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 Playback.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
David Peterson (NYM) @ TEX (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 100 pitches.
I had diminished expectations for David Peterson as he faced the Rangers on Monday and he may have your attention after returning 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 100 pitches for a Win. Did his skills back it up? I think so. Cool, I couldn’t see it after covering my screen with a Gold Star.
Four-seamers and sliders were split beautifully. Sliders were consistently under RHB bats down-and-gloveside while he also jammed batters up-and-in with heaters. There’s still room to grow with his changeup, and just 3/20 sliders whiffs leaves a lot to be desired, but the command was the best we’ve seen from Peterson this year, giving him the “okay, you could be a decent streaming option” stamp of approval moving forward. It doesn’t mean I’m circling his start against the Cubs, but it does mean I could be jumping in soon after if he carries this performance with him.
Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:
Reese Olson (DET) @ ATL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 100 pitches.
Yessssss. The changeup and slider were great last time out and they stuck around for Atlanta as Olson was far better at avoiding the plate with his sinker and four-seamer, letting the secondaries do the work. THAT’S HOW IT’S DONE. Now do it against the White Sox, too.
Jordan Hicks (SFG) @ CHC (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 87 pitches.
Hicks sat just 93 mph on the sinker in this one, possibly a remnant of his flu from last week. He didn’t feature nearly as many strikes as we want from his splitter, sweeper, or even sinker, often tugging everything a little too far gloveside. Props to him for getting through this unscathed and I’d expect a little more polish (and harder fastballs) next time.
James Paxton (LAD) @ COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 91 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! Paxton did his normal thing of four-seamers up and curveballs down, but it worked out as well as ever in Coors. Why? I honestly don’t know, but let’s be happy with our Win and hope he can do it a second time for the Angels later this week. I can’t believe we’re still getting value out of Paxton.
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) vs SDP (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 94 pitches.
It’s great to see Sánchez dominate with a 37% CSW changeup and even work in a 65% strike slider to help him get through seven frames. I don’t like that slider a whole lot and the sinker command could use some work, but this is a lovely outing and we’re all smiling on the way home.
Braxton Garrett (MIA) vs STL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 93 pitches.
A King Cole for Braxton sure looks like he’s figured it out. Narrator: He hasn’t. Sorry, I want to believe he has, but it’s still just slider/fastball. Throwing just one cutter and 11% changeups (even if I liked the changeup!) means he still has work to do before I can believe he can replicate this with any consistency. But it’s the Mariners next! Ehhhh, maybe. MAYBE.
Paul Skenes (PIT) vs CIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna ace with a Gallows Pole. Just 3/33 four-seamer whiffs?! You’re slacking.
Max Fried (ATL) vs DET (ND) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 103 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. It’s not the prettiest, but the man finds a way. Don’t doubt the Fried.
Javier Assad (CHC) vs SFG (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 92 pitches.
The man refuses to be forgotten. I’m shocked to tell you this is the fourth game in five where Assad has fanned at least seven batters. He holds a 27% strikeout rate through his last seven starts including this one and WHAT IS GOING ON. Sure, he got a bit fortunate with some strike calls tonight on the sinker, but still, this is kinda bonkers to me. Next up are the Boys of Grimace in New York and despite their ridiculous run right now, you’re starting him against the Mets.
Sonny Gray (STL) @ MIA (ND) – 7.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 84 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. We wanted a little more against the Marlins, but we’ll live. 4/25 whiffs on breaking balls? There’s yer problem.
Nick Pivetta (BOS) @ TOR (W) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 109 pitches.
A bit of Careful, Icarus here with a pair of solo shots in the sixth and seventh to ruin a strong outing. I was glad to see the cutter back in action, but just 2/49 four-seamer whiffs does give me a little pause still. We’re rolling with him against the Reds and I hope to feel better about this.
Zach Plesac (LAA) vs MIL (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 86 pitches.
Oh dang, you’re still around? There’s 18″ of iVB on your heater, but it’s an incredibly steep 90 mph pitch that returned 2/36 whiffs while the changeup and slider were not the pitches of old. I legit don’t know how he got away with a PQS here with a HAISTBMBWT?! Huh.
Cal Quantrill (COL) vs LAD (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 99 pitches.
It was the Dodgers and this wasn’t so bad. At least he gets the Nationals next and the splitter should take over there. Go with it.
Carson Spiers (CIN) @ PIT (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 104 pitches.
This looks rough, but to Spiers’ credit, he struggled in the first, then settled down for a productive five frames after. He featured a whole lot of strikes with absurd pitch separation – four-seamers and cutters up-and-armside + sweepers, sinkers, and changeups down – and I’m still keeping an eye on him. He’s not worth it for the Sawx unless it’s a desperate weekend start.
Carlos Rodríguez (MIL) @ LAA (L) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 90 pitches.
I have to hand it to Rodríguez – the man knows how to Neckbeard. Unfortunately, he nibbled a little too much, needing 90 pitches to get bounced in the fifth. It’s just not a good fastball and the kitchen sink wasn’t flowing as he needed it to. Let’s wait for a legit start that gets our attention before making the add.
Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) vs BOS (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 79 pitches.
Blegh. The slider did return for 11/14 strikes without a hit and I still absolutely adore the heater – 50% CSW with elite shape across the board – but the changeup is still there and I hate it. And he had a few mistakes that got hit. I think the tide is turning for Kikuchi with the slider performance and the best four-seamer of his career. I’m buying.
Randy Vásquez (SDP) @ PHI (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 12 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 89 pitches.
Randy, how could you do this to us? What do ya wanna do? Why are you asking me that. WHAT DO YA WANNA DO?! Randy, I wanna drop you. I THOUGHT THIS WAS AMERICA. It is. It’s a place where I can drop you. Why did you roster me in the first place? I. Don’t. Know.
Jon Gray (TEX) vs NYM (L) – 3.0 IP, 9 ER, 11 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 55 pitches.
The dude got absolutely trounced by The Grimaces and you have to wonder if tipping was involved here. It’s pretty dang hard to allow contact on 29/55 pitches you throw in a game otherwise. Welp, regardless, we avoid him for the Brewers and hope for the best for Gray as he twiddles his thumbs on the wire.
Game of the Day
Michael King vs. Aaron Nola – I’d love for King to prove that he can be trusted against the elite offenses + Nola seeks redemption after the horrors of last week.
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 MLB Photos | Adapted by Aaron Polcare (@bearydoesgfx on X)
Estes flasks don’t have water in them, they have fire!
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