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.
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) vs TOR (ND) – 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 11 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 93 pitches.
I’m here to help. Nathan Eovaldi was supposed to be ole reliable down the stretch and 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 11 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 93 pitches against the Jays is…not that. I feel your pain.
Yes, his velocity was down nearly a full tick to just under 95 mph. His splitter wasn’t its best. He didn’t locate as precisely as we normally see. He also didn’t have the good graces of Koufax and many hits could have easily gone a different direction.
In other words, Eovaldi isn’t suddenly a horrible pitcher and if you’re competing next week, you shouldn’t rage drop the man for his start against the Athletics. If you’re now dealing with the struggles of a H2H league, don’t burn the plan you put in place at the beginning of the week just yet – there’s plenty of time for your opponent’s starts to squander their lead, too. We’ve already seen Woo, Eovaldi, Lugo, Detmers, Estes, Pivetta, Parker, and Suárez (and I’m sure I’m forgetting more on Monday) allow at least four runs in their games and there will be more surprises to come. At the very least, form an emergency plan for Saturday and Sunday to squeeze as many starts as possible if it comes to that. We’ll get through it.
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Tylor Megill (NYM) vs WSN (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 94 pitches.
I really shouldn’t have had you at the top of Questionable. The four-seamer was up to 96 mph and dominated in the zone with sinkers helping out + sliders, cutters, and curves were…around. I still want Megill to unlock one more pitch to tie the room together, but if he can continue to locate his heaters in the upper-half at 96+ he’ll do just fine. Against the Phillies? Uhhhh. Hmmm. Alright, Questionable again, but I mean it this time!
Griffin Canning (LAA) vs CHW (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 88 pitches.
I appreciate you, Griffin. You’ve failed us in the past against poor lineups and it’s nice to Win one, you know? With Dana removed from the Angels’ rotation, it may be a five-man down the stretch, pulling Canning from a repeat matchup against the White Sox into a two-step this week against…the Astros. Nooooo. Yeah, it’s too bad. Don’t chase that unless you have nothing to lose and need a handful of strikeouts.
Blake Snell (SFG) @ BAL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 12 Ks – 22 Whiffs, 46% CSW, 98 pitches.
Aces gonna ace and snag a Golden Goal against the Orioles. Remember how Snell’s resurgence was a product of his curveball’s ability to find strikes? He threw just six in this game, favoring sliders instead for…uh…8/24 strikes. Wait, that’s horrible. I know, I know. Fortunately, the heater and changeup were the best I’ve ever seen, like 77% CSW on the changeup in 22 thrown insane. WHAT. Yeah. Fun stuff.
Cole Ragans (KCR) vs DET (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 105 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. That changeup y’all. It’s just so dang good. By the way, remember all the “He’s had two TJ’s” discourse in the pre-season outlining how he wouldn’t make it through the year? 31 starts and 180 frames later, he has 217 strikeouts, trailing only Sale by a pair of punchouts, with a 3.24 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Fun stuff.
Zack Wheeler (PHI) @ MIL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 99 pitches.
Aces gonna ace with 77% fastballs. Why not? They are so good.
Ryan Feltner (COL) vs ARI (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 93 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! That’s a Gold Star for Feltner, not only dealing with the Sneks, but COORS. I wouldn’t bank on his heater performing anywhere close to this well in the future, of course. Just a little “Hey, I see ya, bucko” nod.
Lance Lynn (STL) vs PIT (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 92 pitches.
Lynn. Thanks buddy. You’ve been on this ridiculous run and despite all the dumb phrases I’ve said, you’ve come through. Now you get Coors and I won’t forget your service as you go back to wire. Maybe I’ll make a scrapbook. The Hockey Sticks That Scored.
Luis Gil (NYY) @ SEA (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 91 pitches.
He got so lucky in that first frame. Bases loaded, two outs, 3-0 count, and Robles decides to take off for home. Thrown out, inning over. UNREAL. I totally understand why Robles went – Gil was taking him time, back to the plate, and forgot the situation – but man, you just don’t do that. Anyway, Gil recovered after, though the velocity dropped a ton by the end of the game to 92/93 mph, making me a touch worried he’s getting fatigued this far into the year. It’s the Athletics next and I’m still starting him, but I’m not expecting peak Gil in that one.
Zebby Matthews (MIN) @ CLE (ND) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 76 pitches.
Y’all couldn’t let him get one more out? This wasn’t the Zebby I adore, sadly. He want mostly two-pitch with great sliders among poorly placed four-seamers, featuring just eight cutters and ten changeups that failed to return a single whiff. I’m curious in Zebby as a pickup early in 2025, though if he gets the #5 spot, he’d face the White Sox…Nick. Stop. Focus. Sorry, sorry. Let’s not consider Zebby the rest of the way as he’s barely lasting five on his best days + has a tough schedule.
Casey Mize (DET) @ KCR (ND) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 89 pitches.
Whoaaaaa, we saw legit velocity spikes here. 1-2 ticks on the heater to nearly 97 mph on average and roughly three ticks on both the slider and splitter. That’s hot. Sadly, it didn’t correlate with results as his command was chaotic to say the least. Kinda felt like a “Pfffft whatever, I’ll just go ham and see what happens” outing. You may consider a start hosting the Rays up next followed by the White Sox to close the year (if he gets that final outing…), and I can see it. Just hold that velocity and throw more strikes.
Chris Bassitt (TOR) @ TEX (ND) – 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 80 pitches.
This was a game of errors, with six unearned runs scoring and kicking out Bassitt in the fourth. He’s set for the Rays (Sunday!) and Marlins next and we keep riding Bassitt.
Michael King (SDP) vs HOU (ND) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 87 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. It felt awfully strange dropping King last night in my league that ends on Sunday and I can’t wait to draft him again next year. The dude is a command arm with whiffability for a winning team. What more do you want? He gets the Dodgers and possibly the Sneks on the final Sunday (I highly doubt this unless they are fighting for a playoff spot/AL West winner on the final day, which is heavily unlikely). Yes, I’d start him against both.
Shane Baz (TBR) vs BOS (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 96 pitches.
Yesssss. Baz took full advantage of the matchup and I’m thrilled the Rays allowed him to go deep into this one for seven frames and 96 pitches. His BSB was fantastic, with heaters elegantly spotted up and curveballs landing low consistently. I love this version of Baz and can you imagine if he actually finds his old slider? Sure, 7/10 strikes (with a hit) and two whiffs is totally cool with us, but it’s not the mega #2 of old. I wonder what we get next year…
Hunter Brown (HOU) @ SDP (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 95 pitches.
YES. I was worried I was too aggressive with my Probably Start rank of Hunter, but the man found a way. Was it a clear-cut outing of dominance? Absolutely not! But that’s kinda the way it goes for Brown these days, like a harder throwing Chris Bassitt. Huh. That’s the weirdest comp I’ve given in a long time, but he did have 15 called strikes across 53 fastballs…
Bailey Falter (PIT) @ STL (L) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 84 pitches.
That’s an awfully boring outing, but it worked? Yay? I think y’all should avoid this against the Brewers and Yankees.
Mitch Spence (OAK) @ CHC (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 92 pitches.
The WHIP hurts, but we’ll absolutely take the rest. The sinker wasn’t what we wanted and he had scattered curves, but the cutter and slider were as advertised. Not a terrible stream to chase next week against the Rangers if you’re searching for arms. I wouldn’t target this, just be aware of it as an option.
Gavin Williams (CLE) vs MIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 89 pitches.
That’s a Dusty Donut for Gavin, but hot dang am I happy to see the cutter come alive with 10/39 whiffs. He’s starting to believe. That’s right, he’s the right-handed Garrett Crochet. Just gotta get a little better at separating the two pitches and abandoning the curve early if you can tell it’s a 2/13 strike day. Seriously?! Yes, a 15% strike rate. I know.
Grant Holmes (ATL) @ CIN (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 78 pitches.
Uhhhh, I was told he’d be limited to 60 pitches. I really dug Holmes’ command here and if he does get the Marlins on Sunday, I’m all for it. 78 pitches! The man is READY.
Frankie Montas (MIL) vs PHI (L) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 100 pitches.
Look at him go. Sure, a Philly without a dub, but ten strikeouts y’all! He’s getting his splitter, slider, and cutter down low, while the four-seamer continues to find whiffs in the upper half at 96+. I can’t risk it against the Diamondbacks, sadly, but the Mets after? Yeah I’m okay with that.
Davis Martin (CHW) @ LAA (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 87 pitches.
I don’t think he pitched terribly, but the changeup wasn’t low enough and Koufax wasn’t kind when it was hit into play. Throw in some poor curveballs over the plate and a cutter off the end of the bat that wobbled into right field, and you have a Singled Out outing. This could be far better next time out if things are just a touch more in his favor.
Jordan Montgomery (ARI) @ COL (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 79 pitches.
You woke up The Bear from hibernation for this start? WHY?!
Brandon Williamson (CIN) vs ATL (ND) – 1.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 48 pitches.
Poor Williamson. This was the pitch where he ended in arm pain and was obviously pulled from the game. I imagine Carson Spiers gets his next opportunity, though it’s not anything you’d want in Cleveland.
Jordan Wicks (CHC) vs OAK (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.
Hmmmmm. I didn’t like this one for Wicks and anticipated he’d start shaking off the rust here to make him an option against the Nationals over the weekend. I liked the changeup and a start there would assume the four-seamer would take another step further. It could happen.
Nick Pivetta (BOS) @ TBR (L) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 83 pitches.
Blegh. This was the start that we actually liked for Pivetta and his heater got smacked four times for hits, including a ridiculous homer from Caminero on an 0-2 heater well above the zone. He’s a Cherry Bomb with the Twins next and I’m demoting that start from Probable to Questionable. You know what the gamble is.
Albert Suárez (BAL) vs SFG (L) – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 82 pitches.
Dang Suárez, we needed you here. He’ll get the Tigers up next and I’m still fine throwing him out there, expecting the tick of velocity drop to come back up to 95 mph. But the Orioles aren’t winning many games lately. That’ll change, don’t worry.
Bobby Miller (LAD) @ MIA (ND) – 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 65 pitches.
He’s so lost. The stuff is unreal and he can’t formulate a plan inside at-bats to take advantage of it all. And yeah, four sliders? THROW THE DANG THING. I have to note that his knee is still bothering him and likely affects all of this, but still. It’s so sad. Don’t touch him until next year.
Mitchell Parker (WSN) @ NYM (L) – 3.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 78 pitches.
He didn’t have it at all. I think you can do better than spinning the wheel for the Royals next week.
Darren McCaughan (MIA) vs LAD (ND) – 3.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 65 pitches.
I’ll take obvious results for $200, Alex. I miss you.
Bryan Woo (SEA) vs NYY (L) – 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 94 pitches.
Ooooof. So many two-strike hits here as the secondaries weren’t terrible, but also didn’t help enough when he needed them. But 20 whiffs! Yep. He’s still obviously dope and the Yankees attacked early and survived later in at-bats when Woo didn’t quite put them away. In other words, brush this off and keep starting Woo.
Game of the Day
Landon Knack vs. Ryan Weathers – Weathers! He’s back! I wonder if he’ll be at all interesting down the stretch. Probably not.
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 Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X)