Spring Training has arrived and as I’ve been writing daily notes for myself to recap all spring training starting pitchers for the Plus Pitch Podcast, I realized I should publish them on the site for quick access.
I’ll be livestreaming every morning 10am-12pm ET at playback.tv/pitcherlist as I watch all of the starts with y’all and answer all your fantasy baseball questions.
Major SP News To Know
Yesterday’s SP Roundup was a late edition and I will leave these notes up here.
Shane McClanahan left Saturday’s game with a clear arm injury, later announced as a triceps injury and will undergo imaging. It looked terrible, but Passan report Sunday afternoon that he has an inflamed nerve and will start the year on the IL without missing significant time. Incredible news, especially considering McClanahan was already expected to have an innings cap.
Ian Anderson has been traded from Atlanta to the Angels for José Suarez. It could be a six-man in Los Angeles while AJ Smith-Shawver now has the fifth spot for Atlanta. He’s worth a spec add.
Cade Povich has won the SP #5 gig for the Orioles. I’m not the biggest fan of this in 12-teamers – he’s a Toby at best.
Triston McKenzie will be pitching out of the bullpen. Logan Allen has the fifth rotation spot. Bonkers, I know.
Hayden Birdsong was awarded the fifth spot for the Giants’ rotation…before leaving yesterday’s game with just one out to his name. The broadcast suggested it was a blister and it’s possible the spot will go to Landen Roupp instead, who had a fantastic five-inning performance before Birdsong’s entrance.
The Mets will put Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning as their SP #2 and SP #3 for their opening series against Houston. It lines up David Peterson and Kodai Senga for the Miami series. Plan accordingly – that Peterson start looks lovely.
Jake Woodford will not make the Rockies roster, making Bradley Blalock the fifth starter for the Rockies.
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Expected Rotations By Team
Statcast Games – TV
PHI vs. DET
NYY vs. TB
TOR vs. PIT
NYM vs. MIA
CWS vs. AZ
SEA vs. MIL
Aaron Nola (PHI) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K. The velocity is still down about two ticks and that’s a bit annoying, but the curve and change are looking solid. I think we just have to shrug and move on? I’m not endorsing a Nola pick in drafts – I haven’t seen him fall enough yet – but I still think he should help in 12-teamers more than hurt.
Reese Olson (DET) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K. Slider was great, the velocity was around 95 mph (not 96 and just slightly up, but that’s cool!) and the changeup was generally solid. I still find it weird that Olson refuses to head inside with his sinker to RHB, especially with nearly 2″ of extra ride this year, BUT WHATEVER. Also, stop throwing 30% four-seamers to LHB, please. It’s not good.
Max Fried (NYY) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K. Velocity is still down at 92.3 mph (-1.6 mph), though he’s doing a fantastic job around the corners to RHB. His approach to LHB needs a bit of refinement and I imagine we’ll see the typical April struggles from Fried. Give him a few outings and he’ll rev up into the ace we know.
Ryan Pepiot (TB) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K. 1/6 strikes on cutters + sliders, but the four-seamer vert is still absurd with 1.2 HAVAA and that’s lovely. We’re still cool here.
Chris Bassitt (TOR) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K. Just one tick down. He’s ready to go. I think you’re going to be shocked to see his WHIP come down a ton compared to the 1.46 mark of last year.
Bailey Falter (PIT) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 1 K. Whoa, some of Falter’s sinkers were off the charts with total movement and I love that he’s gained 3-4″ of ride on the sinker…to 11.6″. I think some of these sinkers are misclassified four-seamers, which would put the ride closer to 20″. Huh. There may be something to that to jam inside to LHB at his seven feet of extension…YOU HAVE MY ATTENTION FALTER. I wonder what we’ll see in his first start and maybe he can be a 15-team Toby.
Griffin Canning (NYM) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 6 K. At least he’s still sub 30% fastballs. I wish I liked the slider and changeup more, but they just aren’t that great.
Connor Gillispie (MIA) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 3 K. There’s nothing to chase here. Gillispie tries to go BSB without a good heater, and the slider went 2/27 whiffs.
Ryne Nelson (AZ) – 2.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K. I’m sad to see that even in a relief situation, we’re not seeing a new version of Nelson. Sigh. Just 94.2 mph here and the cutter went 1/11 whiffs at a lower 88 mph (not 91/92 mph). It came with more movement, but as you see, not the whiffs you want.
Bryce Miller (SEA) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 5 K. Uhhhh four whiffs in total here. He did try to do more with the sinker to RHB, which were generally effective and may have put a damper on the whiffs, but I’m still questioning the secondary stuff. Sure, he went just 35% fastballs to LHB, but 0/12 slider whiffs and 3/17 splitter + curve whiffs…is that enough? Maybe?
Statcast Games – No TV
STL vs. WSH
CIN vs. CLE
AZ vs. SD
Erick Fedde (STL) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K. It’s good to see Fedde move entirely away from the four-seamer, favoring cutter/changeup to LHB and sinker/sweeper to RHB. It’s a better approach, but is it enough to actually roster? I don’t think so.
Nick Lodolo (CIN) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 7 K. The curve did work. 9/23 whiffs and 52% usage to LHB is lovely, with his heater sitting 93/94 mph as it should. The change was effective at 3/9 whiffs to RHB as well and hey, this may not be so bad! He’s healthy, after all. Huh. Maybe this is the Lodolo breakout season we’ve waited for…
Brandon Pfaadt (AZ) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 1 K. It’s fun to see 37% sinkers to RHB, but the LHB approach is still questionable. At least there are ten curves in the mix now at…50% strikes and 0/10 whiffs. I’m not interested. You already knew that.
No Statcast – TV
BOS vs. MIN
ATL vs. BAL
Joe Ryan (MIN) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K. No velocity data, but this is obviously fine. Two walks are weird, eh?
Spencer Strider (ATL) – 1.1 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K. Not as polished, but, uh, four strikeouts in four outs. So that’s cool.
Ian Anderson (ATL) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K. This was the last moment he had with Atlanta. Best of luck on the West coast. I hope the change of scenario helps.
Charlie Morton (BAL) – 2.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 1 K. I can’t say this enough. Don’t draft Morton.
Dean Kremer (BAL) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 10 K. Ah, yes. The duality of Kremer. He’s the ultimate discount Cherry Bomb streamer – if it’s a desperate Sunday, Kremer is your guy. But hot dang, don’t roster him.
No Statcast – No TV
WSH vs. HOU
CHC vs. ATH
MIL vs. COL
SF vs. SAC
LAD vs. LAA
José Soriano (LAA) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 K. That’s fine. I wish there was more to lean into here with Soriano, but he’s likely more of the same from last year, with a higher chance of decline than growth.
Trevor Williams (WSH) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 7 K. He exists and yet, #NeverTrevor.
Spencer Arrighetti (HOU) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 5 K. We’re still seeing a high walk rate from the “Pasta Pirate” and I’ve moved away from him in my drafts, favoring the likes of Rasmussen, Holmes (both), Fitts, Meyer, Pepiot, Jobe, May, Baz, etc. going around the same spot. I think we’re dealing with a HIPSTER.
Matthew Boyd (CHC) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 3 K. Not the best, but an out away from a PQS. He’ll be a quality start darling in your deeper leagues.
Osvaldo Bido (ATH) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K. Ayyyy no walks! That’s all you really want to see from Bido.
Mitch Spence (ATH) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 2 K. Ugh, he really is in the pen with Estes in the rotation. IT’S DUMB I TELL YA.
Chase Dollander (COL) – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 6 K. That’s cool, he’s in the minors now. When he comes up, I don’t think you want to bet against Coors. It’s undefeated, if you haven’t heard.
Landen Roupp (SF) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 8 K. I’m taking a flyer on Roupp in my leagues, though even if he steals the fifth spot from Birdsong (if he has a blister), we’ll have to wait until Tuesday next week against the Astros for his first start. I kinda wanna give it a spin.
Hayden Birdsong (SF) – 0.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 0 K. He was awarded the fifth rotation spot…and then this happened. The radio broadcast suggested he had a blister, we don’t know anything more. It sure feels like Roupp is the better arm, doesn’t it?
What To Watch Today On TV