Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup: Pint-Sized Gallen

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.  

Zac Gallen (ARI) @ CHC (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 6 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 102 pitches.

We know that Zac Gallen has historically been great. He had a rough time in 2021 (he was hurt at the end!) but has otherwise been that rock in your lineup ever since his callup. However, his three starts before the break looked off and this date with the White Sox that returned six walks – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 6 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 102 pitches – is making you tug your collar and asking if the AC is working. I get it y’all, I’ll call tomorrow to fix the AC. That’s what you said yesterday. Fine, I’ll call today. You’ll call now. I’LL CALL NOW.

The heater is really the one that’s making me queasy. He came out of the gate firing 95+ mph heaters with ease and the pitch has fallen down to 94+ and now 93/94 mph as of late, with its command declining with it. Truly, it’s a strange world when Gallen returns a 45% strike rate on his four-seamer. That ain’t right.

However, in times of need, the very best starters find a way. Gallen’s curveball was great per usual, sure, but the changeup, a pitch that once led the charge and has since suffocated while tumbling down the sand of time, showed up in a big way. Not just in 8/32 whiffs, but with its precision down low that made it tough for hitters to dial into the middle of the plate. Some were patient, catalyzing Gallen’s elevated walk total. Others couldn’t wrangle their need for action and gave in, allowing Gallen to leave five innings without a run crossing the plate despite nine men reaching first.

It’s not the Gallen you want to see. It’s possible the changeup feel sticks and the four-seamer returns, but in all likelihood, the changeup fades (not the way you want it to) and the heater continues to disappoint. It marks four starts of confusion and disarray and Eric Samulski may be right: It’s possible Gallen’s 2023 mileage is taking its toll.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:

 

Dylan Cease (SDP) @ CLE (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 97 pitches.

He absolutely got some generous calls here, sure, and he also located his four-seamer + slider as well as we’ve seen all year. The dude deserved this. And the cutter? Nowhere to be found while the curve looked terrible for 3/11 strikes. WHY. Just try the dang thing out in the seventh. Just a few times and see how it was going, that’s it.

Taj Bradley (TBR) @ NYY (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 99 pitches.

Wow. So many outs came from pitches down the pipe and I think Bradley got a bit fortunate here. The heater nor splitter dominated as we’ve seen across many other games and yet…look at that line. At least he’s throwing strikes and that’s giving him a chance to make it work. We’ve been in “Close your eyes, we’re doing this” mode for a while in starting Bradley, but without a clearer ability for precision, I can’t give him the AGA tag. I so badly want to, trust me.

Luis L. Ortiz (PIT) vs PHI (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 89 pitches.

Yoooooo that’s a Gold Star alright. The man did it again, even against the Phillies and sure, that’s some Fortune of the Koufax going on with his BABIP, but he’s spotting that slider super well and moving pitches around the plate at 95/96 while keeping strike rates high. That’s gonna give anyone a chance on any given night and I’m all for giving him the Vargas Rule at this point. Let’s ride this out against the Diamondbacks.

Brady Singer (KCR) vs CHW (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 93 pitches.

Blame it on the White Sox. Kinda. Singer did his usual thing, but didn’t get the slider whiffs per usual (4/37)…but they returned outs so everyone is happy. Suitman whispers in my ear. Ahhhh, we also got 4/5 sweeper whiffs! So that’s where they went.

Freddy Peralta (MIL) @ MIN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 102 pitches.

Despite sitting just 93 mph (not 94/95) and nearly 200 RPM less spin on his slider (and a 31% strike rate lol), Peralta gave us a Gallows Pole and dominance. That heater upstairs matched stupid well with his changeup over the plate and it wasn’t as chaotic as we’ve seen. Still cautious, but yay.

Luis Severino (NYM) @ MIA (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.

That’s some good work there, Sevy. A much better four-seamer at 97 mph and nearly 16″ of iVB, shelving the sinker along the way. Throw in some solid cutters and sweepers down, and you have yourself some proper domination of a poor lineup. See, this is a lot more of the Severino I’ve expected to see, not the sinker/sweeper fell. And yeah, 4/46 secondary whiffs isn’t the most appealing thing, but a four-seamer cruising upstairs and hitting 98/99 mph? That works, obviously. More of this, k thx.

Justin Wrobleski (LAD) vs BOS (ND) – 4.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 83 pitches.

Oh. 14 four-seamer whiffs, the game after earning just two. He spotted the pitch at the top of the zone incessantly and I dig it. SQUAWK. Yes cat, I was getting to his lack of secondaries. I wish Justin had more in the tank than just that fastball – you’d think he’d be able to get through at least five at 83 pitches with that heater, but his slider & cutter are leaving a lot to be desired. Glasnow + Kershaw are coming back this week, too, plus River Ryan’s debut and some more Landon Knack. With Paxton and Stone not going anywhere, is Justin the odd man out? Eh, who knows, you’re not starting him against the Astros anyway.

Reese Olson (DET) @ TOR (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 30 pitches.

Annnnnd he’s now on the IL with a sore shoulder. BASEBALL. PLEASE. The Tigers are running out of starters, especially if Flaherty and/or Skubal get dealt at the deadline. Does that mean…It could. Jackson Jobe, dominate one more start and you may get your call. It’s time.

Pablo López (MIN) vs MIL (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 109 pitches.

The sweeper is still looking great, and while the changeup is still hung at times, it’s clearly more involved than we saw before. I’m waiting for that start where the changeup is Mr. Destructo before truly leaning back in here, but yeah, this should have made so many of you happy. Great Pablo is great baseball.

Kyle Gibson (STL) @ ATL (ND) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 100 pitches.

Don’t try to make sense of Gibson. His sweeper is cooking and his cutter worked inside the zone incredibly well, quieting the Atlanta offense. We keep rolling with the Nationals next.

Charlie Morton (ATL) vs STL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 94 pitches.

Ayyyy, atta boy Morton. It was the best version of his curveball and his other offerings hugged the edges far better than usual. We love it when Morton looks like this fella, but sadly, he doesn’t show up often. So it goes.

George Kirby (SEA) vs HOU (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 99 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. It wasn’t the BSB we normally see, but the slider was great, the splitter and curve helped, and his heaters weren’t burned. You love to see it.

Roddery Muñoz (MIA) vs NYM (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 74 pitches.

He danced along the edges well with cutters and sliders, while the sinker and four-seamer were generally upstairs, and I have to say, I’m generally impressed with Muñoz’s command. He’s a step above the standard rookie locating his arsenal. I just wish I loved his stuff a little more. And that he doesn’t get Baltimore next, of course.

Grayson Rodriguez (BAL) @ TEX (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 103 pitches.

Aces gonna oh dang. That heater was plastered up in the zone for 13 whiffs and at least he’s trying to get his slider, curve, and change down. It can be lower, but at least we can believe the approach allows for a BSB. That’s a good thing. Nick, that’s a dope line, stop being so critical. Imagine if Grayson could legit command his elite stuff. He’d be Top 5 SP, easily. I just want these guys to live at their peaks. You can do it, Grayson.

Kyle Freeland (COL) vs SFG (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 89 pitches.

The dude can’t be stopped. His command was perfection and was dominating with the curve? Hahahaha, nah. This was some good ole Dancing With The Disco and the Giants couldn’t get the BABIP you’d expect in Coors. Watch, Freeland will head to Oracle Park now and get Singled Out. That’s Baseball, Suzyn. Wish I could endorse that one more given Freeland’s stretch, but this really wasn’t the same command/stuff that steered his previous success.

Framber Valdez (HOU) @ SEA (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 100 pitches.

Uhhhhh. A sub 60% strike rate on the sinker led to those walks and once again, Valdez is a HIPSTER, failing to take advantage in a situation where clearly he should have. That’s not fair, Nick. It’s almost a QS with a 3.00 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and six strikeouts. Okay okay, that’s totally fair. Rescind that from the record without me going back and hitting the delete button because that’s how writing works. It’s just…four walks?! Really?!

Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) @ PIT (L) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 90 pitches.

Blegh. This doesn’t really help much, does it? The fella tossed a ton of pitches over the middle of the plate and called it a day, while his slider went just 30% strikes. Not the Sánchez we normally see, but at least he survived enough to keep the ERA down, yeah? Let’s move on.

Mitch Spence (OAK) vs LAA (W) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 85 pitches.

Ayyyyy it worked! And boring as expected! Maybe he does it again, though you can see how much this is BABIP-fueled. That’s a risky game, y’all.

Brayan Bello (BOS) @ LAD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 82 pitches.

Bello earned at least five whiffs on each of his sinker, slider, and changeup. Is he ready? He’s ready, y’all. HE’S READY. Slider is reliable, changeup and sinker are mirroring each other downstairs like the good old days. Go get him.

Kyle Hendricks (CHC) vs ARI (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 84 pitches.

You gained nothing. Stop trying to raid the Hen House.

Gavin Williams (CLE) vs SDP (L) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 84 pitches.

He fell apart in the fourth, allowing five baserunners + a HBP (his final pitch), including walking in his third run. His heater was so good this outing, though, and without the curveball working, he needed another pitch to turn to and had nothing. If only he had something like, oh I don’t know, THE CUTTER, working (just six thrown here after none last start). I want to believe in the fella as I do feel he’s a slider/cutter away from being unlocked (like Kikuchi!), but he’s not there now. And yeah, that was a meltdown.

MacKenzie Gore (WSN) vs CIN (ND) – 2.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 67 pitches.

Velocity down to 95 mph (not 97). Secondaries missing down the pipe or well out of the zone. I’m scared. Me too, y’all. Me too. He’s taking yet another hit this week, obviously, right after I told Eno on The Craft how I liked him for the second half. Sigh. I don’t just blindly stick to my guns, as annoying as that is.

Nick Lodolo (CIN) @ WSN (ND) – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 104 pitches.

The strikeouts are cool, but I don’t think he’s back. The fastball is still all over the place. I don’t like that version of Lodolo, even if it was successful over the plate for a 44% CSW (thanks for letting them land for strikes, Nats). The changeup was the real hero here, helping Lodolo out plenty, even if it came with a pair of singles. It’s still a great curveball that will keep strikeouts alive, I’m just worried about that ERA as he wrangles his heaters.

Logan Webb (SFG) @ COL (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 99 pitches.

So let me get this straight. Webb, the man known for his changeup, goes to Coors, the place known to diminish four-seamers and breakers, and elects to throw – checks notes – 14% changeups, 15% four-seamers, and 28% sweepers?! Nope, don’t get it. His feel for his changeup was off. That’s possible (5/14 changeup strikes), but to quote Kobe, “I’d go 0/30 before I go 0/6” – if that’s your bread and butter, you figure out your changeup every inning until it comes back. Then again, he gave his team a chance and allowed runs in just two of his six frames, so what do I know. IT’S JUST WEIRD, OKAY?!

Jonathan Cannon (CHW) @ KCR (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 91 pitches.

He allowed three in the first, then settled in for five frames. Cutters + sweepers + changeups ruled the day while his mistakes came low-middle that I’d imagine getting axed moving forward. I dunno, he’s a Toby at first glance, but his Shag Rug and youth likely make him not the best choice for your fantasy teams…? He really is capable of that CGSHO lifestyle, I can feel it. That game against Houston was real, dangit!

Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) vs DET (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 94 pitches.

Kikuchi. What are you doing. Your heater is dope – 10/45 whiffs at 38% CSW and absurd shape – and your slider is doing all the right things. SO WHY RUIN IT WITH THE CHANGEUP. Come on Nick, it can’t be that bad. 5/18 strikes for a 28% strike rate – KIKUCHI, WHAT ARE YOU DOING. The curve is the normalizer, not the change. Throw that 18 times, not the changeup, and you’ll be in better counts and dominate more. You’re right there.

Max Scherzer (TEX) vs BAL (L) – 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 53 pitches.

Scherzer left this with arm fatigue and a vague quote about his health. So that’s fun. If he’s starting next time out, you let him fly against the White Sox.

Sonny Gray (STL) @ ATL (W) – 7.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 87 pitches.

Aces gonna Dusty Donut with some terrible ratios as he allowed FOUR SOLO HOME RUNS. Yep. The longball is such a weird thing.

Bryce Elder (ATL) vs STL (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 42% CSW, 95 pitches.

I’m sorry, what?! Elder not only earned a King Cole, but nine strikeouts?! It was the most not-Brady-Singer-but-come-on-that’s-totally-Brady-Singer outing from Elder, with slider whiffs and sinker called strikes and huge props to him for doing everything right outside of winning the BABIP game. That’s the most important game. It sure is, bucko. With Fried now on the IL, expect Elder to take his spot after Dylan Dodd gets his shot later this week (not enough rest). That would mean @MIL next Monday and that’s a blegh for me.

Nestor Cortes (NYY) vs TBR (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 92 pitches.

Add Cortes to the list of pitchers “I have no idea what to truly make of him.” That’s a HAISTBMBWT?! without a single whiff on his four-seamer. Stupid weird, I know. At least the vert was still there? His sweeper and cutter stayed low, which may not be a good thing for Cortes – I wonder if the elevated secondaries make for more deception on the heater upstairs…Does that make sense? I don’t think so…? At any rate, he’s a HIPSTER at worst and we’re still going to give it a whirl. I feel for you.

Jack Kochanowicz (LAA) @ OAK (L) – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 74 pitches.

But the matchup! Yeah. I know.

Game of the Day

 

Baseball! – It was a stupid busy Sunday out of nowhere and I’m incredibly sorry it took so long to get this out. Here’s to a regular schedule moving forward y’all.

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)