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 Twitch.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Shane Drohan (MIL) vs SFG (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 68 pitches.
The Brewers promoted Shane Drohan from the role as their savior bulk reliever to a proper starter on Monday, where he produced a middling line of 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 68 pitches (ND). There’s clear upside in there (19% overall SwStr rate), but is he worthwhile for your fantasy rosters?
I believe we should be riding with Drohan…after his next start. The first reason is obvious – it’s Coors – and the second is more about his usage. We’ll get a sense if the Brewers plan to push him comfortably past 70 pitches when in Colorado, or if he’ll stick in the 60-70 range and possibly get the axe when Brandon Woodruff or Logan Henderson return.
But let’s say Milwaukee gives him some runway. Drohan is a southpaw armed with a 95/96 mph four-seamer that can miss bats (27% SwStr here!), with a BSB attack paired with sliders and the rare curveball down. The 87 mph slider comes with more sweep than expected with sizeable drop, and the fastball’s 15″ of vert + 1.3 HAVAA works well at the low ~30 degree arm angle. A mediocre sinker finds its way into the mix at times, too, though it doesn’t come with the best accuracy and risks punishment…like the two-run shot to Chapman that sat right down the pipe. Yikes.
If Drohan were able to find a changeup, I’d be glazing for a long time. There was none to be found here, while two cutters made their presence known with good movement at 91 mph, and I hope he can find the inside edge to RHB with the pitch when he gets more opportunities.
I don’t want to shortchange the curveball, either. It was featured as an early called strike offering, but it could be more at 81/82 mph and legit two-plane movement at 10″+ drop and sweep. It may be the third-time-through option Drohan turns to in the future.
As of now, he’s not a must-add given the poor matchup and playing time concerns ahead. If we get the green light (watch his pitch count over the weekend), I’m down. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:
Jacob deGrom (TEX) @ STL (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 91 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. The slider, change, and curve missed all the bats, while an inefficient first few frames knocked him out earlier than usual. All wonderful here. (View Game Card)
Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI) vs LAD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 96 pitches.
Against the Dodgers?! That’s super fun and unexpected. He sat 1-2 ticks up on everything and despite facing Los Angeles, Koufax was on his side. Props to him for throwing strikes and spotting the changeup well, but this was mostly about balls finding gloves instead of grass – 75% hard contact on eight four-seamers in play equated to zero hits for the Dodgers. The Nats are next for this 15-team Toby and you know the drill. (View Game Card)
Sean Manaea (NYM) @ SEA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 63 pitches.
Whoa whoa whoa, Manaea is back at 92 mph again?! He was down to the mid-to-high 80s in the spring and told us he had no idea why. Manaea at 92 mph is far better, boasting 20″ of run on his sinker + a big boi sweeper at 75/76 mph and 18″ of sweep. This isn’t just the King Cole, it’s the clear Gold Star where he would have earned a dub if not for lol Mets, coming in after an opener (we like that). I wish he threw more sweepers for strikes (43% = blegh), but he does get the Padres up next and they sure hate southpaws. Even at 70+ pitches, that may be worthwhile. Just don’t anticipate a run like we saw in mid-2024. (View Game Card)
Luinder Avila (KCR) @ CIN (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 86 pitches.
Avila features an Empty Velocity four-seamer at 96/97 mph, goes Dancing With The Disco to RHB, and features a mishmash of changeups, heaters, and curves to LHB. It’s not the most compelling package, but if he could locate the slider in a deadlier spot to RHB, I’d expect more than three whiffs off the pitch in its future. This isn’t the latest young arm to chase. (View Game Card)
Emmet Sheehan (LAD) @ ARI (L) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 92 pitches.
Oh baby, WE GOT 96 Y’ALL. So why did he just return five whiffs? I’m not entirely sure, save for a 29% foul ball rate on his heater. That’s a high mark and will likely convert to whiffs in the future. Regardless, it’s the fourth 2 ER or fewer game from Sheehan in his last five. I’m happy to see him settle into some sense of stability. (View Game Card)
Emerson Hancock (SEA) vs NYM (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 91 pitches.
We’re back over 8″ of vert, so at least we’re not declining further, eh? The cutter’s precision down to LHB was awesome, and it’s cool seeing sweepers and curveballs earn strikeouts alongside the four-seamer’s trio of punchouts (two called, for what it’s worth). I still feel it’s all a little precarious without a money pitch (low strike rate sweepers, just 1/37 four-seamer whiffs, albeit a strikeout, etc.) but the results are just too good. (View Game Card)
Michael McGreevy (STL) vs TEX (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 87 pitches.
A weird one here where three hits came off some excellent pitches, while Koufax guided so many mistake pitches toward his teammates, allowing for only 2 ER in six frames despite a HAISTBMBWT?! You know how I feel about McGreevy at this point, and you do you with a game hosting Cincy up next. (View Game Card)
Cade Cavalli (WSN) vs MIA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 89 pitches.
Cavalli does a great job taking advantage of good matchups, even if this is a bit of a Dusty Donut without the best ERA, no Win and a 1.60 WHIP. Sidenote: It looks like Cavalli is trying out a cut-fastball at 95 mph. Not quite a cutter, but there’s a true glob with different movement removed from his other fastballs (you can see the red blob in the game card). I’m not the biggest believer in the “Cavalli Breakout” as even the kindest stretch starting on April 23rd returns a 3.40 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP…and 28% strikeout rate. You started with both 10 strikeout games, didn’t you. Sure did. I think he’s fine to roll out against the Sneks, but I implore you to keep your eyes on the wire for an upgrade. (View Game Card)
José Soriano (LAA) vs COL (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 7 BBs, 7 Ks – 22 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 108 pitches.
Oh jeez. The inability to throw strikes has obviously returned (sub 60% strikes on everything except his…slider?!), even with the gift of Rockie Road in front of him. Am I allowed to move him down to the 40s/50s now? We’ve had 18 walks across his last four games now, and that includes a game of just one walk in the mix. I’m glad he still earned a Gallows Pole, but the reliability isn’t there. (View Game Card)
Ty Madden (DET) @ TBR (ND) – 3.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 48 pitches.
It was a Still ILL for a guy I wouldn’t have started if stretched out over 70 pitches. It’s unclear if he makes another start and let’s move on. (View Game Card)
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) @ WSN (W) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 95 pitches.
Watching this game, you can clearly see how it works. Then he flips a 2-2 curveball over the plate, the ball soars over the wall, and two runs score. He’s not getting the whiffs he used to on his four-seamer and he remains a HIPSTER who could go on a run like he did last year. Or not. For his sake, I hope he does soon – there’s not much time left before the deadline. (View Game Card)
Joe Ryan (MIN) vs CHW (W) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 98 pitches.
Aces gonna have the best arsenal of his career, but make a few mistakes (mostly two poor sweepers over the plate) and allow a pair of HRs and too many runs for a Dusty Donut. Trade for Ryan if you can. Seriously. (View Game Card)
Brandon Leibrandt (CIN) vs KCR (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 99 pitches.
He throws mid-to-low 80s from the left side, featuring changeups with a sub 50% strike rate as his #1 pitch. He spots well to RHB, but this ain’t it. Consider him a worse Fratty Pirate. Maybe the rushing Pirate? (View Game Card)
Kyle Freeland (COL) @ LAA (ND) – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 91 pitches.
Well that happened. Anyway… (View Game Card)
Griffin Jax (TBR) vs DET (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 72 pitches.
I know I’m going to sound bonkers, but Jax didn’t pitch nearly as badly as it looks. Yes, he allowed back-to-back-back jacks in the third, but only one was off a truly bad pitch. His stuff is stellar: Sweeper was mostly on the edges, sinker was great, changeup is nasty and often lands down-and-away to LHB, four-seamer missed bats, and he’s still flirting with 96 mph despite breaking the 70 pitch mark for the first time. It’s possible the comebacker messed him up a little more than he’s let on and I implore you not to rage drop with the Marlins up next. A 19% SwStr rate is often outrageous, but with his stuff? Not so much. This could be a Marlins feast when he doesn’t have to endure a tough offense like the Tigers. (View Game Card)
David Sandlin (CHW) @ MIN (L) – 4.0 IP, 8 ER, 8 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 80 pitches.
Oh jeez. This one hurt as Sandlin still had remarkable stuff, but wasn’t in a groove with his arsenal. It wasn’t super wild, just missing a bit too far off the plate with his cutter or curve, while the fastball was the actual problem with donut command – down the pipe or an easy take out of the zone. I really do love his embrace of his 91 mph cutter gloveside, though, and now it’s a moment to dial it back a touch, allow the other offerings to appear (just three changeups?! I guess he axed it when he had no feel for it after the first two frames). I’m not counting him out, but sure, drop for now against the Phillies and see how he responds. After all, he may not stick around once the White Sox are fully healthy (I think he should). (View Game Card)
Landen Roupp (SFG) @ MIL (L) – 4.0 IP, 8 ER, 8 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 96 pitches.
Oooooofff. Roupp’s command fell apart, likely due to a back injury that flared up in the second. Say what?! Yeah, he mentioned postgame that he regrets not mentioning it during the game. It could mean an IL stint, which I’d be devastated to see, and I’m holding my breath for now. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Davis Martin vs. Connor Prielipp – Will Martin keep it going? Can Prielipp get back on track?
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 Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)
