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.
George Klassen (LAA) @ HOU (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 86 pitches.
When a pitcher who throws hard and has a legit breaking ball gets the opportunity to regularly start, we pay attention. George Klassen made his debut earlier this season and disappointed us with low strike rates, acting as a textbook PEAS as we moved on to other arms. However, he was granted another chance to start for the Halos last week and after a poor showing in what must have been a jitter-filled game, Klassen gave us a gorgeous line in Houston with a higher-than-expected strike rate of 63%: 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 86 pitches (W). Now you’ve got our attention, but is he worth the pickup?
It wasn’t the largest surprise to see Klassen above the 60% strike threshold. After routinely sitting below 60% through May, Klassen featured at least a 60% strike rate in all starts in the minors outside of one – a short three-inning outing on June 13th. Before his return to the majors this August, Eno Sarris and I discussed on The Craft if Klassen has changed his approach from finding the edges to aiming down the center, but I think there’s more to it than that.
As I highlighted in this tweet, I noticed Klassen is a cross-body pitcher. I’ve spilled all the ink about my concerns with cross-body pitchers, and to summarize quickly, it is harder to command with these mechanics, but they get more deception and movement. When pitchers are in rhythm and can throw enough strikes, we see runs like Freddy Peralta and Jake Arrieta of seasons past, and when they are out of it, we see runs like, uh, Freddy Peralta and Jake Arrieta of seasons past.
This isn’t to say I hate this. Klassen’s feel for his 90 mph gyro slider to RHB was phenomenal yesterday, and he benefited from the RHB-heavy Astros to twirl seven frames with just one hit, while taking home a Gallows Pole. However, the four-seamer returned a poor 58% strike rate and just 4/43 whiffs, despite its stellar velocity and shape (albeit with low 6.3 ft extension and an average HAVAA, too). This is all to say that Klassen has the tools to replicate this, but he’s still battling the control bug and this two-pitch approach is questionable when he doesn’t get a bombardment of RHB to send back to the dugout.
It means, yes, Klassen is worth the pickup. He’ll head to Arlington next, and I’d take a shot there, hoping he finds a groove to go 65%+ strikes with his four-seamer. However, the floor is very much present (dang Shag Rug!), and I really hope he finds a reliable third pitch to help tether him when he can’t find his release point. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Cal Quantrill (TEX) vs WSN (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 91 pitches.
That’s four starts in six games for Quantrill, where he’s allowed 3 ER in 23.1 IP. This was the perfect matchup to keep his hot streak alive, sure, but he’s in such a good rhythm with his splitter and I’m kinda tempted to let him fly against the Angels, even if his approach to LHB is a bit better than to RHB. It’s a late Vargas Rule, but it checks out. (View Game Card)
Kyle Harrison (MIL) vs SEA (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 79 pitches.
Last week was a disaster that was cleaned up a touch after a hit was scored an error, but the real problem was the poor secondary command and 93/94 mph velocity that fell from 95+. Clearly this was much better. Wellll, kinda. The four-seamer location was fantastic and led to the King Cole, but the changeup was nonexistent and his curveball…okay the curveball had fantastic results – 52% CSW and 76% strikes with five punchouts – but it was flipped over the plate for called strikes, and the Mariners obliged to go fishing in two-strike counts like it was the Pacific. I’m still a little scared, but look at that line! How can anyone resist? At least it’s the Mets up next and we’re gonna go for it. (View Game Card)
Kyle Leahy (STL) @ CIN (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 90 pitches.
Jeeeeez, the man hasn’t returned more than 2 ER since June 17th. That’s a 1.38 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 26% strikeout rate with a 4.5% walk rate in 52.1 IP across ten starts. Uhhhh, why don’t I like him as much as everyone else again? Ah, right. I haven’t trusted his command at all, despite the high control. This start was different, though. It was the first time I saw Leahy truly pitch backward effectively, locating the breakers where he should against RHB, while the four-seamer was featured just 21% of the time and for sub-50% strikes. Good! We don’t want batters to hit those in play! Get in, get out, and let the breakers do the work with his awesome 7.4 feet of extension. The slider that I compared to Ashcraft’s in the off-season woke up to 90/91 mph and a whopping 27% SwStr rate and if he can spot that thing consistently, he’s made me a believer. FINALLY. (View Game Card)
Erick Fedde (CHW) @ CHC (ND) – 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 78 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! Fedde was opened for and cruised nearly through five full frames, mostly by Dancing With The Disco via sweepers and cutters. The former is the same 92/93 mph I was jazzed about a few weeks ago, and he got the thing up and in consistently to LHB for 67% strikes, while a 41% CSW on the sweeper worked wonders. Annnnnd I don’t trust it at all. Womp womp. He was in such a good rhythm that they let him toss more than 70 pitches for just the second time since July 5th, and who knows how he’s used moving forward. (View Game Card)
Brady Basso (ATH) @ KCR (ND) – 2.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiff, 19% CSW, 32 pitches.
Basso opened for a short Jack Perkins time in relief – 3.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. 8 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 53 pitches (ND) – and I’m a bit sad about it. This was one of the better matchups Perkins would get, why not let the fella start?! His sweeper feel was exceptional, and I dig seeing 20% cutters overall. I don’t think it’s enough to take on the Astros in Houston, but maybe he’ll have an opener and be free to go 75+ for a chance at a Win? Nah, I’m good.
Braxton Ashcraft (PIT) vs DET (W) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 80 pitches.
Whoaaaaa. Ashcraft followed a complete game with eight more frames of 1 ER ball, and that’s dope. I wish it came with ten strikeouts again, too. He’s pulled back on his slider massively to both LHB and RHB, while incorporating more sinkers to the former and curveballs to the latter. Is it a good approach? Considering he went 0/43 whiffs against LHB in this game, I think there’s still a little bit of work to be done. Nevertheless, 98 mph four-seamers (up a full tick) are a wonderful sight that I hope stick around, especially with the immaculate precision upstairs. (View Game Card)
Foster Griffin (CLE) vs SFG (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 101 pitches.
Even with this performance, it’s a 15% strikeout rate across his last six starts, though it is his first with a SwStr rate in double digits. I’ve felt that the book is out on Griffin for a while, and I’m not convinced this start changed the tune, even if he sat a tick higher and favored more changeups to RHB. It felt like a Blame it on the Giants, but I guess it’s enough to keep going, even if you’re benching in Coors up next. (View Game Card)
Robbie Ray (SDP) @ NYM (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.
Ray had his night saved in the second after walking the bases loaded and ending the frame with an insane home run robbery by Tatis Jr. that pulled back a grand slam. Sadly, he couldn’t save Ray from a solo shot off a middle-middle changeup to kick off the fifth, but at least he’s throwing some sliders to RHB and splitting the four-seamer and sinker to RHB. I don’t agree with it fully, as you know, but the man is surviving however he can. PIT, @TBR, NYY is a decent enough schedule that I’m going to keep rolling with it. (View Game Card)
Zebby Matthews (MIN) vs ATL (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 90 pitches.
Is this enough for a Gold Star? Ahhh why not, here ya go Zebby. This was such a strange game of binary CSW marks – either whiffs and no called strikes, called strikes and no whiffs, or zero whiffs and zero called strikes. That final Punnett square is empty and it’s the most common one (This seems really nerdy and no one cares. Then why are you here?!) – and 14 swings on Zebby’s heaters resulted in seven foul balls and seven outs in play. That doesn’t seem sustainable. No, it does not, nor does the 30% putaway rate on his slider that he saved for two strikes. Let’s not do something foolish now by starting him in Sacré Verde. You’re better than that. (View Game Card)
Daniel Lynch IV (KCR) vs ATH (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 45 pitches.
The Royals are trying to stretch out Lynch IV and despite four frames, it’s also just 45 pitches with a HAISTBMBWT?! We saw Mason Black appear after as well, but you really shouldn’t concern yourself with any of this. (View Game Card)
Carlos Rodón (NYY) @ BAL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 66 pitches.
Welcome back fella. I’m not surprised to see him limited to just 66 pitches, and it’ll still be a moment before he’s properly stretched out, but I think you’re fine starting him. Let’s just hope he can feature a better changeup so he throws it more than five times. Heater is dandy at 95 mph with a fair number of whiffs and 64% strikes + 6/24 slider whiffs is all cool with me. (View Game Card)
Tyler Phillips (MIA) @ PHI (L) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 42 pitches.
He worked in bulk relief after Cade Gibson and boy do I want to stop wasting y’all’s time.
Tyler Mahle (ATL) @ MIN (L) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 76 pitches.
This wasn’t the absurd A+ locations of his last outing, but it was good enough with 87% strikes on 31 splitters and 11/11 on his cutter. It made up for some properly lost fastballs fleeing the scene far above the plate. What crime did they commit? They were too furious. Anyway, it’s the Dodgers next and I’m fine benching for that, but the Giants and Phillies follow and I’m game. Gotta love a good REVENGE GAME, eh? (View Game Card)
Andrew Abbott (CIN) vs STL (L) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 98 pitches.
Just when I take him off The List, he shows up again. TYPICAL ABBOTT. The low sweepers and changeups worked wonders and the fastball incessantly pounded the zone for 80% strikes. Some days that works, some days that doesn’t. (View Game Card)
Zack Wheeler (PHI) vs MIA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 98 pitches.
Aces gonna return 4+ walks for the second time in three games. This one was worse than his August 7th start, as he didn’t have the same general accuracy as before, with far more wild pitches than usual. It led to a shocking 58% strike rate for Wheeler, which is simply wrong. At least the velocity is fine, and let’s move on. (View Game Card)
Cristian Javier (HOU) vs LAA (L) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches.
It’s another step further for Javier, but still not there. The four pitch mix is still alive and generally well, but failure to put batters away (15% per pitch putaway rate is rough) + lots of foul balls and a sub 50% strike rate on 30% sweepers = getting pulled before seeing the fifth. But at least we’re getting more strikeouts at all, and the changeup + sweeper went 10/37 whiffs between them. Progress is progress. (View Game Card)
Shane Baz (BAL) vs NYY (L) – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 104 pitches.
Duuuude, he killed it. The curveball at 86/87 mph was disgusting, and if not for a pair of singles converting to two runs after getting the hook, we’d be singing from the rafters. Great to see him back in form with the breaker, and…wait. Where’s the cutter?! He completely shelved it and favored sinkers and changeups to pair with the one-two punch of heaters and curves, and I guess that’s fine…? Yeah, if he locates like this, that’s fine. (View Game Card)
José Soriano (TOR) @ TBR (W) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 91 pitches.
Well ain’t this a weird one. A near VPQS and Wonka, but saved by the dub. Soriano’s velocity fell nearly two ticks on his four-seamer (95.4 mph?! Is this some mid prospect?!), but it was the only stellar strike pitch, the sinker was constantly smacked for hits at 95 mph, and his curveball and splitter were far from reliable. He escaped a ton of jams as he was Singled Out (two double plays included), but hot dang, this was not good. I sure hope the velo returns and he can go sinker/curve effectively moving forward, pulling back reliance on the four-seamer that traditionally sits under a 60% strike rate and now the super high 71% rate here. (View Game Card)
Keider Montero (DET) @ PIT (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 78 pitches.
You have Montero in your lineup not for Wins, not for ERA, not even for strikeouts. I gotta have that cool WHIP. It’s truly remarkable how Keider holds a 1.00 WHIP across 133.2 IP this season. (View Game Card)
Zac Thornton (NYM) vs SDP (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 99 pitches.
Whoa whoa whoa, seven strikeouts?! Thirteen whiffs?! The man was pumping strikes and fanned three with fastballs, one way too high, and two well over the plate, while the slider, sweeper, curve, and change all recorded one on their own. His putaway and two-strike rates were far higher than what we’ve seen this year (unsustainable), but (View Game Card)
Kevin Gausman (CHC) vs CHW (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 86 pitches.
I was stoked Gausman was headed to the Cubs. Why? Because Kevin’s greatest enemy is Koufax and those bleedin’ blue fellas are known to lasso grounders and snatch flyballs out of the air. But somehow, Koufax returned. 50% hits on balls in play is brutal, especially with 15/45 whiffs via the splitter. One was a HR. FINE. 6/14 hits on balls in play. Okay, that’s still terrible. You’re likely looking at Gausman’s terrible 4.58 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, wondering how I could possibly endorse this man still. I get it. The whiffs are still there, y’all. The leash is there. It’s all about a terrible BABIP in the very best place to get it corrected, paired with the same stuff that has worked for ages. With @ARI, CIN, @MIA next, I’m still in. But he left with a hand cramp! Non-pitching hand and a cramp. Please. (View Game Card)
Ranger Suarez (BOS) vs ARI (W) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 93 pitches.
This was a grand slam in the third via a horrible 2-0 sinker down the pipe to right-handed Moreno. And yet, that neglects to paint the proper picture of Suarez’s inability to carress the edges with his wide arsenal, marking the sixth straight game without completing sixth frames. But that includes his injured start and the beginning of his return from the IL. True, it’s not fair. And yet, WE’RE STILL WAITING. At least it’s the Marlins up next. (View Game Card)
Eric Lauer (LAD) @ COL (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 87 pitches.
It’s almost like pitching in Wrigley and Coors is a lot harder than hosting the Royals. The Dodgers called up Emmet Sheehan on Tuesday and despite the report that they are trying to rest their relievers, I have to wonder if Lauer moves to the pen and Sheehan gets to start again until Glasnow returns (which may be just one or two games). Just a thought. In the meantime, if Lauer is still starting, it’s Atlanta and despite their struggles as of late, I can’t do that. (View Game Card)
Bryce Miller (SEA) @ MIL (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.
Ooooof. Miller is running away from his fastballs and I don’t really understand why. Koufax was cruel with legit RHB heaters getting smacked unfairly, but why are we going 73% secondaries to LHB? That four-seamer can still work well and the alternative was a ton of hung splitters. At least the cutter did well inside for the most part, and all I can think of is the four-seamer sitting on the sidelines, watching its friends try and fail. Yes, you can drop Bryce if you haven’t already. He’s 0-5 with a 6.57 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and just a 15% strikeout rate across his last seven games, with the four-seamer turning into a 9% SwStr rate. You really don’t have a choice. (View Game Card)
Jackson Kent (WSN) @ TEX (L) – 3.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 84 pitches.
I can see it. The intent is there to go BSB and jam inside sliders to RHB, but he’s not executing well enough yet, and the slider to LHB is hanging a whole lot, while he’s living too far off the edge at the moment. I sure wonder how he develops if the Nationals give him the runway (they should), and I dig the whole approach and arsenal enough to consider him a proper Young Gun for next year. A little bit of extra polish + maybe one more tick of velocity = something real here for a 7.1 ft extension arm. (View Game Card)
Carson Whisenhunt (SFG) @ CLE (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 80 pitches.
His changeup is his best pitch, so of course he threw it just 23% of the time to RHB, leading to a HAISTBMBWT?!. Obviously. It’s likely due to the Guardians attacking his fastballs early a ton, catalyzing a low 35% two-strike rate on the day. At least he’s up to 93 mph now, but we need MOAR. (View Game Card)
Merrill Kelly (ARI) @ BOS (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 86 pitches.
After last week’s disappointment against Rockie Road, I can’t say I’m shocked he failed in Fenway, too. That’s 5+ ER in three of his last four, y’all. Let’s not. (View Game Card)
Nick Martinez (TBR) vs TOR (L) – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 82 pitches.
Nooooo. It’s the third 6 ER disaster for Martinez and I’m sad we experienced another. Koufax was cruel with 6/15 outs in play, and all we can do is hope he rebounds next time out. He deserves that. I should also note: Jesse Scholtens cleaned up the final four frames of the day – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 58 pitches – and keep that in mind if a bullpen game is needed at all for the Rays in the near future. (View Game Card)
Ryan Feltner (COL) vs LAD (L) – 5.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 83 pitches.
I’ll take everything we expected for $400, Alex. Even the 14 whiffs? Sure…? Why not. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Logan Gilbert vs. Dustin May – This could be fourteen innings between them.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)
