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 Twitch.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Daniel Lynch IV (KCR) @ HOU (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 72 pitches.
We hadn’t seen a single fantasy-worthy start from Daniel Lynch IV all season until last week, and now he earns a Gold Star for doing it a second time, here in Houston via 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 72 pitches (W). The tall southpaw was a former top prospect and I’m sure some could see this as potential post-hype blossoming. I’d be careful.
This was a day of changeups galore to RHB, boasting 39% usage with a 71% strike rate without a single reason to hold back. He kept it down well enough (some floated over the zone, but he got away with them), and his 93/94 mph fastballs weren’t as meaty as we’ve seen, grabbing a fair number of called strikes and helping him plod through five, even if his heaters failed to record a single whiff.
I wish I could label Lynch as a SWATCH, but I’m not there yet. I need to see more consistency from his slowball, at least one whiff on heaters above them, and the slider/curve are mediocre as gyro breakers with nearly the same movement but a six mph difference. Whoa, that’s weird. Yeah, it is. And I don’t like it.
We’ve yet to see Lynch record more than three strikeouts in a game this year. That’s not a fair statement given that his last four were the first with more than 70 pitches to his, and yet, he’s tossed five full frames in his last three and tallied six punchouts in total. I need to see more from a pitcher who struggles to miss bats and even against the White Sox and Guardians to finish the season, I’d be afraid to believe those two starts will be twin peaks for Lynch ahead, let alone one. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:
Zack Wheeler (PHI) @ WSN (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 91 pitches.
We’re so almost fully back. Like right there but just a little more overall precision and we’re golden. (View Game Card)
Zebby Matthews (MIN) vs NYY (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 97 pitches.
Duuuuude what?! We saw the slider dotted to RHB and take down LHB with ease, fastballs find the zone without damage, and curveballs earn many chases near the bottom of the zone. It was a 17″ vert four-seamer at 96 mph, too, and…is it bad that I’m not sold? Maybe I should be with that improved four-seamer, but he’s put us through the wringer, and this wasn’t the perfect blueprint of location across his full arsenal. He’s a HIPSTER who could give us one more strong performance in Oracle Park next Tuesday, and for now, let’s cross our fingers and see what happens. (View Game Card)
Anthony Molina (SFG) @ STL (ND) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 82 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! That’s the Molina I was hoping to see last start so I could feel confident in this one, but fine, I’ll take this too. Lots of strikes on all his offerings, the 84 mph “gyro curve” (it’s a slider) and the 88 mph “slider” (it’s a cutter) were both stellar, each recording SwStr Rates right under 20%, and his four-seamer is still a solid foundation with a changeup to help against LHB. I’m kinda tempted to give it a spin hosting Minnesota in Oracle Park on Tuesday. (View Game Card)
Anthony Kay (CHW) @ CLE (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 66 pitches.
It looks like the White Sox are limiting him down the stretch now that he has 149 innings on the season. It’s too bad as Kay flexed 98 mph four-seamers after sitting 96 mph all year. Even if you think it’s because of the shorter start, he hasn’t done that all year – his previous high was 96.6 mph in a 48-pitch start. If they use an opener for him @KCR or against Rockie Road on the final day of the season, I’d circle it. Then again, the White Sox may not let him go a second time before the season comes to a close, if at all. (View Game Card)
Luis Perales (WSN) vs PHI (L) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 5 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 49 pitches.
This was a bullpen game for the Nationals and it’s cool to see the other side of the Jake Bennett deal flaunt his 99.2 mph four-seamer for…0/11 whiffs. Remember kids, it doesn’t matter how hard you throw ball four. But seriously, I hope he finds some control. Otherwise, he has reliever written all over him.
Blake Snell (LAD) @ CIN (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 19 pitches.
Snell was lifted early with a groin injury as #HotSnellSummer comes to an end. Those six starts were fun, weren’t they? A 1.04 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 34% strikeout rate with a 4-0 record at nearly six innings per start from August 11th through last Friday. Sigh. What must we do to prevent ourselves from drafting him next year? We saw some Bobby Miller in cleanup duty for 2.1 IP of blegh and I wonder if Snell makes another start this year. Hopefully it paves the way for Justin Wrobleski and/or Emmet Sheehan to make a proper start. Preferably the latter. (View Game Card)
Chris Bassitt (BAL) @ NYM (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 95 pitches.
His best asset is volume, and the Mets just let him do whatever he wanted in this one, pumping 93/94 mph (+1.2 ticks!) in a “revenge game”. Bassitt can do this, he can also tank your ratios in a heartbeat. I’d avoid him against the Jays, but you may have to take a shot on this in deeper formats. (View Game Card)
Matthew Liberatore (STL) vs SFG (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 81 pitches.
Ayyyy, look at that value! You mean a 1.50 WHIP and just two strikeouts? Okay, fair. But one ER! That’s cool, right? I don’t want to eat this Dusty Donut. I don’t blame you. Only three whiffs on the day, all on his slider, all against LHB, with the breaker failing miserably against LHB. That’s why we liked you, Libby! It feels weird to get any value out of this, but maybe, just maybe, he finds that slider in PNC Park in his final start. Here’s to hoping. (View Game Card)
Shota Imanaga (CHC) vs ATL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 100 pitches.
A Gallows Pole for Shota this late in the season? That’s hot. The splitty was cooking + 91.6 mph is A-OK by me, especially without a single long ball. One more against the Marlins is an easy start in my book. (View Game Card)
Max Scherzer (TOR) vs DET (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 73 pitches.
We knew we wouldn’t see another ten-strikeout game across seven shutout frames, and I’m totally fine with this if I gave Scherzer a spin. It’s really boring, though, isn’t it? He’s also sitting a tick down. I really don’t see the appeal outside of the name, sorry Max. (View Game Card)
Andrew Abbott (CIN) vs LAD (ND) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 98 pitches.
Abbott does what Abbott does. Sit on the wire waiting for someone to trust him again? Yeah, something like that. (View Game Card)
Carlos Rodón (NYY) @ MIN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 102 pitches.
Rodón hasn’t allowed more than 3 ER in any of his 15 starts this year, which is kinda wild since I have yet to see a start where he’s effectively locating all three of his four-seamer, changeup, and slider. At least the former is pushing some legit two-plane movement and carrying 71% strikes + he’s continued to ramp up the velocity throughout the game, even if he started a little lower than usual in this one. One more to go against the Rays, and I don’t see why you wouldn’t start him. (View Game Card)
Cristian Javier (HOU) vs KCR (L) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 85 pitches.
This was a day of four-seamers and sweepers, where the latter did a whole lot more work to RHB than usual, but he massively struggled to put batters away. Just a 13% per pitch putaway rate is a rough sight, and Javier is an arm routinely inconsistent with his execution. I want to like him more and I’m fine with a start @TEA, though I don’t think I can latch onto the idea of a high ceiling. The command has never really been there. (View Game Card)
Nick Martinez (TBR) vs ATH (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 15% CSW, 72 pitches.
The magic ain’t going away and that’s awesome. Two more to go @NYY and @PHI. You can do this, even with a 14.8% strikeout rate. It’s bananas, y’all. (View Game Card)
George Kirby (SEA) @ LAA (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 93 pitches.
I chatted with Eno for a good length about Kirby on The Craft and I still can’t quite believe how poor of a season Kirby has strung together. This wasn’t a problem with RHB for once, though, as he nailed that sweeper down and away with some sinkers inside and it generally worked (WHAT A CONCEPT! as my high school basketball coach would shout at us when something he planned worked. Once.). This was a failure to locate against LHB and he’s continued his ways of making us all throw our hands up in frustration. Do what you want against the Astros up next, I have no idea what we’ll get. (View Game Card)
Ryan Gusto (MIA) @ ARI (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 86 pitches.
This was Gusto’s sixth start of his last eight without lasting a full five innings. Move along, sir. (View Game Card)
Keider Montero (DET) @ TOR (L) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 89 pitches.
A 2.00 WHIP?! That wasn’t the deal! The deal changed! No one told me that! Hey Steven, anyone call the office about the deal changing? No sir. I like Steven. He doesn’t change deals and our deal was he doesn’t lie. Now, where’s my golden WHIP? How about you try that place in Detroit? I hear the Nationals and Pirates are comin’ round soon. Yeah. Alright. I might do that. Not sure I can trust anything you’re saying these days, though. I don’t blame ya. (View Game Card)
Parker Messick (CLE) vs CHW (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 86 pitches.
A PQS with eight strikeouts and a dub is well worth your time. He even pushed his velocity further to 95.6 mph – hit the second-hardest heater of the season (6/18 @MIL at 95.9 mph). One more start left in Fenway to lock in a career year. We ride. (View Game Card)
Robbie Ray (SDP) @ COL (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 88 pitches.
You should know better than to rule out production from Ray even in Coors. A PQS with a harder set of secondaries (+1-2 ticks each) is a welcome sight, but…what. Why, oh why, are we seeing 50% sinkers to RHB and just 10% four-seamers to RHB? It worked Nick. BUT WHY?! He’s destined to face the Dodgers on Tuesday and good luck y’all. No, he’s not fixed, but that hasn’t stopped him from giving you a strong ERA in the second half. (View Game Card)
Jared Jones (PIT) vs MIL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 91 pitches.
Look at Jones and Logan having nearly identical lines. The slider feel to RHB has been their since his start against the Angels, propelling a King Cole in this one. If only the four-seamer could do better than 3/39 whiffs…But hey, we’re cool with nine strikeouts for this Dusty Donut. Keep it going. (View Game Card)
Logan Henderson (MIL) @ PIT (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 87 pitches.
Aces gonna have their second start of a 4.50+ ERA all season. Two HRs did him in, including a two-run shot before his final out. Whatareyagonnado. Thanks for the punchouts and we’re still starting him. Obiviously. (View Game Card)
Jake Bennett (BOS) @ TEX (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 91 pitches.
Hmmmmm. Strikeouts are cool, obviously, and Koufax was an unfair lad with just seven outs on fifteen balls in play. We saw solid four-seamer/change pitch separation that we look for from a SWATCH, but the heater was down to just 91.8 mph and fine. It’s too risky against the Guardians. I still feel like he’s right there. Next year. (View Game Card)
Merrill Kelly (ARI) vs MIA (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 91 pitches.
Daaaang, first Bennett now Kelly? 16 strikeouts between them but 4.2 IP of 3 ER with nine baserunners a pop. WHAT DID THEY DO TO YOU, KOUFAX?! His last start of the year will be in Coors, so we can put this unfortunate season to rest. He’s one of those possible Nick Mart/Wacha Vargas Rule options for next year. (View Game Card)
MacKenzie Gore (TEX) vs BOS (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 69 pitches.
Sigh. Gore had reduced velocity and failed to land his secondaries, but he was ultimately removed with cramps, and I can see some writing it off. I think it’s best just to move on, yeah? He’s returned 11 strikeouts across his last five games combined. (View Game Card)
Yusei Kikuchi (LAA) vs SEA (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 99 pitches.
Oh. So this is how it’s going to be. The command was all over the place with splitters missing terribly and his slider and heater sometimes executing properly and other times way off. Now it’s Sacré Verde and I’m definitely skipping it. (View Game Card)
Brady Basso (ATH) @ TBR (L) – 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 52 pitches.
I wish Basso threw hard. Then we’d all be saying GIMME THAT BASSOLINNNEEEEEE. Fine, no one would be doing that but maybe one person and I appreciate that person. (View Game Card)
JR Ritchie (ATL) @ CHC (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 82 pitches.
Ritchie has been worthwhile in two games across his fifteen games this season: his PILOT Rule MLB debut and five shutout frames in relief against the Mets on June 12th. That’s it. Yikes. (View Game Card)
Mason Adams (COL) vs SDP (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 15% CSW, 84 pitches.
Mason is not crafting the swords you’d want from a fantasy starter. You know this. Why are we doing this. (View Game Card)
Xzavion Curry (NYM) vs BAL (L) – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 61 pitches.
That’s a name I haven’t heard for a long time. The Mets now, eh? I wonder if Citi Field plays X Gonna Give It To Ya when the manager asks for the ball when he’s relieved. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Taj Bradley vs. Walbert Ureña – Both have their bouts of volatility, though we expect them to perform well today.
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)
