Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup – Winn City

Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Thursday 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.  

Keaton Winn (SF) @ TOR (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 67 pitches.

The Giants went with Keaton Winn today against the Jays, and turning on the game to watch his first two pitches, I couldn’t believe what I saw. Two splitters back-to-back. Baseball isn’t what it used to be and I love it.

I’m getting ahead of myself. Winn dazzled in his first start for the Giants, cruising through the lineup quickly with a line of 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 67 pitches – yes just 67 pitches – and coming with a touch of Careful, Icarus as the only blemish was a 2-run shot from Vladito in the sixth, who saw a meaty splitter down the middle and crushed it. The thing is, Winn tossed 52% splitters here for 74% strikes and the Jays were bound to run into one.

I’m in a bit of shock to see Winn feature splitters as his #1 pitch and pair it with 94-99 mph four-seamers and sinkers, with just one breaker in the mix. The 88 mph splitter focus opens the door for his four-seamer to perform at the top of the zone, while the surprise of the sinker returned far more outs than I expected…and 0/13 CSW. The fella is a strike thrower (67 pitches, remember) and I do wonder if the big heat and trusted splitter can return more strikeouts in the future. It’s a truly rare approach and one that I want to see more of. Is he actually this consistent with the splitter? Will he get deep into counts consistently enough to return at least a strikeout per inning? Can he avoid the BABIP blowups? Plenty of questions are left to be answered here, but I think he’s worthy of consideration for his next start against the Mariners.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Thursday:

 

J.P. France (HOU) @ STL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 97 pitches.

Now that’s some good streaming^TM. Don’t look to France to win your week. Look to France when you need help sparking a revolution a solid foundation to let guys like Luzardo or Bassitt win your week.

Jesús Luzardo (MIA) @ BOS (ND) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 99 pitches.

That’s a 3.43 ERA with a sub 1.00 WHIP and 30% strikeout rate since May 9th. His slider has over a 43% CSW in that time, including 12/33 whiffs in this start alone. It’s so lovely watching him be the man we dreamt of in March.

Chris Bassitt (TOR) vs SF (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 12 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 104 pitches.

Yep, I think I did the right thing labeling Bassitt as a Cherry Bomb on The List this week. He’s seen a small decline in each of his pitches this year…UNTIL NOW. The sinker had a 43% CSW. The four-seamer got whiffs in two-strike counts. The curve…well that allowed two of his hits, BUT THE REST WAS GREAT. Look at that King Cole and now back at me. You held onto Bassitt because you respect the process. Thank you for respecting the process. Now go and keep starting the dang man and never expect double-digit strikeouts from him again.

Shane Bieber (CLE) @ KC (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 81 pitches.

ShaneDidYouHaveYourSliderAndCurveInTheGobletOfFire?! Ummmm, if you’re asking if he earned slider and curve whiffs again, the answer is a sad trombone of No Noooooo. Just 4/27 between the two of them, BUT, we saw 63% strikes and 44% CSW. That’s cool. Still feel weird celebrating a Bieber start without the Pinkertons big breaking ball bruisers doing most of the leg work, but I guess we just keep starting him and hope for the best.

Zack Littell (TB) @ ARI (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 30 pitches.

I can’t be the only one disappointed that Littell only throws three pitches. He’s the perfect kitchen-sink guy who throws a Littel bit of this and a Littel bit of that. But nooooo, he has to open for 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks of Yonny Chirinos, who allowed a ton of hard contact, squirmed through six frames, and at least makes me happy that he shelved his slider for splitters. Decent, nothing special, volatile splitters. That doesn’t sound good. But it’s not horrific! …no, I guess not. Yay! …yay.

Brayan Bello (BOS) vs MIA (L) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 99 pitches.

Bello is cooking with his sinker and changeup, here earning five whiffs and 35%+ CSW each. I still want more from his slider, but whipping out some solid four-seamers on top of the duo is working well. I wouldn’t be shocked if we have to wait until 2024 for the slider to become a big thing again, which makes me a little less enthusiastic about the second half. Welp, at least he gets the rough Rangers out of the way before the break, amirite?

Taijuan Walker (PHI) @ CHC (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 94 pitches.

We’re at 93/94 mph on the sinker, a 33% splitter rate (16% CSW lol) and a flurry of cutters to make things work now. Wait, is that normal? It’s chaotic, so yeah, I guess that’s normal. There is no normal. Now you get it. I still feel weird rostering Walker and if you’re holding on, then at least we can all agree we’re not starting Walker against the Rays next week, right? Cool.

Reese Olson (DET) @ TEX (ND) – 1.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 41 pitches.

Bleeegggggh. Olson took an arrow a comebacker to the knee and left the game with a contusion. I hope he’s alright and can make his next start as I still dig that slider a whole lot + the changeup can be a back-breaker when it’s on. If he’s able to pitch in step moving forward, he’s worth the stream against the Athletics. The kid’s got enough.

Joe Musgrove (SD) @ PIT (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 93 pitches.

Is it just more or is this the standard Musgrove line? Maybe one fewer hit, but the man knows how to go six with a strikeout per inning and decent ratios. The slider was better(!) at 38% CSW, while the curve and cutter did work per usual. He’s solid, just not an ace and that’s just fine.

Max Scherzer (NYM) vs MIL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 102 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. “He’s cooked!” they said at varying times this year, like the tide’s arrangement with the sand. I don’t have faith in 2024 Scherzer at all, but 2023? He’ll do everything he can to get through this season. You have to love him for it.

Adrian Houser (MIL) @ NYM (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 89 pitches.

Oh what do you know, Houser chucked a boatload of fastballs and they found enough gloves to get him a Win because baseball is weird. The way I like to describe a pitcher like Houser is by the sound I make quickly skipping between pitches he throws. It can be quickly described as “uh huh….uh huh…” and suddenly he’s gone six innings.

Zack Greinke (KC) vs CLE (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 11 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 82 pitches.

Thirteen baserunners. One whiff. Zero strikeouts (HAISTBMBWT?!). And SOMEHOW, just two earned runs in six frames. Greinke does what Greinke does.

Emmet Sheehan (LAD) @ COL (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 88 pitches.

Surviving Coors is no easy task and those who braved this should be happy to sneak out with a Win. The slider was pretty dang bland here as he willed his way with 68% four-seamers and a sprinkle of changeups. After surviving Houston and Colorado, he’s been blessed with the wonders that is…Pittsburgh baseball. What a truly magical place it is.

Kyle Hendricks (CHC) vs PHI (L) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 85 pitches.

The curve is still wondering why it’s getting left at the gas station as the fastballs are earning tons of called strikes and the changeup is doing everything it’s supposed to do. I can’t criticize as Hendricks doesn’t need the dang thing, but it really deserves to not have to find a quarter to get your attention. Yeah, you left me. Again. No, I can’t just hitchhike a ride, I’m twelve. Yes, I’ll hold.

Clarke Schmidt (NYY) @ OAK (W) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 93 pitches.

A win is a win is a win. Are you talking about my week? Because those ratios are a loss. A loss is a loss is a loss. Why are you doing this. This is a this is a-PLEASE STOP. Schmidt was a tick down here and still lacks the electricity we’re looking for to be a legit arm in 12-teamers. As a Toby, he’s decent enough, but I think you’re better off streaming in his spot instead.

Cody Bradford (TEX) vs DET (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 90 pitches.

The man with three first names stepped up after the Rangers pushed Gray to Friday and shocked me with seven whiffs on both his 90/91 mph four-seamer and 82/83 mph changeup for eight strikeouts. Huh. Blame it on the Tigers, I guess. Welp, see ya later.

Hogan Harris (OAK) vs NYY (L) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 91 pitches.

Womp womp. I still dig the whole crafty-lefty schtick kinda like how I still dig flipping through the channels of my parents’ rotary TV, but I ain’t hauling that thing into my apartment.

Luis Ortiz (PIT) vs SD (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 69 pitches.

Three walks and zero strikeouts make Luis a PEAS and eat his toast without any butter. I’m pretty sure that’s how the line goes. Should I hold Ortiz? Why is he on your team in the first place?

Lance Lynn (CWS) @ LAA (W) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 24 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 105 pitches.

I feel like this is amazing and terrible and predictable. Of course he’s going to give you horrible ratios with a Gallows Pole. I mean, how could we possibly have some legit clarity about what to do with Lynn? But he featured 30% sliders! The secondaries are coming alive with the sound of musssiicccc–pipe down, my neighbors are already upset I’ve run through Africa by Toto about 20 times so far. The slider returned 61% strikes and just 26% CSW, sadly, and he allowed hits on everything – changeups, sliders, cutters, a four-seamer and sinker each, and even off of a curse word, which I think was redacted at the end of the inning. These new rules, ya know? I feel like we have no choice but to bench him for the Jays up next even with the whiffs, but then again, that’s horrible luck and Lynn clearly gets to two-strikes a ton. Lynn, why must you drink Pabst and act like such a HIPSTER?

Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs TB (L) – 2.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 69 pitches.

Pfaadt was forced to make his MLB debut against the Rangers and now in his return to the bigs, they made him start against the Rays. Baseball can be so cruel. Our attention went to his heater, which looked like the same middling offering it was when he first arrived and we’re still looking at a pitcher who is nothing like what the papers said. I’m squinting at the Polaroid in my hand, hoping someone will help me discern if that’s the same guy. You sure?! They told me he would be wearing a rose.

Adam Wainwright (STL) vs HOU (L) – 1.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 58 pitches.

There is no wrong way to fade from reflecting sunlight onto the Earth. You can only Wainwright. Doesn’t the moon wane to the left? OH LOOK AT ME, RUINING NICK’S HILARITY. I’m sorry, I’m just sour that Adam is at this state of his career. I know, buddy. I know. He’s not waxing anymore. He’s waning, right? Sigh. Right.

Chase Anderson (COL) vs LAD (L) – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches.

It’s Coors, and Chase is defeated. Wait. Close enough.

Patrick Sandoval (LAA) vs CWS (L) – 5.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 96 pitches.

Even while earning eight strikeouts against the White Sox, The Irish Panda has found a way to kill your ratios. He’s the Cherry Bomb that needs to get suffocated in cherry dip for a good five seconds. See? You can’t even see the bomb anymore! Oh how dangerous this is.

 

Game of the Day

Shane McClanahan vs. Bryce Miller – This is why we watch baseball.

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 Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)