Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher's performance from every Friday 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.
Freddy Peralta (MIL) vs CIN (L) - 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks - 16 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 96 pitches.
Hey you. I see you. Frustrated about Freddy Peralta going 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks - 16 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 96 pitches against the Reds. That frustration has turned into fear that there is something underlying that will continue to disrupt Peralta's season.
Nah, this wasn't one of those starts reminiscent of Professor Chaos of old. This was a standard "awwww, they hit it better than they usually do" and while Peralta is going to showcase volatility throughout the year (and I think it means he's not AGA worthy because of it), his heater is still fantastic + his changeup and slider are far more precise than in years past. The ride will be bumpy, but you'll get through it happy when you leave the tunnel. Now, getting It's A Small World After All out of your head is another story. Can't help you there.
Let's see how every other SP did Friday:
Kyle Gibson (STL) @ CHC (W) - 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks - 10 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 88 pitches.
He's on a lovely roll and now it's the Marlins. Get on this train if you still can, if only for that outing.
Hunter Brown (HOU) vs DET (W) - 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks - 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 96 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! Sure, there was some Blame it on the Tigers here, but Brown was as locked in as we've seen him all year. Four-seamers and sinkers spotted armside, with all three of his cutter, slider, and curve looking legit and away from the heart of the plate. Now he gets the White Sox and it's hard to resist starting him against the White Sox up next. I sincerely hope this is the Hunter we've been waiting to see since last year.
Jordan Wicks (CHC) vs STL (ND) - 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks - 5 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 28 pitches.
Annnnd he's back on the IL now with an oblique injury. At least he had 17"+ of "iVB" across the few pitches we saw? Yay...?
Carmen Mlodzinski (PIT) @ COL (ND) - 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks - 4 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 24 pitches.
Carmen opened for 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks of Luis Ortiz, who didn't showcase the same approach as his previous outings and I wouldn't lean into that ERA as a showcase of legitimacy. But it's the Rays next...Not the worst gamble, but it's not the play you want. It's not believable enough yet.
MacKenzie Gore (WSN) vs MIA (W) - 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks - 25 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 103 pitches.
Yeaaaaah, that heater was UNREAL. Perfectly spotted upstairs and setting up 40%+ CSW on each of his curve, change, and slider. This is the arm that was promised.
Ranger Suárez (PHI) @ BAL (ND) - 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks - 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 88 pitches.
Well alright then Suárez, Aces Gonna Ace. It's pretty dang impossible to deny that now after taking down the Orioles as a lefty and we all know we're not benching him for anyone right now. THAT SAID, I'm still skeptical it will hold for the full year, but whatever, who cares. Aces. Gonna. Ace.
Ryne Nelson (ARI) vs CHW (W) - 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks - 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 95 pitches.
Even if it was a Blame it on the White Sox, we're still giving Nelson a "Gold Star" as he had himself a lovely outing despite failing to show an arsenal equipped to take them down in previous games. Here? The four-seamer was far better, but the cutter is still a little questionable. I'd hold off against the Nationals.
Tyler Anderson (LAA) @ SFG (W) - 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks - 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 105 pitches.
Not the prettiest outings, but Anderson was able to resist the number five for the most important number and we're all happy for it. The changeup is still great and we keep going with Anderson against the Brewers...probably. Yeah. I think. Sure.
Logan Allen (CLE) @ TOR (W) - 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks - 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 84 pitches.
Allen was able to succeed with good pitch separation and four-seamers finding gloves. With that heater, I can see it working out well against the Mariners, though it's still a gamble.
Sean Manaea (NYM) vs SDP (W) - 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks - 14 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 90 pitches.
Manaea went reverse "BSB" - sliders and cutters up with sinkers down - and it obviously worked well for him. Cool cool cool, now do it against the Rangers. But that's a lot harder. Sure is.
Luis Gil (NYY) @ BOS (W) - 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks - 13 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 104 pitches.
Y'all know it by now. About a 50% four-seamer strike rate, 53% strikes on the changeup, and few sliders make for a poor walk rate. His stuff is so good he still helped your teams outside of WHIP, but yeah. Find the strikes, find the likes. HOWEVER, to suggest that Gil was Professor Chaos would be misleading. Fastballs and changeups were generally where they should be and it's a huge difference to the volatility we saw earlier in the year. He's a new man.
Chris Sale (ATL) vs TBR (W) - 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks - 17 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 105 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. His command is getting even better and it's pretty dumb right now.
Matt Waldron (SDP) @ NYM (L) - 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks - 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 98 pitches.
The thing that's so interesting about Waldron is how he'll have games where the knuckleballer is clearly not working out and he'll still have tools to give himself a chance at a productive outing. It's the second time we've seen it from Waldron and he bounced back before, but the Phillies are next and that feels risky. I don't think he'll get through that one without the knuckler cruising.
Luis Castillo (SEA) vs TEX (W) - 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks - 12 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 99 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Castillo was Castillo and it was lovely. It's so good to see ya, fella.
Kyle Bradish (BAL) vs PHI (ND) - 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks - 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 74 pitches.
Hey, that's solid against the Philles! Guess he gets...Suitman whispers into my ear. What's this? He left the game early after telling Hyde his elbow hurt? And now he's on the IL with his UCL sprain acting up and he's visiting surgeons...? Oh. BASEBALL WHY MUST YOU DO THIS.
Hunter Greene (CIN) @ MIL (W) - 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks - 14 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 105 pitches.
Dang foul balls (25% foul balls on his heater), they prolonged at-bats that normally end and thus the walks. So. It. Goes.
Gavin Stone (LAD) vs KCR (ND) - 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks - 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 94 pitches.
The only damage was a three-run blast as Stone plodded through the Royals lineup with relative ease. Changeups led the way for four-seamers to steal called strikes and all is good. Just keep rolling with Stone, who has become a solid "Toby", borderline "Holly".
Cole Ragans (KCR) @ LAD (ND) - 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks - 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 102 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He was taking care of the Dodgers until a tough fifth frame with two homers - one a two-run shot after an infield single, the other a 2-1 changeup taken over the fence. Whatareyagonnado.
Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs CLE (L) - 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks - 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 99 pitches.
He was down two ticks on both the heater and he's still hittable. This is Gausman.
Andrew Heaney (TEX) @ SEA (L) - 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks - 6 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 81 pitches.
Bleeeegh. A few mistake pitches and lost at-bats ruined this one, and I don't think Heaney's overall ability was that far off from the productive outings we've seen recently. That's Baseball, Suzyn. I still see a decent matchup ahead against the Mets that could fare well for trusting managers.
Ryan Feltner (COL) vs PIT (L) - 6.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks - 14 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 95 pitches.
Ayyyy you got some strikeouts! Let's be happy for Feltner in this "Birthday Party"...even if the ratios weren't there. Because that was a "Careful, Icarus”! Ah! JASPER! PUT THE STREAMERS BACK UP!
Tarik Skubal (DET) @ HOU (L) - 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks - 13 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 84 pitches.
Aces gonna go full "BSB" and have a rough sixth inning with a double, triple, sac fly, and homer that combined to allow all four runs ("Careful, Icarus"...?). Whatareyagoonado. Skubal is still dope n all.
Mitch Spence (OAK) @ MIN (ND) - 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks - 8 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 83 pitches.
He is who we think he is. Lots of cutters and sliders over the plate and the Twins were ready for it. Could have gone differently if Koufax watched over him, but alas, not today.
Brayan Bello (BOS) vs NYY (L) - 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks - 7 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 92 pitches.
This was a clear bench unless you felt Bello would regain his changeup feel in this outing. Narrator: He did not. While this start shouldn't change the outlook, it is another game without the changeup present + the overall sinker and slider precision wasn't remarkable. I'm personally leaning start against the Jays, but I understand if you'd rather bench him and not risk it.
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) vs OAK (ND) - 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks - 7 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 80 pitches.
I never took SWR as a Star Wars fan but he felt the fours in Oakland. Ha. The command was terrible, not much more to say there. It'll likely be better against the Rays next, but how high is the ceiling and is it worth it to chase?
Chris Flexen (CHW) @ ARI (L) - 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks - 6 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 75 pitches.
It was a Hail Mary hoping for Flexen to repeat his time on the beach across his last two starts. Now we're back Flexen in the mirror, especially with the Astros up next.
Spencer Howard (SFG) vs LAA (L) - 2.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks - 3 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 59 pitches.
Howard with the duck of a start. The ceiling was awfully low already and this should serve as a final deterrent if you were looking for one. What if I didn't need another? Then you're one the smart ones, clearly. Have the Gold Star Spencer didn't earn.
Zack Littell (TBR) @ ATL (L) - 2.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks - 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 59 pitches.
Ouch. All of Littell's hits came on y-mLoc% pitches, including a pair of longballs and that's your ballgame. He should be fine with the Twins up next as a fringe 12-teamer option.
Shaun Anderson (MIA) @ WSN (L) - 2.0 IP, 7 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks - 2 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 37 pitches.
Oooof. It's not like you started him, nor care about Huascar Brazoban who came in for 3.1 frames after with common decency. We move on. But that's the end of the article. WE MOVE ON.
Game of the Day
Seth Lugo vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto - I'm curious if Lugo can survive the Dodgers while watching Yamamoto act like a proper ace.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? - I've moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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Images by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X)
