Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Tuesday 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.
José Butto (NYM) vs ARI (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 91 pitches.
One of my favorite parts of September is starting pitchers coming out of nowhere to produce for your fantasy squads. José Butto is one of them, dominating against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday evening for 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 91 pitches, earning a Win and backing up his return to the rotation last week. Does this mean he’s safe to stream against the Marlins?
I’m sadly not as gung-ho as I thought I’d be. Butto’s four-seamer and changeup command was phenomenal, executing the BSB as the fastball was taken constantly for called strikes, while the changeup was elegantly spotted just under the zone, tallying up whiff after whiff until he earned thirteen for the night. Incredible. It feels like a peak, though, and the curve & slider were awfully underwhelming.
When I see young arms produce brilliant strike zone plots and have a night of dream execution, it’s rare to see it repeated consistently thereafter. In addition, Butto’s added velocity disappeared in this one (93/94 instead of 95+) and it adds to the haze surrounding his future performance.
In 15-teamers, we go for it. In 12-teamers, I want to alert you to 91 pitches in just five full frames. He wasn’t efficient even at his peak, making Butto carry a proper Shag Rug that you may not want to risk.
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Bryan Woo (SEA) vs LAA (ND) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 83 pitches.
Ummmm, I guess he’s okay. Woo earned a Golden Goal with his four-seamer looking as pristine as ever with 13/47 whiffs and a 40% CSW. Throw in some sinkers, changeups, and sliders all well over the plate and BLAMO! There’s dominance against the Angels. I gave many reasons how this could be unproductive and Woo brushed them all aside, even going over 80 pitches…though his velocity was still down a tick. At the very least, we start him against the Athletics next and likely call it a season, but if he still looks unreal, then I guess we have to roll the dice against the Rangers, don’t we? Wow.
Max Scherzer (TEX) @ TOR (W) – 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 73 pitches.
Aces gonna leave the game early with right triceps spasm. Just what I needed, JUST WHAT I NEED-ED!
JT Chargois (MIA) @ MIL (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 16 pitches.
This was Edward Cabrera following for 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 1 Hits, 6 BBs, 5 Ks and…I don’t need to say the rest, you saw the walks and there’s no way to hide it. Sigh. I will mention, this felt more like nibbling around the edges and just missing a fair amount and not the ridiculous chaos we’re used to. If the Marlins go six-man, it means Cabrera gets the Mets instead of Atlanta up next and I think I’d still go after it. However, if ECab is set for Sunday against Atlanta, y’all know you want no part in that.
Freddy Peralta (MIL) vs MIA (W) – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 95 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. What a wondrous run this has been. I still can’t believe he’s found a changeup in the middle of it, making it even easier to rack up the Gallows Pole awards. Simply ridiculous.
Bailey Falter (PIT) vs WSH (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 67 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! It’s not the biggest surprise as the Nationals are terrible and we’ve seen some decency from Falter in the past, but I absolutely loved seeing him go so heavy on sliders and curveballs (nearly 60% usage combined!), saving his four-seamer and sinker for pitches at the top of the zone or above. He’s doing exactly what he should be doing with a fastball that just isn’t all that great.
Cal Quantrill (CLE) @ SF (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 86 pitches.
See? Nothing to worry about. Quantrill is a Toby with a lovely schedule and we’re here to ignore the whole “but he doesn’t miss bats and relies on BABIP” thing and just let life be what it is.
Sean Manaea (SF) vs CLE (L) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 80 pitches.
Whoa whoa whoa, they actually let him start?! IT’S ABOUT DANG TIME. His heater wasn’t 94/95 as we saw earlier in the year, but 92/93 is still better than last year, returning 35% CSW and the slider and changeup did their best to help. The latter was able to go 80% strikes, at least, and this was a BSB through and through. Seriously, if the Giants are actually letting Manaea start now and he has this precision, he could do well the rest of the wa–Suitman whispers in my ear. Coors? Dodgers?! DODGERS?! Now that’s just cruel. Never mind, I guess.
Dylan Cease (CWS) vs KC (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 102 pitches.
Well well well, look who finally decided to be the sweet part of the Cherry Bomb. The slider did all the work (duh) and he ditched the curveball nearly entirely in the process. I guess that’s alright when the slider goes 13/45 whiffs with 38% CSW. Now do it again. Please.
Max Fried (ATL) @ PHI (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 87 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. We all know it to be true. I can’t wait to draft him in the fifth round everywhere next year.
Carlos Rodón (NYY) @ BOS (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 93 pitches.
WE HAVE 96 MPH. I REPEAT, WE HAVE 96 MPH. Rodón finally eclipsed the mark after all this time, oddly enough the very game after he dipped to his lowest average velocity all year around 94 mph. Sadly, he still walked some batters along the way, but hot dang, Rodón at 96 mph and touching 98 is just so much better. STRAP IN Y’ALL. I guess this means we chase it against the Pirates, right? This is a potential league-winning arm here. You didn’t talk about the curve! Ehhh, he threw 13 of them and it was awfully inconsistent. And sure, the slider did well, but this was all about that heater finally coming through with an 18% SwStr rate. That’s the good stuff.
Kutter Crawford (BOS) vs NYY (ND) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 93 pitches.
Seven strikeouts are pretty dang tasty and I dig his curve + sweeper returning 7/27 whiffs as well. Maybe throw more of those…? Okay fine, Crawford still struggles to land them for strikes, but it’s the only way I can truly get behind Kutter for a long period of time. For example, this ain’t enough to start him against the Jays, sadly. But if those breakers were 40-50% featured and held a 60% strike rate…A man can dream.
Lance Lynn (LAD) vs SD (ND) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 109 pitches.
Oh, so NOW you’re gonna be decent. Not terrible, not incredible, just decent. You know, that’s all I can ask of any human, really. Please, just be decent. As for Lynn, the schedule is glorious moving forward and we’re just gonna hitch a ride and go where it takes us.
JP Sears (OAK) @ HOU (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 83 pitches.
Would you look at that. This was Sears’ toughest bout of September and he earned himself a Gold Star with this effort. I’d still avoid him against the Mariners, but if he’s able to land sweepers over the plate and earn whiffs on his four-seamer there, you betcha I’m interested in the Tigers and Angels after.
Adam Wainwright (STL) @ BAL (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 94 pitches.
HE DID IT. We’ve been waiting for Win #199 for ages and now I just want the fella to get one more before the end of the year. You have three starts left Waino, YOU CAN DO THIS.
Joe Ryan (MIN) vs TB (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 102 pitches.
Blegh. This isn’t the result you want, even with the strikeouts, and it’s all kinds of annoying when you realize how well Ryan separated his four-seamer and splitter. It’s pretty clear the splitter just isn’t that great and he needs to figure out a better breaking ball than his sweeper across the off-season. He (or DriveLine) will find it, don’t worry. Sidenote: It’s pretty cool watching Louie Varland sit 97.5 mph in relief with filthy cutters. I really hope he gets to rejoin the rotation again next year.
Randy Vásquez (NYY) @ BOS (ND) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 60 pitches.
Honestly, this is a good start from Vásquez inside Fenway. And it’s also such an obvious avoid.
Joey Wentz (DET) vs CIN (ND) – 2.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 69 pitches.
We saw some Wentz and Beau Brieske and like Johnny Tightlips, we also saw a whole lot of nothin’.
Zack Littell (TB) @ MIN (L) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 85 pitches.
In traditional Littell fashion, he didn’t earn a Win despite a 0.71 WHIP and eight strikeouts. I don’t even think he pitched all that incredibly here, but he was able to get a ton of strikes with splitters and sweepers on top of his solid slider and it worked out well. So, are we in on Zack again? Nah, unfortunately it’s Too Littell, Too Late. NICK.
Hyun Jin Ryu (TOR) vs TEX (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 82 pitches.
A PQS in his toughest matchup left on the season? Yep, we take it. You can start this Toby indefinitely now. Congrats, you’ve made it.
Nick Pivetta (BOS) vs NYY (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 90 pitches.
Whoaaa, ten strikeouts?! And a poor ERA. Yeah, it’s Pivetta. The slider command is back in business and he went BSB pretty dang well, though a few heaters were grooved a bit too much down the pipe and the Yankees punished him for it. I don’t think this is enough for me to risk it against the Jays, but if these skills are still present, I’m very much in against the White Sox afterward in the battle of the pink laundry.
Chris Flexen (COL) vs CHC (ND) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 84 pitches.
Just two outs away from a classic VVVPQS. Why am I celebrating this.
John Means (BAL) vs STL (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 75 pitches.
Means made his return from TJS and showcased 92.4 mph heaters (not 93, but at least it’s not 91) with a changeup that refused to listen to Lil Jon and get low, plus a slider and curve that casually found their way into the zone. It’s not the Means I fell for two years ago, sadly, and we’re certainly not starting him against the Astros up next. Let’s see what the skills are there before making an official decision against the Guardians in his following start.
Joan Adon (WSH) @ PIT (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 6 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 93 pitches.
Adon’s WHIP in this start was higher than Bryce Elder’s season ERA. Think about that.
Javier Assad (CHC) @ COL (ND) – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 79 pitches.
Ah, so the cutter is still bad. Cool cool cool. I want to start you against the Pirates but that’s two starts without the cutter and I’m starting to get worried. Oh come on, how bad could it have been? It had a 44% strike rate across 27 thrown. Oh no.
Justin Verlander (HOU) vs OAK (L) – 7.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 94 pitches.
Against the Athletics. Really. Okay, the first inning was terrible and he settled down, but his command was far from pristine with far too many pitches down the heart of the plate. Get it together, fella. For the kids.
Patrick Sandoval (LAA) @ SEA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 92 pitches.
Sigh. Not even an Irish Panda can find some luck.
Brandon Williamson (CIN) @ DET (ND) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 92 pitches.
Awwwwww. I initially had Williamson lower in the Questionable Start tier with concerns about rust as he returned from the COVID-IL, but then I raised him up (still in the same tier) earlier this morning with the hope he was able to maintain throwing despite his time away from the field. Nope. The two-tick velocity increase he’s had for months evaporated, the new changeup went 8% CSW, and his command was rough. I’m not sure we can start Williamson again until we see him back on track, sadly. Take a vacation for his next outing against the Twins.
Brady Singer (KC) @ CWS (L) – 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 79 pitches.
I still like the slider, but the sinker is just so dang bad when not located along the edges. Now he gets all the bad starts and while he’ll still retain his tag of Cherry Bomb, the chances are massively lower.
Zack Wheeler (PHI) vs ATL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 96 pitches.
You said that we should start Wheeler because he was an AGA–I KNOW WHAT I SAID. Atlanta got to him in the fifth after four strong frames and that’s your ball game. He gets them a second time and I’ll demote him to the second tier. Wait, that means you’re probably starting him. Yep. DO YOU NOT SEE—One inning does not turn Wheeler into a pumpkin. I’M DOING IT Y’ALL.
Ryne Nelson (ARI) @ NYM (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 84 pitches.
So we saw more of the slider in this one and it did its part with 45% CSW across a quarter of his total pitches. Sadly, even with his four-seamer elevating to match it, the heater just isn’t that great. This isn’t the sneaky play of September you want it to be.
Jordan Lyles (KC) @ CWS (ND) – 5.0 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 82 pitches.
It’s just that kind of season for Lyles. I hope it’s not for your fantasy teams, too.
Michael Wacha (SD) @ LAD (ND) – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 86 pitches.
Womp womp. The Dodgers are an elite offense and that’s baseball. At least he sat 1-2 ticks up on everything and has a beautiful trio of matchups the rest of the way. Start him for all of ’em.
Touki Toussaint (CWS) vs KC (ND) – 1.0 IP, 8 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 46 pitches.
Ah. Welp, see ya later.
Game of the Day
Blake Snell vs. Ryan Pepiot – This is the last remaining challenge for Snell before he coasts the rest of the way…and the same applies to Pepiot.
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 Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)