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 Twitch.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Reid Detmers (LAA) vs KCR (W) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 92 pitches.
Fear is the experience of an unmanifested threat. In fantasy baseball terms, fear is what you feel when you are bombarded with warning signs of inevitable regression. Fear, however, is merely anxiety about the future – a future that only exists in your mind – but it can be a helpful tool when understood correctly.
In day-to-day life, that means honestly investigating your thoughts to find the source of the feeling to better understand yourself. The results will tell you whether action or acceptance is required. The process is not too dissimilar when analyzing pitchers. Have fears that a pitcher is outperforming their expectations? Take a deep dive and see if there is data to back it up. If there is data to back up regression, change your assessment of the pitcher, and if not, accept this as a new baseline.
There’s a bit more nuance to it, and Reid Detmers is a perfect case study. On Saturday, he hosted the Royals, continuing what has been an amazing season as he tossed 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 92 pitches (W). The southpaw was awarded a Golden Goal and lowered his ratios to a 3.78 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP while increasing his strikeout rate to an elite 29%. What makes Detmers someone who embodies this fear-based analogy?
To start, he’s long been a volatile pitcher heavily reliant on a devastating one-two punch. The limited arsenal in concert with a lack of recent volume, career-long struggles as a starter, zero faith in his club’s pitching development or defense, and turbulent command made his return to the rotation a controversial talking point, only exacerbated by his early 2026 success. Fear crept in as anxiety increased about his ability to maintain his command of a BSB approach throughout a full season, the inevitable annual disappearance of his signature slider, and the lack of a tertiary offering stepping up to support his fastball or slider when the other underperformed.
But his downfall never manifested. Now we’re at the crossroads where we have to determine whether this is a new baseline with which we have to reach acceptance, or if we should continue to live in fear of an inevitable decline. At this point, I think we’ve seen enough that we need to change our initial assessment of Detmers.
Not only has the southpaw dominated without pristine command throughout the season, but he’s also found enough assistance and trust in his curveball to give him a third pitch when he’s not at his best. His changeup has even had moments of waking up to give him a legit RHB nullifier. There have been moments where it looked like Detmers was cooked, lending credence to our anxiety, but he’s always emerged stronger than ever. As long as he’s throwing plenty of strikes with BSB intent and support from a third pitch, he’s going to be great. It’s time to enter into a state of acceptance and start the man without fear. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:
Sonny Gray (BOS) @ PIT (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BB, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 86 pitches.
It’s always Sonny in Pittsburgh. Doesn’t have the same ring to it. This start looks a lot better than Gray actually pitched. Sweepers have been the key to his success, and while they induced five whiffs and four strikeouts, they played pin the tail on the donkey with the zone. Let’s just say that’s not their best party game. He got away with plenty of hittable fastballs in the zone, and he was lucky a typically intimidating Pirates lineup didn’t make him pay. Whatever! It’s SFG/@MIA/SEA moving forward. Forecasts call for clear skies ahead! (View Game Card)
Michael McGreevy (STL) @ CHC (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 102 pitches.
The red(bird) M&M is always reliant on batted balls, but when you command as well as he did on Saturday, Koufax isn’t needed to produce great results. McGreevy had the BSB + Canibal McSanchez cooking against LHB, while sinkers kissed the edges of the zone to play off of pristinely located low-and-away sweepers. We know what to expect from McGreevy moving forward. He’s a Toby we can stream against weak offenses in standard leagues and can hold onto him for cromulent yet reliable production in deeper leagues. (View Game Card)
Randy Dobnak (KCR) @ LAA (ND) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 93 pitches.
The RD redemption tour has been one of the more unexpected storylines of the 2026 campaign. No one can tell me they saw this coming. I saw this coming. You’re not real! Dobnak continued his unreal run with what could be considered his most convincing performance of the year, as he induced a season-high 13 whiffs and six punchouts on his way to a Philly. Everything stayed at the bottom of the zone, allowing changeups to sneak below it for seven whiffs and a trio of Ks. That’s six of eight outings with one run or fewer, and I don’t blame you if you want to Vargas Rule this with an easy schedule of ATH/@TOR/MIA ahead. (View Game Card)
Will Dion (WSN) @ NYM (ND) – 4.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 BB, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 64 pitches.
Acquired from the Guardians at the trade deadline in the Foster Griffin deal, Dion was untouchable following opener Brad Lord. It’s unclear if the Nationals are attempting to convert him back to starting or if they were just squeezing the most out of him on a night where he was at his best. A SWATCH throwing in the low-90s, he doesn’t have your prototypical bullpen stuff, but a funky delivery and high arm slot made him much better in short relief stints than as a starter during his time in the minors. It’s worth keeping an eye on, especially with Lord being considered a starter without being given the leash to look like one. Let’s keep an eye on this rotation battle, but it’s not worth focusing on so much that you lose track of important things like how many waffles you’re going to have for breakfast tomorrow. (View Game Card)
Simeon Woods Richardson (TOR) vs NYY (ND) – 2.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 BB, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 29 pitches.
SWR was fine, if not unremarkable, in bulk relief, but I’m more interested in talking about the guy who pitched before him. Braydon Fisher? No, after that. Mason Fluharty? Ugh, no! Ricky Tiedemann! Who? I’m getting there! Former top Blue Jays prospect (2024), and now their #11 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Tiedemann’s career has been wrecked by injuries and underperformance. Once one of the most promising southpaws in the minors, he’s been forced to transition to a relief role to stay on the field. Still just 23 years old, MLB success isn’t out of the question, though it’s far from guaranteed. In his MLB debut, he showcased a 96 mph two-plane four-seamer with lackluster attributes and a promising, well-commanded 81-82 mph sweeper. He may never get a real shot in the rotation, and his stuff likely plays better in relief anyway. (View Game Card)
Jesús Luzardo (PHI) @ MIN (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 109 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Facing solely RHB didn’t stop Luzardo from featuring his sweeper as his primary offering. The breaker led his arsenal with nine whiffs and 40% CSW, while four-seamers did the only thing we ask them to do – avoid damage. You’ve totally forgotten about his slow start by now, as he’s recorded a 2.40 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 30% strikeout rate across his last 21 starts. (View Game Card)
Joey Cantillo (CLE) vs SDP (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hit, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 87 pitches.
Cantillo’s new approach and improved stuff have remained intact across the last few weeks, but the immediate results that accompanied the changes haven’t stuck around. It was a 1.59 ERA across six starts before a 5.79 ERA across the next five, forcing us to question the validity of believing in Cantill-2.0. After Saturday’s domination of the Padres, we’re back in business. The strikeouts are flowing as curveballs remain his primary pitch, signature changeups do their thing, fastballs display increased velo, and cutters act as the glue holding everything together. What’s not to like? Heading to Coors. Right…he does have to do that next. Maybe avoid that one before it’s all systems go @LAA and vs TOR afterward. (View Game Card)
Jacob Misiorowski (MIL) @ LAD (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BB, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 98 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Not even the Dodgers could slow down The Miz. This’ll be a fun postseason rematch if it comes to that. (View Game Card)
Logan Webb (SFG) vs COL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 80 pitches.
With Rockie Road, there’s only one thing you can do. Eat it all in one sitting? Well, yes, but also dominate and make fantasy managers increasingly happy. Nothing otherworldly, but the classic solid production that makes Webb one of the most reliable Holly arms in baseball. It was interesting to see him lean so heavily into a Canibal McSanchez approach against a LHB-heavy lineup, pumping up his four-seamer and cutter usage 17% and 10%, respectively. The former constantly surprised above the zone for eight whiffs and four Ks, while cutters worked to jam hitters and prop up his strike rate with a 79% mark. Changeups weren’t the whiff machines they usually are, but beautiful locations low and armside allowed them to churn six outs on seven balls in play, while sweepers snuck in the front door for five called strikes. I wonder if this was a one-night thing, or if this is a conscious departure from the sinker (-23% to 6% usage). (View Game Card)
Cam Schlittler (NYY) @ TOR (ND) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 97 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. His Ras Pack + 87-88 mph curveball is a lethal repertoire. He lacked efficiency due to 54% strikes on non-sinkers, but we’ll take this all day. He’ll get a chance at redemption with a rematch hosting the Blue Jays this week. (View Game Card)
Jared Jones (PIT) vs BOS (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 85 pitches.
We needed something to believe in after Jones struggled across his last three starts. I think this’ll suffice. He induced a season-high 17 whiffs as his signature four-seamer dominated as usual with eight whiffs, 39% CSW, and 77% strikes, but it was the reemergence of his changeup as a supportive tertiary pitch that really made the difference. He kept it below the zone to LHB to coax five swings and misses, and it was huge in making up for his lack of slider command. The next step will be becoming efficient enough to survive six frames consistently while being capped at 85 pitches. He’ll need more than 51% strikes on secondary offerings to pull that off. Heading to Hollywood next, he’ll need to be at the top of his game to make that a worthy start. (View Game Card)
Emerson Hancock (SEA) @ HOU (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 97 pitches.
Put this guy in a boat with his twin Will Warren and his contemporary Reid Detmers and ship them off to the island of pitchers that continue to exceed my expectations despite all the red flags. Hancock actually did something that he’s struggled to do all year – throw some dang good offspeed pitches. I’ve pointed to that as a weakness in his foundation all year. As his fastballs have declined, I haven’t seen the breakers step up to give him anything else to trust. Well, on Saturday, sweepers were commanded exceptionally down low to RHB for six whiffs and four strikes, mixing perfectly with armside sinkers. With four-seamers handling LHB all by themselves, despite his iVB failing to return to early-season levels, with seven whiffs, 42% CSW, and 77% strikes. I’ll need to see him maintain the feel for an offspeed pitch more than once or see his fastball movement return to its April form before I start feeling confident in him again, but you gotta keep starting him where he’s rostered even if he’s been a Toby for most of the year. (View Game Card)
Kyle Bradish (BAL) @ TBR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 93 pitches.
This was a dark chocolate Cherry Bomb as the results were bittersweet like a Dusty Donut. Bradish limited damage by inducing 60% weak contact and keeping the ball in the yard, but awful command kept traffic on the bases all game. Outside of sliders getting a ton of chases to propel it to a 69% strike rate, the rest of his arsenal wasn’t as fortunate, returning a meager 53% strike rate despite a solid 47% zone rate. Blame that on them not fooling anyone, as they combined for just a single whiff and a 15% chase rate. His ability to work out of jams was spectacular, but it’s not a skill we want to rely upon, especially if you like low WHIPs. Bradish has fanned less than 17% of the batters he’s faced across his last eight starts, and it’s getting hard to taste the sweetness in his performances. With the Yankees and Coors sandwiching a start in St. Louis, it may be time to peruse the wire for other options in standard leagues. Those breakers are just so inconsistent and the heaters so hittable. (View Game Card)
Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI) @ ATL (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 96 pitches.
The season-long Vargas Rule continues. It was less changeup domination than usual, but that should only make you more confident in E-Rod’s abilities. Even without all five of his weapons in immaculate condition, he’ll still give you production well worth your time. This snowball has rolled downhill for so long that there’s no stopping it at this point. (View Game Card)
Ryan Gusto (MIA) @ CIN (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 70 pitches.
Ryan was gusting breezing through the Reds lineup before getting roughed up for two homers and a double in the fifth before getting yanked. Not only does his kitchen sink not have any flavors that get me excited, but he doesn’t have a leash long enough to make him worth rostering as a starter. Maybe if he had an increased win chance as a bulk reliever, but even then, I’d be staying away most of the time. (View Game Card)
Brady Singer (CIN) vs MIA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 93 pitches.
This is fine in a quality start league until you realize it was a VVPQS and a Wonka with just four Ks and no win. A pair of solo shots and a failure to induce whiffs with his slider put his sinker in a tough spot to carry the load with called strikes and grounders – an approach that is rarely successful or sustainable. (View Game Card)
Ian Seymour (TBR) vs BAL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BB, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 93 pitches.
From domination to PQS, and all it took was a solo shot in the sixth to make it happen. Careful, Icarus. You gotta love what Seymour’s been doing since a brief stumble sandwiching the All-Star break. His last five appearances have produced a 2.51 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 31% strikeout rate, as he pulls off the BSB with four-seamers and changeups while mixing in sinkers and sweepers to assist vs RHB and dominate LHB. He needs to be rostered everywhere, especially with a cushy matchup vs TOR on the docket this week. (View Game Card)
MacKenzie Gore (TEX) @ ATH (W) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 99 pitches.
Not many pitchers survive Sacré Verde. You consider this surviving?! No. I never said Gore was a member of that select group. I also think he was lucky to allow just three runs. He stranded runners more efficiently than he should’ve gotten away with, and he produced 16 foul balls on his heater, which should’ve been put in play more often, likely producing even more damage. As a HIPSTER, Gore is always on shaky ground, and it was no more evident than on Saturday. (View Game Card)
Anthony Kay (CHW) @ DET (ND) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BB, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 86 pitches.
As a streamable Toby, Kay’s someone who we target against bottom-half offenses. The Tigers are in the middle of the pack, making it a questionable proposition, especially when changes are failing to fool batters like they usually do, surrendering a trio of hits and a long ball. He’s been a lot steadier of late, with a 3.18 ERA and no more than three earned runs allowed across his past 10 starts, but with Hotlanta up next, I think we leave him on the wire. Don’t count out success, though. They’re not as intimidating as they were in the first half, and rank 18th in MLB with a 96 wRC+ against southpaws. (View Game Card)
Troy Melton (DET) vs CHW (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BB, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches.
Well, that’s not ideal. This was the first stumble from Melton since he allowed four runs on June ninth. Yeah, he’d gone nine straight starts with two or fewer runs, and eight of those came with one or fewer. All we can do is blame Koufax for this one, as Melton got Singled Out with a ridiculous .529 BABIP. He’ll be much more fortunate @KCR next, and I don’t think this start changed anyone’s assessment of him anyway. (View Game Card)
Sean Manaea (NYM) vs WSN (ND) – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 93 pitches.
The recipe that’s propelled Manaea to success in recent starts didn’t taste as good as it usually does. Let’s not ignore the impressive whiff and CSW marks, though. Four-seamers were still north of 92 mph, allowing them to shine in the zone for 12 whiffs, 40% CSW, and 79% strikes, while sweepers went front door or back foot for a quartet of swings and misses. That’s worked in the past, but in the past he didn’t serve up a three-run home run on a backfoot slider to Brady House in the sixth. Well, it did technically happen in the past, but not the distant past. This start doesn’t deter me from trusting him @CHW next, even with the White Sox being a club that excels against southpaws. That extra velo makes all the difference. (View Game Card)
J.T. Ginn (ATH) vs TEX (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 94 pitches.
Ginn was looking right at home through four frames. Yeah, he was pitching in Sacramento. Sacré Verde isn’t a very comfortable place to call home, and it proved to be treacherous again when Ginn served up a run in the fifth, before going back out for the sixth to allow three more runs, two of which came on the Sacramento special – a big ole’ dinger! Careful, Icarus. I’m totally cool starting Ginn on the road in Kansas City next, but I want no part of him hosting the Twins afterward. (View Game Card)
Justin Wrobleski (LAD) vs MIL (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BB, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 107 pitches.
The downfall of Wrobleski has been hard to watch. He’s seen his ERA inflate from 2.62 through 17 outings to 3.56 after four straight disasters. Home runs have become a real issue. 11 balls have flown over the wall against Wrobleski during his cold streak, after he entered it with just eight homers on the season. Is that expected regression or poor HR/FB luck? Hard to tell, but I remain confident that he’s not completely cooked. He threw harder than ever on Saturday, averaging 96 mph with his four-seamer and sitting 88+ with sliders. As long as he throws 95+ and pulls off an approach reminiscent of a BSB with those two offerings, while mixing in an expanded arsenal to keep batters honest, he’s going to give you a pretty good shot at a win. (View Game Card)
Randy Vásquez (SDP) @ CLE (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BB, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 90 pitches.
Vásquez has recovered the velocity that made him interesting in the Spring. It didn’t come with the whiffs and Ks that made it worthy of praise. That was, until Saturday, when he induced double-digit whiffs and struck out more than three batters for the first time since June 13th (and just the second time since May ninth)…and he still struggled, pitching in bulk relief of opener Wandy Peralta. Well, it actually went fine for the first four frames, until a trio of hits and two runs in the seventh ruined everything, but you gotta be able to survive at least five frames when you’re at your best. I love his cutter sitting 93 mph, but it’s not enough to carry an arsenal that is somehow deep and limited at the same time. (View Game Card)
Hayden Wesneski (HOU) vs SEA (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BB, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 81 pitches.
It’s difficult to succeed when your signature pitch fails to find the zone against the handedness against which it excels the most. Against RHB, sweepers landed in the zone…never, biting him hard when it came to putting away a right-handed batter with two runners on in the first. I can forgive that, as I expect Wesneski to generally get it done against RHB, but his LHB approach is what’s in question, and most of the damage came from opposite-handed batters. Four-seamers were completely uncompetitive above the zone, changeups didn’t fall below the zone effectively, and big, looping sweepers aren’t the ideal pitch to rely upon as a primary offering against LHB for a righty. He’s a fine Toby in deep leagues at the moment, but I’m going to need to see some improvement from his command to trust him at all in standard leagues. (View Game Card)
Grant Holmes (ATL) vs ARI (L) – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 65 pitches.
Coming off back-to-back outings of six shutout innings, the REB didn’t have the favor of Koufax working for him. There was a brief glimpse of curveball and four-seamer support a couple of starts ago, but that appears to have been a mirage. Holmes breaks the Huascar Rule and shouldn’t be trusted in standard leagues. You probably don’t want a piece of him in deep leagues either, with @CHW/LAD up next. (View Game Card)
Michael Lorenzen (COL) @ SFG (L) – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 K – 5 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 82 pitches.
Lorenzen’s ratios are now as big as his muscles, and our bread is as dry as the Mojave Desert. HAISTBMBWT?! (View Game Card)
Matthew Boyd (CHC) vs STL (L) – 5.1 IP, 7 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 97 pitches.
This might as well be a chocolate factory, because you got a Wonka. A new rival entered the chat, as rookie outfielder Joshua Baez took Boyd deep three times to become the first player in MLB history to homer in the first three plate appearances of their career. The long ball has become an issue for Boyd. He’s served up seven dingers in August alone, after allowing just six homers in 12 previous starts. I don’t think it’s a new trend the kids are doing on TikTok, but I do think we’re safe starting him @TEA this week. (View Game Card)
Connor Prielipp (MIN) vs PHI (L) – 5.0 IP, 8 ER, 8 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 94 pitches.
I was just starting to regain confidence in Prielipp. Then he had to go and get Singled Out in a fifth frame that culminated in a three-run homer. He had two breakers working here, and his fastball didn’t get crushed. Maybe he does need that changeup to nullify RHB. Or maybe he needs to start throwing a cutter if he can’t command the slowball. Or maybe he just needs a second chance to prove he’s not cooked against the LHP-prone Padres in San Diego in his next time out. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Tarik Skubal vs. Logan Henderson – This is gonna be fun!
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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