Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Sunday game. I apologize for the jokes written in my delirium in advance. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Twitch.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Cesar Perdomo (SFG) @ NYM (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 83 pitches.
Who doesn’t love seeing a new arm appear out of nowhere for a good outing and grab our attention? After making his MLB debut a week ago in relief, Cesar Perdomo was granted the pearl in the first in his second MLB game and excelled for the Giants Sunday afternoon against the Mets – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 83 pitches (ND). It was a completely different version of Perdomo on Sunday, featuring a brand new changeup, a tighter slider, and a true showcase of what we wanted to see: a SWATCH.
The Giants have been looking for arms to fill in and I don’t see why Perdomo wouldn’t get another chance to go against the Padres on Saturday. If his changeup is as dastardly as it was here and not the strange offering from last Tuesday (two completely different “changeups”, I wonder if last week had misclassified sliders…?), then we’re cooking. His reluctance to throw his four-seamer over the plate worked solely because of his feel for the slowball – especially to RHB – and it’s a gamble to bank on it for a second straight game. The novelty of Perdomo in the majors favors the rookie (the Padres will be less prepared to face him) and you can certainly do worse than a southpaw at 93 mph who just expressed a stellar slowball and a decent-enough 86 mph slider (he needs to spot it better to LHB), who was just stretched out over 80 pitches, getting a start in Oracle Park. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:
Bryan Woo (SEA) vs ATH (W) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 102 pitches.
For all the Woo is me I’ve heard about rostering Bryan, I have to mention that he’s allowed just 3 ER in five of his last six games. That other one is the six HR disaster against Philly, you can’t just leave it out! Or maybe I can? I dunno, should we really be holding a pitcher to the coals for two bad pitches (a two-run shot and a three-run shot) to Harper and Schwarber across six outings? That’s just not right. (View Game Card)
Tyler Mahle (ATL) @ PHI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 94 pitches.
He’s allowed just 5 ER in six starts now. How cool is that? Keep on keepin’ on with this Vargas Rule. (View Game Card)
Michael King (SDP) vs NYY (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 96 pitches.
How does King continue to make me completely speechless in a bad way with every outing? I just want to understand it and he gives us these…weird games of inconsistency and hittable pitches, but just enough around the edges and timely gifts from Koufax to go six shutout. At least it’s the Giants next and that’s an easy call. Which means it’ll be–Don’t finish that sentence. Please. (View Game Card)
Paul Skenes (PIT) vs LAA (W) – 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 87 pitches.
I’m bored. Why am I bored?! IT’S SKENES, DANGIT! He’s still going roughly 60% fastballs and despite getting to two-strikes 67% of the time, he didn’t know how to put guys away. Which is just so wrong for Skenes – he’s supposed to have this absurd velocity and then, in two strikes, have all the options. Instead, it’s 96/97 mph (not 98+) with heaters making up roughly 50% of his two-strike pitches. The fact that he held a 5% putaway rate on all his pitches (2-for-43) is just…Wow. The Angels fought off striking out against Paul Skenes 41 times. Just sit with that. (View Game Card)
Cooper Hjerpe (STL) @ COL (W) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 54 pitches.
Hjerpe came in after Leahy’s short performance and the true side-armer (-2 degree launch angle?!) showed us 90/91 mph velocity with a frisbee sweeper and changeup, with a few 87 mph cutters as bridge pitches to the breaker. It’s so abnormal and strange that it can work at the low velocity and I’d circle him as the clear follower for Leahy’s next “start” against the White Sox on Saturday. That’s a terrible offense and Hjerpe’s weirdness will work to his benefit.
Kyle Bradish (BAL) vs BOS (L) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 85 pitches.
Gunnar booted a potential third out in the second, leading to three runs and extending Bradish’s pitch count, while the third went even further to 32 pitches despite facing just five batters – that included two straight batters of 9-pitch and 10-pitch at-bats. Brtual. That’s what happens when you don’t have a reliable breaking ball. Neither at-bat saw a great slider or curveball to shut the door, though the pair were effective overall for the game. The curveball to LHB in particular was sharper than usual, and I sure hope it sticks. That said, he’s very droppable at the moment and if there’s a great option on the wire, it’s pretty obvious that Bradish is not locked in. (View Game Card)
Bryan Hudson (CHW) vs MIN (ND) – 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 44% CSW, 18 pitches.
This was a bullpen game for the White Sox, that included three perfect frames from Hagen Smith, three innings that still didn’t do enough to impress me, sadly. 35 pitches does not define a man.
Walbert Ureña (LAA) @ PIT (L) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 88 pitches.
Remember that poor game against the Guardians? Ureña has now followed that with two of his three games all season with 7+ IP. Atta boy, Ureña. What an incredible waiver wire pickup you’ve been and look at this – 131.1 IP into you rookie season and he’s upping his velocity a tick to 99 mph. What a guy. (View Game Card)
Aaron Nola (PHI) vs ATL (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 93 pitches.
WHOA. This is the first time all season Nola hasn’t allowed a HR in back-to-back games. Wow, we’re not used to that kind of back-to-back! Atlanta did him a ton of favors by chasing his curveball out of the zone, uh 72% of the time, with just a 19% zone rate. That’s pretty terrible, Atlanta. I also appreciate the failure to get the four-seamer in play, the pitch that has been punished far too often this season. In fact, Nola held a 28% foul ball rate on everything here, a tilt of the scale in Nola’s favor – fewer balls in play = less damage for Nola, in general. The Vargas Rule stretch you may have grabbed Nola for is now a 2.31 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 27% strikeout rate across his last eight games…where he still has a 1.35 HR/9. But none in two starts! Yes. None in two starts. This still feels risky, doesn’t it? (View Game Card)
Payton Tolle (BOS) @ BAL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 12 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 91 pitches.
You want me to give him AGA, don’t you? I think y’all forget that he didn’t hit six innings in any of his last three games, averaging 3 ER per game. Not saying that’s bad, it’s that Tolle is a premium Cherry Bomb, not a consistently dope arm. I sure love the guy, though. (View Game Card)
Randy Dobnak (KCR) vs TOR (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 83 pitches.
DUDE. Here’s a Gold Star for your efforts. He went 6 ER in six last game, but that is still three straight of six frames and that’s pretty cool. Welp, not trusting Koufax to be so dang kind every day. Here’s a lovely forehand tap and wave, and I’m off. (View Game Card)
Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI) @ HOU (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 96 pitches.
Hahahahaha. It’s just so…incredible. The funniest part about this absurd season-long Vargas Rule is how even after a Gallows Pole and a blissful game like this (15-5 record, by the way), it’s still just an 18% strikeout rate and 1.20 WHIP. He’s keeping it clear as day that this isn’t meant to be, yet how could you possibly do anything but hold? Suitman whispers into my ear. Sure, 1.15 WHIP since the start of May with a 2.44 ERA. THE POINT STANDS. (View Game Card)
Bailey Ober (MIN) @ CHW (L) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 84 pitches.
This was Obert doing everything he could to escape damage and he nearly made it through five unscathed. And hey, he’s not just up to 88.3 mph, he’s also earning 4/22 whiffs on the “heater”! That counts for something…right? I find it hard to rank Ober in the daily streamer articles since he’s displayed the ability to go 5+ of 1 or 2 ER, but it’s just…bleeeeeegh. (View Game Card)
Gavin Williams (CLE) vs DET (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 11 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 99 pitches.
Aces gonna ace with a King Cole. Pretty dang cool to see Gavin boast a 34% strikeout rate and 8% walk rate, eh? He holds a 42.5% strikeout rate across his last eleven games. That’s just…bonkers. (View Game Card)
Jackson Jobe (DET) @ CLE (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 93 pitches.
Whoa whoa whoa, seven strikeouts?! Ahhhh a 62% two-strike rate (not the 48% clip we normally see) meant the Guardians were super passive early in counts and it granted Jobe more chances to earn the K, which he’s still brute-forcing with his four-seamer a bit too often in my view. Or maybe it’s more of an expression that his secondaries aren’t strong putaway offerings. Something to think about. Anyway, he gets Rockie Road and the White Sox up next, which are a pair of stellar matchups that you kinda have to do it. (View Game Card)
Christian Scott (NYM) vs SFG (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 80 pitches.
Really. I know it was a 2-0 game with men on second and third but…COME ON. It’s moments exactly like these that young arms like Scott need to battle through. Give them the reps! The confidence! H*ck, he even fanned his last batter of the game, let him attack Devers to get out of it – you know, the guy he already struck out twice. BUT WHATEVER. This was a game of four-seamers taking over, which I don’t really love to see. Yes, it’s great having that foundational heater, but as a foundation. I want to see the breakers show up! The mysteriously low-90s sinker! The cutter take shape as a putaway pitch! That cutter returned three strikeouts. WHY NOT FOUR?! It feels like we’ve been treading water for a while here and I just want something new to get amped about for Scott. (View Game Card)
Gage Jump (ATH) @ SEA (L) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 82 pitches.
You added Gage as a strikeout stream and look, you got what you came for. And the ratios weren’t so bad! The fastball turned on the Jets (a week early, UGH) with a bump in velo to 97.6 mph – a great sign after seeing the heater fall down to 95 mph last start. With both the heater and slider returning strikes per usual (and changeups + curves, too!) it makes me slightly tempted to give it a spin in a repeat matchup in Sacré Verde, but then I realize how foolish I can be. So foolish. (View Game Card)
Peter Lambert (HOU) vs ARI (L) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 98 pitches.
Yep, that’s the Holly we know and love, with a 3.85 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a pocket full o’ Ks. Breakers gloveside, changeups armside, and fastballs + cutters doing work in the zone. That’s our man. (View Game Card)
Tyler Phillips (MIA) vs CHC (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 76 pitches.
Meh. I’m still waiting for an outing that truly makes me sit up in my seat. What about the 14 whiff game against Boston? 84 pitches and 4.2 IP? Nah, I needed MORE. (View Game Card)
Andrew Alvarez (WSN) @ LAD (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 78 pitches.
I had low expectations with the Dodgers on the docket and I sip my coffee with a head nod, waiting for someone to appear who I can announce the news to in a brutally dry tone. Alvarez didn’t work out! How about that. At least he gets the Angels next at least there’s a chance he comes through. Still not my favorite option and the command was a step back in this one. (View Game Card)
Ian Seymour (TBR) @ TEX (ND) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 75 pitches.
Blegh. He didn’t have his changeup working, making this sinker/four-seamer focused with some absurdly high vert frisbee breakers at 83/84 mph. This shouldn’t change your perception of Seymour for the Astros up next, and I sure hope it doesn’t change the Rays’ perception of him either. Seymour has some games where it’s not there and then he gets it back. (View Game Card)
Gerrit Cole (NYY) @ SDP (L) – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 84 pitches.
Aces gonna return just eight strikeouts in his two-step when you needed him most, giving you 7 ER in 12.1 IP. That’s not it. This one had a Careful, Icarus with longball on a 2-1 heater down the pipe at just 95 mph as Cole’s velocity dropped suddenly in his final frame after comfortably sitting 97/98 mph the whole game. Likely just standard fatigue, even if he had a great pitch count. How? The ER! Oh you know, the standard back-to-back-to-back solo shots to start a ballgame. NOTHING TO SEE HERE. So wait, four solo shots? Yep. Not sustainable. (View Game Card)
Kyle Harrison (MIL) @ CIN (ND) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 93 pitches.
Wellllll FINE. 94 mph ain’t gonna cut it, nor is returning sub-60 % strikes on all three offerings with an even 45% split on four-seamers and curveballs. It’s truly a shame to see Harrison fall this far and now there’s talk of moving him to the pen. I agree, honestly. Reduce his workload if you can, do whatever you need to do for Harrison to help the club in the playoffs. You can drop him. Seriously. There’s no time to hold. (View Game Card)
Justin Wrobleski (LAD) vs WSN (ND) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 73 pitches.
He’s back! And he was dope for three innings until a HR that led off the fourth, with four straight hits to follow. Wrobleski was easily averaging 95/96 mph before the fourth (he even hit 96.8 mph!), and I’m shocked the low sweeper was a solo shot, and a few of those hits were unlucky. I’m kinda excited for his next start against the Marlins after this one. He should be free for 80+ pitches and hopefully the new velocity sticks around. (View Game Card)
Tanner Gordon (COL) vs STL (ND) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 80 pitches.
The Colorado pitcher looked like a Colorado pitcher in Colorado when he pitched. Well, not until the fifth with two outs. That’s fair – it was just 1 ER until four-straight reached in the fifth and he was pulled, but let’s be real. This nuance changes absolutely nothing. Sorry, Gordon. (View Game Card)
MacKenzie Gore (TEX) vs TBR (ND) – 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 68 pitches.
Gore was Singled Out in the second and the Rays made him work, swinging freely early and then getting patient when needed, ruining his confidence and giving y’all the dreaded bite of dry bread. HAISTBMBWT?! Nothing was working to fix the heater to RHB, and the slider feel was so terrible to LHB that he abandoned it after all five missed the zone without a chase (the “called strike” was generous and a terrible miss up-and-in). He’s a HIPSTER, good luck picking your spots. (View Game Card)
Kyle Leahy (STL) @ COL (ND) – 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 55 pitches.
Leahy was incredibly efficient with his two-strike batters to return six punchouts in eight outs, and still, he’s on a tight pitch count and Coors got to him in the limited time. I don’t think you should be holding him. (View Game Card)
Brady Singer (CIN) vs MIL (W) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 4 Hits, 6 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 97 pitches.
Singer’s last start under 3 ER was on July 17th. Yeah, but what was the offense? It was in Coors. OH. Anyway, he’s a desperate QS play who hasn’t done so in four starts and is featuring more scattershot command than we’d like. This ain’t it. (View Game Card)
Spencer Arrighetti (TOR) @ KCR (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 91 pitches.
All I can see is an image of the manager who keeps trying to make the Pasta Pirate work trying to house a freshly opened box of spaghetti like they’re cooling off with a hose. Don’t be that guy. (View Game Card)
Clay Holmes (CHC) @ MIA (L) – 4.1 IP, 8 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 80 pitches.
The flood came through and completely trashed The Adobe. His velocity was down to 92 mph and the game was a struggle of strikes and an unkind Koufax. His changeup and cutter were not reliable, while the rare breaker was the only effective mixup pitch for a sinker that served no favors in a frame that included two walks and a HBP (a Homer-esque RBI, by the way). It’s really unfortunate and I feel for those leaning on Holmes on a super important Sunday. It doesn’t mean things will go poorly on Saturday against the Pirates, even if the velocity is lower (it has been since he returned from injury on August 8th). There’s still a good Win/QS arm here. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Nick Pivetta vs. Washington Nationals – He’s back! Before Joe Musgrove, if you can believe it. I wonder how he’ll perform + Joe Ryan vs. Troy Melton is sure to fun as well.
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/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)
