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.
Anthony Kay (CHW) @ TBR (W) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 89 pitches.
Can we talk about Anthony Kay? I recall in March telling all my Tout Wars fellas about him lighting up the radar gun in the spring and wondering if he was going to be something. I sure looked silly after a horrendous April, but suddenly, Kay has turned it on. In fact, since the start of May, Kay holds a 3.39 ERA, 1.26 WHI, and 20% strikeout rate. Not the greatest, but that’s free value.
He gave one of his best performances of the season on Sunday against the Rays via 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 89 pitches (W), and it feels like it’s worthwhile, but be careful. This was a game where his four-seamer performed far better than usual (17% SwStr rate!) and his sinker that I’ve liked so much lately was…not great. It’s hard for me to be confident he’ll have the same success with his four-seamer, while he still lacks a significant putaway pitch to earn strikeouts consistently.
On the plus side, he’s getting a good feel for the cutter inside to RHB and the changeup + breakers are making progress as well. With a start against the Guardians and Tigers up next, I don’t blame you for giving it shot, especially in deeper formats. That said, this is just the fourth time he’s hit six frames all season, and the second since the end of May. That’s not the kind of ceiling I love chasing. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:
George Kirby (SEA) vs MIN (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 94 pitches.
Hey look at that, a great start! You’re going to say something negative, aren’t you. Welllll, maybe. Kirby is painting the top of the zone to RHB with four-seamers in two-strike counts and it returned…zero strikeouts. The sweeper was good, but it made a circle around the spot it’s supposed to land down-and-away. I can’t help but see Kirby and wonder what could be. This was a kind Koufax doing more work than he should. (View Game Card)
Keider Montero (DET) @ ATH (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 86 pitches.
Speaking of Koufax, Montero benefited massively in a tough start on paper in Sacré Verde and left as the WHIP hero of old. His RHB approach of sinkers and sliders was par for the course, and I guess he did enough against LHB, but this was things going his way unlike his prior start. He gets a collection of good starts ahead, and I don’t see why you’d hold off now. (View Game Card)
Matthew Liberatore (STL) @ TOR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 85 pitches.
Ayyyy look at this one from Libby! I’m glad he had this one, it doesn’t look sustainable to my eye as he had the most vert four-seamer of the season and paired it with high locations to propel more whiffs than usual. It sure seems like an easy gamble to see if that fastball is truly better now with Rockie Road up next in cushy Busch Stadium, but I’m not sure I really want to do that. (View Game Card)
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) @ NYM (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 102 pitches.
Yet another QS from Sandy as he continues his hot stretch. This one was a little weird with pitches missing up-and-armside all game, but we’ll nod in head in approval and keep starting the man. (View Game Card)
Walbert Ureña (LAA) vs MIL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 90 pitches.
We didn’t see the same velo boost as last game, but enough for us to continue loving Ureña. The changeup is earning strikes, the fastballs at 98+ mph, and we love all of this. (View Game Card)
Gavin Williams (CLE) vs ARI (W) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 89 pitches.
Gavinw as throwing a perfect game through five, then watched an attempted bunt get fouled off before plopping a single to right. Bummer. That’s five straight 10+ strikeout games and another Gallows Pole to his name with 67% strikes across the board. Say it with me, y’all. Aces gonna ace. (View Game Card)
Kyle Hart (SDP) vs SFG (ND) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 43 pitches.
This was a bullpen game that also included JP Sears and Griffin Canning, and it’s possible none of them are appearing like this again this year if the Padres acquire more before the deadline ends. They already got Robbie Ray. Why not Eovaldi too? (View Game Card)
Zack Wheeler (PHI) @ BAL (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 32 pitches.
Don’t be scared, Wheeler was pulled early due to a rain delay and his velocity was looking normal. All good. (View Game Card)
Kyle Freeland (COL) vs KCR (W) – 9.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 115 pitches.
Hot DANG, look at you! This was a lovely day at the park where Royals LHB failed to see a pitch in the zone they didn’t like, hitting into oh-so-many outs as Freeland frolicked through nine innings. What a wonderful Birthday Party this was. (View Game Card)
Max Scherzer (TOR) vs STL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 84 pitches.
Whoaaa, this earns the Gold Star as we haven’t seen Scherzer perform anywhere close to this in ages. It would be unwise to see this and believe Mad Max is ready to be a dope arm again. (View Game Card)
Chase Burns (CIN) vs PIT (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 88 pitches.
This was a rainy game and I didn’t realize at first that Burns’ velocity drop may have been due to it, where his 96 mph fastball returned to 97/98 mph in the latter two frames. Still strange to see him go 4% SwStr on four-seamers and 32% on sliders. Whatever, aces gonna ace. (View Game Card)
Gerrit Cole (NYY) @ CHC (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 99 pitches.
The four-seamer lost 1-2″ of vert while the slider was poorly spotted. I’m glad he still did well, but I was really hoping he’d be fully locked in by now. (View Game Card)
Robert Stock (NYM) vs MIA (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 70 pitches.
This is SO COOL. Stock returned to the majors and displayed a 96 mph heater and 92 mph cutter, where the latter held the same vert but about six inches more lateral movement. Not quite cut as it was still a positive horizontal offering, and it’s interesting to see the pair stay the same on one plane, but move on another at a four mph difference. Anyway, with the way the Mets are dealing away their rotation, I wouldn’t be shocked if we saw more of Stock as a starter. Sadly, it would be the Pirates up next and that’s a clear pass. (View Game Card)
Griffin Jax (TBR) vs CHW (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 82 pitches.
He’s still dope and makes us feel dope. The first inning came with a pair of unearned runs that lengthened the pitch count early, and otherwise, this was smooth sailing. (View Game Card)
Jacob Misiorowski (MIL) @ LAA (L) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 42% CSW, 83 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He complained afterward about the hardness of the Angels’ mound (specifically where he lands, which is much further than any of their pitchers), but save for a HR, it didn’t change anything, with a King Cole. He’s unreal. (View Game Card)
Cade Cavalli (WSN) @ ATL (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 90 pitches.
We saw the upped velocity (87/88 mph on the curve!) and plenty of cutters. Sadly, not enough breakers for strikes and too few four-seamer whiffs, but it’s Atlanta. That’s fine. We keep rolling. (View Game Card)
Colin Rea (CHC) vs NYY (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 87 pitches.
I should have been rating the Yankee offense lower. Rea has continued to prove he’s worthwhile against all but the top tier offenses and now he’ll get the Royals. Yeah, that works for me. (View Game Card)
Peter Lambert (HOU) vs TEX (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 83 pitches.
He’s firmly a Holly now, and I’m impressed he got these results despite having an off day with his changeup. Close your eyes and give a thumbs up to the man. (View Game Card)
JR Ritchie (ATL) vs WSN (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 81 pitches.
He’s returned to starting and not shown me anything new to encourage me to trust him. With ReyLó on the IL, it would seem there’s a door open for Ritchie, but Tyler Mahle is now in town and it’s back to long relief for you. He’s not a guy you should focus on. (View Game Card)
Kyle Bradish (BAL) vs PHI (L) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 53 pitches.
Like Wheeler, Bradish was knocked out early by the rain, though he wasn’t looking sharp before it. Bradish didn’t have the breakers on point last game either and it does make me a touch worried. Not enough to do anything about it, just me being the anxious man that I am. (View Game Card)
Taj Bradley (MIN) @ SEA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 94 pitches.
Oh hey, we’re back to not knowing where the ball is going. Cool cool cool. At least it was a VVVPQS? Sigh. I know, you have to hold him anyway and hope it was simply an off day. I get it. (View Game Card)
Jake Bennett (BOS) @ LAD (W) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 88 pitches.
That’s five straight games of 4 Ks or fewer. Sure, it was the Dodgers, and it was also another game of four-seamers and changeups failing to mimic the pitch separation of his earlier outings. I think you still hold as he hosts the Athletics next, but we should consider him a Toby with potential for more. (View Game Card)
Kumar Rocker (TEX) @ HOU (ND) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 88 pitches.
Womp womp. The sinker lost the horizontal run that made me excited last time out, and his slider was too far into the zone. Even with the high number of whiffs, I’d move on with a terrible schedule in front of him of vs. BAL, @ATH, vs. WSH. (View Game Card)
Merrill Kelly (ARI) @ CLE (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 96 pitches.
Blegh. The changeup wasn’t quite good enough and he didn’t have much of a supporting cast. It’s the Dodgers next, so you can let him go, but maybe circle back for Rockie Road next Wednesday. (View Game Card)
Seth Lugo (KCR) @ COL (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 99 pitches.
It was Coors and Lugo wasn’t on his game. I don’t think you need to roster Lugo anywhere outside of AL-formats. (View Game Card)
Landen Roupp (SFG) @ SDP (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 99 pitches.
Ouch. That’s two straight struggles from Roupp and this one was even tougher to watch with a horrible changeup strike rate. Don’t quote me on a hat for this, but I still believe Roupp to be a solid arm for the second half and with a cushy schedule ahead, the odds are in your favor. (View Game Card)
Emmet Sheehan (LAD) vs BOS (L) – 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 58 pitches.
Welp, that’s a 5.29 ERA and 1.29 WHIP for the year, and despite all the reasons for him to boast far better ratios, it just hasn’t gone his way. Three HRs on poor pitches in the third frame were tough to watch, with two poor sliders and a 92 mph four-seamer that makes me wonder what he’d look like if he actually held his 95/96 mph velocity from last season. With Skubal joining the ranks + Snell on the verge of returning (and who knows what else), this may be the end for Sheehan. The writing is on the wall and I’m all kinds of sad about it. (View Game Card)
Gage Jump (ATH) vs DET (L) – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 4 Hits, 6 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 88 pitches.
Yeaaaaah, Jump sat 1-2 ticks down with few strikes on his slider and not enough from his four-seamer. In other words, he’s lost. With the home park always looming with its doom and gloom, you should make room for something else to bloom. (View Game Card)
Mitch Keller (PIT) @ CIN (L) – 2.0 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 69 pitches.
He sat under 92 mph. The dude who I remember hitting 100.9 mph. So, yeah. Don’t. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
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