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 weekday mornings from 9 am-11 am ET.
Zach Logue (OAK) vs MIA (L) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 66 pitches.
I’m sorry to be quick, but I needed to get out ahead of this one. Despite going 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 66 pitches tonight, Zach Logue is not someone to pick up. Why? Well, it’s a simple case of Blame it on the Marlins.
No, I don’t expect both his curve and change to return 50% CSW in the future. Nor do I expect a 37% CSW clip on his 90 mph four-seamer, a pitch he tossed over 60% of the time. Sure, his four-seamer command was solid, but this was a rare day and not the start of something special.
The Yankees are next and promise me you won’t go chasing it. The man tossed just 66 pitches and you have to listen to what I always say: You can’t get yourself all buzzed from 66 pitches. You always say that?! Yep. Those 66 pitches are the ones that get ya.
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Justin Verlander (HOU) vs MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 91 pitches.
Aces gonna ace and toss six no-hit frames before getting pulled at 91 (a batter reached on a dropped third strike. Wild). I think it was the right move pulling Verlander – three more innings at 91 pitches is a tall ask for someone his age in his first season back from TJS – but hot dang, it’s good to watch a dominant pitcher work his craft.
Pablo López (MIA) @ OAK (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.
Pablo had his best command in this one, painting changeups at the bottom of the zone and elevating with four-seamers. Phew. I’m so happy he’s okay.
Jonathan Heasley (KC) vs ARI (ND) – 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 79 pitches.
It’s one thing to allow 0 ER. It’s another to do so in fewer than five full innings and allow eight baserunners in the process. Don’t act like Hermione and get married to Mr. Heasley. Update: Completely missed that Heasley was not well and was pulled early because of it + it explains the erratic zone. Still, not someone to trust.
Aaron Civale (CLE) @ SD (ND) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 95 pitches.
The curve wasn’t getting enough bites in this one, and it led to a laborious night on the bump. I think you’re okay against the Mariners, but it isn’t an evening I’m circling on the calendar. Wait. Okay fine, I have some amazing plans for this Sunday, but you get my point.
Robbie Ray (SEA) vs WSH (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 103 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Ray went ultra elevated four-seamers + sliders below + sinkers on the side and I LOVE it. I’m so enamored.
Tony Gonsolin (LAD) vs MIL (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 77 pitches.
Good, not great. Just 18% CSW on the slider and a putrid 36% strike rate on the breaker. I’m glad the four-seamer and splitter worked, it’s just not the best form on Gonsolin and why you see only three strikeouts to his name.
Javier Assad (CHC) vs STL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 85 pitches.
I watched this kid’s MLB debut and it’s not the worst stuff I’ve seen. It’s 93 mph sinkers with a lovely 90 mph cutter, and it can work to induce weak contact + his breaker has some wicked movement that he can’t seem to wield quite yet. There may be some streaming value in there at some point, but that’s Assad the point. Right now, he was called up for the doubleheader and is your standard Cup of Schmo.
Max Fried (ATL) @ PIT (W) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 95 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Fried is such a dang rock, but hey, this was the Pirates, who let his curveball return a 48% CSW despite Fried not commanding the pitch nearly as well as that number makes you think.
Carlos Rodón (SF) @ DET (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 23 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 92 pitches.
Aces gonna ace as Rodón handily earned a Golden Goal. 17 whiffs alone on the four-seamer here as it sat 95 mph and did everything it should against the Tigers. Like the ocean under the moon, Carlos is so dang smooth.
Ross Stripling (TOR) @ BOS (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 86 pitches.
The changeup wasn’t as successful, but the four-seamer and slider impressed me here. That’s good news: It means Stripling can be successful with more than just the slowball. He gets the Angels next and that’s a green light from me.
Corey Kluber (TB) vs LAA (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 78 pitches.
We saw some good curves. We saw some good cutters. We saw some dang good pitchin’. Atta boy Kluber.
Zach Davies (ARI) @ KC (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 84 pitches.
Three whiffs. Two walks. One strikeout. Zero faith in the future.
Jake Woodford (STL) @ CHC (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 76 pitches.
The Amish Mustang got the pearl in today’s doubleheader and was as boring as ever. HAISTBMBWT?!
Drew Hutchison (DET) vs SF (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 78 pitches.
D. Hutches are not open for business despite this decent line. Don’t get wrapped up in this.
Adam Wainwright (STL) @ CHC (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 106 pitches.
Once again, it was called strikes galore for Waino, though four walks is a bit upsetting, leading to a poor 1.50 WHIP and just three strikeouts. Come on Wainwright, we’ve grown to expect a little better against the Cubs. I thought AW is known to be sweet, not flat.
Frankie Montas (NYY) vs NYM (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 92 pitches.
Sweet! Montas is fixed, yeah? Ehhhh, not really. Just one splitter whiff here makes this feel a bit odd, even if his new cutter and slider earned strikes. I’m glad it worked out, but look at these trees around us! We’re not out of the woods yet? Sure aren’t.
Austin Voth (BAL) vs CWS (W) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 93 pitches.
YOU CAN’T STOP THE ORIOLES MAGIC. Well, kinda. That’s a terrible WHIP and while he spotted curves and cutters well, there’s a sense this is the best he can muster. Get out while you can with the Astros next.
Taijuan Walker (NYM) @ NYY (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 81 pitches.
For a guy I didn’t expect to A) go deep into this game B) pitch up to snuff given his extra rest and C) endure the Yankee offense, Walker pitched pretty dang well. His slider is still blegh, but the heater was up to 94.8 mph, not the low 93 mph we saw before. That’s kinda cool. What’s not cool is facing the Dodgers next time out. Y’all want nothing to do with that.
Mike Clevinger (SD) vs CLE (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 91 pitches.
Another start, another failure to earn whiffs on his breakers. I guess he’s Noah Syndergaard now? I think that’s okay? He has too good of a schedule to drop, we just have to keep hoping he doesn’t get burned by his lack of strong secondary option.
Aaron Sanchez (MIN) @ HOU (L) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 75 pitches.
Honestly, this could have been a whole lot worse. Pretty crazy to see him lean on the hook 56% of the time here, but hey, it’s a lovely pitch. There’s a part of me that wants to trust Sanchez’s curveball for his next start against the Giants – he should be free to toss 80+ pitches there, after all. That’s a sneaky AL-Only play if you need one.
Erick Fedde (WSH) @ SEA (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 81 pitches.
Remember kids, Don’t Trust The Feddes. Yes, even when he actually did well for a start and had a solid curveball for once. We are all allowed to have a Birthday Party.
Ranger Suárez (PHI) vs CIN (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 99 pitches.
Blegh. That’s not how this is supposed to go. At all. The changeup was decent and he earned some sinker called strikes, but this was not the precise Suárez we’re looking for. Get it together, Ranger. You’ve got too good of a schedule to mess this up for all of us.
José Suarez (LAA) @ TB (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 90 pitches.
Womp womp. I was hoping this would work for y’all in AL-Only leagues. The fella was too dang hittable and now gets the Yankees. Sigh. I feel like every random evening when there’s nothing to watch on TV. Welp, I guess it’s back to The Wire.
Nick Lodolo (CIN) @ PHI (ND) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 82 pitches.
Womp womp. He couldn’t pull it off a second time against the Phils, even if that is essentially a strikeout per inning + a 1.00 WHIP. But fine, the ERA hurts too much. I blame his pitch efficiency on the curveball, tossing too many waste pitches en route to a 60% strike rate on the pitch. I need a little more from Lodolo’s #2 pitch. Just a tad. At least he can pound a Natty Lite after this.
Dylan Cease (CWS) @ BAL (L) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 93 pitches.
Aces gonna revert to the very thing I feared. It’s been a few starts since Cease was his ultra-dominant self, and while we didn’t think his sub 2.00 ERA was real, we still hoped he would be able to avoid starts like these and still rack up the strikeouts. I imagine he should be fine as his slider is still doing its thing, he just needs more from the four-seamer and curve. I believe in you guys, get it together.
Dane Dunning (TEX) @ COL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 72 pitches.
We’ve seen worse versions of Dunning, but Coors is undefeated. And he drew the short straw, jumping from Coors to Houston and completely missing the three-game set against the Tigers. Some days, you have to be the DD. Life ain’t fair.
Corbin Burnes (MIL) @ LAD (L) – 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 81 pitches.
Aces gonna stumble against the Dodgers – they’ve done that to a lot of pitchers these days. It’s the Pirates next so let’s not be hasty y’all. This emotion shall pass.
Adrian Sampson (CHC) vs STL (L) – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 61 pitches.
Nothing quite says “nope, I’m good” like zero strikeouts and three whiffs from a starter. HAISTBMBWT?! Fun fact, both starters combined for one strikeout in this one across 8.2 frames. That’s baseball, Suzyn.
JT Brubaker (PIT) vs ATL (L) – 6.2 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 98 pitches.
Coffee Cakes returned 11 whiffs on the slider, but Atlanta punished the rest of the repertoire and that’s your ballgame. There’s a chance he brings it against the Brewers, but it’s too risky for normal circumstances.
Germán Márquez (COL) vs TEX (ND) – 6.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 90 pitches.
Márquez has limited upside, pitches his home games at Coors Field, and doesn’t deserve a spot on your team. This should be the blurb for every Colorado starter.
Josh Winckowski (BOS) vs TOR (L) – 2.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 61 pitches.
We didn’t expect much here after his previous outing, but at least he’s throwing 95+ mph now…? I wouldn’t absolutely rule out success against the Rays next, but this was pretty dang rough.
Game of the Day
Jesús Luzardo vs. Cole Irvin – Will the six-innings streak of Irvin continue? And can Luzardo keep up the success with his changeups?
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 Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)
Heasley was pulled because he was yacking on the mound, in multiple innings.
Oh snap! I somehow missed that completely. Thanks!
“Dylan Cease (CWS) @ BAL (L) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks”
Blame it on the Orioles for being awesome.
Oh man, nick, you missed Montgomery’s maddux CGSO!
There was 2 STL games yesterday
Whoops, wrong day. My b