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.
Bryce Elder (ATL) vs CHC (W) – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 89 pitches.
I guess we just need to Vargas Rule Bryce Elder, eh? After a shocking trio of starts, capped by seven shutout frames against the Cubs, Elder almost did it again on Monday night: 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 89 pitches (W). In fact, this was a Careful, Icarus, leaving the game with runners on first and third, and his sole run scoring as he sat in the dugout. Incredible.
How does he keep getting away with it? Well, uh, Koufax…? I watched all of this one and while he is up a tick in velocity to 92+ mph, he’s also lost some horizontal movement on the sinker and after some long digging, I just don’t see a whole lot sticking out as vastly improved or of major note. The Cubs didn’t take advantage of two-strike sliders inside the zone, they left the bases loaded in the sixth, etc. It just doesn’t seem sustainable.
Wilder things have happened, though. HOU + @DET + PIT are next and to Elder’s credit, he is locating his slider in the lower third and throwing it a touch less as of late, relying more on the sinker that seems to find gloves instead of grass. I don’t blame you for sticking with the Vargas Rule.
Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:
Slade Cecconi (CLE) vs KCR (W) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 100 pitches.
Jeeeeez, The Slade Brigade is celebrating today, eh? Ignore the creaking of my back as I bend down and place this Gold Star on your chest. Nothing like heaters return both 26% called strikes & 13/14 outs on balls in play, amiright? The secondaries set them up! Uhhh, the 57% strike curve? Or the terrible 33% strikes between sinkers and changeups and sliders? Oh. This doesn’t seem legit. No, it does not. But that’s baseball, y’all. You gotta throw strikes and it’s on the batters to do something with em.
Garrett Crochet (BOS) @ ATH (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 101 pitches.
Aces gonna ace for a Gallows Pole. Pretty fun watching the Crochet vs. Skubal battle, which I hope we get in the playoffs. That would be dope.
Aaron Nola (PHI) vs NYM (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 94 pitches.
YES. It’s start to live every day like it’s Nola day. This was a game of his fastballs doing legit work to LHB, nailing the front hip sinker beautifully, while the four-seamer stayed up-and-away routinely. Seriously great command here at 91/92 mph, while the curve and changeup lived underneath, even if not as dominating as we’ve seen in the past. This should give you the confidence to roll with Nol a the rest of the way.
Jacob Latz (TEX) vs MIL (W) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 84 pitches.
Would you look at that. He’s up to 84 pitches and had an incredible feel for his four-seamer. He laced the top of the zone red, setting up the changeup away to RHB and sliders down-and-away to LHB. I wish he weren’t at 93 mph on the heater (we’ve seen 94/95 mph previously), and there’s a chance he gets replaced by Tyler Mahle, which would be absurdly frustrating. Maybe it’s six-man? Let’s say Mahle doesn’t return, he’s get @NYM, MIA, @CLE. If Mahle returns and it’s a six-man, Latz would get @HOU, MIN, @CLE. Still solid after next start. Circle him for the final two weeks as a potential option.
Nick Lodolo (CIN) @ SDP (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 79 pitches.
You were scared of this, I get it! And the curve wasn’t as great as we’ve seen in the past, but the heater was 94/95 mph, and the changeup + heater were stellar to RHB. It was a little difficult against LHB without nearly the same affinity for the edges of the plate, but it does make me tempted to start in Sacré Verde and even the Cubs. He’s a really good pitcher.
Tyler Glasnow (LAD) vs COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 0 Hits, 2 BBs, 11 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 105 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Rockie Road is such a gift. The fact that Glasnow threw 30% sliders at just 52% strikes and 4/31 whiffs and still had this line is kinda hilarious. Thank you curveball.
Logan Webb (SFG) vs ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 110 pitches.
Phew. There was some worry here given Webb’s lack of overwhelming outings as of late and I was thrilled to watch his sweeper cruise against LHB. Now comes the challenging part: Do we let him fly twice against the Dodgers? Ehhhh let’s go for it. HAVE SOME FUN. He got you here, right?
Nolan McLean (NYM) @ PHI (L) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 91 pitches.
ATTA BOY. The Phillies’ lineup was dented by Trea and Bohm both dealing with injuries, sure, and this wasn’t peak command from McLean with his sweeper or curveball, but the sinker to RHB was stellar and the rare cutter was helpful to LHB. I’m also glad to see him move away from the four-seamer to LHB (it’s not a great offering and guess what? His two hits to LHB were off the four-seamer and sinker, each thrown just four times.), though the changeup needs to take a step forward from a 36% strike rate here. WE KEEP RIDING.
Chase Dollander (COL) @ LAD (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 76 pitches.
Ayyyyy, you survived! Against the Dodgers! Sure, away from Coors, and Koufax was kind, but let’s be happy for the rookie, eh? He’s sitting 98/99 mph, after all.
Bryan Woo (SEA) vs STL (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 95 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He has to be in the playoff rotation for the Mariners over Castillo, right?
Cade Cavalli (WSN) @ MIA (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 61 pitches.
Well, uh, this wasn’t quite what I had in mind with a 1.40 WHIP and a HAISTBMBWT?!, but fine, I’ll take the 3.60 ERA and a dub. I guess. I’m shocked to report 0/18 whiffs on Cavalli’s curveball with four hits on seven balls in play. Pretty bonkers if you ask me. He gets the Pirates next and I’m not as ecstatic as I was before, but sure, I guess we’re going for that.
Miles Mikolas (STL) @ SEA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 77 pitches.
Look at him go. I hope it was a lovely Birthday Party. I heard the cake was delicious.
Shota Imanaga (CHC) @ ATL (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 80 pitches.
IM AN AGA. That would have a little more weight behind it if he didn’t get bamboozled for three runs in the first, but he sure looked dominant after that, with just two hits allowed in five shutout frames. And look at this! SINKERS EXCLUSIVELY INSIDE TO LHB! Now that’s hot.
Yu Darvish (SDP) vs CIN (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 91 pitches.
Hmmmm. It’s a Dusty Donut as he gave us a Philly and no Win but a solid WHIP and seven punchouts. Man, I’ve been waiting to pump my fist about Darvish for a while now and this felt like the start to do it. I guess the sixth inning solo shot deflated our sails, preventing six full frames and ruining the ERA, while the Padres scored three in the bottom half of the frame, which would have granted him a potential Win. Careful, Icarus. Gotta start him for Rockie Road next. Just one pitch massively shifts the perception of his entire ability and that’s kinda silly, isn’t it?
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) @ LAA (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 89 pitches.
The splitter from last game didn’t return in full (likely due to the heavy RHB lineup), and SWR did what he could with solid pitch separation of four-seamers and sliders, the latter returning a whopping 9/34 whiffs. And to be faiiiir, it was just a rough second frame that contained all the damage. It does add some intrigue, but it’s the Yankees next if this stays as a six-man (ARI if it’s a five-man), so noooooope.
Nabil Crismatt (ARI) @ SFG (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 50 pitches.
I outlined this as a trap play and I’m sad it came to be. No, you called it a tarp play. You should be able to translate my dyslexia by now. We also saw Anthony DeSclafani show up for 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 38 pitches, so let’s put that idea to rest, too. Just 21% sliders as he went dancing by himself in his kitchen.
Jose Quintana (MIL) @ TEX (L) – 6.2 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 85 pitches.
Blegh. It’s such a good schedule for Quintana and this is incredibly disheartening, but don’t get off the train just yet. A grand slam in the fifth was the damage done and that won’t happen every time, obviously. The changeup was brilliant and that dang sinker got him. I’m rolling him out there for LAA, @STL, Reds Carpet. Wait, not STL next? Nah, Chad Patrick is making a spot start today to give more rest for the rotation, pushing him out of that series. Bummer. Well, the Angels should struggle against the changeup, so it should be fine.
Caden Dana (LAA) vs MIN (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 99 pitches.
Whoa, nine strikeouts?! And a pair of two-run blasts from Royce Lewis in a clear case of “This dude has my number”? Huh. The changeup and slider earned plenty of whiffs to the Twins’ LHB, though I still have my concerns about the four-seamer and I’m not ready to buy into those secondaries. @TEA is next and that still seems risky to me – those ratios are terrible, after all.
Luis Morales (ATH) vs BOS (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 84 pitches.
Womp womp. Everyone’s favorite streamer became rostered in over 40% of leagues in a heartbeat as if they didn’t realize Morales was expecting a UPS delivery for a Shag Rug. On the real, I was fine with this start despite “Sacre Verde”and I’m sad Morales didn’t have the command he needed to avoid damage. It doesn’t rule him out for success moving forward (Reds Carpet + PNC Park = HOLD), but yeah, I’m disappointed too.
Janson Junk (MIA) vs WSN (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 86 pitches.
It was an easy Still ILL to follow, though the high pitch count is a nice surprise. He wasn’t the JunkBaller we want to see with 0/21 slider whiffs and just 46% curveballs for strikes, and the only start that I’d even consider streaming Junk lies on 9/19 @TEX. He’d have to look much better next time out against the Tigers first, though.
Ryan Bergert (KCR) @ CLE (L) – 3.1 IP, 8 ER, 11 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 77 pitches.
Oh jeez. Welcome to the most disappointing start of the day. Facing a LHB-lineup, I was surprised to see Bergert’s sweeper return a 46% CSW, though it was still hit a few times, while the changeup was not prepared, allowing a trio of hits on just nine thrown. Yikes. The four-seamer wasn’t spotted, either, and it built into a horrific fourth frame with a crooked 6 on the scoreboard. Welp, this was going to be the last start to consider Bergert anyway (his ROS schedule is too rough), and we’ll chat about him in the off-season. I hope he finds a little extra velocity to take that next step.
Game of the Day
Michael King vs. Cincinnati Reds – THE RETURN OF THE KING. I hope he demands we fetch his crown.
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)
