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 Playback.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Kyle Gibson (STL) vs COL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 93 pitches.
I’ve labeled Kyle Gibson as a Cherry Bomb who is awfully difficult to figure out, but I may be changing my tune after his last month or so, including Saturday’s 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 93 pitches that came with a King Cole and a VVPQS against the Rockies.
Sure, the ratios aren’t ideal n whatnot, but the strikeouts and whiffs should catch your eye. His recent run of a 23%+ strikeout rate is a product of a larger reliance on the sweeper this year, which has returned a 64% strike rate and 25% SwStr rate…but this was all about the curveball, which jumped to 17% usage against the Rockies – it’s the highest clip of the year.
That hook went 48% CSW with a whopping 10/21 whiffs and combined with the sweeper, Gibson returned 15 whiffs on breakers. I still question the sinker and cutter overall, but Gibson should be considered as an upper-end Toby, who could be turning into a Holly before our eyes. Given his ability to go 90+ pitches constantly as well, I think I’m cool with his next start against the Cubs, turning into a hold at the back end of 12-teamers. Shocking, I know.
Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:
Kevin Gausman (TOR) @ OAK (W) – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 109 pitches.
Simply put, Gausman’s four-seamer was hit and got outs, allowing the splitter to soar as the Athletics were trying to feast on the fastball. I’m still removing the AGA tag from Gausman because he can’t be trusted against proper opponents. But hot dang, this is why you still roster Gausman.
Hunter Brown (HOU) @ LAA (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 98 pitches.
Uhhhhh, his four-seamer was solid and the cutter was very much in the zone constantly, but he got away with it as the rest of his arsenal was all kinds of chaos outside the zone. This start doesn’t give me the confidence in Hunter as much as the line would suggest (well maybe the walks gave you hesitation?), but the Tigers are next. That’s lovely and I’d go for that as his four-seamer sets a good floor against Tigers and we can hope the secondaries get their act together.
Kyle Bradish (BAL) @ TBR (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 88 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Now go deal with the Phillies and have that slider cooking again. And the curve. Yeah, the curve. PLEASE THE CURVE.
Ryan Feltner (COL) @ STL (ND) – 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 89 pitches.
This was a clear Blame it on the Cardinals, with a Gold Star and obvious Birthday Party. His four-seamer’s HAVAA was far flatter this time but there’s no way we’re chasing it. Just be happy for the fella.
Ben Lively (CLE) @ MIA (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 65 pitches.
I’m not sure why he was pulled with just 65 pitches across five frames (maybe the lack of dominance of his arsenal?) but we’ll take the dub and ratios, even if it was a HAISTBMBWT?! I’m not sure the Jays are a team I want to risk this Vargas Rule on, but you do you.
Carmen Mlodzinski (PIT) vs MIN (ND) – 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 18 pitches.
He opened for Luis L. Ortiz, who spotted sinker and slider super well, while placing the cutter over the plate for strikes. The result was 4.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks and I wonder if the Pirates will let him go more than 58 pitches in the future. I’m skeptical the command will be this good moving forward, though, as it’s been the problem of his career. Wait, he throws a cutter? Oh. Right! That’s cool, a solid strike cutter is the ticket for plenty of fastball command guys. Huh.
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) @ PIT (L) – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 97 pitches.
Whoa, 6.1 IP! 11 whiffs on four-seamers + sliders and 90% strikes on the curve got him through this with ease and I guess I’m down to stream him against the Athletics…? Sure.
Matt Waldron (SDP) vs ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 94 pitches.
The knuckleball was 68% strikes and far better this time around. I’m down to accept his last start as the exception and we’re back on the Waldron train with the Mets up next.
Andrew Abbott (CIN) vs CHC (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 99 pitches.
Nine baserunners with four walks depict the raised eyebrow of skepticism and I’m still not ready to jump in. The four-seamer was most of the attack and I’m still not loving it, making me avoid the Brewers next.
Taj Bradley (TBR) vs BAL (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 99 pitches.
You can’t be a Cherry Bomb without the sweet. You just can’t trust the guy.
Spencer Howard (SFG) @ TEX (ND) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 74 pitches.
Howard had a test and kinda came through? Better four-seamer command but the arsenal just isn’t worth your attention. So Howard’s a duck? Even I’m not liking that one.
Nick Nastrini (CHW) vs BOS (ND) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches.
Nick, YOU’RE SO CLOSE. I know, only a few pitchers left in this roundup! No, Nastrini, your slider gets whiffs (10/33!) and your four-seamer shape is excellent, but you can’t spot the dang pitch. Just get it in the zone and you’re golden. The next start wou—Suitman whispers in my ear. Oh, Demoted. With Drew Thorpe likely getting the call this week. Honestly, not a bad decision to help him hit the reset button, take a breath, and focus on locating the heater to be a true Young Gun. As for Thorpe, he’s allowed 2 ER in his last four minor league starts, but he’s a changeup-first arm and those generally scare me. Not a terrible spec add, but I’d avoid for the Mariners start (MLB debut n all) + I’m unsure if that start against the Sneks would be solid in 12-teamers. Okay for 15-teamers…?
Gavin Stone (LAD) @ NYY (W) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 101 pitches.
He did it. Stone got a Win against a strong offense (without Soto, but STILL) and survived despite 10 baserunners. This wasn’t the best-commanded game I’ve seen from Stone with a ton of pitches middle-middle that I’ve seen destroyed in the past, but I’ll be raising him on The List as a bit more of a reliable arm than I’ve been giving him credit for.
Ranger Suárez (PHI) @ NYM (W) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 89 pitches.
Ayyyy, props to Suárez for coming through here in London, even if the WHIP wasn’t ideal. Let’s be happy his hand is all good moving forward, with a legit test ahead with the Orioles. Here we go…
MacKenzie Gore (WSN) vs ATL (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 99 pitches.
Forget that Mets start and that he was 95.8 mph on his heater. That’s a Gallows Pole with better sliders, a good four-seamer, and we ignore the WHIP. Get ready for the fun stuff against the Tigers.
Andrew Heaney (TEX) vs SFG (L) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 83 pitches.
He struggled with his four-seamer command and I’m not sure if this is good or bad. Join the stream tomorrow to tell me if this was a streaming victory or loss as it’s a 1.00 WHIP with five strikeouts, but without a QS/Win and one ER too many. Hmmmm. ANYWAY, the secondaries were solid (41% CSW slider!) and I’d imagine the four-seamer will perform better against the Mariners next time out. We’re still in here.
Casey Mize (DET) vs MIL (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 97 pitches.
Oh how I miss the days of hype. Just one whiff on 97 pitches leading to a HAISTBMBWT?! is ridiculous and just 10/23 strikes on the slider makes me sad. He really hasn’t nailed down that slider and I’d still avoid him completely. I wonder if he’ll get replaced by Manning or Jobe in the future if he keeps looking lackluster.
Ben Brown (CHC) @ CIN (L) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 65 pitches.
He added five changeups to try to make himself more than a two-pitch arm annnnd 4/5 strikes but one of his three hits came on the pitch, albeit outside the zone away against a LHB. At the end of the day, he’s not a guy who should go more than five unless he’s trying to be historic and the four-seamer isn’t elite. I’d rather not. Meanwhile, Jordan Wicks showed up in relief for 52 pitches and 3.1 IP, showcasing a 94.5 mph heater and low changeup. Despite the lack of whiffs on the heater, he still had great iVB and the changeup was what it should be. I wonder when he gets his first start (maybe Brown’s next turn?) and if that’s the Cardinals next, I may be tempted…but it would likely be around 70 pitches. Keep an eye on him.
Freddy Peralta (MIL) @ DET (ND) – 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 94 pitches.
Aces gonna…bleggggh. 2/58 four-seamer whiffs and down 1-2 ticks ain’t it. A straight up One Night Bland and we move on. Whatareyagonnado.
Tyler Anderson (LAA) vs HOU (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 90 pitches.
It’s the Astros and while his changeup is still great, the others didn’t step up. So we move on and start him against the Diamondbacks, like a sturdy Toby.
Nestor Cortes (NYY) vs LAD (L) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 83 pitches.
Cortes was a bit amped with the Dodgers in town, adding an extra tick or two on his four-seamer and cutter, but the Dodgers are the Dodgers and gave him trouble. Let’s move on and start him against the Royals.
Charlie Morton (ATL) @ WSN (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 87 pitches.
One whiff. But the Nationals! ONE. WHIFF. It’s a Cherry Bomb and you shouldn’t.
Alec Marsh (KCR) vs SEA (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 90 pitches.
We got the whiffs we expected and a bonus Win, but it wasn’t with the fastball…at all. 0/41 whiffs on the heater with the breakers earning strikeouts and now it’s the Yankees. Noooope.
Roddery Muñoz (MIA) vs CLE (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 88 pitches.
A 41% CSW changeup with plenty of whiffs was the one positive here and now he has a pair of starts that could fare better with the Mets and Cardinals ahead. There are worse streaming options out there, and it mostly depends on his ability to limit walks more than anything.
Luis Castillo (SEA) @ KCR (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 84 pitches.
Ummmm what. Whatever, command was still great and we brush it off.
Brayan Bello (BOS) @ CHW (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 95 pitches.
Bello. FELLA. 0/22 CSW and 36% strikes on the changeup is whaaaaaaat. He’s not the man we know without it and now that’s two starts in a row failing to get the feel. Thing is, that is Bello. He’s had it for ages and I’d be shocked if it’s just gone now…but he gets the Yankees next. That’s a sit in the Questionable Start tier given his struggles and, you know, the Yankees.
Ryne Nelson (ARI) @ SDP (L) – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 91 pitches.
Yeaaaaah. Let’s not. At all.
Luis Medina (OAK) vs TOR (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 84 pitches.
Breakers didn’t get strikes and that’s the issue given Medina’s four-seamer doesn’t have the shape we want to match the velocity. If only that curve and slider could be strike pitches…
Sean Manaea (NYM) vs PHI (L) – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 81 pitches.
Yeaaaah. The Phils + London. Ignore it, which doesn’t mean we’re all good with the Padres next. He’s a borderline streamer, nothing more.
Game of the Day
Hurston Waldrep vs. DJ Herz – Okay, this has already started (weekend Roundups are delayed y’all, I’M SORRY) but we all know this is the clear game of the day.
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 Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X)
How is Gil vs Glasnow not the Game of the Day ?!