Trist Fall

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 Twitch weekday mornings from 9 am-11 am ET.  

Triston McKenzie (CLE) vs MIN (L) – 6.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 96 pitches.

I often find it a struggle to rank Triston McKenzie, but he typically performs well enough to make me kick up my feet and accept the ride he puts us through for the summer. Sure, he’ll have some bumps, but nothing that terr—oh dear. Did he really just go 6.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 96 pitches against the Twins tonight? WHAT HAPPENED?!

A whole lot of pitches in the heart of the plate happened. It wasn’t just four-seamers, either, as the Twins jumped on a few breakers as well, and a pair of home runs tallied 5 runs on the board. It’s not like Triston hasn’t ever made mistakes over the plate before, this is a game where it all came together against him and, well, that’s baseball Suzyn.

I don’t take this as the downfall of McKenzie, in fact, he had a pretty dang good curveball most of the time and located some four-seamers exceptionally well. Just a few tweaks here and there and he would have been just fine in this one. It’s rough to see the Yankees next on the docket — feel free to take a day off there — but the 2022 ROS outlook is still pretty dang swell.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:

 

Chad Kuhl (COL) vs LAD (W) – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 102 pitches.

Say whaaaaaaaaaat. Not only is this incredibly fortunate to allow just three hits across nine frames, but he did so against the Dodgers and with a 7% SwStr on the night. Talk about a Birthday Party. Seriously, does this look like the command of a pitcher deserving of a CGSHO three-hitter? I didn’t think so. I wouldn’t even chance it next time hosting the Sneks.

Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs BOS (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 110 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Ahhhh, that feeling of absolute security.

Sonny Gray (MIN) @ CLE (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 97 pitches.

Phew. You see seven shutout frames and you’re inclined to believe Gray had his breakers. Then you see the five total whiffs and…uh oh. Look, we know Gray isn’t a man typically succeeding with his fastballs. We’ve seen this before, and what usually follows is an outing where the curve and slider are still behind, resulting in a disaster outing. I sure hope that’s not the case, and I know how weird this sounds after such a stellar game. You simply can’t buy into Sonny when his curveball + slider combine for 5/21 CSW.

Adam Wainwright (STL) vs MIA (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 101 pitches.

Yesssss. This is the Waino we’ve been waiting to see after tallying 11 ER across his last three games. The curve and sinker did its work, but the real hero was the cutter showing up and sitting down-and-gloveside constantly. You love to see it. Let’s hope the Harper-less Phillies aren’t much of a challenge next time out.

Miguel Yajure (PIT) @ WSH (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 65 pitches.

I guess props for not allowing a run, but doing so without a single strikeout?! HAISTBMBWT?!

Tyler Wells (BAL) @ SEA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 63 pitches.

Despite boasting a near 50% hard contact rate on his four-seamer entering this start, Wells thrived with the pitch here, boasting a 41% CSW and 7/32 whiffs. Pretty dang shocking to me. He’s been making some noise lately with his ERA now sitting at 3.23, but whatever you’re thinking, don’t do it. He gets the Twins next and that’s a start I’d avoid everywhere.

Lucas Giolito (CWS) @ LAA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 90 pitches.

THE CHANGEUP HATH RETURNED! Phew. This was a super tough call and I’m so glad he was able to act like his old self here, posting 10/22 changeup whiffs. His velocity is still a touch down, though, and the slider was very much off with a sub 50% strike rate, but he put himself in a position to be decent and it worked out. We’re not out of the woods yet.

Erick Fedde (WSH) vs PIT (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 100 pitches.

Remember kids, Don’t Trust The Feddes. Okay, I get it, you actually took the chance because it was Pittsburgh and despite earning just a 5% SwStr, you were right. DON’T GET ANY IDEAS BUT I’M HAPPY FOR YOU.

Noah Syndergaard (LAA) vs CWS (W) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 79 pitches.

Wow, a King Cole for Thor isn’t something I expected to see tonight and you can thank his changeup and slider for that. I still don’t love either one as a plus secondary offering, but they skirted into the zone often and got away with it. He’s a Toby in the sense that you’re not super confident each time he starts, but he’s obviously better than your waiver wire, and you’re gonna have to deal with that.

Paul Blackburn (OAK) @ NYY (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 91 pitches.

Hey, this ain’t so bad against the mighty Yankee offense. I guess it means you’re fine against the Mariners now? That’s cool. Fun fact (read, not actually fun): None of his six pitches earned more than two whiffs individually. Huh.

Martín Pérez (TEX) @ KC (W) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 97 pitches.

Noooooooo. Too many sinkers and cutters leaked over the plate and the Royals were able to get a bit fortunate in play. Pérez still has his slowball command intact, though, and I’m not ready to give up yet, even with the Mets next.

Tyler Anderson (LAD) @ COL (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 96 pitches.

Anderson is a Toby and took a dip in Coors. Nothing. Changes.

Jordan Montgomery (NYY) vs OAK (ND) – 6.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 97 pitches.

That’s two straight rough outings for The Bear, particularly shocking as he handled the Jays just fine, but stumbled against the Rays and A’s. Ayyyyyyy. Dude. Not the time. Read a room. Annnnyway, the sinker got battered as it earned just a 19% CSW and once again, it’s live-or-die by the sinker. The Guardians are next and I’d still keep chasing it.

Pablo López (MIA) @ STL (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 85 pitches.

Ouch. I wonder if the AGA label is starting to lose its adhesive as López has allowed 4 ER or more in three of his last five starts now. He’s in dangerous waters for the next few games — I’m starting him against the Nationals, but I’m watching you buddy. Get that fastball and cutter command in check.

Kris Bubic (KC) vs TEX (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 87 pitches.

Why did I ever think this would work. Bubic’s velocity wasn’t 92 mph but instead 90.7 mph and everything was just…bad. WHY WHY WHY WHY

Connor Seabold (BOS) @ TOR (L) – 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 86 pitches.

Did this dude just do this? Seabold earned a Gallows Pole?! Mostly on his 92.1 mph four-seamer?! This is absolutely bonkers to me, but he played a dangerous game with elevated four-seamers as the Jays were ready to hit, twice punishing on said heaters up in the zone, then capitalizing on the many changeups and sliders landing in the heart of the plate. It really does make you wonder, though. Can Seabold actually be a solid strikeout guy if he keeps this fastball precision?! Wild.

George Kirby (SEA) vs BAL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 95 pitches.

Oh no. Kirby has been on a roll, especially against weaker lineups and this one seemed like easy money. I also see his strikezone plot and think huh, that looks kinda sweet, honestly. But the Orioles jumped on Kirby’s mistakes in the heart of the plate and swatted four homeruns off the man. Jeeeeeeeez. So that isn’t going to happen again and he gets the Athletics next. Brush it off, y’all.

 

Game of the Day 

Charlie Morton vs. Zack Wheeler – Sign. Me. UP.

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)