Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Wednesday 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.
Freddy Peralta (TBR) @ DET (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 81 pitches.
Before Wednesday, Freddy Peralta had started 26 games this season. Just two of those games came with zero ER, and none paired with six innings. Until now. Peralta twirled arguably his best game of the season in Detroit with a line of 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 81 pitches (W) and I know what all of you are thinking. I’ll explain more, but you already know the answer. Search your feelings, you know it to be true. He’s pretty much the same guy.
Since being traded to the Rays, Peralta did exactly what we expected: He’s featured a whole lot more changeups to both LHB and RHB. We’ve endured four starts of Peralta maneuvering at-bats with the approach, attempting to find a happy balance of strikes with high four-seamers and low changeups, while the curveball and other breaker(s) (it’s a weird range of sweeper/slider movement that he can’t get a handle on) appear here and there, hoping to be helpful early and late. This was the second game since joining the new club to feature at least six whiffs on the changeup, though, oddly enough, it’s his first start of the season without a four-seamer whiff. It sure seems like the Tigers keyed in on four-seamers and didn’t care about missing on changeups. Maybe they should have.
So why is he the same guy? Because he’s still just as wild. He’s always displayed intent to live high with fastballs and low with secondaries, but rarely with precision across those pitches to produce efficient and stud outings. This was an outlier of efficiency due to a typically cruel Koufax having a change of heart (9.3 Hits/9 this year yet 14/16 outs in play in this game).
It’s believable that he’s getting better at this hard/soft approach, and if this game is enough for you to test the waters against the Mets, I don’t blame you. Personally, after such a terrible season of command, I don’t want to bank on a pitch mix shift being the answer. He still has to execute that mix consistently for success to follow for the next month on days when Koufax isn’t so kind. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:
Jesús Luzardo (PHI) @ SEA (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 104 pitches.
Aces gonna ace with a never-before-seen co-share of the Golden Goal. Exactly the same number of whiffs, called strikes, and pitches thrown and innings AND strikeouts between Luzardo and Erod. For all of y’all reading the SP Roundup for years (started in, uh, 2014), I hope you’re as slack-jawed as I am. ANYWAY, Luzardo’s sweeper continues to be one of the elite weapons in baseball, with Luzardo using everything else to get into favorable counts where the sweeper takes over. (View Game Card)
Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI) vs CHC (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 104 pitches.
At what point does a Vargas Rule become a Holly? His strikeout rate is too low for that. True, an 18% clip ain’t it. And his 1.19 WHIP isn’t good, either. OKAY I GET IT. Regardless, the rule stands and I’ll see ya next week. Enjoy that co-share of the Golden Goal. I still can’t believe that… (View Game Card)
Ryan Gusto (MIA) vs BOS (W) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 89 pitches.
That’s two straight 0 ER games from Gusto, with…four strikeouts combined. Okay, I get it. Thank you. I hope you enjoyed the cake at this Birthday Party. (View Game Card)
Randy Vásquez (SDP) vs PIT (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 68 pitches.
I have to believe some of you are applying the Vargas Rule to Vásquez, who has returned 4 ER total in five of his last six games. Sadly, those games returned a total of eight strikeouts. Yes, he’s averaged under two strikeouts per game during this run. You’re ignoring the five-inning, five-strikeout game with 11 whiffs! You mean the one with 8 baserunners and 4 ER? OKAY FINE. He’s getting through games with inside sinkers to RHB, while living on the edges with fastballs and cutters to LHB, which can absolutely work and induce weak contact, but man is that ceiling low. (View Game Card)
Spencer Miles (TOR) vs KCR (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 33 pitches.
This was a bullpen game for the Jays with Bieber going down with a shoulder injury a few days ago. Let’s move on. (View Game Card)
Dustin May (MIL) @ NYM (ND) – 0.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 0% CSW, 1 pitches.
You read that right. May threw a curveball to start the game (the pitching nerd in me loves that), and it was pummeled into his back. He said it was just a bruise and I’d expect him to start again soon, possibly before his traditional time given the low pitch count. Low? The literal minimal pitch count. That’s better. The Brewers had to call upon Robert Gasser suddenly, and huge props to the fella stepping up for 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 82 pitches (W). He even had an extra tick of velocity, sitting 94 mph and boosted horizontal movement on fastballs and breakers. That improved four-seamer sitting upstairs helped it return 7/26 whiffs (sweet!), while he returned an overall 72% strike rate, and no pitch under a 63% clip. That’s hot. He was originally slated for Sunday, but I don’t expect that to happen now, and what may happen is May on Saturday/Sunday + Gasser on Tuesday @CHC. Start May, bench Gasser.
Tanner Gordon (COL) @ WSN (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 90 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! That’s a Gold Star for Gordon, who hasn’t gone more than four shutout frames at all this season, nor pitched a full seven innings. What a lovely Birthday Party and we can all Blame it on the Nationals.
Matthew Boyd (CHC) @ ARI (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 94 pitches.
I’ve been spooked by Boyd’s HR rates and his lack of whiffs/strikeouts since mid-July, and this does very little to quell my fears. Consider him a Toby as you have for most of the season. (View Game Card)
Bubba Chandler (PIT) @ SDP (L) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 83 pitches.
Another start, another weird change from Chandler. Now we have a tick down on his four-seamer but a tick up on his slider. Can we change that to a cutter? He has an 89 mph “curveball” which is literally gyro spin. IT’S A CUTTER AND SLIDER DANGIT. I think he should be throwing that gyro slider a whole more than he currently is, if you ask me, even if he’s executed it just once under the zone, and it was a poorly hit double. Lean on the cutter + slider, surprise with the heater, and I think it can work. Bubba, stand on the rubber. Great. Now spin yourself 180 degrees. Now throw a slider. Pitching backward works, y’all! (View Game Card)
Grayson Rodriguez (LAA) vs CLE (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 92 pitches.
You know, I was wondering if this would be the perfect matchup for Grayson’s fastball/change focus and…he got lucky. Koufax was super kind to erase many jams, while the breaking pitches we want Grayson to figure out so badly are still not there–Suitman whispers into my ear—He threw an 89.5 mph “slider”?! THAT’S A CUTTER! HE THREW A CUTTER! Suitman anxiously whispers into my ear Oh. It hit a LHB in the foot. I don’t care, he’s trying! If we see it appear at the end of the year, I’m circling him as a sleeper for next year. (View Game Card)
Logan Webb (SFG) vs CIN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 97 pitches.
This was a weird day of starts with few aces and to see a steady fella like Webb plod his way through six per usual was a welcome sight. There’s still time to get that 3.72 ERA to sub 3.30 levels per usual, you know. (View Game Card)
Joey Cantillo (CLE) @ LAA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 7 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 92 pitches.
You’ve probably already heard about this HAISTBMBWT?! that was hilariously near a VPQS despite seven walks, but it the final line was even better due to his own error on a throw to first made his first run unearned. How did this happen? Why, having the worst changeup command he’s had all year, that’s why. Sure, he didn’t have stellar four-seamer or cutter command, either, but the curveball was actually great and would have returned a bit more chase if he didn’t have to throw the dang thing 44% of the time to survive the day. I might also add, he hit a batter in a three-walk inning, and otherwise spaced out all his walks to a maximum of one per frame economically. Smart fella. It was so clearly and off day that I’m fine holding, but I get it. You’re freaked out after four walks last game, too. It’s not the highest ceiling lately, so don’t feel like you need to hold Cantillo. I’m cool with it against the Jays, personally. (View Game Card)
Peter Lambert (HOU) @ NYY (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 102 pitches.
An early solo shot + getting Singled Out made this a worse start than the skills. He still has the great LHB command and would have had more than five punchouts if he was fortunate enough to execute his putaway offerings at the right time. So it goes, I’m holding for CHW, ARI, and @TBR up next. (View Game Card)
Sonny Gray (BOS) @ MIA (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 93 pitches.
It’s not the WHIP you want, but this was a Sonny day for the sweeper and we’ll take it. It’s not his fault the Sawx couldn’t handle Gusto. (View Game Card)
Sean Burke (CHW) vs TEX (ND) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 8 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 92 pitches.
You thought Cantillo’s seven walks were bad? Burke saw that and said Hold my miter. I’ve talked about how Burke’s success relies heavily on landing his secondaries effectively and this was a circus. Look at the 3D plot of his sliders and how easy it was for batters to spit on 75% of them. It’s been every-other game for Burke returning 15+ whiffs or sub 10 across his last six games (18, 9, 20, 4, 15, 8), so we’re clearly due, right? On the real, it’s hard not to think something is up with Burke as this was just so bad, and it could be fatigue now that he’s at 150 frames. I’m giving it one more go against the Astros, personally, but those who play conservatively are justified in benching him after this. (View Game Card)
Troy Melton (DET) vs TBR (L) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 84 pitches.
The ERA isn’t fun, but it’s still a strong outing with a 1.00 WHIP and seven frames at just 84 pitches. And look! He’s throwing more sliders and getting 6/22 whiffs on it! The real issue was his lack of two-strike counts in the first place as the Rays came up swinging at Melton’s heavy-zone approach. That’s totally fine with me – he allows a fair amount of hard contact and should help your ratios. He’s just not a lock for 6+ strikeouts a game, sadly. (View Game Card)
Randy Dobnak (KCR) @ TOR (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 92 pitches.
A PQS is a lovely sight from the Dobnak factory. If you wanted more than a Bailey Special, you were chasing the wrong arm. Sure, one fewer ER or a Win, but this is on the higher end of the spectrum. (View Game Card)
Elmer Rodríguez (NYY) vs HOU (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 88 pitches.
Whoa! With Fried and Weathers ailing, the Yankees needed another arm for a start or two and Elmer was brought back for a third time, where he did more than just complete 5+ innings for the first time in his first games. Nay, he did so while sitting 97.2 mph. That’s a lot higher than the 95 mph we saw previously. The velocity boost was found across his entire arsenal, and it was a big difference in his sweeper and curveball, helping them earn eight whiffs between them. However, the overall command is still lacking. Elmer rarely got inside with his sinker to RHB, the sweeper went 2/5 strikes, the curveball was either spiked or worked, and his LHB approach is still in development. That backwards K to Yordan on a sinker was cool, though. Yes. Yes it was. He’ll get the Angels up next if the Yankees keep him around for one more start with Fried possibly returning this weekend, and I’m kinda tempted. On one hand, he could have better command inside on his sinker RHB and nail the breakers a bit more frequently, too. On the other, the velocity boost we see here is highly likely to be adrenaline-fueled after sitting 95 mph in the majors and minors in all previous starts (Fine, one random 96.3 mph in Vegas two months ago. That’s not relevant). It might be a trap play with lower velocity and likely the same (or worse command). Tempting to spin the wheel though, isn’t it? (View Game Card)
Connor Prielipp (MIN) @ ATH (ND) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 78 pitches.
It was Sacré Verde and he nearly pulled it off before an early hook in the sixth that allowed his third run. Careful, Icarus. It’s the same guy from before – a legit slider and budding curveball who needs to execute his fastballs and changeup better to find reliable success. He’s a HIPSTER in his rookie year and a target for next year. (View Game Card)
AJ Smith-Shawver (ATL) vs LAD (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 90 pitches.
Is it bad that this is better than I expected against the Dodgers? He located his four-seamer beautifully to LHB, while the splitter was hung way too often. A 41% zone rate and 26% O-Swing are two rates that should be reversed on a splitter, while the rest of the arsenal is simply bad. I’m still out here, even against the Nationals next. It’s not a whiffable four-seamer and the splitter is unsurprisingly volatile. (View Game Card)
J.T. Ginn (ATH) vs MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 83 pitches.
At least you got a Win despite the fourth run appearing in the sixth via three singles and a sac fly. You almost had the PQS with a good WHIP. I had low expectations for Ginn in his home park and while this line is far from inspiring, he almost survived and now it’s a date in Arlington + @TEA. Maybe this is a worthy Vargas Rule…nah. I can’t. (View Game Card)
Nick Lodolo (CIN) @ SFG (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 95 pitches.
You know, I liked the fastball and changeup, but the curveball feel is still not there at all. I imagine the blister is affecting things, and Devers launched a hanger for a two-run shot (he’s been doing that to a lot of starters lately, hasn’t he?). If you’re not there to take down the Giants in Oracle Park, I’m not sure you can trust him at home at all. And look at that, he gets vs. SDP, @LAD up next. NOPE. (View Game Card)
MacKenzie Gore (TEX) @ CHW (L) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 83 pitches.
Well that was disappointing. The changeup couldn’t find strikes, the heater fell down over the plate, and his feel for both breakers was terrible. Is it back to the drawing board or just an off day? I’ll flip a coin to decide. Oh, so we’re back to full-on HIPSTER. I guess that sounds right. You know, if this were a game in the Trop, it wouldn’t be the first time Florida forced Gore’s future to be determined by a metaphorical coin flip. But it wasn’t. Well DUH. I guess I don’t like fun writing. NO YOU DON’T. (View Game Card)
Roki Sasaki (LAD) @ ATL (ND) – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 66 pitches.
Sasaki left this one early with a blister, possibly concluding the 2026 experiment as a starter. After all, he shouldn’t be in the rotation for the playoffs and they’d be smart to let his blister heal as much as possible. It’s been a ride, and for what it’s worth, since he “turned it on” against the Angels on May 17th, it was a 3.83 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 25% strikeout rate in the fifteen games before being affected by this blister. We’re going to have so many debates about this over the off-season, aren’t we. You can drop him if you haven’t yet. (View Game Card)
Will Dion (WSN) vs COL (L) – 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 56 pitches.
Blegh. He was actually looking great through two, then got lit up with a pair of two-run longballs in his final frame. The first was a rare cutter on 1-0 pitch after missing with a cutter on the previous pitch. That doesn’t seem like the wisest call. The second was much more excusable, coming off a 2-2 four-seamer well up and out of the zone. That’s Baseball, Suzyn. His changeup is still killing it and his pitch separation is generally fantastic, but yes, there’s still a lot to figure out here for Dion. I didn’t want to stream him in the first place, alright?! (View Game Card)
Bryan Woo (SEA) vs PHI (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 76 pitches.
I’m okay! Sure you are, Woo. But I threw 97.3 mph! That’s over a tick up from 96 mph! You also allowed two HRs on nearly the same fastball middle-up to LHB well inside the zone, and didn’t last long enough to let us salvage the start with a good WHIP or a hefty number of strikeouts. And yet, you know what I’m going to say. You’re starting him @BOS, TEX, @LAA. Wow, y’all know me too well. It doesn’t mean I agree. That’s your call, not mine. The higher velo and high strike rate with few walks has me feeling like all is fine. Just don’t allow HRs with multiple runners on base moving forward. (View Game Card)
Michael McGreevy (STL) vs BAL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 7 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 84 pitches.
One day he’ll go six shutout, the other destroys your ratios. It’s the game you play with a pitcher holding a 17% strikeout rate and fewer than eight whiffs per game. (View Game Card)
Kyle Bradish (BAL) @ STL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 91 pitches.
Oh no. I’ve gotten so many questions about dropping Bradish and I failed y’all for putting him inside “Probably Start” consistently. It was the Cardinals! In Busch Stadium! And he had just one game above 3 ER since June 11th! The narrative I’ve created for Bradish has been focused on finding strikes on his slider and curve, and in the one start where they combine for 70% strikes, this is the result. Look, when I meant strikes, I meant strikes without holding a 47% zone rate, alright? Your other point was that he needed to repel balls in play off his four-seamer. He did that too! Oh jeez. Bradish located terribly across the board here and who knows what tomorrow brings. The upside is still there, and it’s the age-old question of When will it return? Stupid TIARA finding a home, buried in the hair of our favorite pitchers. Can’t they leave us alone? (View Game Card)
Robert Stock (NYM) vs MIL (L) – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches.
Man, I feel for him. I hope the Brewers are looking at him on the mound, whispering We can fix him under their breath. Well, the Mets sure aren’t. That’s true. What he is now is a massive product of his own hard work and it’s pretty dang awesome to see him get these opportunities from his own massive work ethic. I wish he could get better results. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Chris Sale – Two studs previewing a possible playoff matchup on a quiet Thursday? Awww yeah.
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 Steve Jennings/Getty | Featured image by Ethan Kaplan (@djfreddie10.bsky.social on Blue Sky and @EthanMKaplanImages on Instagram)
