Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup – Berrí-Oh-So-Sweet

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

José Berríos (TOR) @ NYM (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 86 pitches.

Guess what. After allowing 12 ER in his first starts of the year, José Berríos holds a 2.48 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 22.5% strikeout rate across 61.2 IP following his 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 86 pitches performance against the Mets. Yes, that’s a King Cole and no, it’s not because of sheer luck.

If you’ve followed these roundups, you’ll remember that Berríos has cut back on four-seamers in favor of sinkers in the zone and it’s still working wonders. That four-seamer usage dropped to 10% yesterday, allowing his sinker’s sub 20% hard contact (91st percentile for all sinkers!) to do the work, while his curveball has been as good as ever. In fact, yesterday was magnificent with a 49% CSW as he kept the ball down and dancing in-and-out of the zone beautifully. This is the Berríos we’ve waited to see for a long time now.

I do question whether the sinker can be this good throughout the full year, but at the very least we can strip The Great Undulator of his title in favor of a classic Vargas Rule and go from there. He’s a new pitcher now.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:

 

Eury Pérez (MIA) vs OAK (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 88 pitches.

It wasn’t the overwhelming outing we dream of with 88 pitches across five frames, but yeah, this is wonderful. At some point we’ll stop seeing those wasted changeups, curves, and fastballs far out of the zone, and then the true Eury will be here.

Alex Cobb (SF) vs BAL (W) – 7.2 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 103 pitches.

The splitter was back? The splitter was back. 64% strikes with 14 whiffs and a whole lot of outs. That’s all you want from Cobb and I want to believe that’ll happen more times than not.

Yu Darvish (SD) vs CHC (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 115 pitches.

It’s starts like these that bring us back in on Darvish. You just start him and that’s that. Come on Nick, I want more analysis! Fine, he was ridiculous with 16 called strikes on his sinker, a pitch he suddenly featured 34% of the time, marking just the third time this season he utilized the pitch more than 20% of the time (the second being his last outing). I wonder if that’s a legit change or just Darvish being Darvish. I hope it’s real, but with Darvish, you never really know.

Trevor Kelley (TB) @ BOS (ND) – 2.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 35 pitches.

Oh hey, the Rays had a bullpen game. And none rejoiced.

Spencer Strider (ATL) @ ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 99 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. What, no awards today? You’re slacking. 

Matt Strahm (PHI) @ WSH (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 22 pitches.

Oh cool, a bullpen game. Cool cool cool.

Michael Lorenzen (DET) @ CWS (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 85 pitches.

And thus ends our wonderful run of streaming Lorenzen. You could Vargas Rule him if you want against the Phils + Atlanta, but I think I’d rather use it for a streaming spot. Up to you.

Gerrit Cole (NYY) @ LAD (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 80 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. He was pulled early due to cramping, which is disappointing and yet, that’s one h*ck of a line against a strong offense. Still #1 for another week.

Cristian Javier (HOU) vs LAA (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 102 pitches.

He’s still struggling with the slider – that’s four starts now – and yet he’s producing despite it. Not the elite production, but it’s a wonderful thing to see a guy not at his peak and still help your squads. Just imagine when the slider feel returns…

Jordan Montgomery (STL) @ PIT (L) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 75 pitches.

Solid stuff from JorMont, who was able to return after the rain delay to the cheers of fantasy managers everywhere. He’s still not finding a night where the curve and change are both CSW darlings (just 11% on the change here is wild) and I have some hesitations next time as he hosts the Reds.

Tylor Megill (NYM) vs TOR (ND) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 103 pitches.

I expected a disaster and while that near 2.00 WHIP sure is, props to Megill for finding a way to limit the damage, earning him tonight’s Gold Star. His fastball command is the problem, but his changeup and slider were precise and on point. Some will be tempted to start him against the Pirates next time out and this is more encouraging than I anticipated. I feel like it was a one-time thing, though.

Tyler Glasnow (TB) @ BOS (ND) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 88 pitches.

Kinda wild to watch Glasnow bounce so many curveballs and yet he still earned 50% swings (just 1/16 was inside the zone). He’s back y’all.

Dylan Cease (CWS) vs DET (ND) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 23 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 99 pitches.

Cease earned a Gallows Pole and it feels like everything is right in the world. So the slider is back? It sure is. Now comes the part where he needs to have a decent four-seamer or curveball to be the AGA guy you drafted and hopefully that comes through against the Marlins.

Kutter Crawford (BOS) vs TB (ND) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 40 pitches.

Oh, I guess we got Crawford. Okay. Like pogs in the 90s, that was a thing that happened.

Luis Ortiz (PIT) vs STL (ND) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 32 pitches.

A rain delay knocked out Ortiz, who wasn’t pitching all that great in the first place. We move on.

Logan Allen (CLE) @ MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 95 pitches.

That’s a Dusty Donut with just four strikeouts and a 1.50 WHIP, but we’ll take it. The command is solid and it opens the door for a ten-strikeout game last like week, but these are the more frequent starts that you should anticipate.

Austin Gomber (COL) @ KC (ND) – 2.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 74 pitches.

You didn’t start Gomber, right? Okay cool. What about—No. Don’t.

Drew Smyly (CHC) @ SD (L) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 82 pitches.

Curveball wasn’t as good as he nearly gave you a VVPQS. Before you rage drop, realize it’s @LAA + PIT + @PIT next. I think that’s worth the hold.

Sonny Gray (MIN) vs CLE (L) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 90 pitches.

Oh look, the curve and slider weren’t elite again. Bleggggh. Even against the Guardians, Gray is losing his edge and I’m still heavily concerned about it. That said, volatility goes both ways and I won’t rule out him bouncing back in the near future. Good luck against Toronto…

MacKenzie Gore (WSH) vs PHI (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 101 pitches.

Welcome to Gore, a guy who had a ridiculous slider last time out that catalyzed 11 strikeouts and now tossed just 15 of them. But hey! A PQS with 18 whiffs is still cool as he established the zone with his heater. I feel like we’re seeing the growth with spikes up and down and still trending up. It’s gonna be a fun second half or 2024.

Colin Rea (MIL) @ CIN (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 93 pitches.

He got the Win but at what cost?! I feel like you got saved with the dub as you were Colin all angels to salvage this one. But hey, that curve went 55% CSW and that’s a cool thing. The schedule isn’t opening up and I’d avoid it.

Daniel Lynch (KC) vs COL (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 97 pitches.

I kinda dig the slider and changeup and I’m glad to see the strikeouts follow. He was close to making this an overall productive outing and we may be turning to Lynch against the Tigers in a few starts. Don’t ignore him.

Andrew Heaney (TEX) vs SEA (ND) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 78 pitches.

Blegh. 78 pitches for nine outs ain’t what you want, though I am happy to see 31% sliders…kinda. I think that was only because his changeup was failing him instead of a concerted effort. I kinda dig the BSB here, but the slider has to get lower than up/middle. I think I’m willing to still chance it against St. Louis, but only for the potential strikeouts.

Ryne Nelson (ARI) vs ATL (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 0 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 14% CSW, 98 pitches.

Nelson still doesn’t have a proper arsenal to complement his four-seamer and y’all should look elsewhere.

Kyle Bradish (BAL) @ SF (L) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 79 pitches.

He did the thing I want him to do – lean in on his slider and curve for nearly 60% usage – and yet, he still allowed five hits on fastballs.

Michael Grove (LAD) vs NYY (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 83 pitches.

That’s four earned runs on four hits (stupid), but Grove did a great job with his slider and his four-seamer was relatively out of the lower half in this one. This was easily the most encouraging start of the year for Grove and I have my eye on him now. An adjustment could have been made.

Garrett Whitlock (BOS) vs TB (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 97 pitches.

The line looks poor, but I kinda dig what Whitlock did with his sweeper in the zone and changeup down. There’s room for improvement with his sinker command, but if you take this start and throw him against a non-elite offense, I think Whitlock comes through for you. I’m so in for his upcoming stretch.

Patrick Sandoval (LAA) @ HOU (L) – 3.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 72 pitches.

The changeup was great (42% CSW), but everything else wasn’t. That’s the story of The Irish Panda this year – like my parents negotiating with me at the grocery store at seven years old, he’s allowed to have just one good thing each time.

Luis Medina (OAK) @ MIA (L) – 2.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 72 pitches.

Womp womp. I was so foolish in ranking Medina one spot higher than Lorenzen to be my streamer pick because I was being cute and sneaky n whatnot and I deserve this. He just didn’t have it and while I still wouldn’t rule out a stream next week against the Brewers, this wasn’t fun. He couldn’t figure out how to get strikes in the zone.

Bryan Woo (SEA) @ TEX (L) – 2.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 47 pitches.

I was excited to watch Woo and sad to see him struggle to have a gameplan as the Rangers jumped with two hits on his first two MLB pitches. The four-seamer does show promise and I don’t want to read too much into this one, but he got tagged and that’s that. Hopefully he gets another chance and we can actually assess the kid. For what it’s worth, he didn’t have the secondaries to lean on when it was going poorly, but that could have been MLB debut extremes.

Graham Ashcraft (CIN) vs MIL (L) – 4.0 IP, 10 ER, 9 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 86 pitches.

Please just stop. Seriously. Stop. WE WANT ANDREW ABBOTT. Okay, don’t stop that.

 

Game of the Day 

Triston McKenzie vs. Joe Ryan – It’s the return of Triston + I’d love to see Ryan carve up the Guardians.

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)