Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup – Abbott’s Cost Undersello

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 Twitch weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.  

Andrew Abbott (CIN) vs SD (ND) – 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 12 Ks – 25 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 101 pitches.

I’ve been pretty down on Andrew Abbott since his callup and it’s pretty dang obvious I need to change my tune after he dominated the Padres today via 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 12 Ks – 25 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 101 pitches. Jeeeeeeez did I get this one wrong.

My reasoning for skepticism was a repertoire rooted in a good-not-great four-seamer and a curveball that wasn’t doing a whole lot. That was far different in this one, as the changeup was brilliant (8/18 whiffs) and the sweeper got strikes, while the curveball woke up for a 56% CSW and the four-seamer dominated upstairs at a 40% CSW. Why didn’t anyone tell me he had more in his arsenal?!

The precision on the secondaries was phenomenal, setting up elevated four-seamers that Abbott executed with ease, and if he had this command all the time, I’d turn him into a Top 20 arm. That’s highly unlikely and but at this point, we obviously hold and start the man until something changes. If you’re getting legit offers for Abbott, I’d consider making the swap, but in most cases, you can just hold and hope for the best.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:

 

Jordan Montgomery (STL) vs NYY (W) – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 96 pitches.

The Bear has come through massively over the last month and I’m stoked to see 43%+ CSW on both the curve and change. We rarely see them both dominate and good things happen when they do. We’re at a point where we just keep starting the man and with the White Sox next, it’s hard to argue against it. That’s just 8 ER across his last seven games now – that’s a 1.66 ERA across his last 43.1 IP. Insane.

Sonny Gray (MIN) @ BAL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 87 pitches.

Fun fact: Sonny hasn’t allowed more than 3 ER in a single outing this year…even if four of his last six came exactly with that total. I loved seeing the sweeper succeed in this one, but the curve was lacking and his constant four-seamer/sweeper approach took me a bit by surprise. Sonny seemingly finds a way to do that with each start these days. We keep starting him, hoping there’s enough in the arsenal to get through whatever is in front of him. If someone is buying into his sub 2.50 ERA season, you let them, but I doubt you’ll get a legit offer at the moment.

Andrew Heaney (TEX) vs HOU (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 85 pitches.

Just when I tell you to drop Heaney as you can’t believe in him any longer, he does this. He actually got his slider low as his heater stayed elevated, even executing some great changeups (among some terrible ones) along the way. He’ll get the Nationals for another, but do you buy that he figured out how to keep that slider down consistently? It’s just one start…

Adrian Morejon (SD) @ CIN (ND) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 42 pitches.

Morejon stepped in with Yu Darvish scratched as he recovers from his illness and what we saw was three ticks down on the fastball. Womp womp.

Ross Stripling (SF) @ NYM (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 24 pitches.

Stripling opened for Alex Wood, who stumbled for 1.2 IP, 4 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks across 57 pitches. Yikes. To think I just picked him up in Tout to stream this week ahead in a dire situation…Get that control back in order please, k thx.

Brady Singer (KC) vs LAD (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 108 pitches.

That’s the life of a Cherry Bomb – they do what they do regardless of opposition. We saw the slider whiffs and sinker called strikes, thus we saw the success. That’s the melody of the Singer.

Aaron Civale (CLE) @ CHC (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 94 pitches.

Both the cutter and curve came in a tick harder as he utilized them nearly 70% of the time – exactly the target we want to see, opening the door for a 35% CSW four-seamer as it missed a few bats in the upper half. That’s the good stuff and I’m happy Civale can settle in as a Toby.

Cole Irvin (BAL) vs MIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 82 pitches.

Hey, we’ll take it, even if it’s a horrid WHIP and a HAISTBMBWT?! We had no expectations here from Irvin and a 1.80 ERA is cool with me, enough to give him a Gold Star for the night. There’s still some refinement left before I can actually trust him as a Toby, but we’re getting there.

Shawn Dubin (HOU) @ TEX (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 68 pitches.

Dubin stepped in with Framber Valdez hitting the IL and for a date with the Rangers, this is impressive. The four-seamer sat 95 mph and has a decent amount of rise on it, while he executed some good secondaries here-and-there to go four frames. I wonder if the Astros focus on stretching him out or go with a different option for the Mariners up next. If it’s Dubin, he could do it again and with a bigger lean on the secondaries. It’s all decent enough.

David Peterson (NYM) vs SF (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 61 pitches.

He was a tick down on everything (two on the four-seamer) and didn’t get more than two whiffs on anything. Is that good? Imagine baking a cake and you open the oven and realize you didn’t add flour. I don’t bake, that sounds bad. I picked the wrong analogy. Okay. Imagine you’re a pitch. Uh huh. And you’re a lot worse. Oh that’s bad. There we go.

Garrett Whitlock (BOS) @ TOR (ND) – 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 18 pitches.

He left this one with a tight elbow and I AM SO SAD. I really hope he’s okay, but we all know these things are so rarely okay.

Colin Rea (MIL) @ PIT (W) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 89 pitches.

What does Rea do to deserve this? He lights candles the night before and hopes enough fastballs find gloves. The BABIP lords served him well and those who trusted him today were rewarded for their faith. Now you send him back to the wire, even with the Cubs up next. This was an outlier start, y’all.

Spencer Strider (ATL) vs MIA (W) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 109 pitches.

Okay, you’re SP #1 tomorrow. You don’t need me to tell you that.

Gerrit Cole (NYY) @ STL (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 98 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Cole was up a tick here to 98 mph on his four-seamer, while each of his top 4 pitches returned a 31%+ CSW. And yet, just five strikeouts and a poor WHIP with a Loss. Yeah yeah yeah, I know. The skills are there, that’s all I’m saying. SP #2 tomorrow, but still great.

Reid Detmers (LAA) vs ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 97 pitches.

Oh look, another dominating start from Detmers as the slider has been fantastic with its extra break at a lower velocity (41% CSW & +4 inches of drop), while the four-seamer is actually getting whiffs these days, and the curve returned 60% strikes. It’s all coming together. Unfortunately, this may be his last start before the break with just five games ahead for the Angels and we’ll just have to dream of the wonders that await us in the second half.

Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs BOS (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 98 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. I wish he were a little more efficient as the splitter was once again not the amazing offering we’ve seen in the past, but the man is finding a way to survive with his four-seamer and that’s pretty cool. Oh, and he was 1.5+ ticks up on all his pitches. Because that’s just what Gausman does. I am getting a little worried about that splitter slowing down lately, but I imagine it’ll return in the second half. It always does with time.

Touki Toussaint (CWS) @ OAK (ND) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 85 pitches.

Wait, Touki is on the White Sox now? Sadly, the line above is a showcase of why he’s bounced around the league and I miss the days when we got all hyped by his splitter. Just 2/8 strikes in this one and the curve isn’t a good enough #2 to make this work. Touki, we had some good moments back in the day. Don’t forget them.

Rich Hill (PIT) vs MIL (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 102 pitches.

Honestly, that’s one ER away from a legit outing from Hill and be happy for that. He’s a deeeeep dart throw at this point and I’d rather roll with someone else.

Trevor Williams (WSH) @ PHI (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 80 pitches.

Never Trevor. I’d say HAISTBMBWT?! but we all know better than to rely on Williams for that.

Zac Gallen (ARI) @ LAA (L) – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 12 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 100 pitches.

Gallen tossed two-thirds four-seamers with his two home runs coming off a curve and cutter. Guess I have to do ALL the work today. The pitch earned its whiffs mostly outside to both LHB and RHB, which you don’t see too often and makes me feel a little icky about this start overall. The curve, cutter, and change took a major backseat in general (albeit, 9/18 CSW on the curve and 43% CSW on the change are both still super cool) with their limited usage, but they let the fastball cook. Can’t complain with that.

Sandy Alcantara (MIA) @ ATL (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 93 pitches.

Womp womp. Atlanta is no joke, but the changeup reverted to its former self with just 14% CSW here as it allowed a trio of hits, including a bomb from Ozzie Albies. It really isn’t as bad as the ERA looks and I’m going to keep harping on Sandy being the buy low. I know what I believe.

Matt Manning (DET) @ COL (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 96 pitches.

It’s Coors n all, but at least the slider came in harder with more drop and went 31% CSW despite how Colorado is supposed to make these things worse. Keep an eye on that pitch.

Tony Gonsolin (LAD) @ KC (L) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 81 pitches.

Awww jeez, against the Royals too? It feels like we shouldn’t be rostering Gonsolin anymore after allowing 11 ER in his previous two games. What’s wrong with him? His splitter isn’t getting strikes (7/15 here = super unreliable) and his slider + curve aren’t that good. He’ll likely turn it around at some point with a better curve and getting that splitter feel back, but is it worth it right now?

Luis Castillo (SEA) vs TB (ND) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 95 pitches.

Ugggggggh. I just got my Castillo bobblehead and my excitement for today was quelled seeing this line, even if his slider went 46% CSW and he earned six whiffs on both the fastball and changeup – yes, the changeup! The pitch that used to be elite and has taken a massive step back the last two seasons. So the four-seamer allowed all the hits? Ummmm, no. Not a single one, actually. This was the slider and change inside the zone, mostly…and two sinkers. WHY IS HE STILL THROWING THAT SINKER?! Look, I have no idea and I’m with you, but they were both from Arozarena’s bat and were heavily inside. It happens. So let’s acknowledge the elite nature of the Rays’ offense and move on.

Ranger Suárez (PHI) vs WSH (L) – 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 93 pitches.

Nooooooo. He was on such a good run and I’m sad to report that he was a tick down on everything, without the change and cutter we got used to seeing along the edges. Many pitches found the heart of the plate as well and I’m not nearly as confident in Suárez as I was last week. It kinda feels like the Vargas Rule is over…but he gets the Marlins next weekend. One more, right? Just one more.

Jameson Taillon (CHC) vs CLE (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 95 pitches.

Ah dangit. It’s a bit of a mess with Taillon as he can’t locate the way he needs to and his arsenal makes for too small a margin of error. We sit and wait.

Paul Blackburn (OAK) vs CWS (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 97 pitches.

Womp womp. I had high hopes here for Blackburn with a varied repertoire and good breakers to take down the ChiSox. Sadly, he couldn’t land his slider and curve for strikes, and it messed everything up. It was a solid Sunday stream on paper and I really wanted this one to pull through. Paulie Punchouts, how could you do this to us?

Taj Bradley (TB) @ SEA (ND) – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 73 pitches.

Bleeeeegh. Everything was down the middle here and the Mariners teed off. The man is Tyler Glasnow before his recent refinement. Doesn’t Glasnow carry poor ratios a lot lately? …yes. It’s complicated. Taj is worth the hold for his massive ceiling, but I need to weigh these floors more in my ranks.

Connor Seabold (COL) vs DET (L) – 5.0 IP, 8 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 69 pitches.

Coors is undefeated. See? Bold. You know it’s true if it’s bold.

 

Game of the Day

 

Bryan Woo vs. Logan Webb – Let’s see if the heater can still carry Woo while Webb has a good shot of testing the waters with his slider against the Mariners.

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

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

Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)