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 Playback.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Chayce McDermott (BAL) @ MIA (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 82 pitches.
It was the MLB debut for Orioles prospect Chayce McDermott and despite getting the Marlins, he validated my rule: Don’t put MLB debuts into your lineup: 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 82 pitches. Remember, Skenes’ MLB debut was rough, too.
Sadly, Chayce isn’t Skenes. Yet. His four-seamer has fantastic shape to it with elite iVB, HAVAA and extension, though its 94 mph velocity leaves a little to be desired (not to mention, the typical velo bump we see in debuts that will likely fade by the second start). His command of the pitch wasn’t strong in the minors and it wasn’t strong here, while the changeup was horrendous out of the zone.
The slider, though. It’s hard not to love that slider. When it works. Sure, when it works. Chayce earned an out on a fastball to start the game, then tossed a perfect 87 mph slider on the corner to earn his first whiff in the majors on the second pitch of his career. Yes, Chayce will need to find a way to comfortably get his heater in the zone, but that slider is the pitch that would turn him in a true terror.
For now, I think we can hold off on rostering Chayce. There’s clear upside given we can normally brush aside the first start and generally get value as soon as the follow-up, though I have my doubts his control issues will disappear overnight, creating an apparent Shag Rug I’d rather not involve myself with. Let him get some seasoning first.
Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:
Jack Flaherty (DET) @ CLE (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Yep, he’s still placing the breakers perfectly like a stud. You gotta love it.
Martín Pérez (PIT) vs STL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 91 pitches.
Aha! That’s more like it, Pérez. But he had five walks. Yes, and a terrible 1.50 WHIP, but he located the changeup well and lived along the edges like a proper Neckbeard. He’s getting there, y’all, and deserves today’s Gold Star for this one.
Luis Castillo (SEA) vs LAA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 100 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. The slider is getting a little harder, but still isn’t the great pitch of old, and I was hoping to be a little more encouraged by it here. Why? It was a great outing! Because he can’t face the Angels’ offense every game, ya dingus.
Steven Okert (MIN) vs PHI (ND) – 0.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 14% CSW, 14 pitches.
Step aside Okert, we saw David Festa return to the bigs for 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks and that’s pretty dang cool for a performance against the Phils. His slider led the way with a ton of strikes while the four-seamer missed the zone plenty more than ideal, but he did get fastball chases with a heater that once again held phenomenal shape. I hope the Twins stick with Festa for the Mets up next as I still believe he has the tools to be legit in 12-teamers: Throw the slider for strikes and save the heaters for late. Then I think the Festa-Val will be poppin’.
Aaron Nola (PHI) @ MIN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 98 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Ignore the WHIP, he’s feeling it y’all. That curve + approach with his heaters is exactly what you want.
Hunter Brown (HOU) @ OAK (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 97 pitches.
Low sinkers with high cutters and four-seanmers and a sprinkle of massively successful changeups. Yep, totally the approach I expected to see here from the “I gotta make my curve and slider work” pitcher. Props to him for experimenting and trying new approaches, but am I the only one who loses confidence in Brown when we see a new approach each week?
Tanner Bibee (CLE) vs DET (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 67 pitches.
He left this one early due to cramping in his lower half, though I didn’t see a whole lot of difference from the typical “changeup finds the zone and hopefully the breakers, too” approach before then. No, the curve didn’t make a big difference – he featured just seven of them here.
Robbie Ray (SFG) @ LAD (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 0 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 22 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 86 pitches.
HOT DANG LOOK AT YOU! He made his return from TJS and had himself a horrible time in the first, including two HBPs, and two walks where he allowed his sole run, but then settled down and earned a Golden Goal with a 95+ mph heater with elite iVB and ridiculous precision. Seriously, outside of the shenanigans of the first frame, Ray was stupid good at executing the BSB, far more than we’ve seen in previous years. In addition, his slider was looking more like a cutter at times, boasting 3-4 ticks more velocity at 90 mph instead of 86/87 mph + he has a new knuckle curve that dominated for 7/15 whiffs. It’s awesome. If you didn’t get in on stashing Robbie in your IL spot, I feel for you. For y’all like me, IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE.
Griffin Canning (LAA) @ SEA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 94 pitches.
Phew. I was worried about this one given the news about his elbow irritation following his last start, but not only did Canning come through despite the circumstances, he did so with legit BSB action. The slider and change did their parts well and the four-seamer acted like a great NYC tourist and Got Out Of The Way. That’s all we could ask for.
Rob Zastryzny (MIL) @ CHC (ND) – 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 38 pitches.
He opened for Bryse Wilson’s four innings with 1 ER and I guess I’m happy for him. This is such a silly part of the game and I don’t want to spend any time thinking about it. Your moments and lives are precious, y’all. Don’t let Bryse take that away from you.
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) vs CHW (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 98 pitches.
Atta boy, Nathan. Gausman, take note of Eovaldi’s splitty with 12 whiffs in this one. DO THAT.
Cal Quantrill (COL) vs BOS (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 83 pitches.
Not only was Quantrill able to sling splitters for outs, he was able to sling insults for bouts. Golf clap. It does open the door for the Angels away from Coors next time out, though I’d heavily prefer not to take the chance.
Yariel Rodríguez (TOR) vs TBR (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 73 pitches.
6/73 whiffs with a shotgun blast of four-seamer command? Yeaaaaaah, this ain’t it.
Zach Eflin (TBR) @ TOR (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 85 pitches.
It was a Neckbeard approach from Eflin and it worked, mostly with heaters nailing the armside edge + a few cutters, curves, and sweepers landing down-and-away. This looks like a Toby, Nick. Well, that’s because he is one. You should have seen his photo in the textbook. OH MY GOSH.
Justin Steele (CHC) vs MIL (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 98 pitches.
Aces gonna find a way to survive. The command just wasn’t there + the slider went 0/19 whiffs (blegh). That’s not the stud we saw for months and I’m hoping Steele won’t confirm the downward trend with a third display of mediocrity in Cin City.
Tyler Glasnow (LAD) vs SFG (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.
Aces gonna meh. At least he went a full 91 pitches, but just 1/12 slider whiffs is a weird game for the lanky Oppenheimer. Expect better moving forward.
Sean Manaea (NYM) @ NYY (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 103 pitches.
Blegh. I don’t like Manaea’s command, though he was just one out away from stealing a Win here. He’ll get the Twins next and that seems fine. No need to hold tightly here.
Matt Waldron (SDP) @ WSN (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 90 pitches.
12/27 knuckleball strikes is all kinds of ehhhh in this PQS, but whatever, you got the dub and we move on. He’s a Toby.
Edward Cabrera (MIA) vs BAL (ND) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 90 pitches.
At least he threw more strikes? The slider is completely gone now (WHY?!) but at least he’s going change/curve more than sinker/four-seamer, which is a move in the right direction. It’s not easy pitching against the Orioles, y’all, and this start should provide a touch of hope moving forward with the Rays next. Yes, he’s still very much a Cherry Bomb for now.
Chris Flexen (CHW) @ TEX (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 105 pitches.
Oh dear, we’re just Flexen in the mirror today, y’all. Make sure to get the right lighting going first.
Michael Wacha (KCR) vs ARI (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 81 pitches.
Just 1/28 whiffs on the changeup explains everything, obviously including the languishing HAISTBMBWT?! Come on Wacha, you were supposed to be in the groove, not serving up grooved pitches. GET IT STRAIGHT.
Ryne Nelson (ARI) @ KCR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 90 pitches.
Bleggggh. The four-seamer shape is still there, but he spotted it terribly while the rest of the arsenal is still rough. I’d still give it one more go against the Nationals, but I have no qualms at all if you’re just moving on entirely. I get it, y’all.
Frankie Montas (CIN) @ ATL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 10 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 101 pitches.
Yep, that’s pretty much what you’d expect from Montas against Atlanta. But their lineup was so depleted. I don’t regret what I said. Well I regret starting him. Uhhh, yeah. I would too. What is this conversation? I DON’T KNOW.
Matthew Liberatore (STL) @ PIT (L) – 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 69 pitches.
Blegh. I didn’t expect Liberatore to go long, but I’m actually disappointed we didn’t see the same southpaw who took full advantage of starting over a month ago. WHERE IS HE?!
Gerrit Cole (NYY) vs NYM (L) – 5.2 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 100 pitches.
Aces gonna Bleeeeeeggggghhh. Cole tried to find his slider in this one, but it went just 3/30 whiffs and a 13% CSW and it really doesn’t feel like the Cole we know and love. I was hoping the cutter would step in properly to mask the slider issue, but that just wasn’t the case. Nick, this was a problem with Cole vs. the Mets. Nothing more! Maybe. Probably not, but sure, maybe.
Mitchell Parker (WSN) vs SDP (L) – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 77 pitches.
The line looks far worse than I believe the quality of Parker’s pitches were, though he should have swapped locations with the slider and four-seamer. Ohhhh, not down the pipe with heaters and tucked away sliders up-and-in to RHB. Just one of those days for Parker as he’s still a Toby.
JP Sears (OAK) vs HOU (L) – 6.0 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 82 pitches.
He did what he could. Ultimately, we shed Tears for Sears as he became the Sears of our Fears. The turbulence never ends with this fella.
Nick Pivetta (BOS) @ COL (L) – 2.2 IP, 7 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 76 pitches.
Oh. Oh no. No no no no. He didn’t look good at all. Plenty of hung pitches and poorly placed heaters and Coors did the rest. Unless it comes out that he’s injured, I think we just recover for another day. You should absolutely feast against the Mariners.
Allan Winans (ATL) vs CIN (L) – 2.2 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 65 pitches.
First it was Vines. Then it was Sale. And now Winans appeared and it went horribly. We’ve all been there, completely overwhelmed as we had to make a decision in the moment, and it forced us to make the wrong one. It’s okay, Atlanta, you’ll get it right next time.
Game of the Day
Logan Webb vs. Clayton Kershaw – Watching Webb work is fun and it’s the return of the pitcher of our generation. Let’s hope he still has it in him.
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)