Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Wednesday 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.
Bubba Chandler (PIT) @ NYY (ND) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 84 pitches.
I can’t say I expected to see the (second) most promising start of the year for Bubba Chandler to come against the Yankees, but here we are after Wednesday’s 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 84 pitches (ND) outing in the Bronx. That’s his first start over 5.0 IP without allowing an earned run all season. And guess what? He looks different. Maybe it’s the start that transforms many men from being just a window shopper.
Not so different that I have the utmost faith that he’s on the golden escalator toward a Top 30 SP ranking, but there were genuine shifts in his approach that suggest more good days are ahead. Both his four-seamer and slider looked dramatically different and found all the strikes exactly as we want them to. The four-seamer’s upped 99 mph velocity also came with a heavier lean into horizontal run, returning consistent 3.5″ boost to turn it into a true two-plane weapon, banking 7/39 whiffs into the books. Meanwhile, the slider gained almost two ticks to hit 92 mph at the cost of drop, making it more of a cutter at 5/6″ vert that he was clearly capable of landing inside the zone easily – 82% strikes on 23 sliders is unreal.
I still wish the four-seamer command was more believable, while the changeup and sinker looked fine (not fantastic), but if we got this version of Chandler each time out there, I’d be like a kid in the candy shop. Hate it or love it, I suggest taking that gamble and add him where you still can for his next start against the Diamondbacks. The upside is worth it. That’s just my two (x25) cents. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:
Hunter Dobbins (STL) @ LAA (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 86 pitches.
Wow. This was a game of Dobbins noticing how easy it was to get RHB Angels hitters to go fishing for his sweeper, so he fed it to them 41% of the time for a 32% SwStr rate. Everything else was pretty meh, but if he retains that sweeper feel indefinitely, there’s some promise if he fills in the cracks. (View Game Card)
Cade Cavalli (WSN) @ COL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 90 pitches.
Ohhhh this is legit, huh. This wasn’t just a good start in Coors. It was with 21 cutters at 95 mph for 71% strikes and 87/88 mph curveballs galore, while the four-seamer is holding its higher 97 mph velocity. THIS IS REALY Y’ALL. He’s found the third pitch. His curveball is at its peak. He’s found the extra boost to make his four-seamer a weapon. Enjoy the second half BOOM. (View Game Card)
Max Fried (NYY) vs PIT (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 57 pitches.
Oh snap! Just 57 pitches, yet it was dope. He sat a 1-2 ticks up on everything (including two 89 mph sliders?!) and he sure seems like he’s on the path toward AGA from the get-go. It’s good to see you again. (View Game Card)
Mitch Keller (PIT) @ NYY (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 75 pitches.
For real?! Fine, take this Gold Star. I cannot believe you returned so many whiffs to these LHB, while four-seamers and sinkers over the plate returned outs. It was just one of those days, eh? (View Game Card)
Martín Pérez (ATL) vs SDP (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 75 pitches.
He returned from the IL with little fanfare and gave Atlanta four solid innings. That’s cool. I wonder if it’s his last or penultimate start – Atlanta needs arms baaaadly. (View Game Card)
Spencer Miles (TOR) vs TBR (ND) – 3.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 51 pitches.
He was opened for by Fisher and I really don’t see an arm we should pay a lot of attention to here. The Jays don’t seem adamant to get him stretched out and the overall stuff is just…fine. Fastballs are properly average at 95 mph, slider is an average 87 mph gyro, and the curve is an average 80/81 mph breaker. It’s all WHATEVER. (View Game Card)
Michael King (SDP) @ ATL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 104 pitches.
Hmmmm. That’s a Dusty Donut with four walks in the mix, but I’m happy for the ERA and strikeouts as his changeup and breakers found all the whiffs. He’s still a bit too chaotic to reclaim my deep affection, but Rockie Road and the Giants in a two-step next week is so easy to embrace. (View Game Card)
Kyle Bradish (BAL) @ BOS (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 89 pitches.
We got whiffs on breakers. We got sinkers filling the zone for 29% called strikes. We got four-seamers on the edges and returning 3/3 outs on balls in play. We got a 2.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 23% K rate since May 8th across 79.1 IP and 13 starts. YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY. I’m not happy. Was it my stupid grammar? IT WAS YOUR STUPID GRAMMAR. (View Game Card)
Griffin Jax (TBR) @ TOR (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 83 pitches.
Oh look! It’s six innings from Jax. I knew we’d get back there. But he had reduced velocity! On tick, one schmick. It was consistent throughout, too, so not like it was fatigue for going six full. He also added 2+ inches sweep on his breaker and another two inches on his sinker/changeups run. That’s 4+ inches of extra horizontal difference ya’ll! (View Game Card)
Reid Detmers (LAA) vs STL (L) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 85 pitches.
When the slider is on, you go for it. But the slider wasn’t on. It was and it wasn’t. There was some beautiful backfoot slide pieces that I dream he throws every game, and then there were your standard mistakes that were hit. As long as the backfoot breakers exist, I’m still in. (View Game Card)
Keider Montero (DET) @ CHC (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 81 pitches.
Montero is starting again and he picked up where he left off, eh? It’s Baltimore + Atlanta next and it’s possible that this new lean into secondaries 60% of the time could be enough. It’s possible, and I think Montero gets a lot of runway the rest of the season with the talk of trading Skubal + Flaherty’s concerning injury. I guess go for it – it may be a season-long hold at this point, regardless of my confidence in his arsenal. (View Game Card)
Gabriel Hughes (COL) vs WSN (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 88 pitches.
I know it’s three starts of 6 ER total and 18 strikeouts. That’s cool! I’m a bit conflicted, honestly. I could just say to you “He’s a Colorado pitcher who is hyper reliant on a 92/93 mph cutter (not four-seamer) that will likely get figured out soon). But then again, watching all of these Nationals batters struggle so hard to hit this thing with awesome command inside to LHB was…nostalgic. 75% weak contact off this fastball. In Coors! And now he goes into Petco, then hosts the Rays, then into Chase Field…I’M TEMPTED, OKAY?! I just said on the podcast with Eric that I wasn’t convinced since there isn’t a sinker or four-seamer to pair the cutter with to make it more deceiving, but man, watching it again now…these swings are bad. It’s a tough pitch to hit. It’s a super risky play, but I don’t blame any in 15-teamers giving it a shot. That’s all I’ll say. (View Game Card)
Landen Roupp (SFG) @ KCR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 91 pitches.
He’s cooking. That changeup went 20/21 strikes (!) and his curveball was devastating to RHB with a 61% strike rate at nearly 50% usage. He truly is what Aaron Nola wants to be these days. Maybe they can start a book club together. (View Game Card)
Emerson Hancock (SEA) vs CIN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 95 pitches.
Jeez, he really is Will Warren. This was nearly 70% four-seamer/sinker despite that four-seamer lacking any sort of interesting elements. That said, his sinker’s true sink (0″ vert) with 18″ run means he can play the two off each other well, but it just doesn’t add up to a reliable starter for the second half, especially when the sweeper is so poorly spotted and the cutter is a questionable weapon to LHB. I’m terrified of his start against the Dodgers next week. (View Game Card)
Peter Lambert (HOU) vs MIA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 89 pitches.
Lambert has been a lovely Toby, hasn’t he? The changeup is still solid to LHB, and the heaters and breakers are doing enough to RHB to get by. With an easy schedule ahead of @LAA, TOR, @SDP, we keep on keepin’ on. (View Game Card)
Merrill Kelly (ARI) vs ATH (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 87 pitches.
The cutter feel is there, the changeup was in-and-out (52% strikes, but 6/27 whiffs) and he’s a decent Toby. That means you avoid against the Pirates but consider him against the Guardians. That’s all there is to it. (View Game Card)
Anthony Kay (CHW) @ TEX (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 79 pitches.
I gotta give Tony K props for inducing plenty of weak contact with sinkers into to LHB and cutters jamming RHB. Now, the low strike rates on his changeup and slider + poor command of his sweeper is another thing, but at least they’re returning whiffs, eh? Think of him as an ERA play against meh offenses, which certainly doesn’t include his next outing when he hosts the Yankees. Nooope. (View Game Card)
Logan Henderson (MIL) vs NYM (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 80 pitches.
Even limited to five frames and 80 pitches, Henderson’s heater and changeup are just too good, especially when the cutter can clean up any at-bat with a 50% zone rate and 71% strike rate. That King Cole was just too easy. And look at this, the sweeper returned for 2/3 strikes! It just keeps getting better. (View Game Card)
Cal Quantrill (TEX) vs CHW (L) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 55 pitches.
It was a bullpen game for the Rangers with T-Lex opening before Quantrill and you were right if you predicted that Cal would finish the fifth. You were wrong if you thought it would help you get a Win. (View Game Card)
Seth Lugo (KCR) vs SFG (W) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 94 pitches.
We’ll take this on all days with an A in them. Be careful rolling with Lugo against the Twins next. I’m not confident we’ll see the same gains in movement that we saw in this one (+2/3″ drop and extra sweep on his breakers). (View Game Card)
Gerrit Cole (NYY) vs PIT (ND) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 93 pitches.
NOW WE’RE COOKING. A Gallows Pole against a team that’s destroying RHP is a gorgeous sight and if it weren’t for two HRs off a ridiculously bad changeup and a middle-middle fastball, this would have been pristine. The heater is getting spotted far more often + the curveball and slider are earning whiffs, and it looks like Cole again. When is the last time you saw Cole return 13/47 whiffs on his four-seamer?! (View Game Card)
Brady Singer (CIN) @ SEA (W) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 101 pitches.
Atta boy Singer! It was classic Who’s Line Brady with sinkers and sliders going 89% usage combined via 35% called strike sinkers and 25% SwStr rate sliders. He’ll get the Guardians up next and even with JoRam at their side, Singer looks like a good shot for a PQS. (View Game Card)
Jake Bennett (BOS) vs BAL (W) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 83 pitches.
This was far from his best and he’s fortunate to escape with a Win. The problem? Four-seamers landing middle and down instead of upstairs where it cooks + sinkers getting too involved over the heart of the plate. I expect that to be tweaked, but @ATH and @LAD are up next and it may be a time to take it easy with Bennett for a moment. (View Game Card)
Eric Lauer (LAD) @ PHI (W) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 91 pitches.
You stuck Lauer in there for a chance at a cheap dub and you got it. That’s three Wins in his last four games, matching Ryan Weathers‘ tally for the whole season. Dude…low blow. It’s up to you if this is what you need moving forward, it’ll likely cost you a bit on the ratio side. (View Game Card)
Slade Cecconi (CLE) vs MIN (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 88 pitches.
That’s three straight poor outings and I’m still very much avoiding the Slade Brigade meetings. THAT SAID, I love to see Slade throwing 89 mph cutters with 40% usage, cutters that failed to allow a single hit. Yes, that means all the other rapscallions in his arsenal combined for seven hits in 60% usage. Maybe he should go 50%+ cutter usage… (View Game Card)
Christian Scott (NYM) @ MIL (L) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 89 pitches.
All of Scott’s runs came in the second, where he nearly escaped with a goose egg, but a flyball to right was misplayed by Baty, falling next to him on the warning track, scoring two for a triple, then a single knocked him in right after. Sigh. It’s situations like these where I think errors should be handed out more liberally. That said, this wasn’t Scott’s best pitching performance by a longshot. His sweeper and cutter weren’t sharp in the slightest and his four-seamer failed to do its job at the top of the zone. We also saw the curveball lose a bit of its velocity and scatter itself around the zone to LHB, making me frustrated for so many reasons while watching this one. I think it’s time to give it a break for a bit with Atlanta, a heating-up Marlins offense, and PNC Park up next. (View Game Card)
Colin Rea (CHC) vs DET (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 86 pitches.
Rea has been a cromulent streamer all year against mid offenses and he would have been once again if not for a three-run blast on a 3-0 four-seamer with two outs. Sometimes, it’s really just that simple. (View Game Card)
Bailey Ober (MIN) @ CLE (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 89 pitches.
Guess what? He’s still hovering 88 mph? Nope. He’s now sub-87 mph. Oh no. Yoko indeed. (View Game Card)
Eduardo Rivera (BOS) vs BAL (L) – 0.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 41 pitches.
He opened for Brayan Bello, who dazzled in his second start back from the minors via 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 85 pitches (ND). Heaters sat around two ticks up, his cutter was well spotted for whiffs, and the harder 90 mph changeup was…bad.
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) @ HOU (L) – 7.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 108 pitches.
Sandy tossed seven frames of 2 ER ball–But the line says 5 ER. LET ME FINISH. Sandy tossed seven frames of 2 ER ball and came out for the eighth at 97 pitches. He allowed a single (was not pulled), two-run HR on a decent down-and-away fastball to Yordan (was STILL not pulled), then threw a meatball four-seamer down Broadway in a 3-2 count (now he was pulled). WHY WASN’T HE PULLED AFTER THE FIRST SINGLE?! I wonder if the Marlins will trade him or not after last year’s theatrics. I feel like it’s time. (View Game Card)
Aaron Nola (PHI) vs LAD (L) – 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 85 pitches.
He located as well as you could hope for and sat 92/93 mph. Welp, that’s the kind of year it is. But it was the Dodgers! I feel like it could have been anyone, honestly. (View Game Card)
Dean Kremer (BAL) @ BOS (L) – 6.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 87 pitches.
He was “Singled out” in a bammboolin’ of four runs in the first and never got settled in as the game progressed. The cutter is still great to RHB, but everything else is getting hit too well. His schedule is filled with good matchups on the horizon and he’s still of consideration for a daily stream despite the bad results, but you see the floor. Acknowledge it and make your decision. (View Game Card)
Gage Jump (ATH) @ ARI (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 83 pitches.
Oh jeez. The first three innings were solid, but then the damage came pouring in, mainly off three four-seamers that left the yard, the latter two were right down the dang pipe and sent far, far away. His curve and slider feel were much worse this time around and it led to far too many pitches over the plate, and now it’s the Sawx twice with the Tigers sandwiched in the middle – the first two in Sacré Verde. I don’t think I can recommend this with his current mediocrity, sadly. I hope to be very wrong. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Troy Melton vs. Kansas City Royals – I just want to see Melton continue his press tour.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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Photos by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire and Ambitious Studio* | Rick Barrett/Unsplash | Featured image by Ethan Kaplan (@djfreddie10.bsky.social on Blue Sky and @EthanMKaplanImages on Instagram)
