Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Tuesday 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.
Martín Pérez (ATL) vs NYM (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 82 pitches.
This 2026 campaign from Martín Pérez sure looks otherworldly. Despite being DFA’d by Atlanta in the middle of April (after returning one run in five, no less!), the veteran southpaw defied all expectations for more than four months, possibly peaking now in August after his 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 82 pitches (W) against the Mets on Tuesday marks his forth of five games without an earned run, lowering his ERA to a hilarious 2.96 mark with a 1.15 WHIP. It’s bonkers.
How is he doing this? Why, the classic SWATCH veteran lifestyle, of course. You can’t be a crafty southpaw without precision and teasing batters off the plate, and Pérez has done it consistently. The slowball churned outs at will with 70%+ strikes, while the rare hittable fastball was swatted at when given the chance, granting five outs on seven balls in play. He creates a shroud of discomfort for batters in the box, hoping to get a hittable fastball or cutter and getting served sub-50 % strikes on both his sinker and cutter, while the changeup baited chases out of the zone 58% of the time.
It’s a precarious game that can unravel quickly (hence Vargas Rule labels), and traditionally doesn’t last for more than twice through a lineup. It’s why Pérez has averaged just 71 pitches per game this season and why the winning Atlanta offense has only granted him eight Wins across 23 games (19 starts). However, after seven frames on the first and six frames here, I’m inclined to believe Atlanta will let him go six against the Twins, Brewers, and Rockie Road as long as he’s still in rhythm. There’s cheap value to be had if you’re willing to explore outside your comfort zone. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Eury Pérez (MIA) vs PIT (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 100 pitches.
We loved Eury in the pre-season due to an elite four-seamer that laid a presumably strong foundation for his secondaries to build upon. It took some time for the fastball to return to form this season (and he still needs to get it higher, but I digress), but now that he has a great feel for when to feature both fastballs, the breakers are taking shape. The slider and sweeper earned plenty of misses (7/27 whiffs combined is dope), and I’m a fan of the harder 89/90 mph slide piece as long as can spot it well. Here’s to two more months of prospect growth. (View Game Card)
Andre Pallante (STL) vs PHI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 97 pitches.
If you want to Vargas Rule, be my guest. I really don’t trust that Koufax will be this kind for much longer, but this is a four-game stretch of 3 ER despite throwing questionable sliders and sinkers to RHB with four-seamers catching a whole lot of the plate to LHB. The hope we had for him to maintain the double-digit whiffs of his previous three games came crashing down with just a 5% SwStr rate here. I can’t do this. (View Game Card)
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) @ STL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 89 pitches.
Phew. A legit great line from Sánchez, without blemishes. It’s been a while, you know? There is a small annoyance under the hood, though. Sánchez hasn’t had a start above 60% strikes with his changeup since July 11th (five straight!) after sitting above that threshold in 15-of-16 prior starts. This was a 52% clip and I hope that changeup can return in full so he won’t have to rely so much on Koufax next time out to bail him out of a few deeper counts. (View Game Card)
Bryan Woo (SEA) @ NYY (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 92 pitches.
It’s almost as if Woo was sick of the Home/Road split discourse, so he came out and brute-forced his four-seamer to get to the finish line. He bumped it’s usage to 61% with +1.6 mph to 97/98 mph and that’s hot. What isn’t hot was the Yankees’ tenacity to foul them off at a 41% rate. Wait, isn’t 20% roughly the average foul ball rate? IT SURE IS. So he threw in some timely sliders and sinkers and got through it, but I still can’t believe we saw 23/56 foul balls on his four-seamer. It catalyzed a putaway rate of 1/24 on four-seamers on the night. TAKE THAT SPENCER JONES. That up-and-away heater must have felt so good. (View Game Card)
Sean Burke (CHW) vs CIN (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 94 pitches.
A Golden Goal from Burke after his disappointing performance against the Red Sox is a lovely sight. His slider command to RHB was pristine, holding an 89% strike rate with a 47% SwStr clip as he dotted them on the outside corner. Simply awesome. (View Game Card)
Blake Snell (LAD) vs KCR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 84 pitches.
This looked like a Still ILL for Snell’s second outing of the season, and you won’t believe what he did. Was it the BSB? IT WAS THE BSB. So I guess we just start him now…even if he just complained about pitching in the high elevation of Salt Lake City during rehab and has to head off to COORS in his next start. Kinda poetic, you know? (View Game Card)
Brandon Young (BAL) @ MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 104 pitches.
I feel that I’ve been undervaluing Young’s four-seamer and I can see a quick comp of Burke here with similar four-seamers, but a step back in his secondaries. Unlike Burke’s reliable slider and curve (with cutters at times), Young’s best secondary is a splitter, which can succeed against LHB, but not always, and never against RHB. The slow 75 mph curve isn’t the breaker we need, and the 85/86 mph slider is fine, but not exceptional. It really does feel like Young is one pitch away from being a popular 2027 sleeper pick, especially with the sub-20 % strikeout rate now that can flip in a heartbeat. For now, you can hear my sensible chuckle as I see the Trop on the horizon. That four-seamer may sport 19″ vert there. (View Game Card)
Walker Buehler (SDP) vs MIL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 98 pitches.
Whoa! It’s just Buehler’s third game of six frames all season, even more surprising after back-to-back games combining for just 8.1 frames. Sadly, he’s held a 6% SwStr rate across his last three games and I really cannot endorse Buehler’s “yes, that is that pitch type” arsenal. (View Game Card)
Nolan McLean (NYM) @ ATL (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 85 pitches.
Am I the only one analyzing McLean who gets weirded out about his approach and feel over the last month or two? This was another example of failing to locate secondaries to induce whiffs, while the sinker and four-seamer were wasted or thrown down the pipe a bit too much for my taste. NICK. He killed it! I know, I know, against Atlanta, no less! I’m not saying bench him, I’m just supposed to tell y’all when I’m weirded out, alright?
Carson Whisenhunt (SFG) vs HOU (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 96 pitches.
NOICE. A Gold Star for Whisenhunt as it was the first game of 1 ER in his six starts, where his changeup was stellar and his fastballs were generally up, albeit at 92 mph and with 1/43 whiffs. The slider command needs a whole lot of work, too, but Houston didn’t serve many LHB his way and that may be a huge reason why this one went as well as it did. It’s not the time to buy in. But the Guardians should give him RHB! True. Still, the heaters are really suspect. (View Game Card)
Ryan Weathers (NYY) vs SEA (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 106 pitches.
Another solid outing from Weathers as he’s transitioned to throwing more sinkers than four-seamers to RHB in order to “reduce his slugging”. So, obviously, the only run he allowed was a solo shot in the sixth off a, uh, sinker over the plate to right-handed Arozarena. ANYWAY, the changeup worked well to RHB, the slider and sweeper leave a bit to be desired to LHvB (2/40 whiffs combined to both sides of the plate is blegh), but we’ll take it and keep starting him. (View Game Card)
Paul Skenes (PIT) @ MIA (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 65 pitches.
Say whatever you want about Skenes and his dipping velocity (now down under 96 mph without a single 97 mph pitch), he still went five strong. That’s not the guy I drafted. No, it’s not. Other people drafted Crochet or Ragans or etc., and be happy you still have a starter who should be productive the rest of the way. Or maybe he’s actually hurt and the Pirates are easing his workload instead of an IL stint for whatever reason. I dunno. Just keep starting him if he starts. (View Game Card)
Ryan Johnson (LAA) vs TEX (ND) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 84 pitches.
We may get just one more of RJ with Kikuchi close to returning and this marks his fourth straight game without going a full five frames. TYep. (View Game Card)
Drew Anderson (DET) vs CLE (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 70 pitches.
He’s stretched out enough to go five frames next time, but will the quality follow? His 90/91 mph split-change has been letting him down (38% strikes with just 3/21 whiffs) and his 95 mph fastball and 80 mph curve are not pitches to write home about. But a near 70% CSW on the curveball!) That’s fun. It’s also a product of passive Guardians batters taking the pitch for a strike 56% of the time. In other words, not sustainable. (View Game Card)
Mitch Bratt (ARI) vs COL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 78 pitches.
Brrraaaattttt! I’m happy he was able to take care of Rockie Road. I do not see a good enough SWATCH to trust for anything more, even if he went seven shutout against the Pirates with nine strikeouts last time out. Fun fact: He earned the same number of whiffs in that start as he did here, and has never recorded ten whiffs in a game across his seven starts as a major leaguer. This 91 mph meh four-seamer with poor breaking balls and a decent changeup ain’t it. (View Game Card)
Tomoyuki Sugano (COL) @ ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 93 pitches.
Twelve Wins! I’m in absolute awe of this fun season for Sugano. I wonder if he can make it to fifteen… (View Game Card)
Patrick Sandoval (BOS) @ TOR (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 84 pitches.
Ah yes, the classic Irish Panda providing a Dusty Donut to propel the hilariously dissonant 3.30 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. The fastballs are too blegh and the change/slider can push strikeouts when they’re both on, but this was a 43% strike changeup. Nope. (View Game Card)
Cody Bradford (TEX) @ LAA (L) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 75 pitches.
Not bad for Bradford’s second outing, tossing five more pitches than his Still ILL yet going a full seven frames. Let’s all thank the Angels for once again failing to handle a southpaw’s changeup effectively, masking an 88 mph fastball that leaked over the plate way too often for comfort. Sit out a date in Sacré Verde and I’m down to go for it a second time against the Angels in Arlington. (View Game Card)
Michael Wacha (KCR) @ LAD (ND) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 96 pitches.
You know, Wacha had six frames of 1 ER ball with four hits locked up through six, but nope, he had to return for the seventh and ruin a beautiful line. Careful, Icarus. He is who he is, a lovely Toby who has had his scale tipped toward the fortunate pail this year for a 3.46 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. Why not keep rolling with this with ATH, DET, @CLE ahead? (View Game Card)
Hunter Brown (HOU) @ SFG (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 89 pitches.
Hunter, dude. You have to get your four-seamer in order. We’re back to 15″ vert (not 17″+) and 52% strikes, and I didn’t even have the silver lining of a good curveball to hand-wave it. In Oracle Park! COME ON DUDER. It’s been a real hangup for Brown since his return and with every start I get a little more concerned he won’t be able to find it again. (View Game Card)
Dylan Cease (TOR) vs BOS (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 104 pitches.
Ah yes. The floor that prevents me from pushing Cease further up The List. He tried to get his change and curveball involved, but each went 3/10 strikes as Cease featured a major 1-2 tick drop in velocity down to 95.8 mph instead of 97+. He should be fine. Probably. (View Game Card)
Nick Martinez (TBR) @ ATH (W) – 9.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 101 pitches.
This is so cool. Sure, it was an extra 2 ER in the ninth, but a complete game is a lovely achievement, and it’s just another feather in Martinez’s cap across a magnificent 2.74 ERA, 1.09 WHIP 2026 campaign. You didn’t mention his strikeout rate. Uh, let’s not do that. Can’t I just be happy for him instead of quoting a 14% strikeout rate? IT’S THAT BAD?! Ah dangit. Yeah. Whatever, ignore it and just ride this out for as long as it goes, alright? (View Game Card)
Shota Imanaga (CHC) @ WSN (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 86 pitches.
After telling y’all he’s been underrated, Imanaga has now allowed six HRs in three games, including a trio here where he sat 90.7 mph. Oh no. Hey, let’s ease up a little. He’s done so well at 91/92 mph for a while and it’s just one game. Let’s talk if the velocity stays down for another start or two. It’s not far away from 91+ again. (View Game Card)
Nick Lodolo (CIN) @ CHW (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 70 pitches.
It was a Still ILL for Lodolo, so don’t be too harsh on him. This was three solo shots off a trio of pitches middle-middle to RHB. It happens. What doesn’t happen is sitting 1.5 ticks down in a return from the IL with a limited pitch count. That is a little worrisome. He may need a few starts to rev up in typical Lodolo style, and I’m 50/50 if he’s worth it against the Marlins on Sunday. Let’s take it from there. (View Game Card)
Tanner Bibee (CLE) @ DET (L) – 6.1 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 96 pitches.
Blegh. Bibee is adding more drop now, not horizontal movement, and the dude can’t make up his mind. His changeup was bizarre as well, and not the precise offering of last start (I truly don’t understand how five changeups up-and-in out of the zone to RHB returned two outs and two whiffs). He’s a HIPSTER, still but that makes him a 15-team Toby, even if he’s 4-12 through 25 starts despite a 3.99 ERA. Man, that’s so dang rough. (View Game Card)
Bailey Ober (MIN) vs BAL (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 100 pitches.
Oh hey, Ober is still sitting 87 mph, and instead of 0 true outcomes, we got three HRs to go along with a walk and four strikeouts. Now THAT’S modern baseball! It’s hard to believe he sat 92 mph just a few years ago. (View Game Card)
Mason Barnett (ATH) vs TBR (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 67 pitches.
He has kinda interesting stuff, but he is so clearly fantasy irrelevant. Let’s move on. (View Game Card)
Jake Irvin (WSN) vs CHC (L) – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 88 pitches.
Irvin is throwing harder (nice!) and it’s changing nothing (not nice!). When he was on a hot stretch a few years ago, it was a product of his curveball returning high CSW marks routinely as his #1 pitch, and while he’s split his breakers between the hook and sweepers, neither are looking like anything close to the former hero. Maybe all he needs is a cape? (View Game Card)
Kyle Harrison (MIL) @ SDP (L) – 4.2 IP, 8 ER, 10 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 90 pitches.
Oh no. Harrison had such an awesome outing in his Still ILL, but the velocity dropped to sub-94 mph for the first time all season and the Padres feasted. It didn’t help to have a low strike rate on both his curveball (which, by the way, turns into a sweeper against LHB), and changeup, but the real story is the fastball’s ineffectiveness, as it recorded just 2/44 whiffs. That’s not the man we love. I sure hope he’s alright, but it’s hard not to think something is up just two starts removed from the IL. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Dustin May vs. Robbie Ray – Today’s the day we play May vs. Ray!
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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