Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Wednesday 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.
Erick Fedde (STL) @ COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 87 pitches.
It was the final Wednesday of the baseball season, which means this is the last time we’ll see all of these pitchers in 2024 (save for openers, you rascals). Reflecing on our wonder for Erick Fedde in the preseason, if we knew his final outing would be an easy Win in Coors via 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 87 pitches, we would have bitten on all of the hype and his final numbers of a 3.30 ERA and 1.16 WHIP backed it up. Huh. I guess he was that good in the first half, eh?
I don’t see this being an indication of something new for Fedde in 2025. I liked his increase of cutters here (and odd to see near the same usage of sweepers against both handedness…) and to come through in Coors is a wonderful surprise for daring managers, but expect Fedde to be a Toby who has value in 15-teamers more than twelves. That said, if the Cardinals lean into their defense for 2025, you may see a sneaky season as a Toby once again.
Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:
Yusei Kikuchi (HOU) vs SEA (L) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 98 pitches.
What a stud. I wonder where he ends up next season and I hope wherever he goes, they encourage four-seamers up and sliders down as the foundation. It’s obviously the real deal. But the curve went 67% strikes across 21 thrown! Okay, that was dope, too.
Michael Lorenzen (KCR) @ WSN (ND) – 2.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 28 pitches.
We didn’t expect him to be stretched out in the first place. Welp, see ya later. Maybe a Toby next year if he finds a situation on the White Sox or something similar.
Andrew Walters (CLE) vs CIN (ND) – 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 20 pitches.
This was a bullpen game that turned into a flirtation with perfection until a bunt single in the seventh. HOW DARE HE! Uhhhh it was a 2-0 game and you’re asking a team to not do something that would help their team win, that’s just silly. If you can get a hit with a bunt single, hot dang you do it! It’s on the Guardians to be able to defend it. Anyway, bullpen game. Yay.
Luis L. Ortiz (PIT) vs MIL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 92 pitches.
Yessssss. He went Canibal McSanchez and…0/15 whiffs on his slider, which I was worried about after going 7/21 in his last start. And your worries were silly because he was still good! Very true, maybe I put too much weight on that. I’m undecided on Ortiz for next year. I question his whiffability and Win potential + his control improved but command is still in question. There is a world where he breaks out, but is that worth an early flier or instead as a pickup when the signs are there?
Zac Gallen (ARI) vs SFG (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 11 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 97 pitches.
HOT DANG LOOK AT YOU. That’s how you close out a season. A King Cole for Gallen with his ehater at 94 mph (hitting 97!) and nailing his changeup + curve low, while splitting the zone in half with four-seamers up and down. I love this version of him and I’m glad to see him locked in for a potential playoff run. The Sneks needed him.
Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs BOS (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 93 pitches.
Gausman has been getting the love of Koufax for a bit, though facing a team like the Sawx on the road certainly helps, too. The splitter went just 3/28 whiffs (Nooooo) deflating any hype that he fixed the grip and would have it again next year. Consider him a Holly who had himself a fantastic second half – 2.90 ERA, 1.10 WHIP across 90 IP since July 5th – but did so with a 24% CSW on his splitter in that time. The dude is not going to cruise with a .244 BABIP over a full year y’all, you don’t need me to tell you that. Batters had a -12 HP (super fortunate for Gausman!) and I’d feel a little meh trusting Gausman.
George Kirby (SEA) @ HOU (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 96 pitches.
Atta boy Kirby. The four-seamer was awfully hittable but wasn’t damaged, and the slider still isn’t a whiff pitch, but we saw 4/11 whiffs on splitters and that’s a cool thing. I chatted with Eno on the latest episode of The Craft podcast about Kirby for next year and I’m not sure where to rank him. He’s a floor guy, but I’m skeptical he can reach a high enough ceiling to justify a Top 10 SP slot. He just had a full season of failing to come through and it’s a gamble to expect more growth now.
Edward Cabrera (MIA) @ MIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 79 pitches.
He did the thing. Cabrera posted a 65%+ strike rate on all five pitches and yes, I’m including that one slider. AT LEAST HE THREW ONE (A 1-1 foul ball to Correa). I want to believe he can make it happen as I watch his mechanics and feel as if he’s not far off from performing like this consistently. I’ll probably chase it and the second he has a large walk game, I’m out again.
DJ Herz (WSN) vs KCR (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 81 pitches.
That’s a Dusty Donut with the 1.80 ERA as the sole excitement without anything noticeably terrible. The changeup was. Ayyyyy, even in the last week of the season, you’ve still got some zingers. ZOOP ZOOP! Ahem. Next year, I’ll be out on Herz in all likelihood for a number of reasons – Lack of faith in the Nationals, questionable changeup feel, underwhelming heater – and I hope he does stuff in the spring to get me leaning forward in my chair.
Cody Bradford (TEX) @ OAK (ND) – 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 90 pitches.
Jeeeeez this was an inefficient night for Bradford. Really, all three of his final starts were not what we’d seen from him previously, with worse four-seamer locations and changeups not quite doing what they used to. I still dig the guy for 2025 as a sleeper with his elite extension and usually great command upstairs. Think of him as a guy you pick up in the middle of April after a tough series or two and coast from there.
Keider Montero (DET) vs TBR (ND) – 2.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 55 pitches.
He ran into trouble and the Tigers played it safe by pulling Montero early. It’s really too bad as he looked like a decent play against a weak Rays team. Womp womp, I wouldn’t have Montero’s average arsenal on your radar for 2025.
Freddy Peralta (MIL) @ PIT (L) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 96 pitches.
This was a lovely start without much Professor Chaos and his 3.68 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and exactly 200 strikeouts is absurdly on point for the volatile man he is. It’s also two seasons of 165+ IP, which may not be an expectation we should hold onto tightly. I’m likely out on Peralta for his volatile tendencies next year, but if he falls enough, I guess we go for it and hold our nose each week.
Jakob Junis (CIN) @ CLE (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 72 pitches.
The MAD MAN. I’ve doubted you across four straight, and I’m proud to grant you this Gold Star once again. And this was was a bit more believable with good sinkers inside to RHB and sliders down-and-away, but five frames on a low pitch count again…It’s kinda awesome and I applaud him for his run. No, I don’t want to chase this if he gets a full opportunity next year.
Davis Martin (CHW) vs LAA (ND) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 85 pitches.
Few changeups, and he couldn’t quite find the zone when he needed to, leading to those walks. A better slider, though, and he’ll be on a list of guys I’m curious about for the spring. If there’s one lesson to be learned for 2025 it’s…okay I can’t decide, but a GOOD one is Focus on young arms in the spring. Guys like Martin need one extra skill to become something real, and most cases are the same: A better four-seamer. Martin has the slider and changeup down, if you see velocity jumping to 95 mph from 93 mph, then we’re talking.
José Suarez (LAA) @ CHW (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 76 pitches.
Sooooo close. The changeup was featured against RHB as expected and was okay, while the slider didn’t do a ton of work as he faced few LHB. Welp, it was a fun and very brief moment Suarez. We nearly outsmarted them all.
Jack Flaherty (LAD) vs SDP (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 100 pitches.
Once again, the slider failed him. Just 54% strikes and only four whiffs, though the four-seamer matched that strike rate and led to a laborious night at the park. I may be out on Flaherty next year given his arsenal volatility – he was in a groove where all three pitches were firing on all cylinders, but I’m not sure I buy he’ll get that back out of the gate next year, especially considering he’ll be coming at a MAJOR premium. Something to think about.
Dylan Cease (SDP) @ LAD (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 97 pitches.
Once again, he got burned by LHB (four of his five hits, three off sliders over the plate, one poor four-seamer), but hey, a Gallows Pole! Nah, I’m still in pain. Yeah. I know. I want him to learn a cutter, too. THIS IS THE WINTER TO DO IT, CEASE.
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) vs CHC (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 94 pitches.
Blegh. I feel like this start needed to exist to put the entire scope of being this year’s Spider-Man into perspective. I can see some hype next year for Sánchez if he’s says he’s learning a cutter or throwing a sweeper/different breaker, etc., though I’m likely to treat it like “Chris Archer has a new changeup”. He’s a Toby who you snag for Wins. But it was just eleven! Very fair, that could be close to 15 next year if he gets a little lucky.
Zack Littell (TBR) @ DET (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 91 pitches.
His velocity was down a tick as he went Dancing With The Disco + a whole lot of splitters as well. He just couldn’t get out of the fifth, nor avoid early damage from the Tigers as Detroit’s dream lives on. And we saw Jobe! His cutter that was nine ticks slower than the 98 mph heater (so is it a slider then?) had a 7.24 PLV as he spotted it beautifully all three times. Fun. I just wish he wasn’t six feet of extension. He’d have the best four-seamer in baseball if it were close to seven feet…BUT WHATEVER HE’S DOPE.
Zach Eflin (BAL) @ NYY (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 92 pitches.
Ouch. Just one more out needed to snag a Win, but five walks and one strikeout is so not Eflin. HAISTBMBWT?! I think I’m generally in on Eflin for next year, though more as a volume arm for Wins than a guy flirting with his 2023 self. Think Holly type at best who you don’t remove all year but will certainly go through blegh stretches. But he had a 2.37 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with the Orioles! Yes, 4-2 record with 50% Wins and a 20% strikeout rate. But it was even better before this game! Is that really all that fair?
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) vs MIA (ND) – 1.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 36 pitches.
Oh SWR. You had a lovely stretch in the mid-season but your fastball has gone from 94/95 to just 90/91. You’re gassed. I can see him getting the off-season to re-charge and producing in some fashion early next year, though that’s as a streaming play and not as a drafted arm. Get ready for some spring “He’s sitting 95 mph!” tweets.
Austin Gomber (COL) vs STL (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 80 pitches.
Coors is undefeated. Gomber has one more year with the Rockies if they don’t deal him over the off-season and I wonder if he’ll finally find his footing in another environment. I hope so, for his sake.
Richard Fitts (BOS) @ TOR (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 78 pitches.
Womp womp. Fitts had better precision in other outings, while we also saw a few more splitters and sweepers in the mix here and they were fine. I don’t love him for next year given the lack of anything exceptional and I’m curious how he…shimmies into the Sawx rotation next year, if at all.
Mason Black (SFG) @ ARI (L) – 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 70 pitches.
He sat all upstairs in this one and that did not work in the slightest against the mighty Diamondbacks. I don’t have many expectations for Mason, but if his heater can jump from 93 to 95/96 (talk about a bit ask lol), then his solid 6.8 ft extension + 1.4 HAVAA could work ala Wheeler, especially given he has both four-seamer and sinker. Just a thought.
Brady Basso (OAK) vs TEX (L) – 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 54 pitches.
Womp womp. Just one whiff ain’t it as the command was all over the place. Let’s forget about Basso until April next year where he hopefully shows us something new.
Marcus Stroman (NYY) vs BAL (L) – 3.1 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 66 pitches.
With Nestor Cortes getting an MRI on his elbow that day, Stroman was called upon in a hurry and Koufax was far from kind as he was Singled Out + the defense didn’t do him favors on a few. THAT SAID, he did throw some poor pitches in the mix here and he put himself in a position to get Singled Out in the first place. Stroman has two more years left with the Yankees after his vesting option kicked into a player option for 2026 at $18M and you have to believe he’s taking that one. Figure him into the rotation next year as a depth piece.
Javier Assad (CHC) @ PHI (L) – 4.1 IP, 8 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 90 pitches.
I imagine Assad will be in the rotation for the Cubs next year and sure, he’s fine for a 15-teamer. I want nothing to do with him in 12-teamers, especially facing the Sneks first. Yep, I’M ALREADY LOOKING AT EARLY SCHEDULES.
Game of the Day
Corbin Burnes vs. Gerrit Cole – Uhhhh, this is awesome.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
Have Questions? – Join my morning Playback.tv livestream! I answer all questions there for free: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET Monday through Friday.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)