Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Tuesday 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.
Sean Burke (CHW) vs PIT (L) – 1.1 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 48 pitches.
After ten starts of bliss from Sean Burke, the last month has been brutal for those still trusting Burke, and it came to a head on Wednesday night via 1.1 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 48 pitches (L) against the Pirates. It was a bamboozlin’ for the ages with four doubles across his first five batters. Four! He even allowed a fifth in the second inning and I felt like Herbert Morrison as I witnessed devastation progress in front of me with nay a thing to do about it.
This wasn’t luck. I mean, sure, some luck, but the destruction in the first came from a collection of terrible pitches over the plate (except the flare single, but that came after the 5-run parade), and he was rightfully punished for them. Even the two in the second that scored when he was adjusting the temperature of his shower were a product of questionable pitches and there’s no beating around the George W. Burke was baaaad.
I’ve noticed that since he poor outing on August 16th, Burke’s arm angle has fallen consistently under 40 degrees after averaging 41/42 for most of the season. When a pitcher’s arm lowers, it’s typically due to fatigue, and after 146 frames between the majors and minors last season, Burke has extended his season high to 156 this year. It’s very well possible his struggles have one common root: The dude is gassed.
It would explain why his both his curveball and slider have been thrown less and slower as of late, without the same whiffs as we saw during his season peak. Burke isn’t locating them particularly well, putting more pressure on his four-seamer, cutter, and sinker, which can explain why his best pitch – the 94/95 mph four-seamer – goes 0/4 on outs in play.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention his alternating games of low-and-high whiff marks. He’s oscillated between double-and-single-digit whiffs across the last eight starts, and it could spell a better result next time out. And also that just seems silly. After all, Burke had gone 12-of-14 starts with at least six strikeouts before returning six just once in his last five games. It’s too risky.
Burke was a Solid in my Sit/Start tier rankings for the rest of the season before this outing and it’s clear that needs adjusting. Treat him like a HIPSTER who could produce nearly six frames of shutout ball like he did last time out and also has the capability of destroying your week. I think there are enough signs to expect more of the latter. (View Game Card)
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Landen Roupp (SFG) vs STL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 81 pitches.
Wow, that’s uh, kind of you Koufax. Roupp’s sinker went 7/7 on balls in play despite a high hard-hit rate and low strike rate, while the changeup went 1/17 whiffs and 53% strikes on its own. After seeing a game of cutters doing all the work to LHB, the pitch was oddly inconspicuous during the event, while his curveball was the only reliable offering across the outing. He’s really not locked in at all and I’d be careful, even in St. Louis. (View Game Card)
Reid Detmers (LAA) @ BOS (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 112 pitches.
After three years of buying into Detmers, I stopped in 2025. He’ll never have a season with a consistent feel for his slider. Welp, 2026 was the season as it’s the second week of September and Detmers is still dominating with the breaker to RHB. It’s glorious, especially when he can go BSB to both lefties and righties. Can’t stop, won’t stop. (View Game Card)
Michael Wacha (KCR) vs ARI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 93 pitches.
The Spider-Man prophecy is inevitable. Don’t think about it. Three more starts and we’ll kick our feet up, smug we grabbed Wacha for free to collect a 3.25 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 20% strikeout rate across 200 frames. What a rascal. (View Game Card)
Riley Cornelio (WSN) @ SDP (ND) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 36 pitches.
This was a bullpen game for the Nationals and Cornelio was pretty interesting in his quick three frames with a 96/97 mph four-seamer, strong 90 mph cutter, and 85/86 mph gyro slider. Those velocity marks likely fall a tick if he were to stretch out for longer, but I’m kinda interested for 2027. Good command, too. I wonder…Nah. (View Game Card)
Corbin Burnes (ARI) @ KCR (ND) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 57 pitches.
He’s back! And tossed around 60 pitches as we expected. The velocity was down at 92.7 mph (not 94+), though it was just his second official game since TJS, including a stupid low pitch count rehab game in the minors. He could still be ramping up…and yet I can’t ignore the obvious adrenaline rush from returning that may have boosted that velocity a little more than what we’ll see in the future. With the Diamondbacks and Padres neck-and-neck for the third Wild Card spot (bonkers, I know), I wouldn’t be shocked if the Sneks push Burnes as much as they can down the stretch, making it possible for 70 pitches next time out against the Royals. I’m not loving that – I didn’t see a legit cutter, nor secondaries, nor fantastic command here and it comes with a poor ceiling – and only one more start would follow…in Coors. Chase something else. (View Game Card)
Cam Schlittler (NYY) vs COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna ace with a Gallows Pole. That four-seamer dominated and I’ll be enraged if he doesn’t win the Cy Young. 178.2 IP thus far, with 200 in his reach if the Yankees let him. I don’t think they will. (View Game Card)
Jacob Misiorowski (MIL) vs CHC (ND) – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 93 pitches.
Aces gonna ace with a King Cole on a surprisingly low-competition night. Not that he Jay Miz doesn’t deserve it, but 35% as the winner? Seems a touch weak, no? Guess he didn’t throw hard enough. Yeah, 100.7 is just 0.2 more than his season average. You’re slacking, Miz. (View Game Card)
Freddy Peralta (TBR) @ ATL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 92 pitches.
He got tagged for two longballs off Brandon Lowe’s bat and otherwise cruised against the Pirates. The changeup you’ve seen so much hoopla about was thrown just nine times, if you can believe it, and I’m not entirely sure why. I’d expect more of them next game and a better strikeout rate to follow. At the same time, Peralta is routinely volatile and it’s so difficult figuring out how any night will go. It’s a coin flip. (View Game Card)
Gabriel Hughes (COL) @ NYY (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 79 pitches.
Ah yes, it was so obvious Hughes was set to have his first 5+ IP start with 2 ER or fewer since July 22nd on the night Aaron Judge returned to the lineup. DUH. (View Game Card)
David Peterson (CHC) @ MIL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 83 pitches.
Blegh. His command is not there. Sit this out with @ATL, @CIn and @BOS to close out the year. (View Game Card)
Tarik Skubal (LAD) vs CIN (W) – 7.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 94 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. For all y’all with Skubal and starving for Wins, I’m happy for you. It is a little strange that he hasn’t been the destroyer of worlds since his arrival, you know? I mean, outside of that one game against Pittsburgh, that was hot. And also his only start in his last eight with more than seven strikeouts. (View Game Card)
José Soriano (TOR) @ ATH (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 89 pitches.
Park Schmark, with a HIPSTER like Soriano, it always comes down to whether you can do what you need to do for long enough to survive. Soriano had a 67% strike rate across his arsenal and voila! You have a productive outing. That said, it’s the fourth time in seven games that he’s returned three or fewer strikeouts. Shudders. Is this a ceiling worth chasing? (View Game Card)
Quinn Mathews (STL) @ SFG (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 99 pitches.
I’m stoked he came through for his first six-inning outing in a good matchup. He’ll get the Giants and Nationals for his next two and I hope it doesn’t come with the velocity loss (92/93, not 93/94), nor the poorly spotted slider to LHB for just 1/26 whiffs, or the 55% strike rates on his change and curve. So…it wasn’t great? Well, the four-seamer did it’s job well and the sinker stole a ton of called strikes, but yeah, run this back and I don’t think it goes as well. I’m still down to stream him in a repeat matchup in Busch Stadium, though take note that it’s with an expectation that Mathews will pitch better than this. (View Game Card)
Bubba Chandler (PIT) @ CHW (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 95 pitches.
OH SNAP! It’s the start you’ve been waiting for! Well…OH COME ON NICK! It’s not though! Bubba’s four-seamer did all the work with 16/51 whiffs, with his curveball, slider, and changeup going 0/22 on their own. Oh. Yeaaah. Chandler faced a poor White Sox lineup that struggled against his four-seamer and I still can’t tell you Buba has figured out his command. He did nail the top rail of the strikezone to LHB with that heater a fair amount, but the secondaries were blegh and I don’t trust this at all. I’m sorry, I was excited, too! (View Game Card)
Dean Kremer (MIN) @ DET (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 69 pitches.
Huh. I wouldn’t classify this as one of Kremer’s best days with his four-seamer or cutter, but he got through, mostly on the back of a strong splitter that returned both whiffs and outs in play. Phew. Now we move on with the Yankees on deck. (View Game Card)
Hayden Wesneski (HOU) @ PHI (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 82 pitches.
A PQS from Wesneski isn’t too surprising and we’ll take this all day. I am surprised he threw just 7/25 sweepers to RHB, with his cutter getting more love and performing exceptionally well…save for the hung cutter to Trea that accounted for a two-run blast in the sixth. Careful, Icarus. You’re going to see that a lot today. So many pitchers were burned in the sixth on Wednesday. I see Hayden as a command-first Toby these days, making for a decent option @TBR on Sunday. I’d consider others first, though. (View Game Card)
Cal Quantrill (TEX) @ SEA (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 93 pitches.
This was more of the fantastic UnQuantrillfiable action we’ve become used to, save for a horrendous 2-1 four-seamer down the pipe to the monstrous Lazaro Montes who obliterated it for nearly 475 feet and scored three. I wonder if Quantrill gave a yelp when it came out of his hand because boy oh BOY was Montes salivating at that heater. Anyway, this changes nothing, if not encourages you to keep it going given the dub and 1.00 WHIP, with really one mistake on the night. (View Game Card)
Casey Mize (SDP) vs WSN (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 90 pitches.
We had a Careful, Icarus here with two in the sixth via a double and a walk scoring with two outs once Mize had already been pulled. So close. The good news? It was a killer outing otherwise (even with the 3 ER!) and his fastball was up to 94 mph with a fantastic feel for his splitty to LHB. I’m encouraged, I just wish it weren’t Coors up next. MIA and ARI after are more our speed. (View Game Card)
Drew Anderson (DET) vs MIN (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 86 pitches.
Brutal. Another Careful, Icarus from Wednesday via a two-run shot on Anderson’s final pitch – an upstairs 2-2 fastball sent over the wall by Luke Keaschall. It ruined what was an impressive outing from Anderson as he went BSB with his four-seamer and changeup, even getting RHB to consistently chase his curveball for 4/9 whiffs. Those who went with Anderson for the potential two-step will be sad to learn he was pushed to next week, but @TOR & @CHW for two is in the cards. I think that’s worthwhile in your 15-teamers. (View Game Card)
Nick Lodolo (CIN) @ LAD (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 97 pitches.
It was the Dodgers and Lodolo hasn’t had a good feel for his breaker since his blister. This game? 41% strikes on his curve. NOOOOOPE. At least the next matchup is…the Dodgers again. OH COME ON. (View Game Card)
Patrick Sandoval (BOS) vs LAA (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 99 pitches.
One ER more than a VVVVPQS is not a thing you want to stand anywhere close to. But 16 whiffs! Seven strikeouts! 34% CSW! Yes, the changeup is great. The fastball is so very not, and likely makes that changeup great. It’s the Hellickson problem – batters jump out of their shoes for the heater, creating more whiffs on the changeup than their actual skill set deserves. This isn’t the time of year to grab an Irish Panda. (View Game Card)
Sean Manaea (NYM) @ MIA (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 61 pitches.
Wow. Manaea was perfect through five. Perfect! The sixth was a different movie: Single, double, double, single, single, THIS ISN’T WHERE I PARKED MY CAR. Manaea’s extension was way down to just 6.6 feet (normally seven feet!) and the four-seamer fell to 91/92 mph with just two thrown across the nine total pitches that caused the five-hit brigade. It was terrible luck, it was also a pitcher who has dramatically fallen back to Earth after a hot stretch and has allowed 4+ ER in each of his last five. Yikes. It’s rough for Seans these days. (View Game Card)
Jack Perkins (ATH) vs TOR (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 85 pitches.
We had a Careful, Icarus after Perkins went five frames of a 1.00 WHIP and 2 ER, only to allow a pair of singles to lead off the sixth that the bullpen couldn’t hold back from scoring. Sacré Verde is a cruel place. I can’t say I’m digging his command, though, and I strongly suggest trying other pitchers instead. The ceiling is too low to endure this. (View Game Card)
Bryce Miller (SEA) vs TEX (L) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 84 pitches.
Sigh. I don’t know what else he needs to do for us to ignore him completely. The funny part – I don’t think he pitched as badly as the line tells you. And it doesn’t matter. (View Game Card)
AJ Smith-Shawver (ATL) vs TBR (L) – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 81 pitches.
In five starts this year, we have yet to see a productive one from AJSS. Please stop trying to make this a thing. (View Game Card)
Andrew Painter (PHI) vs HOU (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 98 pitches.
Womp womp. Well this is disappointing. Painter was punished on pitches he didn’t paint high or low, with poor secondaries to RHB and a pair of meaty fastballs to Varsho. At least his four-seamer is back to 18″+ of vert (not in a dome!), and this was mostly getting Singled Out and allowing a three-run shot on a really bad 2-2 sweeper down the pipe. I’m still holding, with four straight games of 13+ whiffs and mostly well-dotted breakers. (View Game Card)
Tanner Bibee (CLE) @ BAL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 62 pitches.
Two whiffs. I’d type out the acronym here, but then again, I sincerely hope none of y’all actually have a reason for shouting it. Bibee ain’t it. (View Game Card)
Brandon Young (BAL) vs CLE (L) – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 86 pitches.
Awwww dangit. When he stayed up, he was solid. Everything else didn’t land low enough when it needed to and the fella was hit around, while the four-seamer didn’t earn enough strikes upstairs. He’s really taken the place of Kremer on this Orioles team as the 15-team Toby, eh? Young has returned four strikeouts or fewer in all but on game across his last seven. You should try something else. (View Game Card)
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) vs NYM (L) – 4.1 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 99 pitches.
Jeeez, Sandy, I didn’t realize both you and Eury were drinking from the same glass. What has gotten into y’all? Nearly 50% changeups and cutters with sub-50% strikes between them?! You’re whole schtick is attack, attack, ATTACK, dangit! You were a QS darling and now it’s zero for your last three! Your velocity is down at least a tick on everything! Your velocity is down at least a tick on everything? …Yeah. Huh. That’s not good. That’s not good at all. We saw 94/95 mph in his final frame and, uh, that’s really not good for a guy who has been known to hit triple digits. Now that one out in the fifth was significant for his season, as it meant Alcantara left the game with exactly 200.0 IP to his name in the 2026 season, and as I mentioned with Burke, you have to wonder if this is fatigue showing up for the season, let alone the game after throwing 84 pitches to get through four. At any rate, you can’t decide if you want to start Sandy @ARI up next and I don’t have a good answer for you. It feels like you shouldn’t, but we all know recency bias is a thing and it’s still possible he wakes up and does what he’s supposed to do. (View Game Card)
Game of the Day
Khristian Curtis vs. Chicago White Sox – I’m just curious, alright? It’s another discount Logan Henderson type.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
Have Questions? – Join my morning Twitch.tv livestream! I answer all questions there for free: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET Monday through Friday.
Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)
