Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup: Ober and Out?

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

Bailey Ober (MIN) @ PIT (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 85 pitches.

Are you done with Bailey Ober? His last four games have been awfully pedestrian and include some major clunkers and that doesn’t include today’s disappointing 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 85 pitches line against the Pirates. And yet, no, I’m not done with Ober and nor should you.

The man was Singled Out here with just one hit allowed on his four-seamer and a trio of base knocks coming on some hung cutters that have earned outs in the past. His velocity was up, and baseball doesn’t always work out the way we want it to. Home runs aren’t an issue, his overall command is still solid (BSB in full effect here!) and what we’re looking at is a standard rough patch that every pitcher endures during the year.

Take a breath and focus on his next start against the Athletics. We’re gonna get through this.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:

 

Andre Pallante (STL) vs COL (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 68 pitches.

Funny story – I actually circled this start in the PL Legacy league as a potential add back on Monday of last week given how few solid Sunday options I expected to find on the wire. His start against the Astros did a number on my expectations here, though, and I’m glad to see him earn a Win while busting out a decent curveball. The bad news? He’s still so inconsistent. I hope you enjoyed it because I have little faith it’ll come back around again, especially with the Cubs up next. Just 11/20 strikes with the curve and a lot of volatility with each pitch give me the shivers.

Bowden Francis (TOR) @ OAK (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 49 pitches.

I’m a little sad they only let him go four frames as Bowden was pitching as well as we’ve seen him all year. It was BSB through and through and with his four-seamer shape, that meant he was actually returning the results we were chasing back in late February. Sigh. I’m not sure when we’ll see 85+ pitches again from Francis and it shouldn’t be near that mark against the Guardians next, outlining a clear bench.

Zack Kelly (BOS) @ CHW (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 44% CSW, 32 pitches.

This was a bullpen game for the Red Sox and I can’t believe they let a man with two first names get the pearl first. NEVER TRUST ‘EM.

George Kirby (SEA) @ KCR (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 96 pitches.

One more start to go for the AGA label to return and if he keeps pulling off the BSB with four-seamers up + a harder slider, he’ll be sure to get it following his start against Texas. This is the Kirby we want to see.

Tarik Skubal (DET) vs MIL (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 95 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. That Skubal. So dang hot right now.

Cole Ragans (KCR) vs SEA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 22 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 107 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. What a fun matchup this was of Kirby vs. Ragans, but it also meant Ragans, once again undeservedly, did not receive a Win. His slider and cutter were still the clear outsiders relative to the fastball and change, but they were spotted much better in this one and worked well. Hopefully a step in the right direction.

Trevor Rogers (MIA) vs CLE (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 88 pitches.

Ayyyy he survived! With four walks! And a sub 50% strike rate on his slider and changeup combined! So we still don’t like Trevor? We sure don’t.

Scott McGough (ARI) @ SDP (ND) – 0.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 13 pitches.

We saw a few different guys in this one, including under 50 pitches of Tommy Henry. Nothing more exciting to watch at the park than a bullpen game, ain’t that right y’all?

Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) vs SFG (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 90 pitches.

This is everything you were looking for from Eovaldi. No reason to expect much different next start against the Mariners.

Mitch Spence (OAK) vs TOR (ND) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 89 pitches.

Oh, so he really is an Ashcraft/Rasmussen type, just the frustrating BABIP-focused kind, as we hope the slider and cutter earn enough strikes while not looking like meatballs over the plate. Yeah, I’m not sure I can carry enough faith to roster this. That’s a difficult life to live.

Shota Imanaga (CHC) @ CIN (W) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 94 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. We did some a few more sliders here and guess what?! The sweeper allowed one of these two runs, albeit in the seventh in a clear Careful, Icarus moment. Im An AGA is still living up to his destiny and it’s a wonderful thing.

Taijuan Walker (PHI) vs NYM (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 79 pitches.

This is far better than expected in London and his 28% called strike rate across all his pitches is all you need to know. It won’t last? Sure won’t.

Grayson Rodriguez (BAL) @ TBR (W) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 107 pitches.

That four-seamer command upstairs has been excellent for a few weeks now and I’m anxious for his AGA final boss next week against the Phils. Just get the change and slider low enough and you got this. Good luck.

Jared Jones (PIT) vs MIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 84 pitches.

Aces gonna have a poor first inning that includes an unreal call of an obvious foul ball labeled as a “passed ball” and scoring a run. HOW IS THAT NOT REVIEWABLE?! Anyway, after the electric start against the Dodgers, it’s a bit frustrating to fall back into the poor WHIP and low strikeout version of Jones. I still believe he’s an ace, but if it’s another pedestrian performance in Coors up next, I may need to reconsider his tag.

Chris Flexen (CHW) vs BOS (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 89 pitches.

FLEX. EN. AT. THE. BEACH. This is as good as you could ever hope for from Flexen against the Red Sox and was a product of many well-spotted cutters down-and-gloveside. I absolutely wouldn’t push my luck against the Diamondbacks next, but those in super deep leagues may not have a better option later this week. Let’s hope for the best.

Carlos Carrasco (CLE) @ MIA (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 55 pitches.

Not even against the Marlins? Not even against the Marlins. Sigh.

DJ Herz (WSN) vs ATL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 87 pitches.

That command is so dang wonky. I wish I could believe more in Herz to locate around the zone with the Marlins up next, but for now, he’s a desperate dart throw. Wait, isn’t his catchphrase “He’ll pick you up“? That’s Enterprise and even if it were Herz, you shouldn’t just blindly listen to catchphrases. But I’d rather not think for myself. Oh. Well okay then.

Zack Littell (TBR) vs BAL (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 100 pitches.

A PQS is welcome from Litell against the Orioles. He went ultra high with his heaters with sliders all about the zone and splitters at the bottom for a strong BSB approach and that feels like a proper approach from Littell moving forward. If we’re still down on the Atlanta offense, maybe he can be started there this week, though I’d prefer to not take the shot where avaiable.

Luis Gil (NYY) vs LAD (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 96 pitches.

Not the best night as Gil wasn’t confident hyucking pitches into the zone per usual, but it’s the Dodgers. We kinda expected this. Maybe don’t serve us a Philly next time, though?

Jose Quintana (NYM) @ PHI (ND) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 69 pitches.

It was the Phils + London and we didn’t expect much more than this, yes, with the HAISTBMBWT?! included. I’m not sure why you want to keep rolling with Quintana, surely there are better options out there.

Ty Blach (COL) @ STL (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 79 pitches.

Blach.

Justin Verlander (HOU) @ LAA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 101 pitches.

Jeeeez Verlander, can you please locate your heaters and sliders better next time? I know you were laboring in this one and you gave everything you could give to find a way through five frames, but it was the Angels and this is all kinds of disappointing. Be. Better.

Frankie Montas (CIN) vs CHC (L) – 1.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 55 pitches.

Montas got trounced in this game, making Carson Spiers the real story as he followed for 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 90 pitches. I’m not awestruck by Spiers enough to consider adding him (he doesn’t even fit inside this rotation as Nick Martinez should have Ashcraft’s vacant spot), but let’s at least give him some love for this. As for Montas, y’all should give him a break for a bit. Maybe he’s in consideration in a QS league against poor offense, but that’s about it.

Tyler Glasnow (LAD) @ NYY (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 12 Ks – 23 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 104 pitches.

Aces gonna allow a three-run shot in the sixth (Careful, Icarus) via a 2-1 fastball down the chute to Grisham and ruin a fantastic Golden Goal evening. So. It. Goes.

Patrick Sandoval (LAA) vs HOU (ND) – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 99 pitches.

Yeaaaah, it’s the Astros and even if the Irish Panda had a far better year than expected, this questionable streamer was a longshot, though if he didn’t completely lose his overall command, it’s possible he could have still come through. At least we have the Giants up next and that should be far better…as long as he gets his arsenal feel back to normal.

Keaton Winn (SFG) @ TEX (L) – 4.1 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 69 pitches.

It was a clear Still ILL and against the Rangers n all, but his splitter did go 10/24 whiffs and that’s pretty dang awesome. I think you’re fine starting him against the Angels later this week as he gets pushed to 80+ pitches.

Bryse Wilson (MIL) @ DET (L) – 4.1 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 89 pitches.

Stop. Rostering. Bryse. That is all.

Hurston Waldrep (ATL) @ WSN (L) – 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 62 pitches.

Oh no. Waldrep was able to get through 3.1 frames without much of an issue before a three-run shot merged with a struggle to find strikes suddenly concluded in a quick hook. The reliever inheriting the bases-loaded jam worsened Waldrep’s debut with all three runs coming home to score. Look, it’s an MLB debut and you normally see some form of poor command that isn’t replicated in following starts, but Waldrep also comes with his own risks. His splitter is a legit whiff pitch, but the heater has poor shape and his slider is hit-or-miss. He’s a Cherry Bomb with strikeout potential and if Atlanta gives him another shot, we could see a far different line that is a major distance away from the HAISTBMBWT?! you see here, though I’m not in love with starting Waldrep against the Rays later this week (this was the Nats, after all).

Adam Mazur (SDP) vs ARI (L) – 3.0 IP, 8 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 82 pitches.

Yikes. Strikes were hard to come by and Mazur doesn’t look prepared quite yet. I still see a proper Toby in there and it’s possible it comes out if he’s allowed to get the Mets later this week, but the floor has been set and it ain’t pretty.

 

Game of the Day

 

Corbin Burnes vs. Ryan Pepiot – It’s an ace against a potential ace going through their first major test. Sign me up.

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)