Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Sunday game. I apologize for the jokes written in my delirium in advance. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Twitch weekday mornings from 9 am-11 am ET.
Cody Morris (CLE) vs MIN (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 81 pitches.
This was an interesting start from Cody Morris today as he faced the Twins. I’d had written him off, but he showed up with 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 81 pitches, which is even more impressive when you realize his first batter worked a 14-pitch at-bat that ended in a single. That’s right, he earned 18 outs on 67 pitches after it. Wild.
I watched this one and your first thought may be “how does Cleveland constantly find a way to find these ridiculous pitchers?” I get it – Morris sat around 94/95 mph, leaning heavily on an effective cutter for strikes and a changeup for whiffs – and I think he really found his rhythm after the first frame or two when he started to lean more cutter/change than on his heater. There’s something to it, though it’s not something overwhelming that I imagine he’ll coast for six full frames frequently. He isn’t the worst play against the Rangers and Rays up next and there’s a chance they both work for you, but do I want to do it? Not really. This was a start that showcased that Morris could be beneficial, but the heater is meh and the cutter is good, not great + I’m not sure if we can rely on the changeup.
Take the chance if you need it and at least add him to the available options, but to me, it’s unlikely he’s the next great Guardians pitcher.
Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:
Joe Ryan (MIN) @ CLE (W) – 7.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 95 pitches.
This is wonderful and there’s no reason to stop now…even if the secondaries are still nothing special. Well, the pitch separation was solid here, so at least he’s got that going for him.
Yu Darvish (SD) @ ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 94 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. His first baserunner was a “walk” to Ketel Marte that included three pitches in the zone called as balls…but I digress. What a magnificent season for the San Diego ace.
Luis Cessa (CIN) @ STL (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 75 pitches.
HAISTBMBWT?! Ahhhh, so we’re dealing with a Cherry Bomb. Got it. Or maybe this was lucky and last week was who he normally is? Okay that’s very fair. To his credit, Cessa placed changeups consistently armside and sliders gloveside as one should and I wouldn’t overlook a pair of starts against the Cubs at the end of the year if you need something. I’m avoiding against the Brewers at the very least, though. He’s not the ceiling you’re hoping to hit.
Andrew Heaney (LAD) @ SF (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 65 pitches.
I’m sad the Dodgers limited him to just four frames, but he certainly did his part across them. You know the ceiling is likely limited and yet he’s still worth the play.
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) @ WSH (W) – 9.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 103 pitches.
THERE. HE. IS. Aces gonna ace, enjoy your Cy Young, you deserved it.
Reid Detmers (LAA) vs SEA (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 103 pitches.
Sooooo this was better, but still not great. 50% strikes on curves is meh, while the slider is earning just 5/33 whiffs. On the plus side, the slider and four-seamer command is there and he’s throwing a tick harder. I think it’s enough for me to buy in against the Twins and Rangers to end the year.
Alek Manoah (TOR) vs BAL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 98 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. The walks are annoying, as well as the 1/33 four-seamer whiffs, but he got it done and kept moving toward the finish line. That’s nearly 180 IP of a 2.40 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 23% strikeout rate. Sigh.
Spencer Strider (ATL) vs PHI (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 10 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 106 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. His heater is a Top 5 pitch in baseball and I won’t hear another word about it.
Bailey Falter (PHI) @ ATL (ND) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 76 pitches.
This wasn’t a start to go for against Atlanta, but props to Falter for giving his team a chance through nearly five innings. Sidenote: He’s sticking in the rotation despite Zack Wheeler’s return as Noah Syndergaard is getting ousted instead of Falter. Bailey’s earned it, after all. That said, Falter’s next start is…another outing against Atlanta. Blegh. Leave him on the wire for now.
Aníbal Sánchez (WSH) vs MIA (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 94 pitches.
You know, there was a part of me wondering if I was underrating Aníbal for this outing and I thought I was being foolish. But here he is, boasting a 40% CSW on the cutter out of nowhere because it’s the dang Marlins. And guess what, he gets them a second time. That could work, y’all, I won’t make the same mistake twice.
Framber Valdez (HOU) vs OAK (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 87 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. That’s 25 quality starts in a row. What. A. Stud. I underestimated you, Framber.
Dean Kremer (BAL) @ TOR (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 96 pitches.
Talk about squeezing out a solid outing for your squad. That’s a near VPQS with four walks and just three strikeouts, but Baltimore doesn’t care – that’s nearly six frames of 2 ER ball. Great job, now go do something about Houston. What, no, not on my roster. Over there, with your friends on the wire. I’ll send some snacks, don’t worry.
Jeffrey Springs (TB) vs TEX (W) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 94 pitches.
Yep, that’s the Springs we’re used to. 11/35 whiffs on his changeup is just too dang beautiful. Start him against the Jays.
Alex Cobb (SF) vs LAD (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 95 pitches.
Yeah, we’ll take this from Cobb. He’s past the gauntlet now, which means we’re starting him the rest of the way. Y’all have earned this, especially after my whole Chicken Little way of thinking it would be best to drop Cobb. So glad he proved me wrong.
Vince Velasquez (CWS) @ DET (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 62 pitches.
Despite facing the Tigers, VV was up against the wall of a limited pitch count. It’s one thing to have an opportunity, it’s another to be in a position where you can take advantage of it. He may survive another pass of the rotation with Kopech’s injury though, which means he could get the Tigers again…or Davis Martin takes the rotation spot instead. I think whoever starts that game is a deeeep streaming option, but not something I circle on my calendar.
Ryan Feltner (COL) @ CHC (W) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 78 pitches.
[ColoradoStarter.blurb]
Ryne Nelson (ARI) vs SD (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 85 pitches.
Blegh. I didn’t expect him to succeed as he did in his first two starts (0 ER in 13 IP against the Dodgers and Padres?!), but the four walks certainly were a shock. Blame the secondaries failing to earn strikes (39% strike rate?!), standard affair for a rookie arm. And now it’s the Dodgers + Houston. No thanks. Update: It’s the Giants next, not the Dodgers. That could work, but it’s not something I’m chasing.
Jordan Montgomery (STL) vs CIN (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 100 pitches.
Sure, it’s nine strikeouts, but at what cost? How did The Bear turn into this?! He’s supposed to be a ratio guy with about five strikeouts a game. OH DANG. The man went 36% curves and earned 11/36 whiffs with a 53% CSW on the pitch. WHAT. Blame the four-seamer for going 2/26 CSW and the sinker getting hit a few times on the result as I’m kinda digging this whole “lean into the curve” approach. Does it mean I’m starting him against the Dodgers as I believe he should have had better results here? …oh no. I guess I am. Kinda. Top of Questionable Start. Shudders
Nick Pivetta (BOS) vs KC (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 97 pitches.
Hey, if you started Pivetta, it was either to chase a Win (yep) or for some strikeouts (yep). Ratios be danged. Stay away in normal situations.
Jacob deGrom (NYM) vs PIT (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 13 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 101 pitches.
Aces gonna ace and earn a King Cole. How did you allow 3 ER? Seriously, how?!
Johan Oviedo (PIT) @ NYM (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 84 pitches.
Womp womp. 8/33 whiffs with a 39% CSW on the slider with 96/97 mph gas though…I’m watching you for 2023, Oviedo. Johan + Contreras + Ortiz could be one fun trio. What about Mitch? Who?
Jason Alexander (MIL) vs NYY (ND) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 79 pitches.
What, you expected this to work out? Why?!
Gerrit Cole (NYY) @ MIL (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 22 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 94 pitches.
Aces gonna earn a Gallows Pole and still allow 4 ER and two homeruns. Again. The dude just can’t avoid the longball right now and we know that should stabilize…right? You have to start him, obviously, and let’s hope things regress properly.
Glenn Otto (TEX) @ TB (L) – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 57 pitches.
I really don’t trust his command these days, even if the slider was a touch better than last time out against the Marlins. Spin the wheel with someone else.
Javier Assad (CHC) vs COL (L) – 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 62 pitches.
Awwwww. Womp womp. After four starts including three of 1 ER or fewer, I felt relatively good about this stream against Rockie Road. What we got was a pitcher who didn’t have his best pitch, going just 5/12 strikes on cutters. That’s devastating as his four-seamer and sinker are pretty dang meh. There’s your story. I’m sad it didn’t work out, but there was a reason he was a Questionable Start and he’ll continue to be as this doesn’t mean his cutter is destined to be poor. It can still work against the Pirates.
Marco Gonzales (SEA) @ LAA (L) – 6.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 95 pitches.
Ugggggh. The changeup really struggled here and yet, I think you still start him the rest of the way. LISTEN FOR THE POLO, MARCO. What?? Ah forget it, open your eyes and quit playing games. Still, what?? HE’LL BE FINE.
Kris Bubic (KC) @ BOS (L) – 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 65 pitches.
Noooope. I do like the 92/93 mph velocity though, I see it. The problem is that I also see everything else.
Ken Waldichuk (OAK) @ HOU (L) – 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 52 pitches.
Ken is doling out the earned runs and I don’t see why you keep playing with it. He’s a Young Gun, find another shiny toy to play with.
Drew Hutchison (DET) vs CWS (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 81 pitches.
Don’t Startsky The Hutch.
Game of the Day
Max Scherzer vs. Corbin Burnes – Hahahahaha YES.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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HOW SWAY!?
Oneil is how.