Cole Yard

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 weekday mornings from 9 am-11 am ET.  

Gerrit Cole (NYY) vs SEA (L) – 6.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 23 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 103 pitches.

I find it very strange that I’m leading with deGrom and Gerrit Cole back-to-back, but here we are after Cole went 6.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 23 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 103 pitches against the Mariners. Yes, that’s a Golden Goal despite allowing three homeruns in the first inning.

And that’s really all I need to say. The ace of the Yankees has had immense struggles in the first frame this season, but once he gets over the initial hump, he dominates. Do I have an answer for it? Nah, and I bet he has a better one. Don’t overthink this, y’all know that HR rate will fall and his luck will turn with his underlying stuff still incredible. No, this isn’t a “but the sticky stuff!” issue (repeat: Golden Goal), it’s a touch of luck and getting it together by the first pitch instead of second inning. He’s still very much top tier with his stuff and the high likelihood he pitches better than his ~3.70 ERA up to this point. Can we move on now? Great.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:

 

Sandy Alcantara (MIA) vs CIN (W) – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 105 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Okay, super weird to see him go CGSHO with just three strikeouts, I’m with you. The change didn’t earn the strikes it normally does as he struggled to get it and the slider down a bit. But whatever, y’all know he’s dope and he makes us feel dope. Sandy, we adore you.

José Urquidy (HOU) vs BOS (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 97 pitches.

Ohhhhhh dang. Urquidy’s four-seamer is still overwhelming batters up in the zone, and I was impressed with his changeup and slider command sitting down constantly as well. The dude is on fire right now and all I can hope is his batted ball luck to hold on for just a little longer. He’s winning leagues right now…kinda. He fanned three or fewer in half of his last six games now, but also fanned at least eight in the other three. Weird.

Chris Bassitt (NYM) @ WSH (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 94 pitches.

Okay good. The cutter and slider were better than last time and the sinker did its normal work above 30% CSW. This was the Natty Lites, though, so let’s not get too excited.

Charlie Morton (ATL) vs PHI (ND) – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 101 pitches.

That’s four starts of Cherry and Bomb and I’m glad we got the sweet stuff tonight. Please let me hand you an AGA before the end of August, you gotta get rid of the bomb part first. But what if I’m da bomb? What, like three receivers doing a post, a fly, and a slant/post from the right side? I regret saying anything.

Julio Urías (LAD) @ SF (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 96 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. His heater is 94.4 mph (YES!) and earned a near 20% SwStr rate. It was odd to see him turn to the change more than the curve here (and a bit wild at that, landing on a 52% strike rate vs. the 12/14 strikes of the curve. Weird.) but with that heater finally back up to speed, I’m thrilled for what’s ahead.

Zack Wheeler (PHI) @ ATL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 90 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. I’m super happy to see his velocity at 96.1 mph after it dipped below 95 mph last time out. I was scared, y’all, and I’m so happy to be anxiety-less. You don’t have any anxiety at all?! No, Anxiety less. I have less of it. I don’t think it works that way. YOU DON’T WORK THAT WAY.

Martín Pérez (TEX) vs BAL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 95 pitches.

That changeup may be the most underrated slow ball in the game, returning 10/44 whiffs today as he continued to place it perfectly down-and-armside, while the cutter and sinker avoided the heart of the plate. The man is in the ZONE. Well, actually he thrives on O-Swing on that changeup but you understand.

Blake Snell (SD) vs COL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 106 pitches.

Atta boy Snell, you did exactly what you were supposed to, earning 67% strikes on heaters and 10 whiffs on breakers as he threw just one changeup. That’s how Rockie Road is supposed to go. Let’s keep this going for another nine weeks, cool? Cool.

Lance Lynn (CWS) vs KC (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 89 pitches.

Yesssss. The weather didn’t affect Lynn as his cutter finally showed up, while his heater sat 93.6 mph – super close to the 94 mph mark we saw 2019-2021. It feels like this was the start we can start latching back onto Lynn. Finally.

James Kaprielian (OAK) @ LAA (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 83 pitches.

Ayyy it worked! Jimmy Hat worked his Toby magic against the Angels, even if the WHIP is a touch higher than I want to see. And if it ain’t Kap’s lucky day, he’ll get the Angels a second time on Monday. I’m not saying do it, but I’m also not saying don’t do it, either.

Kyle Bradish (BAL) @ TEX (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 93 pitches.

I’ve been pretty dang critical of Bradish’s four-seamer for having a touch of cut-action that normally makes it tough to miss bats and what does Bradish do tonight? Why, he went 7/51 whiffs on the pitch, catalyzing a strong night on the bump. What the h*ck do I know. In truth, I know it was more of a product of great locations than the pitch quality itself, but does that really matter? Keep up that fastball command, figure out why your breakers returned just 3/34 whiffs, and I’ll be thrilled.

Joe Ryan (MIN) vs DET (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 78 pitches.

Despite the clear lack of a strong secondary pitch – he threw 79% four-seamers – the Tigers do what the Tigers do. Now it’s the Dodgers and I’m terrified of that one. He really needs that slider or something to develop.

Jalen Beeks (TB) vs TOR (ND) – 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 30 pitches.

He opened for Ryan Yarbrough, who earned a Win across 4.0 IP of 1 ER and 1 K. HAISTBMBWT?! If that’s what you wanted, then congrats to you. Me? This isn’t the game I played as a kid. Please let me yell at the cloud.

Shane Bieber (CLE) vs ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 94 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. I’m so happy to see him at 92 mph again and hey! The cutter is back at 29% usage! Mix in the slider still getting a ton of whiffs and you have yourself a stellar evening. I always liked a good dueling Shane.

Shohei Ohtani (LAA) vs OAK (L) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 99 pitches.

Aces gonna have a phenomenal slider, but really struggle to do much with anything else. We saw that last time against the Rangers, too, and it’s what lead to a few extra baserunners. I’d expect the fastball, splitter, and cutter to be a bigger part of his repertoire in the future when they aren’t this meh. Sidenote: he did leave the game with a mild forearm cramp, but he’s supposed to play tomorrow. This shouldn’t be anything.

Tyler Alexander (DET) @ MIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 66 pitches.

This may be the most surprising line of the night as T-Lex made his best effort to take down the Twins. Y’all know we can’t rely on it, but I hope that cake was great at the Birthday Party.

Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) @ TB (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 74 pitches.

Remember that pristine fastball command we saw last time? Yeah, nah. This looks like the man sneezed on the page. The changeup was erratic, too, and we should be incredibly thankful the slider was effective, like that one kid who did all the work in your school project.

Freddy Peralta (MIL) @ PIT (ND) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 67 pitches.

Blegh. His command was way off and we may be a few games away before it clicks. He gets the Rays next and that seems like a perfectly fine risk to take – if he doesn’t have the command back, it could still work out over five frames if he’s allowed to go 75+ pitches. I know how disappointed you are against the Pirates, though. I feel ya.

Luis Castillo (SEA) @ NYY (W) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 109 pitches.

It’s nice to see Castillo get some help defensively and I think if he faced a different team, we’d see some better ratios…even if the changeup was pretty blegh. The slider was phenomenal and he sat 98+ mph, though, and all signs point to excellence ahead. Just have to endure another start vs. NYY first.

Alex Cobb (SF) vs LAD (L) – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 99 pitches.

Okay that splitter was filthy in this one and I feel bad he had to endure the Dodgers, leading to a PQS, save for an extra out in the seventh. And now he has to get the amped-up Padres and life just isn’t fair. Suitman whispers in my ear HE DOESN’T PITCH DURING THE PIRATES SERIES EITHER!?

Mike Minor (CIN) @ MIA (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 82 pitches.

Nope, not there yet. I don’t think we’re going to see Minor sing unless he gets an augmented approach. Cut the cord if you roster him for some flat reason.

Brady Singer (KC) @ CWS (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 11 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 90 pitches.

Singer battled himself, the White Sox, and even the rain in this one. I’ll give him a break with the weather and you can take another shot against the White Sox again next week if you’d like.

Tommy Henry (ARI) @ CLE (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 89 pitches.

He made his MLB debut as a southpaw tossing low 90s (about 91 mph) without impressive command, though you never know with debut jitters. His slider was the #2 that wasn’t too great and…yeah. I kinda have a soft spot for his smooth mechanics and I want to believe it pops out of his hand harder than the 91 mph would imply, but that’s likely the poor LHP camera angle tricking me. This ain’t it.

Aníbal Sánchez (WSH) vs NYM (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 97 pitches.

Sánchez doesn’t just throw a baseball. He throws…ani ball he wants. Please leave. I’m already out the door, just getting my hat.

Rich Hill (BOS) @ HOU (L) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 58 pitches.

I feel like the Red Sox were still asking about dealing Rich while he was pitching in this game. No one interested in trading for Hill? No takers? Do I hear $10,000 international draft money? $5,000? A slight sigh as you feign interest then bail out at the last moment? SOLD!

Tyler Beede (PIT) vs MIL (ND) – 1.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 42 pitches.

Womp womp. I can’t say this is what I envisioned back in January. You don’t want to be on the Beede train. Unless you’re going uptown express from West 4th, that’s fine.

Chad Kuhl (COL) @ SD (L) – 5.0 IP, 9 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 92 pitches.

Welp, that Kuhl WHIP ain’t just desserts. Or something like that. Is it over yet? Yeah, sure. It’s over.

 

Game of the Day 

 

Alek Manoah vs. Sonny Gray – I hope Manoah is okay to pitch and Gray brings the breakers.

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

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Photos by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire, Joshua J. Cotten/Unsplash, and Taton Moïse/Unsplash | Featured Image by Ethan Kaplan (@DJFreddie10 on Twitter and @EthanMKaplanImages on Instagram)