Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Thursday 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.
Ryan Pepiot (TBR) @ NYY (L) – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 88 pitches.
Despite holding a 1.50 HR/9 and inducing constant anxiety with volatile performances, Ryan Pepiot held a 3.42 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 126.1 frames entering Thursday. However, those marks have climbed to a 3.80 ERA and 1.18 WHIP after today’s disaster in the Bronx: 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 88 pitches (L). It’s been maddening to roster Pepiot this season and I’m sure this start will send many in a frenzy.
But let’s be kind here. Fortune was not on his side, from a 3-2 “walk” on a dotted heater away, a “double” caused by a casual pop-up to short getting lost in the clouds, and a double-play ball scoring a run after getting double-clutched at third. But the HRs! Yeaaaah. The Yankees bamboozled Pepiot for a trio of runs off Giancarlo Stanton’s bat in the first and boy, that was one hanging slider. The second HR? Another three-run shot, this time on a horrific cement-mixer 92 mph cutter down the pipe to Ben Rice. They were huge mistakes at the wrong time. Sigh.
Pepiot wisely turned away from both pitches to favor the four-seamer and changeup instead, which performed as well as you could hope. The heater blew by bats upstairs and despite a low strike rate on the changeup, it was effective at finding crucial outs and whiffs.
You should stick with Pepiot despite days like these. The slider and cutter had a pair of mistakes that ruined the day, but the skills are still far better than anyone you’d find off the waiver wire and don’t forget – Pepiot has been overall great for your teams this year. Don’t let a 7 ER clunker in the Bronx rooted in two 3-run HRs alter your perception of his future performance.
Let’s see how every other SP did Thursday:
George Kirby (SEA) vs TEX (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 94 pitches.
That’s some mighty fine work, Kirby. Aw, thanks! I’m not talking to you, RHB pitches. I’m talking to our friend LHB approach, where the slider was down-and-in with four-seamers up and sinkers along the edges. Wait, I was fine though! Naaaaah, that slider was wild, the sinker didn’t get inside enough and the four-seamer could have been better. You can take down LHB with ease now, Kirby, now you need to figure out RHB and you’ve got the AGA back in your hands, in your hands, in your hands agaaaaiiiiin.
Kumar Rocker (TEX) @ SEA (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 91 pitches.
I have good news and bad news. I know the bad news. Okay I have just good news then. Rocker threw his cutter 37% of the time as his most featured offering. Yeah, but it was still bad news with the final line! Yeah yeah yeah, but he heavily reduced the pitch’s usage last time out and at least he still has this foundation to build upon. And the changeup was great! Nearly 70% strikes with 3/18 whiffs and a quartet of outs earned. We’ll take that all day as we patiently wait for him to figure out how to use his sinker and four-seamer. Hint: Save the sinker for RHB inside and use the four-seamer only as a surprise pitch upstairs to LHB. Sadly, I haven’t told you the bad news yet. Wait, I thought that was the final line? Oh, sweet summer child, no. The Rangers added Merrill Kelly at the trade deadline, which likely kicks Rocker out of the rotation to favor Jack Zippo instead. Oh dear. Yeaaaaaah. He may be back when a spot opens up in the future, though I personally would love to see Jacob Latz get a shot should the opportunity arise. Sorry.
Andrew Abbott (CIN) vs ATL (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 1 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 96 pitches.
Uhhhh, wow. Each of his three main pitches – four-seamer, curve, change – returned a sub 60% strike rate as his feel was atrocious. Abbott left the game with the bases loaded and two errors followed, allowing the sober stuttering Canadian (AA) to squirm out of this one with just two earned in the books. All we can do is hope this was just a one-off and be glad it didn’t hurt more. But my toast! HAISTBMBWT?! Few managers got a start on Thursday. You’ll live.
Carlos Carrasco (ATL) @ CIN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 95 pitches.
Carrasco had a dub stolen from him in an absurd eighth inning with eight runs on eight hits without an out to tie the game, but at least he’s still capable of giving y’all a PQS, eh? And look at that! A Golden Goal! Didn’t think he’d have it in him. And sure, why not, give yerself a Gold Star while you’re at it. You threw those sliders effectively to RHB and the changeup was good…a handful of times. It’s not fun seeing Cookie at 91/92 mph on his heaters these days, but at least he’s doing a decent job spotting them to give him a chance. And that’s all we really want in this world. A chance.
Marcus Stroman (NYY) vs TBR (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 74 pitches.
With Luis Gil expected to return over the weekend, Stroman’s next start is uncertain. With the Yankees letting the deadline pass without adding another starter, Stroman will likely act as the SP #6 until an opening surely appears. And that’s when we return! Uhhhh, no. You don’t. Absolutely not. But I need the Win chance! I feel for you.
Game of the Day
Joe Ryan vs. Gavin Williams – Joe is still here and Gavin has another chance to be the man we want him to be.
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)
