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 Twitch weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Luis Severino (NYY) @ NYM (ND) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 104 pitches.
Okay y’all, things are looking bad for Luis Severino. While the velocity wasn’t as down as it has been, he was trounced by the Mets via 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 104 pitches and it sure doesn’t feel like the Severino we want. Or is it? Wait, that’s my line.
Because here’s the thing, Severino’s four-seamer command was actually pretty dang good. He sat upstairs with the pitch often and got a ton of strikes with it, while the slider returned a 39% CSW…and no whiffs. So that’s the problem. Sadly, yes. Severino went just 2/39 whiffs on his changeup + slider and that just isn’t the man we want.
So I’m conflicted. On one hand, it’s three starts of failure and worse secondaries, on the other it’s a better four-seamer and an improved change & slider could turn this around in a heartbeat. I guess we just keep starting him then. I guess we do.
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Hunter Brown (HOU) vs WSH (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 99 pitches.
Hey, I’ll take it, even if the strikeouts and whiffs are lagging behind. This wasn’t the best outing from Hunter as his four-seamer and slider were super meaty down the pipe while the curve couldn’t quite flirt with the bottom edge of the zone. There’s still work to be done, but we keep starting him and believe in this being a weird one.
Tony Gonsolin (LAD) vs CWS (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 90 pitches.
Ayyyy, awesome stuff Gonsolin. The four-seamer was a called strike machine, the splitter earned whiffs, and the curve helped more than the slider. He’s had a much better feel for the splitter as of late, keeping it down consistently and he deserves some love for that. So here, enjoy the love.
George Kirby (SEA) vs MIA (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 92 pitches.
Hoooo baby that’s a Golden Goal for Kirby as his four-seamer and sinker demolished the Marlins. We’re talking 18 of those whiffs between them, while the slider and curve each returned 43-44% CSW. I don’t think you could have dreamed of a better start.
Jalen Beeks (TB) @ OAK (ND) – 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 30 pitches.
This game featured a pair of openers and both came through, though Yonny Chirinos did so for just 3.2 IP of shutout ball. Yay, I guess. Yes, that is how I like to celebrate, too.
Shintaro Fujinami (OAK) vs TB (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 16 pitches.
Fujinami opened (without a walk!) for 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks of Hogan Harris and I have to give him massive props for cruising through the Rays lineup. It was more of a kitchen-sink approach this time around and he did well locating changeups and curveballs across the zone. It’s still far too risky without the best ceiling, but I love seeing him return to production.
Zack Wheeler (PHI) @ ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 101 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Wheeler got his revenge as the fastballs are just so dang good. You can’t go 7/18 strikes on the sweeper in the future, though. That ain’t cool. Also, Wheeler reduced his sinker usage to just 5% and I wonder if I addressed my anti-sinker letter to the wrong Phillies pitcher. Please forward it to Nola, thanks boo.
Cody Bradford (TEX) vs LAA (ND) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 64 pitches.
Remember kids, don’t trust a pitcher with two three first names. But he did well! There was good pitch separation! But at what cost? AT WHAT COST?! …nothing? It was a waiver wire play and no one bid on him. Your time has value. Awww. But touché. But also thanks. I needed that. Love yourself, you are what you are and that’s okay.
Dean Kremer (BAL) vs TOR (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 95 pitches.
There’s your Gold Star of the evening as Kremer earned a Win against a strong Jays offense. Sadly, there’s nothing to report that would give you confidence moving forward, but hey, congrats on the 1.33 WHIP solid ERA and six strikeouts.
Patrick Corbin (WSH) @ HOU (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 91 pitches.
Nothing quite like a Tuesday night with Corbin walking a batter per inning and somehow allowing just 2 ER on the night. Why a Tuesday? Why not? Fair.
Alex Cobb (SF) @ STL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 79 pitches.
Blegh. The splitter went just 16% CSW and y’all know how he lives and dies by The Thing. I’ve always thought that was a weird phrase and it can be interpreted as multiple living and multiple dying. Is that possible? What kind of question is that. Well? Is it? STEVE, GET A JOB ALREADY.
Pablo López (MIN) vs MIL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 97 pitches.
I’ll take the PQS with a sub 1.00 WHIP and nine strikeouts all day. You have to love his curve suddenly going 6/17 whiffs while the rest was effective per usual…save for a changeup that wasn’t quite there. At least it’s Detroit x2 now, hooooo baby.
Corbin Burnes (MIL) @ MIN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 99 pitches.
The near VPQS hurts, but eight strikeouts with effective secondaries and lovely cutter command makes me happy. He’s right there, y’all.
Joe Musgrove (SD) vs CLE (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 90 pitches.
It’s not a pretty PQS for Musgrove (are they ever?) but we’ll take it and run. The curve was fantastic, the slider was not, and I’m still going to start him against the Rays. Don’t let this small sample sour your perception.
Jameson Taillon (CHC) vs PIT (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 95 pitches.
Is a near VPQS enough for us to get Taillon back on The List? I’m not sure it is, but at least his cutter/curve/sweeper each returned 30%+ CSW and he’s at 95 pitches, creating a chance at a Quality Start each time he hits the bump. I just wish I was excited like the old days, you know?
Brandon Williamson (CIN) @ KC (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 78 pitches.
He sure needed that Win because you got nothing else from this one, not even strikeouts. HAISTBMBWT?!
Jaime Barría (LAA) @ TEX (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 93 pitches.
It’s the Rangers. It’s Barría. We know this.
Chase Anderson (COL) @ BOS (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 89 pitches.
Chase what matters. A pitcher not named Chase? …yes.
Luis Ortiz (PIT) @ CHC (L) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 92 pitches.
Even with the Cubs’ struggles, Ortiz had a horrific first frame and did his best to make up for it. Overall, it was a better game than what I’ve normally seen from Ortiz, as the slider was solid and his fastballs lived in the zone well. It’s just not enough.
Lance Lynn (CWS) @ LAD (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 105 pitches.
He allowed four runs in the first and you should thank Lynn for making the best of his next four frames (and the sixth, but we won’t talk about that). With the Dodgers now out of the way, maybe he’ll be serviceable against the Mariners as his four-seamer still earned 9/44 whiffs with a solid cutter. Just a thought.
Kutter Crawford (BOS) vs COL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 80 pitches.
Eighty pitches! That actually stretched him out! But it was terrible. Okay, very fair. But at least it’s a shot. Sadly, the four-seamer was worse as it dropped a tick of velocity and didn’t maintain the whiffs (14% SwStr is still great, just not the 18-19% we’ve seen), while the cutter still has a location problem and the slider isn’t used enough (just four? Really?!). There’s a lot of command work to be done, but the stuff is legit. Keep monitoring this.
Zach Davies (ARI) vs PHI (L) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 85 pitches.
I had some outside hope that Davies would have his changeup and prosper, but it was just a 54% strike pitch and the rest ain’t fun. It’s the Guardians and Giants next, but the gamble remains the same – do you believe in the changeup?
Jordan Lyles (KC) vs CIN (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 94 pitches.
A tale as old as time…you know, Lyles still holding the worst qualified ERA in the majors. Oh, not a beautiful bookworm falling for a beast/human hybrid? …no. That’s a tale as old as time? Yeah, that’s the whole schtick. Why is that a treasured tale?! I’ll talk to my people. Yeah, do that.
Edward Cabrera (MIA) @ SEA (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 85 pitches.
Womp womp. 10/24 four-seamer strikes. I CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.
Jack Flaherty (STL) vs SF (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 101 pitches.
Oh dear. I was really hoping Flaherty was beginning to find his footing, but this was rough. A lot of secondaries were hung, while the fastball is a bit too hittable and it’s not a fun time. But it’s the Nationals next. Uggggh fine. We hold on for another. Then we can officially #GetTheFunBack if it doesn’t look like redemption.
Tanner Bibee (CLE) @ SD (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 75 pitches.
Ouch. The Padres are heating up and Bibee didn’t elevate four-seamers, nor did he get his changeup down as the slider was all over the place and…yeah. This was terrible. It’s like his four potential great pitches all expected the others to do the group project. You can’t all be the cool kids, you know. It’s been a little shaky over the last few weeks for Bibee and I understand your concerns after this. I’m still holding for the Diamondbacks next and we’ll take it from there.
Max Scherzer (NYM) vs NYY (ND) – 3.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 76 pitches.
Dude what. Can you, just, not? Nothing here that sets off alarm bells, just a One Night Bland for now.
Chris Bassitt (TOR) @ BAL (L) – 3.0 IP, 8 ER, 11 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 77 pitches.
BUT YOU SAID START BASSITT AND DON’T THINK ABOUT IT. I sure did. Baseball is like that sometimes, even when a pitcher is throwing up to 1.2 ticks harder on his…eight different pitches. Whatareyagonnado. And now you’re worried about the Rangers and I certainly get that. I’m starting him because I don’t believe Bassitt to be an eleven-hit man, even if the Rangers are, you know, the Rangers.
Game of the Day
Eury Pérez vs. Luis Castillo – I love watching Eury & Castillo is as good as ever.
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 Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)
“It’s like his four potential great pitches all expected the others to do the group project.” Just fantastic, thanks Nick.
Honestly, wtf made you put Bassitt as a must start? You had me second thinking my sanity- starting against a great up and coming lineup in a hitter’s park with a guy that has had meltdown starts all year. This was not a shit happens start, the writing was on the wall there.