Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Monday game. I apologize for the jokes written in my delirium in advance. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Twitch.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Braxton Ashcraft (PIT) @ NYY (L) – 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 74 pitches.
Monday was not a fun night for pitchers. We’ll get to all the frustration by the end, don’t worry, and I want to lead with Braxton Ashcraft, who was lit up by the Yankees in the Bronx: 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 74 pitches (L). This was rough.
The Yankees had his number (Jazz twice for big HRs), though it’s not as though Ashcraft pitched as well as he has all year and simply got bamboozled this time. Four hits to LHB came on terrible sliders and curveballs that hung in the middle of the plate to swat with conviction, while the splitter did little to keep the Yankee bats at bay. Even at 97/98 mph and living nearly exclusively in the upper half wasn’t enough to quell his four-seamer’s deadzone movement, leading to just 1/28 whiffs and 80% hard contact. Yikes. He also struggled to figure out a way to effectively attack LHB with his slider and despite returning 8/11 strikes, it failed to return a whiff and got blasted for three hits.
This would be a standard One Night Bland against a tough offense if not for Ashcraft suddenly making a habit of disappointing managers. This marks the third 5+ ER outing in his last four outings, and it’s normal to worry about the future.
What I see is a bit of a struggle against LHB recently, stemming from his curve and slider. While one or the other has been decent in most of these games, he’s featuring more inconsistency with both lately and given how my love for Ashcraft is rooted in the reliability of his breaking pitches that allows him to do less with his hittable fastballs, my love has waned a touch.
I don’t believe we’re seeing a huge drop-off that will carry through the end of the year. His velocity was higher than usual and he’s still throwing strikes, just not good ones. It’ll correct itself in time and you should feel fine starting him against the Cubs up next. Just grind it out. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:
George Kirby (SEA) vs CIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 80 pitches.
This is so much better. Kirby attached with high four-seamers, down-and-away sweepers, and both back-door and inside sinkers to RHB. That’s great! MORE OF THAT. (View Game Card)
Andrew Abbott (CIN) @ SEA (L) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 100 pitches.
Abbott bounced back with one of his best-commanded outings. Four-seamers and sweepers split inside/out to LHB, while the changeup landed in the down-and-away quadrant more than I think I’ve ever seen from him. Pretty dang cool. He’s heading into St. Louis up next and yes, we keep it going. (View Game Card)
Jacob Misiorowski (MIL) vs NYM (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 65 pitches.
Aces gonna get pulled after four to make sure he’s okay after his “fatigue” last start. It makes sense, and I don’t expect it to continue for more than one more start, if even that. (View Game Card)
Nick Martinez (TBR) @ TOR (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 82 pitches.
Wow. On a day where his changeup was floating way too high, Martinez went with cutters and sinkers and while the former was stellar, the latter was hit around, preventing him from getting to two-strikes often and turning this into a HAISTBMBWT?! And yet, we’re happy, aren’t we? And now he gets the Guardians! We. Keep. Going. (View Game Card)
Kyle Leahy (STL) @ LAA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 95 pitches.
Ayyyy it worked! I didn’t have high expectations here when I selected Leahy as my streamer and I’m just glad Koufax was a kind man. To Leahy’s credit, he was throwing harder breakers and filling the zone with them (moreso the slider and sweeper than the curveball in that regard), and he put himself in a position to get it done. I just wish I liked the fastballs more, and I hope he finds a way to make this work without going 40% heaters in the future. The sweeper, slider, and curve with the rare changeup should be good enough to turn fastballs into surprise pitches. It’s an 84/85 mph two-plane curveball at 7.1 feet extension, y’all. That’s HOT. (View Game Card)
Michael Wacha (KCR) vs SFG (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 96 pitches.
He’s a solid Toby doing what he’s supposed to do. Nothing special, no pizzaz, just lots of changeups and fastballs for strikes that churned half of his outs alone in play. Attaboy. Why not go for another round against the Tigers? (View Game Card)
JP Sears (SDP) @ ATL (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 55 pitches.
Oh dang, that’s another Gold Star for Sears, who tried to do what worked well against the Dodgers (changeups away, and…well, everything away to RHB), and despite only succeeding with the slowball, Atlanta struggled against his slider and four-seamer. This has Koufax all over it. Do. Not. Trust. This. (View Game Card)
José Soriano (LAA) vs STL (ND) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 95 pitches.
Ayyyy, there he is! Nearly 70% strikes on all fastballs + a 50% CSW curveball is the good life, taking home a King Cole as a reward. Now, can you do it again? And maybe a little more after that? It’s not like Oracle Park is a tough place to pitch. (View Game Card)
Bryce Elder (ATL) vs SDP (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 77 pitches.
Is he back?! Uhhh, no. Just had a good day against a mid offense. You’re better off not going through the hassle. (View Game Card)
Tanner Bibee (CLE) vs MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 95 pitches.
Sweet, you survived. What a fortunate hunk of circular metal to land on tails. Never fails. Well, what Bibee did usually does – four-seamers, sinkers, and cutter just down the center of the plate to opposite-handed hitters – but yes, tails never fails. I’m in shock he holds a 2.88 ERA and 0.94 WHIP across his last eight games…oh. Right. These teams were the Tigers, Rangers, Marlins, Twins, and White Sox. Not to mention, he held a 17% strikeout rate in that time as Koufax accepted a bribe, plus he’s failed to hit ten whiffs in each of his last five starts, too. Nooooope. (View Game Card)
Shane Baz (BAL) @ BOS (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 77 pitches.
He lost a touch of movement on the hook, though that may be due to a trio that each had a little less movement and came in a little harder (maybe he was trying a gyro slider…?). Regardless, it’s still fantastic and this is looking like Baz, alright. Rarely the stud outing as he still needs just one more legit offering in the tank, but the fastballs are good enough to prevent Huascar Rule discussion. Can’t say I’m a fan of starting him against Atlanta, but you’re generally fine otherwise, especially in QS leagues. (View Game Card)
Jeffrey Springs (ATH) @ ARI (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 78 pitches.
Springs found some sunshine and rainbows poking through domed Chase Field, celebrating as he exclusively faced RHB who saw many down-and-away changeups. But when Springs threw in the upper half of the zone, they had their fun, showcased in just two strikeouts and a 1.40 WHIP. Huh, this wasn’t a good start after all. No, not really. (View Game Card)
Mitch Bratt (ARI) vs ATH (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 14% CSW, 84 pitches.
He wants to be a SWATCH, but there isn’t enough juice in the tank. He’s 91 mph with a pair of breakers (I actually think three as Savant is combining what looks like a sweeper to LHB and curveball to RHB) and a poor changeup. He’s trying to do the kitchen sink Griffin schtick and he has to do more than this. (View Game Card)
Erick Fedde (CHW) @ TEX (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 64 pitches.
DID YOU PUT YOUR NAME IN THE GOLBERT OF FIRE BRING BACK THE CUTTER?! Relax, he did. A bit. I want to see more than thirteen thrown, but 92 mph is what we like to see, but I’d be more interested if his sinker wasn’t so terrible. It’s true, he could have gone another inning and possibly pushed seven strikeouts with a dub, and maybe he’ll earn it next time. For now, we wait and hope to see more cut action. (View Game Card)
Dylan Cease (TOR) vs TBR (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 101 pitches.
Oh look, it’s why I refuse to give Cease the AGA label. Oh come on, Nick, this isn’t that bad. It isn’t, but a 4.50 ERA and 1.33 WHIP isn’t an ace. That 1.14 WHIP is going to get worse, sadly. That said, the strikeouts are SO GOOD. (View Game Card)
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) vs LAD (W) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 99 pitches.
I could see Sánchez before the game telling himself they can’t get hits if I don’t give them pitches to hit before tossing only 83% of 36 changeups off the plate. However, one of the rare ones inside the zone went for a hit, while the sinker lived there all day, wondering where his buddy Mr. Slowball went. We’ll still take this Gallows Pole performance against the Dodgers (stupid sixth inning with two singles –> two inherited runners scoring. Careful, Icarus.) and he holds the tag for another start against the Yankees. (View Game Card)
Andrew Alvarez (WSN) @ COL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 74 pitches.
It was Coors. It’s a guy who has thrown five full innings just once all year. Looks about right. (View Game Card)
Jack Flaherty (DET) @ CHC (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 82 pitches.
Blegh. Not only did he fail to get whiffs on his breakers (he tallied half the number of total whiffs vs. his last game), he also fell to 92 mph, which is big no bueno for Flaherty. It could improve against the Royals, but I’d be careful. (View Game Card)
Trevor McDonald (SFG) @ KCR (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 67 pitches.
McDonald was removed from this game early with elbow discomfort. Womp womp. It’s not like I had confidence in him beforehand. I wonder if that means we’ll get Houser back in the rotation or if Carson Whisenhunt will get more reps. No action needed either way. (View Game Card)
Kyle Freeland (COL) vs WSN (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 91 pitches.
So close to a VPQS. You’re rooting for a 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP? So close… (View Game Card)
Payton Tolle (BOS) vs BAL (ND) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 88 pitches.
You’re just like Cease, aren’t you? Nah, the walks aren’t as much of an issue, and this was a tough sixth frame after going 2 ER and eight strikeouts with a 1.00 WHIP through five. Dems the breaks. I haven’t seen much development from Tolle this year, but this did come with the best cutter locations he’s had all year. I wonder if that’s gonna stick. I’d LOVE that. (View Game Card)
Ronel Blanco (HOU) vs MIA (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 86 pitches.
Well HEY BUDDY. I don’t think anyone expected you to find eight strikeouts with a near 1.00 WHIP in your return (stupid 2-run shots ruining everything), and it’s pretty cool to see him look a whole lot like his former self of changeups + breakers and a low 28% fastball usage at a sub-40% zone rate. It still looks like he’s nailing down consistency on his changeup and curve + his velocity could fall down to 92 mph and not the 94 mph here once the adrenaline fades, but there is a little excitement, I’m not gonna lie. Maybe wait and see how it goes against the White Sox and maybe we dip our feet in against the Rangers? (View Game Card)
Jameson Taillon (CHC) vs DET (ND) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 75 pitches.
I’m sure it felt awesome to be back on the bump and I gotta say, I love the extreme approach of: High heaters + away changeups to LHB, down-and-away sweepers and cutters with inside sinkers to RHB. Now, the back-to-back jacks in the first was a bamboozlin’ on four runs, but he settled in after and I sure hope he can pitch like what we saw in the second and beyond. That can’t work. (View Game Card)
Ryan Weathers (NYY) vs PIT (ND) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 99 pitches.
Oh jeez. A tough second + a two-run shot in the third did the damage as he recorded a co-share of the Gallows Pole. Enough is enough, Nick. Yeah, I get that. There’s roughly two months left of the season and that’s not enough time for Weathers to make up for the damage he’s done. If there’s something on the wire that helps now, go ahead. If you’re looking for strikeouts, it’s really hard to turn down a guy with a 27% strikeout rate and sub 7% walk rate on a winning team. (View Game Card)
Jacob deGrom (TEX) vs CHW (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 97 pitches.
Aces gonna likely still be affected by their injury. It didn’t look that way in the first four frames, but it unraveled in the fifth, including a double off a 95 mph heater and a bases-clearing knock off a low slider. Let’s give him a pass and move on. (View Game Card)
Emmet Sheehan (LAD) @ PHI (L) – 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 87 pitches.
He threw a really poor slider to Turner for a two-run HR, then got burned on a solo shot and an inherited runner scoring in the sixth for two more. It’s pretty remarkable to see such disastrous ratios (5.13 ERA, 1.27 WHIP) from a pitcher with a 15% overall swinging strike rate. Then again, seven of his last nine games return a 3.51 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 28% strikeout rate. Just avoid the Phillies and Orioles I guess. What I’m trying to say is that he’s more likely to help than hurt you on a given night. Has the floor been rough? Absolutely. It’s annoying and we need dubs and QS. But is he a bad pitcher? Definitely not. Well, he’s worse when he’s hurling 92/93 mph in the sixth inning and sitting 94 mph for the game. Not really sure why they let him go back out there after sitting 92.7 mph in the fifth…I’m holding where I have him, but I understand if you’re not. (View Game Card)
Janson Junk (MIA) @ HOU (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 80 pitches.
Welp, sometimes you can have great stuff and it just doesn’t work. I don’t know exactly what Junk needs to do to squeeze success out of his above-average arsenal, but I’m not going to stick around while he figures it out. (View Game Card)
Freddy Peralta (NYM) @ MIL (L) – 5.1 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 107 pitches.
The Dodgers are next. You can drop him. Do I believe that Peralta is destined to be better in the second half? Absolutely. In fact, he could be the moment the Mets trade him away (will he get traded away before this game against the Dodgers?), and I encourage you not to drop him if you don’t have to. However, there’s just not enough time for us to diddle-daddle with our season ending so soon. He doesn’t have it right now and I don’t know when it’ll come back. (View Game Card)
Joe Ryan (MIN) @ CLE (L) – 4.0 IP, 8 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 78 pitches.
Aces gonna WHAT ON EARTH WAS THAT. I watched all six of the HRs he allowed (SIX!) and some were on nightmarish pitches, absolutely, but some of these were heaters up and out of the zone that had no business leaving the park. Against the Guardians, of all teams. But the velo was down, too! Well, I take that as him not pushing himself in the third and fourth frames after the game was pretty lost at that point – he was sitting 93-95 mph early on. It’s a One Night Bland and whatareyagonnado. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Justin Wrobleski vs. Zack Wheeler – Can Justin keep it up? Will Wheeler be dope against the Dodgers?
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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Photo courtesy of Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Aaron Polcare (@abeardoesart on Bluesky and X)
