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.
Dustin May (STL) @ NYM (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 101 pitches.
Have you picked up Dustin May? I understand your hesitation given his horrible 2025 season and 13 ER allowed to kick off the year, but after Tuesday’s 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 101 pitches (W) against the Mets, he’s now boasting a 2.89 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 23% strikeout rate, and sub-7% walk rate in his last eleven games, where he’s averaged six innings per start. Yeah, that’s hot.
You know me, I don’t make a suggestion like this based just on results. His cutter has been fantastic to LHB with its 30% usage in that time, while he’s confidently featuring 70% strikes to RHB, getting sinkers inside with ease, four-seamers upstairs, and…still failing to get his sweeper away to RHB. Can’t have it all, eh?
There’s obviously still work to be done, even outside that sweeper (which has improved to LHB, for what it’s worth). His changeup is generally where it needs to be against LHB, but it hasn’t turned into the reliable threat it should be, while there are erratic moments with his command that open the door for a nasty floor if batters are geared up for what’s coming.
However, the schedule is soft (SDP, ARI, MIA, all in pitcher-friendly Busch), the defense is solid, and the dude throws strikes. If he’s still out there for whatever reason, he’s a clear 12-hold as a premium Toby, with hopes of a Holly in time if the sweeper to RHB takes off. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Walbert Ureña (LAA) vs HOU (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 7 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 107 pitches.
It’s so rarely beautiful, and yet, Ureña hasn’t hurt your team since April 25th, boasting a 1.84 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across his last eight starts. With a 13% walk rate. Yes, that 5.5 hit/9 isn’t going to last and he has walked at least three in each of his last four. Maybe start him against the Sneks, then peel off in Sacré Verde before the regression hits – this start wasn’t even changeup-city, it was scattered heaters and sweepers, none of which I’d call good command. (View Game Card)
Logan Gilbert (SEA) @ BAL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 105 pitches.
That’s 4 ER in his last four games now, and I love seeing the slider get down and in town against RHB, helping it return a 22% SwStr overall. Why not higher? Because it was chaotic to LHB. So was the splitter. Oh jeez, yeah, that went 3/10 strikes overall which just one whiff. In fact, this outing was essentially four-seamers and sliders with a few cutters and changeups helping. Not the most alluring of performances, but look at those results! Welcome to the Cherry Bomb that is Gilbert. (View Game Card)
Dylan Cease (TOR) vs PHI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 11 Ks – 29 Whiffs, 43% CSW, 93 pitches.
So, uh, PJ from our Twitch community was harping how this wasn’t a Still ILL yesterday morning and I don’t think I’ve seen a pitcher prove the case more than this Golden Goal. Is that the highest whiff total of the season from any pitcher?! The fun part here – the changeup. He returned 8/15 whiffs on the pitch despite it floating this way and that, and I refuse to believe all eleven of his hiLoc changeups were intended, if any. Then again, if they find the zone, they’ll generally work given how rare they typically are. Meanwhile, the RHB approach had a great BSB working, and with his consistently high strike rate, it was a game of Phillies batters having zero clue what to prepare for. If only I could tell you this is how good Cease would always look. (View Game Card)
Zack Wheeler (PHI) @ TOR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Boring? Yes. Routine production? Absolutely. And just look at his schedule ahead: MIA, NYM, @NYM. It’s not fair. (View Game Card)
Erick Fedde (CHI-A) vs ATL (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 88 pitches.
Nick, you should know he’s allowed just 3 ER in three games now. In fourteen innings. Still, that’s good! And this was Hotlanta! (View Game Card)
Stephen Kolek (KCR) vs TEX (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 86 pitches.
That’s a Dusty Donut as you’ll take the 1.80 ERA, and leave the rest. But you have to take it, sir. I can’t keep it here. It’s like getting handed a flier, and the only trash can in sight is super close to the gal who handed it to you. You can feel their eyes as you near the bin, and you shove it into your back pocket in frustration. I’ll figure this out later. (View Game Card)
Lucas Giolito (SDP) vs CIN (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 85 pitches.
Oh cool, we’re back to 91 mph and super low strike rates. That’s not cool. No, it’s not. (View Game Card)
Paul Skenes (PIT) vs LAD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 103 pitches.
Aces gonna mostly ace. I said I’d keep Skenes at SP #1 if he survived this week against the Dodgers and dominated the Marlins, and so far so good. But two ER! Against the Dodgers. It’s all about reliability for the entire season, y’all. His track record, lack of health scares, and absurd arsenal is more convincing to me than believing in Jay Mis staying healthy or both his and Sanchez’s hot streak lasting for another four months. And yes, I recognize I’m saying this now and could very well move him down if he’s poor against the Marlins and Jay Mis continues to be unstoppable. (View Game Card)
Eric Lauer (LAD) @ PIT (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 89 pitches.
I wasn’t buying it without four-seamer whiffs, but look at that! A 19% SwStr rate on his four-seamer as he kept the pitch upstairs! That’s cool. It’s nice having Rockie Road, ARI, and @PIT as your first three starts as a Dodger, and look at that! TBR is next! I guess we’re okay with that…but I worry this party will end shortly after. Considering he only went 4.2 frames last time out in a Wonka + has ten strikeouts total in these three starts, let’s not go bonkers. (View Game Card)
Chase Burns (CIN) @ SDP (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 105 pitches.
Aces gonna give a Dusty Donut despite having peak slider command. Some days, batters can see the heater super well and you get Singled Out. So it goes. (View Game Card)
Max Meyer (MIA) vs ARI (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 95 pitches.
I’ll take this Dusty Donut all day. Why? Because it could have been so much worse. Meyer’s sweeper couldn’t be wrangled, the slowball went 4/9 strikes, and his four-seamer returned a 35% strike rate. Yeeeeesh. The glorious slider saved the day at a 54% CSW, but hot dang, this could have been a disaster. The schedule is still great ahead, and I wouldn’t worry about this. In fact, celebrate that he is capable of making the right adjustment when things are going horribly. (View Game Card)
Slade Cecconi (CLE) vs NYY (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 87 pitches.
Whoa, is that another Gold Star for Cecconi?! But the ratios are meh and it was a ND. Yeah, sure, but seven strikeouts! He outdueled Cole! Last outing was a cutter/curve combo that I expected would change in round 2, and he adjusted by splitter 31 cutters with 30 fastballs (four-seamers/sinkers), with the former Dancing With The Disco and the latter filling in the gaps for a 67% strike rate. The hook and slider failed to hit a 50% strike rate between them, and the changeup was meh. I’m hesitant to jump in (@MIL next is meh), but at least the cutter is flirting with 89 mph still. (View Game Card)
Gerrit Cole (NYY) @ CLE (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 83 pitches.
Aces gonna lose the tag. Sorry Gerrit, you’ve had one phenomenal outing of ten strikeouts, and now three with eight strikeouts combined. It was another game of failing to corral your arsenal, even with a huge velocity boost of 1-2 ticks across the board, to 97/98 mph on four-seamers, and even 84/85 mph curveballs. What’s even more frustrating is watching you strike out two in the first (including a pitch clock strikeout but whatever), then do whatever this was over the next three. We all know you’re going to get into shape, but can you do it soon? Thanks. (View Game Card)
Andrew Alvarez (WSN) @ SFG (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 90 pitches.
Any hope we had of Andrew being a worthy add has been dashed. I totally thought Alvarez would be great in San Francisco. He’s right next to his own prison! You mean Alcatraz? …Yeah. (View Game Card)
Nick Martinez (TBR) vs BOS (W) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 73 pitches.
Huh. It’s a Dusty Donut, but is this enough for us to get back on board? I don’t think so with the Dodgers up next. You can let him loose onto the wire and not be upset if he gets snatched by someone else. That 14% strikeout rate is, uh, not good. (View Game Card)
Trevor Rogers (BAL) vs SEA (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 97 pitches.
Blegh. I want to believe, Rogers. This wasn’t the start under the hood that justifies hype, with far too many pitches slicing the middle of the zone. I wish it were easy to tell you not to chase it with a tough matchup up next, but that’s not the case – it’s the LHP-hating Friars, then the Dodgers. If you considering Rogers as a long-term add, you hold off. If you need a Sunday stream…maybe. (View Game Card)
Tomoyuki Sugano (COL) vs CHC (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 93 pitches.
He’s my vice, what can I say. I love seeing Sugano have deep league NL-Only value with a 4.08 ERA and six Wins on the season. Six! It’s so wild. (View Game Card)
Adrian Houser (SFG) vs WSN (L) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 77 pitches.
This was a few moments of struggle (a two-run shot in the first two batters off a terrible curve in the LHB nitro zone), and otherwise quiet production. That’s not enough. No, it’s not. (View Game Card)
Grant Holmes (ATL) @ CHW (ND) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 67 pitches.
You chased this for strikeout potential. Thing is, he now holds a near 20% strikeout rate. This is so not the play you want. (View Game Card)
Payton Tolle (BOS) @ TBR (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 94 pitches.
Tolle is leaning into the Ras Pack in its full definition, but the four-seamer and sinker aren’t missing bats. I think the cutter needs a lot more play than 16% usage, personally, and I wonder if we start seeing that after starts like these. That said, his four-seamer allowed 82% weak contact, and the man was clearly upset Koufax. It’ll be far better. (View Game Card)
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) @ KCR (L) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 88 pitches.
This was frustrating. Five fantastic frames until the sixth led to three runs in a Careful, Icarus. It wasn’t the best version of Eovaldi, though, with a curveball that he couldn’t scrape out of the dirt (42% strikes, 0% CSW), and a few too many hanging splitters. (View Game Card)
Zac Gallen (ARI) @ MIA (ND) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 94 pitches.
Even against Miami. Even against MIAMI. I wonder what they’ll get for him at the deadline. (View Game Card)
Troy Melton (DET) vs MIN (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 88 pitches.
Blegh. We’re starting to see slider and cutter whiffs, and I’m glad the Tigers continue to push him, but the HRs. Oh jeeez, four HRs. One was his first pitch of the game to Buxton on a heater down the pipe (I don’t understand why pitchers haven’t learned this yet), two more off four-seamers upstairs and out of the zone to LHB, and a final one on a low slider that normally lands for a strike in an 1-0 count. Sounds like you’re defending him a little too much. Yeah, feels like it too. And yet, I trust the fella. He allowed 1 Hr in his last three games, after all. Expect far better against the Astros. (View Game Card)
J.T. Ginn (ATH) vs MIL (W) – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 97 pitches.
This was Vegas. Don’t go to Vegas. (View Game Card)
Taj Bradley (MIN) @ DET (L) – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 89 pitches.
And now that’s three straight duds from Bradley. This one came with 1/10 splitters for strikes, all his misses landing so far up and out of the zone. Oh no. Yeaaaaaah. The dude is so off his game. I’d hate to be forced to trust it now. (View Game Card)
Kai-Wei Teng (HOU) @ LAA (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 93 pitches.
Here’s the Teng. He’s not a guy you want to chance on a given night. He had to throw 47% fastballs due to his poor secondary performance, and let’s be honest, that’s going to be the case most of the time. (View Game Card)
Freddy Peralta (NYM) vs STL (L) – 6.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 98 pitches.
When I said you’re like a right-handed Robbie Ray, I didn’t mean the current version. That third inning was rough + a two-run shot in the fifth sealed the deal, but to be a hot dog frank, he located pretty dang well on the outside edge with his arsenal to LHB. Not nearly as Professor Chaos as the line would suggest. Now it’s Atlanta and I can hear your groan from here. Bench if you like, I believe in Peralta steadying the ship in some fashion across the summer. But he was down a tick to just 92.8 mph. He did that back on May 6th and jumped back to 94+ in his next two. Don’t worry about that. (View Game Card)
Robert Gasser (MIL) @ ATH (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 93 pitches.
It feels so cruel to start any pitcher in Vegas. At least he fanned seven, eh? I’m kinda interested in his next start against the Guardians. (View Game Card)
Colin Rea (CHC) @ COL (L) – 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 15% CSW, 79 pitches.
We like Rea as a streamer when it’s a good matchup. This was not a good matchup. Sometimes, it’s just that easy. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Shohei Ohtani vs. Jared Jones – I meaaaaaaan.
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)
