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 Twitch.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Ryan Feltner (COL) vs SFG (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 42% CSW, 88 pitches.
I don’t talk about Colorado pitchers often. Even Dollander was a rarity and only lasted for a moment, where the standard affair is “don’t start them unless it’s an ideal road matchup. And yet, Ryan Feltner deserves a moment of attention for Friday night’s 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 42% CSW, 88 pitches (W) excellence against the Giants. Sure, Blame it on the Giants, but it’s Coors! It’s Feltner! It’s a King Cole! That’s fun.
I was really hoping to tell you this was a product of something dramatic shifting in his mix or approach, but nah, this was an absurd 72% strike rate with unsustainable 60%+ clips on both two-strike rate and putaway rate. This four-seamer and slider took over instead of sinker and sweeper, and the pair, despite their small difference in movement in Coors, combined for a 48% CSW. He also whipped out the changeup a fair amount and it was fantastic against LHB for a 38% SwStr rate. If there is one thing I hope for, it’s that pitch feel sticking around and getting a bit more love in the future.
There is one thing I should mention. Since April 18th, Feltner, you know, a Colorado Pitcher, holds a 3.47 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 46.2 IP across nine starts (and one shorted by injury). His sole blowup was a 6 ER effort hosting the Cubs in Coors, which you could have easily avoided. It makes you think, doesn’t it?
Alright, I’ll stop having my fun. NERDS (like me, the biggest of them all), you can stop panicking, Feltner isn’t some magical arm that can actually survive Coors. He carries a terrible strikeout rate when he doesn’t have his season-high whiffs and faces the Giants + he gets the Dodgers and hosts the Reds in his next two starts, two starts that are highly unlikely to be anywhere near as productive. If the slider and four-seamer can get strikes without punishment and the changeup feel is consistently down to clean up, then sure, there’s a chance he can be worthwhile here and there. That’s highly unlikely though, and y’all shouldn’t jump in head first. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Friday:
Dylan Cease (TOR) @ SEA (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 102 pitches.
Doesn’t it feel awesome when Cease has a start like this? It almost makes you think he can do it every game. Hahahaha, please don’t do that to yourself, that WHIP is going to keep hovering 1.20 all year. (View Game Card)
Andre Pallante (STL) @ CHC (W) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 102 pitches.
This is an incredible Vargas Rule from Pallante, who has earned five Wins in his last six games. He’s also super reliant on Koufax still, though, and even if he’s commanding the arsenal better than the start of the year, it’s not supposed to work this often. You can keep rolling with it if you like, but you know the floor of his last game (5 ER, 10 Hits) is still very much present without hope for anything more than a strikeout per frame on a great day. (View Game Card)
Trevor Rogers (BAL) @ CIN (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 93 pitches.
Five walks may look like poor control, but all five came on 3-2 counts, most extended a via foul balls. This was another game of 94/95 mph heaters up with secondaries down and call me Timberlake cause I’m gonna BUY BUY BUY. He’s back. (View Game Card)
Spencer Arrighetti (HOU) vs TBR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 73 pitches.
Ayyyy, a good outing! Because he expanded the arsenal? No, not really. In fact, he generally didn’t command super well. No, the Rays were aggressive at the plate and Koufax was a kind man. Love when that happens. This wasn’t the TIARA removing start the line may suggest and with the Nationals next, I’d avoid. You can throw him on the wall if you want, but I don’t expect the Pasta Pirate to stick. (View Game Card)
Nick Martinez (TBR) @ HOU (ND) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 85 pitches.
That pitch separation is elite, avoiding the heart of the plate with ease, jamming batters on both sides of the plate, and keeping his changeup down. Sinkers inside, cutters away to RHB, too. It’s pretty dang awesome and I’m so happy for Nick Mart to have his moment. Gotta keep rolling with this Vargas Rule, right? (View Game Card)
Grant Holmes (ATL) vs NYM (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 82 pitches.
This may be it for REB with ReyLó and Waldrep in the rotation moving forward. I didn’t see anything here to strongly make the case otherwise, and it’s best if you try StreetEasy instead. (View Game Card)
Foster Griffin (WSN) vs PIT (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 83 pitches.
It was absurdly hot and I’m proud of Griffin for giving us five worthwhile frames, even if the strikeout rate fell dramatically. Don’t question the bird, just know he’s the word. (View Game Card)
Anthony Kay (CHW) @ CLE (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 48 pitches.
This was such poor luck for Kay, who was set for six frames before mother nature gave him the hook with a long rain delay before the end of the top half of the fifth. That said, he wasn’t pitching exceptionally, just had the ins with Koufax to prevent his poor cutter and sinker strike rates (46% between them) from doing him in. The Red Sox are next and they prefer southpaws, making me look elsewhere. (View Game Card)
Jake Bennett (BOS) @ LAA (W) – 7.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 92 pitches.
Wow, this is dope. I still think about the Red Sox trading Luis Pareles for Bennett with the Nationals in a 1-for-1 swap this off-season and how Bannett the 93 mph velocity, high extension, southpaw with command is killing it in the majors while the 99 mph, low extension, right-hander with questionable control is struggling in Triple-A. We should be valuing the SWATCH life a lot more, y’all. And look at this game – Bennett was on cruise control across seven frames with just two hits allowed before a solo shot + two hits churned another run and turned on the showers. He did it with high heaters and low changeups + sinkers on the outside edge and that’s really all you need. Keep. It. Going. (View Game Card)
Luis Castillo (SEA) vs TOR (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 101 pitches.
We’ll take this all day from Castillo, producing his second straight productive 6.0 IP start after failing to do so after his first start of the season. The dude went Dancing With The Disco to both RHB and LHB for 46% usage each and it was highly justified given 4/5 hits came on the other half of his pitches. I think I’m fine sending him out there against Miami as this approach can certainly work. It’s not brilliant, but good enough. (View Game Card)
Michael King (SDP) @ LAD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 75 pitches.
This was SO GOOD…through six. That slowball had returned an 84% strike rate with a 26% SwStr clip through six scoreless, then he walked Betts and allowed a hit to Muncy to kick off the seventh, got the hook, then both scored later in the inning. Careful, Icarus. I noticed he’s split his breaker to sweepers and sliders here, with a harder 87 mph gyro and an 80/81 mph big boi, though he’s still struggling to get a proper feel for both, while the fastballs found strikes, but weren’t dotted as we’ve seen in the past. All of that said, he carved this elite lineup through six, outdueling Ohtani, and I absolutely hate that he didn’t get a dub for it. I feel so much for the Padres. This start has me encouraged enough to start him against the Sneks next, but it could be a Dennis if the changeup is worse and nothing improves. (View Game Card)
Brady Singer (CIN) vs BAL (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 93 pitches.
Pitch separation was there, but maybe a bit too much with a 37% strike rate on his sweeper that he upped to 25% usage here. I can’t say this is enough for me to get back on board. (View Game Card)
Gerrit Cole (NYY) vs MIN (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 88 pitches.
Progress is progress. Much better slider feel (outside of that horrible 0-1 pitch for a double), and the curve + change helped much more than his last few outings. There’s still some four-seamer shakiness as he’s locating middle and down way more than he wants to, but step-by-step, y’all. And even when it wasn’t his peak, you got lovely production. (View Game Card)
Shohei Ohtani (LAD) vs SDP (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 110 pitches.
Aces gonna return a VVVPQS but make up for it with nine punchouts. I’d wager he doesn’t make another start until after the ASB at the very least, since he felt something in his bicep and was held out of the lineup on Saturday. It was precautionary, so they say, but why push it and not give him extended rest when they can? (View Game Card)
Gavin Williams (CLE) vs CHW (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 79 pitches.
You know, he almost had it. Four great frames, then a three-run blast with two outs in the fifth led to a rain delay where the grounds crew came running out before Vargas touched home plate. Yes, he would have gone longer if not for the rain delay. I’m excited to tell you that the velocity is still up and he split his sinker + four-seamer usage to RHB. That’s awesome! Now move the sinker inside a little more and YOU’RE GOLDEN. Actually, you may be golden anyway if you don’t hang a 3-2 sweeper up on the tenth pitch of your final batter. Seriously, he could have been thrown five at 70 pitches without a run to his name. That’s Baseball, Suzyn. (View Game Card)
Christian Scott (NYM) @ ATL (L) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 82 pitches.
Two HRs and a poor feel for his sweeper messed up Scott in this one, but hey, it’s Hotlanta, right? They aren’t so hot anymore. Fine. I dig seeing Scott feature a new “slider” that’s really an 81 mph curveball, even if he’s still working out the kinks – it provides a pitch that has any kind of depth among an arsenal that generates more lift than usual. I still see promise in the second half and I’d start him against the Royals up next.
Mike Paredes (MIN) @ NYY (L) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 81 pitches.
This looks like the last round for Paredes in the rotation with Bailey Ober possibly returning before the break, and it was kinda fun? Somewhat fun? It existed. (View Game Card)
Jose Cabrera (ARI) vs MIL (ND) – 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 63 pitches.
Cabrera’s best skill is throwing strikes…until this one. A 52% strike rate across everything is ghastly and not the man we expected. It’s possible he returns against San Diego, but given our hesitancy believing he was throwing strikes, this wrinkle is too much to wear. (View Game Card)
Kyle Harrison (MIL) @ ARI (ND) – 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 72 pitches.
Womp womp. This looks like an injured start at first glance, but Harrison’s early removal was a product of his poor strike rates on curves and changeups, creating a more inefficient four-seamer than the 71% strike rate would suggest. It appeared that the Sneks were fastball hunting and elected to spit on all curves Harrison threw, and that plan works well when curves are finding the zone under 25% of the time. Thing is, Harrison still has a really good fastball, and instead of bowling over the Arizona bats, their hunger for heat turned whiffs into 27% foul balls, extending at-bats and pushing up the pitch count to frustrating levels. That’s yer ball game. All the while, I have to ask – where’s the changeup? Just 12% usage to RHB and none for LHB, eh? What happened? Harrison nearly sat a full tick up in this one as well, near 96 mph, and I wouldn’t freak out about this one. He’ll get back on the horse and have his Coronation Day soon enough. (View Game Card)
Mitch Keller (PIT) @ WSN (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 83 pitches.
That’s a Wonka, but for those complaining that there was nay a slice of bread buttered appropriately, let me remind you that the temperature was higher than any pitch thrown in this game at 102 degrees. Oh wow. Yup. So why didn’t Griffin also struggle? …Fair. (View Game Card)
Reid Detmers (LAA) vs BOS (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 104 pitches.
That fastball got hit by the Sawx, but he also placed a ton middle-in for most of those hits, which came at inopportune times. The good news? His slider is still dope and propelled the Gallows Pole with a 21% SwStr rate. Without a stellar change or curve, that fastball was targeted a ton, and Detmers makes him susceptible to games like this if he doesn’t locate the four-seamer better. (View Game Card)
Tyler Phillips (MIA) @ ATH (ND) – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 71 pitches.
Still not worth it, y’all. This was a very easy pass, of course. (View Game Card)
Jack Perkins (ATH) vs MIA (L) – 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 8 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 91 pitches.
Bleeeeegh. This one started with three hits, a walk, a passed ball, and a three-run blast for a proper Bamboozlin’ in the first before recording an out. And then he earned eight strikeouts across his next fourteen batters. Seems like a classic case of Sacré Verde weirdness that requires pitchers to calibrate to whatever it wants on a given day, though he didn’t return many whiffs in those final three frames. It could be a better version away from home in Detroit up next, but don’t count on it. I’d try another streamer. (View Game Card)
Logan Webb (SFG) @ COL (L) – 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 11 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 76 pitches.
Sigh. This is why we put guardrails for the AGA tag. I’m not sure why Webb felt so obligated to throw 40% cutters out of nowhere (11% usage prior!) and Coors is undefeated. Well, unless it’s Feltner when he pitches against the Giants, of course. The schedule is dope for Webb moving forward and if he’s a stud quickly again (likely with a different pitch mix than this), he’ll get his Coronation Day. (View Game Card)
David Peterson (CHC) vs STL (L) – 3.2 IP, 10 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 91 pitches.
Oh, so the Cubs didn’t fix Peterson. I’m shocked. SHOCKED! Bryse Wilson came it for cleanup duty and it’s possible he takes the pearl in due time…or the Cubs find another option. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Sean Burke vs. Parker Messick – Young arms who excite us. I love young arms who excite us.
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 Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)
