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 Twitch.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Cam Schlittler (NYY) vs CIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 13 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 96 pitches.
The Cam Schlittler doubters have been vocal recently, saying stuff like “the end is nigh!” while slinging arrows at his heavily-guarded castle. Schlittler quieted his naysayers with the best start of his career, going 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 13 Ks – 18 whiffs, 36% CSW, 96 pitches (W) while earning a fitting King Cole against the Reds.
The criticism was absolutely warranted. It really looked like it was time to sell high on his incredible start to the season as his velocity dropped, leading to a trio of starts with single-digit whiffs and inflated ratios. The apocalyptical tone that accompanied the small rough patch was overblown.
His velocity fell below 97 mph for a pair of starts, but it wasn’t more than a mph down. Yes, we’ve seen him sit 99-100, but that was one game. And this was just two starts. Exactly! Despite the decreased whiffs, his ratios didn’t inflate that dramatically. Yes, it included his worst start of the year and a 3.38 ERA that was nearly two runs above his mark entering that string of starts, but he maintained an elite 0.88 WHIP during that time, suggesting he was unlucky to allow as many runs as he did.
I think the biggest thing we should’ve taken from those starts was his sub-80 pitch count in two of them. It indicated that the Yankees are conscious of his workload this year and will look to manage it. That being said, I’d much prefer them not pushing him beyond the sixth inning or pulling him early from bad starts over a phantom IL stint or a period where he’s demoted to the bullpen or having starts skipped.
Ultimately, Schlittler’s done everything he could to help us forget about his brief struggles, something every pitcher deals with throughout a season. Not only did he bump his velo back up to 98 mph with double-digit whiffs and over 100 pitches in his previous start, but he looked like the best version of himself on Friday.
With debatably the most elite Ras Pack in the league, he induced 10 whiffs with four-seamers upstairs, pairing them with sinkers that fell into the zone constantly, while cutters held his strike rate in the stratosphere, returning 95% strikes. The trio made him an award-worthy CSW monster, and the Reds had no chance. This was his first game north of 30% CSW since May 15th, quelling any concerns that his downfall was imminent.
Don’t give up on Schlittler. He will defend his kingdom with high-velo heaters for many more weeks to come. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Friday:
Ranger Suarez (BOS) @ SEA (W) – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 94 pitches.
Ranger pulled out the R.S. meme and said, “They can’t hit it if you don’t throw it in the zone,” and while that’s not technically true (he allowed one hit), he’s not wrong. A 35% overall zone rate is an obvious indicator that he prefers to live on the edges of the zone. His ability to throw pitches that start in the zone and end up out of it and vice versa is what allows him to thrive with so many pitches out of the zone. Sub-60% overall strikes and a trio of walks is less than ideal, but we’ll certainly take the tradeoff. I’m still confused how this is working without his changeup (12% usage and 45% strikes), but we don’t question it and keep starting him. Even in Coors next. (View Game Card)
Michael Soroka (ARI) vs MIN (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 11% CSW, 9 pitches.
With Ryne Nelson hitting the IL with a strained elbow that was initially reported to be a partially torn flexor tendon (I really hope he’s okay, but it sounds like he’s going to be out for a while), Soroka had his start moved up a day. Like all bad days, it only got worse for the DBacks rotation, as Soroka left after just one frame with an injury of his own, which was described as posterior left hip discomfort. We’ve got a lot of praying for snakes to do! (View Game Card)
Martín Pérez (ATL) vs MIL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 82 pitches.
Just like Harriet Jones, MP for Flydale North, this MP for the Atlanta Braves has become a PM! In Harriet’s case, that’s the Prime Minister, but in Pérez’s case, that’s a Pitching Maestro. He’s put together the most incredible Vargas Rule of the season, not based on his results, but based on the expectations we had of him entering this season. That’s a 2.78 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 21% strikeout rate after pitching to an ERA over 4.00 the past three years and signing a mere three-million-dollar contract in the offseason. Now he gets the LHP-prone Padres next. Let’s keep this train rolling! (View Game Card)
Seth Lugo (KCR) vs STL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 85 pitches.
Lugo returned from his short stint on the concussion IL, to which he was sent after being struck in the forehead by a comebacker. He didn’t miss a beat, capturing a win with a great ERA, but his head might be a little foggy still. What makes you say that? He forgot to bring the most essential ingredient for our bread! The horror! HAISTBMBWT?! A 0% PAR isn’t going to stick. Lugo is back on the menu as a streamer with TBR x2 up next. (View Game Card)
Bryce Miller (SEA) vs BOS (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 66 pitches.
Ugh, we’re back to piggybacking, preventing Miller from entering the acedom he rightfully deserves. Every starter in the Mariners’ rotation will be subjected to this, ultimately capping the ceiling of the entire pitching staff. Miller made the most of his time on the mound, racking up whiffs and strikeouts with four-seamers with plenty of support from splitters and curveballs downstairs. We keep starting him and praying that the Mariners let him go deep when he’s not being asked to jump on the back of a literal man. (View Game Card)
Luis Castillo (SEA) vs BOS (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 63 pitches.
I elected to pair Castillo, the aforementioned man, with Miller’s blurb because of their inherent link. He’d previously performed well as a bulk arm in these awkward circumstances, but that wasn’t the case here. There’s hope, though! He had increased velo across the board, sitting 96-97 mph with four-seamers, 97+ with sinkers, and 87 with sliders. The whiffs were present, and the CSW was there. He just got Singled Out. Four singles in the seventh led to four runs, and his .467 overall BABIP suggests his batted ball luck was poor beyond that frame. If Castillo can maintain the increased velo and the improved feel for his slider he’s displayed recently, he can be a streamer when he’s not piggybacking. Unless you’re in leagues that limit starts, then he becomes even more interesting in those outings with an added win chance to boot. (View Game Card)
Lake Bachar (MIA) vs SFG (ND) – 1.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 37 pitches.
Bachar was looking untouchable as an opener recently, but he got touched up a little here as he didn’t command super well. This was a bullpen game from the Marlins, so we can move on now. (View Game Card)
Kyle Freeland (COL) vs PIT (ND) – 7.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 81 pitches.
Way to go! Here’s your Gold Star for completing the sixth frame for the first time all year. Freeland’s Birthday Party saw him celebrate by completing the seventh frame for the first time all year, too. I hope he had a good time, because he had to be reminded not to have too much fun, with both runs coming against him in the eighth frame. Careful, Icarus. (View Game Card)
Jacob Misiorowski (MIL) @ ATL (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 91 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. This is sort of underwhelming. You can’t expect him to have record-setting outings every time. It’s bonkers that he’s averaging 101.6 mph on his four-seamer. Please be careful! (View Game Card)
Landen Roupp (SFG) @ MIA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 98 pitches.
Roupp! (There It Is). That’s a proper bounce back after he’s scared us recently. I wasn’t worried, as his secondaries remained intact, meaning he just had to fix his sinker command. It didn’t overwhelm, with 25% CSW and 59% strikes, but he did an exceptional job of keeping it on the edges and letting his changeup and curveball do the talking. 9 whiffs and 35% CSW on changeups while curves produced 39% CSW and 78% strikes. We don’t have to think about whether we’re starting him vs ATH next. (View Game Card)
Bubba Chandler (PIT) @ COL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 74 pitches.
I was glad Chandler was headed to Coors after a pair of good starts, so that people wouldn’t be enticed to jump in without the command improvements we needed to see to trust the results. It didn’t turn out too bad, as he turned up the heat to sit 99 with his four-seamer. He did a great job of keeping it upstairs and jamming RHB with sinkers, but his secondaries were all out of whack. Let’s blame Coors for that. Can we also blame it for the lack of Ks? I would say yes, and also point out his unsustainable 9% PAR. I don’t think that means we can handwave all the bad with a blanket Blame it on Coors. The overall command has been flighty, and we need it to return to trust him vs SEA next. (View Game Card)
Ben Brown (CHC) vs TOR (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 72 pitches.
All I can do is shrug at this point. He was down nearly two ticks on his heaters and a full two mph on his curve, and it didn’t slow him down at all. Curves returned double-digit whiffs and 44% CSW, while four-seamers avoided damage in the zone, and sinkers kept batters honest despite a 42% strike rate. There’s no point in not starting him now. Let the Vargas Rule live on @NYM next, but understand that this won’t last forever. He breaks the Huascar Rule, and he can’t hold 96+ velo with a starter’s workload. (View Game Card)
Griffin Jax (TBR) vs WSN (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 69 pitches.
The Rays continue to limit Jax’s pitch count as he manages blisters that have popped up with his increased workload. He’s made the most of his limited time on the mound, completing five frames in all but two of his past seven starts. It does make him difficult to roster in fantasy. Of course, we’ll take the win and awesome ratios every time, but the lack of volume limits his impact in the ratios and strikeouts categories. We have no clue when the restrictions will be lifted. However, unlike a hot potato, you’ll want to be left holding him when they are, because he’ll quickly rise up The List. (View Game Card)
Erick Fedde (CHW) @ DET (L) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 78 pitches.
All great acts have an opener! That’s what they want you to think. Don’t trust the Feddes. (View Game Card)
Tatsuya Imai (HOU) vs CLE (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 89 pitches.
I almost led with Imai, because WHAT?! This was his third Gallows Pole of the year, and this was the best one yet. A career-high 11 strikeouts, as he sat a tick up at 96+ with his four-seamer and absolutely dominated with his backward slider. We’re talking a whopping 17 whiffs with 41% CSW across 57% usage. There’s also an inkling of hope that he might be turning to a third offering. Statcast only picked up five changeups, but there’s clearly a group of sliders with more armside run than the rest. There are about 13 in that group, suggesting he went 20% changeups, a 17% increase over his season-long usage. If those are actually changeups and they are the key to unlocking Imai, I’m pumped. As a more cautious fantasy manager, I’ll hold off to see how he does @DET next before making my final verdict, but I don’t blame you for wanting to get in early after a start like this. (View Game Card)
Connor Prielipp (MIN) @ ARI (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 97 pitches.
Are we there yet? No, we’re somehow going the wrong way. How did that happen? I don’t know, man, this GPS is funky. I’m talking about Prielipp! Right. My name is Jim E. Brown. Please. You know what I’m going to say, though. What? Prielipp didn’t have his slider command, so he turned to his changeup, but it was off doing who knows what, so he had to rely on fastballs that were hit around without the secondary support, leading to a VVVPQS. Exactly! Why don’t you write these articles? I’m only a figment of your imagination. Bummer. It would save me the time to drop Prielipp from my rosters with LAD up next. You’re still rostering him?! You’re only a figment of my imagination! You can’t judge me! (View Game Card)
Roki Sasaki (LAD) vs BAL (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 90 pitches.
Sasaki bounced back from a disaster that had me questioning my recent boisterous support for him. His four-seamer is still carrying improved velo and iVB, while splitters were super consistent downstairs. It was unfortunate to see his slider command fade with just 53% strikes here, but it did enough to support the one-two punch. What’s more unfortunate is that he was doing so well until back-to-back homers in the fifth, accounting for all three runs, knocked him out of the game and stuck him with a Philly. Careful, Icarus. With SDP x2 followed by Rockie Road, I’m holding onto Sasaki. The ceiling is evident, and he’s working towards reinforcing his floor. (View Game Card)
Tarik Skubal (DET) vs CHW (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 94 pitches.
Is an eight-strikeout Philly enough for us to award Skubal his ace label on Monday? I don’t think any fantasy managers will second-guess starting him with NYY x2 next. His velo fell back down to his usual range, but the tradeoff was improved changeup command. With his signature pitch back to cooking, I think we can trust Skubal to chef up ace-level starts moving forward. (View Game Card)
Tanner Bibee (CLE) @ HOU (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 95 pitches.
Well, my hypothesis wasn’t totally right last weekend. Bibee threw more sinkers as his primary fastball, but it didn’t return the success that accompanied his previous starts with the same usage. However, seven strikeouts, with four coming on sinkers, is north of what we expect from him. I’d also like to mention that four-seamers and cutters combined for just 50% strikes, failing to provide the sinker the support it truly deserves. Are you being defensive of a singular pitch from a Toby? I might be! That sinker is changing Bibee’s fortunes! The least he could do is give it some friends to lean on. (View Game Card)
Trey Gibson (BAL) @ LAD (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 97 pitches.
That’s mighty impressive against the mighty Dodgers. Gibson rediscovered his ability to punch out batters. That’s 15 strikeouts across his last two starts after fanning just five in his first four starts combined. Last time it was sinkers and curveballs. This time it was all sliders, as they landed below the zone to rack up 10 whiffs and five punchouts. I’m happy to see him lean into his breakers a little more. They’re much better than his fastballs. I’m less happy to see that outside of four-seamers and sliders, the rest of his arsenal went just 50% strikes. If he can carry over that slider command, he could do even better against the other LA franchise next. However, the inconsistency of his arsenal both during a start and from start to start suggests that he won’t be worth the stream. (View Game Card)
Rhett Lowder (CIN) @ NYY (L) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 95 pitches.
Lowder put himself back on the streaming menu last time, but this was a clear avoid @NYY. He could be a decent deep-league stream with MIL x2 next, but don’t underestimate that offense, especially next time in Great American Smallpark. (View Game Card)
José Soriano (LAA) @ ATH (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 105 pitches.
Can we call it quits on Soriano now? He has a 4.93 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, and a 22%/14% K/BB% in nine starts since the beginning of May. Like a vampire trying to start a new life as a normal person, he can’t help being cursed by his true nature. Four-seamers did everything they could to be the game-changer, inducing eight whiffs with 46% CSW and 70% strikes, but the rest of his arsenal sucked the life out of it. The walks are back, the hard-hit grounders are back, and the heavy reliance on batted ball luck is back. Even with a 15% SwStr% since April, the strikeouts aren’t flowing. The four-seamer can’t do everything, and even when it does, the rest of his arsenal doesn’t provide the necessary support. It’s time to let go. (View Game Card)
Miles Mikolas (WSH) @ TBR (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 85 pitches.
Mikolas’ streak of scoreless outings ended at two. Welp, that was fun while it lasted. Now we can go back to saying what we usually do. He’s Miles away from being fantasy relevant. (View Game Card)
Michael McGreevy (STL) @ KCR (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 95 pitches.
This is more in line with what I expect from McGreevy. You can’t get away with such a heavy reliance on balls in play forever! He didn’t pitch much differently than he normally does, Koufax just wasn’t on his side. That’s what you get when you let your heart win subject yourself to the whims of batted ball luck. Only McGreevy and the Cardinals have to subject themselves to that. Don’t force yourself to join in on their pain. (View Game Card)
Jacob deGrom (TEX) vs SDP (W) – 6.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 106 pitches.
Aces gonna allow a grand slam in the first inning and then lock in. You have to applaud the man for not giving up and pushing through to give you some production. Nine strikeouts are awesome, and at least you have that silver lining to point to while swallowing the spoonful of nails that is his ratios. It’s a One Night Bland. Whatareyougonnado. (View Game Card)
Jeffrey Springs (ATH) vs LAA (ND) – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 86 pitches.
It’s June, but we’re not getting any sunshine and rainbows. Not very festive of you, Springs. Even with four-seamers sporting nearly 18″ of vert and changeups inducing eight whiffs, he got crushed. A homer-prone pitcher can’t expect to survive giving up four walks due to 42% strikes on secondary pitches. He heads to Oracle Park next, but with a 5.91 ERA across his last four road starts, I’m not inclined to trust him there. (View Game Card)
Randy Vásquez (SDP) @ TEX (L) – 3.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 72 pitches.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Vásquez’s breakout was fun and surprising. This is sad and somewhat expected given the lack of whiffs recently. You subject yourself to the wrath of Koufax when you become so reliant on contact. He was Singled Out, but his lack of command and overwhelming stuff didn’t do him any favors. Now he gets ATL, @CHC, @LAD, and we’re going to stay far away from him. (View Game Card)
Kevin Gausman (TOR) @ CHC (L) – 2.0 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 68 pitches.
As a west coaster who likes to sleep in, this wasn’t what I expected to wake up to. Gausman lost the feel for his splitter, walking more batters in the first six batters he faced than he’s walked in a start all year. When he did finally come into the zone, he hung a slider that got launched for a grand slam. A seven-run, 44-pitch first frame prevented him from salvaging anything. Splitters are volatile, sometimes this happens, but Gausman has a track record long enough to suggest that he’ll get the feel right back vs HOU next. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Chris Sale vs. Kyle Harrison – Two former Red Sox southpaws square off.
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)
