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 weekday mornings from 9 am-11 am ET.
Trevor Rogers (MIA) vs TEX (ND) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 89 pitches.
Would you look at Trevor Rogers making a splash in his third game back from the IL, dominating the Rangers via 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 89 pitches – a bit of a Careful, Icarus to go with that Golden Goal as both runs came through in the seventh. Regardless, Rogers gets the Nationals for two in a row now and, quickly put, get him.
The changeup was filthy at 41% CSW while the heater sat 95 mph and did work at 57% usage and a ton of strikes. I think there’s still room to grow with his heater command, but simply pumping the pitch into the zone against a middling offense was enough with the change keeping batters off-balance.
Now, if Rogers were facing a tough team next time out, I’d be hesitant. The slider isn’t there yet and that four-seamer command still isn’t at its peak. Still, the aforementioned Natty Lite is up twice now and it feels like it can be more of the same with his feel for the slow ball. Grab him off the wire if you can.
Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:
Framber Valdez (HOU) @ DET (W) – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 107 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He lowered his ERA to a sparkling 2.50 clip after a date with the Tigers – what magical powers they have. No, he’s not my Cy Young pick, but he’s going to get a fair share of votes with his ridiculous season and he deserves them.
Jon Gray (TEX) @ MIA (ND) – 3.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 45 pitches.
Two things mattered here: his pitch count (low at 45 pitches, suggesting about 60 next time) and his velocity (great at 96 mph). It means we’re meh on his next one due to the short leash, but stoked for everything after. It’s Jon Gray, alright. He’s ready to roll…for 60 pitches.
Tyler Anderson (LAD) @ ARI (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 84 pitches.
Yep, that’s the magic of 2022 alright. We saw it fade a bit last time, and while the two strikeouts are a heavy suggestion of the reality hiding behind this visage, Anderson doesn’t care. He just wins. For the next three weeks and that’s about it.
Alex Cobb (SF) vs ATL (W) – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 106 pitches.
Huuuuge props to Cobb in this one, earning a Gallows Pole on the back of 58% splitter usage. WILD. Next is a clear sit against the Dodgers, but for a guy I was saying “drop” before this start, I’m sure happy I’ve been wrong. I imagine we can jump back in after that next start.
Ryne Nelson (ARI) vs LAD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 81 pitches.
Well hot dang, look at you! Did the kid know this was the Dodgers? His 95 mph heater amazed with 32% CSW and about 70% usage, while the big curve landed for 64% strikes. If you don’t know him, check out my video on him showcasing his stuff from his MLB debut last week and while I’m super impressed, I can’t help but feel like we should be ultra cautious with SDP, @LAD, @HOU on the horizon. I don’t think this is the next Spencer Strider here.
José Berríos (TOR) vs TB (ND) – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 92 pitches.
Atta boy Berríos. Was it your best self? Nah. Did you find a way to make it work? Yep. I went 29% changeups and 29% curveballs. Whoa, and that changeup earned a whole lot of outs. Huh. Maybe that’s the solution. Either way, it’s another toss-up against the Orioles next time and once again, I’m leaning start.
Javier Assad (CHC) @ NYM (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 95 pitches.
Well I’ll be, look at that. The cutter that allured me in his debut was in full force here, while the four-seamer did a decent job of finding the plate. If he only had a legit third pitch. Regardless, Assad seems like a worthy option against Rockie Road and the Pirates in his next two starts. Sneaky value there.
Cooper Criswell (TB) @ TOR (ND) – 3.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 45 pitches.
45 pitches is about 20 more than I expected and despite his wonderfully-baseball name, I think we can move on to more important things.
Spencer Strider (ATL) @ SF (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 102 pitches.
Aces gonna ace…and earn a 2.00 WHIP because getting Singled Out is dumb. I can’t help but wonder if he’s a Top 15 SP next year in drafts. You have to think so, right?
Glenn Otto (TEX) @ MIA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 90 pitches.
Ayyyy it worked! He hit a few batters and the command was either “well over the plate” or “so far from it”, but he grinded and found his way through six innings. Phew. Now don’t touch the man again. But it’s the Rays, Guardians, and Angels! Nope. Not doing it. He’s not polished enough and this could have gone south easily.
Braxton Garrett (MIA) vs TEX (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 65 pitches.
Hey, pretty good for 65 pitches. It wasn’t whiff-topia on the slider, but he stuck to the edges well and there may be something here if he gets more chances. I’m not sure he will with Miami’s crowded rotation, though, so let’s pocket this for another time.
Bryse Wilson (PIT) @ CIN (W) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 82 pitches.
That’s an out away from a VPQS and considering this was a good start from Bryse, I think we’ve seen enough.
Konnor Pilkington (CLE) vs LAA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 85 pitches.
Yeah, this ain’t it. Chase something else as the changeup that we found interesting in his debut went 0/12 CSW.
Reid Detmers (LAA) @ CLE (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 98 pitches.
Hmmmmm. The curveball was horrible, but the slider and four-seamer were generally located well and a 40% CSW on sliders is what we’re hoping for. I’m not sure if I’d like to chase it against the Mariners, but it does seem like the door is open for it to come together in that one.
Mike Minor (CIN) vs PIT (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 101 pitches.
If you can’t start the man against the Pirates, what’s the point? What’s the point of any of it? Sorry, I let the AI run a little too long there. Minor can’t be trusted and doesn’t deserve a spot on your teams. There are better options, just look at the Nationals pitchers. Seriously? Seriously.
Eduardo Rodriguez (DET) vs HOU (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 88 pitches.
You were done with Erod last week, yeah? Good. Let’s move on.
Chris Bassitt (NYM) vs CHC (L) – 3.2 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 73 pitches.
Uggggggh. The cutter was so good last time and so nothing in this one with just 2/19 CSW. The schedule is too good to do anything about this except vent like you’re sus. He’ll be better, don’t worry.
Game of the Day
Yu Darvish vs. Logan Gilbert – Veteran ace vs. the youngin’. This should be good.
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 livestream! I answer all questions there for free: 9:00 am – 11:00 am ET Monday through Friday.
Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)