Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup – Harrison Hoard

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 Playback.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.  

Kyle Harrison (SF) @ PHI (ND) – 3.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 65 pitches.

I’ve been waiting all season to get a good look at Kyle Harrison and after watching his 3.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 65 pitches MLB debut against the Phillies, I understand where the hype was coming from in the pre-season. Harrison wasn’t spouting upper 90s four-seamers with ease like I heard many months ago (he sat 94.5 mph on the heater here), but that fastball blew by many Phillies bats, returning 11/47 whiffs, good for a 23% SwStr rate. On a fastball.

Sadly, that’s where all the good comes to an end. He intends to locate the pitch upstairs or gloveside often, but his slinging 3/4 mechanics from the left side make it hard to replicate. And it’s not just the fastball that suffers – his delivery made it difficult to consistently find the release point for his breaking ball as well.

Throw in a season that hasn’t featured a game with a full five frames (yes, no game in the minors featured Harrison for five innings), and you have yourself a wild card you cannot trust for your fantasy teams. The ceiling is fun if Harrison can get that fastball in the upper third of the zone with consistency (and land a secondary or two as well, for that matter), but we’re likely a year or even two away from that. There’s no need to hoard him in your leagues.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:

 

Justin Verlander (HOU) vs BOS (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 96 pitches.

Verlander, are you going to strike out batters or not? Please make up your mind, k thx. Nick, he’s not going to keep earning 13 whiffs on four-seamers. Sure, but he could do more than three whiffs on breakers, right? Okay, fair.

Jesús Luzardo (MIA) @ SD (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 88 pitches.

WELL OKAY THEN. The Padres are a mighty team against left-handers and Luzardo didn’t care. 7/19 changeup whiffs is lovely, the four-seamer was fantastic, and the slider…had moments, though it sat just under a 50% strike rate (womp womp). With the tough schedule out of the way and TBR + @WSN up next, you have to believe Luzardo is turning it around now. PHEW.

Dany Jiménez (OAK) vs KC (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 16 pitches.

Oh hey, we’re back to Hogan Harris getting opened for and not being so ba–Suitman whispers in my ear. Oh. Right. 4 ER in 3.2 IP. Yep, nothing new.

Zac Gallen (ARI) vs TEX (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 11 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 90 pitches.

Aces gonna allow a solo shot and nothing else. He really leaned into the heater here and it clearly paid off, especially when his curve was landing too much under the zone (11/21 strikes ain’t ideal). Still, the changeup helped and Gallen looked his four-seamer in the eyes and said it’s you and me kid. We ain’t gonna let this forest get the better of us and these Rangers ain’t gonna make today our last. Or something like that. I can’t read lips.

Carlos Rodón (NYY) vs WSH (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 68 pitches.

Ayyyy a good ratio start! And…one strikeout. ONE STRIKEOUT?! HAISTBMBWT?! I legit can’t believe Rodón earned just three whiffs, going 0/39 on his four-seamer as it sat 95/96 and hit 97. Sure, his four-seamer command was inside the zone but down, not nearly what we want to see, but seriously?! At least it meant he could go six frames at his pitch count of about 70 pitches, but those ratios aren’t enough to get us back on the ship if it comes with three whiffs and an 18% CSW. YOU NEED TO HEAR THE LAMENTATIONS OF THEIR PEOPLE. Sorry, Conan comes out of me in times like this. Well, it is late at night. No, wrong Conan.

Josiah Gray (WSH) @ NYY (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 101 pitches.

I feel like this has to be a Blame it on the Yankees at this point and I really need to not let Gray sit in the DNS tier with such a poor offense on the docket. You can see why I disliked him with those five walks and a curveball that held a sub-35 % strike rate (8/23 strikes. Yeah, that’s not the date, that’s the rate), but the Yankees are just so dang bad these days. Let’s move on, and without Josiah on our rosters.

Lucas Giolito (LAA) vs CIN (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 22 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 100 pitches.

Whoaaaa a Golden Goal for Giolito?! THAT’S WHAT’S UP. His changeup was unreal with 14/42 whiffs, allowing him to turn down the dial on the four-seamer to just 28% usage. It paired with the brilliant slider to earn a ton of strikes and return a 41% CSW between them and Zomg I can’t stop typing this sentence because I’m just so happy for Giolito. He’s at 94 mph and featuring the best changeup he’s had in ages. GO GET EM.

Bryce Elder (ATL) vs NYM (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 90 pitches.

Yep, that’s a streamer for a winning ball club doing exactly what he’s supposed to do. I wonder who he gets–ah. Coors and the Dodgers. Welp, see ya later.

Johan Oviedo (PIT) vs STL (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 97 pitches.

That’s some good Cherry Bombin’. Still absolutely hate the four-seamer and think you got lucky with the rest, but whatever, we take it.

Bryan Woo (SEA) @ CWS (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 65 pitches.

It was a Still ILL for Woo given his lack of rehab start, showing the Mariners’ hand of likely limiting Woo. I was disappointed to see worse four-seamers and sinkers than usual from Woo, but I still dig what he does and would be activating him after this one for his starts ahead.

Bailey Ober (MIN) @ MIL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 78 pitches.

It’s nice to have a small mini-Bailey Special. Sure, you want another inning and a few more strikeouts, but after some disheartening performances, we’ll cash this one in a little early after five and call it a day. Steps, not leaps. I know, the changeup and slider were around the edges and not down the middle this time around.

Taijuan Walker (PHI) vs SF (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 89 pitches.

Ayyyy, he’s back! And throwing harder! Nick, it was just 91.7 mph on the sinker. But at least not sub-91! And 93 mph on the four-seamer is, well, not the 94+ that we want. And across just ten of them. But at least it’s better! This doesn’t seem like a resounding endorsement. It’s not!

Graham Ashcraft (CIN) @ LAA (W) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 94 pitches.

Duuuuuuude what. The slider isn’t as much of a cutter this time around (thank you), but the cutter cutter was phenomenal once again, here pulling off the Canibal McSanchez and landing low for whiffs. Throw in the sinker he should have been throwing for a year now (inside to RHB!) and the slider we like and BLAMO! There’s your ten strikeouts. I’m kinda amazed it took so long for him to pull off a start I legit enjoyed. Now do it again. Or just Vargas Rule it, that’s probably better.

Noah Syndergaard (CLE) vs LAD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 95 pitches.

When are we going to take the mask off Syndergaard? Tommy Milone?! And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for those meddling rookies. I can’t believe he actually had a PQS against the Dodgers. Baseball, y’all.

Grayson Rodriguez (BAL) vs TOR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 94 pitches.

A VVPQS against the Jays? Ehhhh, it could be worse. Grayson went back to the changeup well here, turning to his breakers just twelve times, while his changeup was hung far more than we’ve seen in recent starts. Womp womp. Get those sliders, curves, and changeups back down. I don’t want this anxiety about an inability to command your secondaries to grow again.

Blake Snell (SD) vs MIA (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 22 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 96 pitches.

Aces gonna shrug. It’s nearly a VPQS for Snell, though it’s also a Gallows Pole and eight strikeouts, making it a decent Dusty Donut. Fun story – we’re crafting some fun stats in the Pitcher List lab (run by Kyle Bland, of course) and Snell is head-and-shoulders the best in a stat that essentially says “he doesn’t throw pitches that batters can hit.” So of course, this is the day he throws a ton of hittable pitches and gets a small taste of Singled Out. That’s Baseball, Suzyn.

Wade Miley (MIL) vs MIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 89 pitches.

That’s a Toby, alright. The ceiling ain’t high and it’s normally +/- one ER or baserunner from mediocrity.

Tanner Houck (BOS) @ HOU (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 69 pitches.

He returned to the rotation after a long hiatus and was given the Pfaadt treatment of facing an elite offense. Now he gets the Dodgers and y’all know there isn’t enough here to pick up Houck yet. Life just isn’t fair sometimes, you know?

Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) @ BAL (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 82 pitches.

Oh. Kikuchi finally stumbled, but his command was still pretty dang good. I don’t see anything to worry about here and I’d continue to start him with regularity. THIS AIN’T OVER.

Tylor Megill (NYM) @ ATL (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 95 pitches.

Is it bad that 3 ER in 4.2 IP for Megill against Atlanta makes me think he slightly deserves a Gold Star? I can also dig his four-seamer sitting 96 mph and featuring a new slider with harder break that suddenly went 8/31 whiffs. Man, if only Tylord didn’t have to face the Rangers next start. Sigh. Please, keep the skills afloat. Do it for the shirt.

Ty Blach (COL) @ TB (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 89 pitches.

The sinker stole a ton of strikes, but the Rays got to some of ‘em (two off the plate), and he wasn’t able to overpower with, well, anything. I wonder if he’ll be a worthy stream in San Francisco in three starts. That’s legit the only nice thing I can say.

Bobby Miller (LAD) @ CLE (L) – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 97 pitches.

Blegh. A hung slider + a few poor heaters caused the damage here (those two curveball hits were good pitches, I tell ya) while Miller’s hook was filthy throughout this one. There’s a lot of promise in this kid and as he gets the feel for both the curve and slider (I mean, he had the curve here at 21/23 strikes!), he’ll begin to give you the results you’ve wanted from Day 1. Seriously, 20 whiffs and a 35% CSW are often deserving of a Golden Goal. He’s close.

Zack Littell (TB) vs COL (ND) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 80 pitches.

Noooooo. It was such a lovely matchup and it felt like the time for you to actually get a Win. And what’s even more annoying – his pitch separation was great! Splitters armside, sliders gloveside, fastballs upstairs…the mistakes were punished more than usual and it feels like a Singled Out start. I’m still going with Littell against the Yankees up next. He’s better than this.

Mike Clevinger (CWS) vs SEA (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 97 pitches.

Those of y’all leaning on Clev during the two-step, I feel for ya. The slider and four-seamer ain’t that good, sadly. Still a decent shot against the Athletics, though.

Jon Gray (TEX) @ ARI (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 83 pitches.

Bleeeggggh. The slider is still fantastic and I actually think he’s getting better at locating heaters. So what’s the problem?! The Diamondbacks hit some good pitches? Honestly, it was a weird one and I’m not deterred from starting Jonny G against the Mets, Twins, and Athletics up next. Let it ride, let it ride.

Angel Zerpa (KC) @ OAK (L) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 62 pitches.

We saw Zerpa. We saw Greinke. We saw seven innings of all kinds of mediocrity. Hey, that rhymed! But there was no reason. The logic is there, don’t question it. You can be mediocre and both good and bad – Zack Greinke going four shutout with five strikeouts is a Blame it on the Athletics, not a sign of greatness. No, there wasn’t any reason for Greinke to be opened for. Ah. Yeah, no there wasn’t. Why are we subjecting a legend to this madness?

Adam Wainwright (STL) @ PIT (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 69 pitches.

Sigh. Just two more Wins, Waino. You can do it.

Reese Olson (DET) vs CHC (ND) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 97 pitches.

He’s a Young Gun and treat him as such. There are moments (seven strikeouts!) but until he polishes his approach and arsenal, it’ll be smattered among random lego pieces inside your shag rug. Waiting, patiently, for you to trust your next step. Those monsters…

Drew Smyly (CHC) @ DET (L) – 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 82 pitches.

But the Tigers! BUT. DREW. SMYLY.

 

Game of the Day 

Andrew Abbott vs. Shohei Ohtani – I’m curious whether Abbott can be the arm we saw when he first came up and Shohei–WHO AM I KIDDING IT’S COLE RAGANS DAY.

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 courtesy of MLB Photos | Adapted by Aaron Polcare (@bearydoesgfx on Twitter)