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.
Jose Quintana (NYM) @ WSN (ND) - 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks - 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 95 pitches.
It's that time again. When you go on vacation and leave us hanging with late Roundups every day? What?! No. Well kinda (sorry!), but no ya dingus, it's that time of the season when Jose Quintana is worthy of your attention as a streaming option. He pulled it off on our nation's holiday via 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks - 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 95 pitches against the Nationals (don't worry, they won. It would have been a traitor's errand to beat them on July 4th) and it was the same thing we saw the last three starts: elite pitch separation.
Four-seamers were elevated. Changeups were down. Curves galore were down low. Sinkers around the edges of the plate. Sure, a few extra walks and just one K ("HAISTBMBWT?!"), but we take this to the bank, even on Sundays. With a repeat showdown with Washington + "Rockie Road" up next before the break, I'm all for riding this one out and hoping to continue getting sneaky value.
Let's see how every other SP did Thursday:
Jake Irvin (WSN) vs NYM (W) - 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks - 15 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 99 pitches.
The madman cannot be stopped. The true Grim Ace earned a "King Cole" as his curveball was still as dominant as ever. We're talking 40% usage at a whopping 50% CSW, even earning 6/38 four-seamer whiffs in the process. Keep. It. Going.
Martín Pérez (PIT) vs STL (ND) - 7.1 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks - 3 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 92 pitches.
I could have led with Pérez and had essentially the same conversation. Pérez is looking like a streamable arm and while we can sit him against the Brewers, you may want to circle the start against the White Sox after for those in deeper leagues.
Nick Pivetta (BOS) @ MIA (ND) - 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks - 15 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 89 pitches.
Phew. The sweeper returned in full for 46% CSW, though I wish the cutter would make a proper comeback as well with just one thrown in this outing. That said, Pivetta had the feel for his sweeper, keeping it low and gloveside consistently. Let's hope it's the start of a rebound and not a swing of the "Cherry Bomb" pendulum.
JP Sears (OAK) vs LAA (W) - 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks - 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 95 pitches.
Ayyyy, the "Cherry Bomb" label still lives on! A whole lot of sweepers over the plate and four-seamers generally located upstairs equated success against a poor Angels crew and I wouldn't roll with it against the Sawx in Fenway. It's too risky.
Andre Pallante (STL) @ PIT (ND) - 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks - 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 90 pitches.
Here's the potential of Pallante as he earned a "Gold Star". Is it enough for the Royals and Cubs next? Probably not, but at least y'all know there's a chance his four-seamers find gloves and that his curve and slider earn enough strikes to keep hitters off balance.
Bailey Ober (MIN) vs DET (W) - 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks - 22 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 103 pitches.
A "Gallows Pole" for Ober is a lovely thing as he did all the right things once again. Sigh. It's so wonderful seeing a pitcher live up to their potential.
Michael King (SDP) @ TEX (W) - 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks - 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 92 pitches.
Don't doubt the King. Yes, he could have been more efficient with his heaters, but he's been absolute gold, often acting like a Nothing Burger King. He's a whopper of a good time.
Jameson Taillon (CHC) vs PHI (W) - 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks - 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 88 pitches.
Oh snap, more strikeouts! This time, the sweeper got going with 38% CSW across 30% usage and chat was yelling at me for ranking him so low during the stream. What a fool I was. Sadly it's the Orioles up next and you shouldn't start him there, but this was a lovely two-start run, Taillon. If this is where that ends, then I'm glad we had our moments.
Logan Webb (SFG) @ ATL (W) - 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks - 12 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 104 pitches.
Atta boy Webb. Thanks for being you, even if it consistently comes with a WHIP over 1.00. And look at that, the sweeper was great! 38% CSW! What a wondrous day.
Corbin Burnes (BAL) @ SEA (ND) - 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks - 18 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 94 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. I wonder when we'll see more than a strikeout per inning again from Burnes. It's been 84 years...He's legit done it just three times this season. That's kinda bonkers.
Bryce Miller (SEA) vs BAL (ND) - 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks - 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 93 pitches.
Soooo those secondary whiffs? 4/52. Noooooo. But hey, it was the Orioles! And he commanded his four-seamer well! Maybe we will see the growth we want against the Padres up next.
Kyle Tyler (MIA) vs BOS (ND) - 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks - 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 87 pitches.
He made it over five frames this time and I'm kinda amazed he made this one work despite a 56% strike rate on his cutter, a pitch he threw half the time. You don't need me to tell you not to buy this one, especially with the Astros up next.
Frankie Montas (CIN) @ NYY (W) - 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks - 7 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 94 pitches.
It ain't pretty, but that's a Win. The splitter and slider stayed down and the Yankees failed to take advantage of the fastballs Montas shoved across the plate. I guess that works.
Cal Quantrill (COL) vs MIL (ND) - 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks - 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 102 pitches.
That WHIP is rough as the splitter went just 13% CSW and 3/23 whiffs. Let's be happy he survived with a sub 4.00 ERA and we'll likely not chase this any longer.
Roansy Contreras (LAA) @ OAK (L) - 2.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks - 2 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 53 pitches.
Ah. Can we move on? Let's move on.
Jared Shuster (CHW) @ CLE (L) - 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks - 4 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 40 pitches.
I know that name. He opened for the eventual Chad Kuhl, who walked four and fanned just one across 4.1 frames ("HAISTBMBWT?!"). So, you know, a typical day in Random ChiSox SP land.
Max Scherzer (TEX) vs SDP (L) - 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks - 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 90 pitches.
Ehhhhh, unless you're in a QS league, that's not very helpful. He located well n all, but is his stuff all that great? I'm not sure. This is all to say that Scherzer likely isn't an AGA this year and will likely be doling out outings like this with some regularity.
Framber Valdez (HOU) @ TOR (W) - 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks - 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 90 pitches.
We're at the point where we'll take a "VVVPQS" from Valdez as long as it comes with a Win. Yay...? Sub 50% strikes on the curveball can't be a regular thing.
Ben Lively (CLE) vs CHW (W) - 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks - 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 93 pitches.
That's a "Bailey Special" from Lively and the dude keeps pumping bangers like a Birmingham eating contest. With a repeat against the White Sox next week, we're absolutely standing pat.
Charlie Morton (ATL) vs SFG (L) - 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks - 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 94 pitches.
He's such a "Cherry Bomb" and I simply refuse to roster him because of it. You can do whatever you like, but I suggest considering what you're actually getting here. Is this the life you want for yourself?
Zac Gallen (ARI) @ LAD (ND) - 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks - 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 85 pitches.
He sat 97 mph in the first frame and settled at 96 mph for the game. Unfortunately, it's the Dodgers and he didn't have his change or slider working in the slightest + few heaters were located down as we normally see. A weird one from Gallen, but that's two straight starts of increased velocity. That's fun.
Tobias Myers (MIL) @ COL (L) - 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks - 19 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 101 pitches.
He nearly had the "PQS" if not for a solo shot in the sixth. That said, I kinda love how Myers is leaning into "Dancing With The Disco" as he earned 11/39 whiffs with the pitch, but where's the changeup?! I'd try one more time against the Pirates in deeper leagues, though he's likely just a desperate streamer in your 12-teamers.
Chris Bassitt (TOR) vs HOU (L) - 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks - 5 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 105 pitches.
A super annoying first frame did Bassitt in from the start while he had horrible cutter command for just 8/25 strikes, you know, a sub 33% strike rate. Yeeeeeesh.
Landon Knack (LAD) vs ARI (L) - 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks - 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 85 pitches.
Blegh. I love that the Dodgers have stretched him out to 85 pitches. He's also getting better with his breakers and his heater had 19" of "iVB". Three longballs did all the damage, sadly, and that's just how baseball goes these days. If the Phillies are still missing Harper and Schwarber for his next start, I'm all for letting him loose there.
Marcus Stroman (NYY) vs CIN (L) - 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks - 15 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 99 pitches.
Three home runs made up all five ER you see above, including a devastating three-run shot with two outs in the fifth. Otherwise, Stroman pitched decently well and we're not changing course.
Zach Eflin (TBR) @ KCR (W) - 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks - 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 96 pitches.
Bleggggh. Nothing seemed massively off, just Eflin not performing at the elongated peak of 2023. Not much more we can do other than to just keep trucking forward, yes, even against the Yankees.
Alec Marsh (KCR) vs TBR (L) - 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks - 5 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 75 pitches.
Ah. Let's not go after Marsh a whole lot, cool? A "HAISTBMBWT?!" is never a fun time and I don't believe there's anything in his arsenal that is particularly great. The man just bogs you down.
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) @ CHC (L) - 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks - 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 79 pitches.
Wat. Happ was responsible for five of these runs across two longballs (though, Sánchez had just been replaced before the second dinger) and despite throwing questionable sinkers, this really felt like it was great until BAM, it wasn't. Baseball does that to you and I still believe in Cristopher.
Kenta Maeda (DET) @ MIN (L) - 3.2 IP, 9 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks - 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 88 pitches.
Are you still rostering Maeda? STOP. Stop doing that. But- Nope. This is so not worth it.
Game of the Day
Aaron Nola vs. Max Fried - Awwwww yeah.
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 Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X)
