Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Friday 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.
Zebby Matthews (MIN) vs WSN (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 81 pitches.
It’s a joy watching young arms get an opportunity and make the most of it. Zebby Matthews tossed his second outing after a long IL stint and looked as good as ever against the Nationals, earning a King Cole with a gorgeous line of 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 81 pitches. He sat 97/98 mph on his four-seamer with a reliable 90 mph slider, pounding strikes and forced the Nationals to deal with it. It was awesome.
Zebby’s command impressed me. The four-seamer wasn’t elevated as much as I would like, but it found the edges on his fastball well with a 0% NC Rate across 36 thrown. To throw that hard without losing a single one speaks volumes.
His slider and changeup were wrangled well, too. Just one wasted apiece across 38 pitches combined as the slider was spotted beautifully down-and-in to LHB, with changeups keeping batters honest down-and-away. A better offense may have been able to attack his pitches over the plate a bit better (especially the mistakes to RHB), but this is a fantastic foundation of velocity, control, and whiffability.
You’re going to see some bumps in the road as he polishes the approach and gets a better feel for the change, cutter, and curve, but that heater should easily carry him to fantasy relevance as long as he regularly starts the rest of the way. With this control and stuff, I see a future as a Top 20 SP arm in fantasy when he blossoms.
Let’s see how every other SP did Friday:
Mike Burrows (PIT) vs ARI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 86 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! That’s a Gold Star for Burrows, who was able to get outs galore on his four-seamer (thanks Koufax!) while the changeup went 4/22 whiffs and a trio of strikeouts to LHB, fighting past a stupid high 36% foul ball rate. The slider was better than usual to RHB as well, returning a strikeout and many foul balls for strikes without a single ball in play and there’s hope it can be enough to supplement that change and heater in the future. I’m still wary of trusting Burrows and his mediocre slider + heater for the sake of believing in the changeup and above-average command, let alone the low Win chance as evidenced here. I think he’s more of a Young Gun who can show us something new in March to get excited.
Ryne Nelson (ARI) @ PIT (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 88 pitches.
That heater is still so hard to hit and I love how it stayed up in the zone in this one. Its velocity falling to 95 mph with a sub 60% strike rate and 19% CSW isn’t ideal, though. He tried to make the slider work as his #2 to RHB this time around, which was okay, while the curve and cutter were just as decent against LHB. I’m holding for the Tigers and beyond, but sitting against the elite offenses until he displays a consistent (and effective) approach with his secondaries. And please get that velocity back up, k thx.
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) vs ATL (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 86 pitches.
He’s back despite his back and it’s back to normal. What. Just start him okay? It’s easy.
Miles Mikolas (STL) vs SDP (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 73 pitches.
Wow, that’s a whole lot of faith in Koufax. HAISTBMBWT?! It’s better to be lucky than good, amiright? Nick, he sat 2.5 ticks up on his four-seamer! Well I’ll be, that’s pretty cool! He also threw it over the plate and even at 95 mph, it’s still not a good pitch. It was also 2+ ticks up on his slider to 90 mph! Okay, I get it. He threw harder. Do you see how many whiffs he earned? DO YOU?! One. JUST ONE. I DON’T KNOW WHY I’M YELLING.
Clay Holmes (NYM) @ SFG (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 104 pitches.
I feel like the Mets are just laughing at us now. We’re going to be limiting The Adobe since he hasn’t done this before. Sure, so go let him throw 104 pitches. We limited him to five frames. IT DOESN’T WORK THAT WAY. The WHIP still hurts, but you got your dub. The Mets have to stop giving him such a long leash soon, right?!
Freddy Peralta (MIL) vs MIA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 98 pitches.
Atta boy Peralta, way to earn 60%+ strikes on every pitch. Doesn’t matter if it’s the Marlins or anyone else, that should give you a Gallows Pole, though I am a bit shocked he was as inefficient as he was. Then again, it was a 20% NC Rate on the heater (and roughly 6% combined on his other pitches). Gotta reel those in to be truly elite.
Cal Quantrill (MIA) @ MIL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 65 pitches.
Even Miami knew not to push their luck in a 1-1 game despite Quantrill getting pulled with just 65 pitches after five frames. The Marlins knew he couldn’t be trusted, so why would you? Don’t overthink this.
MacKenzie Gore (WSN) @ MIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 6 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 101 pitches.
Six walks, eh? Really doing the Nats a solid as we approach the trade deadline. They weren’t trading him. Yeah yeah yeah, still not helping if a team wanted to kick the tires. His curve and changeup feel was terrible at 50% strikes between them, though the changeups he did execute were gorgeous for 6/20 whiffs. He’s still legit n all, but the command really makes him a Cherry Bomb instead of a potential ace.
Nick Pivetta (SDP) @ STL (L) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 90 pitches.
He pushed into the seventh and we’re relieved to have flown near the sun and survived. I’m thrilled to report we saw 11 cutters to RHB among 16 sweepers, even if they returned 55% strikes. Why? Because it made the four-seamer that much better. Just one hit off the pitch at 77% strikes to RHB, reinforcing Pivetta’s biggest weakness. Keep it up.
José Soriano (LAA) vs SEA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 87 pitches.
The sinker returned 76% strikes, so yes, Soriano produced. It really is as simple as that – the slider was terrible and the curve was scattered but returned a 47% CSW when it did land around the zone – and this HIPSTER can rid himself of that tag if he shows he can locate it the heavy majority of the time. I guess the floor is a bit higher against the Rangers, making a stream worthy of your time. I think.
Bryan Woo (SEA) @ LAA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He had a rough first and then locked it down the rest of the way. A little Van (wilder) on his sinkers than we usually see, but whatever, we’re cool.
Jeffrey Springs (ATH) @ HOU (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 88 pitches.
Springs was all sunshine and rainbows with his changeup staying low, save for just one horrible mistake up for a two-run blast. That was as much of a meatball as you’ll find. The heater did shockingly well on top of the slowball (much moreso than usual) and that’s your ballgame. He’s still as risky as ever.
José Berríos (TOR) @ DET (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 85 pitches.
Atta boy Berríos, I’m sure that ERA will settle around 3.80 come season’s end. It’s at 3.83 right now. WELL I’LL BE! The Great Undulator, ladies, gents, and y’all.
Will Warren (NYY) vs PHI (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 89 pitches.
He survived with only a 2-run Schwarbomb dealing damage. I cannot express how happy I was to watch the sweeper return for 90% strikes and 37% usage, leading all pitches at 34% usage to RHB, and being a part of the 30% secondary usage to LHB. That latter mark still needs to get better – Kyle hit a blast off a 0-0 four-seamer down the pipe at 93 mph in the fifth and that shouldn’t be the game plan. In fact, that heater went 46% strikes across 54% usage to LHB and I really want the change, curve, and sweeper to get more involved. This was progress, though, and progress is progress. I guess we’re going for the Rays next. Probably.
Nick Martinez (CIN) vs TBR (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 93 pitches.
Ayyyy, the six-pitch mix came through! The sinker and four-seamer evaded hits and the cutter + breakers did the rest. What about the changeup? Oh, his best pitch? 3/7 strikes with one strikeout. Oooof. Yeah. This isn’t the biggest confidence boost you want it to be.
Emmet Sheehan (LAD) @ BOS (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 78 pitches.
Phew. There are times I see a pitcher struggle despite an approach and stuff that suggests success, and I find myself wanting to fully trust the arm and ignore the box score. But it’s so hard to do it. The matchup was scary and I’m stoked he came through, though the skills weren’t as polished as we’ve seen. Sheehan’s changeup returned a poor 47% strike rate and was floated when over the plate, while the slider…well, that got chases off the plate (sweet!) though it wasn’t consistent enough for me to adore it. The heater is still the foundational piece and despite getting squeezed a bit and being the clear attack plan of the Sawx, Sheehan’s command of it upstairs with few mistakes down allowed him to succeed. I really hope he sticks in this rotation and is able to stretch out to 90+ pitches. It’s a strong package suitable for 12-teamers.
Adrian Houser (CHW) vs CHC (W) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 83 pitches.
Ayyyy, way to get back on the horse! This was a Careful, Icarus with a three-run shot in the seventh ruining everything as his sinker sat nearly a tick up at 95 mph with the four-seamer at 95/96 mph. It’s PHI + @SEA next and while I don’t love PHI (that ERA and WHIP + 3 strikeouts is a tough Dusty Donut with this dub), I’m down for a game @TEA. He’ll be traded away before then. Hmmmm, maybe that’ll help with a better defense and higher Win chance?
Taijuan Walker (PHI) @ NYY (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 83 pitches.
Wow. The fact Walker held it together for nearly six frames is incredible (with the sole damage being three solo shots, no less). Always amusing to see a Phillie earn a Philly and it wouldn’t be amusing to lean into this for future starts. He’s at 91/92 mph y’all. That splitter/cutter combo is not good enough to put your fantasy teams in harm’s way.
Brayan Bello (BOS) vs LAD (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 98 pitches.
The sinker and sweeper command was stellar to RHB, while he still has some work to do against LHB as the changeup was favored the most (26% usage) with a horrible 43% strike rate…even if it went 5/14 whiffs. He’s certainly better than what we saw last year and in April this year and if this weren’t the Dodgers, I think it would have been better. He’s a Toby and a potential low-end Holly moving forward. Think a solid Eflin/Wacha type with Kelly potential.
Joey Wentz (ATL) @ TEX (L) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 81 pitches.
Someone asked in the weekday morning Playback about Wentz and if he could go 4+ without more than 3 ER. There you go, I hope you got what you wanted. For the rest of us, at least he’s at 81 pitches and maybe he’s stretched out enough that he’ll hold onto this rotation spot post trade deadline if Atlanta deals a starter. Or maybe he’ll hold it even if they don’t? There’s some potential in the curve and cutter as he commands them well in the bottom part of the zone + a four-seamer that holds 19″ of vert at seven feet of extension. Thing is, that “cutter” is really a slider and I wish he actually had a cutter. Or a sinker. Just something else to match with the heater to take advantage of the extension more. I’m kinda intrigued by Wentz for deep leagues, especially with @KCR, MIL, MIA, @CLE on the docket. As of now, Elder, Dunning, and Wentz are SP #3, #4, #5 with some Davis Daniel in there and potentially Hurston Waldrep arriving. Surely he can hold onto this spot and make those starts. Take note.
Kyle Freeland (COL) @ BAL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 93 pitches.
Honestly, not bad. Four solo shots in the first two innings and a whole lot of nothing otherwise. But four solo shots is really terrible. Okay, fair. It’s Freeland, alright? Performance is all relative.
Dean Kremer (BAL) vs COL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.
I can’t help but laugh at the fact that the one time – THE ONE TIME – I felt it was reasonably safe to trust Kremer during his hot stretch, he lets us down. It was Rockie Road! You’re such a Dean Werewolf and I can only fault myself in the end.
Zack Littell (TBR) @ CIN (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 97 pitches.
Oh no. Koufax has stopped answering Littell’s calls. We knew it would happen sooner or later and Littell can’t go Dancing With The Disco forever. This Vargas Rule has come to an end.
Keider Montero (DET) vs TOR (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 76 pitches.
He was sent to Triple-A after this one, with Troy Melton still inside the rotation as Tarik Skubal returned from the paternity list. Sorry Keider, I know this was a bit of a Careful, Icarus with three runs in the fifth, but that’s really just the inevitable catching up.
Logan Webb (SFG) vs NYM (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 81 pitches.
Oh dear. He had all the pitch separation you’d want to LHB with sinkers up and changeups down, but a 22% NC Rate on the sinker made batters far more comfortable than usual. The cutter was nowhere to be found and the sweeper, uh, went 1/6 strikes. We’ve seen Webb regress to fastball/change over the last month and it’s not a good thing. At least it’s the Pirates twice now and that is the perfect training program.
Shota Imanaga (CHC) @ CHW (L) – 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 12 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 85 pitches.
Aces gonna give you pain. This was a product of three solo shots off four-seamers + a whole lot of laboring due to the RHB CrySox jumping on hittable splitters (71% zone rate isn’t what Imanaga wants!). He was also down to 89 mph in this one and I think it was just a really bad day. Throw him out there next time.
Ryan Gusto (HOU) vs ATH (L) – 3.1 IP, 8 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 81 pitches.
Yikes. Gusto didn’t have a chance on Kurtz’s day of destiny, even if his four-seamer was cooking for just one hit and 10/43 whiffs. That was the original worry, after all – that Gusto didn’t have enough to support the heater. It’s pretty easy to not touch Gusto for a bit.
Game of the Day
Grant Holmes vs. Kumar Rocker – I want to see both cutters dominate.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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