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 Twitch.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) @ LAD (W) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 77 pitches.
Facing a tough offense is a tall task. Facing a reigning World Series champion offense is even tougher. Facing a back-to-back reigning World Series champion offense is as tough as it gets.
Brandon Pfaadt was tasked with a start in Hollywood – a true David vs Goliath matchup – and lived to tell the tale of his legend, tossing 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 77 pitches (W). He nearly supplemented his win even further, allowing both of his runs in the sixth inning (Careful, Icarus), as he allowed just two baserunners through the first five frames. An impressive outing for a pitcher who’s spent most of the season in the bullpen or the minor leagues.
Pfaadt has long been a polarizing arm. He failed to tap into the potential that made him a top prospect heading into the 2023 campaign, recording a 5.13 ERA (454.1 IP) across his first three seasons. His arsenal was headlined by a pair of fastballs and a signature sweeper, but he always lacked a trustworthy weapon against LHB. He toyed with a changeup, a cutter, and a curveball, but none of them could solve his platoon splits.
The approach has been different this year, and I’m not sure I like it. He’s pulled back on his initial trio to expand his arsenal to focus more on those potential LHB solutions. His altered approach was even more dramatic on Saturday, as he ratcheted up his four-seamer (+16% to 39%) and changeup (+15% to 25%) usage while cutting back on sweepers (-10% to 4%) and completely axing his sinker (-21%).
The four-seamer is not a great pitch to lead an arsenal, with dead zone movement at 93-94 mph, only upgraded by his flat approach angle (1.0 HAVAA) and willingness to locate it upstairs. It works best in concert with the sinker, keeping batters guessing and giving him multiple strike pitches with different effects and intentions. I was impressed by his changeup feel, as he located it beautifully low and armside, giving him a promising tool to take down LHB. I also appreciate his curveball’s ability to land low as a CSW machine (40%) and his cutter’s ability to land gloveside to support his strike rate (80%).
That’s a lot of positives, but I can’t expect the changeup to become a reliable offering all of a sudden, or the curveball to be commanded well enough to be the primary whiff pitch. Without a sinker enhancing his four-seamer and his signature sweeper to give him a legit whiff offering against RHB, there’s too much missing.
With Ryne Nelson facing an extended absence due to an elbow strain, Pfaadt has free rein to establish himself in the Diamondbacks’ rotation. However, he’s not someone I’d be chasing in standard leagues. His volume could make him a play in 15-team leagues, but he’s destined to be a HIPSTER with the ceiling of a Toby. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:
Matthew Liberatore (STL) vs ATL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 71 pitches.
Hotlanta is no longer Hotlanta! They’ve had the worst offense in baseball according to wRC+ since the beginning of June, and have been the seventh-worst offense against left-handers for the entire season. Liberatore took advantage, fanning nine across five innings of one-run ball on June 30th before manhandling them again on Saturday to earn a Gold Star. The sandwich meat in between these starts was typical Liberatore fare (5 IP, 3 ER, 3 K), and he didn’t do anything new or special in this one, so we’ll keep avoiding him. Unfortunately, the Cardinals don’t face Atlanta again this year. (View Game Card)
Erick Fedde (CHW) vs ATH (W) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 55 pitches.
Following Bryan Hudson, Fedde lived on the edges with sinkers and threw a decent amount of well-commanded sweepers to RHB. Does that mean we should trust him? Never trust the Feddes. (View Game Card)
Miles Mikolas (WSN) vs NYY (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 59 pitches.
Another pitcher we’re not considering received the opener treatment. Mikolas fanned nobody. HAISTBMBWT?! He’s Miles away from being fantasy relevant. (View Game Card)
Eduardo Rivera (BOS) @ NYM (ND) – 3.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hit, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 64 pitches.
Finally, an exciting pitcher! He’s a reliever. At least Rick will be pumped. Don’t you mean Nick? You don’t know Rick Graham?! He does incredible daily and weekly reliever content for the site. I also do the In The Pen podcast with him every week. We’ll definitely have some opinions on Rivera’s poorly-commanded but exciting stuff from the left side on next week’s recording. (View Game Card)
Tyler Mahle (SFG) vs COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 104 pitches.
Rockie Road is just so sweet. Mahle hasn’t been great this year, but he got an ideal streaming matchup with the Rockies visiting. He pulled off a beautiful BSB approach against LHB, with four-seamers flying above the zone and splitters effective downstairs. He also did a great job of living low and gloveside with cutters and sliders to neutralize RHB. He was a little too far out of the zone with all of it, leading to 57% overall strikes, but that’s the beauty of Rockie Road. Even if you’re not a fan of nuts, the marshmallows and chocolate ice cream make it an enjoyable treat. (View Game Card)
Kyle Bradish (BAL) vs KCR (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 96 pitches.
Yeeesh! This could’ve been a lot worse, as breakers combined for just 49% strikes, putting pressure on his hittable heaters to live in the zone. Koufax had his back, allowing him to return 16 outs on 18 balls in play. He’ll continue to be sweet and sour as his breaker control wavers and his fastballs lack improvement, but since we can’t predict when he’ll have it all working, we just keep starting him in the hopes this Cherry Bomb doesn’t blow up in our faces. (View Game Card)
Tanner Bibee (CLE) @ MIA (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 94 pitches.
After surrendering six runs in his previous start, Bibee gave up on the sinker-first approach and reverted to the primary four-seamer arm he’s been throughout his career. The straighter fastball was still outperformed by the other one, and he failed to find the feel for the rest of his arsenal to support the heater duo, leading to 55% overall strikes and just three whiffs. He’s once again looking like the coin flip that forced his removal from The List. What’s the opposite of a Coronation Day? (View Game Card)
Peter Lambert (HOU) @ TEX (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 107 pitches.
On a day without many great pitching performances, was this the best overall line? Lambert threw all but one of his seven pitches for at least 60% strikes, exhibiting control of a wide array of offerings. Changeups were the best of the bunch, leading the arsenal with four whiffs and three Ks. This was also the third straight start in which he’s showcased a new sweeper. It comes in a couple of ticks hard with a lot less drop while finding the outside edge often against RHB. The changeup feel and new-look sweeper could be the key to unlocking Lambert’s strikeout potential, allowing him to become a Holly. (View Game Card)
Gage Jump (ATH) @ CHW (L) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 86 pitches.
Dope four-seamers are the name of the game for Jump. Its shape wasn’t as exceptional as usual here, but he kept it upstairs and in the zone enough to induce eight whiffs and 80% strikes. It doesn’t need much support, so 65% slider strikes allowed him to pitch five scoreless frames. Then a sixth-inning two-out walk and double broke his shutout and sent him to the showers. Careful, Icarus. (View Game Card)
Griffin Jax (TBR) vs SEA (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 69 pitches.
C’mon Rays! I thought we were done with this! Jax eclipsed 80 pitches in two of his last three starts, and in the start he didn’t cross the 80 threshold, he completed six frames for the first time all year. So, why are we pulling him at 69 pitches after five frames?! I guess the argument is that if they don’t expect him to be able to finish the frame within his pitch count, they’d rather just have a reliever open the frame and finish it themselves. Jax has maximized his limited time on the mound, pitching to a 2.94 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 26% K% in 11 starts since completing the fifth for the first time. Do the Rays’ shenanigans prevent him from attaining his ceiling, making him a HIPSTER, or is the limited volume the only knock on a well-rounded pitcher? (View Game Card)
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) @ DET (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 103 pitches.
Aces gonna allow double-digit hits for the second start in a row, showcasing the WHIP floor that prevents him from being a top five starter. His ground ball approach makes him susceptible to high BABIPs, and nights like these where he gets Singled Out. Fortunately, he’s so good that he still produced a great ERA with a strikeout per inning. Let’s hope the All-Star Break rejuvenates him so we don’t get too many more of these. It’s the fourth time he’s allowed 10+ hits this year. (View Game Card)
Cam Schlittler (NYY) @ WSN (ND) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 99 pitches.
Aces gonna serve up two solo shots in his first three batters, then lock in for 6+ innings of shutout baseball. He threw too many four-seamers above the zone, leading to 50% strikes with the heater, but he was otherwise classic Schlittler. At 118.2 IP with a career-high of 149.2 IP set last year, I’m sure he can’t wait to take this next week off. (View Game Card)
Eury Pérez (MIA) vs CLE (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 99 pitches.
It was going to be difficult for Pérez to top the seven perfect frames he turned in last time, but he did a decent job of keeping us enticed. He’s the definition of a PEAS, but his stuff is so elite that even just finding 70% overall strikes is enough to propel him to a solid outing. It would’ve been better if not for a .444 BABIP, as he was Singled Out with just one extra-base hit against him. I’m sort of enamored with his armside sinkers, low sliders, and high four-seamers at 99 mph, combining for 12 whiffs and 75% strikes. That will definitely work! (View Game Card)
Joe Ryan (MIN) vs LAA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 94 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. 63% strikes and six whiffs from sweepers and splitters to support his elite heater? I’d say that covers a lot of ground. I would. I’d say that does the trick. That’ll do it. Yeah, that’ll do it. Yeah, I’d say that’ll do it. Yeah, I’d say that would do it. Yeah, um, yeah, that’ll help a little. Ryan keeps quietly chugging along. Don’t let his steady production surprise you when he’s an AL Cy Young finalist at year’s end. (View Game Card)
Nick Lodolo (CIN) vs CHC (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 78 pitches.
This was a little frustrating. Facing a RHB-heavy lineup, Lodolo felt incentivized to lean on changeups and four-seamers 65% of the time. The heater was fine, but the slowball returned just 53% strikes, and he refused to pivot to curveballs despite superior command with them at 64% strikes. He also lost his focus in three-ball counts, issuing three walks, all with his sinker. To cap off the frustration, he was sent out for the sixth, only to serve up a leadoff homer and get pulled immediately. Careful, Icarus. If his leash is that short, why send him out for the sixth in the first place?! I’m crossing my fingers for a second-half breakout. (View Game Card)
Javier Assad (CHC) @ CIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 82 pitches.
Classic Toby work from Assad and his kitchen sink. I wonder if he sticks in the rotation after the All-Star Break, with two of Ben Brown, Edward Cabrera, and Jameson Taillon likely due back. (View Game Card)
Bubba Chandler (PIT) vs MIL (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 97 pitches.
This is what a PEAS looks like before they figure out that they’ll ascend if they find the zone and throw strikes more often. Just 58% strikes with a 35% overall zone rate, negating Chandler’s 99 mph heater and 93 mph slider. It’ll click at some point, but it’s not guaranteed to happen this year. (View Game Card)
Freddy Peralta (NYM) vs BOS (L) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.
Professor Chaos has been front and center most of the year, making it difficult to roster Peralta. This was his fourth start in his last five in which he’s failed to complete five frames. However, it was his first since June 3rd in which he induced more than 15 whiffs. He’s still not sitting 95 with his heater and threw too many pitches out of the zone (35%), leading to a 55% overall strike rate. There’s hope that if he brings his heaters down a little, his notable BSB intent could allow him to return to form at any moment. The upside is unmatched on the waiver wire. (View Game Card)
Brandon Sproat (MIL) @ PIT (ND) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 83 pitches.
Sproat in a boat on a moat. Y’know what doesn’t rhyme with Sproat? Efficiency. After a brief intermission of hopeful starts, he’s back to being one of the most inefficient pitchers in the Majors. Struggling to find whiffs, end at-bats early, or put batters away, Sproat needed 83 pitches to complete three frames. Even throwing a tick harder, I’d be sending him back to the wire. (View Game Card)
Shane Drohan (MIL) @ PIT (L) – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 83 pitches.
At least one Brewers pitcher was dope. Wait, why did two of them pitch? They had a doubleheader, and Drohan started the second half. His pitch separation wasn’t perfect, but he pulled off the BSB with four-seamers, sliders, and curveballs, as sinkers, cutters, and changeups mixed in to keep batters honest. Despite facing mostly RHB, the southpaw’s four-seamers and sliders were incredible, combining for 13 whiffs and 45% CSW, leading the charge on his way to the King Cole. I feel like he should be giving up more damage while living in the zone so much, but 61% weak contact here suggests otherwise. (View Game Card)
Casey Mize (DET) vs PHI (L) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 97 pitches.
Does one more out make this line look that much better? A tough fourth frame in which all three earned runs scored marred what was otherwise a promising outing. Heaters at 94, sliders finding plenty of CSW in the zone, and splitters inducing whiffs below the zone is the recipe that should continue to make Mize worth rostering. His 36% putaway rate will improve in future outings. (View Game Card)
Ryan Johnson (LAA) @ MIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 75 pitches.
This quickly turned into two-pitch madness, as Johnson cut back on cutters like he’s counting calories. It was for good reason, as they returned a meager 31% strikes, forcing sinkers and splitters to team up to take down LHB. Splitters did their duty for the most part, inducing seven whiffs and 33% CSW, but sinkers also struggled to earn enough strikes (55%). That meant a ton of at-bats in which Johnson was pitching from behind, leading to just one strikeout. HAISTBMBWT?! Don’t let this R. Johnson fool you into thinking he’s the left-handed version. (View Game Card)
Logan Gilbert (SEA) @ TBR (L) – 6.2 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna serve up a two-out double in the seventh and be forced to intentionally walk Junior Caminero before being lifted and watching both runners score via a homer by the next batter. Careful, Icarus. He did get hit a little harder than usual, serving up four doubles on 61% hard contact, but I’m not the least bit worried. He still induced 15 whiffs for the seventh straight start after doing so just once in his first 12 starts. (View Game Card)
Kyle Freeland (COL) @ SFG (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 92 pitches.
Yeah, what’d you expect from Freeland? Even outside of Coors, he’s not…wait, does that say nine? Nine Ks from Kyle Freeland?! He does this about once a year. Sounds like a Birthday Party to me. (View Game Card)
Reynaldo López (ATL) @ STL (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 85 pitches.
We’re still at 95 mph on the heater, and we even got three extra ticks on the slider to sit 86-87 mph. That’d be dope if it didn’t lead to sub-60% strikes on the breaker, which he was unwilling to supplement with additional curveballs. It made him too efficient to survive a three-run homer in the first and a 32-pitch fourth frame. López was excellent in 2024 at 95-96 mph with enough support from his breakers, inspiring hope that he can find that level for a second-half resurgence. (View Game Card)
Walker Buehler (SDP) vs TOR (ND) – 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 65 pitches.
Blegh! Sub-50% overall and just one strikeout. HAISTBMBWT?! It’s time for Buehler to get a day off. (View Game Card)
Trey Yesavage (TOR) @ SDP (ND) – 1.2 IP, 4 ER, 1 Hits, 7 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 59 pitches.
Control is a concern for every pitcher who relies heavily on splitters. It’s even more important for Yesavage, who struggles to control all of his pitches. It’s never been worse than it was on Saturday, when he returned an awful 34% overall strike rate, with none of his trio of offerings eclipsing even 40%. With his pitches flying all over the place, batters sat patiently as he yielded seven walks in fewer than two frames. Expect the control to appear and disappear throughout the season, making him a HIPSTER. With a 22% strikeout rate indicating that he’s rarely tapped into his strikeout upside, is he really worth rostering with a floor like this? (View Game Card)
Noah Cameron (KCR) @ BAL (L) – 7.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 100 pitches.
A trio of homers ruined what was an excellent day for Cameron to go break dancing. His slider and curveball combined for 12 whiffs, despite suspect command of the latter, propelling him to the Gallows Pole. That’s back-to-back outings with at least seven punchouts after doing so just thrice in his first 16 starts. High changeups and curveballs have me skeptical his command is in the right place to return to avoiding the long balls that bit him here. (View Game Card)
Braxton Ashcraft (PIT) vs MIL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 98 pitches.
Your Coronation Day isn’t coming any time soon if you keep pitching like this! A pair of homers accounted for four runs, but they should’ve been avoided. The first came in an 0-2 count in which Ashcraft threw a sinker down the middle. You can’t be doing that. The second came on a 1-1 count in which a backfoot slider was turned around with ease. Everyone knows low and inside is the nitro zone for lefties! He should be better than this. The home runs have only recently become a problem. (View Game Card)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD) vs ARI (L) – 6.0 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 103 pitches.
Aces gonna enter the sixth with just one run allowed and go BB, K, 1B, SF, 2B, IBB, 3-run HR, F7. Careful, Icarus. We had a lot of those on Saturday. Someone needs to pep-talk these managers. (View Game Card)
Kumar Rocker (TEX) vs HOU (L) – 5.2 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 91 pitches.
A trio of dingers, including a grand slam, blew up Rocker’s ratios. His slider is dope, but I really don’t trust his Ras Pack to provide the support it so desperately needs. It works every once in a while, but outings like these remind you why he’s in the final tier on The List. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Zack Wheeler vs. Tarik Skubal – It doesn’t get better than this!
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)
