Reid Detmers vs OAK (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 82 pitches.
We had a fun MLB debut today from Reid Detemers, the first-round pick of the Angels’ 2020 MLB draft and the results were…underwhelming. The 22-year-old went 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 82 pitches, and this is why we don’t start pitchers for their MLB debut. This start went south in the third on a pair of home runs off meaty four-seamers and this wasn’t the Detmers I think we’ll normally see.
I watched this one in full and before I talk about the stuff, I want to mention something I talk about a lot on the Twitch stream. In very short, in any game, a pitcher is either battling themself (i.e., struggling to execute their pitches and failing to sequence properly) or the hitter (where they have an approach and the majority of the time can execute it in an at-bat) and it’s hard to latch onto a starter moving forward if they constantly do the former. In this start, Detmers battled himself and I look forward to the day when he’s able to utilize his mix to attack hitters properly.
That’s because his stuff is pretty dang good. It’s 93 mph from the left side with a slider and curveball at distinct velocity bands, plus an occasional changeup. The curveball is a beauty and can become a Money Pitch in due time as it falls from the sky. The slider has whiff potential as well and I can see a time where they pair with his four-seamer to wipe up a lineup in a hurry. It’s obviously unclear when Detmers will get comfortable in the majors (hey, it could even be the next start!), and it’s on you to watch from afar as we wait for that day to arrive. Don’t rule it out if he starts to put it all together later in the summer.
Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:
Shane McClanahan vs. BOS (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 88 pitches. Yessssss. That’s a share of the Gallows Pole for Shane, and y’all better be hyped now. His four-seamer was still at 95.5 mph instead of the ~97 mph we’ve seen most of the year, but the pitch was fantastic at 37% CSW, elevated at times and finding the zone often. Meanwhile, his slider wasn’t as precise as his best day, but did well around the zone + his curveball went 5/12 CSW as a decent third option. And six innings! Against the Sawx! It’s glorious. Let’s enjoy this second half in full.
Nick Pivetta @ TB (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits , 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 76 pitches. Hey, that ain’t so bad for Pivetta — the Rays are a solid offense after all. I’m a little sad they pulled him in the fifth, though his slider was finding the middle of the plate way too h*ckin often. He’s still a strikeout upside play at the risk of your ratios and plan accordingly.
Sandy Alcántara vs NYY (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 99 pitches.
THERE HE IS. Well, kinda. I am shocked at the ten strikeouts given the low CSW and whiffs, but Sandy pumped 97-99 mph cheddar for seven frames and did so while staying up more than any start I’ve seen this year. Maybe this will turn him into a legit BSB guy with sliders and changeups down — I mean, it clearly worked today. When does he start next? Can it be tomorrow? WHY CAN’T IT BE TOMORROW?! Suit man whispers in my ear COORS?! Life ain’t fair. I’m still starting him.
Cal Quantrill @ CWS (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 100 pitches.
The UnQuntrillfiable strikes again, this time finding a way to silence the ChiSox and earned a Quality Start despite walking four batters. At least his slider went 5/23 whiffs here but I just can’t ignore that he’s a TEEs, maybe one step up from the poster child that was Wily Peralta. Maybe that slider really is taking a step forward, more likely he’s getting some wonderful BABIP. Hey, at least Cleveland lets him go six frames and 100 pitches.
José Berríos vs KC (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 95 pitches.
Attaboy Berríos, way to make Canada love you instantly. The curveball was as whifftastic as you could hope for — 9/39 whiffs — while the heaters and slow ball did their job. I really hope he does break the trend of being a sine wave and can be a steady #2/3 for the final two months. Boston is next, good luck.
Julio Urías @ ARI (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 83 pitches.
You love to see it, though he could have gone the sixth, right? Sure, he’s pitched more than ever and the Dodgers didn’t need to push it in this blowout, but…yeah okay fine. Do what you need to do.
Brett Anderson @ ATL (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 71 pitches.
I feel like I’m Jeff Goldblum when I see Anderson have success like this. Brett, uh, finds a way. Good luck figuring out when that is.
Vladimir Gutiérrez @ NYM (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 80 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! Sure, it’s a Toby outing and all of that but that’s four of his last five with two ER or fewer. Now he gets the Pirates and that may be worth the stream. Something to think about.
Jordan Montgomery @ MIA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 81 pitches.
It’s incredible how The Bear never gets run support. Anyway, he did super well with his curveball and changeup once again, but was able to be a bit more efficient here with better sinkers for strikes. I still want more curveballs landing in the zone moving forward, but he’s securing his foundation and can figure that out with time. The Mariners are next and I’d definitely let him fly there.
Jimmy Lambert vs CLE (ND) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 57 pitches.
Reynaldo López followed this one as well and returned 11/26 CSW on four-seamers, which is no small feat, but yeah, there’s nothing actionable here.
Marco Gonzales @ TEX (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 88 pitches.
Atta boy Marco, way to earn a King Cole as you did what you were supposed to against the Rangers. It was all sinkers here at 45% CSW and 58% usage and I don’t quite believe that’ll stick (more at 11:00), though his changeup earned plenty of outs on the back of that fastball, and hey, that curveball landed in the zone a good amount. I don’t think it’s enough to toss him out there against the Yankees, though, and he’s still just a Toby at best.
Reiss Knehr vs COL (ND) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 42 pitches.
With Chris Paddack on the IL, Knehr stepped in a did a decent job in his three innings hosting Rockie Road. Look at him, getting a new Reiss on life. Please stop. Noted.
Logan Webb vs HOU (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 94 pitches.
Do you have Webb? Great, just start him and don’t think twice. Don’t have Webb? Get Webb and don’t think twice. I don’t care if his slider nor changeup were there today, his sinker was able to steal strikes against the Astros. The man finds a way.
Mike Foltynewicz vs SEA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 93 pitches.
Ehhhhh this ain’t it. It’s been tough accepting that prime Folty is so far in the past now, to the point that he’s producing a HAISTBMBWT?! against the Mariners. Yeesh. We’re still not touching him save for a desperate Sunday.
Tyler Alexander vs BAL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 67 pitches.
T-Lex almost made it to five frames this time around. I can visualize his T-Lex arms extending and coming up short and all I want to do is keep encouraging him. Maybe one day you can be the label they speak so highly of over there at Pitcher List. Maybe one day, you can be a…Toby…
Charlie Morton vs MIL (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 87 pitches.
Morton has hovered a 3.10 ERA across his last sixteen starts with a 1.10 WHIP and ~27% strikeout rate. It’s lovely seeing stuff like this after his horrific April that had many of us terrified.
Kyle Gibson @ PIT (W) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 113 pitches.
Look at Gibson, putting on his best suit and tie to make a good impression for the Phillies. It’s great seeing that changeup go 6/24 whiffs, but his slider/curve/cutter didn’t really do a whole lot as this was fastball-town with BABIP taking the wheel. At least he’s got it back on his side. He gets the Mets next and I wouldn’t rely on it for another spin.
Michael Pineda @ STL (L) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 68 pitches.
Just 68 pitches and four innings is a bit disappointing here as there’s a chance he could have survived the final two for a PQS or better. His slider and changeup were both working and his fastball got a little extra peppered than usual. Nothing weird save for the short outing. If you have him rostered, considering swapping him for the week as the Astros approach and he’s not worth the week of stashing. Get a middle reliever or something.
Daulton Jefferies @ LAA (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 73 pitches.
Despite Detmers getting all the attention, it was great to see Jefferies get his second shot in the majors and he was plenty better than the two-inning affair we saw in September last year. Sadly, I’m not a major fan of what he brings to the table. It’s a sinker that looks awfully hittable + a four-seamer with cut action (savant can’t decide if it’s a cutter or four-seamer), and while his changeup/curveball had moments (the changeup looked like a splitter at times), they aren’t that pitch. You know, the one that actually makes you interested like Luis Patiño’s four-seamer or Adbert Alzolay’s slider. I don’t see why he can’t be a Toby over time, though, and he’ll get a crack at the Rangers next week as James Kaprelian won’t be back by then. That start may be worthwhile.
Brad Keller @ TOR (L) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 51 pitches.
Brad was pulled early with a tight back, and it’s unclear if he’ll make his next start. This was the Jays so you didn’t toss him out there anyway so let’s move on.
Adam Wainwright vs MIN (W) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 85 pitches.
He’s one ER off from making managers completely happy, but the rest is lovely and we’re definitely cool with this. Waino, you may get the award for the quietest surprise of the year. That curveball is the comeback pitch of the season.
Erick Fedde vs CHC (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 108 pitches.
It’s a PQS with eight strikeouts and a fantastic WHIP…?! Oh right, the Cubs are a terrible offense now with Rizzo/Baez/Bryant, allowing Fedde to earn 22 called strikes in this one. Don’t Trust The Feddes. I think we need a term for streaming against the Cubs now…I’ll think about it.
Marcus Stroman vs CIN (L) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 90 pitches.
Blegh. I was hoping Stroman had the same magic from the last time he faced the Reds and while he had his slider cooking once again (42% CSW!) his sinker was smacked around while his splitter didn’t help. He’s a glorified Toby and if you’re okay with that, you do you.
Mitch Keller vs PHI (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 80 pitches.
It’s cool to see Mitch back around and all my hopes of seeing a new man were quickly dashed. The breakers haven’t changed – 3/30 CSW?! Seriously?! – and the velocity is even down a tick. Let’s not.
Austin Gomber @ SD (L) – 1.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 40 pitches.
Yikes. He didn’t have his command at all in the first frame and wasn’t there to try again in the second. At least he earned all outs via the way of the K…? I’d just cough this up to being a bad day and I’d consider him for Miami in Coors next.
Spenser Watkins @ DET (L) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 89 pitches.
Leave it to Happ Watkins to face Detroit and fail to excel. Sure, the Tigers have been plenty better over the last month or two, but yeah, there’s nothing here to get excited about.
Adbert Alzolay @ WSH (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 82 pitches.
Whaaaat. Streaming Record: 65-48. Man, I felt great about this one as the Nationals have Juan Soto and…friends. His fastball got clobbered and his slider was far from its elite self, while the new cutter was barely a part of the show. It’s frustrating and makes you wonder when he’ll get back into rhythm. You’re okay playing hot potato with Alzolay and the wire for now.
Luis García @ SF (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 89 pitches.
Uh oh. That’s two straight starts of five ER from Garcia and while I personally don’t think he’s unraveling — that’s a share of the Gallows Pole as his fastball/cutter/changeup were more good than bad — I’m a little worried Houston will use it as an excuse to lighten his load in the coming weeks. He’s at 100.2 frames now and you’d think he has about 40-50 left before the Astros shut it down. For now, we hold and hope it’s business as usual against the Twins.
Caleb Smith vs LAD (L) – 1.2 IP, 5 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 70 pitches.
Yeaaaaah, he’s not at his best and we didn’t expect Caleb to excel against the Dodgers after already getting blown up by them recently. He gets the Pads next so just leave him on the wire for a bit.
Game of the Day
Josiah Gray vs Philadelphia Phillies – The Nationals are letting Gray get his innings in the majors after all and I’m excited to watch him continue to develop.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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