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.
Joey Cantillo (CLE) @ CHW (ND) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 89 pitches.
We’ve had a trio of starts from Joey Cantillo after stepping into the rotation for Luis L. Oritz and Sunday’s outing against the White Sox didn’t stick the landing – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 89 pitches (ND). However, don’t let the final line discourage you.
A pair of solo shots and a fifth inning that was nearly escaped led to Cantillo’s four runs, while his ability to prevent walks and miss bats is nothing to gloss over. The changeup is legit (even if he didn’t get it down as often as he’d like!), the curveball was a good mix-up pitch, and the four-seamer…it had a few too many mistakes over the plate for my liking.
He’s a crafty lefty with elite 7.4 feet of extension and an elite changeup. The Guardians brought him out for the sixth frame despite eclipsing 80 pitches, speaking to a long leash in future starts. If Ortiz is still out indefinitely, Cantillo would get the Orioles, Royals, Twins, and White Sox, which looks like value for 15-teamers and possibly a worthwhile run for 12-teamers. Pay attention.
Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:
Eury Pérez (MIA) @ BAL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 84 pitches.
Ohhhhh baby. The four-seamer has found its form and the secondaries are simply hoping to keep up. It’s a trio of breakers that resisted mistakes over the heart of the plate, but failed to induce many whiffs (4/26), but just having them as a 50-55% strike rate is enough to let the fastball do the rest.And hey! We saw two actually good changeups to LHB (out of four thrown), and that’s just icing on the cake after the slowball has been a complete waste prior. Enjoy the share of the Gallows Pole and get amped for a fun second half.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD) @ SFG (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 91 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. The splitter and curve were great and the heater avoided damage. All superb here.
Nick Pivetta (SDP) vs PHI (ND) – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 104 pitches.
That’s a 2.88 ERA for the first 109 IP of 2025 and you can thank a 0.99 HR/9 with an 11 point drop in HR/FB rate for his phenomenal campaign toward his first season under a 4.00 ERA. His sweeper was killer to RHB and he needs to rise a bit on The List. The HR regression hasn’t come and it’s possible it won’t be the decline his track record outlines. Maybe the Padres are really good at pitching development…
Noah Cameron (KCR) vs NYM (ND) – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 93 pitches.
I absolutely love this version of Cameron, who utilizes sub 20% four-seamers and features a range of 17-22 total pitches across all five offerings, including sliders, curves, changeups, and cutters. That Gallows Pole comes from each pitch returning four whiffs on the nose, save for a goose egg on the cutter, which had a tendency to miss a little too much high or gloveside. It can feel like Cameron is due for a huge decline at some point – we normally see the impact of fatigue in rookie seasons by August/September – though I can’t see myself benching him anytime soon. But the Cubs could be next! I stand by it. Gasp.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) @ DET (ND) – 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 94 pitches.
Look at that. On a day with 1/39 four-seamer whiffs and sub 55% strikes on both the slider (!) and splitter, Gilbert has one of his best outings. Sometimes being efficient is reserved for two-strike counts with nine strikeouts on those two secondaries, and we keep leaning on Gilbert, obviously. Cool to see success outside of @TEA, eh?
Jake Irvin (WSN) @ MIL (L) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 93 pitches.
Whoa, we saw 12 sliders and 12 curveballs from Irvin, with the former returning a 92% strike rate when the curve wasn’t dependable. Isn’t the hook the pitch? Yuuuup. Three unearned runs here highlight the pretty line, and I wouldn’t not bank on Irvin suddenly having two legit breakers to play with. That slider is really the curve a little harder at 82 mph and with a touch less horizontal and drop. Nothing to see here.
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) @ HOU (W) – 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 102 pitches.
Are we approaching AGA levels for Eovaldi? You may not realize that Eovaldi holds a 1.58 ERA and 0.85 WHIP with a 27% strikeout rate through 91.0 innings this season, thanks to his curveball taking a massive leap forward to complete the jazz quartet with his four-seamer, cutter, and splitter. Yes, the curve is the saxophone we needed so badly. It’s the soul, y’all.
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) @ SDP (W) – 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 86 pitches.
You’re telling me the changeup had double digit whiffs and his sinker returned four hits with double-digit called strikes? Yep, that tracks. It helped him earn a King Cole while the WHIP is still more elevated than you’d like it to be. That hittable sinker just won’t change its ways… It’s down to 94.8 mph (not 96 mph), but that’s alright as long as it doesn’t keep trending down.
Shota Imanaga (CHC) @ NYY (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 91 pitches.
Atta boy Shota! The strikeouts are returning with a decline in splitter zone rate and a larger-than-usual emphasis on the sweeper to RHB. I loved watching the heater sit up-and-in to RHB as well, and it’s the complete package we want from IM AN AGA. Keep it up to fufill the prophecy and shed yourself of the Holly tag.
Freddy Peralta (MIL) vs WSN (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 103 pitches.
We saw a sub 10% NC Rate from Peralta, which is blinding sunlight to the vampiric Professor Chaos. Way to be there for us, Peralta.
Brayan Bello (BOS) vs TBR (W) – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 105 pitches.
On a day where the changeup was hit-or-miss to LHB (55% strikes with a terrible 27% NC Rate), Bello stepped it up with his sinker and sweeper command to RHB + great fastballs and cutters to LHB. He’s certainly attacking batters more than he used to and I wish it weren’t the Cubs and Dodgers after the break. I can’t start him there, but I’d be down to grab him after if the strikes are still flowing.
Mitch Keller (PIT) @ MIN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 83 pitches.
Hmmmmm. He got away with a ton of fastballs over the plate (Thanks Koufax!) and featured the slider + sweeper under 30% of the time, with three hits off the slide piece. Not the greatest performance to suggest sustainability, but I guess he’s a Vargas Rule for now. Good luck.
José Soriano (LAA) vs ARI (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 91 pitches.
This was a bit of Koufax help + unearned runs without the reliable curveball we’ve seen. The sinker wasn’t exceptional (60% strikes, 2/50 whiffs and four hits), but found many gloves and save for the extended fourth frame, he did enough to survive. This isn’t the Soriano you want, but maybe it will next time. That’s a HIPSTER.
Merrill Kelly (ARI) @ LAA (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 98 pitches.
Lovely pitch separation from Kelly, though sometimes a bit too much with four walks, with a low 50% strike rate on both the changeup and sinker. Kelly continues to be ole reliable, and I’m surprised to find that the Diamondbacks’ defense has dramatically fallen across the season, making me excited at a potential move at the trade deadline. We hold and we hold tight for this Holly.
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) vs PIT (ND) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 77 pitches.
A whole bunch of strikes (every pitch above a 70% strike rate!), which led to a ton of foul balls (26% clip) and an early removal. He was a desperate Sunday play for a Win and we move on.
Davis Daniel (ATL) @ STL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 73 pitches.
We expected nothing from the latest arm with two first names and props to the sober chauffeur for keeping Atlanta in the game and he may have gone further if not for a rain delay. However, a generic 90/91 mph heater with a decent set of 5/35 whiff secondaries (sweeper, slider, splitter) isn’t worth your attention.
Sonny Gray (STL) vs ATL (ND) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 42% CSW, 36 pitches.
The dark skies made a Sonny start turn a bit Gray. Stupid rain getting in the way.
Robbie Ray (SFG) vs LAD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 92 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. That’s what an ace does – succeeds even against the elite offenses. Great to see the slider and curve both return a 60% strike rate, though the changeup was not the pitch he wanted it to be. We’ll take three out of four pitches working, let alone two out of four on most days.
Will Warren (NYY) vs CHC (L) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 88 pitches.
Hmmmm. Sure, two runs against the Cubs is fine, but the rest is blegh with just one strikeout (HAISTBMBWT?!) and I’m getting a little frustrated with his secondaries. We haven’t seen a whiff explosion for a while and just 4/36 combined on his sweeper, curve, and changeup is disappointing, especially with few strikes on all of them. I have no choice but to lower Warren on The List today as a result given nine starts without more than six whiffs on his secondaries, leading to a 9% SwStr rate and 22% strikeout rate in that time. It’s in there and I expect it to return at some point, but it’s clear he doesn’t have it now.
Nick Martinez (CIN) vs COL (W) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 84 pitches.
Despite the destruction of his ERA last time out, you smart fantasy managers out there collected your emotions and noticed his next start, resisting the urge to rage drop. Rockie Road, you’re such a lovely gift. Now let him go? Quickly, quickly…
Jack Flaherty (DET) vs SEA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 93 pitches.
This was standard Flaherty. Good curves and sliders low in concert with four-seamers in the zone. Six whiffs from the heater is more than we should expect and just 3/16 from the slider is a bit soft, but this is the fella. Enjoy it.
Clay Holmes (NYM) @ KCR (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 81 pitches.
Oh, so are we just not limiting The Adobe anymore? WHAT IS GOING ON?! Suitman whispers into my ear. Ohhhh, he piggy-backed with Manaea and was able to give frames (weird) while Sean Manaea was fantastic in his brief season debut – 3.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 65 pitches – with his sole run as a walk-off with a single, stolen base, single. That’s baseball, Suzyn. I imagine the roles will reverse in the future when Manaea is more stretched out and Holmes needs to get some rest, so let’s appreciate this one from Holmes and get excited for Manaea. Why? Because the four-seamer was better than I expected, and, you know, seven strikeouts in ten outs. His feel for BSB with the high 93 mph heater and low sweeper returned 10/43 whiffs on the fastball and despite the small sample, it sure looks like last year’s four-seamer, maybe with even more flatness. Go ahead and grab him if you can.
Austin Gomber (COL) @ CIN (L) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 90 pitches.
That’s not so bad in GABP for Gomber, right? Just two earned runs is akin to whatever period fantasy drama you watch of the lower class experiencing the exuberant life of the main characters for the first time. Is this how you live outside of Coors?! I CANNOT GO BACK THERE!
Jeffrey Springs (ATH) vs TOR (W) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 91 pitches.
If you haven’t seen the Schneider “foul ball” –> Solo HR sequence, go look it up. Another HR was the only other stain on this outing with the Jays efficiently getting on base and blasting a two-run shot in the seventh for a Careful, Icarus, but you may be surprised to know that the slowball returned just 1/20 whiffs. Sometimes the sunshine and rainbows find you whether you like it or not.
Ryan Pepiot (TBR) @ BOS (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 88 pitches.
Blegh. A Careful, Icarus with three runs in the sixth coming from a 3-2, two-out HR on a dotted inside 96 mph fastball. That’s Baseball, Suzyn. That said, it wasn’t Pepiot at his peak with a changeup that failed to get low and a four-seamer that returned just 2/40 whiffs (not the best locations here and a little slower than usual). At least the cutter is helping and we should bank on Pepiot having better stuff in the future.
Aaron Civale (CHW) vs CLE (ND) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 93 pitches.
Dangit Civale, you had it. Five shutout frames in your hand before returning for the sixth despite the sly-grinning whispers of Careful, Icarus floating into your ears, and would you look at that. Four runs crossed the plate in his final frame, capped by a three-run shot on his last pitch of the game. It’s not fun tossing a meatball 88 mph cutter down the pipe and being forced to sit with the memory of watching it go over the wall for the next ten days, twiddling your thumbs, waiting for your next start. Rough. At least he’s up to 60% cutters and sliders these days (It is his approach to LHB, for what it’s worth) and I hope that sticks.
Hunter Brown (HOU) vs TEX (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 93 pitches.
Now that I’ve listed you as an AGA, you’ve returned 2 ER in Coors, followed by 10 ER in two starts. It’s arrogant to assume I have any influence on sporting events, but COME ON. At least the slider was good to RHB and he’s locating four-seamers up with sinkers inside. Figure out the changeup dangit!
José Berríos (TOR) @ ATH (L) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 61 pitches.
Ah yes, The Great Undulator. It’s no fun pitching in Sacré Verde, but 4/11 curveballs for strikes? Really?!
Brandon Young (BAL) vs MIA (L) – 4.1 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 76 pitches.
Young must have aged plenty in this one with a sore neck as he kept turning to watch four pitches leave the ballpark, each one on a different pitch (four-seamer, splitter, curve, cutter). He was a dark horse for a Win and now he’s a dark horse for any fantasy relevance this year.
Game of the Day
Cal Raleigh’s BP pitcher – Alright fella, just lob em down the pipe for Raleigh and give them all a show for the derby.
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 Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)
