Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Thursday 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.
Nestor Cortes (NYY) vs LAA (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 95 pitches.
It wasn’t a fun time at the park for Nestor Cortes in the Bronx. Nestor was Singled Out on this wet and uncomfortable evening, leaving the game bequeathing two runners, who both scored, creating the ghastly 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 95 pitches line. Yikes.
I will give Nestor some wiggle room for the conditions, though we haven’t seen a dominant version of Nestor for a while now. This is Nestor’s seventh start of 3 ER or more across his last eight. That can’t be right. It’s a 6.25 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 36.0 IP during that stretch…before tonight’s game. Oh no.
Before I give you the ole “You can absolutely drop him” bit, it is the CrySox next. Despite how hesitant I am to go after a struggling Toby, that could be a very easy Win and should be heavily considered. Can I drop him after that? For the Guardians? Absolutely.
Let’s see how every other SP did Thursday:
Brenan Hanifee (DET) @ SEA (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 28 pitches.
He opened for 64 pitches and 4.1 IP innings of Bryan Sammons, who would have stolen a Win if not for ninth-inning heroics. He’s awfully meh and not worth your time as you try to read the tea leaves for when he’ll start again. Just try something else.
Tyler Anderson (LAA) @ NYY (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 95 pitches.
What a redemption year for Anderson. The changeup is still so good and he’s spotting everything as he should. Here he is taking down an elite offense and you have to feel good about the Jays next + beyond.
David Peterson (NYM) @ COL (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 88 pitches.
Wow, so the Rockies are that bad, huh? Nah, give Peterson more credit! This Gallows Pole was a product of legit BSB execution with eight four-seamer whiffs + consistent low changeups and breakers. Huge props to Peterson as I had little faith in this one and maybe he can repeat the command against the Athletics…without the three walks, hopefully.
Kolby Allard (PHI) @ ARI (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 59 pitches.
Jeeeez Dralla, here’s your Gold Star. Do what you want with it, I don’t care. I’m too afraid to ask how you earned the dang thing in just 59 pitches. I was a tick up on my pitches! YOU SAT 91.
Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs BAL (W) – 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 100 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! Does this mean he’s back? What? Obviously not. Two strikeouts and eight whiffs – how could he have double-digit splitter whiffs with those marks?! I have to preach caution with a sprinkle of ease as he gets the Angels next. They’re gonna smoke him, aren’t they? Don’t bring that energy around here. But given how I just set this all up…probably. PROVE US WRONG, KEVIN.
Kyle Gibson (STL) vs TBR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.
The Rays are pretty dang poor and Gibson took advantage with a ton of pitches over the plate, leading to a 40%+ CSW on both his sweeper and four-seamer. We’ll take it all day, even with the 1.50 WHIP.
Kyle Harrison (SFG) @ WSN (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 61 pitches.
You’re gonna see the dip of 2 ticks in velocity, but the rain delay certainly had an impact and you shouldn’t label this as an injured outing. So you’re back in? Uhhh, no. Just not an injury. Let’s not go wild here.
DJ Herz (WSN) vs SFG (ND) – 2.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 74 pitches.
This was a messy game and Herz obviously was affected by it all. You’re likely to be affected by his matchup against the Orioles up next, so why keep holding onto this DJ? Spin a different record.
Bryan Woo (SEA) vs DET (ND) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 88 pitches.
IT’S HAPPENING. That’s two starts hovering 90 pitches and we’re seeing results follow. A King Cole fueled by 9/26 called strikes on non-fastballs (35% called strikes!) is a great thing, especially when said secondaries found the zone a ton. That’s all we need – consistent strikes from slower pitches to complement the excellent heaters. It’s all coming together…
Hunter Greene (CIN) @ MIA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 108 pitches.
Aces gonna…nearly toss a VPQS and poorly locate four-seamers in the forbidden land of y-mLoc. What happened to the stellar four-seamer command upstairs? WHERE DID THAT GO?!
Randy Vásquez (SDP) @ PIT (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 85 pitches.
Sooo close to being worthwhile for a PQS, but otherwise this start gave you nada. Womp womp. The command was pretty mediocre and the stuff isn’t anything to write home about. He may get another start against the Pirates and I’m tepid there. It’s not much of a ceiling.
Kyle Tyler (MIA) vs CIN (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 84 pitches.
Two first names n all, but I have to give him credit for throwing just 13% fastballs. Instead, we saw 11/40 whiffs on curves + sliders, and it was a cutter that led the way in usage. That cutter is nearly the same speed as his four-seamer. Okay, totally fair. Not a good cutter. Let’s not do this.
Frankie Montas (MIL) @ ATL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 91 pitches.
Montas, all you had to do was finish the fifth frame and you would’ve had a Win in this absolute slugfest. Sigh. It’s not like I actually had him rostered anywhere, I just wanted him to do something good, you know? Always root for the man on the bump.
Luis L. Ortiz (PIT) vs SDP (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 92 pitches.
A pair of home runs messed Ortiz up early, but he settled down in a big way to toss four shutout frames to complete six innings in the end. He’s a Toby at best and I wouldn’t do a mulligan here in a repeat matchup against the Padres. It’s not a good chance for productivity.
Jordan Montgomery (ARI) vs PHI (ND) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 92 pitches.
We were starting to see the scruff form on The Bear as he was delicately pulling off the Neckbeard…until the sixth frame happened. Them’s the breaks. Stupid Phillies ruining everything. I am inclined to believe Monty has started to figure it out, though, which makes him a very interesting option for Rockie Road up next. Seems like a good launching pad for his attempt to redeem this season, no?
Shane Baz (TBR) @ STL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 91 pitches.
The first inning was a rough time as Baz couldn’t find a feel for his heater and elected to move away from his breakers until it was too late. He settled down fine after that, but he still didn’t have his slider and curve working as well as we wanted. Is he just a Cherry Bomb? Maybe. And I hate how unclear it is.
Dean Kremer (BAL) @ TOR (L) – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 96 pitches.
He’s a Cherry Bomb without much sweet as of late. I think you’re better off chasing something else.
Austin Gomber (COL) vs NYM (L) – 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 15% CSW, 68 pitches.
COL story, bro. For those of you who were hoping Austin would be the guy for you, let’s be happy he elected to remove himself from contention. Austin has left the house fantasy team on his own.
Charlie Morton (ATL) vs MIL (L) – 2.2 IP, 8 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 83 pitches.
The most Cherry Bomb of them all. Play chaotic games, get chaotic prizes.
Game of the Day
Robbie Ray vs. Detroit Tigers – I just want to see the dude pitch. Are you actually the stud you were for two of your first three games?
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 Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X)