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.
Janson Junk (MIA) vs ATL (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 79 pitches.
Aha! I knew you’d go with the pitcher from the Marlins vs. Atlanta game! Really? You thought I’d lead with Janson Junk? Oh. Your eyes may be on the MLB debut in the other dugout or many other young arms throwing on Friday, but Junk’s 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 79 pitches for a team willing to give him at least one more start needs to be scrutinized (Are Quantrill and Meyer actually coming back in the next two weeks?).
Junk has leaned into his name, featuring fastballs just 28% of the time and leading the way with a slider that returned 33% CSW over thirty thrown. He did a great job getting it down (for the most part) and dancing heaters over the plate and upstairs when needed, though at 94 mph, Junk’s four-seamer went 0/22 whiffs as all eleven swings returned balls in play or were hit outside the lines. It’s not a great heater, it’s not a great slider, and it’s not a great pair of slow breakers of sweepers and curves. It’s all…fine. Maybe I’m not giving the heater enough credit for its 19″ of vert, though I question its effectiveness given its inability to miss bats.
A date in Oracle Park against the Giants awaits and with a leash around 80 pitches, there may be a Win in there with decent production. I don’t believe you need to chase it, though, and it’s likely best if we celebrate Junk’s Gold Star against Atlanta and let him stick on the wire. There isn’t enough upside to justify a pick up for what looks to be one mediocre stream.
Let’s see how every other SP did Friday:
Andre Pallante (STL) vs CIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches.
I have seen the light! That’s just the cameras flashing as you walk down the Reds Carpet. Ohhhh. So I’m not actually good? I mean, you’re at 95 mph on the cut-fastball and the slider + curve are decent. That’s not the greatest endorsement. Andre, you’re a streamer about to get the Cubs. WHATEVER NICK.
Zack Wheeler (PHI) vs NYM (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 98 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. It’s just boring how good he is, but fine, here’s a Gallows Pole. As you needed another award. I don’t have a Cy Young. Really?! Oh, right. Burnes won in 2021 and I’ll never forgive the writers for it. Except for Jeff Passan.
Grant Taylor (CHW) @ TOR (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 13 pitches.
The goal is for Taylor to eventually be a starter and if he can boast a 75% strike rate with his four-seamer like he did here (6/8 strikes), he’ll be an instant stud. If you don’t know about him, watch this video, or check out the three fastballs he blew by Vlad Jr. at 98/99 mph. He’s crazy good. What about the follower? What, Tyler Alexander going four shutout in 49 pitches? I’m happy for T-Lex, but like his arms, his appearances are always short.
Jeffrey Springs (ATH) vs CLE (W) – 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 104 pitches.
We had plenty of sunshine and rainbows in Cleveland with elite pitch separation of four-seamers and changeups. You could put a diagonal line from up-and-gloveside to down-and-armside and you’ll get four-seamers above and changeups below. I guess you can start him against the Tigers up next.
Brady Singer (CIN) @ STL (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 102 pitches.
I gotta say, it really doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Singer’s slider has completely lost its ability to earn whiffs (2/26 here and 10% SwStr since April 30th) and yet, he’s failed to allow more than 3 ER in seven straight starts…while fanning no more than four prior to this one. He’s walking the tightrope and despite it seeming like I’m just stubborn and sticking to my guns, I’m going to be stubborn and stick to my guns. This isn’t sustainable and guess what? Yankees + Fenway next. But the Marlins and Rockie Road after! You. Do. You.
Hunter Brown (HOU) @ LAA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 87 pitches.
Annnnnnd 1/20 whiffs on his curveball. But I get it! Fewer LHB, though he still some a few of them and rarely got the curve down. He’s so weird. Not a single whiff on his four-seamer despite twenty-three thrown at 97 mph. But he keeps producing and we carry on. Can you get the curveball back for whiffs against the Phillies next time? Please? Just make it make sense.
Yusei Kikuchi (LAA) vs HOU (ND) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 103 pitches.
You think you had it figured out, right? He struck out ten! He’s clearly doing good things now. Well, sure, but he did different good things in this one. Instead of four-seamer first, he shelved the fastball for just 22% usage and leaned on curveballs + sliders for 41% CSW between them in 59% usage. The big hook was the best weapon at 8/31 whiffs (crazy, right?) and here’s the best part. He actually got his four-seamer up when he did throw it! Sadly just three whiffs, but I dig this BSB effort! And now it’s the Red Sox in Los Angeles! Are you excited. YES I’M EXCITED! Then again, he keeps changing himself so who’s to say he won’t change himself again…?
Jacob Misiorowski (MIL) @ MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 86 pitches.
Hahahahaha. He’s so good. He was perfect through six and once again, walked the first batter (fine, 3-0 count before leaving last game), then allowed a two-run shot on a horrific 93 mph cutter down the pipe. All that matters if for Misiorowski to throw strikes and a 63% clip with his four-seamer + 78% mark on cutters is absurd. Oh right, 8/11 on curves, too. Incredible. Yes, it’s the best four-seamer in baseball, even if we saw just 2/41 whiffs. 14 foul balls and zero hits allowed and if he locates them slightly better, he’ll earn more whiffs. And who cares? He adapted to throw more sliders and curves, which clearly did work. Yes, this could very well come crashing down soon with bouts of feral command and higher walks that lead to a string of four inning games (we may not see six full innings again for a while), but we’re all going to collectively hope Jay Mis has figured out a way to live in the zone constantly. Wouldn’t that be something.
Jacob deGrom (TEX) @ PIT (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 84 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Guess what? He’s now averaging 98.3 mph on his four-seamer, not the 97 mph of plebs. Sure wish he spotted them well like he did in the past instead of hurling them down the middle. Maybe would have had more than two whiffs, you know? The velocity also applied to his slider, sitting 90/91 mph now instead of 89 mph and that’s all kinds of dope. 9/33 whiffs because duh.
Michael Lorenzen (KCR) @ SDP (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 89 pitches.
You wanted a PQS and got yourself a terrible WHIP, a meh ERA, and four strikeouts. Are you happy? IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?! N-n-no. Please stop yelling at me.
Clayton Kershaw (LAD) vs WSN (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 78 pitches.
You’ll take it, though those ratios aren’t reminiscent of the days that give him pride. There’s a good reason he’s throwing over 50% sliders and under 30% fastballs. Because it’s a great curve? Uhhh, no. It was fine at 7/13 strikes, but nah, you know. The fastball is sitting 88 mph and it’s doing its best to avoid balls in play. Can’t beat me on the heater if I don’t throw the heater.
Matthew Boyd (CHC) vs SEA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 76 pitches.
The wind was blowing out and Boyd didn’t care. But he allowed a HR! And? He went 4/11 slider whiffs, the changeup was spotted well, and his fastball was generally what he wanted it to be. Atta Boyd. But yes, he did get away with more mistakes than usual.
Blade Tidwell (NYM) @ PHI (ND) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 74 pitches.
I’m glad the Mets elected to give Tidwell another chance in the majors, but did you have to do it against the Phillies? His command did little to inspire confidence moving forward and I’d imagine Montas or Manaea fills the spot for his next outing. Sigh. We’ll get runway with Tidwell in good time and I’m curious if the four-seamer command is there + feel for a sweeper and something else legit.
Max Fried (NYY) vs BAL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 105 pitches.
Aces gonna have an annoying first frame and kick into cruise control to get the PQS. This was cutter + curve across half his pitches, which is the most streamlined I’ve seen Fried in a long time.
Joe Ryan (MIN) vs MIL (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 101 pitches.
Aces gonna disappoint as his secondaries were may save for the rare sweeper or splitter and his four-seamer returned more foul balls than usual, leading to deeper counts. Sidenote: Did you know Ryan has a sub 1.00 WHIP this year? Pretty cool. Yes, still an ace.
Tomoyuki Sugano (BAL) @ NYY (ND) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 89 pitches.
Ah, so the Yankees are waking up now. Cool cool cool. Probably not the best idea to throw low 90s middle-middle heaters to Judge, too. Whatever, he gets the Rangers next, that’s fine with me.
Tanner Bibee (CLE) @ ATH (L) – 8.0 IP, 4 ER, 11 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 105 pitches.
Huh. A King Cole and ten punchouts over eight frames usually doesn’t come with ratios you want nothing to do with. This is an old-school Dusty Donut with some Singled Out + an early two-run shot. I have some good news: The sweeper has finally woken up with 10/35 whiffs and is well spotted as a legit weapon to RHB. I also have some bad news: I hate his approach to LHB as he tries to figure out what to do without the sweeper. We’re not totally out of the woods yet and I wonder if he’ll ever get his old changeup back. That was the ticket in the past and we saw just five thrown in total. Five! He’ll get the Jays and that breaker should do enough there to make it work.
George Kirby (SEA) @ CHC (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 85 pitches.
Blegh. The fastballs weren’t as pristine upstairs and the sliders and curves were right in the middle of the plate. Come on Kirby, you can’t do that, especially against the Cubs. You’re supposed to be a command artist, right? I want to believe.
Didier Fuentes (ATL) @ MIA (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 87 pitches.
It was the MLB debut for the young 20-year-old flamethrower for Atlanta and you know the rules. Don’t start MLB debuts. Wow, what a beautiful melody. Fuentes displayed a legit four-seamer with an elite HAVAA at 96 mph that came in for 67% strikes, but the secondaries need to be a bit better to support it. A horrible first pitch breaker was sent over the fence for a three-run shot (the big fella knew the rule of “off-speed pitch” with a man on second and sat curve. Sorry Fuentes, welcome to the big leagues) and 3/35 whiffs on sweepers + curveballs is not ideal. That said, it was a debut and they lived in the zone plenty, which is uncommon for such a young arm. With Chris Sale hitting the IL today, you have to wonder if Fuentes sticks around, which would be a date with the Mets. I can see this working out, though I’d love to see a sinker in the mix (or cutter, because you know me) to help the four-seamer breathe upstairs. Just think of Woo or Wheeler and even Ryan now – they all have sinkers to make it harder to commit to the high heater. Nick, he’s TWENTY! I know, I know. Just thoughts!
Mike Burrows (PIT) vs TEX (L) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 88 pitches.
Womp womp. There’s some fun in the 17″ vert heater at 95 mph with a good changeup, but the slider went 3/11 strikes without a whiff and the one-two combo only works if his command is phenomenal. We need to see another step forward in his next successful start before believing he’s hit a solid plateau.
Nick Pivetta (SDP) vs KCR (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 84 pitches.
Uh oh. Here I was, taking the extra time to look up the dang temperature in San Diego to help determine if Pivetta was going to have a high or low chance of HRs. It was supposedly sub 70 degrees, and I felt good. NOPE. Two longballs as the minuscule HR/9 starts climbing closer to his career norms. Not saying it’s going to happen, but Pivetta could fall down quickly based on the longball and let’s hope he won’t throw a hanging 2-2 curve and a middle-middle 95 mph 0-1 fastball in the future, yeah? You’re obviously starting him against the Nationals.
Hayden Birdsong (SFG) vs BOS (ND) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 85 pitches.
His fastball velocity fell to just 94.3 mph, the curve returned 50% strikes, and his heater was precise up-and-armside consistently for once. Not a ton of strikes at 62% with some of the normal chaos, but far more precise than usual. Still a ways away from becoming someone I adore, of course, especially with his stuff getting worse.
Hunter Dobbins (BOS) @ SFG (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 75 pitches.
Dobbins was down 1-2 ticks, poorly located his heater, and became a two-pitch pitcher as he couldn’t find strikes. Something was very wrong here and now the Hunter has been punted.
Spencer Turnbull (TOR) vs CHW (L) – 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 45 pitches.
Oh how I wish we get another fun run with Turnbull this year. He’s not in a groove with his arsenal yet, nor is he stretched out in full, but there’s a chance he becomes a name again. Please don’t fall under 90 mph with your cut-fastball, though. That wouldn’t be fun.
MacKenzie Gore (WSN) @ LAD (L) – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 100 pitches.
Welp, it looks that AGA tag is floating down the river as the camera cuts to a view under the water at a blurred Gore, reaching down with dismay. The tag sinks with a gentle sway, expressing calm inevitability as the river’s bed slowly caresses it. The curve went just 50% strikes and 18% CSW while the fastball got too much of the zone and was constantly battered in play. He nearly had a PQS, though, getting pulled after throwing a hanging 2-0 curve that was sent over the fence for a two-run blast. Welp, that’s why we’re careful against the Dodgers. He’s sure to get back on his horse in a revenge game against the Padres.
Shane Baz (TBR) vs DET (W) – 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 105 pitches.
Wow. I’m kinda amazed this didn’t work out. Baz’s cutter is here to stay (9/40 whiffs, 35% CSW), finally creating a three-pitch mix that works + a changeup that is still in development and could be a stable #4 at times. That said, he didn’t have the best feel for the cutter with a bit too many landing off the edges or elevating too much (55% strikes), though I’m most surprised his four-seamer went 1/30 whiffs. This is the time to buy low on Baz for peanuts as he’s about to face the Royals and host the Athletics. I see a stud forming as he gets more feel for the cutter.
Zac Gallen (ARI) @ COL (W) – 5.0 IP, 7 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 91 pitches.
He went fastball/curve and tried to do the BSB and was bamboozled for six runs in the fourth with two HRS and a string of hits. You don’t have to keep holding on Gallen, you know. That said, it’s the White Sox and Giants next. I just can’t walk away right now, maybe after that. Yeah, I get it. Good luck.
Jack Flaherty (DET) @ TBR (L) – 2.1 IP, 8 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 74 pitches.
Oh no. Oh no no no. This was a game that felt like the Tigers knew what was coming, swinging a ton, lacing balls they hit, and fouling off a ton of pitches instead of whiffing. That’s the second straight disaster we’ve seen from Flaherty and you have to ask yourself the snake oil question – is he tipping? The stuff doesn’t seem different at all and his locations weren’t so bad that he should have this kind of disaster. This was a 61% strike rate across all his pitches and he wasn’t absurdly wild. I hate suggesting that but it really makes sense here.
Austin Gomber (COL) vs ARI (L) – 4.2 IP, 9 ER, 12 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 81 pitches.
Please tell me you didn’t get Gomber’d. Obviously not. Okay, just checking.
Game of the Day
Grant Holmes vs. Eury Pérez – Alright Holmes, show us the curve to LHB. And Pérez, can you get the four-seamer up and nail the slider to RHB?
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 John Cordes/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)
