Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup – TyLord of the Fliers

Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Monday 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.  

Tylor Megill (NYM) vs TEX (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 96 pitches.

Those who spent opening day 2022 with me and the Pitcher List crew will remember the excitement of watching Tylor Megill dominate the Nationals, featuring 96+ mph heaters (99!) with a legit slider and changeup. was a 2.43 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and 28% strikeout rate across his first six starts of the year, before injury took way and put an end to the reign of Tylord Megill.

Until now. Megill just endured Atlanta and the results hid the skills – a 96 mph heater with a slider that returned eight whiffs – and the Rangers couldn’t mask the man any longer: 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 96 pitches. Get. PUMPED.

Tylord’s fastball looked excellent. He chucked 96 mph fastballs with ease into the zone, pairing it with a well-spotted slider down-and-armside, and he didn’t need much else to cruise through the day. Did he earn the same number of slider whiffs? No. Did they do enough to let his four-seamer soar? Absolutely.

Taking down the Rangers is no easy feat (Gold Star for you) and with the Mariners up next, I’m optimistic that he can produce for another outing. I have to believe the whiffs will come if he continues to locate the breaker well and I’d circle Megill as an add for the weekend. There’s still time left to rectify a lost 2023 season.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:

 

Johan Oviedo (PIT) @ KC (W) – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 112 pitches.

Hot dang, look at you! You’re going to hate me because I watched the man pump so many fastballs that usually get tagged, but the Royals let him cruise along, knocking many of them (and sliders) into gloves. I wish I could pull more from this start to suggest sustainable success, but I really can’t. Don’t forget, he allowed 10 ER in two games recently. He’s not out of the woods, yet.

Blake Snell (SD) @ STL (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 5 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 109 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. It’s pretty incredible how poor his walk rate is and it doesn’t matter. When you throw the fewest mistake pitches inside the zone of any starter, it’ll be like that.

Luis Severino (NYY) @ DET (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 99 pitches.

Oh dang, that’s 12/52 four-seamer whiffs. Sure sure sure, Blame it on the Tigers, but at least he’s taking advantage of them as he should. Still work to be done on the secondaries, but to pair the heater with 11/15 slider strikes and a 53% CSW is a great start. Just bench against the Astros, obviously.

Kyle Harrison (SF) vs CIN (W) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 11 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 91 pitches.

Hot dang, look at you! This was as electric as it gets as Harrison mowed down batter after batter with a ton of fastballs and a better commanded breaking ball than what we saw last week. He walked away with a King Cole and the adoration of Giants fans everywhere and…I really wish I believed it. Nick! NO. I’m sorry! The four-seamer is clearly incredibly deceptive and will continue to help him keep the strikeouts alive, but I couldn’t help but think of Andrew Heaney or even Tony Cingrani as lefties with low arm angles who have these incredible nights with their fastball, but aren’t made to do it all the time. I’m not going to tell you you can’t chase this – he could very well keep the rhythm established here and have more nights of bliss – but I will also mention it had some Blame it on the Reds and he gets the Padres next. It feels more like a trap than a legit starting blossoming.

Grayson Rodriguez (BAL) vs CWS (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 96 pitches.

Grayson is dope and makes me feel dope. Grayson held a 2.70 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 22% strikeout rate across his last six starts before this one and y’all know those numbers are getting even better.

Bryan Woo (SEA) vs OAK (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 69 pitches.

Yeah, that’s pretty wonderful from Woo. Blame it on the Athletics all you like, I’m gonna still praise him for some wonderfully spotted sinkers and both four-seamer and cutter earning four whiffs. I do need a few more on that four-seamer, to be fair.

Adam Wainwright (STL) vs SD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 93 pitches.

Awww, poor Waino. He had his best game in far too long (yes, even with a 1.83 WHIP and HAISTBMBWT?!) and still sits two Wins away. You can do it, St. Louis offense. Give the guy what he needs.

Reese Olson (DET) vs NYY (L) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 10 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 100 pitches.

You rarely see a Gallows Pole from a pitcher who didn’t last a full five frames, but here we are. It reminds me of that stupid wacky start from Carlos Martínez years ago, and if you know which outing I’m talking about, let me know, Twitter. I know some of you do. Annnnnyway, Olson did this with an array of sinkers, sliders, and changeups all living low, which was a massive temptation, but also inefficient as the counts rose constantly in at-bats. Fortunately, he has a cushy schedule ahead, including the White Sox and Reds, making Olson a sneaky add for those in need of punchouts. That slider is legit and the changeup could be a weapon.

Wade Miley (MIL) @ CHC (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 82 pitches.

Miley had the pitch separation we adore with his cutter and changeup, allowing for a successful HAISTBMBWT?! in Wrigley. That’s what a good Toby does.

Zack Greinke (KC) vs PIT (L) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 76 pitches.

Greinke does what Greinke does.

Austin Gomber (COL) vs ATL (ND) – 2.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 42 pitches.

Coors. Against Atlanta. And a back injury that took him out early. It wasn’t meant to be.

Jon Gray (TEX) @ NYM (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 89 pitches.

We’ve got slider whiffs, we got elevated four-seamers at 96/97 mph, we got the good Gray. The man nearly earned himself a Gallows Pole and it’s tough to deny that we’ve reached the apex once again with JG. The only question now – will he be able to stay in rhythm? He can only hope.

Taijuan Walker (PHI) vs LAA (W) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 92 pitches.

Ehhhhh, the fastball stuck at 92 mph and while it’s not sub 91 mph, it’s not 93/94 mph. I don’t love the splitter, I don’t love the cutter, and I don’t love continuing to trust Taijuan. Bye, Walker.

Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs WSH (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 99 pitches.

Aces gonna have splitter whiffs and a 96 mph fastball and still produce worse than a VPQS. Wat.

Chris Sale (BOS) vs HOU (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 92 pitches.

He touched 97 mph and returned nine slider whiffs. Sure, the ratios are poor n whatnot, but that’s Houston’s fault. Start him indefinitely with the schedule clearing up now.

Andrew Abbott (CIN) @ SF (L) – 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 85 pitches.

Blegh. Your patience is wearing thin, I get it. I think you go one more against the Cubs and take it from there. Abbott’s four-seamer wasn’t overwhelming, the curve was inconsistent, and the change nor sweeper stepped up. He has a better skill set than this.

Bryce Elder (ATL) @ COL (W) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 98 pitches.

Elder nearly made it work inside Coors, even trying to pull off a BSB out of nowhere – he’s normally a sinker/slider guy inside and outside. Weird. Welp, you got a Win if you went for it, otherwise, keep him on the wire with the Dodgers up next.

Jameson Taillon (CHC) vs MIL (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 99 pitches.

Blegh. Pretty dang awesome to see his cutter feature a 52% CSW as his #1 featured pitch, but the rest wasn’t well spotted. He needs to squeeze the most out of everything in his arsenal to make it work.

Bobby Miller (LAD) vs ARI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 86 pitches.

Miller got changeup happy in this one, returning 44% CSW on the pitch and avoiding a single hit, while the slider was hung often and I hate everything. That’s the last piece of the puzzle for Miller – if he can spot that slider down-and-armside on demand, he’ll be the hottest thing since Ragans. And we all love Ragans. You better.

Michael Kopech (CWS) @ BAL (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 95 pitches.

Stop. Starting. Kopech. #SSKawareness. What’s Kawarness? It’s a saddle you put on crows. Really? NO, NOW STOP STARTING KOPECH.

Cristian Javier (HOU) @ BOS (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 6 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 100 pitches.

Oh NOW you get four-seamer whiffs again. You can’t have a 57% strike rate for the evening and think everything is going to be okay. It’s in your best interest to not hope for a Javier resurgence any longer. I had a moment myself, but it’s time to move on. You simply can’t bank on it happening with such little time left.

Josiah Gray (WSH) @ TOR (L) – 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 63 pitches.

At least the sinker went armside? With a sub-30% O-Swing. Okay, fine. I was grasping at straws, anyway. Straus? He retired. And we’re all grasping for just one more of his starts of brilliance…

Lucas Giolito (LAA) @ PHI (L) – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 106 pitches.

The final line is rough, but Giolito is still at 94 mph while his changeup earned eleven whiffs. The skills are there, he just needs a little more luck (and a touch of polish to not lose batters) on his side.

Zac Gallen (ARI) @ LAD (ND) – 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 101 pitches.

We got the heavy called strike version of Gallen’s four-seamer, unfortunately not paired with the whiff-heavy version of his curveball nor change. So it goes. We keep starting him and be glad we’re past the Dodgers start. Whatareyagonnado.

Kenta Maeda (MIN) vs CLE (ND) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 66 pitches.

Just 12% CSW on the splitter and one slider whiff as he turned to the four-seamer 44% of the time. That ain’t it. It’s the third straight outing where Maeda hasn’t had the approach of June and July and it’s getting a little worrisome now, especially with Texas on the horizon. That feels like a bench with this three-game trend.

Kyle Muller (OAK) @ SEA (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 86 pitches.

At least he’s throwing harder these days – he sat 95 mph in this one. Command is terrible as it was all down the pipe, but at least he has that going for him.

Xzavion Curry (CLE) @ MIN (L) – 2.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 53 pitches.

Per my last email, Curry doesn’t have the arsenal you want to rely on for your fantasy squads. You could say his last two starts have been the Curry Stepback.

 

Game of the Day 

Merrill Kelly vs. Clayton Kershaw – It’s TATIAGA against one of the rising stars of the year…THAT’S RIGHT IT’S COLE RAGANS DAY

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

Have Questions? – Join my morning Playback.tv livestream! I answer all questions there for free: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET Monday through Friday.

Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)