Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Friday 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.
Jackson Kent (WSN) vs MIA (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 106 pitches.
We’ve got another guy to add to our list of pitchers who qualify as a SWATCH. Jackson Kent handled the Marlins in D.C. with ease, tossing 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 106 pitches (W) in the first outing that truly displayed his potential.
From the moment he debuted, Kent checked the boxes to be labeled a SWATCH. He showed off a 93 mph four-seamer with seven feet of extension and a decently flat approach angle (1.0 HAVAA), a slider to handle same-side batters, a curveball to steal strikes, and the ability to separate his pitches. Oh, and most importantly, he’s left-handed and has a dope changeup.
Poor control in his debut (great pitch separation, low zone rate), unfortunate batted-ball luck in his second start, and inherited runners scoring against a terrible bullpen in his third start hid the fact that he’s destined to be someone we trust as a streamer down the stretch, with even greater capacity for contributions in 2027.
On Friday, Kent not only got a much-deserved wink from Koufax with 17 outs on 20 balls in play, but he also showcased the depth of his arsenal, incorporating a sinker that gives him even more looks with which to fool batters and set up his changeup. He did an excellent job of keeping it low in the zone to produce ground balls and to allow it to tunnel with his slowball. It’s a great addition that will not only assist in reducing loud contact and raising his strike rate, but it should also allow his four-seamer to perform better upstairs as a putaway pitch.
If you’ve got a soft spot for southpaws with tight changeups and are looking for a sneaky streamer next week, look no further than Kent hosting the Braves. They’ve been a bottom-six offense in August and have performed worse than league-average against lefties throughout the year. Kent’s got a stable floor with a long leash, above-average command, and a deep arsenal that should set him up to take down most teams when he’s executing his game plan correctly. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Friday:
Michael Wacha (KCR) @ CLE (W) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 103 pitches.
Wacha saw the incoming Guardians and got hyped, knowing they would serve him up a hefty order of LHB, perfect for a changeup-wielder like himself. With his best changeups and 1-2 extra ticks of velo (likely a product of the hype with which he entered the start), Wacha obliterated his opposition with a flair of golden sparkles. Across eight scoreless frames, featuring whiffs and CSW galore, he earned the Golden Goal. Starts where you expect a pitcher to dominate and they come through do so much to keep me sane. Thank you, Mr. Wacha, and I hope you finish the season as strong as you started it. (View Game Card)
Cam Schlittler (NYY) vs BOS (W) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 5 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 102 pitches.
Aces gonna ace for a Gallows Pole despite walking five batters due to a few too many four-seamers uncompetitively above the zone and a sub-50% strike rate on cutters. It didn’t prevent him from producing a scoreless Philly and a co-share of the Gallows Pole, and it doesn’t affect his outlook for the final month of the season. (View Game Card)
Drew Anderson (DET) vs LAD (ND) – 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 89 pitches.
This start was a list of pros and cons. Pros: Shut out the Dodgers. Excellent pitch separation. Longest leash of the season. Cons: Failed to qualify for a win. Diminished velocity. Too many walks. I’m more inclined to find hope in the pros list than write off everything because of the concerns in the cons list. Anderson has arrived at Streamer University and is on the menu with MIN x2 next. (View Game Card)
Brandon Young (BAL) @ ATH (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BB, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.
Nobody’s banged the drum for Young harder than I have this year, but even I was barely brave enough to start him in Sacré Verde. I should’ve maintained my faith, because he did exactly what he needed to do to survive that pitcher graveyard. RHB were served perfectly executed sliders low and away, sinkers jamming them armside, and four-seamers hunting whiffs upstairs. LHB got a bunch of four-seamers upstairs and gloveside, while splitters, sliders, and curveballs fell below the zone to hunt for whiffs. I can’t take credit for this one, but I’m only further enamored with Young, especially given his floor and upside for 2027. That being said, I can’t endorse starting him in the second half of The Green Mile. (View Game Card)
Logan Henderson (MIL) vs TEX (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hit, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 91 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. This is why he had his Coronation Day this week. (View Game Card)
Hunter Brown (HOU) @ NYM (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BB, 10 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 102 pitches.
With Brown, we’re looking for his fastballs to perform as they did in 2025 and for his curveball to be there to back them up like the best friend of the school bully. Yeah, what he said! We saw fastballs with last year’s shape and velo, but curveballs weren’t as dominant as you’d expect given the results. Sliders stepped up a little, with an extra tick of velo to sit 91-92, but his breakers weren’t commanded well overall, combining for just 57% strikes. This was the product of an unsustainably high 67% putaway rate, propelling him to a season-high 10 Ks. That doesn’t mean Brown isn’t someone who should be trusted right now, but it does suggest that this start wasn’t the one that returns him to acedom. (View Game Card)
Tarik Skubal (LAD) @ DET (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 83 pitches.
Aces gonna ace against his former club. It was weird watching him pitch opposite the Tigers in Comerica Park. The only thing weirder is Skubal in that AI graphic of the Dodgers rotation making its rounds on the internet since the club partnered with K*lshi. (View Game Card)
Tanner Bibee (CLE) vs KCR (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 93 pitches.
With a new lower arm angle, Bibee is getting a lot more drop on his pitches. He’s surprisingly done so without sacrificing a ton of iVB on his already mediocre four-seamer. This wasn’t the start I’d point to if I wanted someone to see a showcase of his new talents, as he commanded poorly and somehow stranded nine baserunners (he hit a batter), but since lowering his arm angle on May 31st, he’s produced a 3.44 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and an 18% strikeout rate. Come get your Toby and start him against the paltry Blue Jays offense in Cleveland next. (View Game Card)
Dylan Cease (TOR) vs SEA (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BB, 8 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 92 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. I guess the reduced velocity isn’t anything to be concerned about. Cease has a 1.57 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 36% strikeout rate in seven starts since dropping his velo below 96 mph. However, at 95.2 mph, he averaged his slowest fastball of the year, and it produced his first start with single-digit whiffs. Just something to chew on. Do I have to spit out my gum? (View Game Card)
Reid Detmers (LAA) vs PHI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 86 pitches.
There’s nothing you can do to scare me anymore, Reid. I’ve already come to terms with the fact that all the signs pointing to your demise are warning signs for 2027, not the final month of 2026. It’s like walking through the toxic place in the movie where all the signs are screaming things like “DANGER!”, “NO TRESPASSING”, or “BIOHAZARD”, but we’re not heeding those warnings. They’re for the next guy to worry about. (View Game Card)
Quinn Mathews (STL) vs PIT (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BB, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 102 pitches.
Matthews is going to be the downfall of my 2027 drafts. He’s one of those guys who has so much upside, but will be difficult to make a decision on. Regardless, he’s doing everything he can to get me pumped for a full season. He’s a SWATCH with better stuff than you usually see from that skillset. It’s all about whether or not he’s battling himself. He was in full control on his way to a Philly in his home debut, as he made his best attempt at pulling off the BSB. He’s going to be a bit of a HIPSTER down the stretch as he nails down his command, and we can’t yet trust him @LAD next, but I’m excited to see him display his potential with SFG x2 afterward. (View Game Card)
Patrick Sandoval (BOS) @ NYY (L) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 96 pitches.
Is it the nickname or the stuff that has me weirdly intrigued by The Irish Panda this year? Probably a little bit of both, but I don’t think he’s worth our attention in September, unless you’re desperate in a deep league. There’s certainly strikeout upside here, but his failure to keep changeups low (or really command anything other than sinkers) is like the aposematic coloration of a poisonous frog. (View Game Card)
Jacob Lopez (ATH) vs BAL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 100 pitches.
The hot streak lives on! That’s a 2.06 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 29% strikeout rate across his last seven starts. He’s proven that Sacré Verde won’t even stop him from excelling with the Canibal McSanchez + BSB approach. We’re not concerned about the reduced velo? Maybe a little? He already struggles to eclipse 90 mph, so it was never like velocity was a big part of his game. A tick of velo allows him to get away with a few more mistakes, but he’s not making any right now. He also threw slower in his last start, so I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. Blindly start him @TEX next. (View Game Card)
Casey Mize (SDP) @ TBR (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BB, 1 K – 1 Whiff, 21% CSW, 77 pitches.
Yikes! I don’t know what’s up with Mize. Didn’t he sprain his ankle or something? Yeah, that explains the limited pitch count, but that doesn’t account for his reduced velocity across the board and his standalone whiff returning a standalone strikeout. HAISTBMBWT?! With a tough schedule ahead, hosting the Yankees and Nationals before heading to Coors, I’m leaning towards sending Mize to the wire instead of letting him ruin my fantasy playoffs. (View Game Card)
David Peterson (CHC) vs CIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 88 pitches.
The Cubs gave Peterson a better defense behind him, and he’s rewarded them with improved command and more trust in his changeup. Since allowing 10 runs in his second start in different pinstripes, he’s produced a 2.35 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a 21% strikeout rate. Nothing spectacular, but he’s proven to be a Toby worth streaming. MIL x2 across the next two weeks is a bit questionable, but in deep leagues, don’t question it. (View Game Card)
Andrew Painter (PHI) @ LAA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 94 pitches.
Painter was the biggest riser on this week’s List, and for good reason. I’m sad to report that he didn’t look quite as impressive as he did in his last start, but he’s still an improved version of himself. Four-seamers fell from 97+ mph and 18″ iVB to 96+ mph and 17″ iVB, while his secondaries didn’t have the same drop, and he threw far fewer strikes. Thus, you have the impressiveness of a share of the Gallows Pole married with the underwhelming PQS. It was a bamboozling in the first that accounted for all three runs and two of his three walks, after which he pitched five hitless innings, but without the same overwhelming stuff, we have to monitor our excitement. I’m still holding him everywhere and starting him @ARI next, but Painter still has some work to do to find some consistency in his stuff and command. (View Game Card)
Shane McClanahan (TBR) vs SDP (W) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 80 pitches.
Ugh! So close to a great outing, but a two-out walk and a two-run homer knocked McShane out of the game and stuck him with a Philly. You can’t even really blame him for the dinger because it was a well-located curveball below the zone that the red-hot Jackson Merrill was able to fish out of the dirt and lift into the lights of The Trop. McShane’s still working on expanding his pitch count and separating his pitches, but we’re safe starting him hosting the Mets next. (View Game Card)
Cody Bradford (TEX) @ MIL (L) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 100 pitches.
It’s hard to survive with sub-90 mph velocity when you don’t eclipse 60% strikes with your “heater”. It gets even harder when you can’t get your changeups low. Bradford was more hittable than ever, so much so that he failed to produce a single strikeout. HAISTBMBWT?! A Philly with 11 baserunners and no punchouts is about as Wonka as it gets. Don’t count out Toby production hosting the A’s next week. (View Game Card)
Christian Scott (NYM) vs HOU (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 1 Hit, 5 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 96 pitches.
The sweeper-focused Scott was served the Astros lineup that pitchers like him typically devour. He was making a mukbang of his opposition until he completely lost control in the sixth, walking the bases loaded before getting a hook and watching all three runners come around to score. Careful, Icarus. I’d write this one off and still recognize Scott as a strikeout upside play. (View Game Card)
Grant Holmes (ATL) vs COL (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BB, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 84 pitches.
If this isn’t the epitome of The Real Estate Broker. He threw six shutout frames in three of his past four starts, luring in potential buyers for an ideal matchup against Rockie Road before pulling the rug out from under trusting fantasy managers. He breaks the Huascar Rule, ya’ll. (View Game Card)
Rhett Lowder (CIN) @ CHC (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 96 pitches.
I hope you got your Lowder streams in while you could. He secured us back-to-back wins. Now it’s back to the wire with SDP and LAD x2 on the upcoming schedule. Will we get another chance to stream him? It’s time to say your goodbyes. So long, bro. Lowder! FAREWELLA, FELLA! (View Game Card)
Jared Jones (PIT) @ STL (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 86 pitches.
I so badly want Jones to be dope. He’s not pulling off the pristine BSB that he needs to pull off his two-pitch approach. Two? What about the curveball? It actually showed up in spades on Friday, as he increased its usage to 20% and used it to induce a whopping 53% CSW and 76% strikes. Sliders were equally as dope, with 45% CSW and 76% strikes. This was poor fastball command, leaving sliders prone to damage in the heart of the zone and a short leash that prevented him from completing five frames. I can’t ignore the upside here, but at the same time, I understand the risks and the limited factors. I’m leaning start when he hosts the Giants on deck. (View Game Card)
Luis Castillo (CHW) @ MIN (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BB, 1 K – 6 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 75 pitches.
That one 10-K outing was really an outlier, huh? Castillo has rarely displayed the pristine command and increased velo he required to be remotely trustworthy. Even with plenty of strikes and decent pitch separation, he failed to fan multiple batters. HAISTBMBWT?! Don’t make the mistake of trusting him in September. (View Game Card)
Emerson Hancock (SEA) @ TOR (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 K – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 67 pitches.
There must be a butter shortage, because Hancock wouldn’t intentionally leave us screaming HAISTBMBWT?! for the first time all year. He didn’t have anything to support his declining heaters, and I can’t help but cover my face with my hands and look through my fingers for the remainder of his starts. I’ve been screaming about the perils of his lack of secondary support and diminished fastballs, and it always felt like only a matter of time before it fell apart. I won’t say it’s over after just one start, but I’m going to be cautious in leagues where I can afford it. (View Game Card)
Kohl Drake (ARI) @ SFG (ND) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BB, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 57 pitches.
Everyone just wants to be a SWATCH these days. I don’t blame them. Southpaws have such a huge advantage over hitters because they see so many more righties and thus have less experience facing lefties. Unfortunately for Drake, to be a SWATCH, you have to pair your changeup with above-average command or a reliable heater. He hasn’t displayed either of those in his young career. (View Game Card)
Dean Kremer (MIN) vs CHW (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 90 pitches.
When you live and die by the splitter, you end up dying more often than living. Kremer’s volatile x-factor offering didn’t eclipse 50% strikes. And there you have it, folks. He actually had pretty decent four-seamer and cutter command, and a four-run bamboozling in the first accounted for most of the damage, but it’s hard to believe that Kremer is anything different than the pitcher he’s been in years past without any changes to his repertoire. (View Game Card)
Eury Pérez (MIA) @ WSN (L) – 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 74 pitches.
Man, the third inning was rough for Pérez. He opened it by walking the bases loaded, nearly escaped the jam with back-to-back punchouts, but then allowed two runs to score on a wild pitch + catcher throwing error, before walking another and serving up a three-run shot. He closed out the inning, but there was no coming back from that. Sometimes, Pérez just doesn’t have the command to survive. Friday was one of those nights. (View Game Card)
Blade Tidwell (SFG) vs ARI (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BB, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 100 pitches.
I see some promise in Tidwell’s arsenal. The sweeper-forward approach, with decent fastballs and a slew of uninspiring secondaries, excels against RHB but doesn’t get the job done against LHB. I’ve compared it to George Kirby’s, but that’s not quite it. I think he’s more like the sweeper-loving pitchers on the Astros, like Hayden Wesneski or Kai-Wei Teng, or even former Astro Lance McCullers Jr. Jr. Comparisons aside, even throwing 48% of his pitches vs RHB, he still got crushed because sweepers were ineffective and commanded poorly, returning just 8% CSW and 54% strikes. Tidwell is a 2027 upside play in deep leagues. (View Game Card)
Tomoyuki Sugano (COL) @ ATL (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BB, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 91 pitches.
We want every starter to be dope, especially those pitching in difficult situations. Sugano’s doing everything he can to make our dreams come true, but even outside of Coors, it doesn’t always come together. His 12 wins towering over his sub-14% strikeout rate is so Colorado-coded. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Sandy Alcantara vs. Cade Cavalli – Bring one of those neck fans, because these guys will be turning up the heat.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
Have Questions? – Join my morning Twitch.tv livestream! I answer all questions there for free: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET Monday through Friday.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)
