Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup: Snell of the Ball

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.

Blake Snell (SFG) vs MIN (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 80 pitches.

It’s that time again. When a player gets banned out of nowhere? No. A team makes a trade that makes no sense? Nah. We hear a team has signed Dallas Keuchel? No, well maybe-NO. None of that. It’s when Blake Snell announces himself as eligible for your weekly fantasy lineups. His 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 80 pitches performance on Sunday acted as a display of what’s to come. A little hint at the run he should have for the next three months.

It’s a little different than last year, too…if this performance is a true indication. He’s elected to move away from the strike-repulsing slider and leaned into curveballs heavily, which returned a pleasant 68% strike rate, serving as the proper BSB complement to his heater. Seriously, this was the BSB of old, with a fair number of changeups included that deftly sat along the armside edge.

It seems too good to be true. Snell held a sub 40% zone rate of both his changeup and curve but returned the swings needed. His heater was precise at the top of the zone and only had a handful of poor misses above. Was there a tweak during his rehab? Did he dial his mechanics back a little to focus on fluidity and consistency? I don’t know, but what I do know is I’m so thankful to be back home now and ready to tackle normal scheduled programming for the next two weeks…until I’m off to Texas during the trade deadline. THAT’S LIFE Y’ALL. Anyway, start Snell, of course, and cross your fingers it’s the start of one of his patented second-half stretches. We need it badly.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:

 

Logan Gilbert (SEA) @ LAA (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 87 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. He did his best impression of Brady Singer with double-digit slider whiffs and double-digit called strikes on heaters, but then also added a curve and splitter in the mix. That’s how ya do it.

Ryan Pepiot (TBR) vs CLE (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 81 pitches.

Yesssss. I wish we got more strikeouts, but this was Cleveland, after all. I would not call this the best command of Pepiot, with such a low zone rate and a ton of four-seamers missing out of the zone, up-and-armside, which does suggest to me that his arm was a little fatigued (that kind of miss = arm too slow to keep up with the lower half). The slider and cutter saved him here, with the changeup going in-and-out. Not gonna let it get to me, he’ll make the adjustment. Please make the adjustment.

Carson Fulmer (LAA) vs SEA (ND) – 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 77 pitches.

Hot dang, look at you! Here’s your Gold Star with Fulmer nearly turning in five full innings of stud baseball. Blame it on the Mariners. I know, I know, but he did locate his slider and changeup super well, while he lived on the edges with his heaters. That’s impressive, y’all. I wonder if he can do it for at least five frames a second time against Seattle…

Brent Honeywell Jr.  (LAD) @ DET (ND) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 36 pitches.

Wait, you’re still around? And you threw eight screwballs?! Huh. Well that’s cool but they went 0/8 CSW and generally destroy arms, so that may not be a good thing. ANYWAY, we got the Fratty Pirate here for 2.2 IP after and let’s move on. Please. This is already late because of travel nightmares and y’all don’t need me to give you insight on Ryan Yarbrough. It’s been a long 24 hours y’all.

Jared Shuster (CHW) vs PIT (ND) – 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 22 pitches.

He opened for 4.0 IP of 4 ER from Chad Kuhl. Ah, so nothing to report? Well, Michael Soroka was supposed to go more than three pitches, but he has a sore shoulder. So nothing to report? Oh. Yeah, I guess nothing to report.

Rob Zastryzny (MIL) vs WSN (ND) – 1.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 6 pitches.

It’s normal to see bullpen games before the All-Star-Bre–SQUAAWWWWK. I see it, I see it, thanks Cat. Colin Rea followed properly with 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks and he’s making some of y’all get back in. This was a poor Nationals lineup, let’s not go bonkers, here. Rea is a Werewolf, not a dude to trust.

Orion Kerkering (PHI) vs OAK (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 11 pitches.

He opened for Michael Mercado and it was bad, despite being somewhat accurate upstairs with cutters and heaters. He’s not terrible, but likely won’t get another shot. Welp, we move on.

Chris Sale (ATL) @ SDP (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 79 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. What a wonderful surprise this has been. We knew you’d be good, but a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 13-3 record with 140 strikeouts at the break? That’s bananas.

Chris Paddack (MIN) @ SFG (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 90 pitches.

Hey, that’s pretty great, Paddack. Solid approach with four-seamers up, changeups around the zone, and a variety of sliders and curves…existing. That changeup had itself a night with a 41% CSW and a 26% SwStr rate, which I’m not expecting to show up against the Phillies. Let’s wait until after that outing.

Max Scherzer (TEX) @ HOU (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 71 pitches.

We’ll take this all day, even if the Rangers were seemingly conservative on pushing Max before he would get an elongated break. The slider is slidin’ like a Goo Goo Doll and he’s not getting destroyed by his four-seamer. That’s all you can ask for.

Ronel Blanco (HOU) vs TEX (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 90 pitches.

You can’t stop the man, even on a ridiculous day where Blanco’s slider went 3/14 strikes, and 0/50 whiffs on his fastball + changeup. That’s right, we’re talking 12/36 slider whiffs at a 50% CSW to go Dancing With The Disco and recover from an early blow in the first. The man found a way, that’s pretty dang cool.

Joey Estes (OAK) @ PHI (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 91 pitches.

That’s a lot better from Estes, who unleashed a barrage of four-seamers and sweepers into the zone and didn’t look back. Shocking consistency with the pitches, too, which would make you think the Phillies of all teams would adjust and do something about it. Let’s be happy he was able to take a swig from the Estes flask and survive.

Trevor Rogers (MIA) @ CIN (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 87 pitches.

He hit his spots well once again and despite the stuff still not being great (1/18 changeup whiffs with a 17% CSW), the slider was strong and he got through it. I’m weirded out by Rogers when he sits just 91 mph – I think he needs one other offering to overpower batters instead of relying on location + his slider. I’m not circling him as a streamer just yet.

Ben Lively (CLE) @ TBR (L) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 76 pitches.

And the mad man continues to impress. He’s still got it, y’all, and let’s hope the break doesn’t get in his way. What a ride this has been, eh? Now it’s the Padres, though. Yeah, the tougher schedule may get in his way in the end. We’ll see.

Randy Vásquez (SDP) vs ATL (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 73 pitches.

Am I undervaluing Vásquez? I watched him and was rarely impressed, but he somehow finds a way with his fastballs finding outs. Maybe it’s the whole “six pitches = better stuff” kind of thing, I’m not sure. I still don’t like it.

Nick Lodolo (CIN) vs MIA (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 72 pitches.

Blegh. That’s two starts since returning from the blister and you have to wonder if it’s still affecting him. His fastball locations are all over the place.

Dean Kremer (BAL) vs NYY (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 83 pitches.

Props to Kremer for surviving here without his best stuff. Like really not feeling it at all. That’s a horrible sentence. YOU’RE A HORRIBLE SENTENCE. Kremer is not an option I’d consider for my 15-teamers, let alone my 12s.

Carlos Rodón (NYY) @ BAL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 98 pitches.

Rodón pitched backward with sliders in the zone and four-seamers saved for elevation and it generally worked, though the Orioles made him earn it with 11/37 foul balls on the heater that propelled his pitch count (and led to a few walks). I’m confident in Rodón and his ability to land secondaries these days + being sharp about his approach and making the right adjustments.

Mitch Keller (PIT) @ CHW (ND) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 57 pitches.

The Pirates shortened him, likely to let him toss in the ASG, with Quinn Priester getting a pair of frames after. Let’s move on, I know the ratios aren’t great, but this was clearly a weird one.

Beau Brieske (DET) vs LAD (ND) – 1.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 27 pitches.

We eventually got to 3.2 IP of Kenta Maeda, who somehow excelled in the role with five strikeouts and just one baserunner. In fact, he was able to sit 93 mph with the limited pitch count, featuring a harder splitter and slider as well, going 11/55 whiffs and a 31% CSW. Huh. Maybe this is where he’s supposed to be…?

Brayan Bello (BOS) vs KCR (W) – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 85 pitches.

Not his best at all, with more four-seamers than I’d expect. You gotta love the 15/19 strike rate on his changeup (79%!) despite a 16% zone rate and if he had a little more precision with the sinker, he’d have earned far more punchouts. I’m feeling good here about Bello now that the slowball is back and the slider is helping out well.

Jameson Taillon (CHC) @ STL (W) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 83 pitches.

Thanks for the Win, even if it’s a Dusty Donut. Not the best I’ve seen from Taillon with his four-seamer and cutter, but some good sweepers kept it together and he could still be of value against the Diamondbacks, especially in deeper formats.

Germán Márquez (COL) @ NYM (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 70 pitches.

Oh snap! HE’S BACK! The curve and slider were back to normal and–Oh no. That means the four-seamer was back to normal, too. …Yeah. Let’s be happy for the guy, returning to 96 mph after paying his dues on the sidelines, recovering from TJS.

Brady Singer (KCR) @ BOS (L) – 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 74 pitches.

You can’t be a Cherry Bomb if it’s all Sunday Peaks. Ayyyyyy. He is what he is, up to you if you want to chance it.

Jose Quintana (NYM) vs COL (L) – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 86 pitches.

Nooooo. Quintana was his prime self leading up to a gorgeous matchup and suddenly his curveball and sinker command failed him. At least he got six punchouts along the way, but this wasn’t the guy I saw over 3+ starts prior. Against Rockie Road?! I know, I KNOW. I think we give it a shot against the Marlins when we come back from the break, hoping he makes the right adjustment. That’s too juicy of a matchup.

Miles Mikolas (STL) vs CHC (L) – 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 72 pitches.

He did his normal thing – four-seamers at the top, sliders all over the zone – and it’s just not that great. Womp womp. He’s a lackluster Cherry Bomb, like one you buy at the ice cream truck that you feel like has been at the bottom of the freezer since Old Man Jeffrey bought the dang thing.

Jake Irvin (WSN) @ MIL (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 86 pitches.

Huh. He had a decent curveball! This was the first game I saw where a team took down Irvin despite a high curveball strike rate – two longballs off the hook + a whole lot of hits on the heaters. The problem? It makes sense. Let’s be honest, it’s a great curve, but the rest isn’t special and it has felt like a team should be jumping on the heaters + any hung curveballs along the way. Props to the Brewers for doing so. AS for you, the manager trapped in purgatory, I say we go one more against the Reds in the Nation’s capital before doing anything rash.

Zac Gallen (ARI) vs TOR (ND) – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 70 pitches.

It was a horrible fourth inning, capped by a grand-slam. Okay, he also couldn’t buy a strike with his curve, missed the zone a bit too much, and looked plenty off his normal game. Whatareyagonnado. I’m still in here, but he’ll need to display that over a few starts before AGA is in consideration, of course.

Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) @ ARI (ND) – 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 86 pitches.

Wat. Kikuchi was cruising through four until a horrific fifth that included a grand-slam (gotta make it fair for Gallen, right?) as Kikuchi struggled to execute. I’m still buying into his heater + slider + curve approach and I’m chalking this up to one bad moment. You won’t regret it, y’all.

 

Game of the Day

 

NONE – It’s the All-Star Break and obviously I’ll be back on regular schedule once games restart. I can’t thank you enough for your patience across the last week as I visited family in Cape Cod. Here’s to a great second-half ahead!

But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.

Have Questions? – Join my morning Playback.tv livestream! I answer all questions there for free: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET Monday through Friday.

Photo by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Aaron Polcare (@bearydoesgfx on X)