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.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Cade Cavalli (WSN) @ BOS (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 13 Ks – 25 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 100 pitches.
It was a…day for Cade Cavalli. I want to start and get out of the way that shouting “Sit Down Boy!” directly at a non-white player, and staring them down when they are walking away is not okay. That phrase has a larger impact than shouting a simple expletive, and directing it toward Contreras while staring him down is much more egregious than your standard celebrations or trash talking. I grasp some of you feel differently, so feel free to just skip this if you want, I personally believe it’s important to identify when things are not okay and call it out.
Poor human actions addressed, Cavalli’s performance in Fenway Sox was the best showcase of talent we’ve ever seen from the sophomore arm, earning a Golden Goal across: 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 13 Ks – 25 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 100 pitches (W). Even against one of the worst offenses against RHP, that is an extraordinary line. It gets amplified a touch when you realize his sole baserunner was a double on a 0-2 curveball to his first batter. All of this came after.
I’ve been down on Cavalli this year, and with a 4.10 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with roughly five strikeouts per game across his last ten outings, my lean toward not favoring a pitcher that breaks the Huascar Rule has been justified. This start was different. Way different. Where do I even begin…First, the velocity was 1-2 ticks up across the board. Four-seamers at 98, sinkers at 97/98, curveballs a whopping 87.5 mph, and the sweeper that is really a slightly adjusted curveball had the same boost to 87 mph. The increased velo took the heater to a new level, returning 12 whiffs, doubling its previous season-high of six. His curve and sweeper returned 45% CSW between them, featured in all counts and comfortably earning strikes. The sinker nestled in as a mix-up pitch and the heat/breaker combo (think of it like two pitches expanded to four) were killing it.
But there’s more. We saw Cavalli dabble with a cutter last start, going 3/4 strikes and used mostly as a surprise offering in the sixth at 91 mph. He tripled its usage with 11 thrown at 94 mph and it was awesome. 64% strikes, three whiffs, and 45% CSW. This changes everything. Sure, Cavalli has a changeup he rarely throws to LHB, but this cutter transforms the arsenal, creating the bridge strike pitch he sorely needed. And hey, if the velocity is also up moving forward, this is a stud in the making.
It’s just one game and we have to take note of that. The velocity may come back down, the trust of the cutter could dissipate (he had a cluster of some, then a few others that were strange, slower four-seamers), and facing a poor Boston lineup can do wonders to a pitcher’s ability to get into their flow state. Facing a RHB-laced lineup from Houston could help him continue, and if he does, I’d be encouraged to start him even against the Yankees and Sacré Verde after. You never know when a pitcher will suddenly add more and take off, and I sure hope this is that turning point for this USA capital arm. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) vs PIT (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 23 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 92 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Sorry, no awards for you tonight. Be better. Fun fact: Sánchez didn’t do a whole lot better at getting his changeup down or avoiding the plate with his sinker than his last few starts, but instead of 7+ hits, it’s just three. That’s baseball, Suzyn. It’s also having an (unsustainable) 30% overall putaway rate that ends at-bats before they get more chances to earn hits. (View Game Card)
Nolan McLean (NYM) @ TOR (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 91 pitches.
Much better. He’s not back, due to problems against LHB (I’m looking at you, breakers and four-seamer), but I’m happy to see McLean embrace his absurd curveball more often to LHB. He nearly doubled its usage to 26% against left-handers, leaning on its crazy good two-plane break at 82+ mph that we normally see in the mid-to-high 70s with its 14″ depth and 18″ sweep. His approach to keep it down and in town did wonders for a 38% CSW, while the sinker lived above it + the four-seamer stayed upstairs for whiffs. Smart to pull back on the cutter, too, as he’s struggled to wrangle the pitch as well as he needs to. I’m letting him fly until further notice and hope to see a refined RHB approach soon. (View Game Card)
Connelly Early (BOS) vs WSN (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 61 pitches.
He was cooking until he departed the game with left elbow discomfort. Is that his pitching elbow? Yes. That’s not good. No, it’s not, especially when he was finally getting the feel for backfoot sliders to RHB. Sigh. He was added to the 15-day IL early Wednesday morning and if you’re filled to the brim, Early isn’t the one to stash among high-impact players. (View Game Card)
Tarik Skubal (DET) @ NYY (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 87 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. I just needed to see a start like this, alright? Even if the Yankees are cold right now. So cold, in fact, that the only blemish was a 2-1 fastball over the plate to Rice for a HR in the first frame. 5.1 IP of perfect baseball followed. What a guy. The downside? His elite changeup feel wasn’t there, earning a paltry 45% strike rate as the pitch constantly faded too far down-and-away. I’m not worried – just three more executed changeups or dumb swings = a 60% rate. (View Game Card)
Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs NYM (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 96 pitches.
Please don’t tell me you benched him because of his last two games. Please. It was a rare game where Gausman separated his four-seamer and splitter horizontally to LHB. We’re talking inside heaters and away splitties. Sounds good to me. (View Game Card)
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs SFG (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 66 pitches.
Five productive frames in 66 pitches is no small task, especially after pitching in relief or in the minors beginning April 19th. I don’t a dramatically different Pfaddt skill-wise, but I do see a step away from breaking balls, favoring fastballs, changeups, and a few stabilizing cutters as his go-to approach. Can’t say I love it, and this feels like a Blame it on the Giants with Koufax giving a little extra nudge. I’m not going after his next one in PetCo Park, even if the Padres are a mediocre offense. (View Game Card)
Eury Pérez (MIA) @ COL (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 8 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 86 pitches.
Oh hey! Let’s list all the cool factors. A Win! Eight strikeouts! Solid ratios! 19 whiffs! COORS! And 86 pitches after throwing 68 last game!! Now for the tough part. Is this actually real? I didn’t see better four-seamers and it was a game of sweepers filling the zone 50% of the time and stealing some strikeouts with big whiffs on a fair number of floaters over the plate. I’m not sold, and his next destination on The Green Mile is ahead in Sacré Verde. I’m not starting him there, sorry y’all. (View Game Card)
Matthew Liberatore (STL) @ ATL (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 98 pitches.
Hot DANG, look at you! Even with the four walks, I’m giving you the Gold Star for this one because this is dope. His slider to LHB was phenomenal, and he even earned a trio of whiffs on backfoot sliders to RHB. Its increased usage to 28% against RHB (doubled from 14%!) allowed the four-seamer to cruise for 75% strikes and that’s your ball game. I wish the changeup and curve will a little more reliable along the ride, and I question if the slider will be this good of a feel moving forward, but I’m glad he had himself a day. (View Game Card)
Tanner Bibee (CLE) vs TEX (L) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.
Oh snap, the changeup returned! 33% usage to LHB for an 85% strike rate and consistent location away is rarity for Bibee, especially when it’s paired with fastballs inside and curveballs down (outside of that 0-0 hanger to Joc for a two-run blast). Meanwhile, RHB saw a ton of cutters away and sinkers coming back over the plate for a 36% called strike rate. The cutter’s low 46% strike rate did help the sinker and I’ll take this version of Bibee all day. I think it’s the best command I’ve seen from him in a while. That doesn’t seem sustainable, especially with five whiffs. No, it doesn’t. It’s CHW and @MIA next, feels like it’s worth it, but who knows, really. (View Game Card)
Jacob deGrom (TEX) @ CLE (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He pushed his velo up to 98.7 mph, y’all. Get out of here with that 97 mph traaaash. His slider and changeup were so good to LHB with high heaters feasting for six strikeouts upstairs. Gotta love it. (View Game Card)
Bryan Woo (SEA) vs LAA (W) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 106 pitches.
I gotta hand it to Woo. He adapted. Instead of four-seamers galore, he embraced his slider, sweeper, changeup, and sinker, dropping the four-seamer to just 32% usage (not 50%+) as he filled the bottom of the zone to RHB with 33% breakers and 34% sinkers right above it, allowing the four-seamer to be a mix-up above the zone. It works. LHB saw him whip out the changeup for 4/11 strikes, but they were mostly down, amplifying the four-seamer upstairs. We like this. I love this. Well, what about @MIA and SFG next? I REALLY LOVE THIS. (View Game Card)
Brandon Sproat (MIL) vs CIN (W) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 106 pitches.
Ayyyy he did it again! Wait, the same approach?! Oh, uh, no. Just success for two straight starts. The four-seamer wasn’t upstairs in the same way, but the rest was great! Sweepers were still down and generally away from RHB, he put the sinker low much better this time, and the cutter feel was improved for 64% strikes. Only the curveball fell under the 60% strike threshold and as a near-exclusive two-strike pitch, that’s 100% fine with me. With @ARI up next, you gotta hope he can do it against a team that doesn’t come from Cincy. (View Game Card)
Justin Wrobleski (LAD) @ ATH (W) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 110 pitches.
Whoaaaaaa. WROBO COP WENT TO WORK. The crime in Sacramento MUST be stopped! Whoa whoa whoa, these people don’t deserve those strays! This wasn’t anything new from Wrobleski, but at 95 mph, he’s finding plenty more whiffs on the four-seamer, bumping his 2-strike rate 15 points and his overall putaway rate from a super low 36% clip to 65% in this one. Yes that’s unsustainable (just three games above 33% all year!), but he did return a 56% clip two starts ago when the four-seamer improved. Just saying. Enjoy the start against Rockie Road up next. (View Game Card)
Griffin Jax (TBR) @ KCR (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 71 pitches.
He did it! He actually did it! What? A PQS? No, well, kinda. The dude went SIX FRAMES! And sure, two HRs on the way – one on his first pitch of the game, another from Witt Jr. on a horrible high sweeper – but they let him do it. It’s happening. We also saw more four-seamers to LHB at a 29% clip, while the cutter has officially been retired. I do not for the life of me understand why, but it’s gone. Poof. At least the stellar heater is getting more love, helping him earn two punchouts above the zone and 4/12 whiffs. (View Game Card)
Matthew Boyd (CHC) vs SDP (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 76 pitches.
Boyd Boyz! Unite! …in sadness. If not for the dub, it would be a Wonka with both Tatis and Machado launching HRs on a pair of poor offerings. He also located his four-seamer terribly over the plate many times for hits and it’s clearly an arm still getting his groove back. Can’t say I feel the need to hold him for @BAL and @CIN up next, as the ceiling is a low-end Holly, not a stud Top 30 arm. (View Game Card)
José Soriano (LAA) @ SEA (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 91 pitches.
Wow, this was five shutout frames, then three consecutive hits to lead off the sixth kicked him out of the game, with all three runners scoring. That’s a textbook Careful, Icarus. Speaking of textbook, it was Soriano’s traditional CSW-darling curveball without the best fastballs backing it up, but instead of the four-seamer failing, it was the sinker and its horrible 42% strike rate. Yeesh. In short, this was good Soriano and even if he’s a HIPSTER where I can’t bank on his gaining proper momentum from a start like this, it’s enough to let him fly in Arlington up next. (View Game Card)
Erick Fedde (CHW) @ BAL (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 90 pitches.
Fedde has elected to give up baseball and start playing for the Bulls. I’m all about those THREES BAYBEEE. At least that’s what he told me. Wait, you’re trusting the Feddes? Noooooooo! HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SO BLIND?! Oh, and props for some cool sweeper command here, even if it returned just one whiff on 42 thrown. (View Game Card)
Mike Burrows (HOU) vs MIN (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 90 pitches.
The changeup is coming alive for 70% strikes and 33% usage, but it doesn’t seem to be helping a whole lot, does it? It did after the first, Nick. Okay, very fair. That first inning was a nightmare with two walks, a HBP, and a pair of singles to score all three runs in an unconventional bamboozlin’. This marks his fourth 4+ ER start in his last five, and sixth in his last eight. So… Dude. Sweet? NO. NOT SWEET. (View Game Card)
Martín Pérez (ATL) vs STL (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 85 pitches.
You streamed him for a Win. You got a HAISTBMBWT?! and a Wonka. Dems the breaks, but it doesn’t mean he’s incapable of helping you against the Mets. (View Game Card)
Bubba Chandler (PIT) @ PHI (L) – 6.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 97 pitches.
Huh. This was actually six strong frames from Bubba at 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Then we had the ole walk, bunt, two singles, hook, and all three scoring for a proper Careful, Icarus. I’m a bit shocked he earned just 2/40 whiffs on his four-seamer despite landing so many at the top of the zone and sitting underneath with his slider to LHB frequently. It kinda feels like he’s right there, and this would have been five straight games of 2 ER or fewer if not for that seventh inning. But he’s returned double-digit whiffs just once in those games. Yeaaaah. Not ideal. I’m tepid against the Nationals, Brewers, and Yankees next. (View Game Card)
Tanner Gordon (COL) vs MIA (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 74 pitches.
Yep. That looks about right. (View Game Card)
Jeffrey Springs (ATH) vs LAD (L) – 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 92 pitches.
Wait, it wasn’t sunshine and rainbows in Sacré Verde against the Dodgers? More at eleven. (View Game Card)
JP Sears (SDP) @ CHC (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 95 pitches.
This is more in line with what I expect from Sears, unfortunately. He’s close with the changeup, but it’s not tight enough down-and-away to RHB, and the fastball/sweeper combo ain’t it. (View Game Card)
Rhett Lowder (CIN) @ MIL (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 11 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 82 pitches.
Lowder was super efficient in the two-strike counts he had, but otherwise, he was smacked around in a Singled Out evening at Miller Park. It’s not called tha–I REFUSE TO CALL IT ANYTHING ELSE. This may be it for Lowder with Greene returning this weekend, and despite the strikeouts with his slider and sinker, I think that’s okay. (View Game Card)
Cam Schlittler (NYY) vs DET (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 85 pitches.
Aces gonna allow four HRs. Hey, Cam, can you, uh, not do that? Greene had his number for two of them, and some days it just doesn’t work as it should. I can’t tell you why he didn’t earn a single whiff on 36 pitches across that first frame, and all I can say is whatareyagonnado. (View Game Card)
Joe Ryan (MIN) @ HOU (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 91 pitches.
Aces gonna do business per usual until a six-run fourth inning, capped by a grand slam to Alvarez off a poor 1-1 sinker that ran too far over the plate. Thing is, Ryan sat 95 mph on his four-seamer. He’s fine, just a One Night Bland. (View Game Card)
Noah Cameron (KCR) vs TBR (L) – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 86 pitches.
Sigh. I really wanted to believe that Cameron had fixed his command and he kinda did have good command, but the fastball velocity is down to 91 mph and he’s barely getting any bites out of the zone. Move on. (View Game Card)
Landen Roupp (SFG) @ ARI (L) – 2.2 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 6 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 84 pitches.
This was so terrible, Adrian Houser had to come on in relief for 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 76 pitches. If Houser could do it, why not someone so well-versed as you, Roupp? Because he lost his feel in the third and was bamboozled in the first. Sure, it was a poor day at the park without a rainbow with a pot of gold to save him. He’ll likely bounce back and save his pride. (View Game Card)
Trey Gibson (BAL) vs CHW (L) – 2.2 IP, 8 ER, 7 Hits, 6 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 78 pitches.
The slider is cool on paper at 89/90 mph and legit gyro movement and extra depth, yet it went 50$ strikes with 1/16 whiffs. Whoops. This ain’t it. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Paul Skenes vs. Zack Wheeler – It’s the clear marquee matchup…though I think I’m more interested in Gore vs. Cantillo – two southpaws with something to prove.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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