Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup: The Best PC Games

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.

Patrick Corbin (WSN) vs NYY (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 104 pitches.

I think it may actually be happening. What?! A veteran southpaw has learned a new trick (they told us that doesn’t happen). No way, not that one…Yup, we’re talking Patrick Corbin after 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 104 pitches against the Yankees, marking his second straight start with a new 88 mph cutter. You can’t be serious. But I am.

If you’ve read these roundups all year, you know how I get talking about Corbin and his journey with this cutter. I’ve liked most iterations of the pitch we’ve seen, however his last game featured an extra 2-3 ticks on the pitch, returning the most deserving success of his season…at the time. This game against the Yankees featured the same cutter and it created an extra dimension for him to get through at-bats. RHB endured the pitch inside, setting up sliders, while his sinker/slider attack against LHB still works as long as that sinker stays inside and he gets the slider away. IT. WORKS.

I normally would tell you to not go bonkers with this – it’s two starts for a guy who has struggled for over three years – but there’s no time. Corbin’s next three starts are expected to be @MIA, @PIT, MIA, making for a decent gamble against Miami, hopefully easing the fall if the cutter doesn’t carry over in the third start (why wouldn’t it?). But if it works, you could be jumping into a proper run of success at a time when you need it most.

You do you. Don’t make this play if you have a solid rotation already. If you’re searching for something else, it could be Corbin. There could be some free elite PC gamez waiting for you.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:

 

Aaron Nola (PHI) vs HOU (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 102 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. You don’t get the AGA tag if you’re not starting him against all teams. Atta boy, all hail the Nola curve.

Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs TBR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 97 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. That’s more like it. The curve earned 13/16 strikes out of nowhere, but I wouldn’t say it looked like a pitch he was harnessing properly. WE obviously ride this out and save the tough decisions for later against the Yankees and Astros.

Jeffrey Springs (TBR) @ SEA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 79 pitches.

Say it with me y’all. THANKS SEATTLE! The changeup was far better commanded this time around for a 52% CSW and things are back to normal.

Spencer Schwellenbach (ATL) @ MIN (ND) – 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 106 pitches.

Foul balls + few chases on breakers out of the zone forced Mr. Crescendo out before he could finish the fifth. He’s still going well above 90 pitches, should be more efficient moving forward, and earned a Gallows Pole. If you haven’t fallen for Schwellenbach yet, I don’t know what else you want. Hold on tight.

Jakob Junis (CIN) vs OAK (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 43 pitches.

The Reds needed efficiency to help in this bullpen game and huge props to Junis for going perfect through four. Just let the guy go, dangit! He deserved a shot at history in this weird season. LET HIM TAKE IT. He hasn’t tossed more than 50 pitches in ages. I know, I know, but at least give it one more frame, you know? And then see how he’s doing and…you know the rest.

Michael Lorenzen (KCR) @ CLE (ND) – 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 28 pitches.

Lorenzen was pulled early with a hamstring injury and props to the Royals crew for filling in the rest to seal a much needed Win against the Guardians. We weren’t targeting Lorenzen until the final week or two, so this doesn’t interrupt our plans much at all…as long as he’s stretched out by then.

Mitch Spence (OAK) @ CIN (ND) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 84 pitches.

This wasn’t the same man as last week. His slider was solid, but the cutter and sinker weren’t spotted as well, with plenty more chaos than I was hoping for. He gets the Rangers and Tigers up next and while it could work (the cutter and slider are still great pitches), you may want to hold off for just the Tigers. I’m going for this in AL-Only leagues.

Cooper Criswell (BOS) vs TOR (ND) – 3.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 72 pitches.

Ah. Well then. Let’s, um, not consider Criswell again? Who considered Criswell? Oh, I assumed a few of you did. Nope. CARRY ON.

Brant Hurter (DET) vs LAA (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 80 pitches.

Ayyyy it’s a proper start for the southpaw! With a full five frames and a Win! What does he do again? Oh you know, sit 92/93 mph with sinkers armside and feature a sprinkle of other mediocre pitchers. Blame? Yeah, Blame it on the Angels. I know Hurter has done shockingly well in his limited sample and it could continue as he hosts the Sawx next, but I must caution y’all not to push your luck. There isn’t much substance in that arsenal.

Gavin Williams (CLE) vs KCR (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 83 pitches.

Solid work Gavin. That heater is just so dang good, though it sat 96 mph instead of pushing 98 mph as we’ve seen before. I wish the cutter was a little further along in its development (good strike rate, but not favored over the curve at the moment) and I’m a little hesitant to let him fly for his next two – @KCR, @LAD – but very much in after that through the end.

Justin Steele (CHC) @ PIT (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 93 pitches.

Not your best against a poor crew, but we’ll take it. Thanks for being a solid rock in our rotations, even when you boast a sub 50% strike rate on your slider. Blegh. Figure that out.

Cole Irvin (BAL) @ LAD (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 60 pitches.

Honestly, better than expected. So props for that? Leaning heavily on your curve for 38% usage and returning 0/23 whiffs is kinda all you need to know.

Sean Manaea (NYM) @ ARI (W) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 103 pitches.

Yeaaaaah, Manaea’s heaters upstairs are super hard to hit these days and we just roll with it. King Cole with a near Golden Goal and stop asking questions. Just start him.

Jack Flaherty (LAD) vs BAL (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 99 pitches.

Aces gonna meh. At least you got a PQS, but it was another start where the slider didn’t perform like the elite breaker we’ve seen all year with just two whiffs to its name. He’s not droppable in the slightest, of course, so whatareyagonnado.

Gerrit Cole (NYY) @ WSN (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 91 pitches.

Clearly the Yankees should have signed Corbin over Cole. Duh. This was really two HRs ruining the day, even if his heater and slider didn’t do a whole lot in the whiff department. No AGA tag, still. Sorry bucko.

Tobias Myers (MIL) vs SFG (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 82 pitches.

He was saved a bit by his defense, but overall, that’s a sub 1.00 WHIP and a decent showing once again from Myers. More sliders than we normally see and less of the “I have a lot of options and I’ll figure it out” approach we’ve seen. I’m okay with it, but I think the variety helps Myers out + the slider isn’t an elite offering in my book. I wonder if the curve, cutter, and changeup make bigger waves in the future.

Cal Quantrill (COL) vs MIA (ND) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 5 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 86 pitches.

Nope. You don’t need me.

Miles Mikolas (STL) vs SDP (ND) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 93 pitches.

He nearly made it to six frames…but does it matter?

Logan Webb (SFG) @ MIL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 110 pitches.

This was a tough watch as Webb didn’t have nearly the precision we’re used to seeing from him, keeping far too many pitches up inside the zone – his changeup should not have a 76% zone rate as a premium chase pitch. Brush it off and move on.

Justin Verlander (HOU) @ PHI (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 90 pitches.

The results weren’t there, but he’s pitching well. Keep leaning into this as he’s now past his toughest matchup remaining.

Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) vs ATL (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 91 pitches.

Blegh. I thought you had better command than this. I do, it was happy hour with the boyz and they left. Seriously?! Yeah, I don’t know wh—WHY DIDN’T THEY TEXT ME?! I’ve been dying to go to that happy hour for ages. Whatever, they should be back in time for the Rays. Keep the course.

Dylan Cease (SDP) @ STL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 96 pitches.

The fastball was terrible and he had nothing but sliders to find his way. But the sweeper! Ehhhhh, that ain’t it. Cutter? I’M WAITING. He did throw some sliders closer to 90 mph than others, but I don’t think that’s what we’re looking for. One day y’all…

Jared Jones (PIT) vs CHC (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 83 pitches.

His four-seamer looked insanely good, but the Cubs attacked it while the slider was terrible. We’re talking 10/25 strikes and Jones really needed that friend. I can’t believe I activated him for this start. I know, I broke the rules of Still ILL and I suffered for it, too. Trust the slider to return and let the four-seamer flourish.

Johnny Cueto (LAA) @ DET (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 83 pitches.

If you want Cueto Magic, you need to avoid the heart of the plate. It’s pretty simple. Why don’t more pitchers do that?! Please put this pipe dream to rest.

Yariel Rodríguez (TOR) @ BOS (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 79 pitches.

No one is starting Yariel, right? Good.

Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs NYM (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 98 pitches.

Yikes. If you’re not going to have a significant #3 pitch, then you need to command a bit better than this. Now it’s the Dodgers and Astros and I don’t see a reason to hold. He’s not a start in either game + how good do you think he’s going to be after?

Roddery Muñoz (MIA) @ COL (ND) – 1.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 45 pitches.

Coors. A drop in velocity (it was from the beginning). Homers. Life. He’s a dart throw in future starts that I’d hate taking.

 

Game of the Day

 

Jack Leiter vs. Chicago White Sox – He’s back from the minors and has been cooking with his heater down there. I’m excited.

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 Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X)