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 Twitch.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Troy Melton (DET) @ NYY (ND) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 84 pitches.
It’s difficult to ascertain what we’ll get from Troy Melton this season. He’s the standard “above average” arm without anything we can point to as THAT pitch to truly take over a game, but there are days where his wide mix can take on whatever is needed, like Wednesday’s performance against the Yankees: 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 84 pitches (ND). I think it’s a showcase of an arm you should be holding everywhere.
Melton is the kind of discount arm I love chasing. I see a great command pitcher with 96+ mph velocity, a wide arsenal, a long leash, and the ability to become more. You see a 19% strikeout rate for the year, I see a potential 23-25% strikeout arm with a 92 mph cutter that do all the things + a slider that has 7/8″ of sweep at 86/87 mph. We also haven’t seen Melton for a long time in the major leagues, with a brief stint in the second half last season + 44 IP thus far in 2026. If he’s pitching consistently through the end of the year, I’d be shocked if he didn’t take strides somewhere in his arsenal by the end of August, helping us grasp that this is a reliable rock for 2027 drafts.
That doesn’t mean he’s the greatest pickup right now. This is his development year, which means the Shag Rug exists and he could very well regress back down to 5 Ks/game as he has prior. After all, he’s earned 12 whiffs three times this year and all three happened in his last three games. It might be a nice stretch that bottoms out and you have a lackluster Toby type. I’m not buying that with his overall arsenal and I’d hold for the Athletics in Detroit on Wednesday. This could be a super fun run to end the year. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:
Trevor McDonald (SFG) @ ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 90 pitches.
It’s been a while (It’s been a while…) since McDonald gave us a solid Quality Start and I wish I could say it was due to his breaker returning to form. Nope, Chuck Testa it held a 42% Strike rate on 27% usage. This was some good ole Koufax fun with 10/11 sinkers returning outs in play and some nice changeups for punchouts. He’ll get TOR, Rockie Road and @KCR up next – three solid matchups – and I just wish I could tell you he’ll come through. Sadly, without that breaker on point, it’s out of his hands. (View Game Card)
Shane McClanahan (TBR) @ KCR (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 69 pitches.
Way to be a solid Holly, McShane. The four-seamer is still at 96 mph (Noice) and the changeup + slider did their job with ease. Not the most overwhelming game (get that pitch separation in check), but he did what he should against the Royals. Did you realize it’s a 3.05 ERA and 1.17 WHIP and 23% strikeout rate through nearly 80 IP thus far? I think his return has been overlooked a bit since it’s not the Top 5 SP stud of old. (View Game Card)
Andrew Alvarez (WSN) @ BOS (W) – 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 74 pitches.
Once again, Alvarez is not allowed to go a full five frames. HOWEVER, because he was used as the bulk arm, he escaped with a dub to his name. It was a day of high heaters that got very few successful bites (1/36 whiffs, yikes) and low sliders + curves with ten cuts of air below the zone. Those breakers are fun, the rest is not, and the lack of trust makes it so hard to pinpoint productive outings like this one. But hey, a 28% strikeout rate so far does suggest he could be a McCullers type if he’s ever given a long leash. (View Game Card)
Spencer Miles (TOR) vs NYM (W) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 46 pitches.
We saw an opener, Miles for a trio of frames, then Patrick Corbin earn a save across 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 73 pitches. Yes, a save. Fun to see Corbin a tick up to, uh, 92 mph, and you should move on from this one entirely. (View Game Card)
Max Meyer (MIA) @ COL (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 78 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. You’ve earned it, fella. That’s a 2.53 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 26% strikeout rate with the best four-seamer of your career and two elite breakers. Now you’ve taken down Atlanta and Coors back-to-back. How could you not start him? (View Game Card)
J.T. Ginn (ATH) vs LAD (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 104 pitches.
Dannnng Ginn! Against the Dodgers and in Sacré Verde?! That’s a Gold Star for you, even with five walks. Your pitch separation was glorious with a Neckbeard approach to LHB (and a few rare high cutters), boasting cutters inside and sinkers, sliders, and a boatload of changeups down-and-away. I love it. We’re still at 93 mph and not 94+ mph, and with @ DET + WSH up next, I’m not jumping back on board. However, the LHB command could be back to where it was and that’s a fun thing. (View Game Card)
Dean Kremer (BAL) vs CHW (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 79 pitches.
Whoa, I did not expect this at all. It was a Still ILL for the ole Dean Wolf, and, to be fair, he got away with this one. I would not call splitters flying all over the place with outside sinkers and some four-seamers and curveballs “good command”. Thank you White Sox for taking all the show-me curveballs, and hitting so many up-and-away pitches for outs. I’m out against the Cubs up next. (View Game Card)
Reynaldo López (ATL) vs STL (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 69 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! ReyLó made his second start since the middle of April and earned his highest whiff count of the year on the back of spiked sliders and 95 mph four-seamers. Wait, 95 mph, you say? That’s right! He’s not 93/94 mph! Well, across roughly 70 pitches, that is. But his final four-seamer was 95.9 mph! WELL I’LL BE! That’s cool. There may be something here with classic ReyLó fastball/slider working better than expected, and at least the curveball was throw fourteen times for a fair number of strikes, too. It’s helping! With the Mets next, you could do far worse. (View Game Card)
Taj Bradley (MIN) @ HOU (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 11 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 97 pitches.
You can’t be a HIPSTER if you don’t have some smart quips in there among all the drivel. It was a rare day where Bradley not only had a 64%+ strike rate on each of his three main pitches, but he also sat over a tick up, pumping 98 mph ched. All of that aside, I don’t think I’ve ever seen an eleven strikeout game with fewer whiffs. Eight of his ten whiffs on the night came with two strikes (that’s efficiency!) and huge thanks to the passive Astros for letting Bradley get to two strikes 81% of the time on just two whiffs. Y’all are the real MVP. And despite all my skepticism here (About Bradley?! What else is new), I’m fine with starting him next time out. It’s the Guardians, after all. (View Game Card)
Michael McGreevy (STL) @ ATL (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 87 pitches.
If you asked me for McGreevy’s realistic ideal, this start would be it…if he got the dub. Too bad we can’t bank on those ratios when “Doing The Dougie”. Whoa, that’s a call back. SURE IS. That’s for you real ones who read Pitcher GIFs back in the day. (View Game Card)
Shane Drohan (MIL) vs CIN (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 78 pitches.
This is just the second start for Drohan of seven strikeouts, but this 41% CSW for a King Cole is easily his best of the season. It came from both breakers earning 45% CSW, and his slider was a bit interesting. He did a great job keeping it low, but it was slower and with less movement. Maybe it helped him command the pitch? Speaking of which, Drohan’s four-seamer upstairs was awesome. 45% usage is 15 points more than the 30% we traditionally see from him to RHB and its flat 1.3 HAVAA drove it to a 26% SwStr rate. Love that. It seems as though each start I go from “Hey, this is cool!” to “Ehhh, I don’t see it.” Here? I see both worlds. If this pitch separation sticks, yeah, this is cool. I worry that the breakers aren’t that good and won’t give him the same support in future games. I dunno. He’ll head to St. Louis and Pittsburgh next week for a two-step and that’s a solid one for 15-teamers. I’m fine with it in 12-teamers, but it’s still a little…weird to me. (View Game Card)
Will Warren (NYY) vs DET (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 79 pitches.
WHOA. He went 29% changeups! We’re talking 41% to LHB instead of the 16% clip we’ve seen this season, and guess what? 35% SwStr rate. That’s what’s up. He didn’t see many RHB, but the sweeper was helpful to both sides of the plate, and I’m a little more encouraged after this one. If that changeup love sticks around (not feel as it had a 52% strike rate. I know.), I think we’ve got a good stew cookin’. (View Game Card)
Joey Cantillo (CLE) vs TEX (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 93 pitches.
Blegh. That’s a line, blegh, not hype blegh. Why? Because he’s still a tick up and leaning on his curveball a ton – here at 40% usage. I’m a big fan of it, and seeing him fall for it heavily makes me believe there are more good days ahead than frustrating ones. I’M ON BOARD. (View Game Card)
Kyle Freeland (COL) vs MIA (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 85 pitches.
Hey, that’s two strong 7+ strikeout games from Freeland in his last three games. How many did he have before these two? Uhhh, none. He struck out seven on May 3rd but also allowed 6 ER and 11 baserunners over 4.1 frames. Yikes. But he’s throwing more cutters now! Sure, but it went 1/27 whiffs. Oh. I think that’s enough Freeland analysis for now. (View Game Card)
Andrew Abbott (CIN) @ MIL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 96 pitches.
Five walks, with 2 ER, eh? You’re just trying to get me perplexed, aren’t you? Well, it’s not like I was consistently bad here. I mean, you had a 50% strike rate on EVERY PITCH. Not true! Okay, fine. You threw two cutters and both returned strikes. You were literally one cutter away from a flat 50% on all five pitches. Yeah, what of it? THAT’S NOT GOOD, ANDREW. (View Game Card)
Colin Rea (CHC) vs SDP (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 81 pitches.
Not the prettiest, but this is what Rea does. He gives you streaming value against mediocre lineups. Thanks bucko. (View Game Card)
Seth Lugo (KCR) vs TBR (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 85 pitches.
A VPQS and seven Ks from an oft-disappointing Lugo is welcome in this household. It’s not enough to get me back on board, but I’m happy for him. (View Game Card)
Noah Schultz (CHW) @ BAL (L) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 87 pitches.
Oh hey! You’re back! And with seven strikeouts! That was a product of some great backfoot sweepers and a few changeups, but there’s still polish left for the sinker and four-seamer. The cutter was a dastardly offering at 44% CSW, but I wonder if he’s able to get it inside to RHB in the future, like we saw in his MLB debut. With BOS, ATH, @TEX ahead, it’s not the worst spec add for 12-teamers and I’d roll with him for a two-step in 15-teamers. (View Game Card)
Zack Wheeler (PHI) vs PIT (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 22 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 104 pitches.
Aces gonna earn a Gallows Pole and hurt your ratios from hits off fastballs, including many inside sinkers. Whatareyagonnado. He’s still dope. (View Game Card)
MacKenzie Gore (TEX) @ CLE (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 92 pitches.
Awwww. A five-run second frame that included a three-run blast ruined what could have been a great outing for Gore against a poor offense. Then again, the changeup and curve were not the reliable pitches we want them to be, and his four-seamer kept missing over the plate. Whatever, we’re starting him against the Angels and moving forward. (View Game Card)
Freddy Peralta (NYM) @ TOR (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 91 pitches.
Oh Peralta. The struggles continue and you may be waiting a bit for salvation with @ATL up next. Dropping is absolutely an option, even if I think he’ll turn it around sometime this month. (View Game Card)
Tatsuya Imai (HOU) vs MIN (L) – 1.1 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 57 pitches.
The dude is a HIPSTER and despite back-to-back games of 21 strikeouts combined, Imai is too much of a wild card. He’s had five games of 16+ whiffs, with every other game returning sub 10 whiffs. The arsenal is so strange that I can’t see through the haze, and it’s PAAIIIIN. (View Game Card)
Zac Gallen (ARI) vs SFG (L) – 5.2 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 95 pitches.
One day. Maybe he’s tipping, maybe he doesn’t trust his curveball like he used to, whatever it is, I just want him to be good again. (View Game Card)
Payton Tolle (BOS) vs WSN (L) – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 76 pitches.
Blegh. He tried, but once again, it was the four-seamer trying to do everything. It has success, absolutely, but it also gets targeted a ton and with a little less extension and questionable command, it needs more support than an 87 mph cutter – think of it as a slider with less drop, y’all. He had to deal with a premier team against LHP and he blew up. That’s a Cherry Bomb. (View Game Card)
Charlie Barnes (LAD) @ ATH (L) – 7.0 IP, 7 ER, 12 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 94 pitches.
We saw a “bullpen game” from the Dodgers, which was really Barnes getting opened for and acting like my comforter after spilling water all over it – he was hung out to dry. Barnes is a sub-90 mph southpaw with nothing fun to report. He tries to go low changeups and sliders to make up for the velo and, well, you know. (View Game Card)
Paul Skenes (PIT) @ PHI (L) – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 81 pitches.
Aces gonna start making everyone ask “what is wrong with Skenes?” A three-run shot in the second and a solo shot in the third, for the most part. I took a dive into his arsenal and found a few things at the results level: four-seamers are allowing more hard contact to RHB but also earning more whiffs; changeups are getting hit harder by LHB; and sinkers are not getting outs as frequently. And yes, he’s throwing two ticks softer on his heater, and it would have helped for him to throw it harder to prevent a 31% foul ball rate, but the real issue was the two breakers that led to those aforementioned blasts. I really don’t think this is something to panic about. He’s still awesome and it’s a weird rough patch. (View Game Card)
Walker Buehler (SDP) @ CHC (L) – 4.0 IP, 9 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 85 pitches.
Either you die a hero or live long enough to become the victim of regression. Three HRs for Buehler after holding an unsustainable 0.61 HR/9 in his last 74 frames, and I really hope you didn’t buy into that 2.64 ERA in his last nine games. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Jacob Misiorowski vs. Chase Burns – DUDE. TURN IT ON.
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)
