Bon Suarez

Jose Suarez @ NYY (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 82 pitches.

There hasn’t been much discussion about José Suarez as he’s seized a rotation spot for the Angels, but you’d be wise to keep him on your radar after tonight’s 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 82 pitches performance against the Yankees, even if he was granted an undeserved loss. His King Cole was fueled by a curveball that went a whopping 10/23 called strikes (it’s free real estate) paired with 7/19 whiffs on his changeup. That’s awfully good and expresses an important point: Suarez is worth your consideration.

That curveball holds a 38% CSW through the season, the changeup boasts a 20% SwStr rate, and his schedule features CLE + NYY + TEX next. And he’s rostered in just 5% of leagues, somehow 20 points fewer than his rival Ranger, who gets a decent amount of hype I just don’t understand. That aside, I’d be down to start Suarez against Cleveland with those two strong secondaries. It’s sneaky good.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:

 

Steven Brault @ LAD (ND) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 76 pitches.

Whoaaaaaa. Brault came out of nowhere to go 35% CSW on his four-seamer against the dang Dodgers of all teams. Amazing. I really don’t think he can earn 15 whiffs again, but his command was as good as I’ve seen and this was a cool thing. What a lovely Birthday Party.

Wade Miley vs CHC (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 97 pitches.

That’s what’s up. And he threw in some extra strikeouts like that random onion ring in your fries. You love to see it.

Collin McHugh vs BAL (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 21 pitches.

The real story here was Josh Fleming tossing 5.2 frames and 101 pitches of two-ER ball with just two strikeouts. Good on Fleming as he earned the win, but I wouldn’t enjoy relying on him at all moving forward. There just isn’t enough in that arsenal.

Justin Bruihl vs PIT (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 12 pitches.

He opened for the MLB debut of Andre Jackson, who went 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 71 pitches. He sat 92/93 mph on his heater with a decent changeup and a slider that went 10/10 balls. Yeah. This isn’t someone to remember.

Gerrit Cole vs LAA (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 90 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. It’s wonderful to have Cole back in action and his four-seamer was as good as ever at 41% CSW. Things are cool.

Antonio Senzatela vs SD (ND) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 83 pitches.

Nothing quite like earning just two strikeouts in 21 outs against a strong offense like San Diego and surviving to tell the tale. This is the way of Senz-A. Baseball is weird.

Rich Hill @ SF (ND) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 68 pitches.

Hill is not worth your time. Seriously, we’re over this Hill. You’ve made that joke before. I’m sure I did. So why do you write a new one. Because I’m tired, random person, and I have things to do. Like make sure Hill isn’t on any of my friends’ teams. They all deserve better.

Griffin Jax vs CLE (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 87 pitches.

Ayyy it worked! Streaming Record: 73-53. The slider wasn’t nearly as good as last time, but still had a respectable 30% CSW, and his four-seamer managed to churn enough outs with his changeup to get through six. That WHIP is not a fun time, though, and I think you can tell that this sure isn’t a play to make recklessly. Yeah, have some reck in your life, don’t go and miss it and be reckless. I don’t think that’s a thing. I DON’T THINK YOU’RE A THING. Now is not a time for metaphysical discussions about your existence, random italicized person, we have to be respectful to our guest, Jax. Fine. Hey Jax, you’re okay. Sometimes. Much better. I can’t believe I actually just typed all of that out. How has all of my life led to this moment.

Dallas Keuchel vs OAK (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 78 pitches.

It’s so dang boring, but that’s the life of a Toby, isn’t it? You got your cheap win at the cost of mediocrity across the board and you better h*ckin’ like it.

Justin Steele @ CIN (L) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 82 pitches.

It’s a step forward from his first start, but the Reds are strong and took advantage of Steele’s poor heaters down the middle. He gets the Royals next, and there’s an outside chance it can all go right for Justin there, but you’d have to have guts of Steele to commit past that. Maybe he can Steele a Win there. This one is hard li–Imma stop you there. Phew. Thanks.

Touki Toussaint @ MIA (W) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 97 pitches.

Nice work Touki. You did it. 10/33 whiffs on his…splitter?! Wow, his curveball took a bit of a backseat to the splitty and he ran with it, going sinker/split most of the time. It worked here, I’d imagine the hook will be the calling card of future outings.

Frankie Montas @ CWS (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 99 pitches.

This was a major test for Montas and while the ratios failed, I can’t ignore a Gallows Pole along the way as his splitter went 10/29 whiffs. Nothing else complemented it, though, as his slider was hung and fastballs failed to earn strikes like we’re used to. Blegh. The Giants are next and that’s a tricky one. I’d still start Montas — the whiffs! — and I’ll cross my fingers he’ll rise to the occasion this time.

Kevin Gausman vs NYM (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 94 pitches.

He’s still not at the peak we saw in the spring, but Gausman gets whiffs and even sat a full tick higher than usual here at 95.5 mph on his four-seamer. Everything is fine, y’all.

Cal Quantrill @ MIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 92 pitches.

Womp womp. Five whiffs?! What happened to the 20 I saw two games ago?! Ohhhhh right, Cal doesn’t actually have a good heater. At least he located his sliders over the plate effectively. That’s a plus, right? He gets the Angels next and that’s a questionable option as this Vargas Rule is essentially over. The Red Sox will follow twice after that start so hey, maybe there’s one last hurrah there.

Braxton Garrett vs ATL (L) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 6 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 77 pitches.

Blegh. I had higher hopes for Garrett, but for a man with a sub-90 mph heater, you can’t be walking six batters and thinking you’d get away with it. Not a chance. He gets the Reds twice now and I don’t see a reason to hold him.

Jake Odorizzi @ KC (ND) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 89 pitches.

I’m absolutely astounded by Odorizzi’s splitter, which went 0/21 CSW% despite being located super well at the bottom of the zone. ZERO PERCENT. He had to turn to it a fourth of time (which is like a fourth too often) as his heater just wasn’t getting it done, zooming away from its intended locations. It’s a lovely schedule ahead with the Mariners twice + a date with the Rangers, but if he’s going to act like this, he could struggle against those weak offenses once again. I’d consider other options where possible.

Carlos Hernández vs HOU (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 72 pitches.

Ouch. Carlos was able to hold his own against the White Sox twice + a romantic affair with the Yankees (call me), but the Astros? Nah, just one strikeout (HAISTBMBWT?!) and absolutely zero nutrition across the board. At least he gets the Cubs next, and honestly, I’m down for that one. He throws hard and the slider can work at times.

Matt Harvey @ TB (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 86 pitches.

Ah yes, Harvey Dent lived up to the name once again. More at eleven.

Ryan Weathers @ COL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 62 pitches.

Weathers went from disappointing against the Marlins to meeting expectations against the Rockies. But he didn’t do well. Exactly. Ohhhh. Oh.

 

Game of the Day 

 

Huascar Ynoa vs. Sandy Alcantara – Ynoa is back and I’m looking for elite slider command + 96/97 mph once again. Meanwhile, it’s Alcantara and my heart flutters.

But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.

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Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)