL) vs NYM (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 91 pitches.

Just one run away from a VPQS on a night where he was awfully hittable. I guess we’ll take it and run away. Far far away.

Luis Castillo (SEA) @ MIN (L) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 98 pitches.

Aces gonna ace with a Careful, Icarus. Great to see his changeup dominating once again, while the four-seamer locations are stellar upstairs. He’s cooking.

Sean Manaea (NYM) @ STL (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 89 pitches.

Ehhhhh, I didn’t like Manaea hurling sinkers and cutters over the plate and hoping for the best, but it clearly worked for a PQS and Win. We’ll take it, I guess.

Walker Buehler (LAD) vs MIA (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 77 pitches.

We’ve waited a long time to watch Buehler step onto the mound again, and this certainly wasn’t great on paper. The thing is, his four-seamer should be elite: It sat 95/96 with a fantastically flat attack angle and above average iVB and extension. The problem? He couldn’t spot it. The pitch was either wildly out of the zone in every way or far too hittable. It meant the foundational heater went just 2/22 whiffs, including a pair of hits on heaters outside the zone. If only he had proper upper-third command…MEANWHILE, the cutter looks great at 90/91 mph, though he went the Canibal McSanchez route instead of sticking it down-and-gloveside and I’m not sure I’m an advocate of that. After all, the pitch allowed a home run to Nick Gordon simply because he sat heater and flung the bat out as the ball fell back into the zone at a slower velocity. I’m refusing to go to a new paragraph break, so I’ll close with saying that Buehler has the stuff to make it all work, but the approach and feel aren’t there yet. Give it some time, I believe in him. But the Dodgers don’t like high heaters. WELL THEY SHOULD.

Mike Clevinger (CHW) @ TBR (L) – 2.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 54 pitches.

Don’t play the Treble Clev.

Tyler Anderson (LAA) @ PIT (L) – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 93 pitches.

Despite not having his sharpest stuff throughout the game, all the damage came in a disastrous blow in the third – a grand slam off a hanging curveball. Womp womp, I’d still consider Tyler Anderson in deeper leagues for a QS against the Royals next.

Mason Black (SFG) @ PHI (L) – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 84 pitches.

Not a fun debut for Mason. He’s sporting a 92 mph heater with a decent attack angle that can do well upstairs + a great sweeper. Think Christian Scott but far worse on both accounts. There is a sinker in there as well, but the overall package requires better spots than what we saw today, and yes, I’m including his first frame (he got away with a few pitches there). However, you may be looking forward to the weekend with Black as on Friday Saturday he’s likely facing the Reds in Oracle Park. That feels relatively safe to roll with Black.

Roddery Muñoz (MIA) @ LAD (ND) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 104 pitches.

It was the Dodgers and Muñoz may be replaced by Garrett by the end of the week. Bummer, I kinda dig the fella. If he somehow finds a start against the Tigers next week, count me in.

 

Game of the Day

 

Justin Verlander vs. Luis Gil – Does Verlander still have it? Can Gil throw enough strikes to make it work?

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 Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Aaron Polcare (@bearydoesgfx on Twitter)