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.
Zebby Matthews (MIN) @ TEX (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 90 pitches.
I like him. I do not. I like him. I do not. Welcome to our feelings surrounding Zebby Matthews since his call-up in late 2024 and with a streaming chance in Arlington on Tuesday night, I’m happy to report he came through massively for trusting managers: 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 90 pitches (W). There’s a chance we see Zebby one more time on Sunday in Philadelphia and it may surprise you to hear that I’m not interested.
Say what. It’s not that Zebby wasn’t great in this one. His slider was dotted along the outside corner regularly to RHB and kept low to LHB, and the rare cutter and sinker helped in his mix with the four-seamer establishing itself in the zone. However, I’m starting to understand that Zebby’s arsenal just isn’t that special.
It’s an 87 mph gyro slider. A four-seamer with dead-zone movement at 95/96 mph velocity with roughly average extension and HAVAA. His entire approach is kinda average, except for starts like these where he has a supreme feel for his slider (8/31 whiffs, 36% CSW, and many outs in play). I wish I bought into his heater more, or another secondary for Zebby to lean on heavily, but alas, it’s awfully close to the “Huascar rule”, even if his third-through-fifth pitches combined for 20% usage. Consider me skeptical of 2026 as a draft target, let alone as a good play for Sunday’s potential date with the Phillies.
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) vs MIA (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 91 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. What a season. It was so good that I’m going to have a whole lot of trouble figuring out where to rank Sánchez in the off-season. Guess you’ll have to wait until next week.
Randy Vásquez (SDP) vs MIL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 98 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! That’s a Gold Star for Vásquez as not only did he get a Win without an ER, but he did so over seven frames. I’ve been a major Vásquez doubter and I’m still weirded out by 0/30 four-seamer whiffs (but 11/30 called strikes lol), 0/21 sweeper + curveball whiffs, and a cutter that seemingly carries the entire approach, but fails to find its form against LHB, and rarely misses bats. But hey! This was cool and I’m happy for him.
Dean Kremer (BAL) vs TBR (W) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 97 pitches.
The Dean Werewolf howled a lovely melody in Camden, becoming one with his splitter to LHB. One hit is kinda bonkers, honestly, and Koufax was having himself a time watching this one. That said, Kremer avoided hard contact with ease and did give us one of his better commanded games. It’s a six-man in Baltimore, making this the end of the line for Kremer, destined for another season dancing along the waiver wire in 2026.
Shohei Ohtani (LAD) @ ARI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 91 pitches.
Aces gonna ACE. Way to save your best start for last in preparation for the playoffs. But my season ended last week. First of all, I’m touched you’re still reading this. Second, I feel for you. The splitter is still missing from Ohtani’s approach, while the sweeper brought its friends to divy up the workload – sliders, curves, and sweepers were all thrown 11/12 times. Curves moreso for LHB, sweepers mostly to RHB, and sliders for both. And would you look at that, Ohtani sat 98 mph with 1.4 HAVAA and good extension, with some high heaters that propelled 9/44 whiffs. Ayyyyyy! Sign me up. I wonder how he’ll be treated entering next season – will he babied by the Dodgers or let loose? Another six-man season, right?
Hurston Waldrep (ATL) vs WSN (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 92 pitches.
Phew. Waldrep did not pitch nearly as well as one earned run would suggest. His slider returned 5/12 whiffs to RHB, but backed up and landed front-door constantly as he got away with the pitch. The splitter had just a 45% strike rate. This wasn’t good. I’m expecting Waldrep to be a focus of many “SP Sleeper” articles n whatnot, and he won’t be in mine unless something dramatically changes. I’m not seeing a reliable starter here and mostly a HIPSTER. Blame it on the Nationals.
Tarik Skubal (DET) @ CLE (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 95 pitches.
Aces gonna have a rough day. But the line is good! Two unearned runs, a loss when Detroit needs Skubal more than ever, and, uh, that failed bunt attempt. Man, that’s just horrible beyond belief. I hope David Fry is alright and recovers well. As for Skubal, it looks as though the Tigers will be fighting through Sunday for a spot in the playoffs, which makes him lined up for a Sunday start where he’ll be prepared to throw all nine frames if necessary. That said, if that game is meaningless, he’ll either have a limited outing to shake off this one before the off-season, or get scratched if he needs to prepare for the ALWCS.
Jeffrey Springs (ATH) vs HOU (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 81 pitches.
It wasn’t Springs’ best changeup, but he still found sunshine and rainbows in Sacré Verde with his slider and four-seamer picking up the slack. I’m a bit shocked they did, honestly, and I’m not interested in a potential Sunday start hosting the Royals. I’m not digging that.
Shane Smith (CHW) @ NYY (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 8 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 93 pitches.
He looked rough early in this one and I was surprised to see him return for the fifth frame (aren’t they trying to limit his workload?), but props to Smith for finding eight strikeouts against the Yankees with just two strikes from non-fastballs to RHB. He nearly had a Win, too, if not for ninth-inning heroics. I recall the beginning of the season featuring 96 mph four-seamers early in the game that would turn into 93/94 mph by the end, and hoping he could gain the stamina to hold it throughout the season. Well look at this – 96.8 mph average on his four-seamer for the game. ATTA BOY. He’s slated to face the Nationals on Sunday, though I’d imagine the White Sox would call it quits here. And if he does pitch, he likely won’t get pushed like this again.
McCade Brown (COL) @ SEA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 81 pitches.
Ummmm WHAT. Can we give out another Gold Star? I dunno, you made up these rules. I’M DOING IT. It’s so fun to see a Colorado pitcher feel great about his performance like he’s back in College and now outside of Coors for a moment and in a pitcher’s park, you can understand why McCade is a major leaguer. His fastball is a 95/96 mph sinker with 7.2 feet of extension with an average attack angle and two-plane movement – both are underwhelming individually, but may solid as a combination. It earned 9/49 whiffs and six of these ten strikeouts, while the slide piece was as good as we’ve seen as an 87 mph gyro slider and immaculate precision down-and-away to RHB for 78% CSW. Hot dang! Throw in a few surprise curveballs and changeups, and you’ve got yourself the glory of Tuesday night. Sadly, Coors dampens the effects of all these pitches, makes his accuracy worse as pitches move differently, and it’s just a bad time. I’m happy we could get a glimpse of what an alternate timeline sees: A world where McCade wasn’t drafted by the Rockies. That’s not to say he’d be a stud if removed from Colorado (this was the absolute peak for many reasons), but this start simply doesn’t happen in Coors. Fun.
Lucas Giolito (BOS) @ TOR (ND) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 98 pitches.
Blegh. He really didn’t have his command and we’re lucky it was just one run. That said, if he was able to get just one more out, he’d have a Win in his pocket BUT I DIGRESS. Giolito’s fate depends on the Red Sox’s performance over the next few days – if Sunday matters, he’ll start. Otherwise, he’ll get scratched. I’m down to start him against Detroit if that game matters, especially if it doesn’t for the Tigers. You’d see Giolito vs. Skubal if both teams needed to win, and that’s not ideal.
Cade Horton (CHC) vs NYM (ND) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 45% CSW, 29 pitches.
Horton was pulled after just three innings as a “precaution”. He was a bit under the weather and felt his back tighten up a bit, apparently, and with the Cubs set for the playoffs, it makes all the sense to end his regular season here. Thanks for an incredible rookie season.
Brad Lord (WSN) @ ATL (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 96 pitches.
Hot dang, he did it! Sure, not a Win, but look at those ratios! There is a chance he gets one more game now that Gore is on the IL + the Nationals have Thursday off, which would land him against the White Sox. There will be worse Hail Mary pitchers to chase, even if that slider is pretty meh and the heaters are hyper reliant on Koufax. Okay fine, don’t unless you have to – and that’s assuming the Nationals will actually give him the pearl.
Gavin Williams (CLE) vs DET (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 12 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 44% CSW, 91 pitches.
Gavin. You MAD MAN. A Golden Goal opposite Skubal to the officially take the AL Central crown from the Tigers during the last week. This was a game of curveballs cooking to LHB, sweepers dominating RHB, and his four-seamer + sinker cleaning u0 the rest. We’re back at 7.1 feet extension and 97 mph. We’re back with the rare cutter for outs and strikes. THIS IS THE MAN HE’S ALWAYS MEANT TO BE. If Sunday matters, yes, Gavin will start and you’re not benching him. If it doesn’t for whatever reason, he won’t.
Luis Gil (NYY) vs CHW (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 89 pitches.
He was incredibly inefficient in his first two frames, then settled down a bit as the White Sox hit themselves into gloves often. He’s down to just 93/94 mph without much vert, and average HAVAA and extension, making me wonder how did his four-seamer get this blegh?! Then the slider went 2/18 whiffs and I just don’t understand what’s going on with Gil, not to mention the command still being all over the place (that changeup had a 73% strike rate but nay a single whiff because he threw them down the middle). I don’t feel great with Gil on Sunday against Baltimore, though he’ll likely get the start in full as he’s tossed just 52 innings this year. That’s a fine, go for it start in my book, but maybe I should be reading into those red flags more.
Cole Ragans (KCR) @ LAA (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 72 pitches.
PEW PEW PEW. Remember last start where he returned nine whiffs across his first eleven pitches? Eight of those were on the heater and that pitch was DOPE again at 13/42 whiffs with a 45% CSW. lol. Its extreme two-plane movement confounds RHB and led toward five dominating frames against the Angels despite tossing under 75 pitches and still not having his old secondaries. Sure, the changeup went 4/10 whiffs and 70% strikes, but it wasn’t that pitch at 14% usage. And yay! More cutters! that’s fun, too. But you know what’s really fun? Drafting Ragans next year as my SP #1 after 2025’s “down year” that pushes him out of the consensus Top 15 SP. CAN’T WAIT. Nick, he’ll start one more game and raise that price again. WHATEVER, DON’T CARE. GO DOMINATE.
Johan Oviedo (PIT) @ CIN (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 82 pitches.
Hmmmm. So this is cool, obviously, but also inefficient and still carries the concerns I’ve had for Oviedo. Simply put, I don’t trust his command. The stuff is there, but how much of him is a PEAS instead of an arm we can expect to take a proper step forward next season? I think I’m out, personally, even if I love the potential.
Patrick Corbin (TEX) vs MIN (L) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 65 pitches.
Just 17% fastballs and the Rangers pulled him early. Womp womp. I guess this is why I had him in Do Not Start… I just really wanted it to work out, you know? He could get one more start on the year on Sunday. In Cleveland. Potentially the day after Cleveland clinches their playoff spot… JUST SAYIN’.
Andre Pallante (STL) @ SFG (ND) – 2.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 66 pitches.
Yeaaaaah. I wonder if Pallante is still in a rotation nexy year.
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs LAD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 90 pitches.
Hey, that’s actually solid for Pfaadt against the Dodgers. A Bailey Special should be fine for those who took the leap and I was impressed at his pitch separation to LHB – cutters + four-seamers inside, curveballs and changeups away – while he stayed away with everything to RHB (mostly). Is this enough for me to roll with Pfaadt in San Diego on Sunday? Not really. I’m not sure if Arizona has other plans, but if you need a QS on that final day, you may not have a better option.
Logan Webb (SFG) vs STL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 97 pitches.
Blegh. A VVPQS is not enough from Webb. He really took a step back in the second half and now his season comes to a close with a major “What do we do with you?” entering 2026. I am not looking forward to ranking him.
Bryce Miller (SEA) vs COL (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 84 pitches.
Ehhhhh, you couldn’t do better against Rockie Road?! At home?! Bryce couldn’t get his splitters down to RHB and failed to find a good breaking ball to mix with his four-seamers and sinkers. Given the time he’s missed this season, I expect Miller to get the Sunday start against the Dodgers and allow him to tune up one more time before the playoffs. It could be fine if the Dodgers are resting their starters and it is @TEA, but this one was too… Nah, I’d start him if he gets the pearl.
Cristian Javier (HOU) @ ATH (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 79 pitches.
Womp womp. It wasn’t a good situation going into Sacré Verde and despite having near 60% strikes on his sweer (with 37% usage?!), Javier couldn’t get the job done, due to 0% CSW on 21 four-seamers. Yes. 0% CSW. Not a great day for the fella, BUT he does head to Los Angeles to face the RHB-heavy Angels on Sunday and that could be far better. But he wasn’t good here! Sure. Javier changes start-to-start. These odds are better, I’m okay starting Javier.
Sam Aldegheri (LAA) vs KCR (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 94 pitches.
He’s a southpaw with a 91/92 mph heater with horrific extension and average vert + a changeup we can locate down-and-away to RHB + a slider/curve pair that has decent break to LHB. You don’t sound excited. Obviously, why would I be?
Edward Cabrera (MIA) @ PHI (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 67 pitches.
We knew he’d be limited here and it’s no surprise he lasted just four frames. Pretty cool seeing the changeup lay low like it just scored a big heist + fastballs sitting 97/98 mph. The breaking ball command was off, though, and with a pitch count likely under 80 pitches for Sunday’s final outing, I wouldn’t chance it. The ceiling is too low for a start against the Mets. But what if it’s a weaker lineup? Then it’s possible ECab pulls off five stellar innings across 75 pitches. That’s the cap.
Ryan Pepiot (TBR) @ BAL (L) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 61 pitches.
Well this is disappointing. Pepiot finally had a good matchup and he couldn’t get settled in. The slider was off, the four-seamer was too hittable, leading to a ridiculous 40% foul ball rate and inflated the pitch count too quickly. Sigh. That might be it for Pepiot on the year and I’m so ready to draft him next season as he pitches half his games in Tropicana.
Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs BOS (L) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 92 pitches.
Well dangit, Gausman, just when I started to believe in you. THIS IS WHY I HAVE TRUST ISSUES. It’s not like the splitter wasn’t solid, either. He just got Singled Out like the old days. Welp, that’s probably it for Gausman – he’s slated for Sunday, but he’ll likely be rest for the playoffs, even though the Jays should have a Bye – and no, I have no idea where to rank him for next season.
Brady Singer (CIN) vs PIT (L) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 90 pitches.
This hurt a lot of managers, I’m sure. Singer allowed four runs in the second frame, though he failed to earn a single whiff on twenty-one sliders. There’s yer problem. The Reds are fighting for the last playoff slot and you can expect Singer to start on Sunday in Milwaukee if they are still in the hunt. Not sure I love that one, but then again, the Brewers could be resting their starters. You’ll be hard-pressed to find six innings from a starter on Sunday, so Singer may be your best bet for a Win and good volume.
Bruce Zimmermann (MIL) @ SDP (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 91 pitches.
Can’t say I expected six frames from Zimmermann, but a HAISTBMBWT?! seems about right. Save for the ire of not having butter – Bruce was never meant to be paired with your bread.
David Peterson (NYM) @ CHC (ND) – 1.1 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 42 pitches.
Peterson could not locate and was hammered by the Cubs, leading to a fast hook as the Mets adapted and found a way to pull this one out. You shouldn’t expect him to make another start after this, possibly with Clay Holmes and Sean Manaea splitting up and taking Saturday + Sunday in his place. But let’s say Peterson somehow does start on Sunday – it’ll be @MIA and if there’s a place to redeem yourself, it’s there.
Game of the Day
Jack Flaherty vs. Tanner Bibee – This series is MUST WATCH TV.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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