Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup – Cleverly Hills

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.  

Mike Clevinger (CWS) vs OAK (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 42% CSW, 95 pitches.

I have not been into Mike Clevinger. He was grabbed this week by many for his two step and after a disappointing first game, Sunday’s matchup, however promising on paper, was not coming with a whole lot of hype. It clearly should have: 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 42% CSW, 95 pitches. That’s a Golden Goal for the day and even if had some Blame it on the Athletics involved, we need to chat.

Clevinger brought a three-pitch mix to the table of fastballs, sliders (I think it’s a curve at just under 80 mph, but whatever) and changeups, with the big breaking ball at 80 mph returning 12 whiffs on the day and befuddling Oakland batters consistently. He also pumped many 97 mph heaters into the zone with ease, the changeup was solid, and his upper-80s cutter was used very briefly early, then never touched again.

Is that slow breaking ball this good? I don’t think so, but at least he has the skills to take full advantage of a weak team. And guess what – it’s Detroit x2 next. I guess we’re holding on, aren’t we?

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:

 

Luis Castillo (SEA) vs KC (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 95 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Changeup shmangeup, that’s what I always say. I miss you…

Aaron Nola (PHI) vs STL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 95 pitches.

Atta boy Nola. It was nearly 80% four-seamers and curveballs once again and I dig it – they are his two best pitches. Just four sinkers as well, with one going far inside to a RHB and…getting a foul ball. I’M JUST SAYIN’.

Justin Verlander (HOU) @ DET (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 98 pitches.

You love to see it. Verlander sat all heaters upstairs and sat down low with his slider comfortably, getting a revenge game Win in Detroit. Props to him.

JT Chargois (MIA) vs WSH (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 12 pitches.

We saw four frames of Bryan Hoeing in relief, who wasn’t terrible at all, but if you recall, he’s awfully limited in ceiling and wasn’t showing anything here for me to reconsider.

Caleb Ferguson (LAD) @ BOS (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 18 pitches.

We saw six frames of Gavin Stone as he allowed just 4 ER and that’s a cool thing. I do not recommend adding Stone to your lineups, but seeing Stone return after so long is always fun in my book. His changeup is great, the rest isn’t.

Javier Assad (CHC) @ PIT (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.

Another great matchup taken advantage of by Assad and now it gets a bit tough with a date in Cincinnati up next. I think I’d bench, but I have no problem if you want to start him there, or at least hold with the Giants after. That said, he’s not a strikeout-per-inning guy. Lower your expectations.

Ty Blach (COL) @ BAL (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 86 pitches.

There’s your Gold Star with Blach cruising against the Orioles. These Rockies pitchers aren’t so bad when outside of Coors. Huh. His cutter command was fantastic, though the sinker was sneaking over the heart of the plate often (and getting away with it). He hosts the Jays in Coors next (sit, duh), but heads to San Francisco after that…I may be down for that one.

David Peterson (NYM) vs LAA (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 104 pitches.

Blame it on the Angels. That offense is terrible at the moment and you’ll have guys like Peterson take off. For example – 10 whiffs on four-seamers + sinkers and just 2/42 on everything else just isn’t adding up. Peterson isn’t dominating with his old slider again, and I’d have massive reservations about rostering him.

Griffin Canning (LAA) @ NYM (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 94 pitches.

Whoa, 10 four-seamer whiffs?! Canning spotted the pitch beautifully, relying on the change and slider to do the heavy lifting inside the zone and I’m stoked to see Canning firmly back in the rotation at 94 pitches. He’s set to get the Athletics in a week and I don’t think you need to see more. Go get him for that one.

Slade Cecconi (ARI) vs CIN (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 84 pitches.

Oh hey, he survived. I still don’t like what he does all too well, and with the Orioles up next, it’s a little too risky for me (even if we’ve seen Baltimore’s offense flop many a time).

Tanner Houck (BOS) vs LAD (L) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 80 pitches.

I dug this from Houck. We saw eight whiffs on the slider, while everything else hugged armside, including cutters and sinkers. That plays, as you can see here against the Dodgers (even with the 1.75 WHIP). The schedule gauntlet is now over with the Royals up next and you may be considering adding Houck now. I’m alright with it, though I think you’re going to be dealing with a large chunk of floor the rest of the way. I sure hope I’m wrong.

Trevor Williams (WSH) @ MIA (L) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 104 pitches.

#NeverTrevor. But hey, there was some lovely pitch separation.

Graham Ashcraft (CIN) @ ARI (ND) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 91 pitches.

He pulled it off again, though the sinker disappeared in the process. He’s a Vargas Rule at this point, which means he’s on our rosters for the Cubs next.

Drew Rom (STL) @ PHI (L) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 96 pitches.

This is cool from Rom, but I’m still a little weirded out but the 90/91 mph heater. He’s lucky to have avoided both the Padres and Atlanta with the shift to Sunday, allowing him to get the Pirates in a week. I think I’m okay with that, but not running to the wire for it.

Carlos Rodón (NYY) @ TB (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 84 pitches.

We’re getting there y’all. 10/38 whiffs on the four-seamer, more sliders than four-seamers, and 18 whiffs with seven strikeouts on the docket. It’s working…IT’S WORKING!

Alec Marsh (KC) @ SEA (L) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 101 pitches.

Whoa, he had strikeouts again! That’s cool. I get a feeling it’s the last time all year – he won’t go 8/36 whiffs on the four-seamer again.

Jack Flaherty (BAL) vs COL (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 84 pitches.

I know it’s near a VPQS, but I think Flaherty pitched well here with a near BSB and tempting secondaries down. With the Sneks + Angels on the docket, it’s pretty clear you hold and start him.

Jordan Montgomery (TEX) @ MIN (ND) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 91 pitches.

The changeup was great, the curve went on vacation. I just can’t resist the fjords at this time of year…Can you submit a formal vacation request moving forward? K thx.

Alex Faedo (DET) vs HOU (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 95 pitches.

It’s the Astros + Faedo doesn’t have much else in the tank outside of the slider, which wasn’t at its very best. There’s a touch of temptation to start him against the White Sox, but armed with a good slider and nothing else to depend upon, I’m likely going to ignore him.

Tristan Beck (SF) vs ATL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 70 pitches.

Huge props for “surviving” against Atlanta. He was throwing a little harder and got some whiffs on the breaker…and it was 70 pitches, 3 ER, and under five frames. I really can’t stand what SFG is doing with their starters.

Zack Littell (TB) vs NYY (W) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 92 pitches.

Okay so Littell isn’t actually that great, but you had him in there for the Win chance and he came through for you. And hey, the sub 1.00 WHIP makes up for the bad ERA, right? RIGHT?! Up to you if you want to stick around for the Guardians next – I’m personally chasing something else at this point as Littell isn’t showcasing anything eye-popping to suggest him being more than a Win-chasin’ streamer.

Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) vs CLE (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 96 pitches.

It really is lovely seeing Kikuchi in a groove, which he still very much is, even with those poor ratios. You better keep the man as we could have only dreamt of him having this consistent command of his arsenal. I’m a believer.

Paul Blackburn (OAK) @ CWS (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 104 pitches.

He got a bit Singled Out with a solid approach and it happens. He’ll have a lot of these mixed with some success and you know the risks you take starting Blackburn.

Michael Wacha (SD) @ MIL (ND) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 97 pitches.

Ouch. I wouldn’t read much into it, just one of those days at the park. That makes it sounds easy and successful. Then y’all better learn how to pull correctly from context. Nuance, people.

Jared Shuster (ATL) @ SF (L) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 83 pitches.

Womp womp. At least he’s getting another chance, but the skills are not good enough for us to chase.

Adrian Houser (MIL) vs SD (ND) – 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 43 pitches.

Houser left this one early with a forearm injury. Poor guy.

Noah Syndergaard (CLE) @ TOR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 94 pitches.

Yuuuuup. I still don’t understand how he did so well in their previous meeting. As per my last start…

Bailey Ober (MIN) vs TEX (ND) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 73 pitches.

It’s the Rangers. Don’t treat this like a real outing for Ober.

Bailey Falter (PIT) vs CHC (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 88 pitches.

Bleeeeegh. The fastball wasn’t great and even if the slider was solid, it had no support. I wouldn’t rule out decency against the Cardinals or Brewers, though he’s a back-up option, not the option.

 

Game of the Day

 

Zac Gallen vs. Bobby Miller – Now THIS is a fun one.

But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.

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Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)