Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Thursday 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.
Zack Littell (TBR) vs BOS (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 75 pitches.
We have to talk about Zack Littell, who has returned three straight starts without an earned run following his sparkling performance against the Red Sox Thursday evening – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 75 pitches. Has he done something different? Not particularly, but he’s executed akin to his early season performance with sliders Dancing With The Disco, four-seamers generally upstairs, and a good feel for his splitter.
The only question is if he’s worth starting next time out and with the Tigers on the horizon, it’s pretty clear he has the green light. I wouldn’t be concerned about his low 75 pitch count here – he had tossed seven frames already. I imagine he still has 80-90 pitches inside his range for his next start.
Let’s see how every other SP did Thursday:
José Suarez (LAA) @ HOU (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 96 pitches.
Uhhh what. Sure, take the Gold Star, jeeeeez, I didn’t know you wanted it so badly. Suarez’s slider ate up the Astros with 9/21 whiffs, while his mediocre four-seamer earned strikes and just a pair of hits (one scoring an unearned run) + mediocre changeups that survived. And guess what? He gets the White Sox next time out. Oh snap. Yep. There’s your sneaky final week stream.
Kevin Gausman (TOR) @ TEX (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 58 pitches.
The dude was throwing a no-hitter and suddenly got pulled with back tightness. He’s expected to make his next start as his splitter was filthy once again (5/16 whiffs = LOVELY) and I wouldn’t expect the fastball velocity to stay down if his back is healthy. Let him fly one more time against the Red Sox in Toronto.
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) @ MIL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 12 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 104 pitches.
You can’t be a Cherry Bomb if you don’t have starts like these in you. Hot dang is this something else from Pfaadt – A Golden Goal with an uptick of everything across the board, including his best four-seamer of the season at 14/42 whiffs and…64% CSW. This was a dude possessed with effortless heaters where he wanted them and if Pfaadt can be this guy all the time, I’d be so into him for the full year. Thing is, that command is not always present and his four-seamer hasn’t been this kind of pitch for him. But yeah, I’m gonna buy into him feeling a groove to start him against the Giants next week. He earned this.
Yusei Kikuchi (HOU) vs LAA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 101 pitches.
Atta boy Kikuchi. You allowed a HR on a low 3-2 fastball to kick off the night, then rebounded to dominate after. To those who kept the faith as I pulled out my hair outlining how elite Kikuchi should be in June and July, you deserve this. Enjoy.
Erick Fedde (STL) vs PIT (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 85 pitches.
You know, it’s kinda nice when a Toby type actually comes through and does what they should do against a poor lineup. I wouldn’t call this the best of Fedde, but he did get his cutter up, sweeper gloveside, and changeup armside for the most part, and that’s all you can ask of the fella. He heads to Coors as we reflect on the oddly beneficial time we’ve had with Fedde this year, if used correctly, of course.
Brayan Bello (BOS) @ TBR (L) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 101 pitches.
He took the Loss with a Philly, but he pitched well and we’ll take it. He’s still volatile, of course, making his final start against the Jays circumstantial.
Clarke Schmidt (NYY) @ SEA (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 99 pitches.
A classic Dusty Donut without a Win in just five innings of work and a 1.80 WHIP. Tossing nearly 100 pitches makes me encouraged to start him against the Orioles next week regardless of this outcome, which is for those searching for Wins more than preserving ratios.
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) @ CLE (ND) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 72 pitches.
Hey, that’s actually a solid outing for SWR…except that he wasn’t allowed to escape the fifth frame on his own. I’d normally say we move on, but the Marlins are up next and it’s not out of the question that SWR performs well there. Suitman whispers in my ear. He was down two ticks to 91 mph like last season?! Oh dear. Uhhhh, let’s just put him at the end of Questionable, okay?
Joey Cantillo (CLE) vs MIN (ND) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 86 pitches.
Ehhhhh, it’s a Dusty Donut of decently helpful ERA and six strikeouts, but a poor WHIP and no Win/QS. He’ll be hosting the Reds up next and I feel better about that one. This isn’t a normal 4.1 IP outing with 86 pitches under his belt, showcasing that the leash is still there. He’s going four-seamer/change from the left side with elite extension (hey, that’s Bradford!) and I’m here for it. I wonder where I’ll rank him for 2025…
Tobias Myers (MIL) vs ARI (L) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 93 pitches.
While not a detrimental start, it’s not one that ultimately warranted a roster spot for this week. The Sneks, y’all. The Pirates are next, though, and I have no reservations there.
Kumar Rocker (TEX) vs TOR (L) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 71 pitches.
Blegh. He didn’t have nearly the same feel for the slider and it ate into his pitch count quickly. Still hard to hit (even at the expected tick down post MLB-debut adrenaline) and I’m tempted to go for it against the Athletics. Consider him a Cherry Bomb at the moment without a long leash. He’s a strikeout play next week if you’re in need.
Zach Eflin (BAL) vs SFG (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 93 pitches.
No Win is annoying, but everything else is standard affair + a single uptick in velocity on the cutter. Now, do we touch him against the Yankees? I think so. He’s in a good place, even finding a new feel for his changeup here at 24% usage. I dig it.
Luis L. Ortiz (PIT) @ STL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 89 pitches.
Here I am talking about his lack of slider whiffs and WHABAM! 7/18 whiffs on the breaker, fueling those punchouts. Still a bit too much of the zone with his cutter and four-seamer for me to really fall for him against Milwaukee next week, but it could be something similar there.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs NYY (W) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 97 pitches.
The splitter was HAWT with 9/21 whiffs and Logan sliced ‘n diced as best as he could with the pitch + sliders incessantly earning strikes with a 52% CSW, going the full Dancing With The Disco route. The heater is still a little too hittable, sadly, and he definitely wants to take back a high cutter he threw to Jazz, but I think you have to start him against the Astros.
Chris Sale (ATL) @ CIN (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 93 pitches.
Aces gonna be mid. It’s not bad, just not a “pump your fist into the air” stud outing you normally see from Sale as he sat…oh no. Two ticks down on everything (three on the changeup) and his four-seamer velocity fell off a cliff by the end. I hope he’s alright, Atlanta needs him now more than ever. Note: Lindsay Crosby let me know Sale talked about being affected by the heat during a day game. Let’s hope that’s all there was to this (Thanks Lindsay!).
Jack Flaherty (LAD) @ MIA (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 96 pitches.
I was worried he wouldn’t make it through six, but he fought his way there without his best slider once again. It’s truly strange to see it return 40% strikes when it has so often returned 40% CSW this season. I think I’m going to be out on Flaherty next year given his slider’s feel dropping in the second half and I’d be cautious against the Padres next week – this isn’t the same Flaherty from June and July.
Luis Severino (NYM) vs PHI (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 86 pitches.
A PQS and a dub against the Phils with seven strikeouts? I’ll take that all day from Sevy. He’s still fastball/sweeper with a consistent BSB approach and I’m glad it’s working out for him. We may see him twice next week if the Mets want to be aggressive moving Quintana away from the series against Atlanta, and I think you’re hoping it falls that way for a Tuesday/Sunday two-step. That’s four-days rest with Monday’s off-day and it could happen.
Logan Webb (SFG) @ BAL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 96 pitches.
Hmmmm. We’re used to Wins or Quality Starts from Webb and we got neither, nor ratios we can hang our hat on. But eight strikeouts! Look at that! And…what on Earth. This was a completely different version of Webb. The man who is typically ultra changeup + sinkers with everything generally down in the zone elected to A) Feature a new changeup with two ticks more velocity B) Live upstairs C) Unleash a new cutter for a Canibal McSanchez approach, and D) Feature five different pitches for at least 10% usage. You know, it’s the end of the season, I have to imagine he’s taking advantage of his time to experiment. He gets the Sneks next and given his wonkiness overall, I totally understand if you’d rather go for something else. I think I’m in your boat…
Javier Assad (CHC) vs WSN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.
This was a shrug of a start beforehand and it’s a shrug of a start now. My shoulders are tired of this.
Patrick Corbin (WSN) @ CHC (ND) – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 85 pitches.
This was a product of a terrible heater for a two-run shot + a Careful, Icarus (kinda) as he allowed two baserunners in the fifth and both runs came into to score after the hook. Yep. The dream is dead. Kinda. He gets the Royals next, who should be a bit easier than the Cubs, but yeah. We’re not loving this.
Julian Aguiar (CIN) vs ATL (L) – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 75 pitches.
Those sinkers didn’t find gloves. They did. Uhhh but–In the bleachers. Oh. Nice. Don’t go after Aguiar.
Edward Cabrera (MIA) vs LAD (L) – 2.1 IP, 7 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 73 pitches.
Ecab was stellar against the Phillies and went just 13/27 strikes on his four-seamer against the Dodgers. Is that bad? Yes, BRAD, that’s bad. Okay okay, sorry. I’m awfully curious what Edward pins his volatility on the most. Watching him when he’s on doesn’t seem like chance and I have to think there is a specific tweak to make to calibrate when he has nights like these.
Taijuan Walker (PHI) @ NYM (L) – 3.1 IP, 8 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 71 pitches.
I don’t think I’ll ever quite understand why the Phillies keep trying to make this work. It’s not gonna happen.
Game of the Day
George Kirby vs. Jacob deGrom – YUP.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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