Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup – Teheran Out Of Gas

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 Twitch weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.

Julio Teheran (MIL) @ NYM (L) – 5.2 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches.

It was only a matter of time before Julio Teheran’s ridiculous Vargas Rule would hit the wall and that crash came this evening against the Mets with a final line of 5.2 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches. Is this the end? It’s the end.

Seriously, that’s all I want to do here. If you were rostering Teheran, let me pull a Ferris Buehler Bueller and tell you to go home. Get out of here. But the Pirates are next! IT DOESN’T MATTER. This wasn’t meant to last, it wasn’t even meant to exist. It’s time to go, Julio.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:

 

Gavin Williams (CLE) @ KC (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 92 pitches.

Ummmm, this was super legit. The fastball was far better commanded up in the zone, returning eight whiffs (not two like last time) while the curve and slider found the box plenty and earned 70% strikes between them. This is everything I could have asked for from Williams and we’re back in. MLB debuts are so dang hard to interpret, but future matchups against the Cubs and Royals sure aren’t. Go get him if you still can.

Brady Singer (KC) vs CLE (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 95 pitches.

You can’t be a Cherry Bomb without some Cherry in your life. HE WAS WHO WE THOUGHT HE WAS.

David Peterson (NYM) vs MIL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 110 pitches.

I didn’t want to take a chance on Peterson here and not only does he get a Gold Star for his excellence, I’m shocked the Mets let him go 110 pitches.  He did a good job locating with the BSB, but those looking for breaker or changeup dominance will leave empty-handed. We also saw him sit a tick down across the board. He’s looking at dates with the Giants and Padres if he were to stick around, and I have no interest here without a dominating secondary pitch.

Clayton Kershaw (LAD) @ COL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 79 pitches.

But it’s Coors! BUT IT’S TATIAGA. 

Ryan Walker (SF) @ TOR (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 42% CSW, 24 pitches.

Walker opened for 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 80 pitches of Alex Wood and ain’t that something interesting against a strong Jays squad? His sinker/changeup separation was bliss, while even the mediocre sliders missed away from the sinker. If that command sticks, it should work consistently, but we’ve seen Wood lock in for brief moments in the past only for him to sputter. The Mariners are next and I think it’s still too risky.

Ranger Suárez (PHI) @ CHC (W) – 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 104 pitches.

The dude can’t be stopped as we go from one Vargas Rule to another. I’m not going to break him down massively, but he’s feeling all his pitches and you start the man with reckless abandon until he hits that wall.

Sandy Alcantara (MIA) @ BOS (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 95 pitches.

Hahahaha. HAHAHAHAHA. The changeup, the pitch that has plagued Sandy all year, went 34% CSW with a 26% SwStr rate across more than a third of his pitches and I love it so dang much. Better yet, the slider often stole the show with a 46% CSW and sat over a tick harder and all you can do is lean back and kick up your feet. Nick, we’ve seen him have great starts this season only to fall flat the very next week. That’s completely fair, but after seeing a start of atrocious command, this evening of precise pitching was everything I dreamed of. Sandy, you’re the best.

Jordan Montgomery (STL) vs HOU (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 91 pitches.

Hot dang, look at you! The Bear has been on a roll as of late and had both his change and curve working in this one. Now with the Marlins and White Sox on the horizon, you should feel just fine having ole Monty around.

Shohei Ohtani (LAA) vs CWS (W) – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 102 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. The red carpet wasn’t rolled out for Ohtani’s slider to dominate the White Sox (just 10/24 strikes for 17% CSW is putrid), but the cutter was fantastic and even the splitter had its moments. It’s weird to complain when he’s having this success, but I really wish that sweeper was fixed.

Andrew Abbott (CIN) @ BAL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 106 pitches.

Here I have been, telling you that Abbott has been smoke and mirrors and yet, the dude just keeps producing. WHAT DO I KNOW. On the real, this was by far the most impressive start in my book (yes, moreso than the Rockies outing) as he executed the BSB super well, utilizing the changeup plenty and landing it under the zone frequently for 32% CSW…even if it had a low strike rate. Just the pitch separation itself helped his four-seamer as he was able to sequence effectively, while the curve was able to keep the Orioles off-balance. This works and with the Nats and Brewers up next, I guess I’m much more in than I expected to be at this moment. Let’s hope I didn’t just jinx this.

Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs SF (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 12 Ks – 22 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 106 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. That’s a Golden Goal and we’ve been waiting for Gausman to give us one of these starts again. We’ve missed you terribly. What’s kinda wild is how the splitter wasn’t even the KABLAMO! pitch we’ve seen in the past with just 6/35 whiffs and a 26% CSW. So he’s not completely back? I wouldn’t say so, but at least the slider and four-seamer were both stellar, and the splitter should return to form soon. Is that enough for you? I guess, now say it in a terrible accent. iT. AMAZING.

Paul Blackburn (OAK) vs NYY (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 90 pitches.

Blackburn faced a middling offense and has a kitchen-sink arsenal that can squirm its way through 5+ innings. The White Sox are up next to solidify his two-start week and you may find yourself with a pair of Wins at the end of it. Paulie Punchouts, at it again.

Bryan Woo (SEA) vs WSH (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 88 pitches.

Yeah that’s a pretty lovely four-seamer. The pitch bruised the zone with 87% strikes and a 35% CSW, while the slider…was terrible at 7/16 strikes and the changeup was minimal. Honestly, I completely forgot Woo had a changeup in the first place and I don’t think I’m going to remember it now. Next up are the Giants and we’re gonna keep rolling with this one, hoping a legit secondary arrives at some point.

Bryce Elder (ATL) vs MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 98 pitches.

The Vargas Rule lives and we obey. Must. Obey.

Tyler Wells (BAL) vs CIN (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 99 pitches.

Were you worried about the hot Reds offense? Lesson learned: All decisions end “Wells!”

Martín Pérez (TEX) vs DET (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 88 pitches.

I see a Toby, I start him against the Tigers. Fantasy baseball is easy. Kid, let me tell you about the summer of 2012…

Jhony Brito (NYY) @ OAK (L) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 81 pitches.

Sure, he served you a Philly, but Brito did everything you could have hoped for – it was the Yankee offense that let you down. It’s a two-start week, which means some of you picked him up for this start and the Cardinals up next and I guess that’s okay. It feels awfully like a coin flip, hoping for an extra cracker instead of another entree.

Matt Manning (DET) @ TEX (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 84 pitches.

I was hoping to see 94/95 mph from Manning as he made his season debut and what we got was 93.5 mph, but also a 33% CSW against a legit Texas offense. He did have some really out-there command along the way, though, and too bad I don’t like the slider and curve a whole lot. I suggest waiting longer before considering a pickup.

Michael Kopech (CWS) @ LAA (L) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 7 BBs, 3 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 102 pitches.

Womp wo-SEVEN WALKS?! Kopech, you’re not Edwin Jackson nor do you want to be, so figure that out. You can’t throw 37 secondaries for just 35% strikes. That’s worse than Giolito’s 2018 season. But he gets Oakland next! Ugggggh, I guess he’s bounced back in the past and he still has his velocity…FINE. But I’m going to grumble the entire time.

Jake Irvin (WSH) @ SEA (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 93 pitches.

That’s nearly a PQS for Irvin as the velocity was still up at 95 mph for the second straight outing. This changes everything. Well, just that Irvin is a rare streaming option and we’re still going to leave him on the wire with the Reds + Rangers up next, but hey, he’s on the streaming list now and that’s a cool thing.

Zac Gallen (ARI) vs TB (W) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 96 pitches.

Aces gonna earn a Win and serve a Dusty Donut. The four-seamer was all kinds of legit with a 43% CSW and a whopping 84% strike rate, but the curve and cutter failed to support the pitch with a sub 50% strike rate on both. Sigh. He was so dang close.

Rich Hill (PIT) vs SD (W) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 101 pitches.

Those ratios are brutal, and if you streamed Hill I sure hope that Win teaches you how to legitimately make money from home (and be your own boss!) with what you endured for it.

Framber Valdez (HOU) @ STL (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 94 pitches.

Aces gonna make me regret giving him that tag. That’s worse than a VVVPQS and suddenly the Cardinals are waking up. I don’t think Valdez was particularly poor in this one and we can call it a That’s Baseball, Suzyn game if we like. But he’s stumbled before! And recently! Yeah yeah yeah, Valdez is fine, go back to sleep. Stumbleeeed….be…foooooooore.

Connor Seabold (COL) vs LAD (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 93 pitches.

Color me shocked. I would have thought he’d have more than one walk! Incredible.

Jameson Taillon (CHC) vs PHI (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 90 pitches.

At least the eight strikeouts are cool? He didn’t earn more than three whiffs on any single pitch type. Okay fine, that’s likely not sustainable. None of this is sustainable. OKAY FINE, YOU’RE RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING. Everything is sustainable. AHA! It isn’t. And I really wish you didn’t make me think about that right now. ANYWAY, Taillon has a large repertoire without anything that serves the evil eye to hitters, and without a de facto weapon, I’m going to pass.

Reiss Knehr (SD) @ PIT (L) – 2.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 55 pitches.

Sadly, Yu Darvish was scratched with an illness, forcing Knehr to start in his place. Whatareyagonnado.

Garrett Whitlock (BOS) vs MIA (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 11 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 92 pitches.

I was amped to watch this game and a quick two-run shot followed by a double and single was a splash of cold water I didn’t need in my life. I think that 7/0 strikeout-per-walk ratio tells enough of a story that I still believe in Whitlock, who certainly didn’t pitch poorly enough to deserve eleven hits on the docket. Shrug this game off and move on – the slider was still good, the sinker was as horrendous as it seems, and the luck didn’t go his way. Yeah but it’s the Jays next. Oh. Nah, I’m still starting him. This was a weird one, not the new standard.

Taj Bradley (TB) @ ARI (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 82 pitches.

Taj threw his four-seamer 37 times, 0.4 mph harder than usual. The result? Zero whiffs. I’ve understood his four-seamer to be an elite offering and to see it allow three hits and zero whiffs is astounding. The cutter didn’t fare any better with a trio of hits on its own and just 2/25 CSW on the night (8%?!). WHAT IS THIS. Now we’ve seen the peak of Bradley and the harsh valley in back-to-back starts and it’s pretty dang painful. At least he gets the Mariners next and there’s no denying Bradley a start there. But hot dang, I feel everyone’s pain here. For what it’s worth, I see Bradley more as their phenomenal arm than whatever this monstrosity is.

Joe Ryan (MIN) @ ATL (L) – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 82 pitches.

Bleeeeegh. The night we all feared came to pass: The evening where Joe Ryan doesn’t have his best four-seamer (just 3/40 whiffs). I actually dug both the splitter and sweeper in this game, though, and I’m just as shocked as you are. The splitter was elegantly placed down-and-armside with precision, while the sweeper returned a massive 71% strike rate and 43% CSW. If only the four-seamer wasn’t hit so muc–wait. He allowed eight hits and just four came on the heater. Uh oh. I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT IF IT WEREN’T FOR THOSE KRIS MEDDLIN’ SECONDARIES!

 

Game of the Day

 

Blake Snell vs. Mitch Keller – Snell is on fire and Keller has rebounded. Too fun.

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)