Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Monday 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.
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) @ TBR (ND) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 71 pitches.
Hey Simeon Woods Richardson, it’s been a ride. You and I, we could never quite sync up properly and last night’s 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 71 pitches effort against the Rays is the last and final example of it. Your velocity fell to 92/93 mph (not 94+), your slider feel wasn’t flirting with Dancing With The Disco, and the changeup wasn’t a reliable backup option.
Your future schedule carries a lack of sympathy. The Reds are a kindness, but the Royals are next with eventual dates in Fenway and hosting the Orioles, and I struggle to see how this works well for all involved. Winter will keep us in the shed and I hope you emerge in February glistening with polish. Sincerely, This Random Guy.
Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:
Jameson Taillon (CHC) vs PIT (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 89 pitches.
Atta boy Taillon! Koufax was with you, but a lot of pitches found the edges (inside the zone) and forced the Pirates to do something with them. Obviously worried about the Yankees and Coors next, but maybe he’s worth a stream against the Nationals. Go kill it in your revenge game.
Joe Musgrove (SDP) vs DET (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 94 pitches.
Yessss. A King Cole for Musgrove is lovely, a 50% CSW curveball that wasn’t hit into play once across 64% strikes and 28 thrown is gorgeous, the hard slider and cutter worked well, and sub 25% fastballs is the dream. Much better. That schedule isn’t getting any harder, so enjoy this.
Tyler Holton (DET) @ SDP (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 32 pitches.
We eventually saw Ty Madden in the fourth, returning 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks, which isn’t terrible and gave him a chance for a Win, but Musgrove is too dang good. Madden doesn’t do enough to warrant your attention and he may be out once Reese Olson returns, anyway.
Luis Severino (NYM) vs BOS (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 100 pitches.
Awesome work, Sevy. The Red Sox are an easy crew to face away from Fenway, though Severino’s cutter and sweeper both looked better than usual with great pitch separation across everything. You should feel good with the Reds up next.
Gavin Williams (CLE) @ KCR (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 98 pitches.
I adore that four-seamer (still a ton of foul balls!) and despite the slider looking awfully mediocre, I liked what I saw of the cutter as a strike pitch and his curveball feel was excellent. So many perfectly spotted just under the zone with 7/26 whiffs and a 50% O-Swing. I’m not confident we’ll get that same curveball much moving forward, but I’m a little tempted for the Dodgers next. I’d pass there and start the rest of the way, but if this curve sticks or the cutter/slider are cooking, he has enough to survive.
Gerrit Cole (NYY) @ TEX (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 82 pitches.
Aces gonna ace…even with the calf cramp that gave us a SCARE. The heater was cooking, the curve and cutter earned strikes, and we even saw some effective sliders in there again. The schedule is pleasant moving forward and this should be wonderful.
Jack Flaherty (LAD) @ ARI (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Sliders and curves are down, alright. A little too down, but that’s fine. SQUAWK! Okay, okay, I’ll mention the 0/19 slider whiffs and 5% CSW. But they were down! Just a touch too far. It’s been a bit of a problem over his last month, but this is much closer than I normally see when a pitcher “loses” a pitch. I’m not worried.
Corbin Burnes (BAL) vs CHW (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 89 pitches.
This wasn’t the dopest of dope that we wanted it to be, but here’s the thing. The cutter is dope again. He’s pulled its velocity back a touch to 94 mph (not 95/96) to gain five inches of drop. It’s now landing low more often and returned effective strikes all game, including a 37% CSW. It made up for the rest of his arsenal looking terrible save for a handful of curveballs and now he gets the Rays + Tigers x2. He’s right there to win your leagues and I’m so excited for you. Aren’t you playing against Burnes in one of your leagues. SO EXCITED.
Michael Wacha (KCR) vs CLE (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 85 pitches.
It’s boring, but it gave him a chance for a Win. Now it’s the Twins + a trio of weak lineups, and it may be time to jump in, as Wacha’s changeup looks like the pitch it’s supposed to be.
Julian Aguiar (CIN) vs HOU (ND) – 2.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 53 pitches.
He was racking up the pitch count in the third and the Reds pulled the sinkerballer. He’s a desperate stream and not someone I’d chase, but I recognize that he could find himself six frames based on the grace of Koufax. I feel for those who need to chance it.
Jared Jones (PIT) @ CHC (ND) – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 87 pitches.
An 0-2 single, a HBP on a bunt attempt, a double-play ball that wasn’t converted, and a grounder down the line created the final two runs, BUT if Jones were more overwhelming, those things don’t happen. I love that Jones leaned more on the slider at 50% usage and 43% CSW and yet, I often got the sense that he didn’t have the best feel for it, nor was it the stupid good one I’ve seen before. It was Dancing With The Disco with just 17% SwStr and maybe that’s because the four-seamer wasn’t as terrifying as we’ve seen at just 3/35 whiffs as he failed to nail the upper third. It’s a bit frustrating as Jones has the incredibly obvious skills to demolish but he’s a touch too erratic at the moment and inconsistent with his heater throughout the game, falling to ~95 mph by the end. Still a very obvious play, just a bit frustrating.
Freddy Peralta (MIL) vs STL (W) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 102 pitches.
Blegh. The secondaries earned a fair number of whiffs, but not enough strikes to make a major difference, while the four-seamer was a bit too easy to hit. He wasn’t as much Professor Chaos as we’ve seen and at least it’s like the 2000’s as we got a W. You’re starting him regardless of matchup (which isn’t terrible ROS!) and let’s hope he can pull himself through to the end.
Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI) vs LAD (L) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 92 pitches.
The Dodgers, y’all. Erod is a Toby and a HAISTBMBWT?! against a legit offense is kinda expected. Avoid for the Astros, maybe return after for the Brewers x2 + Giants.
Chris Flexen (CHW) @ BAL (L) – 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 95 pitches.
Some say Flexen is still driving in his car, searching for the beach. Nick, I really don’t get this whole Flexen and the beach thing. YOU WOULDN’T UNDERSTAND. Ohhhh “flexing” at the beach is when he does well, “flexing” in the mirror is when he does poorly? I always believed in you. You literally just sai–I ALWAYS BELIEVED.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) @ OAK (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 95 pitches.
Aces gonna allow a three-run bomb to Langeliers to cap a troublesome 4 ER third frame that carried all the damage. In fact, Gilbert allowed zero singles – three doubles and a HR – and otherwise obliterated the Athletics for a Gallows Pole. I should note, all but one double was on a slider, hung well inside the zone, despite 10/32 whiffs and 41% CSW overall. The curve and splitter were kinda meh and I wonder if they could have prevented this if they were more reliable. Just a thought.
Osvaldo Bido (OAK) vs SEA (ND) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 91 pitches.
Womp womp. I was optimistic that Bido could keep the Vargas Rule flowing and with the Tigers + White Sox next, I think I’m gonna keep that hope alive – a two-run shot on an 0-2 heater in the first ruined this one early and Bido made it work otherwise.
Brayan Bello (BOS) @ NYM (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 91 pitches.
Blegh. He got Singled Out a bit, but this wasn’t Bello at his best. Whatever, he gets the White Sox next and we go from there.
Zack Littell (TBR) vs MIN (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 78 pitches.
Littell went BSB with four-seamers and splitters with sliders all around the place and if you’re wondering Wait, Littell doesn’t go BSB nor have an arsenal made for it, then you and I are alike. No wonder this didn’t work. Avoid Littell, y’all.
Andre Pallante (STL) @ MIL (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 100 pitches.
This was a struggle. Pallante lost his feel and it snowballed from there. I wouldn’t count him out to recover as he hosts the Reds and Pirates, making him still a considerable stream in the near future.
Jack Leiter (TEX) vs NYY (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 80 pitches.
The man survived until the sixth, when he allowed three straight hits, got pulled, and of course all three scored (he already allowed one to score). That four-seamer grades out absurdly well, but I’m still waiting for slider refinement to get properly excited. He needs to go full BSB like Strider or Greene to become his destined self, but the slider just isn’t sitting in the lower half enough. He might be good enough for the Angels up next simply because of that heater, but that’s too risky of a stream and he may be displaced after if deGrom returns. I hope they remove Jon Gray instead…
Justin Verlander (HOU) @ CIN (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 107 pitches.
Oh. Verlander’s command has been great so far and this one was the first major step back. The good news? This was his sole rough matchup and everything else is gravy, missing the Padres and visit to Cleveland. Block out that anxiety with some good ole meditation and let him fly.
Game of the Day
Alex Fast on the Baltimore Orioles MASN Broadcast – Former Pitcher List VP and longtime OTC Podcast host Alex Fast will be in the Orioles broadcast booth all game today, starting at 6:30pm ET. GO WATCH IT. I’m so proud of this man.
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 Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Aaron Polcare (@bearydoesgfx on X)