Thank you all so much for reading the SP Roundup this season. Truly. It marks the tenth full season I’ve had with these daily updates and there is no possibility it would still exist without your readership. I hope to see many of you returning next year and surviving the winter inside our PL+ Discord.
Michael McGreevy (STL) @ SFG (W) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 91 pitches.
The final Sunday of the season often brings young arms to the forefront, granting one final opportunity to air it out before we board up for the winter. Michael McGreevy took full advantage of his time on stage via 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 91 pitches as he secured a Win against the Giants and we can’t ignore the possibility that he gets more chances next year.
His approach is out of the Yankees’ playbook for low-armslot pitchers: sinkers, sliders, changeups, and cutters, with the rare four-seamer in the mix. Overall, he’s a command-first, stuff-second arm that could find himself cruising next year if he has a strong defense behind him while in a great rhythm.
It’s not the type of arms we draft in 12-teamers, but those in NL-Only leagues can do worse. It’s a decent array of weapons with a sinker that is destined to find outs (and tons of grounders through the hole), propelling value for those in need of volume while turning down ceiling.
Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:
David Peterson (NYM) @ MIL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 95 pitches.
Atta boy Peterson. You came through when the Mets needed you. The command was there and I can’t help but wonder how he’ll be treated entering next year. I expect to be on the low end on Peterson given his lack of overwhelming stuff and heavy reliance on rhythm, but maybe he’s still in rhythm out of camp. That would be awesome.
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) @ LAA (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 92 pitches.
With Free Agency likely on the horizon, Eovaldi showed 94/95 mph velocity and a full seven frames as the Rangers didn’t care about protecting the fella. Thanks for this one, many fantasy managers needed it. Eovaldi could be a Holly again next year, with a likely injury ding coming in drafts that will put him into the range of SP you already had questions about entering the season. Why not go for the one who is most likely to help until he potentially gets hurt?
Ryan Feltner (COL) vs LAD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 81 pitches.
Wow. Five straight productive outings from Feltner to end the season, including hosting the Sneks, Cards, and Dodgers in Coors. Wait. Going back to his final 15 starts, he has a 2.98 ERA?! And not one of his pitches held a 30% CSW save for his four-seamer on the nose. This may have been one of the quietest Baha Man summers as y’all cannot chase this for 2025. Coors is undefeated.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs OAK (W) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 76 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. How awesome is this. No reason for Gilbert to toss this one but they hurled him out there and he earned a fantastic send off into the off-season. That closes the door on a 3.23 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 27.4% strikeout rate season from Gilbert, which is straight up BONKERS and fueled by a massive decline in Hit/9 while he leaned into his slider + pulled back his four-seamer for more secondaries. I think he’ll get overdrafted next year (I still question his full arsenal, I know, I’m ridiculous), but it’s hard to argue against his floor.
Caleb Kilian (CHC) vs CIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 82 pitches.
We saw sinkers and four-seamers again from Kilian with a group of breakers that generally landed low. I think there’s a part to a legit pitcher here for 2025, but I wonder if he’ll have it all together by April next year. Probably not…?
Hunter Greene (CIN) @ CHC (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 65 pitches.
Couldn’t go just one more, could ya. No surprise to see Greene limited here and I’ll continue to gather anxiety trying to determine where to rank him next year. Is he a Cherry Bomb or something more? I DON’T KNOW.
Anthony Banda (LAD) @ COL (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 14% CSW, 14 pitches.
After Banda, we saw Landon Knack, who surprised me with four full frames, but left the game with a potential loss via 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. So while he didn’t hurt you like I anticipated, it wasn’t a whole lot to celebrate. There’s a chance Knack becomes something next year with a good iVB four-seamer, but he needs more across the board to get there. He’s not quite at “Yooooo, this guy is dope” potential yet.
Ryan Weathers (MIA) @ TOR (W) – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 97 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! I love it, take this Gold Star. So you’re drafting him next year? Oh. Not what I meant, I just love Weathers actually producing after a few poor efforts and sneaking in on the final Sunday to give surprise value to those daring enough to chase it. Sadly, Weathers’ heater doesn’t do enough and his secondaries + command aren’t winning this tug of war. Oh, and the Marlins won’t help with Wins. Noooope.
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs SDP (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 79 pitches.
When it matters most, Pfaadt has shown up. Kinda. I’m still considering him a Cherry Bomb until I can believe he has more than the sweeper (or can buy into his four-seamer command), but this was fun.
Quinn Priester (BOS) vs TBR (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 89 pitches.
No surprise that the Red Sox limited Priester’s four-seamer and sinker usage, with his changeup and slider taking the podium most of the night. I’m not sold this will work, but he also mixed in sinkers for outs along the way and kept the dream alive. Not someone I’d be focused on for next year as of now.
Alec Marsh (KCR) @ ATL (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 77 pitches.
He soured Atlanta’s day with a fantastic effort with his breakers and I’m happy for his Birthday Party. As of now, I wouldn’t expect him to be the #5 SP for the Royals next year.
Ryan Pepiot (TBR) @ BOS (L) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 63 pitches.
I’m surprised they let him go at all. I like Pepiot for next year, hoping he takes one more step forward to nail down the polish on his slider and changeup to become the legit stud he’s destined to be. That four-seamer is too good.
Albert Suárez (BAL) @ MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 71 pitches.
Yesssss. It was mostly just four-seamers (Gasp) though there were some changeups and curves returning whiffs and look at that! 10/13 cutters for strikes! I wonder if the Orioles will rely on Suárez again next year or look at his success and go “That was nice, I don’t think we’ll get that again.” I’m inclined to believe the latter.
Ryan Burr (TOR) vs MIA (L) – 1.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 30 pitches.
As expected, he opened for Ryan Yarbrough, who went 3.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. Yep, one out short of potentially earning a Win, though it wasn’t available for the Fratty Pirate, don’t go all chaotic on us. It’s kinda cool that Yarbrough can still be effective after all this time, though I wonder if it lasts in 2025 in any fantasy relevant way.
Jack Kochanowicz (LAA) vs TEX (L) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 77 pitches.
The Jack of One Trade did what he’s supposed to do – return a PQS at minimum with a HAISTBMBWT?! That’s the life of a sinkerballer and let’s be thankful we have someone who actually carries out their promises.
Bailey Ober (MIN) vs BAL (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 74 pitches.
In proper Ober fashion, his ERA doesn’t match the WHIP, with a King Cole to go with it. He’s legit, y’all. HR rate is not sticky year-to-year and he’ll be a stud next season. Can’t wait to draft him.
Aaron Nola (PHI) @ WSN (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna…pitch nearly 100 pitches?! Wild. It’s a Dusty Donut in the end with a dub and seven strikeouts, but…wild. The Phillies favored their studs in rhythm over ensuring they don’t overwork themselves for their playoff run. Could very well be the right call and I hope it helped your squads. And yes, Nola is one of the most steady arms in fantasy.
Hayden Birdsong (SFG) vs STL (L) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 11 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 98 pitches.
Of course you did. The Cardinals could not resist your slider – 12/13 swings returned a whiff on the pitch. WHAT. – but the whole attack was volatile per usual. I can’t wait to field questions on Birdsong this off-season with people obsessed by the strikeouts and deflect them with a Joe Boyle comp. How dare you. Okay, fine, he earned a Gallows Pole and has shown a little bit more, but hot dang do I not trust this fella with consistency next year. He’ll torture you all year. I hope he figures it out over the winter, but that’s incredibly doubtful.
Jonathan Cannon (CHW) @ DET (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 80 pitches.
At least you got a Win? I was hoping Cannon would bear down and be at his best here and while the CrySox ended their historic failure with a moment of success, this wasn’t quite what we had envisioned. He’s going to surprise us at some point next year if he gets enough time on the bump to iron out the kinks, though I’m not sure when that will be or if the White Sox have different plans for him and their rotation.
Charlie Morton (ATL) vs KCR (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 75 pitches.
The Cherry Bomb showed his ugly side at the worst time. Sigh. This is possibly the last start we’ll see of Morton in his career, concluding his two-year deal with Atlanta after contemplating retirement two years earlier. It’s been a ride Morton, thanks for the fun times.
Clarke Schmidt (NYY) vs PIT (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 75 pitches.
My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined. I see Schmidt as a solid Toby type entering drafts next year for those in need of Wins. Maybe even a Holly type when all is said and done.
Bailey Falter (PIT) @ NYY (ND) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 15% CSW, 62 pitches.
Yikes. Lowering that trade value for the Rays, I see. Clever, clever. But seriously, it was the Yankees and we expected nothing.
Colin Rea (MIL) vs NYM (L) – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 106 pitches.
Yep. This is Rea life. I thought it was fantasy. Only if you started him. I didn’t. So what are we even talking about. I DON’T KNOW, YOU TYPE THE WORDS. Good point. I wonder if the Brewers plan on keeping Rea in the rotation entering next year. I sure hope not.
Kenta Maeda (DET) vs CHW (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 89 pitches.
This went as expected. I wish I had better things to say about Maeda, but he’s not as filthy as he used to be and it’s tough to be in this place with a 90 mph heater.
Jake Irvin (WSN) vs PHI (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 66 pitches.
And so ends Irvin’s season of wonder and disappointment. Unless he has his curve obliterating next year, you can expect me avoiding Irvin in drafts.
Mitch Spence (OAK) @ SEA (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 75 pitches.
Womp womp. He was one of many desparate options and it fell through. I’ll hold onto hope Spence pushes his velocity closer to Graham Ashcraft levels next year, but in all likelihood, he’s a rare streaming option.
Martín Pérez (SDP) @ ARI (L) – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 64 pitches.
We didn’t expect Pérez to go long here with the Padres secured for their playoff spot, let alone come through against the hungry Sneks. Nope, not going to run with that setup, I absolutely detest snakes. ANYWAY, Pérez could come out of the gate hot again in 2025 if he’s feeling it early, don’t overlook the chance.
Game of the Day
Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets – Wait, we have baseball today?! WELL OKAY THEN.
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 Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X)
Thanks for all the help this season, Nick! I lost my championship (to my 11 year-son 😭), but I MADE it, despite some bad injury luck. (Drafted Strider, Yamamoto, and Joe Ryan)