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.
Osvaldo Bido (OAK) @ TOR (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 89 pitches.
What is going on with Osvaldo Bido?! Three of his four starts as a member of the Athletics’ rotation have returned 3 ER total against the Astros, Dodgers, and now the Jays, including Saturday’s 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 89 pitches performance. But the fourth game was 7 ER! We’ll get to that.
I watched all of his most recent games and I’m still not impressed. He sat 95 mph without good shape and paired it with awfully hittable sliders and cutters that the Jays failed to exploit, and I sat there wondering how it was already the sixth inning without any damage done. It also made me realize just how rough that bottom half of the Toronto lineup is. Yeeeeeesh.
I want to get behind this. A fastball from 93-96 mph can be convincing and we’ve seen Bido’s breaker perform well at times, but hot dang y’all, he is not this good. I see the Giants on the horizon and my inner being is screaming IT’S A TRAP, just like his 7 ER game against the Angels. It’s a dangerous gamble and these strings of success do not outweigh the floor that has always been there. Ignore them and ask yourself “Would I start Osvaldo Bido stretched out to 90 pitches if he didn’t have these last four games?” It’s a clear NOPE.
Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:
Tobias Myers (MIL) vs CIN (ND) – 7.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 99 pitches.
He’s unreal. I don’t even think the approach features the best command, but his fastball/slider to RHB and fastball/cutter to LHB is working like a charm. Don’t think, just Vargas Rule…after the Dodgers. You can’t do that one. Probably.
Nick Martinez (CIN) @ MIL (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 94 pitches.
It’s pretty bonkers how Nick turns into Nic-kMart and refuses to surrender runs whenever converted to the starting rotation. We saw more changeups here (yay!), but the real story was consistent command down-and-armside. He jammed RHB with sinkers, played some Canibal McSanchez games, and took em down. I’m not sure I love a start against the Royals up next but in deeper leagues? You gotta give it a whirl.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs NYM (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 92 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. That slider was so dang good down and in town. He really has come a long way since his rookie year as the four-seamer + slider is the true combo he’s always wanted.
Justin Steele (CHC) @ CHW (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 101 pitches.
Good. That’s what Steele should do against the CrySox. Now leaving his four-seamers heavily over the plate instead of making the 7 of upstairs and gloveside-edge? That’s not the Steele we want. Please have that for the Jays, k thx.
Carlos Rodón (NYY) vs TEX (W) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 110 pitches.
Mmmmm, we’ll take that Dusty Donut to the bank. This was a start of “Down the pipe or way out” but the secondaries were alive with the sounds of music. Rodón is much better y’all. It’s wonderful.
River Ryan (LAD) vs PIT (ND) – 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 56 pitches.
He left the game with elbow pain and has been ruled out for the rest of the season. BASEBALL. STOP. WHY MUST YOU BE THIS WAY. Yes, drop him, mimicking my heart which now lies on the floor.
Chris Flexen (CHW) vs CHC (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 78 pitches.
FLEXEN. AT. THE. Parking lot? He couldn’t quite find the cash to pay for entry, so he’s just stuck looking in the rearview mirror as he backs out and heads home. I might be free next weekend…
Alex Faedo (DET) @ SFG (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 31 pitches.
Sure, whatever Faedo. Brant Hurter followed for 5.0 IP of 3 ER ball and I have no interest here. But five strikeouts! He’s a southpaw with a 93 mph sinker and a sweeper. Stop this madness.
Logan Webb (SFG) vs DET (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 110 pitches.
It’s so lovely to see legit Webb do his thing. The changeup did everything it was supposed to, but Webb was able to keep it just under 40% usage as his sweeper stepped up for 52% CSW across 21% usage. This is the dream.
Gavin Williams (CLE) @ MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 73 pitches.
This was a game of fastballs with his secondaries getting hit into play more than expected. We’ll take it- that four-seamer is a strong foundation – though I hate seeing 5/12 strikes on the curve. You gotta be better than that, Mr. Hook. THE PEOPLE NEED YOU.
Yariel Rodríguez (TOR) vs OAK (L) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 85 pitches.
This is the ceiling of Yariel as they nearly let him go to 90 pitches and ended up with a Philly. Not much to say here, up to you if the floor is worth games like this. Narrator: It’s not.
Andre Pallante (STL) @ KCR (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 104 pitches.
The slider and curve did well here, but not well enough to reduce those walks. He’s a desperate stream, hoping for a low ERA based on a cut-fastball that can be tough to square up. In fantasy terms, he’s like a classic Dakota Hudson. That sounds terrible. It sure does.
Gerrit Cole (NYY) vs TEX (ND) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 26 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 90 pitches.
Ayyyyy, the slider is back! 56% CSW, 7/18 whiffs, and thrown more than any other secondary. That’s not fair! 16 sliders, 15 cutters, 15 curves. OKAY FINE. In reality, Cole spotted 96/97 mph four-seamers up-and-armside and kept his secondaries down-and-gloveside for legit pitch separation, leading to a near Golden Goal. Kinda wild to see prime Cole without more than 20% sliders, but this feels like a better version right now. It’s the ole fella with more stuff. Show it to me a few more times and we’re back to AGA land.
Cody Bradford (TEX) @ NYY (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.
The T-R-R-R-IPLE first name fella was ultra-precise with four-seamers and changeups and it was pretty dang cool. I’m kinda in against the Twins next and if that’s all sunshine n roses, then we’re so game for the Pirates after.
Zac Gallen (ARI) vs PHI (ND) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches.
Gallen left this one early with a calf cramp. Phew. We exhale and appreciate that he didn’t destroy our week. We move on.
Josh Winckowski (BOS) vs HOU (ND) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 38 pitches.
Guess who appeared after Winckowski? BRAD KELLER. He wasn’t that bad, either, with 4.0 IP, 3 ER, and six strikeouts. These are wild times we’re living in…
Spencer Arrighetti (HOU) @ BOS (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 13 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 43% CSW, 92 pitches.
DUDE. That’s 25 strikeouts across TWO outings. The Pasta Pirate also didn’t earn his first strikeout until the end of the second inning…Which means he earned 13 strikeouts in 5.1 IP. Absolutely bananas. What’s absurd here is how rough it looked early on. He got behind batters and struggled to locate before finding him groove, allowing just two solo shots on poor 0-0 cutters to ruin the afternoon. That’s a well-earned King Cole and he’s starting to realize how good he can be. The floor is still here as I don’t fully trust the control and it’ll make him more of a pure Cherry Bomb than a legit breakout, but yes, pick the dude up. Obviously. I trust this a lot more than the likes of Herz, for example. Not Spencer.
Michael Wacha (KCR) vs STL (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 92 pitches.
Awwwww yeah Wacha, that’s the good stuff. You even had some surprise four-seamers with five whiffs as the changeup did its thing per usual. I don’t love sending you to Cin City next and if you need the spot, Wacha isn’t a must-hold. A solid Toby.
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) vs CLE (L) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 89 pitches.
Of course. The moment I pull away from any appreciation for SWR, he performs again. Nick, the mere concept that these minute attempts at prophecy have any influence on other people thousands of miles away is narcissistic, to say the least. What was that? I’m sorry, I was checking out my hair. ANYWAY, this was SWR nail down his secondaries and using his four-seamer well, earning a whopping 8/34 whiffs (24% SwStr!) that is sure to be a peak. Cool to see him at 94 mph with 17″ of iVB though…Wait. That’s not actually gonna last, right? Whatever, it’s Texas next. I ain’t testing it there.
Corbin Burnes (BAL) @ TBR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 98 pitches.
Aces gonna PQS and whatever. Even against the Rays, you couldn’t give us a strikeout per inning? Really?! Maybe if you stopped hurling your cutter over the top half of the plate and actually spotted it down and armside like the old days, you’d actually demolish once again. MAYBE.
Aaron Nola (PHI) @ ARI (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 88 pitches.
Blegh. He returned four singles on pitches right on the edges and two home runs that were super hittable. That WHIP hurts but Nola pitched better than the line. Whatareyagonnado.
Roddery Muñoz (MIA) vs SDP (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 87 pitches.
Nothing to report here. Same ole Muñoz, where we didn’t expect much at all given the matchup. We move on.
Sean Manaea (NYM) @ SEA (L) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 85 pitches.
Oh come on Manaea. You go on a ridiculous stretch and now get delivered the softball matchup in Seattle and you walk five batters?! Why are you what you are. Does this mean you’re dropping me? No, you get the Marlins next. Okay, good. NO, NOT GOOD. But yeah, we ride it out for at least one more start. He should be fine.
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) @ NYY (L) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 81 pitches.
He’s dealing with side tightness and has been sent back to Texas for further evaluation. It’s either an IL stint or, at minimum, a pushed back start. Bleeegggh.
Drew Rasmussen (TBR) vs BAL (ND) – 1.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 30 pitches.
Oh snap, he’s back! We knew it would be short and I’m glad he’s sitting 97 mph with his four-seamer. Don’t expect him to get stretched out to much more this year, though. That’ll come mostly in 2025. Tyler Alexander followed and sat 1-2 ticks harder…at 90/91 mph. But hey, 4.1 IP and 1 ER against the Orioles is a fun time. Good on ya, T-Lex.
Griffin Canning (LAA) @ WSN (ND) – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 88 pitches.
He had it. Six innings of 2 ER ball without a walk or strikeout. But NO, he was too efficient, tossing around 70 pitches through six. So we had ourselves a Careful, Icarus with literally nothing of benefit here. HAISTBMBWT?! Okay okay okay, a 1.14 WHIP is kinda helpful, BUT YOU GET MY POINT. His heater is too hittable. His overall stuff is too hittable. HE’S TOO HITTABLE.
Paul Skenes (PIT) @ LAD (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 91 pitches.
Aces gonna allow an extra run or two because it’s the Dodgers. I guess it’s a One Night Bland…? He’s so good, even if his velocity was down a tick to…97.7 mph. Lol.
Max Fried (ATL) @ COL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 97 pitches.
A hanging curveball messed Fried up and I don’t think he pitched as badly as the line suggests. Lots of borderline pitches, good pitch separation, and all of the stuff that makes us believe it’s the traditional Fried character arc of “Struggle for a few starts after not starting for a while, then go BONKERS.” I’m all in for the Giants next.
Patrick Corbin (WSN) vs LAA (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 95 pitches.
16% cutters. I don’t understand you Corbin. I really don’t.
Matt Waldron (SDP) @ MIA (ND) – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 83 pitches.
Sigh. I guess I really should lean into my phrases after all. Don’t Trust A Knuckleballer.
Dakota Hudson (COL) vs ATL (ND) – 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 64 pitches.
Game of the Day
DL Hall vs. Cincinnati Reds – HE’S ACTUALLY BACK.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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