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 Twitch.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Jonah Tong (NYM) @ MIA (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 87 pitches.
I didn’t expect Jonah Tong to have a loud return to the majors, but he’s getting a Gold Star for his fantastic performance on Monday against the Marlins via 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 87 pitches (W). There was a ton of fanfare for his MLB debut last season and after giving us little to latch onto, a start like this certainly turns heads.
I’m conflicted. On one hand, the cutter addition from the spring was present and was a decent strike offering, despite having mediocre movement and was a bit too hittable over the plate (it’s not the much-needed breaking ball Tong needs in the mid-to-upper 80s when batters are sitting heater and he doesn’t trust his changeup), the four-seamer was pounded in the zone for strikes and earned some whiffs, with the Vulcan changeup feel at its peak. Oh man it was so good when he had it, featuring at-bats with a called four-seamer strike, then two perfectly tunneled changeups right underneath for the strikeout. It should work every time he executes it and many pitchers dream of having a sequence with a ceiling that high.
But on the other hand, it’s a Vulcan changeup, you know, one of the most volatile pitches in the majors. It’s a truly advanced skill to execute at will and it’s unreasonable to expect Tong to feature it consistently henceforth. Tong’s cutter is an okay strike pitch, but it’s not one I’d want him lean on heavily to RHB, making me still long for a hard slider or sweeper to appear as the curveball is too big to land frequently.
There is a third hand – the ugly one that shouldn’t be there. Tong’s largest blemish was a three-run blast that capped a long second frame, and it came off a four-seamer that had no business being thrown. Graham Pauley was down 1-2 on three cutters, including fouling one off that sat right down the pipe (looking fastball), then missing one entirely up-and-out of the zone (looking fastball). Tong hurled a heater inside that Pauley fouled off (what do you know, looking fastball), so he threw another fastball, which was blasted over the fence. Why not the vulcan-change? Why not another cutter? I DON’T GET IT.
The sum is a pitcher who showed us what he could do. The four-seamer wasn’t consistently landing high in the zone and still had success (mostly), the changeup was a deadly weapon, and the cutter failed him just once as it got the heart of the plate to a RHB for a triple. It makes for a volatile HIPSTER type who could accrue 6+ strikeouts in each game of a two-step next week against the Orioles and Phillies, and he could also dig you a ratio hole that destroys the week. I’m leaning more toward the latter given his overall hitability and lack of four-seamer precision paired with a Vulcan changeup as he hero pitch. I sure hope to be wrong. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:
Jesús Luzardo (PHI) vs ATL (W) – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 12 Ks – 23 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 109 pitches.
Aces gonna ace for a Gallows Pole in an absolutely brilliant performance to seal a 1-0 game against a division rival. It’s pretty hard to believe that people were wondering if they should drop Luzardo after allowing 19 ER across three of his first four games, eh? Since that horrible April 15th start of 8 ER, Luzardo has held a 2.13 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 30% strikeout rate with a 13-2 record in 156.0 IP and 25 games. I sure hope you listened to reason. (View Game Card)
Grant Holmes (ATL) @ PHI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 89 pitches.
Have I been too harsh on REB? This is his fifth game of 0 ER in his last seven (one was three perfect innings before a rain delay knocked him out) and that sure feels like something I should care about. At the same time, it’s just over a 16% strikeout rate in that time despite his 15% SwStr rate as batters are up there hacking away at his heater and breakers with a high 50% swing rate. If you want to Vargas Rule this, by all Johns means. Personally, I hate seeing five games of 3 strikeouts or fewer even with the whiff totals, which tells me he’s getting early whiffs, not late ones. Those are A swings that are sure to find more barrels soon. (View Game Card)
Noah Cameron (KCR) vs ARI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 99 pitches.
I love Cameron. Why? Because the man took charge of his season. He took over his own pitch calling after a poor start on July 19th and has since returned a 1.66 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 24% strikeout rate. THAT’S HOW IT SHOULD BE. Cameron is the poster child for #PitchersChoose2026, where he can decide if he’s feeling a specific pitch or not and make it happen. It’s how it should be done, dangit. Yes, I’m starting him against the Sawx and Pirates up next. Obviously. (View Game Card)
Brayan Bello (BOS) vs LAA (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 103 pitches.
Are we sure he wasn’t opened for? Like absolutely sure? Okay, then. Wow. I didn’t know you still had it in you, Bello. The away and high sweeper was fantastic to RHB, while the changeup and sinker had the good graces of Koufax as the four-seamer sat in a corner wondering what it did to offend the southpaw legend. Just tuck away that four-seamer unless it’s all the way upstairs, Bello. It’s not that hard. It’s unclear if Bello will start again in the near future, but if he does get the pearl against the Royals, consider him a Toby.
Nick Pivetta (SDP) vs WSN (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 63 pitches.
Oh snap! He’s back! Well, uh, one whiff. Just one. That’s not too bad, right? Do I have to answer that question. …no. His velocity was down to 93/94 mph (not as low as the 92+ in his final rehab, but it did fall to that in the fifth frame. This wasn’t impressive to me, but it could be better across 70/75 pitches in Oracle Park next time out. He didn’t even have good feel for his curve (41% strikes) and he threw just four sweepers. Four! Interesting to see him get less cut on his four-seamer than what we saw last year by a sizeable amount of three inches, and that’s actually a good thing – we want the two-plane, not the heater going toward the plane-of-one-thousand-cuts. I dunno, this could work, but I get the sense it’s not the Pivetta we want him to be. (View Game Card)
Jose Cabrera (ARI) @ KCR (L) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 50 pitches.
This was a wild game where both teams were shut out through nine frames, then Arizona scored five in the tenth, followed by four by the Royals to barely miss sending it to the eleventh. That’s baseball for you. A whole lot of nothin’ until a whole lot of SOMETHIN’. Anyway, JCab over here was the follower for his Sneks and did a fine job for three innings as the man finishing the fifth, even if his four-seamer held a 47% strike rate with his breakers performing worse at a 30% clip. Cutters sure are lifesavers, eh? This ain’t it, chief. (View Game Card)
Chase Burns (CIN) @ LAD (ND) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 44 pitches.
Aces gonna look awesome and then sit down while we all lament that we have to watch Brandon Williamson cough up six runs (three earned) across the next six frames. It’s nice to see Burns’ four-seamer actually land upstairs again for, uh, 0/22 whiffs. IT SET UP THE SLIDER, ALRIGHT?! Chill. I wonder where he’ll be drafted next season. (View Game Card)
Trevor Rogers (BAL) vs CLE (W) – 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 104 pitches.
Hot dang do I dig a good Rogers run. 94 mph and high heaters are still on the table and we’re cruising. Part of me feels like he’ll be undervalued entering next year, another part of me thinks he’ll fall off as his success is tied more to his velocity than I’d like it to be. Questions for another day. (View Game Card)
Logan Webb (SFG) vs STL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 99 pitches.
Webb’s first eight starts gave managers a 5.06 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. Bleeeegh. And yet, including last week’s nightmare of 9 ER and his 7 ER blip in Coors, he holds a 3.68 ERA and 1.04 WHIP since. Same 20% strikeout rate, though. Very true. Sometimes, it’s all about Koufax. That guy just gets all the attention. Anyway, this wasn’t one of those games, boasting his highest whiff total of the season en route to a King Cole, thanks to 17 called strikes between sinkers and sweepers that helped him push a 75% two-strike rate. Daaaang. In short, he didn’t get the early balls in play we normally see. Now we have a gauntlet to close his season – SDP, @LAD, LAD – and we wish you all the luck. Wait, that’s it? Yeah, we’re under three weeks left of the season. I’M GOING TO MISS YOU. Right back at ya. (View Game Card)
Emmet Sheehan (LAD) vs CIN (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 82 pitches.
Hot DANG look at you! Sheehan was killing it in the minors and even though his velocity isn’t absurd (94.5 mph), the command is. Not just 76% four-seamers strikes but 11/34 whiffs to go with it + a better feel for his curveball as a mix-up pitch that allowed him to pull back on the slider for when he needed it more and help against LHB. I hope you snatched him up, because now it’s Miami + twice against the Giants. That’s GORGEOUS. (View Game Card)
Robert Gasser (MIL) vs CHC (ND) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 83 pitches.
Wow, Gasser had two outs in the fifth before a solo shot, a HBP, and a walk led to the hook before he could get through five. That’s right, just two baserunners prior. This was some of the best command I’ve seen from Gasser all year, save for those three final at-bats, with his heaters, front-hip sinkers to RHB, and low sweepers cleaning up for 71% strikes (well, save for that one that got too much of the plate to Pedro Ramirez). And even still, the final box score wasn’t phenomenal. The ceiling isn’t as high as I want it to be, making a date with the Pirates interesting but not one I’m circling. (View Game Card)
Michael McGreevy (STL) @ SFG (ND) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 105 pitches.
That’s McGreevy, alright. Good on him for wriggling out of a few jams and limiting the damage. The White Sox + Nationals are next, making him considerable for deeper QS leagues. Too risky for your standard affairs. (View Game Card)
Connor Prielipp (MIN) @ DET (L) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 68 pitches.
Prielipp piggybacked with Ryan and gave us a massive serving of breaking balls. We’re talking 70% breakers and you know exactly what I’m going to say. You love it? I LOVE IT. Sure, the curveball needs more reps at 42% strikes, but that’s why you throw it now! Get those reps in! Meanwhile, the slider’s 41% usage and 82% strikes is stupid good & 95/96 mph heaters sprinkling in around 30% usage works well. I may skip a date with the Yankees (Judge is back), but @LAA and TEX after may be worthwhile.
Joe Ryan (MIN) @ DET (L) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 66 pitches.
He’s back! The Still ILL went pretty dang swell save for the solo shot and the whole triple, walk, HBP, HBP (RBI) in the second. His velocity was at 94 mph (good) as the heater went 0/24 whiffs (bad), due to some terrible locations and few finding the upper rail. Fortunately, the sweeper and splitter showed up with some whiffs on the slider & curve, too. I’m starting him next time out with 70-75 pitches to his name (seven strikeouts even without the four-seamer whiffs). Just get that heater in check, alright? (View Game Card)
Matthew Boyd (CHC) @ MIL (L) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 100 pitches.
Oh hey, strikeouts are back! Boyd located the heater upstairs far more than we’ve seen lately, which set up the changeup hanging out low(er) for a fair number of swings and misses, while preventing the longball. He actually served us seven innings of one earned run, but he was thrown back out there for the eighth at 87 pitches and kept in after a leadoff walk to allow a double, got the hook, and both scored. Why? How is that not “You’re done when one gets on”?! Anyway, it was a good enough performance that this Toby should have the green light against the Pirates up next. (View Game Card)
Jake Irvin (WSN) @ SDP (L) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 102 pitches.
Wow, one out away from a VVPQS. So close to, uh, still a Wonka. (View Game Card)
Jacob Lopez (ATH) vs TOR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 93 pitches.
Blegh. The whiffs were gone as he threw too many over the plate to LHB and RHB, and even with the HAISTBMBWT?! this was actually a great start through six with just one run to his name. But the chill of Careful, Icarus swept Sacré Verde as he came out for the seventh. HR, single, single, double, hook. Like with Boyd, why are these pitchers getting left in the game so long after struggling for multiple batters to enter a late frame? The man had a 0.67 WHIP and 1.50 ERA through six, dangit! The run is over, Nick. Nothing is over! NOTHING! You can’t just turn it off! (View Game Card)
Dylan Cease (TOR) @ ATH (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 94 pitches.
Aces gonna struggle exactly as Eno said – with declining velocity. We’ve see a 94 mph, y’all. 94.9 mph. IT’S STILL SCARY. We’re used to 97 mph from Cease and it led to 1/33 whiffs on the four-seamer. I gotta wonder if the dude is hurt (how can he not be?), and he’s sat 96.2 mph as his peak since July 25th, after never sitting below 97 mph prior. Does that mean you’re going to bench him? Probably not. But I’d seriously consider it if you have a bounty of riches. (View Game Card)
Troy Melton (DET) vs MIN (W) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 91 pitches.
After allowing just 4 total ER in eight starts, Melton has allowed 15 ER in his last four starts. Yikes. The whiffs have fallen in the process, failing to eclipse 10 in any of his last five (all of his previous ten had a floor of ten whiffs) and in normal circumstances, I’d move on to something else. Wait, why is this not normal? He’ll get Rockie Road, the poor White Sox offense, and the Pirates to close the season. He’s still 96/97 mph and six pitches at least 10% of the time. That’s enough for me to still lean on him despite the lackluster results. (View Game Card)
Joey Cantillo (CLE) @ BAL (L) – 2.1 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 72 pitches.
Wow, this is just terrible. Cantillo’s changeup command is absolutely gone, while his new ole reliable (you read that right) – the curveball – did little to help with a 42% strike rate and 0/26 whiffs. Sigh. Despite a great trio of low quality offenses ahead, I can’t recommend this. He’s lost it. (View Game Card)
Grayson Rodriguez (LAA) @ BOS (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 82 pitches.
Womp womp. You know, we are seeing some harder sliders in here at 87/88 mph, and I’m happy to see him trying it out in these extra September live-bullpens. It’s not out of the question that he makes it work against the Nationals next time out, but I’d avoid that one wherever possible. He’s a 2027 “it could happen” sleeper at this point. (View Game Card)
Eury Pérez (MIA) vs NYM (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 92 pitches.
Jeeeeeeez Eury, that’s three straight disasters of at least five earned runs. What’s going on with you? Pérez’s four-seamer has dipped slightly in velo from 98+ to 97+, but the real problem is the slider, which not only lost a tick or two in velo, but has been a struggle to land for strikes despite pushing its usage to its peak of the season in his last two starts. It’s strange watching him pitch as he looks so good at times and then, nope I guess that was hittable. It may be a case of Eury running out of steam at 139.1 IP into the season and with the Dodgers, Padres, and Atlanta up next, I would be heavily considering dropping him for a set of streamers instead. Yes, it’s that time of the year. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Corbin Burnes vs. Michael Wacha – Burnes returns! Wacha Rock-ahs!
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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Photo courtesy of Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Aaron Polcare (@abeardoesart on Bluesky and X)
