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.
Tyler Phillips (PHI) vs CLE (W) – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 105 pitches.
We had a CGSHO yesterday and you likely don’t even know the guy who threw it. Tyler Phillips has stepped into the fifth spot of the rotation for the Phillies (4th with Ranger out?) and in just his third start on the bump, he earned his third win against the Guardians: 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 105 pitches. Pretty dang remarkable (enjoy the Gold Star!), especially when you remember he went six shutout the game prior.
I don’t buy it. Sorry. I watched this and so many outs came on questionable pitches well over the plate. Phillips hurled heaters and sweepers with a few curves, with none of his pitches acting elite. Plenty of missed chances from the Guardians and this had all the makings of Koufax granting his BABIP graces to a young arm.
Thing is, he gets the Mariners next and at least he has a long leash + pitches he throws for strikes + pitches for a winning club. That may be enough to warrant a stream, but for most of the time you’d pair Phillips with orange juice and vodka to dull the pain. A screwdriver? Ahhhhh, I see what you did there. Phew, please understand a terrible joke is the only time I’d remotely suggest alcohol as a solution to a problem. Or Phillips for my pitching problem? Yeah, something like that. Are you calling the Mariners a joke? Oh. No no no, I’m going to stop typing now.
Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:
Spencer Schwellenbach (ATL) @ NYM (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 89 pitches.
DUDE. The man lived up to his potential and I’m so here for it. The slider was his most thrown pitch with the four-seamer dipping to 21% usage (dope), but the four-seamer also dipped in release point. His ~1.3 HAVAA went to an elite 1.7 mark in this one, turning what would have been balls in play into fouls and continuing at-bats that turned into strikeouts. Is that a good HAVAA? You know how I talk about Woo having a great four-seamer attack-angle? He also had a 1.7 HAVAA on Saturday. Oh snap. Yeah. As for the rest of it, his slider was filthy, the cutter earned strikes with many outs, and we are cooking y’all. SQUAWK You’re right, rando Cat! He DOES get the Marlins next! GO GET HIM.
Zack Littell (TBR) vs CIN (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 96 pitches.
Splitters, heaters, sliders, and a bit of chaos. That’s the ticket for Littell when he’s not Dancing With The Disco and the Reds act like Dorothy when on the road – There’s no place like home. We pass on the Astros up next, of course.
Blake Snell (SFG) vs COL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 15 Ks – 30 Whiffs, 46% CSW, 103 pitches.
Hahahahaha. That’s a Golden Goal (duh) with 30 whiffs as he somehow went 15/18 outs via the strikeout. Absolutely BONKERS. I want to remind y’all that Rockie Road (and the Rockies in general…?) are a poor offense, allowing 46 strikeouts in just four games of Snell, Harrison, and 2x Birdsong. Not to say those guys aren’t strikeout arms, but let’s not overlook the lineup impact here. As for Snell, his fastball precision was unlike what I normally see – he’s actually going inside to RHB effectively after a career of living middle and away with the pitch. Throw in a true BSB with the slider axed for the curveball + an 6/12 whiffs changeup and that’s your ballgame. Good Snell is so ridiculous. He’s an auto-start for now and what, two starts away from AGA? It’s just that dumb.
Hayden Birdsong (SFG) vs COL (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 106 pitches.
I like this version of Birdsong more than the one we saw in Coors. Why? Because he actually threw strikes with his heater (and not terribly), while he showed up with a changeup that struggled at times to find a strike, but was overall a strong whiff offering. Meanwhile, the curve is still legit and thrown over 30 times, and the slider helped in finding strikes. I’ll take this version of Birdsong all day, but can he earn the same number of secondary strikes when not facing the horrible Rockies lineup? We’ll find out against the Nationals…wait. Is it wrong that I hope he isn’t pushed back a day and gets Cin City instead? I want to see him challenged and figure out how legit this is.
Bryan Woo (SEA) @ CHW (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 70 pitches.
Woo is hurting with a hamstring injury. Sigh. Regardless of that suffering (yes, you can drop him. I think we’re done waiting for him to be fully stretched out, yeah? WHEN WILL YOU GO 90 PITCHES?!), I can’t help but laugh at Woo finally throwing 20% sliders and…allowing three of his four hits on them. The pitches were either well over the plate or far outside, as if it were his way to get me to stop asking about them. See Nick?! THIS is why I don’t throw them! No way to get better if you don’t throw them. Can’t steal second with a foot on first. What is development if not failure? Gotta get pushed off the branch—I GET IT. Now, can you fix my hamstring? I’ll give a call to my people, but no promises. Thanks.
Dean Kremer (BAL) vs SDP (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 105 pitches.
Whoa, he had it in him after all. He avoided the heart of the plate well and nailed the edges with splitters + heaters + cutters. It’s very Cherry Bomb-esque and too volatile for me to chase, though he at least has the leash and ability at times. I really need a name for that – a volatile Toby type who you can take a stab on off the wire, unlike others who may go just five frames without a high enough ceiling. I’ll get there.
Mitch Spence (OAK) @ LAA (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 98 pitches.
It’s not exciting, but it works against the Angels. Nicely done Spence, I’m happy to see you can go six frames every so often. He gets the other Los Angeles team now and you don’t want to touch that in the slightest.
Ryan Feltner (COL) @ SFG (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 95 pitches.
He nibbled a ton, especially with the low curve and it paid off against a middling offense. Props to Feltner for taking advantage of a road start, but don’t get any ideas.
Tarik Skubal (DET) vs MIN (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. A longball in the first was all the damage done against Skubal as he coasted once again to a stupid good outing. That changeup is arguably the best in baseball.
Michael King (SDP) @ BAL (W) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 101 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He took down the Orioles in his final test and it’s difficult to argue against his domination. The fact he did it without a ton of sweepers (57% CSW though, lol) is pretty cool, and he debilitated LHB with changeups + high heaters effectively. He’s the QS solid floor arm who just happens to have a 25%+ strikeout rate. Enjoy.
Justin Wrobleski (LAD) @ HOU (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 82 pitches.
I’m happy he survived and got you good ratios, and I’m still struggling to figure out if I should buy into his four-seamer’s potential with 17-18″ of iVB at 95/96 mph velocity (and 1st percentile extension…) paired with inconsistent secondaries. He likely gets ousted when the Dodgers add an arm before the deadline, but if not, he’s not the worst against the Athletics, but I wouldn’t spin the wheel.
Jake Irvin (WSN) @ STL (W) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 96 pitches.
Oh snap. He’s beginning to believe. It may seem weird to say that on what looks like a good-but-not-elite start from Irvin, but you don’t understand. Jake went BSB mode, locating high heaters and low curveballs incessantly. Whoa. The four-seamer went 7/44 whiffs, leading the way for the second straight start, and even though the curveball wasn’t as consistent or dominating as before, it still did its part in the lower half. I can get behind this – think of Bailey Ober as it comes with elite extension at 94/95 mph. Paired with a legit breaker, it works. Now if he could get Ober’s changeup…
Aaron Civale (MIL) vs MIA (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 87 pitches.
Okay! The cutter is back to normal as the Canibal McSanchez and he landed a fair number of curves at the bottom of the zone. It was just eight curveballs. Okay fine, that’s not it. Give me more breakers, Civale. You deserve it.
Kyle Gibson (STL) vs WSN (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 15% CSW, 97 pitches.
Gibson danced around the zone, but struggled to get whiffs on his signature sweeper and changeup, going 2/27 between the two. There’s your ballgame – Gibson’s fantastic year leans heavily on those two pitches, especially the sweeper. HAISTBMBWT?!
Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs TEX (W) – 9.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 118 pitches.
Nine splitter whiffs!!! But 48 thrown so a sub 20% SwStr rate. Oh. Hmmm. That is true, he needed a ton of volume to reach it, but at least it’s not two. The Rangers are tough, but he’s still in Cherry Bomb land for the Yankees and Orioles and that’s no fun at all.
Tyler Anderson (LAA) vs OAK (L) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 101 pitches.
You may have thought the roundup was about Anderson, but I already covered him and he’s still the same changeup-focused mayor of Dopeville. Don’t you mean Dopesville? How dare you compare us to that frivolous society! As for Anderson, it’s high heaters with great vert + fantastic low changeups for a ton of whiffs. Keep riding this out.
Joe Ryan (MIN) @ DET (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 89 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. I know, a PQS and Loss ain’t ideal, but that’s a stellar WHIP with eight strikeouts. He’s still so very legit y’all.
Shota Imanaga (CHC) @ KCR (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 87 pitches.
Aces gonna Philly. Imanaga is still at 17″ of vert with elite HAVAA and executed the BSB well here, but the Royals weren’t willing to whiff on the heater enough, preventing the strikeouts from piling up. We still ride at dawn with Imanaga as an AGA. For now.
Max Meyer (MIA) @ MIL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 85 pitches.
He’s back in the majors! And not worth your time! He’ll get Atlanta next and it’s good to see that he’s at least stretched out to 85 pitches…but the four-seamer was thrown more than the slider and that just can’t be the world Meyer lives in. It has to be slider first.
Erick Fedde (CHW) vs SEA (L) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 79 pitches.
Dang Fedde, you couldn’t take on the Mariners?! I wanted to see if I could get away with throwing pitches down the heart of the plate. Well there’s yer problem. I’d be cautious against the Royce-powered Twins up next.
Marcus Stroman (NYY) @ BOS (ND) – 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 13% CSW, 60 pitches.
It’s really no fun pitching in Fenway, especially in this heated rivalry. A HAISTBMBWT?! isn’t all too surprising (zero whiffs?! Hahahaha) and I’d brush it off to start Stroman against the Jays later this week. They could be a lighter offense by then, too.
Tylor Megill (NYM) vs ATL (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 95 pitches.
Ayyyy you’re back! And trying to elevate the four-seamer but still can’t quite do it enough to overwhelm endlessly. At least the slider is spotted well and the cutter…wait. Why did you throw just three cutters?! Megill, buddy, we love that pitch. Please throw more of them as a strike pitch. PLEASE. He’s still a shrug to me until I see that cutter and/or four-seamer whiffs upstairs that take advantage of his glorious extension.
Tanner Gordon (COL) @ SFG (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 79 pitches.
Tanner, I know your command is better than this. I saw it in your debut and while this is an ER away from a VPQS, that isn’t a celebration, You had a chance to be a winner. Now you’re just a commissioner, Gordon.
Ronel Blanco (HOU) vs LAD (ND) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 99 pitches.
Blegh. He looked so good at times here, but the Dodgers made him work and two final runs came in after he was removed in the fifth. Brush it off, those whiff and CSW numbers are too dang good to suggest he’s degrading.
Andrew Abbott (CIN) @ TBR (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 88 pitches.
Abbott didn’t have much but four-seamers to chuck middle-up in this one and as you can see, it didn’t go well. Who knows what’ll it be next time.
Marco Gonzales (PIT) @ ARI (ND) – 2.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 67 pitches.
Womp womp. And so he waits on the wire, perched in desire for a manager to yell Marco at him. I’m right here! Polo! POLO! OPEN YOUR EYES DANGIT!
Michael Lorenzen (TEX) @ TOR (L) – 0.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 40 pitches.
Yikes. He got bamboozled and hit the showers before rush hour. Doesn’t change anything moving forward as he’s still a decent streaming option.
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs PIT (W) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 78 pitches.
You know, I was just starting to come around on Pfaadt, acknowledging that I could be missing something in his four-seamer, sinker, sweeper, and sometimes changeup mix. But if this is what you do against the Pirates, can I really feel strongly against…the Pirates again? Didn’t expect that, did you. No, I didn’t. Ugh, I guess we give it another shot.
Kutter Crawford (BOS) vs NYY (ND) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 78 pitches.
Bleeeeegh. I really wanted to believe he’d be okay, but he allowed three more home runs here, the exact issue Sporer expressed concern about. He has one more tough matchup in his schedule gauntlet in Texas, and I’m going to go for it personally. The Dodgers + Yankees in Fenway are both a step above.
Seth Lugo (KCR) vs CHC (L) – 6.1 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 90 pitches.
Four fastballs for hits + a sweeper taken yard is everything here. That’s Baseball, Suzyn. He’s not overpowering enough to prevent games like this and that’s just how it is. But the Careful, Icarus! Yep, that too as he had a PQS through six. So it goes.
Carlos Carrasco (CLE) @ PHI (L) – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 86 pitches.
Against the Phillies, he’s Carlost. Against just the Phillies? Okay fine, most of the time, but there’s always a chance!
Game of the Day
River Ryan vs. Spencer Arrighetti – Two rookies squaring off and I’d love to see both take another step.
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)