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 Twitch.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Anthony Molina (SFG) @ ATL (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 75 pitches.
The Giants were served a double-whammy last week when they lost Carson Whisenhunt and Adrian Houser to arm injuries on back-to-back days, leaving us wondering who they would call upon to fill the void. They gave us a hint with Anthony Molina putting on a show, acting like a starter in relief last week for a somewhat extended appearance and the Giants elected to give him a real shot on Monday night against a tough Atlanta squad, where he blew away my expectations via 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 75 pitches. You know, if you gave him the same number of pitches as deGrom or Seymour, he’s likely to have earned a third co-share of that Gallows Pole, if not beat it.
His attack is old school it is simplicity. He’s a right-hander with a high arm slot hurling 96 mph four-seamers at 18″ vert 60% of the time, and featuring sliders to RHB and changeups to LHB, with the rare “hook” (it’s an 85 mph gyro slider) over the plate to see if they’ll do anything about it (fun fact that isn’t fun, they did. Harris took one deep for a solo shot). The breakers leave a bit to be desired but he keeps the slider/cutter offering generally where it should go down-and-away, while the changeup stays down the LHB. This isn’t a spectacular arsenal, but remember, it earned 18 whiffs.
That four-seamer has a lot to do with it. His command of it to RHB was awesome, landing upstairs often or jamming batters leaning out over the plate for the breaker. It wasn’t as precise to LHB, but he wasn’t burned for it and he’s going to live and die off that fastball. The slider gets more out of it due to the pitch separation of the two to RHB and I see a starter who could certainly be a streamer if he’s granted more starts in his lovely home park.
We don’t know if he will. Outside of Webb and Roupp, the Giants are considering Blade Tidwell, Matt Wilkinson, and Yunior Marte as possible rotation options, with Tidwell very much ahead of the pack. I personally think Molina is the most fun of the group rooted in a successful four-seamer, and if he were to start on normal rest, it would be a date in Citi Field against the Mets on Saturday. I’d keep an eye out for it. A. Molina could help you raid the tombs of the wire for you and is likely better than a faceless Mr. Smith alternative. Once it’s confirmed, I don’t think he’ll be gone in 60 seconds, but he’ll sure be wanted. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:
Jacob deGrom (TEX) vs ATH (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 85 pitches.
Aces gonna ace for a co-share of the Gallows Pole. I think it’s safe to say he doesn’t deserve the AGA label being removed after the single 8 ER game. He’s literally returned at least ten whiffs in every game except a four-inning outing on April 17th, where he missed the mark by one. A 17% SwStr rate for the year. Absolute mad man. (View Game Card)
Michael King (SDP) @ CIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 96 pitches.
I’ll take this every day I take a shower. Soooooo, I’M SQUEAKY CLEAN Y’ALL THAT’S EVERY DAY. Okay, okay, jeeeez. I wish I could stop feeling meh about King, but his accuracy is not what it used to be, still. Four-seamers and changeups returning roughly 55% strikes is questionable, and I really don’t like seeing just 1/23 whiffs on sliders and sweepers combined. But we march forward with NYY, @SFG, and MIA up next. Gotta do it, right? (View Game Card)
Clay Holmes (CHC) vs MIL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 101 pitches.
Oh snap! A King Cole? Six shutout? A win? EIGHT STRIKEOUTS?! I feel like I’m getting lauded publicly and can’t hold all the bouquets being shoved into my face. Pretty strange to see such excellence on a day with 1-2 ticks less velocity and a 43% strike sweeper that returned 0/21 whiffs, but who cares, right? Smile, thank whoever you want, and go about your day per usual. Don’t change a thing. (View Game Card)
Robert Stock (NYM) @ TBR (W) – 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 72 pitches.
NICE. Here’s a Gold Star for your efforts. There’s talk that the Mets will be replacing Stock with Tong, but this performance may have earned him another turn at least. He’s a true side-armer with a few surprisingly filthy moments, like a 17″ vert two-plane 96 mph four-seamer that was nowhere close to any of his other heaters that earned a whiff to Aranda. Unfortunately, we know how rough this can be and we have to leave him on the wire. (View Game Card)
Will Dion (WSN) vs MIA (ND) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 37 pitches.
He got a proper start! Yeah, and I hate it. Why?! Because A) They limited him to just 37 pitches and B) if he had an opener, he could have earned a dub. Now I’m just looking at the fella, knowing I can’t possibly endorse any sort of pickup, even if he’s returned a 2.12 ERA, .082 WHIP, and 28% strikeout rate in the, uh 17 IP across his last six games since he was used as a follower for the Nationals and I raised my eyebrows. 15% SwStr rate in that time, too. (View Game Card)
Walbert Ureña (LAA) vs NYY (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 95 pitches.
Yankees Schmankees, amiright? The changeup is legit and that’s all that really matters. Ureña had that cooking, dropped the four-seamer for the most part, actually landed his sweeper effectively and BAM! That’s some high-quality pitching. Keep on keepin’ on. (View Game Card)
Taj Bradley (MIN) vs DET (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 104 pitches.
I appreciate you Taj. You’re giving us enough of the sweet to endure the sour. We just need like two more for the rest of the year and it’ll be justified. Sidenote: His splitter and cutter command was, you guessed it, not great at all. (View Game Card)
Tanner Gordon (COL) vs BAL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 60 pitches.
Props to Gordon, who now has two starts of 1 ER going for him. Don’t call it a hot streak. The pitch classifications on him are pretty messy, as it doesn’t know what to do with a 84/85 mph “gyro curve”, while his entire four-pitch mix is tightly wound together with not a whole lot of movement differentiation. What time is it? Oh jeez, I’ve been here too long. I GOTTA KEEP MOVING. (View Game Card)
Cade Povich (BAL) @ COL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 87 pitches.
Just the second time in five starts that he’s gone at least 5 IP, and I’m a bit surprised to see him go so four-seamer/curve heavy. Coors does that to a man. I don’t think we get more of him, but good stuff, Cade. I’m happy for you. (View Game Card)
Aaron Nola (PHI) @ ARI (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 104 pitches.
This just in. Nola did not allow a HR in this game. It’s the first game since July 5th without a HR and only his seventh of the season. And few rejoiced. Look, I couldn’t trust this would be the one! And what did you get in the end? A 1.40 WHIP to go with the 1 ER and a dub? With just four strikeouts? WAS IT WORTH IT?! (View Game Card)
Ryan Gusto (MIA) @ WSN (ND) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 69 pitches.
Gusto has returned five full innings just once in five games now. Uh oh. This was his best SwStr rate of the season though, and he sported an uptick on his 94/95 mph heater to sit 96 for a day. Wouldn’t it be cool if that stuck around? Maybe throw that and also feature your 90 mph cutter more than five times?! Just thoughts, free thoughts over here. (View Game Card)
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs PHI (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 87 pitches.
Sure, your bread is drier than a washer’s friend, but the ratios are smooth like that jazz you put on when you’re feeling great about starting Pfaadt. Yeaaaaah, that’s the vibe. The pitch separation is still there. I’m game. (View Game Card)
Peter Lambert (HOU) vs CHW (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 104 pitches.
Jeez Lambert, you just had to walk your fifth batter, didn’t you? He was so close to completing the full five frames – a laborious journey with his 35% zone rate and the patient White Sox swinging at just 42% of his offerings – but he had to throw a 3-2 four-seamer and not the slider that worked twice already in the count. SO IT GOES. This was a rough one for his cutter and…well everything but the four-seamer, SAVE FOR THAT LAST PITCH. I kid, I appreciate what you’ve done for us this season, Lambert. I’m still holding you. (View Game Card)
Ian Seymour (TBR) vs NYM (L) – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 88 pitches.
Surely, the Rays won’t possibly consider kicking out a pitcher who just returned ten strikeouts and won a Gallows Pole, right? But he allowed 3 ER. Pish POSH! It was a Careful, Icarus with 1 ER through six. Don’t think about what happens in two weeks, just keep starting Seymour. (View Game Card)
Payton Tolle (BOS) vs SEA (ND) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 96 pitches.
Blegh. It was a day of four-seamers missing far too high, and it burned him. I’m still wondering if he’ll properly add some depth in his arsenal to complement the Ras Pack, but until then, we shoulder on with this Cherry Bomb. (View Game Card)
Jackson Jobe (DET) @ MIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 92 pitches.
He’s so very not polished. I think the curveball needs to be thrown a whole lot more if he’s not tossing it 85/86 mph and 10″ vert, but the command on everything is not great, Bob. That schedule is so lovely (@CLE, Rockie Road, @CHW), but I can’t endorse this. He’s lost out there. (View Game Card)
Brady Singer (CIN) vs SDP (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 87 pitches.
Brady was Singed out. I think it’s Singled Out. Naaaah, this is Singed out, where he gets burned a little, not a lot. That looks like a lot to me. For a normal pitcher, but not Brady. Nah, this is just a little more than usual. (View Game Card)
Elmer Rodríguez (NYY) @ LAA (L) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 91 pitches.
I was pessimistic that Elmer could replicate his 97 mph, six-inning effort, and I’m sad to see the result. At least it’s 96 mph, and not 95 mph, but the curveball at 78 mph was horrible (38% strikes) , while the sweeper nearly matched it at 2/5 strikes itself. That put everything on his sinker and four-seamer, which earned many strikes, but were fouled off and extended at-bats, and are not pitches you want to do the dirty work. He’s out of the rotation now that Fried is back, and I have no interest until he shows us a legit arsenal. (View Game Card)
Bryce Elder (ATL) vs SFG (L) – 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 84 pitches.
Ooooof he had 2 ER through five and then a HR + two singles + a bunt knocked him out of the game, and there’s your 5 ER total. It’s odd to see Elder lean so heavily on his changeup and not on his slider – the breaker was thrown once to a RHB and just four times to LHB – and it’s just so Elder to have successful starts, including a decent one against the Dodgers only to blegh the box score against the Giants. That’s a 15-team Toby. (View Game Card)
George Kirby (SEA) @ BOS (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 86 pitches.
I don’t know, y’all. I can tell you this and that and I just don’t know anymore. Nick, where are you going. I’m leaving. I DON’T KNOW ANYMORE. But there’s so much left to do. I DON’T KNOW ANYMORE. (View Game Card)
Anthony Kay (CHW) @ HOU (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 89 pitches.
The line is terrible, but the performance was pretty much a standard affair. He ran into trouble in each of his final two frames and so it goes. At least it’s an easier schedule moving forward with the Twins and @STL. (View Game Card)
Gage Jump (ATH) @ TEX (L) – 4.1 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 91 pitches.
You can’t be a HIPSTER if you don’t oscillate between great and WHY DID I THINK THIS WOULD WORK?! As always, it comes down to fastball and slider dominance, and Jump’s heater was, uh, lept onto quite a bit. He tried to introduce the changeup to help, but it was rough, and did little to mask the 1-2 tick velocity dip.. The risks are plain as day here, it’s completely your call to, uh, determine if you want to spin the wheel. Why are you stuttering so much. I don’t like make the obvious puns, alright?! (View Game Card)
Kyle Harrison (MIL) @ CHC (L) – 3.2 IP, 9 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 98 pitches.
Oh jeez this was horrible. Harrison allowed a whopping five HRs in this one, including one that came off a first-inning fastball at exactly 92 mph. Wait, that’s not 95+ mph. No, no it’s not. Velocity is great for many things, and for those who earn their oats with four-seamers up, extra velocity does a whole lot of legwork. It didn’t help that the curve and change weren’t incredibly reliable, allowing batters to sit on said fastball often, but this sure feels like alarm bells, doesn’t it? If the Brewers are still starting Harrison without hesitation, then I think I still do it @CIN next. However, I don’t think they will – 93.4 mph and not 95+ mph is a huge difference – as they should ensure one of their stud arms is ready for October. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Logan Webb vs. Paul Skenes – Both are huge names who should dominate in an easy matchup.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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Photo courtesy of respective owners | Adapted by Aaron Polcare (@abeardoesart on Bluesky and X)
