Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup: Dormant JorMont

Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Wednesday game. I apologize for the jokes written in my delirium in advance. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Playback.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.

Jordan Montgomery (ARI) vs SFG (L) – 2.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 61 pitches.

I’m gonna be quick today. You can drop Jordan Montgomery if you haven’t done so yet. Today’s outing against the Giants returned 2.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 61 pitches and let’s be frank – if you can’t come away from a trio of matchups against the Marlins, Mets, and Giants with production, you shouldn’t be rostered in a 12-teamer. That point hits harder when The Bear doesn’t carry the elite upside as other arms you may consider enduring across their valleys of the season.

I personally felt Monty was just a Toby entering today, but this outing has pushed me over the edge, questioning why bother. Sure, he’ll get into a groove at some point this year and be a step up over everything on the wire, but is that run worth the hardships until then? And when will it arrive? If you need some good ole analysis, his curveball is getting far fewer whiffs and his changeup sequencing shift hasn’t helped the offering, while its minuscule putaway rate (i.e. his inconsistency executing it when he needs it) has turned into more hits and walks. He needs to fix both of them.

Just move on. There are plenty of streams to chase instead and stop letting Montgomery make you more anxious than you need to be.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:

 

Nick Pivetta (BOS) vs ATL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 91 pitches.

A Golden Goal for Pivetta against Atlanta is absolutely gorgeous. I wish it came with a larger return of his cutter, but he kept his four-seamer upstairs while his sweeper and curve did the rest inside the zone with ease. We are so good right now.

Aaron Nola (PHI) vs MIL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 93 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. That curveball was absolutely deadly at the bottom of the zone and that’s everything you need to know. Okay fine, that’s a 2.73 ERA now for the year AND I’M SO HAPPY NOLA IS PITCHING LIKE HIS FUN SELF.

Joey Estes (OAK) vs SEA (W) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 78 pitches.

IT DID WORK. I went back and forth debating making Estes or Soriano the streaming pick of the day (ayyyy, they both worked!) and I’m happy Estes was able to come through. As expected, the four-seamer did a ton of the work upstairs, while the slider and sweeper tried their best to help. I’m happy this worked out for Estes and trusting managers, truly, but I wouldn’t press your luck further against the Padres.

Kenta Maeda (DET) @ TEX (ND) – 0.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 50% CSW, 2 pitches.

Why is his line blank? Because he was pulled with an abdominal injury after tossing just two pitches. Poor guy. If he needs to be replaced in the roster, it may be more of Keider Montero, though it truly just reminds me how much I wish Jackson Jobe were fully healthy. Sigh.

Luis Severino (NYM) @ WSN (W) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 92 pitches.

Nothing screams sustainability like over 70% usage on four-seamers that happened to find enough gloves to get through eight frames, right? Those heaters are not pitches I’d call elite and this all just seems like smoke and mirrors, save for Severino getting props at least for throwing enough fastballs in the zone for strikes. I’d normally say ignore this and move, but he does get the Marlins next week. WELP, GUESS WE’RE GIVING IT ANOTHER GO.

Logan Gilbert (SEA) @ OAK (L) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 90 pitches.

Ahhhh, so the Canibal McSanchez has become your answer. I’ll take that over avoiding the cutter entirely, especially when you’re able to use it as the foundation for a BSB approach. Two starts away from AGA redemption – CHW & TEX. Gotta slay ’em both. What, like reindeer? Does one sleigh a reindeer? Sure, when you need venison. Oh. OH. I think you mean Ho HO. IT WAS AN ILLUMINATING MOMENT OF YOUR QUESTIONABLE INNER WORKS. Like Gilbert’s approach each start? Tou. Ché.

José Ureña (TEX) vs DET (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 97 pitches.

There’s your Gold Star as Ureña had his magic for yet one more start. Good for him to get one more victory and I can’t help but wonder whether the Rangers will keep him around after this. Probably not with Gray returning and the legend of Ureña will have to live on among the people.

José Soriano (LAA) vs SDP (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 85 pitches.

Just two whiffs and a HAISTBMBWT?! is pretty laughable, but at least the sinker was spotted well enough to earn all the outs, pushing him through six full frames for a Win. I’m okay for Soriano to get a start against the D-backs next as the curve should be far better than what we saw here.

Miles Mikolas (STL) @ HOU (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 62 pitches.

Kinda weird to see six full frames at 62 pitches and no one bats an eye that he was removed without a health concern. That’s modern baseball, Suzyn. Don’t lean into this Birthday Party, you deserve better.

José Berríos (TOR) vs BAL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 97 pitches.

It’s near a VPQS and I don’t care, we take this against the Orioles. It’ll be Milwaukee + Cleveland next, which may be a little contentious, but I think we have to let it ride. Let it ride…

Carlos Rodón (NYY) vs MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 100 pitches.

Atta boy Rodón. The Yankees continued their brutality of the Twins as Rodón not only sat 96 mph on his four-seamer but earned 10 whiffs across his changeup and curveball, catalyzing a Gallows Pole. You absolutely love to see it. No reason to stop starting him now.

Aaron Ashby (MIL) @ PHI (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 91 pitches.

Oh hey! Didn’t think we’d get the pleasure today. I’m more tepid on Ashby than my 2021 counterpart, as I’ve seen much worse command and movement since his rookie year. That said, I dug his sinker precision in this one and can only hope his slider and change can become the reliable filth of old. Take it slow here and only jump in if we see it all come together first.

Albert Suárez (BAL) @ TOR (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 84 pitches.

The four-seamer was worse and the cutter stepped up to sit well inside the zone and turn into a strong out pitch off the edge of the plate. That was all there was to it and I feel like I need more from Suárez to take a gamble against Atlanta…even if that offense isn’t nearly as threatening today as in days gone by. Up to you.

Zach Eflin (TBR) @ MIA (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 55 pitches.

Ehhhhh. Eflin had a short pitch count as he returned from the IL and it wasn’t the sharp pitcher we wanted to see. But whatever, treat this like a rehab outing, and with about 70-80 pitches expected for the next start, I’m cool letting him fly against the Cubs.

Jordan Hicks (SFG) @ ARI (ND) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 92 pitches.

Jeeeeeez. Hick’s sinker and splitter were laced for hits when located within y-mLoc, while his sinker returned a poor 52% strike rate. You’re supposed to bring balance, not lead us to darkness! I think you’re okay with the Astros next, but I ain’t thrilled about it.

Dylan Cease (SDP) @ LAA (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 104 pitches.

Just 4/53 four-seamer whiffs explains the PQS, but ten slider whiffs explain the rest. He upped his sweeper usage to eleven thrown (!) for…a 44% strike rate. It’s not the answer and I’m still sad the cutter hasn’t forced its way back into the mix. You can’t have the whole pie with the pizza cutter. Yep. That’s what I always say.

Paul Skenes (PIT) vs LAD (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 93 pitches.

This was so much fun. Skenes came out guns a-blazing and while his splinker wasn’t as overwhelming as we normally see it, he still made fools of Betts, Ohtani, and Freeman constantly…though Ohtani and Freeman did get the better of him in a few at-bats, too. He’s super legit and I’m sure he’s still thinking about how silly it was to let Pages take him yard on a hung 0-1 breaker. Why didn’t I just blow it by him…

Erick Fedde (CHW) @ CHC (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 93 pitches.

Whoa, 11/41 cutter whiffs?! Fedde had legit command on his arsenal on this one and I’d look past the one extra ER for the seven strikeouts all day. Consider him for a stream next week against the Mariners.

Ronel Blanco (HOU) vs STL (L) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 98 pitches.

That dang changeup abandoned him and the four-seamer got far more of the plate than it should have. At least he still had the whiffs and a solid CSW, but hot dang, we need more than this, Blanco. I know you hurl a ton of wasted four-seamers typically, but those two secondaries are supposed to be your savior. You gotta find the slowball and I need it YESTERDAY. I wonder if any manager/boss actually says that to their employees. If so, I hope they lay in bed at night wondering why they felt that was a good thing to do. Maturity is taking the time for personal inventory. Including your fantasy team rosters, of course.

Dakota Hudson (COL) vs CIN (ND) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 81 pitches.

Oh hey. Guess the whole sinker-finding-all-the-gloves thing didn’t really happen. Cool, cool, COL story, bro.

Graham Ashcraft (CIN) @ COL (ND) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 73 pitches.

Please stop considering Ashcraft. The man can’t spot his cutter and slider well enough and it has capped his ceiling tremendously.

Jameson Taillon (CHC) vs CHW (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 75 pitches.

Blegh. Like a writer’s strike, let’s take a break from investing in Taillon, the latest cinematic experience on Apple TV. To be honest, Taillon would actually crush any sort of TV documentary about himself, but for fantasy purposes, it’s best for us to wait until he has his fastballs working better than what we’re seeing here.

Braxton Garrett (MIA) vs TBR (L) – 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 53 pitches.

We saw mostly sinker/slider once again and even with a 54% CSW slider, Garrett needs more. Maybe the cutter inside to RHB, maybe the changeup down-and-away. Whatever it is, Braxton needs to find it before I jump in and trust him as a Toby proper. Or maybe the Rays are actually a good offense now…Nah.

Patrick Corbin (WSN) vs NYM (L) – 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 77 pitches.

Even on a night where Corbin is stupid precise with his slider down-and-middle, he still can’t carry himself to the finish line. I hope you figure out a way to become relevant again. Truly.

Spencer Schwellenbach (ATL) @ BOS (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 85 pitches.

I watched this one and first of all, how the h*ck did Rafael Devers hit this slider out of the park?! I DON’T GET IT. Second, 15 whiffs with a 34% CSW and a great showcase of the overall ability makes me want to target Schwellenbach…if he had a solid matchup. Sadly, it’s the Orioles up next and it’s best to wait until that outing in hopes he maintains the skills to be a solid add for the Rays after I like what he does with cutters, four-seamers, changeups, sliders, and the rare curve, especially with his approach rooted in pitch separation. There’s a legit starter in here.

James Paxton (LAD) @ PIT (L) – 1.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 45 pitches.

Ah. It’s time. Was I a good streamer? No. You were the best streamer.

Chris Paddack (MIN) @ NYY (L) – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 85 pitches.

Yankee Stadium certainly amped up Paddack, who sat a tick up on his fastball and was generally able to locate changeups down & fastballs above them. But this was Yankee Stadium and I still don’t love his stuff. With Rockie Road + Oakland up next, it does make you wonder if he can act as a deep-league streamer. Hey, you never know.

 

Game of the Day

 

Cade Povich vs. Yusei Kikuchi – We have another MLB debut + I would love to see Kikuchi get his slider groove back.

But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.

Have Questions? – Join my morning Playback.tv livestream! I answer all questions there for free: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET Monday through Friday.

Photos by Wilfred Perez/Icon Sportswire, David Clode/Unsplash, and Tianqi Zhang/Unsplash | Featured Image by Ethan Kaplan (@DJFreddie10 on Twitter and @EthanMKaplanImages on Instagram)