Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup: Thanks for Coming to My Ed Talk

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.

Edward Cabrera (MIA) @ CIN (L) – 3.1 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 63 pitches.

It’s pretty rare to see a pitcher return 70% strikeouts with a 16% SwStr rate where four of his six hits are solo shots, but here we are. The exceptional outing (not in the way you normally think) belongs to Edward Cabrera, who returned an unusual 3.1 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 63 pitches line inside Cin City. He left in the fourth with the bases-loaded – two hits as the first balls in play not returning an out or longball + a HBP on his final pitch – in which all three runners scored and I sat there feeling cheated. So many other pitchers are able to get away with pitches over the plate with contact that finds gloves, while Cabrera got burned at every opportunity.

That’s not to say he didn’t make any mistakes. Rece Hinds obliterated a 1-2 curveball down the pipe, for example, but hot dang, Cabrera looked downright filthy while earning 67% strikes for the game. It’s possible his lack of sliders aided batters in chasing his heater – his premium changeup can come in too hard at times, helping batters keep contact fair, like Spencer Steer’s 95 mph changeup he landed in the seats – but I watched all of it and had to eye roll. The man deserved better. SQUAAAK. You’re right random cat that doesn’t meow properly, I understand it was Cin City, but those weren’t cheap shots. Mostly. He simply got punished more often than you normally see and That’s Baseball, Suzyn.

He’s the best healthy pitcher on the Marlins and will be heavily relied upon in the second half. I’m a believer. It’s a little risky for 12-teamers, but if you’re staring at the waiver wire without any upside to chase, ECab has all the tools to go on a legit run, including far higher strike rates. Don’t let this game dissuade you.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:

 

Kutter Crawford (BOS) vs KCR (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 96 pitches.

He’s absolutely cruising. The splitter helped to make this a true four-pitch mix and he had a glorious time at the park. We saw the three stages of Crawford this year: Early unsustainable success, the regression stumble, and now the soar out of the haze. This part usually lasts longer than the others.

Dylan Cease (SDP) vs ATL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 11 Ks – 27 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 106 pitches.

Twenty-seven whiffs?! Jeeeeeez Cease, why do you have to be so dope for a Gallows Pole, then so rough on other nights? Can’t you just find a middle ground and make us all happy? Also, why not try out a cutter in the sixth? You had it in the bag, just see if you can figure out that pitch instead of trying out a curve or changeup. Those ain’t it and they had their chance. WE WANT THE CUTTER.

Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) @ HOU (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 95 pitches.

Eovaldi showed up with some surprise curveballs that helped carry him to the finish line and deal with a bit of Singled Out work from the Astros. He’s becoming such a stable Holly.

Spencer Arrighetti (HOU) vs TEX (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 85 pitches.

Arrighetti pulled back on four-seamer usage to a minute 28% clip, favoring four secondaries, which all did a great job flirting with the zone. If I had faith that Arrighetti could replicate this consistently, I’d be all over him, but we all know how volatile he is. Maybe the reduction of heaters will go far for him? That would require Arrighetti to throw his secondaries consistently for strikes. STOP SQUAWKIN’ AT ME.

Luis Gil (NYY) @ BAL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 95 pitches.

Atta boy Gil. Instead of attacking with four-seamers like in the previous outing against the Orange Birds, Gil attacked incessantly with sliders, adding over a tick to them in the process. 97/98 mph heaters with roughly 16″ iVB work for me, even if the changeup returned just 50% strikes and wasn’t as low as ideal. Here’s to believing Gil is on the other side of his valley.

Zack Littell (TBR) vs CLE (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 87 pitches.

Littell went Dancing With The Disco and it worked this time around as those sliders managed to find enough outs. There really isn’t much more to this and it’s not a game I love to see Littell play. He’s a streaming option and not much else.

José Soriano (LAA) vs SEA (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 87 pitches.

Hot dang, look at you! That’s a King Cole for Soriano as he had no issue locating his sinker down and along the arm-side edge, earning eight whiffs in the process – pretty abnormal to see a true sinker return whiffs like that and it requires Soriano’s locations down-and-in to RHB at his upper 90s velocity. Awesome work taking down the Mariners (Blame it on the Mariners, of course), now show us that you can be like this with regularity. Please.

George Kirby (SEA) @ LAA (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Kirby really is leaning into the BSB and it’s kinda glorious. He’s becoming the man he was meant to be.

Yilber Diaz (ARI) vs TOR (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 87 pitches.

Hot dang, look at you! That’s a Gold Star for Diaz in his second MLB start, though I wish I had nice things to say. His heater failed to earn a whiff and the slider wasn’t precise in the slightest. This isn’t a guy to chase.

Luis L. Ortiz (PIT) @ CHW (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 94 pitches.

He’s throwing strikes and that’s what we want to see with his three-pitch mix. Not the most overwhelming outing against the White Sox, but he came through. That’s all we can ask. I’m banking that he gets the Cardinals next over Priester and I’d go for it. He’s in a good place.

Gavin Williams (CLE) @ TBR (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 94 pitches.

He pounded heaters at a tick down from before (expected, don’t worry, he wasn’t likely to hold 97 mph) and got his curveball down enough to get through this. There was something weird, though – just three cutters/sliders. He favored changeups instead that went 4/12 strikes and I don’t understand why. Welp, we keep riding this and hope that tweak doesn’t stick.

Hayden Birdsong (SFG) vs MIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 80 pitches.

And your Bird can sing! Sometimes! In a super mid way! That’s not convincing at all. Nope! Huge props to him for locating his four-seamer consistently upstairs this time around, though. I just wish it could do better than a 16% CSW + be supported by legit secondaries, you know? Both his changeup and curve returned sub 50% strikes and that’s just not enough for me

Chris Flexen (CHW) vs PIT (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 78 pitches.

FLEXEN AT THE BEACH. He’s commanding well and even with just three pitches in this one (we’ve seen 4+ before), he performed well against the Pirates, as he should have. Don’t rule him out as a streaming option, but not against the Rangers next.

Lance Lynn (STL) vs CHC (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 99 pitches.

Look at that, a great outing from Lynn with sixteen whiffs on his four-seamer. He’s had some moments like this, but they are few and far between. Don’t take the risk trusting this Werewolf.

Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) @ SFG (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 86 pitches.

Seven punchouts are a bit surprising, though the seven hits aren’t. I dunno, it’s pretty middling and he’s Dancing With The Disco most of the time. The heaters aren’t fun and he’s reliant on getting outs with his breakers over the plate. Take that as you will.

Reynaldo López (ATL) @ SDP (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 11 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 93 pitches.

Oh my. A VVVPQS from ReyLó isn’t a welcome sight as this start only gave you pain in a non-QS league. The thing is, I kinda loved his command. Four-seamers and sliders had solid BSB separation while the other secondaries flirted with the bottom of the zone. Some days it just doesn’t go your way.

Justin Wrobleski (LAD) @ DET (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 84 pitches.

Ehhhhh, not a whole lot to latch on to here, especially against the Dodgers. Just two whiffs on the heater, a good but not elite slider, and that’s about it…? On the plus side, he did locate the breaker well. I hope that keeps up.

Christian Scott (NYM) vs COL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 82 pitches.

Uhhhh Christian. Why just 16% sweepers? Because they were 1/13 whiffs. And? Keep throwing the dang thing til it works, you need it. This one hurts as it was his worst ability against the worst offense – why couldn’t you have the ability in the matchup we like instead of the outing we’d bench you in?

Ryan Feltner (COL) @ NYM (L) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 5 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 87 pitches.

COL story, bro. But seven strikeouts! Yes, the curve and change had their moments. Thumbs Up.

Dallas Keuchel (MIL) vs WSN (ND) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 65 pitches.

Annnnd now Keuchel has been DFA’d by the Brewers. It’s been a run, Dallas. Don’t you mean a good run? Only if we’re saying it like the ones that you’re glad happened in retrospect but did not enjoy a second of when you were experiencing it, sure.

Javier Assad (CHC) @ STL (ND) – 2.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 44 pitches.

It was a Still ILL and nothing indicating that Assad is the guy you want to hold onto. No reason to hold here.

Tyler Phillips (PHI) vs OAK (W) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 79 pitches.

He’s okay. It’s sinker/sweeper with some changeups and I don’t think either one are particularly great, save for the sweeper at times. If he can be a command guy with both (who knows, second MLB game, first as a starter n all), then maybe he can make it work. Let’s pass for now.

Kyle Gibson (STL) vs CHC (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 97 pitches.

Bleeeeeegh. Welp, I don’t think he actually pitched all that differently than usual, and the sweeper is still a legit pitch. So it goes, still a Toby and worth the start against the Pirates.

Hayden Wesneski (CHC) @ STL (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 88 pitches.

It’s a good sweeper, nothing else. You really should lay off Wesneski as a starting option.

Keider Montero (DET) vs LAD (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 92 pitches.

Hittable breakers over the plate + a decent fastball on the edges do not equal success against the Dodgers. We move on.

Seth Lugo (KCR) @ BOS (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 93 pitches.

He got Singled Out and it was bound to happen. It’s not like he’s coming completely down to Earth now, right? Right?!

José Berríos (TOR) @ ARI (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 0 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 90 pitches.

Hi, thanks for taking the time to speak with me. I’m calling about an error I’m seeing on my account. Mmmhmmm. Yep, with the Berríos addition. I’m seeing 90 pitches and not a single whiff, there must be some mistak–Oh. That’s what you see as well? And it’s correct? 0/90 whiffs? But sir, how am I supposed to butter my bread with this? You don’t care about my bread? WHAT KIND OF CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THIS?! Yes, I’ll hold. On second thought, let’s not hold. Stop doing this to yourself. He’s The Great Undulator and simply not worth it.

Andrew Abbott (CIN) vs MIA (ND) – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 78 pitches.

Abbott. I. Don’t. Get. You. Can I just give him the Cherry Bomb label and move on? Cool.

Mitchell Parker (WSN) @ MIL (ND) – 0.2 IP, 5 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 46 pitches.

Parker got bamboozled by the Brewers with 16 foul balls in those two outs. That’ll wear a man down. These things happen and you shouldn’t make it a crux of your player assessments.

Grayson Rodriguez (BAL) vs NYY (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 91 pitches.

Three longballs were the biggest blow and it’s a One Night Bland. Whatareyagonnado. His biggest flaw is location and sometimes it gets ya, especially against a dangerous crew like the Yankees.

Mitch Spence (OAK) @ PHI (L) – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 94 pitches.

Five hits, three home runs. He did his thing per usual – high cutters + low sliders (ten whiffs on those!) – and the Phillies got to him because they’re the Phillies. He’s the same guy.

 

Game of the Day

 

Yusei Kikuchi vs. Zac Gallen – Kikuchi is on the up-swing while Gallen certainly looks ready to leap forward.

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 Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire | Featured Image by Ethan Kaplan (@DJFreddie10 on Twitter and @EthanMKaplanImages on Instagram)