Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Sunday 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.
Kutter Crawford (BOS) vs NYY (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 84 pitches.
What a week for Kutter Crawford. Despite looking into the depths of the abyss across a pair of dates against the Phillies and Yankees, he came through looking fantastic, capping it with a 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 84 pitches performance against the Pinstripes, even enduring his biggest nemesis: Fenway Park.
Two runs came on hung cutters that turned into longballs (one right down the pipe to Judge…), with the third coming off a bloop single, a grounder that moved DJ to third, then a wild pitch. In other words, an eye-roll of a run. This was Kutter working his sweeper, four-seamer, and kutter incredibly well off each other, even mixing in a few splitters and curves to help as well. This is the Kutter we’ve missed and now that he’s out of his moment of adversity, I’m leaning into him moving forward. Seriously, 44% CSW on the four-seamer, bested by a 48% CSW on the sweeper? Against the Yankees?! The dude is cooking.
Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:
Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs TEX (W) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 101 pitches.
Aces. Gonna. (Say it with me) Ace. Funny enough, it wasn’t the cutter that got the job done but the slider and splitter, while the four-seamer did its part well, even if it failed to land upstairs as much as I would have liked it to. Go destroy Miami and please continue to have a third pitch working each start – splitter, cutter, curve, I don’t care. Just have something with the four-seamer and slider.
Tyler Glasnow (LAD) vs KCR (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 85 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. It’s about dang time the Win luck went back his way. That was getting ridiculous.
Ronel Blanco (HOU) vs DET (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 94 pitches.
Yesssss. That’s a King Cole for Blanco as his four-seamer nibbled the edges properly, relying on his breakers + changeup to do the rest. Now a proper test comes against the Orioles and while I worry a touch about his overall changeup feel, I think we gotta do it. Good luck fella.
Jordan Montgomery (ARI) vs CHW (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 84 pitches.
It’s about dang time, you know? This is what a Toby looks like, though I’m annoyed it takes a 10/22 whiff curveball for you to be effective. Why is that annoying? That’s great! Because that won’t be the case often. That said, all of his pitches were akin to the Neckbeard approach we saw in the postseason and it makes me think he could be on a solid run now that he has that feel. Great timing, too, with the Phillies up next. Well, for him, not us fantasy managers who are super hesitant trusting Monty after one start and now facing a premium offense. I’d wait and see, especially with most other managers off this train and likely still off it after one good start.
Josh Fleming (PIT) @ COL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 52 pitches.
Hey, that’s pretty dang solid from Fleming. Would have been Gold Star material if not for the lack of volume. This was a weird bullpen day and I wouldn’t expect more from Fleming. Welp, see ya later.
Ben Joyce (LAA) @ SFG (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 42 pitches.
Full-on bullpen game here for the Angels, with José Suarez earning just three outs as he allowed five runs. Not a fun day to be an Angels fan, unless you only watched these two frames of Joyce, which came with 101.2 mph heaters at a 1.8 HAVAA and legit extension. That was cool, but too bad he can’t locate them. Maybe if he becomes a starter…
Erik Miller (SFG) vs LAA (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 15 pitches.
It’s like the Giants and Angels got together before the game and shook on this being a bullpen game, like my single Fall “exhibition” game each year in college. Handshake agreements are a lost art.
Bailey Ober (MIN) vs OAK (W) – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 96 pitches.
Ahhh, that’s more like it, Ober. Eight strikeouts are a welcome sight as your changeup had a field day, executing a true BSB with heaters spotted up and slowballs down + a mix of cutters landing gloveside to steal strikes. This is the Ober we want to see every day.
Miles Mikolas (STL) @ CHC (W) – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 91 pitches.
It does seem like Mikolas is still going the ole “sliders for strikes, fastballs nibbling the edges” approach and while it wasn’t nearly as openly effective, the results certainly were, marking his sixth quality start in seven games, returning a sub 3.00 ERA and near 0.80 WHIP. Hmmmm. Let’s give it a shot against the Giants. Maybe it’s real.
Mitchell Parker (WSN) vs MIA (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 85 pitches.
Good fastballs + lots of splitters over the plate make for a start that can work against a team like the Marlins. Heading to Coors may be a little tougher, though. I’m a bit tepid there and I’m fine dropping Parker if there’s something else to chase.
Jameson Taillon (CHC) vs STL (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 93 pitches.
Taillon is doing everything he can to squeeze the most out of all his pitches and I’m glad to see him find a way through six here. He’s a deeper league play as nothing in his arsenal is truly stealing the show, though the cutter still has its days looking phenomenal. I think you’re safe against the Mets.
Corbin Burnes (BAL) vs PHI (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 94 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. This was supposed to be a fun one against Wheeler, except Zack didn’t keep up his end of the bargain. Burnes still lacks the same precision of old (especially on the curve!), but his stuff clearly gives him a phenomenal floor. His path to the Cy Young continues.
Colin Rea (MIL) vs CIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 92 pitches.
Today’s Gold Star goes to Rea’s solid six-inning performance, helping across the board despite failing to earn more than two whiffs on a single pitch type. He generally located his pitches well, though, and now you wonder if he should get the green light for the Padres start. How cruel would it be for Rea to mess up the Padres after he’s the reason (well, his hurt elbow) they didn’t acquire Luis Castillo? That’s your call, I’m leaning avoid.
Jesús Luzardo (MIA) @ WSN (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 77 pitches.
Y’all should feel super lucky here as Luzardo was sitting over three ticks down at just 92 mph. He was apparently dealing with back issues and this could have been so much worse. Props to Jesús leaning on his changeup and getting through it. If he’s healthy to start against the Mariners, I’d be fine going for it (it’s Seattle!).
Tylor Megill (NYM) vs SDP (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 92 pitches.
I’m glad the cutter went 75% strikes as it feels like he’s learning a thing or two from Kodai – he’s nullifying poor four-seamer location with a cutter well over the plate to muddy the waters. If only he could locate that heater or splitter too…I wonder if this combo is good enough to roll with moving forward with the Cubs next. Let’s give it a shot.
Dane Dunning (TEX) @ SEA (L) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 98 pitches.
Whoa, eight strikeouts in fourteen outs?! Ahhhh a near 30% foul ball rate led to more two-strike counts than usual (and led to those three walks, too!) as Dunning filled the zone with strikes incessantly. Leave Dunning on the wire, y’all.
Brady Singer (KCR) @ LAD (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 90 pitches.
We’ll take a PQS all day against the Dodgers and guess what! The four-seamer hath returned! We’re talking more four-seamers than sinkers, landing in the zone for 44% CSW and 10/25 called strikes as I imagine he wanted to show something new to surprise the lineup. The Dodgers bring that out of pitchers. I wouldn’t expect the same against the Rangers, which I’m not sure you even want to hold Singer for if you’re not in a QS league.
Zach Eflin (TBR) @ ATL (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 87 pitches.
That’s a Philly with blegh ratios, but at least he was able to find seven strikeouts. And when I say Find, I mean it. Some of those swings were ridiculous and I’m still a little surprised he was able to get his way to seven here. Whatever, start him as a Holly against the Pirates and we move on.
Dakota Hudson (COL) vs PIT (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 94 pitches.
So close to production on a desperate Sunday. At least the slider was solid? You’re better off not touching the Hudson stream. You don’t know what’s been in there.
Frankie Montas (CIN) @ MIL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 89 pitches.
You should really consider someone else instead of Montas. That one start of BSB gold was a rare peak.
José Berríos (TOR) vs CLE (W) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 97 pitches.
That Win is acting like some random argument a friend says when the protagonist is about to get caught because hot dang, was this start completely detrimental save for that dub. Just one strikeout?! HAISTBMBWT?!
Marcus Stroman (NYY) @ BOS (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 102 pitches.
His slider and splitter were overthrown, returned sub 15% CSW marks on both across 34 thrown, the curve went 4/11 strikes (blegh) and the cutter/sinker weren’t enough on this day. It happens to Stroman at times, I wouldn’t overthink it against Atlanta.
Kenta Maeda (DET) @ HOU (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 94 pitches.
At least he’s sitting 91 mph and getting the White Sox next? That’s not out of the question for success, but y’all can see how capped the ceiling is. I Kenta do it Cap’n!
JP Sears (OAK) @ MIN (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 95 pitches.
The line is terrible, but the overall approach was actually pretty good here but just a touch off, leading to a horrible K/BB and a HAISTBMBWT?! It could be very different in a repeat matchup later this week.
Ben Lively (CLE) @ TOR (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 88 pitches.
Well dang. The “injury” clearly affected Lively as his heaters didn’t live in the upper third as we normally see, without any secondary acting as a proper complement. I’d be worried about starting him another time against the Blue Jays. He’s fine to drop as I doubt many will see him and go “Oh snap! DWINDLELINA, CANCEL MY PLANS!” Poor Dwindlelina, she deserves better. Like a better name? How dare you, Dwindlelina is a saint!
Chris Paddack (MIN) vs OAK (ND) – 2.1 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 46 pitches.
Yikes. After looking marvelous with a 95+ mph heater against Rockie Road, the pitch fell to 93/94 mph here and went 0/22 whiffs, leading to a HAISTBMBWT?! Uggggggh. Do we trust him in a redemption start later this week? Maybe? He has to be better than this, right? That slider and curve won’t be hung so much and surely he gets the velocity back. I want to believe.
Hurston Waldrep (ATL) vs TBR (ND) – 3.1 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 71 pitches.
He’s a worse Keaton Winn. That thought cannot escape my mind and y’all should adapt it. But I’m not sure if I want to roster Winn in my 12-teamers. Exactly.
Joey Estes (OAK) @ MIN (ND) – 2.2 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 65 pitches.
It was a desperate Sunday and you dipped into the Estes flask for some backup relief. You found none. He’ll get the Twins again and it’s certainly possible he fares better, but it’s likely best to put this Joey back into his pouch.
Dylan Cease (SDP) @ NYM (L) – 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 90 pitches.
Oh jeez. This is exactly why Cease needs a cutter. The heater went sub 60% strikes and wasn’t great when inside the zone – six of his seven hits came off the pitch. Mix in that cutter and it fixes everything. TRUST THE CUTTER.
Drew Thorpe (CHW) @ ARI (L) – 3.1 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 5 BBs, 0 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 15% CSW, 60 pitches.
Ahhhh, so this is what happens when Thorpe doesn’t have his changeup feel. I’m a bit surprised we saw this disruptive of a start so soon after he looked like he had it under control in the more nerve-wrecking MLB debut outing, but at least we know what it looks like and to be terrified of it. I was originally feeling alright against the Tigers this week as a Questionable Start, but now? Ehhhhh, I’ll take a pass. The ceiling is not worth this in the slightest.
Zack Wheeler (PHI) @ BAL (L) – 4.1 IP, 8 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 91 pitches.
Ummmm what. This is a One Night Bland and I’m not gonna live here any longer. Four home runs?! I’M LEAVING.
Game of the Day
Reese Olson vs. Max Fried – I love watching Fried pitch and I’m awfully curious as to whether Olson can make a lovely return to form.
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/X)
