Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup: The Cantillobury Tales

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.

Joey Cantillo (CLE) @ CHW (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 99 pitches.

What a night for rookie Joey Cantillo. With Alex Cobb needing more time to heal from a blister, Cantillo took the pearl against the White Sox and flirted with perfection into the seventh frame, leaving with a 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 99 pitches performance to his name. Here I was questioning how long he’d go into this one and if it would be worthwhile. Whoops.

First and foremost, Blame it on the White Sox. We saw them take another southpaw rookie and make them look like a stud (Povich) and I should have personally anticipated this one a bit better. That said, Cantillo did have better skills than usual. His changeup was brilliant at 40% CSW and often landing low as it featured as much as 19 mph less velocity than his four-seamer. He paired it with a hook and slider, the former going 80% strikes for 50% CSW and the latter helping inside the zone frequently.

The tools are obviously there for a Toby type here, though the heater is still the susceptible offering. Against a tougher team (and without some Koufax favor), Cantillo would have been punished on many of his 91-95 mph heaters over the plate and I worry his changeup and breakers aren’t at a consistent enough level to mask his fastball.

If Cantillo gets another delicious matchup, consider him for your deeper leagues, but without the White Sox on the schedule, Cantillo isn’t the guy you want to dream of the rare spot-start streamer.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:

 

Nick Martinez (CIN) @ ATL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 97 pitches.

This was an awesome start from Nic kMart. Cutters bore into LHB, while the rest of his stuff landed all over the plate to keep batters off balance, and why not, let’s get some gifts from the umpire for some extra called strikes. This is the kind of pitcher I’ve always wanted Martinez to be, figuring out ways to sneak his four-seamer and sinker over the plate to either return outs or called strikes, and relying on the slowball (7/24 whiffs and 63% strikes!) whenever in trouble. Sign me up for the Twins and Pirates.

Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) vs TBR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 94 pitches.

Yep, that’s about right. His approach is pretty much the same every game as he consistently lands changeups and sinkers armside, while the slider got a bit more involved than usual for 5/18 whiffs. Gotta love that and it’s not like his schedule is getting tougher. I’m a bit shocked he’s returned just a 20% strike out rate this year, making him more of a Toby than I expected (3.33 ERA, 1.24 WHIP), and I wonder…is he the Spider-Man of the season?

Tylor Megill (NYM) @ TOR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 88 pitches.

Trumpet fanfare as the red carpet unfolds. I present to you all, the sixth man of the Met, the extension duke of New York, the rare deGrom doppelganger, SIR TYLORD MEGILL! His heater was a tick up at 96/97 mph (…and not upstairs, but let’s move past that) and we obviously love that, but the slider and cutter? Meh. He pumped strikes super well without making many mistakes in the heart of the zone and the poor Jays offense obliged. With Paul Blackburn dealing with a back issue, Megill will likely stick in the rotation for another turn and–WAIT. What, I’m adding him now! Let me finish. And before you add him (Ohhhh) take note that he’ll get the Phillies next for two straight. Ah rats. Yeah, it’s New York. No, I’m just bummed. Oh. Right.

Ryan Burr (TOR) vs NYM (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 43% CSW, 30 pitches.

We saw The Fratty Pirate get the pearl in the fourth, returning 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks and while that could have been good enough for a Win, the pen messed it up for him shortly after leaving. I really don’t endorse trying to game the system with these followers unless you’re truly desperate for a Win. It’s usually not enough of a return for the roster spot.

Cole Sulser (TBR) @ PHI (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 11% CSW, 28 pitches.

Wow, can I give a Gold Star to a follower? Tyler Alexander went 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hit, 0 BBs, 1 Ks with the only blemish coming from one solo shot to Schwarbino. Not enough for a dub with his offense (sorry those trying to vulture a Win), but I gotta give respect where it’s due to T-Lex, the man with little reach into a game (52 pitches). Come on Nick, stop making fun of his reach, he didn’t choose to be born with short arms! Should have thought of that before being a T-Lex. I JUST SAI—Should. Have. Thought.

Charlie Morton (ATL) vs CIN (L) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 100 pitches.

Phew. The curveball was better as he took advantage of the Reds. For everyone saying Morton isn’t a Cherry Bomb anymore, I made this for you.

Paul Skenes (PIT) vs MIA (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 98 pitches.

Aces gonna ace as he should against the fish. Pretty awesome to see Skenes go BSB as well in this one by actually locating four-seamers upstairs for 46% CSW, opening up the bottom of the zone for the rest. It’s so good.

Valente Bellozo (MIA) @ PIT (L) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.

Of course he did. This man has been kissed by Koufax and yet, we know this was Blame it on the Pirates. Maybe I should have leaned a bit harder into this ratio play, but honestly, all you got was a good ERA. No Win, two strikeouts, and an unhelpful WHIP. That’s actually not worth it, is it? You can do more with your roster spot.

Reid Detmers (LAA) @ MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 97 pitches.

The slider is still very much alive. We saw 9/24 whiffs on the pitch and set up by 13 called strikes on the four-seamer, and, what’s this?! 10/13 curveball strikes for 46% CSW?! And a Kyle Farmer blast that still hasn’t landed. Yeah yeah yeah, it’s nice to see consistency on the curve in the zone for about 70% of them, helping take some burden away from the slide piece. The heater was 16-17″ of iVB, which is better than last year and I’ll take it, though 93.8 mph ain’t exactly the velocity we want to see regularly. In the end, it’s clearly enough to roll with Detmers against the White Sox next Monday, but if he were to get the Astros on Sunday, I’d be cautious.

Brayan Bello (BOS) vs BAL (W) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 101 pitches.

Huh. This was an attempt at the BSB with sinkers landing mostly upstairs and I don’t love it, especially at 3-2 with the bases-loaded and the pitch soaring up and armside out of the zone for an easy take. The changeup and slider are looking great, though, which makes me believe he could come through against the Yankees. I’d be awfully nervous, though, and prefer to wait for the Twins and Rays after. Don’t overlook value on the wire to hold onto Bello.

Kyle Hendricks (CHC) @ LAD (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 90 pitches.

You know what I think when I see this line? If only he got one more out to make this only 4s and 2s. That’s the most interesting part of this start. But he went four shutout before the fifth! Ugh. Fine. Congrats…? ARE YOU HAPPY?! No, it wasn’t a good start. WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME.

Carlos Rodón (NYY) vs KCR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 98 pitches.

We love to see a Golden Goal from Rodón, though it came with a really dumb run with two outs as a pop-up fell in shallow right and the speed Witt Jr. scored from first. Kinda reminds me of the classic Krod/Arod pop-up that made Luis Castillo a name before a pitcher’s MLB debut. It’s the wrong Castillo! As for Rodón, one of the few poor changeups of the night got launching over the fence in the sixth for a solo shot, while his other three runs (including that pop-up) came off Salvy’s bat in three different at-bats + . Gotta make sure he doesn’t have a chance to make contact in the future Carlos. How could you. We’re all good with Rodón, especially with that slowball generally performing at its peak.

Brady Singer (KCR) @ NYY (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 92 pitches.

Womp womp. As a Cherry Bomb, there’s always a chance this works out for Singer, but you were wise and likely sat this one out. You can safely move Singer from your bench back into the lineup for the Pirates and Giants up next.

Jared Shuster (CHW) vs CLE (L) – 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 47 pitches.

The CrySox tried something new here, leading with Shuster and eventually getting to Nick Nastrini at the end of the fifth until the ninth: 3.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks. Yes, the four-seamer is unhinged at 50% strikes and the slider is great, but not the poster child of consistency either. There’s legit hope for Nastrini if he can ever figure out the heater, but that’s not the life we live right now.

Cade Povich (BAL) @ BOS (L) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 76 pitches.

Womp womp. It was a Blame it on the White Sox last time out (especially against LHP, look at Cantillo!) and this was Fenway. He’s going to get the Tigers twice now, though, and I’m back in for those two starts, and maybe even Minnesota for his final outing of the year.

David Festa (MIN) vs LAA (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 66 pitches.

Blegh. A two-run shot on a kinda great fastball (3-2 pitch up-and-in at 96 mph) + a two-run single in the first destroyed the ERA, but the real problem was the slider not going enough against RHB. He couldn’t get it properly down-and-away, allowing them to get all four RBI on heaters they wanted to see. He gets the Reds next and I think I’m still into that one…but I completely understand if that’s a pass. You don’t know if that breaker will show up.

Walker Buehler (LAD) vs CHC (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 86 pitches.

Sigh. Where is Buehler going to sign this off-season? Do we have any faith another club can fix this? At the very least, Buehler himself wanted to get outside help when in rehab, which makes me believe there is a philosophy that clashes with the Dodgers and it’s not like the stuff is absolutely terrible now. What is it with the Dodgers throwing so few sliders between him and Buehler?!

 

Game of the Day

 

Yu Darvish vs. George Kirby – It’s in Seattle, which means I’m leaning into starting Darvish + Kirby has something to prove facing an elite offense (The Padres are 2nd in wRC+ and fewest strikeouts since August 1st).

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)