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.
Quinn Priester (MIL) vs ATL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 96 pitches.
We’re all incredibly excited about the Brewers called up Jacob Misiorowski (I’ll be streaming the game LIVE on Playback at 7:30pm ET Thursday night!), but what if I told you the Brewers already had a pitcher rostered in 5% of leagues with a 2.23 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across his last six starts? And a 20% strikeout rate. Sure, that’s why Quinn Priester isn’t rostered more, and it was a lower clip before last night’s 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 96 pitches (W) against Atlanta, though there is clearly something going on here and not just going to one knee to give him a Gold Star.
A fair amount of that something was good fortune, I’m sad to say. Priester’s sinker allowed plenty of balls in play that weren’t lucky (6/10 BABIP), though I don’t see it as a pitch that demands to find gloves. Thing is, the timing of those hits worked heavily in his favor and he was able to squeeze out of jams with his cutter and slider. That’s pitchability! Sure, it’s also not going to work like this often.
The slider was a good offering down-and-away to RHB and it remains the best tool in the utility belt, while the 92/93 mph cutter is pulling off the Canibal McSanchez decently well. Are they elite offerings? I don’t believe so. Merged with the very hittable sinker at 94 mph, it’s all…meh.
It’s difficult to determine Milwaukee’s schedule at the moment with Misiorowski’s callup + Woodruff’s rehab (I’m starting to believe that Woodruff is going to disappoint heavily and I really hate to type that), though it’s safe to assume Priester faces the Cubs next and that’s a clear avoid. It may be worth the stream against Pittsburgh in deeper leagues, though the floor is still highly suspect. Let’s not get wrapped up in a moment of bliss.
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Andrew Abbott (CIN) @ CLE (W) – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 110 pitches.
LOOK. AT. YOU. That’s a marvelous CGSHO from Abbott and I have to admit, it’s weird and doesn’t quite make sense and I don’t really care? I say that and can point to his sweeper sitting down-and-away effectively to LHB with changeups returning a 72% strike rate and living in loLoc + curveballs returning a whopping 93% strike rate and barely getting punished, all things that are obviously great. But how does he get away with a 93 mph heater with average movement, attack angle, and extension? He located it well upstairs to RHB and avoided middle-middle to both sides of the plate, but 11/12 BABIP? Really? Welp, who cares? Let me deal with the how and you can’t deny him a start moving forward, unless you want to Big Brain this and sit him next time after his longest outing yet. I’m not going to be that guy.
Dylan Cease (SDP) vs LAD (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 11 Ks – 24 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 103 pitches.
A Gallows Pole on a competitive day for Cease, and it’s one of the more Oh you lines you’ll see from Cease. He actually had a great day going BSB against LHB with four-seamer/slider and he refused to give in over the middle of the plate. I’ll take that from Cease and it’ll usually return fewer walks when it’s not the Dodgers. You can’t be a Cherry Bomb without sweet starts like this, you know? Good luck facing the Dodgers again next time out.
Lucas Giolito (BOS) vs TBR (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 98 pitches.
SNIP SNAP SNIP SNAP. We saw 94 mph, 6.9 extension, and 18″ of vert with four-seamers exclusively in the upper-third and above to LHB and in the upper-half to RHB (they were dope – 7/56 whiffs with a ton of outs), paired with legit changeups underneath at 5/24 whiffs and a 38% CSW. That’s the foundation of Giolito and what’s left is the slider development, which took a major step back here. This wasn’t the 88/89 mph version that acted like a cutter and it wasn’t spotted nearly as well as we’ve seen previously. But hey! He commanded well and survived Fenway. Now @TEA + @SFG + TOR + Natty Light feels like a good stretch of matchups, no? There’s risk given his requirement of fastball and changeup command to mask the lack of breaker that could slip off his face, though this outing should make you encouraged.
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) @ PIT (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 85 pitches.
This was better Sandy and also not too far away from how he’s pitched prior. Blame it on the Pirates + Koufax being on his side will do that. The curve was more reliable this time around to LHB, though his attack to RHB is still a bit wonky. The sinker and four-seamer aren’t finding the edges, the breaker is getting away, and the rare changeup struggles to get down. It’s a bit more precise against LHB, but I don’t think we’re out of the woods. I’m not picking him up now with the Phils + Atlanta + Arizona on the horizon, as painful as that is. Prove me wrong, Sandy.
Mitch Spence (ATH) @ LAA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 75 pitches.
Ayyyy that’s five innings of production from Spence! He faced a RHB-heavy lineup and featured sliders and curveballs (!) mostly, with the latter pitch making me raise an eyebrow more than I’d like. I like the cutter a bit more, even if was a little wild here, and the slider was the true workhorse at 8/31 whiffs. J.T. Ginn could be returning in the next pass against the Astros, which likely removes Spence, even if I want him to get a little more time. He’s only at 90 mph on the cutter, though, so he’s not an auto-add or anything were he to get locked into a start every five days.
Lou Trivino (LAD) @ SDP (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 18 pitches.
The Dodgers had Matt Sauer follow and he was left out to dry. It wasn’t so terrible at first until it was an atrocity – 4.2 IP, 9 ER, 13 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – and I just feel bad for him. He was sacrificed so the bullpen can rest. Poor fella.
José Soriano (LAA) vs ATH (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 12 Ks – 23 Whiffs, 43% CSW, 110 pitches.
Well now! A King Cole with twelve strikeouts as Soriano had his best sinker feel that I’ve seen from him all year. It truly is rare to see a sinker return sixteen whiffs in a start, but he deserved them, going Neckbeard with low sinkers at 98 mph to LHB + landing on the inside edge and down to RHB. The curveball was mixed absurdly well in-between for 13/28 called strikes and who cares about the four-seamer and slider when those pitches are cruising? Suitman whispers into my ear. The Yankees are next? OH COME ON. In all likelihood, he doesn’t carry this feel another night anyway, so don’t run to the wire just yet. Sorry to be a damper. What you should be monitoring is the sinker’s movement in that outing – it added 2-3″ of drop in this one and when paired with its low locations, it made so many batters swing over it. That’s the important skill we hope sticks.
Shane Smith (CHW) @ HOU (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 89 pitches.
His velocity sat 96.2 mph in this one – yes, that includes all fastballs, even the ones in the fifth and sixth! I’ll stop mentioning that moving forward as it should be expected. What I’m sad to report is the changeup and curve each failing to return a 60% strike rate with just six whiffs between them. He got Singled Out a bit, sure, but this wasn’t a particularly sharp Smith and he got away with. AGAIN. I guess we keep rolling with it regardless against the Rangers, @TOR, and SFG, but give him the obvious sit against the Dodgers.
Slade Cecconi (CLE) vs CIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 85 pitches.
Wow, look at that strut in a PLAID suit from Cecconi! He’s certainly getting all the attention tonight on the Reds Carpet. He returned 6/18 whiffs on the slider while throwing just 2/18 of them inside the zone, which is both good and bad. It can be legit if they were consistently at the edge and…not really. 39% strikes, after all. The rest of the start was four-seamers at 95 mph and not much else sitting over the plate and finding enough outs, while the curve surprised enough LHB for a quartet of strikeouts when he needed them in two-strike counts. Is that enough for the Giants in Oracle Park? I don’t think so. I don’t trust the breakers to return seven strikeouts and a 26% SwStr rate again while allowing just 3/48 hits on heaters.
Brant Hurter (DET) @ BAL (ND) – 2.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 44 pitches.
Brant Shmant, this is all about Sawyer Gipson-Long, who (eventually) followed for 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 51 pitches (HD). He didn’t get the Win because the non-SP pitcher who was in the game when the Tigers took the lead was Chase Lee for one out to end the third. Yes it’s dumb, but that’s how it works. ANYWAY, SGL was dope and makes us feel dope for rostering him. This was a completely different pitcher from his first appearance in multiple ways. He leaned changeups for 33% usage and obliterated with them at 6/17 whiffs. His four-seamer jumped from 92 mph to 94/95 mph, even hitting 96+. He flexed a cutter that was highly effective and I’m excited to see more. This was so dang fun to watch and I’m just twiddling my thumbs waiting for him to get a longer leash and actually start games again. I should note: He faced mostly LHB, which enabled the changeup more than usual. The sinkers we saw to RHB weren’t stellar at 93/94 mph and are still missing nearly 3″ of drop from its 2023 iteration, while landing a bit too much over the middle of the plate instead of tempting batters low. They earned outs (3/4 outs on BIP) and still carry elite extension at 7.4 feet, but it’s not quite there yet. It’s something to monitor moving forward…like against the Reds Carpet in his next start. GET AMPED.
Max Fried (NYY) @ KCR (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 91 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He did it with the heater and per usual and things are grand. Just locate the sinker and curve better next time, okay?
MacKenzie Gore (WSN) @ NYM (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 89 pitches.
I want to give him the AGA tag so badly. Can I wait for the Dodgers in two starts? He’s nailing his four-seamers up to RHB, though the slider was all over the place to LHB. His curve and change were what he needed them to be against RHB – some great moments, but not the most precise. Kinda cool to see this success at 95 mph and not the 97 mph that got me hyped this time last year.
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs SEA (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 99 pitches.
He was Singled Out with a pair of solo shots, abandoning the curve all together and leaning into sweepers and changeups. Interesting to see sinkers favored heavily to RHB, with I’m fine with as he located nearly all of them on the inner half, but his plan of attack to LHB is still oooooffff. That 2.00 WHIP makes this a tough Dusty Donut to swallow.
Carson Palmquist (COL) vs SFG (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 97 pitches.
COL story, bro. Haven’t done that for a while. Didn’t want to cheat y’all in these roundups. He’s an elite extension guy but sadly sits at just 89 mph. And, you know, Colorado.
Mitch Keller (PIT) vs MIA (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 97 pitches.
Keller did the thing he should do – lean more into the slider and sweeper to RHB. They had some mistakes that were hit, but hot dang did they set up the four-seamer and sinker well to RHB. There’s your massive CSW due to 15/41 called strikes on heaters + nine whiffs on those breakers. It’s not quite as refined to LHB, unfortunately, and I’m still out. This start gave you zilch outside of QS leagues. Stop chasing this.
Ryan Pepiot (TBR) @ BOS (L) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 108 pitches.
A dang Philly for Pepiot on a day where he had a solid gameplan against LHB with fantastic changeups, precise four-seamers, and a new embrace for the cutter to LHB (sign me up), while scattering secondaries to RHB with four-seamers along the edges. Yes, he wants that homerun back and how dare this new Roman kid hit a changeup out of the zone for his first hit. WHATEVER. That fastball is sitting 96 mph and while I wait for the slider to get fixed to RHB, I’ll celebrate the new 92 mph cutter to help level off the valleys. Be happy with those strikeouts, y’all.
Grant Holmes (ATL) @ MIL (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 100 pitches.
Two home runs destroyed this outing – a meh RHB slider at 1-1 and a 2-0 LHB heater over the plate – though I have some excellent news on a day that could have been a Golden Goal on most nights. Take a moment to think about the narrative I’ve given REB this year. Great slider, needs his curveball back or for the cutter to take its place. Holmes threw 36% curveballs to LHB and returned 6/20 whiffs with a 50% CSW. Five of his nine strikeouts came via the curveball AND IT’S BACK BAYBEEE. Just for one start, of course, though this is how it’s supposed to be. Curves to LHB, sliders to RHB, some entanglement + four-seamers in-between. We even have a few cutters trying to help that still need some polish and the slider wasn’t nearly as reliable as we’ve seen in the past, but this is progress. Still risky against the Mets, sure, but this could be the turning point.
Kyle Harrison (SFG) @ COL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches.
I gotta say, I haven’t pinned Harrison as one of those “Southpaws with a changeup he can spot down-and-away to RHB” types, but that’s what we got here and I LOVE IT. Wait, this was a bad game! Sure, he allowed a HR on both his four-seamer and curveball – COORS BABY – and he could have located his four-seamer upstairs more often, but that changeup…Whatever, it’s the Dodgers next if he goes again and Verlander should be back before he gets to face the Red Sox and White Sox. Bummer. He’s stretched out with an improved #2 pitch and what can be an elite four-seamer, LET THE KID COOK.
Mick Abel (PHI) vs CHC (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 89 pitches.
It was a tough matchup for Abel and one we didn’t want to chase if we didn’t have to. The heater hovered 96 mph and featured generally great command upstairs and paired with a legit curve to LHB, even if both were tagged for a longball. His changeup is lacking and the slider command to RHB needs refinement, though I’d expect the latter to be there against the Marlins up next. Oh, his sinker to RHB is commanded beautifully, too. You really don’t see this kind of precision from young arms and throw those walks away. That’s not him. With the long runway now with Painter looking suspect in Triple-A (post-ASB at the earliest, anyway) + Nola’s recovery taking longer than expected, Abel could very well be in the rotation the rest of the way. Who knows how things will look weeks down the road? Grab him for the Miami start and take it from there.
Chris Bassitt (TOR) @ STL (W) – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 89 pitches.
I’m glad you got a Win but at what cost?! His curve returned 43% strikes and even messed up Brendon Donovan’s toe in the process. SO THANKS FOR THAT. You’re better off streaming.
Tyler Mahle (TEX) @ MIN (W) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 91 pitches.
At least it was a Win…? He didn’t locate well with his heater or cutter and that’s your ball game. We hold on with the White Sox + Pirates next, don’t be rash.
Griffin Canning (NYM) vs WSN (ND) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 87 pitches.
THE LIST CURSE IS REAL. It’s hard trying to discern what’s legit and what isn’t and I hate that I uncovered a disturbing “high level” stat after this one. Canning has returned a 1.40 WHIP or lower in just four of his thirteen starts. That’s a 31% chance (in a small sample) of a decent WHIP. Anywho, this was a tough one against LHB where he couldn’t locate his pitches along the edges as he had so beautifully prior and it makes me wonder if this is as simple as “Good vs. RHB, poor against LHB.” The Rays are sure to hurl a fair number of LHB his way next time out, and I may have to yo-yo Canning on The List again. WHAT HAVE I DONE.
Logan Evans (SEA) @ ARI (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 87 pitches.
We didn’t expect much of anything against the Sneks and I wouldn’t consider Evans if he gets another start – it’ll likely be Gilbert returning against the Sawx @TEA.
Lance McCullers Jr. (HOU) vs CHW (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 96 pitches.
You are such a HIPSTER McCullers. Even after two great starts, even with a date against the CrySox, success comes down to “Can I locate my stuff tonight?” and the answer was a resounding nope. I could go into more, but in short, he’s a strikeout play with a massive WHIP dent. Do what you want with that.
Colin Rea (CHC) @ PHI (ND) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 83 pitches.
Not a surprise against the Phillies and he’s a decent stream against the Pirates next as a one-and-done with SEA + @HOU to follow. Cool to see him at 94/95 mph here, though. I hope that sticks around.
Cade Povich (BAL) vs DET (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 98 pitches.
It’s clear Povich has four-seamer/curve/change for RHB and sinker/sweeper for LHB and there’s still room to grow. The Tigers aren’t the easiest squad and I do think this can work, but the changeup is erratic and the curve + heaters are all too hittable at the moment. Give him some time, he’ll sort this out. It’s a good approach to help him squeeze the most out of his stuff – stuff that is changing with a harder curve at the cost of a little less movement. I dig that change as it’ll make it easier to locate moving forward.
Noah Cameron (KCR) vs NYY (L) – 5.2 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 102 pitches.
You all saw the blast allowed to Judge – it was one of the few mistake four-seamers he threw all game. The cutter and changeup were generally solid (save for that other longball), and his slider + four-seamer is a good combo to LHB. I’m starting him for the Rangers or Athletics next (whoever that is) and if this is actually a six-man rotation, he moves away from the Padres and Dodgers to get the Rays and @TEA after. Wow, that’s far better. Guess we’re still holding for now as this was the Yankees messing him up moreso than a lack of skills – he even gassed up the heater from 91/92 to 93 mph!
Miles Mikolas (STL) vs TOR (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 83 pitches.
Yep, that’s Mikolas. Unless you’re in a deep NL-Only, you really should consider a different body of water than this gulf of mediocrity. No, let’s not rename it.
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) vs TEX (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 98 pitches.
Welcome back, kid. Against Texas, of all teams. Welp, we move on, even if he was actually kinda great at locating his slider to RHB.
Game of the Day
Ben Brown vs. Jesús Luzardo – Come on Luzardo. YOU CAN DO THIS.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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