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 Playback.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Yoendrys Gómez (CHW) vs MIN (ND) – 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 89 pitches.
I’m not saying you should go off to the wire and snag Yoendrys Gómez – he pitches for a questionable team, carries the Shag Rug to each start, and has highly suspect command – but after a few outings in the majors including last night’s 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 89 pitches (ND) against the Twins, Gómez should be turning a head or two.
His heater was ranked 6th among all SP yesterday in Fan4+ with an impressive 122 mark, rooted in his above-average marks in vert, extension, and HAVAA at 95 mph. No, he doesn’t spot it upstairs as often as you’d like, but he does have a two-plane curve at 81 mph and -13″ of bend on his sweeper that opens the door for strikeouts, plus a rare kick-change that can drop into the lovely world of negative vert. There’s even a cutter at 91 mph, y’all, and yes, he threw it for strikes.
Just pay attention to him, alright? I think you’re going to see some rough starts in September, given his inability to locate his arsenal in their ideal spots, but there is assuredly a start before the end of the season that will make everyone learn his name and consider him a sleeper for 2026.
Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:
Paul Skenes (PIT) vs COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 101 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. I wonder how it feels for Skenes to underwhelm relative to Bubba and Braxton. But more innings! Longer leash, less efficient. JUST SAYIN’.
Ranger Suárez (PHI) vs WSN (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 90 pitches.
Where are you drafting Suárez next year? I can never quite figure out the ADP, whether people believe in a fantastic year from a low-stuff arm or expect regression. I get the sense he’ll be undervalued entering next year and that’s cool with me.
Merrill Kelly (TEX) vs CLE (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 96 pitches.
I sincerely hope Kelly gets the respect he deserves. He’s been such a stud. Fun to see 39% changeups here, too.
Ryan Pepiot (TBR) vs STL (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 63 pitches.
Let’s celebrate the fact that he kept the ball in the yard and hope that the horrible feel on his slider and changeup was due to his home park and not season fatigue. I imagine he was pulled early at 63 pitches due to the Rays being the Rays and trying not to over-extend him this year. I’d start him on the road moving forward and hesitate at home.
Trevor Rogers (BAL) vs HOU (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 93 pitches.
The command is just so good. He’s one of the Boyd Boyz. We keep riding and question the legitimacy for next year.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs ATH (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 13 Ks – 25 Whiffs, 42% CSW, 93 pitches.
Aces gonna give us the start we have been dying to see for ages. Heaters upstairs, sliders generally down, and even splitters going 15/20 strikes, at @TEA against the Athletics. The perfect storm for a Golden Goal. No, it wasn’t Oberizzi levels of high heater, but at least generally upstairs for 7/32 whiffs and a 44% CSW, leading to a 52% CSW slider (lol). Yeah, that’s hot.
Zac Gallen (ARI) vs CIN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 95 pitches.
Ayyyy, it’s lovely to see Gallen take full advantage of the Reds Carpet, and don’t let the matchup make you think it was just more of the same against a weaker crew. His changeup was away to LHB, curveball away to RHB, and his heaters didn’t slip over the plate often. Sadly, we can’t buy into it sticking with the Dodgers next, but I’ll let you know if it’s consistent enough to trust against the Rangers and Giants. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Brady Singer (CIN) @ ARI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 95 pitches.
The sweeper was killer to LHB and the Sneks wanted no part of his sinker for whatever reason (18/40 called strikes is an absurd 45% clip). Yes, he’s still a HIPSTER, and I understand the temptation for the Cardinals next.
Jameson Taillon (CHC) @ LAA (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 62 pitches.
Another solid game from Taillon as the cutter was the foundational pitch to RHB that it needed to be. He also juuust missed on some backdoor sinkers, too. He has a decent schedule ahead and I don’t see you dropping him in your 12-teamer. Wins, y’all.
Bryce Elder (ATL) vs NYM (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 95 pitches.
Ha! Another one. Another Gold Star for Elder and I know we all want to pin this on the Mets being the Mets. Fine, count me in. Don’t trust every Elder.
Nick Pivetta (SDP) vs LAD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 93 pitches.
Aces. Gonna. Ace. Feels good, doesn’t it? List curse DEFEATED. I wish I could do a Red Stamp font in WordPress.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD) @ SDP (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 92 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. We don’t talk much about The Inquisitor (if you don’t get it, look at his initials) and he’s been as sturdy as any for those drafting him as their low-end SP #1 or SP #2. He’ll likely finish around 30 starts and that’s fine with us.
Eury Pérez (MIA) vs TOR (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 94 pitches.
He was fortunate to face a squad that served a split LHB/RHB lineup, helping him mask his lack of support for his four-seamer against LHB. It’s still a work in progress and you should be thrilled that he’s producing regardless of the flaw. You have to think it’s fixed by 2026.
Carlos Rodón (NYY) vs BOS (W) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 1 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 103 pitches.
Five walks? Three strikeouts?! Jeez, Rodón, way to give us a Dusty Donut. But fine, we’ll take it. Unless you’re me, who needed one more strikeout to survive this week. Fun.
Spencer Arrighetti (HOU) @ BAL (L) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 97 pitches.
On the plus side, this doesn’t hurt you, he walked no one, and it’s a streaming victory. And yet, I can’t get excited by a game with just three whiffs. He walked few batters by throwing nearly 60% of his arsenal inside the zone and that’s okay, but not the guy we need. We want Penne and Gnocchi, Pasta Pirate! The stable and the fun! I’m going for it against the RHB Angels crew.
David Peterson (NYM) @ ATL (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 8 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 98 pitches.
Another hefty game of strikeouts, but the changeup fell by the wayside after being the hero of his prior start. Why was that? Because his slider went 10/22 whiffs. Just wish he didn’t lose a few of those hitters and we’d be feeling wonderful again. I often preach caution trusting arms who have success in consecutive starts via two different ways (it speaks to less sustainability), but the schedule is dandy with the Marlins next.
Chad Patrick (MIL) vs SFG (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 87 pitches.
Oh snap. The four-seamer was pristine at the top of the zone for 6/19 whiffs while the cutter went 54% CSW and the sinker hung around the zone for outs. This is the best version of Patrick and I wish he were facing another squad like the Giants next. Sadly, it’s the Jays, though there is an outside chance he pulls it off there, too.
Robbie Ray (SFG) @ MIL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 0 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 80 pitches.
Aces gonna–I’m sorry, zero strikeouts?! ZERO?! Jeeeeez, this start literally hurt you everywhere. HAISTBMBWT?! When you see four walks and zero strikeouts, the mind usually goes toward injury and…91 mph on the four-seamer is not a good sign. He’s averaging 93/94 mph on the year, sat 92 mph last start and now it’s 91.3 mph. Hold me.
Gavin Williams (CLE) @ TEX (L) – 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 90 pitches.
Oh cool, we’re back to I can’t find strikes again. Cool cool cool. Why are you such a HIPSTER?!
Jake Irvin (WSN) @ PHI (L) – 2.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 69 pitches.
What’s kinda funny about this horrible outing is that 3 ER is the fewest I’ve seen from Irvin in a while. But the ERA…Yeah, I know.
Kevin Gausman (TOR) @ MIA (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 94 pitches.
The four-seamer is doing all the work with a 16% CSW on the splitter and four hits, and a tough fifth made this hurt. Yes, even against the Marlins. That volatile splitter makes him a HIPSTER and it’s all kinds of frustrating.
Kyle Hendricks (LAA) vs CHC (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 76 pitches.
You know, for a revenge game against the Cubs, this could have been way worse. That’s all I’ve got.
Matthew Liberatore (STL) @ TBR (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 73 pitches.
You should have moved on from Liberatore by now.
McCade Brown (COL) @ PIT (L) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 75 pitches.
Brown is the latest in line to audition for a rotation spot in Colorado and you can forget his name now.
Dustin May (BOS) @ NYY (L) – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 70 pitches.
When you see Dustin on the schedule, you should be shouting MAY DAY! MAY DAY! Sure, he’s trying to make the cutter work (35% CSW yesterday is solid) and you know that’s not enough.
Taj Bradley (MIN) @ CHW (L) – 5.0 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 88 pitches.
He wasn’t looking hot in Triple-A and while the diminished velocity returned to 95/96 mph here, he’s still the HIPSTER of old with little to celebrate and trust. HAISTBMBWT?!
Seth Lugo (KCR) @ DET (ND) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 79 pitches.
Ooooof. It doesn’t feel right to judge a pitcher on just one start, but despite my “Nah, don’t worry!” claims over and over, it feels like this is the nail in the coffin, right? THAT SAID, his curve is still a great offering and it’s everything else that is letting him down, especially the fastballs that are now sitting under 91 mph. He’ll get the Tigers up next and it’s time to get him out of the lineup for at least one start. Sigh.
Jack Flaherty (DET) vs KCR (L) – 5.0 IP, 8 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 87 pitches.
These last three starts were oh-so-painful to review. Flaherty, once again, had himself an atrocity of an inning via six in the third frame, then tacked on two more baserunners before getting the hook in the sixth (and both scored, of course). Neither breaker earned more than one whiff and yes, I heavily regret my enthusiasm to hold him through this valley. That’s not to say he won’t rebound next time out @KCR or against the White Sox after, of course. The risk seems too high, though.
Jacob Lopez (ATH) @ SEA (L) – 2.0 IP, 9 ER, 6 Hits, 6 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 65 pitches.
Oh jeez. He was in such a good groove and set up for another day of strikeouts galore and he just couldn’t find the zone – a paltry 42% zone rate on all his pitches is all you need to know. He’s a cross-body southpaw, which opens him up to ebbs and flows like this (those mechanics make it tougher to nail down consistent command and if it’s off in a game, it is off), which is to say, yes, this can happen, and also he can bounce back as soon as next start. Your call.
Game of the Day
Hunter Greene vs. Emmet Sheehan – Greene has been a BEAST and Sheehan should thrive against the Reds Carpet.
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 Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)
