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.
Patrick Sandoval (LAA) @ TB (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 100 pitches.
It hasn’t been a pretty season for Patrick Sandoval in 2023 and I wanted to highlight one of his bright spots with a solid 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 100 pitches line against the Rays on Tuesday night. His changeup worked well, both slider and curveball(???) combined for 92% strikes (12/12 on his slider!), and his sinker was an effective pitch that earned strikes while preventing balls in play. That works.
As long as he’s earning strikes with his breakers as the changeup cooks, Sandoval can produce. Unfortunately, it’s a tough ask for him to repeat it against the Rangers in his next outing, meaning we’re going to have to pass for his final outing of the year. Nevertheless, I’m glad he had this one to take with him into the off-season.
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Blake Snell (SD) vs COL (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 4 BBs, 10 Ks – 23 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 104 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. But the walks! STOP. Snell earned a Golden Goal not only by executing a classic BSB (enabling 12/38 curveball whiffs!), but also by sitting 97 mph on his four-seamer. You love to see it. Two starts left and the Cy is his.
Braxton Garrett (MIA) vs NYM (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 91 pitches.
Mmmmm that’s some good ole Braxton. Garrett featured a harder slider with less movement and it paid off with 8/26 whiffs on the pitch. I love seeing improvement on the breaker, but the cutter and sinker didn’t get me all that excited here. That said, he’ll get the Mets a second time (hopefully will be sinkers/cutters) before squaring off with the Pirates and it’s hard to say no to both of those starts at this point.
Ryan Feltner (COL) @ SD (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 86 pitches.
That’s a Gold Star as I had zero expectations for Feltner as he made his way back from a horrific injury. What an awesome story for him to not only return this year, but to do so with five shutout frames. H*ck yeah.
Kenta Maeda (MIN) @ CIN (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 83 pitches.
The splitter was good, the slider and curve each earned a ton of strikes, and his four-seamer was limited to just two balls in play. That is how it’s done, y’all. Enjoy Oakland next Monday.
Steven Cruz (KC) vs CLE (ND) – 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 39 pitches.
He opened for Alec Marsh who disappointed many with 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. You were chasing strikeouts and a dire Win chance, I get it. Sadly, you overlooked one flaw. It’s Marsh. He doesn’t have the repertoire you want to hang your hat on. In other words, his stuff ain’t no coatrack.
Miguel Díaz (DET) @ LAD (ND) – 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 27 pitches.
Oh look, another bullpen game. And none rejoiced.
José Ureña (CWS) @ WSH (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 70 pitches.
He backed up a high strikeout game with lovely ratios here and yet, you know what I’m going to say. If you start José, Ureña boatload of trouble. Yes, even if he actually did well – it was a clear Blame it on the Nationals. I’m glad he’s getting those sinkers and changeups down, though. It’s the only way he has a chance to make it work.
Taj Bradley (TB) vs LAA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 82 pitches.
Ayyyy way to do your job. You started Bradley for strikeouts and he gave them you, with the sweet bonus of actually having good ratios along the way. You can thank a new cutter for the success as he’s throwing it far harder with less drop, allowing him to pull off the Canibal McSanchez for 76% strikes on the pitch. I’ll take that all day, especially on days like today where his curve couldn’t be trusted. I’m curious if he can repeat it against the Jays, but not curious enough to actually start him there. Just a little lean into the room with raised eyebrows.
Javier Assad (CHC) vs PIT (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 84 pitches.
Oh thank Koufax. The cutter is back? Ummmm, actually. No. It’s not. 11/22 strikes aren’t great and he failed to land it down-and-armside as we’ve seen. He did have some good sliders and landed many sinkers for called strikes, and while I’m all kinds of happy he came through for those who took a gamble here, it didn’t come with the skills that make me encouraged about his next outing. But it’s “Rockie Road!” Okay, I’ll still start him but not feel great about it. I’ll hold your hand. You always know what to do.
Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) @ NYY (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 82 pitches.
Kikuchi left this start early, apparently because he had neck cramps due to only getting 11 hours of sleep. Yup. Keep starting him.
Fernando Cruz (CIN) vs MIN (L) – 1.2 IP, 1 ER, 0 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 29 pitches.
With four openers, we finally got to Ben Lively for 92 pitches, who allowed five runs in four innings. Who was really the headliner? I guess Cruz with four strikeouts? Yay Cruz. Yay. It was with a splitter, Nick. NOOOOOOO.
Caleb Ferguson (LAD) vs DET (ND) – 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 53% CSW, 17 pitches.
He opened for Ryan Pepiot, who did almost exactly what you wanted him to do – 6 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks…and no Win as the Dodgers had to score in the ninth to seal the deal. Pepiot deserved better.
Jackson Rutledge (WSH) vs CWS (ND) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 78 pitches.
Congrats kid, you had yourself your first good day on the bump. I’m not encouraged in the slightest and would avoid him everywhere, but who cares about fantasy. Congrats to Rutledge for the first wave of confidence he’s had in the bigs.
Joey Lucchesi (NYM) @ MIA (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 88 pitches.
His sinker was stupid good once again earned outs and a ton of called strikes (26% rate) with his cutter and churve doing minimal work. Seriously, that sinker stuck to the edge of the zone beautifully. Sadly, Lucchesi’s success is like that one time I tried making a living selling smoothies, this isn’t sustainable.
Paul Blackburn (OAK) vs SEA (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 93 pitches.
Hey that’s pretty good and I absolutely regret slotting Blackburn into the top of the bottom tier. He’ll get the Twins now if the six-man rotation holds up for the Athletics and I’ll slot him at the bottom of Questionable for that one now. It’s not a great chance, but obviously the kitchen sink can clean some dishes here and there. That’s not a good analogy. YOU’RE NOT A GOOD ANALOGY.
Luis Castillo (SEA) @ OAK (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 99 pitches.
Aces gonna ace with a Careful, Icarus as he came out for the seventh and promptly allowed two runs. Whatareyagonnado. If Gerrit Cole flounders suddenly, there’s a shot Castillo can steal the Cy Young from under his nose. Sadly, it’s Houston + Texas next, but he can pull it off. Go get ’em.
Tanner Houck (BOS) @ TEX (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 89 pitches.
Trusting in Houck breaks the Huascar Rule as nothing inside his repertoire preaches confidence outside of his slider. With the Rays + Orioles next, I don’t see enough here to keep him on your rosters.
Bailey Falter (PIT) @ CHC (L) – 1.0 IP, 2 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 24 pitches.
Ummmmm just one inning? For 4 ER in six innings of Quinn Priester??? WHY?!
Trevor Megill (MIL) @ STL (ND) – 1.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 31 pitches.
He opened for Colin Rea, who came through for a Win via 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. Ugh, I wanted more. WHAT. You got a vulture Win. You got a solid ERA. A decent WHIP. But just two strikeouts. THIS ISN’T REA CHARLES, IT’S COLIN. Okay, okay, I’ll be happy. THANK YOU.
Spencer Strider (ATL) vs PHI (W) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 91 pitches.
Aces gonna ace but also give you an oddly high ERA. What a weird game this is.
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) vs BOS (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 82 pitches.
Eovaldi found a way to go five frames with just three runs to his name despite a 93.6 mph heater and just three whiffs. You really can’t let yourself endure this anymore. But it’s the Angels! Uggggggh. YOU CAN’T.
Kyle Gibson (BAL) @ HOU (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 83 pitches.
One more start left for Gibson and it’s against the Nationals. Should I go for it? That’s a coin flip and those are odds you’ll take, then I’m happy for you. Godspeed.
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) @ ATL (L) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 60 pitches.
Yeaaaaah, he tried to make it work a second time with the changeup, but the slowball held a sub 50% strike rate and the slider didn’t step up. He’ll get the Mets twice to end his season and those could very well be worth your time. Don’t let Atlanta get you down.
Zac Gallen (ARI) vs SF (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 93 pitches.
Aces gonna stumble despite executing a solid BSB. A few breakers at the bottom of the zone got hit + a few upstairs heaters and That’s Baseball, Suzyn. It’s playoff time and in traditional fantasy fashion, your aces are stumbling more than usual. Whatareyagonnado.
Clarke Schmidt (NYY) vs TOR (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 91 pitches.
Blegh. The curve and cutter let him down here as the sinker did its part, living armside a ton. Maybe a little too much, but it’s not like the Jays got a ton of hits off him, either. He’s slated to face the Sneks next and I’m not deterred. Yes, I say that all the time.
Logan Allen (CLE) @ KC (L) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 68 pitches.
Bleeeeegh. Stupid sexy Royals killing another LHP. I really should have taken to heart how our PLV stat Hitter Performance has called the Royals an elite offense against LHP. Huh. Anyway, HAISTBMBWT?! and it does put some haze on Allen’s final outing against the Reds up next, though I’m still going for it personally. He’s a Toby, after all.
Drew Rom (STL) vs MIL (L) – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 62 pitches.
I won’t say he’s a Rom hack, because that’s just plain rude. I will say I hope Rom emulates his previous start moving forward. I think it’s a very small chance that he will, but one can hope.
Alex Cobb (SF) @ ARI (L) – 2.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 52 pitches.
He left this one early due to injury and it may be the end of the season for him. You can let him go.
Hunter Brown (HOU) vs BAL (L) – 5.1 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 85 pitches.
Ouch. He’s a Cherry Bomb and this was a tough call that wasn’t Hunter’s best effort. It doesn’t seem wise to chase his next start against the Mariners, though it’s not set in stone that he’ll fail to have his best breakers. I’m not doing it. Yeah, I know.
Game of the Day
Kevin Gausman vs. Michael King – We have Gausman getting his redemption + King hoping to continue his incredible run.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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