Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Monday 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.
Tyler Mahle (TEX) @ BOS (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 92 pitches.
Is it time to jump back in on Tyler Mahle? You may be convinced by tonight’s 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 92 pitches outing against Boston, though I’m still a bit hesitant.
It’s all still going through the four-seamer, a pitch that has solid shape to it, but sat just 92 mph and has no elite quality, save for precision in the upper third. It’s a great foundation (not an elite foundation) and requires his splitter or slider to step up to make Mahle a consistent arm to be reckoned with. Ober has his changeup, Imanaga has his splitter, and Gilbert has his slider. Mahle doesn’t have a legit secondary (I don’t think it’s his splitter but I hope to be wrong!) and his fastball needs about three more ticks on it for me to truly buy in.
It’s possible his heater precision is the missing piece that actually makes it all work, velocity be damned. I don’t blame anyone who wants to pick up Mahle and give it a whirl against the Twins – he’s certainly had his success in the past. Given Mahle’s lack of de facto value in his track record + the lower velocity on the heater + questionable secondaries, I think I’ll pass in general 12-teamers for now.
Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:
Blake Snell (SFG) vs ATL (ND) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 11 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 114 pitches.
Aces gonna ace with a co-share of the Gallows Pole. The BSB was in full effect from the trailblazer himself, with the curve still being the ultra-dominant force of 2024. He has a sub-1.00 ERA across his last seven starts since returning from the IL. That’s so dumb.
Chris Sale (ATL) @ SFG (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 12 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 107 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. A co-share of the Gallows Pole is expected given just how dang good Sale is this year. That slider is overwhelming everyone and then suddenly, POW! There’s 97 mph by ya. It’s awesome.
Joe Musgrove (SDP) vs PIT (ND) – 4.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 63 pitches.
Ayyyy he’s back! And he looked…fine? Kinda boring? At least it’s a kitchen sink once again and the velocity is normal at 92/93, but I was kinda hoping for a little more pizzazz, you know? At just 63 pitches, you may want to hold off for one more start as he heads to Coors, then jump back in after that.
Bowden Francis (TOR) @ LAA (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 81 pitches.
Oh snap it worked. His four-seamer had legit shape and did super well over the plate while he was able to put away batters for punchouts with his secondaries. Yes, a heavy sprinkle of Blame it on the Angels was applied to this line, but there may have been something more than that. I’m hesitant to trust Francis against the Cubs next, but who knows? Maybe Bowden is the only upside left on your wire. I don’t blame you for giving it a try, but I’m personally not a huge believer in this arsenal.
Andrew Abbott (CIN) vs STL (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 93 pitches.
It was BSB action for Abbott for the second straight start and I’m legit here for it. The approach returned poor results last time out, but far better here, though his four-seamer doesn’t profile well and was smacked into play a whole lot in this one. I still consider him a Cherry Bomb even with this approach, but at least it’s an expression of good command. Finally.
Jake Woodford (PIT) @ SDP (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 74 pitches.
Whoa whoa whoa, the Amish Mustang gets a Gold Star?! WHAT TIMES WE LIVE IN.
Brayan Bello (BOS) vs TEX (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 95 pitches.
Yesssssss. The changeup was great, we saw Bello go Dancing With The Disco and his sinker worked decently well over the plate. This is the Bello I’ve waited for. The guy who can produce even against the Rangers.
Clayton Kershaw (LAD) @ MIL (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 83 pitches.
This was prime Kershaw slider command and I’m so dang here for exhibitions like these from the pitcher of our generation. Thanks Kershaw, it’s nice to get a display of your craft once again.
Framber Valdez (HOU) @ TBR (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 101 pitches.
Framber is on one of his runs as the curveball and changeup are at their peaks. Kick up your feet and enjoy the good times – who knows how long it’ll last.
Pablo López (MIN) vs KCR (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 96 pitches.
Much better. The breakers were on point, especially the curve that had a lot more action than usual. His BSB approach was as good as I’ve seen all year, though he did bounce a few more breakers than ideal (I’m looking at you, sweeper) and his changeup was missing that extra touch of fade we normally get. He recovered as expected after his last outing and I’m very much bought in moving forward. That heater is great, the breakers are great, and the changeup should be better.
Ky Bush (CHW) vs NYY (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 7 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 97 pitches.
Seven walks?? 13 baserunners and just 2 ER?! How. HOW. HOWWWWWWWW.
Bradley Blalock (COL) @ ARI (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 96 pitches.
Blalock got the call chance with Quantrill hitting the IL and he has legit four-seamer vert at 17-18″ of iVB, but the pitch comes in at 93/94 mph, paired with a splitter and slider that leave much to be desired. COL story, bro? Yeah, COL story, bro.
Shota Imanaga (CHC) @ CLE (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 81 pitches.
Blegh. Imanaga got pummeled by a pair of longballs and four extra unearned runs here, with one homer coming off a splitter well below the zone and I’m still shocked by it. I didn’t express enough risk for this start given Cleveland’s HR tendencies merging with Imanaga’s, that’s on me. We’ll get ’em next time.
Ben Lively (CLE) vs CHC (ND) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 79 pitches.
I think it’s time to put this Vargas Rule to bed. Four walks and just one strikeout (HAISTBMBWT?!) despite generally the same approach of old? And just two whiffs? Yeaaaaah, it’s catching up to him.
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 44% CSW, 94 pitches.
Dang solo shot in the sixth ruining this Quality Start as Pfaadt returned a Golden Goal on the back of stupid good command around the zone – just three of those 11 punchouts were inside the strike zone (maybe four…). I’m a believer in Pfaadt’s improved precision and I’m also a believer in Rockie Road helping many pitchers look near their best. I’m all for trusting Pfaadt to deal with the Marlins next.
Freddy Peralta (MIL) vs LAD (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 96 pitches.
It was the Dodgers and this could have been far worse, but hot dang was he a whole lot like Professor Chaos in this one. I was really hoping Peralta would have precision and take down this tough offense in a defiant showcase of his desire to earn the AGA tag once again, but nah. It was untethered, rambunctious command. We can only hope for better.
Davis Daniel (LAA) vs TOR (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 92 pitches.
You know, for having some legit slider and changeup precision, this is a pretty mediocre line. Only save him for a stream against the worst of offenses, which definitely doesn’t include Atlanta up next.
Luis Gil (NYY) @ CHW (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 98 pitches.
Uhhhhh what. Gil wasn’t at his best, but the White Sox were. What a strange game. Even without the best slider or changeup command, Gil should have done far better here. So it goes, still love him against the Guardians.
Brady Singer (KCR) @ MIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 95 pitches.
Look son, there he goes again. The man with a fuse and a stem. Singer, the town Cherry Bomb.
Sonny Gray (STL) @ CIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 85 pitches.
Three home runs messed up an otherwise fantastic outing for Gray. That’s a weird excuse. That’s THREE home runs. Yeah yeah yeah, nine strikeouts y’all. And generally good command. Steer x2 + Elly got in the way, alright?
Taj Bradley (TBR) vs HOU (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 93 pitches.
Ho boy. The splitter went sub-50% strikes with a ton of non-competitive bouncers, while a ton of pitches landed in y-mLoc, where the Astros feasted. All of Taj’s hits came off pitches in the land of middle height (what, like 5’9″?) and it’s the third straight outing of confounding command from our favorite Cherry Bomb. Guess I gotta lower him in the ranks after all. Sigh. Don’t drop the dude – just like he wasn’t destined to be a sub 2.00 ERA arm for the year, he isn’t destined to only have poor command moving forward. He’ll likely help more than hurt moving forward with a ceiling that wins you weeks at times.
Game of the Day
Matthew Boyd vs. Chicago Cubs – BOYD BOYZ UNITE. But Ze–OH RIGHT. ZEBBY!!!!
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
Have Questions? – Join my morning Playback.tv livestream! I answer all questions there for free: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET Monday through Friday.
Photo by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Aaron Polcare (@bearydoesgfx on X)