Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Thursday 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.
Blake Snell (LAD) @ PIT (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 90 pitches.
Hi John, I’m at the scene and the news is official. No. It can’t be. Just because kids are returning to school doesn’t mean it’s already over. I’m sorry John, but it’s true. Hot Snell Summer has come to an end. I can’t be the only one in disbelief that Blake Snell could get horrific ratios against the Pirates (while earning a Golden Goal, of course), but the numbers are in the books: 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 90 pitches (L). What is going on? What do we do?!
Well, let’s not do anything silly. I understand it’s the playoffs for many of you “can’t afford to deal with an ERA and WHIP like this,” but you also can’t afford to miss out on Snell’s future outings that could very well counteract the damage he’s done. This was a game of getting Singled Out constantly with great command on his changeup, curve, and four-seamer (even at 94.5 mph and not 96 mph. I know, it’s a little scary that he’s lower velo). Four runs came through in the fifth that messed this game up and you’re telling me that would make you reconsider Rockie Road up next? Riiiiiight.
Just keep starting him. If he’s looking shaky again next time, we can talk about the Phillies after, but there’s no reason to expect that. As long as Snell is getting the pearl, you start him.
Let’s see how every other SP did Thursday:
Paul Skenes (PIT) vs LAD (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 94 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. His four-seamer dominated and not even the Dodgers could stand in his way. FINE. Enjoy the Cy Young.
Ranger Suárez (PHI) @ MIL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 89 pitches.
The command is still there and Suárez has been one of the biggest steals of your draft. Incredible. You don’t care that he gets the Mets and Dodgers next, do you? I wouldn’t.
Ryan Pepiot (TBR) vs CLE (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 90 pitches.
Pepiot was served all the LHB in Tampa and shoved fastball after fastball (60% usage!) with legit changeup support, acquiring four strikeouts on the slowball across 7/18 whiffs. That’s. What’s. Up. If only the Guardians didn’t foul off 31% of those heaters, maybe he could have gone longer…Sure, go start him in Chicago against the SlySox.
Freddy Peralta (MIL) vs PHI (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. We got a little bit of Professor Chaos and he was able to wriggle around it against a legit offense. Atta boy.
Taj Bradley (MIN) vs CHW (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 91 pitches.
His velo is still a bit up as it flirts tenderly with sultry eyes at the oh-so-alluring 97 mph mark (Stop personifying velocity! Okay okay…), but locating the pitch would be better. But it had a 72% strike rate! And allowed four hits with just two outs and held a terrible 16% NC Rate. In fact, he had a 17%+ NC Rate across all of his pitches. If y’all think Bradley was a new man because he understands scouting reports now, I suggest some different logic.
Fraser Ellard (CHW) @ MIN (ND) – 1.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 25 pitches.
Dralle (Kolby’s brother) opened for Jonathan Cannon in his return from the IL, who promptly returned five runs in 2.1 IP. Welp, see ya later.
Kyle Hendricks (LAA) @ KCR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 84 pitches.
Ummmm, how. You know how. Isn’t he supposed to make it a little less obvious than this? Koufax works in mysterious ways. But Hendricks’ changeup, you know, his best pitch, returned a 53% strike rate at 45% usage. HOW CAN YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?
Carlos Rodón (NYY) @ HOU (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 109 pitches.
Three strikeouts ain’t it (with 17 whiffs?!), but yes, you’ll take all the rest. And let’s be real, this should have been two hits, not three. McMahon absolutely caught that soft liner from Altuve. WHATEVER. The changeup’s 27% usage is a lovely surprise and refused to allow a hit on the night, and there’s no reason to resist Carlos the rest of the way.
Noah Cameron (KCR) vs LAA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 93 pitches.
I was worried we would get a rusty Noah and I wish it weren’t so. His cutter and changeup returned a 20% NC Rate across 36 combined (yikes) and despite the four-seamer and curve executing the BSB as a lovely tandem, the slider had to show up and allow a three-run shot, one of three hits on three balls in play. So it was bad? Yeah, it was bad. There is good news: He’ll get @CLE next if he’s no longer interrupted. Considering Lugo has hit the IL, I don’t think the Royals can afford it, personally. I think you’re okay to start Cameron there given 93.2 mph heaters and the strong fastball and curve.
Logan Allen (CLE) @ TBR (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 92 pitches.
It’s not a fun time pitching in Tampa and it may have caused Allen’s pitches to flutter all over the zone. This wasn’t his best effort and I’m not interested in gambling on his low ceiling moving forward.
Cristian Javier (HOU) vs NYY (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 78 pitches.
Womp womp. The four-seamer was all over the place and the sweeper + curve + rare sinker didn’t do a whole lot. Uh, the curve allowed a HR. Fine. Didn’t do a whole lot of good things. At least the changeup was a 64% strike rate with just a pair of hits? Yeah, I know. This wasn’t a start to chase Javier and neither is @TOR next. But maybe hosting the Rangers after if his heater is back to form.
Game of the Day
Logan Gilbert vs. Chris Sale – Ohhhh baby.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)
