Tailor Wade

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 Twitch weekday mornings from 9 am-11 am ET.  

Wade Miley vs PIT (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 83 pitches.

There’s just something about Wade Miley that sparks magic every year and after a poor Still ILL outing last week, he came through as today’s reluctant streaming pick via 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 83 pitches in a Win against Pittsburgh. Unreal.

He did it the old-fashioned way: a ton of cutters jamming batters and sticking glove-side as they returned plenty of outs, mixed with changeups and sliders. The man has been a Toby for years and today marked the day you could hear his red tie flapping in the elevator before the doors opened. And get this — Miley is set to face the Diamondbacks next. Yeah, that’s a very worthy stream for the weekend as I’m kicking myself for not jumping in and rostering Miley in my weekly leagues. I really don’t why he can’t do this again as his command was on point. Feel free to wade and not row to the wire, but you should at least get your feet wet.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:

 

Freddy Peralta vs ATL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 102 pitches.

Boy do I want to give him the AGA label with this Golden Goal. After a pair of rough outings, Peralta has looked like his former self a lot in his last five starts, albeit with just two starts going at least six frames. The last two were the only ones where he had both his fastball and slider cooking, though, and I’m going to wait one more before I award him the label. Y’all know he’ll do it, though.

Yusei Kikuchi vs SEA (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 90 pitches.

Well hot dang, he did it a third time. Kikuchi had two great starts against the Yankees and I wasn’t totally sold, and here he is, essentially doing more of the questionable stuff — 95 mph heaters, 4/25 slider whiffs — and having more success despite my gut feeling like it shouldn’t work. The great news here is that he gets the Reds next so it doesn’t matter what my gut thinks, that’s a clear start at this point. Pick up now, talk later.

Johnny Cueto @ KC (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 81 pitches.

So Cueto is pitching for the White Sox now and…featured a 52% CSW on his sinker. Of course he did. Oh, and he fanned seven across just eight whiffs. Of course he did. Y’all know this was a Birthday Party out of the ridiculous blue, though his four-seamer and sinker command were pretty outstanding in this one, while the slider floated in for strikes. Gotta respect that. Not a chance you start him against the Yankees next.

Antonio Senzatela vs SF (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 33 pitches.

Senz-A left this one with a back injury. All five of you, I know how hard this can be to have to replace him on your roster.

Sandy Alcantara vs WSH (W) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 100 pitches.

This game started off terribly with three hits and a run and…he didn’t allow another hit for the next 7+ frames, tossing 100 mph for his 92nd and 93rd pitches. What. A. STUD. I can’t help but think he saw the beginning and promised to rectify it before the haters made it to Twitter. Better slider command here, but there’s still a touch of command missing for the elite Sandy to appear. In the meantime, he’s doing his best to make me regret slotting López higher than him today. It’s all going just as I planned…

Ian Anderson @ MIL (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 103 pitches.

This start felt like a coin flip and I’m stoked it worked out for Anderson. His changeup was much better this time around and while his four-seamer control was atrocious, his curve and slow ball did a ton of work to keep Anderson in this one. There’s so much left to figure out and it’ll be another coin flip against Miami as we don’t know if the fastball will be good enough. Sidenote: Following Anderson was Spencer Strider for a pair of innings and that’s not cool. At all. It means Strider isn’t transitioning to a starter like we were teased. He should be off The List and your rosters given he ain’t starting tomorrow. Bleggggh.

Luis Severino @ BAL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 95 pitches.

His four-seamer was legit at 96 mph, his slider & cutter earned 42% CSW between them, and the changeup earned over 50% strikes. I think there’s another level for Severino when his slider becomes the whiff-heavy weapon of old though this floor is awfully nice, too. Expect Sevy to be unleashed in due time.

Alex Faedo @ TB (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 83 pitches.

Hmmmm this may be something for us to jump on like a bounce castle because you’re never too old for a bounce castle. Faedo’s slider was fantastic once again (70% strikes! 9/26 CSW!) while the heater was well spotted and the changeup was…not in the center of the plate. He gets the Guardians next and AL-Only leagues should snag him for that, while the rest of us can consider it for a Sunday stream if we need it.

Jake Odorizzi @ BOS (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 62 pitches.

Odorizzi jumped off the mound to cover first and clearly fractured something in his leg to make him collapse to the ground. Poor guy. It does mean Javier gets more regular starts, likely, as I’d anticipate a long IL stint. Man, I feel so bad for Odorizzi, this was his fourth great start in a row after a middling time in Houston for a few years. Life, man. Ugh.

Zach Logue vs MIN (L) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 82 pitches.

Blegh. He was a deep streamer of consideration and after a start where his breakers came alive, he went 3/29 whiffs between them here as his fastball sat below 90 mph. Doesn’t instill much confidence, does it.

Chris Archer @ OAK (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 62 pitches.

Has Archer had a single productive start yet this year? He has yet to complete five innings as a starter in seven games. That doesn’t seem like fantasy viable, does it.

Tony Gonsolin vs ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 92 pitches.

The good news: Gonsolin had a solid splitter working. The bad news: His slider is still pretty dang meh. I’m coughing this good result up to Blame it on the Diamondbacks and would be ultra-cautious with the Phillies next, but then I’m Gonsol-In for the Sneks a second time next week.

Corey Kluber vs DET (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 90 pitches.

Is this because I dropped you to the final tier on The List? Look, you’re still under 89 mph and I’m thrilled you had both your cutter and breaker today. WHAT ABOUT TOMORROW?! I’m not sold those skills are sticking for another outing, but really only one needs to work for him to capitalize against the Orioles. Fine, let er rip.

Garrett Whitlock vs HOU (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 80 pitches.

I had my hesitations about this start and while I’m happy it worked out ratio wise, I’m skeptical that an easier matchup would have returned a whole lot of dominance. I’m still a little wary of his next start against Seattle, though I’ll be happy he pulled this one off — he’s featuring a harder slider now (about 2.5 ticks harder!) and it wasn’t a whole lot better. I wonder if that’ll change for the Mind Safe. Mind Safe? You know, where your wit is locked up. In the Mind Safe. This is a bigger stretch than Ji Man Choi at first. Noted.

Brad Keller vs CWS (ND) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 96 pitches.

In all honesty, this could have been a whole lot worse and a 1.14 WHIP ain’t so bad. At least Keller still has his slider, suggesting a possible successful start next time against the Twins. Flip that quarter one more time if you like.

Chris Flexen @ TOR (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 101 pitches.

I lowered Flexen last time out after a horrid outing and with the Jays + Sawx up ahead. I can’t say I regret it — those ratios hurt — but Flexen did locate his four-seamers and cutters pretty well here. Maybe I knocked him a little too far.

Madison Bumgarner @ LAD (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 96 pitches.

Bumgarner is a Toby and faced one of the best offenses in the game. I don’t know what I expected. Oh, and just one strikeout Bumgarner? Come on, HAISTBMBWT?!

Alex Wood @ COL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 88 pitches.

Blegh. It was Coors n all and we didn’t know if the slider would find a way to work. Narrator: It didn’t. Just 1/17 whiffs on the pitch as the changeup went 0/15 itself. I know some are really down on Wood after a slow start in the results, but I’m still seeing 2021 with a better fastball and slightly worse slider. I believe Wood is destined to soar and with a start against the Padres up next, you better stick with him there.

Jon Gray vs LAA (W) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 89 pitches.

He got into some early trouble and settled in nicely, featuring his new slider in a BIG way — we’re talking 11/28 whiffs on that bad boy. If that doesn’t get you pumped, I’m not sure what will. The bad news is a date with the Astros up next, but he gets the Athletics after that and I can’t wait for the feast to begin. Let’s be so thankful he has his health.

Kyle Bradish vs NYY (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 84 pitches.

I gotta say, I really dig Bradish’s slider. I really don’t like the rest, though, with his curveball and changeup returning just 6/15 strikes and 1/15 CSW. Yikes. There’s work to be done, but when he faces easier offenses in a week or so, there’s hope for Bradish to soar. He’s a late questionable play against the Rays as it’s a coin flip whether the slider can carry him through the day against a solid offense (at least it’s not the Yankees…).

Aaron Sanchez @ MIA (L) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 74 pitches.

Sanchez ain’t no Pablo. He’s no Aaron Sanchez either, for that matter. The way I used to swoon…Sigh.

Noah Syndergaard @ TEX (L) – 0.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 42 pitches.

Oh no. I’ve been talking about how Syndergaard isn’t quite doing enough for me to believe he’ll get his strikeouts back, nor that he’ll get the same results on the sinker he’d be getting already, but not like this. Not like this. He’ll get another shot at the Rangers next Tuesday and honestly, I’d throw him back out there for it. Sure, it didn’t work today, but sometimes, that just happens. He’s not elite, but he’s not this bad.

Dillon Peters @ CHC (L) – 0.2 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 24 pitches.

Yiiiiiikes. The Dil was a bit off instead of on, got in an early pickle, and petered out before the frame could end. I think that’s about enough of that.

 

Game of the Day 

Logan Gilbert vs. José Berríos – It’s Gilbert, trying to stave off the Jays despite his lack of secondaries vs. The Great Undulater, who’s ready for redemption. Should be fun.

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)