Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Tuesday 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.
Yonny Chirinos (MIA) @ KCR (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 78 pitches.
On a night of pure chaos, a quiet start from Yonny Chirinos may have caught your attention. We had completely written him off this season until he appeared last week and shockingly produced fantasy value, and now he returned 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 78 pitches – another start that helped your fantasy squads if you had the faith to throw the former Tampa Bay starter.
It was the same thing as last time – he hurled his new, slower (and more lively) slider as much as possible inside the zone and hoped for the best. It’s what I’m calling “Dancing with the Disco”, inspired by Anthony DeSclafani’s heavy slider approach without a whole lot of backup across the rest of his arsenal. There isn’t much else to it from Yonny, save for high sinkers that weren’t demolished, and he was able to plod through five frames without much noise.
I’m sad to say it’s the Phillies up next and this is far too risky of a play. But let’s say he were to face a middling offense, like the Cubs or Diamondbacks. I’d still have my hesitations given the lack of whiffs on his slider and the dearth of reliable offerings outside of the new breaker. It’s a fun little ride he’s on now, but I don’t expect it to be one you recall fondly over the off-season.
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Tarik Skubal (DET) vs PHI (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 45% CSW, 91 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. At least SOMEONE was legit as they should have been tonight. A King Cole with a 45% CSW against one of the best offenses around is downright hilarious.
Seth Lugo (KCR) vs MIA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 87 pitches.
Lugo took down the Marlins as he should. If only more starters did that tonight. He’s in such a groove and it’s lovely.
Hunter Brown (HOU) vs COL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 94 pitches.
I know it was Rockie Road but a Gallows Pole fueled by 12/39 four-seamer whiffs that sat 97 mph with nearly 17″ of iVB and were located in the top half of the zone?! SIGN ME UP. All but one of those strikeouts came on the heater as Brown’s secondaries weren’t doing a whole lot for him save for a consistent cutter he could land armside and some changeups over the plate. That fastball seems like a proper foundation for Brown, and all we’ve wanted is for the man to have a proper platform on which to stand. You’ve finally got me hooked, Hunter.
David Peterson (NYM) vs NYY (ND) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 103 pitches.
Whoa, eight strikeouts?! Sure, the WHIP and needing 100+ pitches to get bounced in the fifth weren’t great, but all in all that’s kinda cool. The changeup came alive and lived at the bottom of the zone, but it still needs a touch more polish to become a pitch I’d legit trust moving forward with Peterson. The slider wasn’t the big strikeout pitch here, either (everything got strikeouts like a thriving commune), and I’m not enthusiastic about a potential stream against the Nationals. There’s some upside, of course, but not one I’m circling.
Randy Rodríguez (SFG) vs CHC (ND) – 2.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 42% CSW, 53 pitches.
The Giants pieced together a game with their bullpen. Like me after ending my first relationship in middle school, that rotation is going through a lot right now.
Hoby Milner (MIL) vs TEX (ND) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 28 pitches.
Holby held the fort for Bryse Wilson to go six shutout frames after. Are the Rangers really that poor of an offense? I guess so. Congrats on the Win, Bryse, you’re not getting my Bud Light. Like a discount version of Norris? Ohhhhh, is Bryse’s comp Nud Borris? Whoa. That’s not a good thing.
Kyle Hendricks (CHC) @ SFG (L) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 100 pitches.
Would you look at that. Hendricks had his curveball for another start and the Giants still had no answer for Hendricks. Don’t get carried away here – the Brewers are much tougher than San Francisco – but this is cool. I legit hope I’m wrong and the resurgence of the hook is a game changer that brings respect back to the Hendricks name.
Zack Littell (TBR) vs SEA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 72 pitches.
Ayyyy, way to be Littell! The slider was there, but the splitter was a nice surprise, giving Zack that extra lift toward 14 whiffs and a productive outing. If only the Rays could have granted you that Win…
Andrew Heaney (TEX) @ MIL (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 90 pitches.
We’ll take this. The BSB was alive and well with great pitch separation between slider and four-seamer and I’d love to see him do it another time against the Orioles to make us consider jumping back in against the Rays after.
Kevin Gausman (TOR) @ BOS (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 96 pitches.
A PQS with a Win is a welcome thing on this day of SP destruction. There’s something still wrong with the splitter (3/34 whiffs is roooough) and I’d have serious hesitation starting him against the Yankees like this, but this game? We’re cool with this rare result of a worse ERA than WHIP from Gausman.
Mitch Keller (PIT) @ CIN (W) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 104 pitches.
One out away from a VPQS isn’t the greatest outing (hey, that’s a Philly!) but the command was generally there, his curve has solid, and the overall precision wasn’t terrible. I’m sticking with this against the Cardinals next.
Tyler Anderson (LAA) vs OAK (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 2 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 109 pitches.
It was the worst control of the year for Anderson, but at least he still had his changeup and that was good enough for a Win, despite, you know, the 2.00 WHIP and two strikeouts. Expect better against the Tigers.
Bobby Miller (LAD) @ CHW (ND) – 2.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 60 pitches.
His stuff is filthy, but the command is absolutely gone. It’s a case where it could come back in a heartbeat or Miller is going through something that can’t be fixed overnight. I’m holding my breath and hoping the Dodgers feel comfortable starting him over the weekend. You may want to play it safe until we see a start that looks like his former self.
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs MIN (ND) – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 80 pitches.
It’s a good sweeper and the fastballs aren’t bad, but I’ll say it again – you can’t rely on Pfaadt until there’s a true #3 pitch to support the cause. But this was a Careful, Icarus! Okay, that’s totally fair and Pfaadt pitched great, even until the three-run blast, which came after a walk and infield single. BUT THE POINT STANDS. Even with Oakland up next? Well, you can’t turn that down, but what did the Romans ever do for us? I STILL CAN’T TRUST HIM.
Joe Ryan (MIN) @ ARI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 86 pitches.
A quick longball in the first + more trouble in the second led to all four runs as we roll our eyes a little that Ryan wasn’t able to come through today. It was a day of disappointment, y’all.
Ranger Suárez (PHI) @ DET (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 88 pitches.
Aces gonna look mortal. What was in the water tonight?! Suárez’s overall command wasn’t nearly as polished as we’ve seen all season, allowing the Tigers to hand him a Loss. Please don’t tell me this is the end, Ranger. It’s been far too much fun.
Chris Flexen (CHW) vs LAD (L) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 106 pitches.
We’re Flexen in the mirror because it was the Dodgers. Understandable, don’t talk to yourself too much in that mirror, Chris.
Luis Castillo (SEA) @ TBR (L) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 103 pitches.
Aces gonna have his third poor outing in four games. The heater went just 58% strikes and he needs more from that four-seamer to dominate batters. It’s the rough patch every pitcher goes through during the year – don’t give up on the fella, of course.
Adam Mazur (SDP) vs WSN (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 55 pitches.
At least it’s just one walk this time? And he got a Win! And not a single strikeout with poor ratios! HAISTBMBWT?! We’re still waiting for that start to actually get excited about Mazur.
Cole Irvin (BAL) vs CLE (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 71 pitches.
Ouch. Irvin’s arsenal is too underwhelming, especially without his curveball leading the way. Don’t put yourself in the way of a HAISTBMBWT?! for the chance of a Win. You deserve better.
Austin Gomber (COL) @ HOU (L) – 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 89 pitches.
Hey, at least he’s throwing a tick harder now. Gotta stay positive.
MacKenzie Gore (WSN) @ SDP (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 94 pitches.
The onslaught of Top 50 arms continued with Gore, who simply didn’t have his staple four-seamer on point from the get-go. I think he’s a Cherry Bomb. Don’t you dare bring that juju around here. He’ll get the Mets and Cardinals next and I’m still going for it, of course. You should too.
Mitch Spence (OAK) @ LAA (L) – 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 80 pitches.
He was doing his normal thing until a grand slam capped a five-run fifth frame. The cutter wasn’t nearly as precise, the slider was generally the same as it landed all around the zone, and we’re reminded how Spence is not a refined pitcher quite yet.
Gerrit Cole (NYY) @ NYM (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 0 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 72 pitches.
This is bad. Cole was routinely at 96 mph or above in the first frame, then failed to eclipse that mark the rest of the game. It was the first time he hadn’t fanned a batter since 2016. He allowed four home runs. I’M SCARED. Let’s see what news comes out of this one regarding the velocity dip as I contemplate how foolish I feel for elevating him into the Top 5 SP before seeing 80 pitches in a start. Nick, that’s not fair. It’s Cole! His return looked great! There was no reason to expect this. Maybe, except for THE PURPLE PEOPLE EATER. We should have known.
Hunter Greene (CIN) vs PIT (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 93 pitches.
I mean, the dude vomited after the first pitch of the game. It’s almost like he wasn’t feeling great.
Logan Allen (CLE) @ BAL (ND) – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 60 pitches.
It’s Allen. And the Orioles. You don’t need me.
Brayan Bello (BOS) vs TOR (L) – 2.1 IP, 7 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 52 pitches.
Oh Bello. You’re just not there. This was everything falling apart and it’s tough to endorse him moving forward given his current state. You’re okay dropping him with the Padres up next. We’ll be back on this train later.
Game of the Day
George Kirby vs. Ryan Pepiot – Both arms should obliterate. This is good baseball.
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)
Hi Nick! Love your site! I was curious if you saw a couple plays from last night.
1) Vlad dropped flyball/popup off his glove. I believe in 2nd inning. It was called a triple.
2) Pirates game I believe in 5th. Keller gives up contact to RF and the player jogs….then misses the ball completely. I think a triple.
3) Keller again, he gives up hit to CF and….ball goes OFF the glove of CF.
All 3 were labeled hits. My question is a two parter. Who reviews the offical scorer? The next, is there any concern someone might have incentive to not call errors? These seemed egregious, and I watched the Blue Jays one twice on MLB.com before someone removed it. Odd.