Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Saturday 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.
Nick Martinez (CIN) @ MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 76 pitches.
It’s the penultimate week of the season and with a stellar outing from Nick Martinez against the Twins – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 76 pitches – you may be tempted to circle his next start against the Pirates as a potential stream for the week.
Despite earning just one strikeout via his changeup, the pitch was exactly what we wanted it to be. Its 41% CSW with 6/22 made it a constant weapon, while the cutter and fastballs did the rest. It was a bit fortunate here and there (especially with the called strikeouts), but I think he’s in a good enough spot for the Pirates matchup. Not one I’m chasing with massive enthusiasm, but one I’d go for among the sea of anxiety. Good luck everyone.
Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:
Corbin Burnes (BAL) @ DET (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 97 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. THERE IT IS. About dang time the cutter did all the things and allowed the curve + slider to return 9 whiffs combined. THANK YOU.
Joe Musgrove (SDP) @ SFG (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 91 pitches.
We didn’t see as much of the new gyro slider, but the sweeper and curve were fantastic. And now he gets the CrySox?! Awwww yis.
Joey Cantillo (CLE) vs TBR (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 78 pitches.
I had my doubts about Cantillo against the Rays given how the CrySox inflated his results and Tampa Bay’s track record against LHP. However, his slider and change were both able to confoudn the Rays (even if he didn’t get the slowball down all that much), and with Cobb still ailing, I could be convinced to give it one more spin against the Cardinals. Just one more. SQUAWK. Oh snap, 7.5 feet of extension is elite. Huh. If he can do the whole Ober thing a bit better (heaters up, changeups down), there’s legit potential here for next year. Huh.
Chris Flexen (CHW) vs OAK (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 99 pitches.
FLEXEN. AT. THE. BEACH. He impressed so many they gave him a Golden Goal for his appearance. Ayyyyyy. Flexen’s feel for changeups, cutters, curves, and even sliders was phenomenal in this one, returning at least three whiffs on all four secondaries. Let’s give him another award from all of us – A shiny Gold Star that dazzles with the sunlight. I’m happy for him, even if this was some Blame it on the Athletics, and it even makes me wonder if he’ll have the same ability in two starts when he faces the Angels…Naaaaah.
Drew Rasmussen (TBR) @ CLE (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 28 pitches.
He opened for 5.0 IP of 4 ER from Tyler Alexander. Sooooo yeah, let’s move on and not short-arm our fantasy teams with T-Lex.
Beau Brieske (DET) vs BAL (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 23 pitches.
He opened for 3.2 IP of 1 ER ball from Ty Madden, who had a decent splitter at 3/14 whiffs, but obviously not ZOMG THE SPLITTY. Let’s not do this, especially with concerns he’s getting kicked out of the rotation with the return of Reese Olson.
José Berríos (TOR) vs STL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 97 pitches.
I can’t help but laugh at how poor my timing was to denounce Berríos with his roundup focus right before his easy schedule and stupid good run over the last eight weeks. HOWEVER, the man is the Great Undulator, which means his current 3.44 ERA is destined to rise above 3.50 before the season ends. That’s just superstition of course…
Patrick Corbin (WSN) vs MIA (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 94 pitches.
Aha! He did it again. That beautiful cutter worked and Blame it on the Marlins was in full effect while we found a way to let Corbin help our fantasy teams. Now let him down easy into the ocean of the waiver wire as he faces the Cubs. The soothing waters will take you away as we play Sarah McLachlan in the background…
Chris Sale (ATL) vs LAD (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Even against the Dodgers. We have two weeks left and Sale has already hit 170 innings across 28 starts – the most starts he’s had since 2017. I love it so much.
Kyle Gibson (STL) @ TOR (L) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 95 pitches.
Despite the HAISTBMBWT?! and lack of Win or QS and poor WHIP…wait. 1 ER isn’t worth this. I REFUSE TO LET ERA CONTROL MY EMOTIONS. He’s a decent QS/Win play for his final two, up to you if you want that with meh ratios.
Brayan Bello (BOS) @ NYY (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 98 pitches.
A Win and solid ratios? We’ll take that all day on a night where the slider and changeup were not at their best. Against Yankees. Phew. I’m okay with the Twins up next, but it does feel more like a Cherry Bomb situation with Bello these days and I hate that.
Michael Wacha (KCR) @ PIT (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 93 pitches.
Wacha, you wonderful man. His hot streak has continued into his easy schedule and we have two more solid matchups to go. TAKE US HOME.
Mason Black (SFG) vs SDP (L) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 79 pitches.
Yeaaaaah, Black isn’t the guy to chase, especially against the Padres. But hey! One earned ain’t so bad! I’d also be super disappointed if his teammates don’t cheer him on to throw strikes by yelling “Paint it, Black!” Missed opportunity, right there.
Jameson Taillon (CHC) @ COL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 85 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! Despite throwing so many pithes down the pipe, Taillon’s cutter was a workhorse and he’s now had three strong starts in a row. Sign me up for the Nationals up next, let’s ride this out. But the Phillies are after that. Let’s ride this out for one more.
Justin Verlander (HOU) @ LAA (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 89 pitches.
Sure. It’s really important that we calibrate our expectations of Verlander to be a low strikeout arm who can muscle out Wins. Roll with him for a second start against the Angels and expect mostly the same results.
Max Scherzer (TEX) @ SEA (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 73 pitches.
Ayyyy, you’re back! 73 pitches is a bit more than expected and we did in fact see Jack Leiter follow up for a solid 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Ks performance after. We might see Leiter again for either deGrom or Scherzer as the backup arm in case they need the hook before the fifth, making Rocker clear to start against the Jays. Yes, start Rocker. Yes start Scherzer. Yes start them all. Leiter? Oh, maybe not him unless you’re saving starts.
Kyle Freeland (COL) vs CHC (ND) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 95 pitches.
Hey, that’s not bad at all from Freeland. Not helpful in the slightest in non-QS leagues, but props to Freeland.
Luis Severino (NYM) @ PHI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 86 pitches.
I was terrified of this and I’m thrilled Severino gave us a PQS with a dope WHIP. But it’s the Phillies AGAIN. Yep. And Atlanta. Do you really want to spin this wheel again?
Mitch Keller (PIT) vs KCR (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 92 pitches.
A PQS with the rest is fine, especially when you consider that Keller was dealing with a 1-2 velocity dip. Yep, still a Cherry Bomb who gets a slight bump in QS leagues.
Valente Bellozo (MIA) @ WSN (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 92 pitches.
His normally 89 mph heater fell to sub 87 mph. And somehow still almost earned a PQS. Wild. No, he was precise. Had to given the whole velocity thing. GET IT TOGETHER.
J.T. Ginn (OAK) @ CHW (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 71 pitches.
The dude got Singled Out save for a solo shot on a sinker that leaked over the plate. Koufax, you just had to let the White Sox have this one, didn’t you?! He gets the Yankees and Rangers next and I’m not interested in either one. Maaaaybe the Rangers on a desperate Sunday.
Kolby Allard (PHI) vs NYM (ND) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 67 pitches.
Ah yes, Dralla. I’m kinda in shock that the Phillies have such a great record despite Allard as their #5 and a stumbling Suárez as their #4. I wonder if that’ll bite them leading into the playoffs, though the top two are such obvious studs they should be fine.
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) vs CIN (L) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 69 pitches.
There was a chance he’d redeem himself and returning one whiff each on all four pitches with a scattered array of locations tells you all you need to know. Move on from him completely if you haven’t yet.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs TEX (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 97 pitches.
A pair of two strike (2-2 and 3-2) two-run HRs were the damage here as Gilbert otherwise handily took down the Rangers. We keep riding it, hoping he doesn’t hang the slider again. The 93 mph cutter inside? Eh, that happens.
Tobias Myers (MIL) @ ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 97 pitches.
The Sneks are no fun at all and now he has to get the Phillies. Ugh. I absolutely LOVE his following outing against the Pirates, but if you’re debating Tobias vs a streaming spot, I’d take the streamer.
Tyler Anderson (LAA) vs HOU (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 97 pitches.
A co-share of the Gallows Pole shows how good the changeup was one again (13 whiffs!), but a home run, a wild pitch, and the Astros being the Astros were the rest. Sadly, he gets them a second time and I think it’s not worth the ratio dent.
Jack Flaherty (LAD) @ ATL (L) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 83 pitches.
Aces gonna…oh no. He wasn’t able to sneak in his fastball easily, with damage coming off the pitch in a laborious third frame (the Soler double hit off Betts’ glove…). At least the slider was back to normal and we’re still moving forward with Flaherty without question.
Gerrit Cole (NYY) vs BOS (L) – 4.1 IP, 7 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 68 pitches.
Cole really can’t perform well against the Red Sox, huh. He fell apart in the fourth and fifth and still doesn’t have his old slider (0/11 CSW. CSW!). Sigh. We’re still starting him because duh, but I feel for y’all. Whatareyagonnado.
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs MIL (L) – 1.2 IP, 8 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 58 pitches.
Oh dear. Sooooo it’s Coors next – do you feel like you need Pfaadt in your life? No? Cool.
Game of the Day
DL Hall vs. Zac Gallen – I’d love to see prime Gallen and I’m curious what we’ll get from Hall.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)