Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Sunday 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.
Eury Pérez (MIA) @ CIN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 100 pitches.
It was tough rostering Eury Pérez at the start of the season. The highly adored flamethrower for the Marlins forced us to endure a 5.33 ERA and 1.41 WHIP across his first ten games, as we kept wondering when he’d be able to take his TIARA off. We got a taste of it on May 22nd, but it wasn’t until May 27th that he gave us hope, where he fanned nine batters in four frames…before getting a horrible hamstring cramp that sent him to the IL for a month. Fortunately, it didn’t stop his ascension. After a whatever Still ILL, Pérez has been consistently dope for faithful managers, producing a 1.79 ERA, and 0.98 ERA with a 28% strikeout rate across his last nine outings, including Sunday’s 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 100 pitches (ND) performance. I’m happy we can officially leave our purgatory of the spring, but now we must ask, how much of a weapon is Pérez for the final stretch?
The Eury is still out. On one hand, his slider and sweeper were the stellar whiff pitches to RHB we’ve wanted them to be for so long, boasting 9/37 whiffs between them. On the other, his four-seamer and sinker command was highly questionable, missing few bats and walking four across nearly 50 pitches. And even if I’m thrilled to see his changeup get high enough to return a 70% strike rate at 20% usage to LHB (we’ve come SO FAR from 2/8 strikes of last year!), he’s not surgical in his approach. It’s better, but not quite an ace in my view.
Yet. I’m thrilled it’s the Nationals for two and @KCR on the horizon, and there’s no reason we’re holding Eury back from our lineups. I wish I didn’t see signs of his floor appearing again, and I’ll just quietly hope the breakers can keep being effective to RHB while the fastball precision returns. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:
Noah Cameron (KCR) @ LAA (W) – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 115 pitches.
This is DOPE. That’s another fantastic outing from Cameron, here earning a Gallows Pole as he returned a CGSHO with just one hit in the seventh. It was a dumb hit, too. It sure was! Up-and-in cutter to a RHB. BAH! We keep riding Cameron against the Tigers and Jays, of course. He’s going roughly 25% fastballs at 93 mph with properly commanded secondaries and it’s awesome. (View Game Card)
Casey Mize (SDP) @ CLE (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 86 pitches.
I was down on this outing due to weird velocity issues, lack of slider precision, and terrible splitter feel that would have to be far better against a LHB-heavy lineup. I’m so happy to be wrong, though I have to mention one thing. The 93.7 mph four-seamer? Oh, not that. 41% CSW slider? No, but it was just a 55% strike rate without the elegance around the zone we saw before. No, it’s a 68% strike rate splitter with a 0% CSW with 0 hits. Nine foul balls and six outs in play. That’s kinda amazing, even if clearly a bit fortunate. Still, it’s enough for me to trust him against the Twins and @ TBR up next. (View Game Card)
Nick Lodolo (CIN) vs MIA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 73 pitches.
The changeup was great. The sinkers were meh. The curveball + four-seamer? Terrible. Welp, he’s up to 73 pitches and gets @ARI + @SFG ahead. That’s fine and let’s hope he latches onto the hook soon. (View Game Card)
Lake Bachar (PIT) vs BOS (ND) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 52 pitches.
It was a cowquill game for the Pirates and let’s move on. Uhhhh, I can’t after that sentence. Whoops, my bad. Bullpen game. (View Game Card)
Ryan Weathers (NYY) @ TOR (ND) – 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 95 pitches.
Here’s a fun fact. After allowing 10 HRs in six games, Weathers has allowed 2 HRs in 10 games, where he’s held a 2.70 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 22% strikeout rate. In the 13 games before them, it was a 4.36 ERA, but a 1.17 WHIP and 27% strikeout rate. The ERA gap seems large enough that we clearly want the former version of Weathers, but it’s not as clear-cut as many would make it seem. Better for the Yankees, of course, BUT THIS AIN’T REAL LIFE. (View Game Card)
Logan Henderson (MIL) @ LAD (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 93 pitches.
Yesssss. That makes Henderson one game away from Coronation Day when he faces Atlanta next. I have to mention that Henderson’s 2.68 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and 30% strikeout rate across his last six games since his Still ILL on July 9th, which is so clearly not going to continue. He’s allowed just 9 ER in that time and 8 HRs, meaning just one runner on base has come around to score in 35 innings. And speaking of baserunners, no one holds a 5.7 hit/9 for long, let alone a 4% walk rate at the same time. It’s just not believable. And yet, I’ll still grant him the AGA tag if he kills it against Atlanta, as you’re not going to bench him moving forward. Just temper your expectations a bit, alright? (View Game Card)
Tarik Skubal (LAD) vs MIL (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 109 pitches.
Aces gonna go 0-2 across his first three starts as a Dodger. Funny how that works, eh? 14/15 strikes on his slider + 12/42 changeup whiffs is all kinds of ridiculous. (View Game Card)
Bryce Elder (ATL) vs ARI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 75 pitches.
Oh. We’re doing this again, are we? FIne, take the Gold Star, and if you really want to start him in Milwaukee next time, sure. You do you. That’s five strikeouts on four whiffs. He also has the Dodgers next Thursday and we all know you can’t do that one, too. (View Game Card)
Dylan Cease (TOR) vs NYY (ND) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 10 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 104 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He’s so good until he randomly walks a dude or can’t efficiently throw any secondaries for more than a 55% strike rate (47% on his curve and change), and for a guy who fans 10 in 6.1 frames, it’s strange how watching Cease can feel so tedious at times. Just execute the pitch ONCE and you’ve got him! Okay, not that one, this time–! Nope. Let’s try again…YES! Sorry to sound so negative, here’s the cool part: He has a 37% strikeout rate across nearly 138 innings this year. Absolute UNIT. (View Game Card)
Trevor Rogers (BAL) @ TBR (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 98 pitches.
After his previous start was a mess of poor command via the slowball, Rogers got back on the horse and pumped 94/95 mph up with ease 60% of the time, while the changeup, cutter, and sweeper did their job underneath. WE’RE BACK BAYBEEE. (View Game Card)
Jacob Lopez (ATH) vs TEX (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 93 pitches.
It doesn’t stop. You’ve read these roundups, you know JLo is ready to Dance Again. I get excited when I know he’s starting that day. My entire afternoon is just Waiting For Tonight. But the velocity was lower. Yeah, I saw that too. And yet, he still had whiffs on both the four-seamer and sweeper, while the cutter was back on point. I’m gonna be alright. (View Game Card)
Bryan Woo (SEA) @ HOU (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 75 pitches.
This is great! He left with shoulder soreness. This is terrible! (View Game Card)
Michael Soroka (ARI) @ ATL (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 80 pitches.
The line is beautiful. The performance was…questionable. Early-season Soroka was the pinnacle of pristine pitch separation and I haven’t seen it return in his two starts back from the IL. It’s not poor, just not local hero vibes, you know? Who is this guy?! I’d still go for it, hosting the Reds and @SFG – Soroka could find it as soon as next start and his curveball still performed well – but he was a bit fortunate here and was able to skirt by while featuring a dip in velocity from 94 mph to 92 and change. (View Game Card)
Ryan Johnson (LAA) vs KCR (L) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 85 pitches.
This may be the end of the line for RJ, barring a change in Kikuchi’s timeline to return later this week. As for Johnson, he’s barely sniffed ten whiffs lately and this was his first time reaching 5+ frames since July 19th. (View Game Card)
Hunter Dobbins (STL) @ CHC (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 96 pitches.
Hmmmmmm. The velocity came back to 94/95 mph (yay!) but he couldn’t color between the lines as he did two starts ago and it felt awfully precarious. Koufax was a kind soul and if he were in Busch Stadium for the Phillies next, I’d be okay with it, but in Philly is dangerous. I don’t buy those strikeouts with an elevated two-strike rate and putaway rate in this one, and with BAL + @LAD after @PHI, I’m looking elsewhere. (View Game Card)
Hunter Brown (HOU) vs SEA (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 90 pitches.
Dude. What is wrong with your four-seamer?! Another start of poor performance at 50% strikes, and it became more obvious with an outing featuring poor strike rates on the deuce and slowball. He’s averaging 7.5 whiffs per start across his last four now, and no, that doesn’t sound like the Hunter you’ve waited for. He’s fanned more than five batters just twice across his last ten starts. WHAT IS GOING ON. (View Game Card)
Freddy Peralta (TBR) vs BAL (L) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 76 pitches.
Awwww, I was hoping he’s pull this one out and he came oh-so-close, but the Rays saw him walk a pair in the fifth and pulled him before facing the top of the lineup a third time. I wish they gave him a shot as his four-seamer was performing much better here at the top of the zone, but then again, the changeup Tampa has pushed him to feature more often was horrid. 4/11 strikes with many waste pitches left him stranded on fastball island. I don’t like this as much away from the Trop and in Baltimore, so I’m out, once again. (View Game Card)
Cody Bradford (TEX) @ ATH (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 81 pitches.
Bradford allowed two hits to the only LHB he faced, including a two-run shot (Butler), and overall executed his game plan to RHB consistently. Too bad it was in Sacré Verde, but now he hosts the Angels in lovely Arlington, where he’s sure to earn all the whiffs with his SWATCH approach. I’m so down for that. (View Game Card)
Christian Scott (NYM) vs WSN (W) – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 90 pitches.
Scott’s four-seamer and cutter are pulling off the Canibal McSanchez super well, while the sweeper is decent enough that he’s prime for dominance if he can just find a consistent curve, splitter, or changeup down. And the thing is, he showcased a 90.7 mph “sinker” that I actually think is a hard changeup, and boy do I want him to do that a whole lot more. It could be the final piece of the puzzle to help him take off before the season ends. Alright Scott, I’m back in for the White Sox up next. (View Game Card)
Tanner Bibee (CLE) vs SDP (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 96 pitches.
Ah yes, a VVPQS that turns into a Wonka for non-QS managers. Can I please stop entertaining the idea that Bibee will figure things out? It was harder to come around on the idea last year, but it’s pretty obvious at this point. Sure, he could have one of those magical nights here and there, but why are we doing this to ourselves in 12-teamers? (View Game Card)
Drew Anderson (DET) vs CHW (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 74 pitches.
There’s some promise in that split-change, but it has to do more than a 50% strike rate at 30% usage for me to get interested. At least he’s stretched out to 80+ pitches now, and it’s not out of the question he comes through in Kansas City up next. That’s a deep league play, though, don’t be foolish in shallower. (View Game Card)
Jake Irvin (WSN) @ NYM (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 98 pitches.
He’s throwing harder and it’s still not helping him. The changeup was used far more than usual this time around, which may seem cool, but again, it’s not helping. I don’t think I’ll be interested unless the curve + sweeper take over in a huge way, and even then, I’d still be cautious given the track record. (View Game Card)
Dean Kremer (MIN) vs PHI (ND) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 89 pitches.
A true Careful, Icarus for Kremer as he tossed five shutout frames before a destructive sixth with a pair of walks, single, and three-run HR off the bat of Bohm via a splitter hung high-and-tight that was somehow yanked out of the yard. He was truly unlucky here with a filthy cutter to RHB and I’m down to start him against the Padres next time out. It was a King Cole, y’all, he pitched well! (View Game Card)
Sean Burke (CHW) @ DET (ND) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 72 pitches.
Huh. That’s two 4.1 IP games with low whiff rates sandwiching a 20-whiff gem of seven frames. His curve and cutter didn’t give him the support he needed, while the four-seamer had a bit less vert than usual, leading to only 1/23 whiffs. It’s strange, again, and it’s a little more concerning considering he just had a start so similar to this one. That said, he’s been so unbelievably good that you can’t possibly bench him for the Mets up next, let alone the Rangers and Houston after. (View Game Card)
Andrew Painter (PHI) @ MIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 94 pitches.
Blegh. I’m a bit shocked that Painter’s sliders and sweepers returned so few whiffs to RHB, despite getting placed with such delicacy right outside the zone. To me, it signifies either a problem with sequencing or with tipping of some kind (either before the pitch or easily picking up the pitch on release). It gives me some hope it can be sorted out, while the vert on his four-seamer rose two full inches and came with less cut out of nowhere. It’s likely due to an arm angle change and it led to a 120 plvStuff+ on the pitch, far higher than he’s had all season. And look what it got him. Totally fair. Still, if that four-seamer is slightly harder to hit than before, that’s a positive step in the right direction. (View Game Card)
Blade Tidwell (SFG) vs COL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 63 pitches.
He was excellent against RHB Astros lineup due to his sweeper having a field day away and off the plate. This Colorado lineup served him just 1 RHB in their starting lineup, leading to a ghastly day on the bump, despite the benefits of Rockie Road and Oracle Park. Sometimes it’s just as simple as that. Well, he also sat nearly two ticks down. Sure didn’t help. And none of his pitches held a strike rate above 57%. Yeah, that’s not good either. YOU GET MY POINT. I don’t think you’ll see a peak like last week for the rest of the year, unless Tidwell finds something new to feature to LHB. (View Game Card)
Patrick Sandoval (BOS) @ PIT (L) – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 89 pitches.
The changeup is looking great, it’s the rest of the arsenal that isn’t getting the job done. That’s kinda been the story for Sandoval (View Game Card)
Gabriel Hughes (COL) @ SFG (ND) – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 81 pitches.
Womp womp. I really wanted to see this work, but I knew in my heart it wouldn’t. (View Game Card)
Edward Cabrera (CHC) vs STL (L) – 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 77 pitches.
Oh jeez. This was a Still ILL following a blister issue for Cabrera, who was trying to keep his head above water until it fell apart in the fourth with multiple walks. After the game, Cabrera was seen with a bandage around his previously blistered finger, and despite Cabrera’s insistence that he’d be good to go @TEA next, you have to wonder how much it played into this and if they’ll put him right back onto the IL. It’s best to play this safe and/or drop if there’s something else to chase. There simply isn’t a whole lot of time left this year. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Brandon Young vs. Shane McClanahan – Not only is it the return of McShane, but Young’s four-seamer could have a field day in The Trop.
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; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)
