Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Tuesday 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.
Frankie Montas (CIN) vs ARI (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 87 pitches.
Remember Frankie Montas? You know, the boring stalwart of Oakland, traded to the Yankees where he did nothing, signed with the Reds this off-season, took a comebacker to the arm, went on the IL, and has already returned? Who? Ugh, the guy who just went 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 87 pitches as he hosted the Sneks in Cin City (and still lost). Who? You know what, that’s probably for the best.
I’m glad Montas was throwing harder in this one. His four-seamer fell to just 94 mph before his IL stint, and it’s wonderful to see him comfortably hit 99 mph in this one as he settled in at 96 mph. However, despite that velocity, Montas’ success was still difficult to come by without his splitter and slider working in tandem. This start didn’t feature the pair doing a whole lot of work, sadly, and watching an array of upper-half sinkers and four-seamers returned nearly all of Montas’ outs in play felt wrong to watch.
I could be very wrong here and a start against the Giants in Oracle Park seems like a decent play. You get to test the waters on Montas without risking a horrific floor, though you’re destined to move on when he faces the Dodgers up next. If you need a streamer, sure, go for Montas. If you’re looking to fill in a spot for a few weeks or more, I think I’d try something else. The velocity could fall and our concerns about his home park + slider/splitter consistency are still very much present.
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Patrick Sandoval (LAA) @ PIT (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 103 pitches.
The mad man did it again! Here with a King Cole and today’s Gold Star, The Irish Panda located his sliders, curves, and changeups…up and super hittable inside the zone. Hmmmmm. At least he’s just 30% fastball now and that aforementioned curve is getting more of a feature while the slider and changeup were effective despite less precision than the line would suggest. I guess Blame it on the Pirates? I feel like it’s enough to give it a go against the Royals and hope for the best.
Kyle Harrison (SFG) @ COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 86 pitches.
Blame it on the Rockies. Seriously, even in Coors. I’m not seeing anything new here to suggest that Harrison is showing anything new in or out of his arsenal (five whiffs? 23% CSW?!), but why not give it a whirl against the Reds when they come into town over the weekend. You could do worse.
Zac Gallen (ARI) @ CIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 79 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Glad to see he’s alright after leaving his last start early, though I should note – his heater was not what we want it to be tonight. It worked out (one hit?! In Cin City?!) and I think he got away with this one.
Trevor Williams (WSN) vs BAL (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 77 pitches.
#NeverTrevor. BUT NICK. Nope. You can do whatever you want, I refuse to believe this 1.96 ERA is here to stay. The new sweeper had a 13% CSW and a 38% strike rate in this one. He had more strikeouts than whiffs. He hasn’t allowed a home run yet. Don’t be the one holding the rotting pumpkin.
Zach Eflin (TBR) vs CHW (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 94 pitches.
Ayyyy, that’s cool. Ish. Three strikeouts with a 24% CSW and just four whiffs is incredibly pedestrian, and watching this made me roll my eyes as he hurled cutters, sinkers, and curves down the pipe without punishment. Welcome to the CrySox. We’re not out of the woods yet.
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) vs TOR (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 89 pitches.
Sinker called strikes? 39% CSW changeups? 82% strike rate sliders? OH WE BACK BAYBEEE. Don’t you ever leave us again.
Luis Gil (NYY) vs HOU (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 97 pitches.
ATTA BOY. Sure, it came with four walks and neither his slider nor changeup returned a 60% strike rate. HOWEVER, the pitch separation was excellent – his four-seamer hung out in the top half of the zone, while the changeup fell underneath. This wasn’t chaotic, but unpolished. There’s a difference. I want to believe he’ll keep building on starts like these and I’d start him against the Rays up next.
Reynaldo López (ATL) vs BOS (ND) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 91 pitches.
This was pretty much fastball/slider game and he was not as sharp as we’ve seen, failing to execute sliders when needed. And yet he still survived. I’m worried he’s headed for a nose dive after a ridiculous start to the year, but we keep pressing forward until the results catch up to him. The quiet Vargas Rule…
José Ureña (TEX) @ OAK (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 90 pitches.
What is it with random pitchers you’ve completely forgotten about getting a random chance each year and having a surprise Birthday Party? Blame it on the Athletics or Blame it on the romanticism of baseball, it doesn’t matter. You don’t want to roster Ureña.
Randy Vásquez (SDP) @ CHC (ND) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 83 pitches.
83 pitches is a longer leash than I expected, though Randy’s inefficiency still got him pulled before five full. Rockie Road is up next and you may be tempted to go for that one – Vásquez’s curveball did look as good as I’ve seen all year. Up to you, I’m cool with it in NL-Only leagues, but I suggest turning elsewhere in shallower formats.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD) vs MIA (W) – 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 97 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. HE’S BEGINNING TO BELIEVE. We finally saw high four-seamers from Yamamoto and what do we get? A HR on his first pitch of the game? THAT WAS DOWN THE PIPE. Nay, we got saw 9/39 four-seamer whiffs with a 44% CSW. Just look at these four-seamers that returned whiffs. IT’S FINALLY HAPPENING.
Shota Imanaga (CHC) vs SDP (ND) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 102 pitches.
Aces gonna ace and return a Gallows Pole. 15/38 splitter whiffs is dumb while the four-seamer did everything else. He didn’t even locate his heater as well as we’ve seen, landing middle-middle plenty. That splitter was just too dang good.
Kutter Crawford (BOS) @ ATL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 87 pitches.
Look at you Kutter. Sure, the Atlanta offense hasn’t been it’s best self, but this is a lovely outing with 4+ whiffs each on your main four pitches. I gotta stop questioning you and just believe in the mix, and sometimes we get lucky and see 4/10 splitter whiffs. That’s when you know you’ve made it.
Bailey Ober (MIN) vs SEA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 84 pitches.
A good ole Bailey Special in the evening always does the trick. I appreciate you Ober, you got your four-seamer command back in order at the top of the zone. No place like home.
Seth Lugo (KCR) vs MIL (ND) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 77 pitches.
It’s a Careful, Icarus with the final run coming in the seventh, but it won’t ruin our love for Lugo as he’s been on a phenomenal run. I’m still skeptical long-term, but we ride this one out until it stops giving.
Corbin Burnes (BAL) @ WSN (L) – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 95 pitches.
Aces gonna bow our heads and accept that Wheeler is the new SP #1. I didn’t want to do this Burnes, you gave me no choice. Zack is just too sturdy and you shouldn’t try to re-invent the Wheeler.
Michael Soroka (CHW) @ TBR (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 102 pitches.
The changeup is bad and all Soroka really has is a decent slider. At least he’s living around the edges with his heater, even if it led to those four walks. We need more.
José Buttó (NYM) @ STL (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 89 pitches.
Hmmmm. You got a Win, but the ratios with just three strikeouts make this feel a whole like a Dusty Donut. Definitely let Buttó go back to the wire now – the Phils are on the horizon and José doesn’t have much in the tank to deal with them.
Quinn Priester (PIT) vs LAA (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 74 pitches.
Womp womp. The slider and curve that dominated last time out? They got 2/29 whiffs with just terrible command. WHERE’S SKENES.
Colin Rea (MIL) @ KCR (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 65 pitches.
Reminiscent of my stumble in my living room earlier today, Ah, the floor. There’s a chance it’s better against the Pirates, just ask yourself “what am I truly hoping for?” A free pint of Ben & Jerry’s. Oh. In that case, what is “free?” If it takes a full hour of asking your friends to get a free pint, is that better than putting in work for $20/hr and buying it yourself? So don’t start Rea? Probably not, no. He’s too mediocre. But what if I’m already committed? Then I hope you can gorge on that free pint of Ben & Jerry’s.
Emerson Hancock (SEA) @ MIN (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 76 pitches.
Yeaaaaah, you really shouldn’t be starting Hancock. It’s a HAISTBMBWT?! and your toast deserves better.
Dakota Hudson (COL) vs SFG (L) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 95 pitches.
Yup. That’s Dakota, alright. COL story, bro.
Edward Cabrera (MIA) @ LAD (L) – 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 58 pitches.
Yeaaaaaah. He left this one early with biceps soreness, too, as if you needed any more reason to let this go. Sigh. He looked so good in that first start. It’s in there and he just can’t find the groove to make it happen. Poor guy.
Ross Stripling (OAK) vs TEX (L) – 1.2 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 60 pitches.
Ouch. This wasn’t a start to target and I had no expectation Stripling would turn into FAAB Ross.
Miles Mikolas (STL) vs NYM (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 75 pitches.
Please stop starting Mikolas. It’s not me. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
Justin Verlander (HOU) @ NYY (L) – 5.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 97 pitches.
Oh snap. Verlander got pummeled by the Yankees with 0/46 four-seamer whiffs and too many secondaries over the plate. Maybe I was too kind on Verlander during The List this week or maybe he looks more like the guy we love against the Athletics. Let’s wait until that start to reserve judgement.
Logan Allen (CLE) vs DET (ND) – 2.1 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 67 pitches.
Bleeegggggh. And here I felt weird not making him the streaming pick of the day. Sweepers and changeups were terrible, fastballs didn’t land upstairs, and it was the worst of Logan we’ve seen all year. And guess what? I’m still considering him for the stream against the White Sox. This was an exception, not the rule. DON’T LET EMOTION CLOUD YOUR JUDGMENT. I’m emotional because you’re screaming at me. DON’T LET IT CLOUD YOUR JUDGMENT. I’m TRYING.
Kenta Maeda (DET) @ CLE (ND) – 2.0 IP, 7 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 59 pitches.
He’s a pure Cherry Bomb with a floor you really want to avoid. We know this. Well, I understand those who started Maeda after two straight decent outings, and I feel for y’all. At least we’re all on the same page moving forward.
José Berríos (TOR) @ PHI (L) – 3.2 IP, 8 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 90 pitches.
Oh no. I expressed my concerns about this start (I even made it my sit of the week on the Fireside Chat podcast that comes out Wednesday), but I didn’t expect this. We saw Berríos’ curve take a step back in his last start and it began jogging backward here, creating a whole lot of trouble for the man heavily due for regression. It was bound to happen! I mean, sure, the luck was bound to sort itself out, but his actual feel for his sinker and curve? Naaah, that could have stuck. These are general valleys for a few starts, not just one, which has me benching him against the Orioles up next, too. Sigh. The Great Undulator hath returned.
Game of the Day
Nick Pivetta vs. Chris Sale – Pivetta returns from the IL + Sale just got his AGA tag.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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