Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Saturday 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.
David Peterson (NYM) @ MIN (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 96 pitches.
I haven’t been in on David Peterson’s return to the starting rotation this season, but now may be the time after going 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 96 pitches against the Twins last night.
I wish it was because his old slider returned to form, but the breaker went just 6/13 strikes wasn’t the impetus of this VPQS with eight strikeouts. That would be his four-seamer landing in the upper half of the zone consistent for 10 whiffs, merged with solid changeups in the lower half.
There’s room to grow here if the aforementioned slider is able to avoid the dirt more consistently, especially if the heater command sticks around. With the Diamondbacks next on the docket, there are worse chases to make. In all likelihood, the four-seamer isn’t this good, which would ask more of the slider to take the step forward, making a worse probability than ideal. Still, at least we can add Peterson back to the menu if we’re searching for sneaky production.
Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:
Logan Webb (SF) vs COL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 93 pitches.
Atta boy Webb. It’s just four strikeouts, but he did what he was supposed to do against Rockie Road. It’s nice when things go as they should.
Tarik Skubal (DET) vs CWS (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 95 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. The guy deserves it with a 3.47 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 30% strikeout rate since returning from the IL. This Gallows Pole was sponsored by his four-seamer locating up in the zone, setting up a 12/27 whiff changeup – yes, Skubal has found a rhythm with secondaries. We’re gonna start him against both Los Angeles teams now.
Sean Newcomb (OAK) @ TEX (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 62 pitches.
WHAT YEAR IS IT?! Woooooow, it was the Newcomb of old with four-seamers and curveballs and I really don’t like it. But hey! It was cool seeing Mr. no-broken-teeth (it’s a new comb, y’all) return to the bump.
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) vs OAK (ND) – 2.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 47 pitches.
So the velocity was a little better at 94.7 mph and the Rangers are being careful easing Eovaldi back into the rotation. The splitter and cutter looked great and he’ll get the Guardians next, likely around sixty pitches. We’re one more game away from what may be a proper Eovaldi start, though it’ll be Seattle x2 when the time comes. I don’t think the wasted roster spot is worth it for then.
James McArthur (KC) @ TOR (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 23 pitches.
He opened for Zack Greinke, who did what Greinke does.
Trent Thornton (SEA) @ TB (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 36 pitches.
The Mariners elected to skip Bryan Woo, with Thornton opening for Luke Weaver…who didn’t pan out. This ain’t it, y’all.
Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs KC (W) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 105 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Hot dang is he good.
Justin Steele (CHC) vs ARI (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 95 pitches.
Steele is making his case for the Cy Young, despite my lack of enthusiasm as I watched all of his last start. His four-seamer is just so hard to hit for whatever reason (because it’s more like a cutter?) and despite my skepticism, there’s no world you shouldn’t start Steele the rest of the way.
Jake Irvin (WSH) vs LAD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 88 pitches.
Here’s your obvious Gold Star of the day as Irvin survived against the Dodgers with just one earned run. This was the three-pitch mix of curves, sinkers and four-seamers doing everything, while the sinker sat just 93/94 mph and got away with a fair amount. Actually, I didn’t like the curveball either. Yeaaaah, this was a Birthday Party in every way.
Merrill Kelly (ARI) @ CHC (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 104 pitches.
Kelly did a phenomenal job missing the heart of the plate and got through this one despite not having his best stuff. That’s what good pitchers do.
Michael King (NYY) vs MIL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 79 pitches.
King is absolutely killing it, dominating inside and outside the zone with his sinker, setting up his sweeper for strikes and changeups for whiffs. That pitch efficiency opens the door for six innings next time out and his sinker usage does mean he’s capable of another King Cole in the future – 12/35 called strikes on the pitch shouldn’t be overlooked. He’s making Brady Singer jealous. Start him against the Sawx.
José Ureña (CWS) @ DET (L) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 75 pitches.
Remember kids, if you start José, Ureña boatload of trouble. But for real, cool to see him return for a moment.
Wade Miley (MIL) @ NYY (ND) – 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 84 pitches.
The Yankees are good against LHP and made Miley work a ton in this one. He’s a low-end Toby with the Marlins up next, but don’t feel like you need to hold onto him. More like a decent streamer.
Tyler Anderson (LAA) vs CLE (W) – 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 97 pitches.
Anderson’s best pitch is his changeup and oddly enough, despite returning 40% CSW here, the slowball was thrown just 15 times. The cutter did a whole lot of work gloveside as the four-seamers earned strikes comfortably in the zone and there’s your ballgame. With the Tigers up next, we’re throwing him out there. He’s a Toby after all.
Kenta Maeda (MIN) vs NYM (W) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 83 pitches.
The slider was back to form and the splitter returned a whole lot of outs. This is fine with me – not the greatest Maeda we’ve seen, but it works. Guess we’re rolling for another against the Rays.
Zack Thompson (STL) @ CIN (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 98 pitches.
You got a Win, but this wasn’t the command we need to see from Thompson to make us confident against the Phillies next. You may want him for the Brewers and Reds after, though.
Johan Oviedo (PIT) @ ATL (ND) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 92 pitches.
Oh hey, it’s Atlanta. Where’s a sharpie when you need one? [REDACTED]
Lucas Giolito (CLE) @ LAA (L) – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 92 pitches.
Three home runs are stupid, but this is more like the Giolito we know and love. But a 5.14 ERA! And an elite WHIP with nine strikeouts. The Rangers are next and I’d lump that in the Questionable start territory, but it’s great to see the changeup redeem itself from a horrific performance.
Aaron Civale (TB) vs SEA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 81 pitches.
Womp womp. The 12 strikeout game was clearly and anomly, but I was still hoping for something a little better than this. It wasn’t the same pitch separation we saw last time out and without that, he may have the same result against the Orioles. Still worth the start in my book.
Aaron Nola (PHI) vs MIA (ND) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 84 pitches.
He went four shutout until disaster struck in the fifth. Alright, he’s a Cherry Bomb and this point and there’s not much more to say about it. Good luck.
Dylan Dodd (ATL) vs PIT (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 75 pitches.
Womp womp. Dodd ain’t the guy I hoped he was in the spring. We did see three frames of Darius Vines, who did alright without anything exceptional. I wonder if he takes over for this spot, though it could be Allan Winans as he goes on Sunday.
Cristian Javier (HOU) vs SD (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 82 pitches.
Nah. He was close, but the four-seamer was a bit erratic, the slider went 60% strikes but wasn’t precise, and this Cherry Bomb isn’t giving me confidence he’ll avoid another bomb before the end of the year. I wonder how he’ll be treated in 2024 drafts.
Jack Flaherty (BAL) @ BOS (ND) – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 82 pitches.
Womp womp. The Red Sox are an elite offense when inside Fenway and I’ve seen worse performances from Flaherty, though he was awfully chaotic at times in this one. Consider him a Cherry Bomb moving forward with the Rays next.
Carson Spiers (CIN) vs STL (L) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 77 pitches.
Yeaaaaah, Phillips is the better one of the two. It’s hard to get behind a HAISTBMBWT?! when you have to deal with the Shag Rug.
Bobby Miller (LAD) @ WSH (ND) – 7.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 99 pitches.
We had some Careful, Icarus here with two runs in the seventh and while I’m stoked to see him get super comfortable with the curveball (36% usage! 68% strikes for 41% CSW!), I’m still waiting for his growth to come on the slider as he featured it just three times. That’s the final piece of the puzzle with Miller and one I expect him to find in 2024. We’re still going after this, absolutely.
Johnny Cueto (MIA) @ PHI (L) – 3.2 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 92 pitches.
There is no more Cueto magic, y’all. It’s gone. Kaput. Dissipated. It was never here.
Seth Lugo (SD) @ HOU (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 90 pitches.
Blegh. The Astros are the Astros, after all. This was the last tough one for Lugo and with three great matchups ahead, you shouldn’t let this cloud your judgment.
Chris Sale (BOS) vs BAL (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 80 pitches.
He tossed sub 90 mph heaters in this one (and a 95.3 mph while averaging 92.3) and despite solid slider and changeup precision, he’s not the guy he once was. I’m ready to pull the plug here.
Chase Anderson (COL) @ SF (L) – 3.1 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 82 pitches.
Okay, I may have been wrong about the whole “rockies pitchers will be a surprise in Oracle Park” thing. ONE MORE SHOT, DO NOT MISS YOUR CHAN– Not now, man.
Game of the Day
Cole Ragans vs. José Berríos – I’m wearing this shirt and I love him so much.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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