Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Sunday 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.
J.T. Ginn (ATH) @ HOU (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 77 pitches.
I’ve been intrigued by J.T. Ginn since we first saw him as a sinker/slider arm last season. He’s flexed great command in the past with a whiffable slider and at the start of this season, we saw extra drop at increased velocity, and I’ve been left wishing he’d return like my six-year-old self watching the end of Homeward Bound. COME ON SHADOW. COME ON SHADOW. Well, we got the same joyful arrival against the Astros on Sunday across 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 77 pitches (W) as Ginn displayed 95 mph with just 2.2 inches of vert on his sinker and a beautifully placed slider to LHB. Huh.
The command was brilliant to LHB, though RHB was a bit hazardous. The sinker and slider were both constantly left over the plate and Ginn was fortunate to return eight outs on the pair’s nine balls in play. I also wish I saw more from his cutter and changeup. The former flashed brilliance at 93/94 mph with 14″ of horizontal sweep away from the sinker, while the changeup had some serious depth to it at -1″ vert that had some absurd drop at times.
He’s not far removed from his IL stint and I’d keep an eye on Ginn as the season concludes. He’s the perfect example of a no-name pitcher who can be a major factor for fantasy managers as others have lowered their attention. He doesn’t light up the scoreboard with double-digit strikeouts to make him stand out, while if he keeps up this velocity, you may be able to take advantage of his future outings away from Sacré Verde against @BAL and @MIN, with possible value at home against the struggling Diamondbacks and Rays.
Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:
Paul Skenes (PIT) vs ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 99 pitches.
Aces gonna ace with a Gallows Pole catalyzed by 7/19 sweeper whiffs. Wait, that’s not Skenes’ game. No, not really. Pretty cool eh? He also had some fun changeups down-and-away to LHB for 5/12 whiffs. What a guy.
Jack Flaherty (DET) vs TOR (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 106 pitches.
ATTA BOY FLAHERTY. His slider was as good as we’ve seen against RHB with a 41% CSW and landing down-and-away…even if it allowed a trio of hits. Both breakers were fantastic to LHB with 5/17 whiffs and a monster 53% CSW combined, while the four-seamer was barely touched. Sure feels like he’s back.
Noah Cameron (KCR) vs CLE (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 83 pitches.
Cameron, I cannot thank you enough for what you’ve done for all of us this season. Please make sure that shoulder is completely fine after your fellow southpaws of royalty are both on the IL with rotator cuff injuries. Maybe skip your next start in Toronto just to be safe? I’M FINE. Yeah, but my anxiety isn’t given your highly suspect command to RHB in this one. Oh. You saw that? The high changeups and curves? Cameron, come on. Yeah yeah. I’ll think about it.
Matt Gage (SFG) vs NYM (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 10 pitches.
He opened for Spencer Bivens, who went 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BB, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 58 pitches. If you haven’t stopped reading yet, I thank you for your dedication, especially if you’ve already supported us with a PL+ or PL Pro subscription. Y’all are the real ones.
Brady Singer (CIN) vs TBR (W) – 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 97 pitches.
Oh wow, I definitely didn’t see this coming after his disaster last time out against the Nationals. The Rays sent many LHB to the dish like D.C. but this was different. Singer spotted his sinker better upstairs, allowing the four-seamer to surprise upstairs and paired perfectly with his slider that constantly fell right under the zone. He deserved this one. He’ll get ATL + @PIT up next and you’ve seen the floor and ceiling across his last two. You know the gamble.
Jack Leiter (TEX) vs ATL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 100 pitches.
Whoa, that’s one of the best Leiter starts of the year! His four-seamer to LHB was stellar with 7/31 whiffs and a 39% CSW while the slider was well spotted down-and-gloveside to RHB. The praise ends there, though. His changeup feel is chaotic, the fastball was frustrating to watch to RHB, and sinkers/curves were not reliable. This isn’t that start, unfortunately, and despite how tempting @TEA is on the horizon, I think I’m going to pass.
Tomoyuki Sugano (BAL) vs COL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 91 pitches.
After a string of poor outings, Sugano was granted a hammock and a margarita in the form of Rockie Road and found his confidence. The sweeper and splitter cooked while the cutter and sinker earned outs (even if the cutter was overthrown many times). Don’t get any ideas – the Cubs are next.
Kyle Hendricks (LAA) vs SEA (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 71 pitches.
Oh. Alright, Hendricks. Go have a Birthday Party and “lose my invitation in the mail.” I see how it is.
Eury Pérez (MIA) @ MIL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 92 pitches.
He’s still inefficient due to his four-seamer lacking proper whiff support, leading to fifteen foul balls off his four-seamer (28% rate), but it is cool to see 12/12 strikes on his sweeper at a 58% CSW. And I guess 5/22 whiffs on secondary pitches should be good enough, right? He gets a proper test against the Yankees next and I’m hoping it forces him to squeeze more out of the secondaries, like the changeup. Speaking of which, he deserves props for not giving up on it – he threw six here and four were right there with two absurdly missing the zone. He’s getting better with it and continuing to practice. I love that.
Ben Brown (CHC) @ CHW (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 57 pitches.
Blame it on the White Sox. He breaks the Huascar Rule with 0/28 whiffs + a solo shot on his four-seamer, not to mention his limitation to 60 pitches. The Cubs are sure to add an arm and I wouldn’t expect Brown to start again.
Cole Sands (MIN) vs WSN (ND) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 27 pitches.
Sands made way for a splash of Travis Adams, who was as irrelevant as we expected: 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 83 pitches. I wonder how the Twins are going to handle their rotation moving forward. If they trade Joe Ryan, surely they’ll make a deal like Atlanta just made for Fedde, right?
Jake Irvin (WSN) @ MIN (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 86 pitches.
Two strikeouts, eh? The curve was actually pretty great at 42% CSW, but the fastballs combined for thirteen outs in play. That’s some Koufax favor, y’all. In fact, his four-seamer went 26/28 strikes and allowed just two hits, albeit with six walloped balls in play that led to his a solo shot. This ain’t it.
Brandon Woodruff (MIL) vs MIA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 85 pitches.
Yessss. I’m surprised he went with nearly 2x sinkers over four-seamers considering its mediocrity over the heater (it even allowed his sole HR!), but the cutter looked hawt and his four-seamer cleaned up per usual. Seriously, why so many sinkers? Don’t do that.
Stephen Kolek (SDP) @ STL (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 98 pitches.
He threw sinkers for strikes. A lot of sinkers for strikes. There were some cutters and sliders among them, but this was Koufax giving the rookie some love.
Shane Baz (TBR) @ CIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 100 pitches.
He was Singled Out in the first for two runs and cruised after that. The four-seamer was upstairs and the cutter was great with 68% strikes, while I wish the curve was a little better commanded down in the zone for me to truly amped moving forward. Still, no longballs and a better version than his last outing. Now comes the gauntlet. LAD + @LAA + @ATH + NYY. Yikes. I think it’s best not to chase it. The confidence and consistency aren’t there yet.
Grant Taylor (CHW) vs CHC (L) – 1.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 21 pitches.
I can’t wait until Taylor becomes a starter, even if this wasn’t a productive frame with hittable pitches to LHB. Sean Burke was after Taylor’s False Start for 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BB, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 91 Pitches (ND) as we saw 95 mph heaters upstairs to LHB at 7.2′ extension and 18-19″ of iVB, while the slider and curve did their best to RHB. You know, that fastball is looking better and the slider feel is improving. We’re getting close. Maybe for the Guardians and Royals after his next start @LAA?
Max Scherzer (TOR) @ DET (L) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 96 pitches.
Yoooooo, Max is a MAD MAN right now. That’s another double strikeout game and I don’t see how we don’t jump on board for the Royals up next. But it’s the Dodgers and Cubs after! Fine, fine, I get that. But hot dang, he’s getting strikes on everything, the changeup is working down, and the slider is cooking to RHB. He’s cruising.
Carlos Rodón (NYY) vs PHI (W) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 90 pitches.
Aces gonna ace for a Golden Goal while allowing three solo shots. He didn’t elevate his four-seamer as much as we’ve seen in the past, but I sure do love that sinker inside to LHB and the changeup + slider were much better this time around. We still love him.
Kodai Senga (NYM) @ SFG (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 92 pitches.
Blegh. Senga didn’t get many chases on the splitter and he couldn’t put batters away. You know, this is just his third game of the year above 2 ER, with two coming in his last two starts. I don’t think this is the end of he line for Senga (who now holds a 2.00 ERA in sixteen games, mind you), but it is a small trend that I’ll be aware of moving forward. Get those walks in check, fella.
Walker Buehler (BOS) vs LAD (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 104 pitches.
Sounds about right for Buehler in Fenway against his former squad. Keep ignoring, please.
Joey Cantillo (CLE) @ KCR (L) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 76 pitches.
Oh no. Cantillo didn’t hit 60% strikes with any of his offerings – The changeup wasn’t down, the curve and slider were erratic, and his heater did its best – and we sometimes see that when a pitcher is hurt. What was his velocity? Uhhhh, 89 mph. You know, 2-3 ticks down. Yeah. Something is wrong.
Zac Gallen (ARI) @ PIT (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 85 pitches.
Welp, the Pirates made the most of their baserunners, ruining what is likely Gallen’s final start representing Arizona. I don’t even think he pitched that poorly, save for a few too many pitches over the plate, while the sinker inside to RHB is a great addition to his approach. I dunno, I feel as though a new home will do him well. It’s time to grab him if he’s on the wire and see what happens.
Zack Wheeler (PHI) @ NYY (L) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 103 pitches.
Aces gonna lose the Cy Young to Skenes and I hate it. It was a rough second frame and nothing else against Wheeler and so it goes.
Colton Gordon (HOU) vs ATH (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 99 pitches.
Blegh. He was bamboozled for two solo shots in the first and nearly stuck the landing to still go five strong, but a string of hits in the fourth returned two more runs. Sigh. Still kinda helpful with a 1.20 WHIP and six strikeouts…? You can see how close it was, but Fenway + NYY ain’t the starts you want to chase.
Dustin May (LAD) @ BOS (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 77 pitches.
They elected to give May a proper start and it was going incredibly well until a rough fifth that included a two-run shot from Bregman. He’s turning toward outside sinkers to RHB instead of trying to jam them (I don’t like it) and the sweeper is still trying to go Dancing With The Disco instead of dotting the edges. Stop Dustin off May as an option.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) @ LAA (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 88 pitches.
Aces gonna allow four runs in the fifth including a two-run shot from Trout. Right after I gave him the AGA tag, too. How about you show a little appreciation, eh? Despite the RHB-heavy opponent, his slider struggled to find strikes at a terrible 52% clip, which has become the backbone of his approach. Gilbert almost made it through five regardless, for what it’s worth.
Austin Gomber (COL) @ BAL (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 78 pitches.
Even outside of Coors, its tendrils remain. Is that their slogan? Obviously.
Michael McGreevy (STL) vs SDP (L) – 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 99 pitches.
Womp womp. I see McGreevy as a weak contact creator and the man got Singled Out by the Padres. He didn’t spot pitches per usual and his margin of error is far too low to get away with it. You know what you’re dealing with.
Bryce Elder (ATL) @ TEX (L) – 2.2 IP, 8 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 63 pitches.
This was so poor that we saw Dylan Dodd pitch three shutout frames after with four strikeouts. No, that’s not real. None of this is real. IT’S FANTASY. But seriously, don’t.
Game of the Day
Mitch Keller vs. Carson Whisenhunt – Keller gets the Giants (whatever) and we have an MLB debut for Whisenhunt! Grab some popcorn and join us on Playback.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)
