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 Playback.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Drew Rom (STL) @ BAL (W) – 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 93 pitches.
Today was an awfully strange day of starts, with Drew Rom shocking all of us as he took down the Orioles for 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 93 pitches. His four-seamer and sinker were 1-2 ticks up, but even at 91.4 mph, I’m shocked his four-seamer was able to go 9/50 whiffs as it landed well over the plate. It’s strange as we’ve seen hints of some deception on the pitch previously, but we’ve also seen the pitch get crushed in the same locations, too.
It makes for a pitcher I still can’t trust as nothing else inside the arsenal turned heads – the sweeper went 26% CSW with a decent amount of strikes, the sinker was meh, and the splitter (yeah, a splitter) was thrown five times. In short, a pickup of Rom is faith in this 91 mph fastball continuing to earn whiffs and that just ain’t my jam. He’s a Cherry Bomb at his best and I don’t see Rom emulating this performance a second time.
Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:
Joey Lucchesi (NYM) vs ARI (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 99 pitches.
So that churve….it was pretty dang terrible. What?! But the line is great! I’m not kidding, it was horrifically bad. It went 14/16 – Uh huh – balls. A 12.5% strike rate across 16 thrown. Oh. I truly don’t understand how Lucchesi was able to be so obviously chucking sinkers all game in terrible counts, allow 17 balls in play on said sinker, and go seven shutout frames (1 unearned). I DON’T GET IT. Sooooo don’t pick up Lucchesi? DANGIT JIM. Okay, okay.
Jordan Montgomery (TEX) @ TOR (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 97 pitches.
Here I am, talking about Lucchesi hurling sinkers over the plate and it somehow working out, and good ole Monty strolls in and does the same thing. Seriously, 16 sinkers in play (just a 24% O-Swing) with an 8% CSW changeup AND IT WORKED. What is this world.
Blake Snell (SD) @ LAD (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He’s now taken down the Astros and Dodgers, with the easy matchups ahead. He should win the Cy Young, y’all.
Braxton Garrett (MIA) @ MIL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 91 pitches.
Hey, I’m glad it worked. The slider missed its spot a fair amount, the sinker and cutter were good but not stellar, and the rest was present. It’s weird to feel this meh about such fantastic results from Garrett and if it makes you feel better, I’m still suggesting you start him against the Mets. It does. Well okay then.
Hunter Brown (HOU) vs OAK (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 78 pitches.
Atta boy Hunter. I think you say to yourself on the mound “you know what, my breakers aren’t consistent, so I’m just going to pound four-seamers upstairs and ignore them for most of the game.” Trust me, I’m a doctor. It’s tempting to give it a whirl against the Orioles next time out, but don’t forget – he’s still a Cherry Bomb and even though the rare curves and sliders he threw in this one mostly landed low, we don’t know what tomorrow brings. Hopefully snacks. Pffft, duh.
Andrew Wantz (LAA) @ SEA (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 29 pitches.
This was a bullpen game because baseball just can’t let me have a day without one. One day, baseball. ONE DAY.
Trevor Megill (MIL) vs MIA (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 9 pitches.
He opened for a productive Colin Rea across 4.2 IP, but it’s nothing to write home about. Rea ain’t the missing page to the lost journal of FouKax. BUT THE SECRETS OF ACEDOM MUST BE HERE SOMEWHERE.
Steven Cruz (KC) @ CWS (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 31 pitches.
Where is the missing page?! Is it in 4.1 IP and five strikeouts of Alec Marsh? Dude. No. Why would they be the answer? I DON’T KNOW. I mean, it wasn’t bad, from Marsh, following Cruz here and flexing a legit sweeper that went 41% CSW and 8/27 whiffs, but it breaks the Huascar Rule if we go with it. Y’all don’t wanna break rules now, do ya?
Spencer Strider (ATL) @ PHI (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 110 pitches.
Aces gonna strike fear in the hearts of managers everywhere before they settle down and dominate for six more frames. It’s important to keep your emotions in check despite a rough first. Bargaining is the first step and sometimes the last. When would that be? When you have +15 persuasion, obviously.
Kyle Gibson (BAL) vs STL (L) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 104 pitches.
It was Cherry Bomb vs. Cherry Rom and they both were far sweeter than expected. Ain’t that a joy. The Astros are next and I don’t care what the data has said about Gibson facing good offenses this year, I ain’t doing it. IT’S THE PRINCIPLE.
Logan Allen (CLE) @ SF (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 88 pitches.
That’s some good ole Toby pitchin’. And here I thought he’d get the Rangers last week – nope! Chuck Testa Fantasy production. Guess we keep it going against the Royals.
Colin Selby (PIT) vs WSH (ND) – 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 24 pitches.
He opened for Quinn Priester who—IS THIS THE LOST PAGE OF—for the love of Koufax, no, it’s not. Go home already and pick up Gipson-Long. Yeesh.
Luis Castillo (SEA) vs LAA (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 104 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. I absolutely love how much he’s embraced the power of his four-seamer this year. It’s so dang good.
Mike Clevinger (CWS) vs KC (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 82 pitches.
That’s three of his last four starts coming through against poor lineups and now he gets the Nationals. Sure, that’s a bit of recency bias and everything, but a 53% CSW four-seamer across 38 thrown doesn’t just grow on trees. In fact, I can see Patrick Corbin, sitting in the shade of a promising oak right now. Sigh…if only…I guess we’re starting Clev for that one, too.
Ty Blach (COL) vs CHC (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 80 pitches.
His command wasn’t bad, unfortunately, the stuff just isn’t what you want. Blach.
Jameson Taillon (CHC) @ COL (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 84 pitches.
This was more of the same with the intent of four-seamers upstairs with cutters, curves, and sweepers underneath, though it wasn’t polished enough to make a date in Coors end beautifully. That said, it’s enough for me to spin the wheel against the Pirates as the approach is still sound.
Connor Phillips (CIN) @ DET (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 82 pitches.
Well dangit. Stupid Shag Rug showing up here as Phillips went 0/50 whiffs on his 95/96 mph fastball – yeah a good ole goooooose egg – as he commanded the pitch terribly, while his sweeper went just 1/16 on its own. Sigh. Guess we should send him to the wire for the Twins and only consider the Guardians if he wakes up in that next start.
Kyle Harrison (SF) vs CLE (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 82 pitches.
Womp womp. Another bomb bites the dust…and could still be great next time out regardless of this outing. That’s the life of a Cherry Bomb.
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) vs ATL (L) – 7.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 96 pitches.
Whoaaaaa NELLY. It’s weird to award the Gold Star to a pitcher with nine baserunners and 4 ER, but a Golden Goal for Sánchez against Atlanta across 7.1 innings?! UNREAL. His changeup was absolutely filthy, forcing him to put the slider on the shelf as batter after batter kept swinging over this thing. We’re not talking eight whiffs. Not ten. Not even fifteen. EIGHTEEN whiffs for a 38% SwStr rate across 47 thrown. Simply dumb. I really hope the Phils are going six-man now so Cristopher can make weak lineups look stupid on this slowball instead of needing the same magic a second time against Atlanta. It would make for such a difficult decision to bench him, which I’d reluctantly do and anxiously watch after.
Ryan Pepiot (LAD) vs SD (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 90 pitches.
Hey, this ain’t so bad against the Padres and now he has three fantastic matchups up ahead, armed with his fantastic changeup, solid slider, and a decent fastball. Throw in 90 pitches here to suggest he can go six frames in each and you have yourself a lovely final two weeks ahead.
Eduardo Rodriguez (DET) vs CIN (L) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 94 pitches.
Dude, why. Erod was missing everything armside in this one and just wasn’t able to make the adjustment to settle in properly. You really can’t start him against the Dodgers after this one, but at least you have two solid matchups to end the year that should be far better than this.
Taj Bradley (TB) @ MIN (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 80 pitches.
You came for the strikeouts and stuck around for the…obligation. I mean, that would be kinda weird if you did get the ratios too, you know? You know the deal you made rostering Bradley and you better be happy about it.
Dallas Keuchel (MIN) vs TB (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 78 pitches.
Yep, that’s Keuchel. I had a touch of hope his Neckbeard approach would be good enough and even with solid execution, it wasn’t. I think it’s time, Dallas. To shave?! Ummm not what I was going for, but you do you.
Paul Blackburn (OAK) @ HOU (L) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 69 pitches.
Um, obviously. It’s the Astros. On the plus side, Blackburn’s secondaries all sat two ticks higher here, including his four-seamer, despite the sinker sitting just one tick higher. Weird. I wonder if that sticks throughout the final three games, including the last two against some terrible lineups.
Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) vs TEX (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 89 pitches.
Well now I feel little better about not labeling Kikuchi as an auto-start, but I hate that I do. Remember, I want every pitcher to be dope. With this start out of the way, you shouldn’t consider taking Kikuchi out of the lineup. He’s been gold and the approach is still intact.
Zac Gallen (ARI) @ NYM (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 90 pitches.
Aces gonna stumble and make all of us sad. He threw some hangers, the Mets punished ’em, and whatareyagonnado. I feel for yous whose dudes choose to lose after being glues through and through. s. That’s fantasy baseball, Suzyn.
Jackson Rutledge (WSH) @ PIT (L) – 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 90 pitches.
Welcome to the big leagues, kid. But he faced the Pirates. Welcome to the Nationals, kid.
Game of the Day
Merrill Kelly vs. Kodai Senga – There’s a fun matchup of arms who have been many fantasy teams’ aces.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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