Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup – Broken In Woo

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.  

Bryan Woo (SEA) @ CIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 83 pitches.

Y’all are busy and let’s cut to the chase. It’s likely time for us to move on from Bryan Woo. Today’s 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 83 pitches effort in Cincinnati was rough to watch with a 1-2 tick velocity drop on everything, while the four-seamer and sinker couldn’t be trusted. In fact, the cutter, sinker, and four-seamer were all thrown exactly 26 times, which is all kinds of shocking when you remember Woo was initially a 50-60% four-seamer guy without anything else.

Not only do you have Woo without his best asset (a dope fastball) and a velocity drop, you also have a horrible schedule up ahead with the Rays + Dodgers + Athletics + Astros + Rangers. We’re already tepid on his next outing, which leaves 3/4 horrible matchups ahead.

Look at the wire and see if there’s something that helps you now. I won’t rule out Woo rebounding against the Rays, but that coin flip mixed with the poor upside of being able to hold him if it goes well means you’re better off streaming and figuring out the roster spot later.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:

 

Justin Steele (CHC) vs SF (W) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 12 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 107 pitches.

Jeeeeeez, this was something. Now, there was some Blame it on the Giants as Steele covered the entirety of the zone with all 107 pitches like a Mario Party mini-game, but you have to have some skill to do so while striking out twelve, even against the Giants. There isn’t much more for me to say – you’ll obviously keep starting him throughout the end of the year – and let’s hope the legit precision returns instead of chaotic control.

Cole Ragans (KC) vs CWS (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 22 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.

PEW PEW PEW. The only hit he allowed was a 2-2 changeup dotted on the corner that should have been out of the zone (or honestly, a slider but that’s just me). He allowed a ton of two-strike soft contact for outs and the guy is just stupid good. Oh, and his curveball was off this game. We made a shirt to honor him, though he hasn’t earned AGA quite yet with Toronto + Houston x2 up next. It’s a gauntlet ahead and I’m starting him for it. You can’t spell Ragans without AGA.

Tejay Antone (CIN) vs SEA (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 42% CSW, 26 pitches.

It was the first start for Antone since returning from TJS and it was cool to see the slider come alive once again. Sadly, I imagine the Reds aren’t going to get him stretched out by the end of the year (this was a start vacated by the COVID IL) and I wouldn’t hold my breath here. He’s an interesting flier for 2024.

Merrill Kelly (ARI) vs COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 12 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 91 pitches.

Kelly dominated Rockie Road?! You don’t say. But seriously, I shouldn’t act so blasé given this is Kelly we’re talking about – a guy I labeled as a Toby in the preseason and has done so much more than that. Let him guide you to the finish line.

Pablo López (MIN) @ CLE (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 89 pitches.

Aces gonna get Singled Out and labor a bit without his best precision. That’s what makes an ace – figuring out a way to make it work (thanks for the outs, changeup). By the way, that’s 199 strikeouts on the year and it’s pretty dang cool.

José Berríos (TOR) @ OAK (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 84 pitches.

Yep, that looks about right. Good stuff Berríos.

Grayson Rodriguez (BAL) @ LAA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 90 pitches.

Grayson labored at first, then settled down to look downright nasty by the end, earning that King Cole. Remember when we drafted him in the spring and expected greatness? It’s here.

Luis L. Ortiz (PIT) vs MIL (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 84 pitches.

Well well well, look at this. I hope you put your Gold Star in your chest of memories. Not everyone has one of those. Why not?! GET IT TOGETHER PEOPLE. Anyway, Ortiz’s changeup was decent, sure, but the four-seamer and slider combined for 1/50 whiffs, but found enough gloves to survive six. This ain’t it, y’all.

Logan Webb (SF) @ CHC (L) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 94 pitches.

Webb is doing everything he can and doesn’t get any run support behind him. Sure, three runs and just five whiffs, but he tossed 64% changeups and had a 53% CSW sinker. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT.

Kenny Rosenberg (LAA) vs BAL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 87 pitches.

He’s a slow tossin’ crafty lefty with a solid changeup and woeifjwfuiohwef. You okay Nick? Sorry, I feel asleep thinking about his approach. That’s a VPQS and better than you expected. There’s a chance he maneuvers around barrels again, but I wouldn’t like to find out.

Brayan Bello (BOS) @ TB (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 96 pitches.

We’ll take the PQS with a dub. He’s still figuring out the four-seamer, but the slider was a bit better here to go along with the standard sinker + changeup combo. It’s a rough schedule ahead for Bello and let’s hope he’s similar to this (if not better).

Aaron Civale (TB) vs BOS (ND) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 12 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 98 pitches.

I’m sorry WHAT. Twelve strikeouts?! He introduced the slider to bring the fastball usage down to just 28%, earning a pair of strikeouts while high heaters and cutters + some excellent hooks earned the rest. Wild. This isn’t typical in the slightest and I wouldn’t have any expectation of it continuing, but this is the BSB at full blast. This pitch separation is insane.

Luis Medina (OAK) vs TOR (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 70 pitches.

Oh snap, we got another start for Medina and the slider was the glorious pitch we saw in July. Sadly, everything else was blegh and this was the Jays and he’s set to get the Rangers next. Womp womp.

Andrew Heaney (TEX) vs HOU (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 88 pitches.

Oh hey, it’s a Cherry Bomb against a strong offense. What a shocker. And now it’s the Jays? I think not.

Peter Lambert (COL) @ ARI (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 94 pitches.

Sooooo close to pulling off the desperate streaming pick of the day. That pesky fourth frame did him in and them’s the Lambert chops. Welp, see ya later.

Corbin Burnes (MIL) @ PIT (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 105 pitches.

Burnes allowed just one single here and that’s silly. Sure, he tossed some mistakes over the heart of the plate, but still. He deserved better.

Taijuan Walker (PHI) @ SD (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 103 pitches.

Here’s the status: 92 mph, 3/26 splitter CSW with a 46% strike rate, and nothing else. That seems bad. That’s because it is. Please get off this train.

J.P. France (HOU) @ TEX (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 87 pitches.

Yeah, France didn’t survive Texas in 1762 and it sure wasn’t going to start now. Sadly, it’s San Diego next and they didn’t fare well there either. But after that is Kansas City twice and BOY, let me tell you about that story…

Jesse Scholtens (CWS) @ KC (L) – 3.2 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 83 pitches.

Yeaaaaaah, better not to chase this. There’s a chance he has one brilliant game the rest of the way with his decent schedule, but good luck figuring out which.

Rich Hill (SD) vs PHI (L) – 1.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 47 pitches.

I wonder if the Padres are going to let this continue for much longer, if at all. LET NICK MARTINEZ START AGAIN.

Lucas Giolito (CLE) vs MIN (L) – 3.0 IP, 9 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 76 pitches.

Oh dear. Giolito’s changeup was horrible (11/23 strikes = a disaster), forcing so many heaters that went straight down the pipe. YA CAN’T DO THAT, LUCAS. He’s going to face his month-old alma matter in Los Angeles next time out and you should still start him there, but if he falters there too, you’re not gonna like Texas + Baltimore after.

 

Game of the Day

 

Clayton Kershaw vs. Jesús Luzardo – Two stellar lefties on the bump? Sign me up.

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.

Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)