Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Tuesday 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.
Tyler Glasnow (LAD) @ MIN (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 14 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 48% CSW, 88 pitches.
I don’t like to lead with aces doing ace things with the roundup, but hot dang y’all, did you catch Tyler Glasnow? He embarrassed the Twins via 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 14 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 48% CSW, 88 pitches and theoretically could have hit the 20-strikeout record if it were about 20 years ago. Yes that’s a Golden Goal and the highest CSW this year. Yes it’s amazing. Yes, we needed a legit ace looking like a legit ace at a time when every arm is dropping like flies.
There is something to note here that isn’t just gushing over his four-seamer going 53% CSW and 12/45 whiffs, or his slider’s unreal precision and 71% strike rate. Does Glasnow deserve more love on The List because of our higher expectation for SP injuries?
The only reason Glasnow is outside the Top 5 SP is due to our heightened expectation for injury coming Glasnow’s way, though if we’re starting to accept a higher rate of injured SP, then No Starting Pitcher Is Safe. It’s something to think about and at the very least, Glasnow gave us a show we forgot we could see. Thanks for that, Tyler.
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Carlos Rodón (NYY) vs MIA (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 89 pitches.
He’s ramping up his fastball during the game and yet…he sat just 94 mph. But look at that line! I think it’s awesome that Rodón is expanding to cutters and changeups 30% of the time to take the load off his slider, but I’m not sure I can believe he’s a fixed man without that velocity, nor a CSW of just 21% on said heater. I’d sell high if your league mates felt like they were getting FOMO.
Reynaldo López (ATL) vs NYM (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 94 pitches.
López pounded the upper half with heaters and leaned more on the curve than slider today to great effect as that hook returned a luscious 45% CSW. Look at that Win and give it a mighty embrace. It’s lovely starting for Atlanta.
Sonny Gray (STL) vs PHI (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 64 pitches.
Ayyyy, it’s so good to see you again. I’m thrilled to not only see five innings in just 64 pitches, but a Win?! YOU SPOIL US. Now he gets his OG crew in Oakland and even at ~75 pitches, I’m excited for it.
Ben Brown (CHC) @ SDP (ND) – 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 77 pitches.
Ayyy, they gave him a start! I thought he’d be opened for by Drew Smyly, but it looks like the Cubs are actually letting him take control of a full game and I’m here for it. Brown features 96/97 mph heaters that may be more like 95 mph when he’s not making his first career start and pairs it with a solid curveball. What about his third pitch? Nah, you’ve come to the wrong place for that. It’s an impressive looking heater, though it doesn’t have exceptional shape (5/51 whiffs with hiLoc intent should tell you that), and his hook is a bit volatile. I’m a little tepid here. The velocity obviously helps, though I don’t trust Brown as a command arm and his limited arsenal makes me question if he can be trusted against the Diamondbacks next. I guess he’s worth a spec add, at the very least.
Martín Pérez (PIT) vs DET (ND) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 100 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! Yeah yeah yeah Blame it on the Tigers, but Martín Pérez is holding up his end of the bargain and actually executing against these poor lineups. Things are going to get worse for Pérez eventually as he faces teams tougher than the Marlins, Nats, and Tigers, but, would you look at that. It’s the Mets, isn’t i—HE GETS THE METS NEXT. Vargas Rule this all day.
Corbin Burnes (BAL) @ BOS (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 90 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. That’s my SP #1.
Chris Bassitt (TOR) vs SEA (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 115 pitches.
Those four walks are weird, the rest is not. Stop worrying about Bassitt and love the Cherry Bomb Holly.
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) vs OAK (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 95 pitches.
Wait, a co-share of the Gallows Pole?! Ohhhh-kland. Gotcha. Well that’s a cool thing, it’s gonna be a lot tougher against Houston + Atlanta next, so thanks for the night before the fight. The munch before the punch. The meal before the steal. The booze before the bruise. The chill before the kill. Okay, we’re done here. The fire before the ire. I said we’re done. The bed before the drea–I SAID WE’RE DONE.
Brayan Bello (BOS) vs BAL (L) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 89 pitches.
Here’s something I didn’t expect: Bello threw more sliders than changeups. WHAT. In fact, that slider had plenty more sweep as well at 87 mph and did a great job earning strikes and outs. Not as many whiffs as we’d want, but he kept them down with the changeup and we’re cool with it. The strikeouts aren’t going to be akin to his teammates, but they will grow as the season goes on and it’s possible his routine flirts with six frames allows him to keep the strikeout totals near his brethren.
A.J. Puk (MIA) @ NYY (L) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 98 pitches.
So, you elected to hold onto a Puk for one more start, hoping he’d show a better fastball and improved sweeper command. Welp 6 whiffs and the 22% CSW is all you need to see. It’s time to let go.
Joan Adon (WSN) @ SFG (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 72 pitches.
I’ll take starts you didn’t know happened and have already forgotten about for $400.
Joe Ross (MIL) @ CIN (W) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 87 pitches.
Whaaaaaat. Ross did his best Brady Singer impression, boasting 10/43 slider whiffs and 8/35 sinker called strikes, en route to lovely line against the Reds. In Cincy. I still can’t believe it, but he did locate those sliders super well and he’s a major leaguer for a reason. Is the reason that slider? Um, duh. However, a rolling team carries no Ross, sadly. That breaker did look great at times but I don’t trust the sinker. You can’t bank on it repeating against the Padres.
Merrill Kelly (ARI) @ COL (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 96 pitches.
Guys. Listen. Come closer. The Rockies are streamable even in Coors. Keep it secret. Keep it safe.
Cristian Javier (HOU) @ KCR (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 93 pitches.
He’s so close. I see his intent on all three pitches and he’s going to have that night before the end of April where he pummels a team for 10 strikeouts as his trio of pitches work in tandem. Get pumped.
Casey Mize (DET) @ PIT (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 83 pitches.
Hmmmmm. I’m loving the four-seamer’s 96/97 mph heat with elite extension, I’m not liking the worse iVB + terrible slider command. I’m not jumping ship yet here, but I can’t say I’m happy that he gets the Rangers next. He needs one more outing first, IT’S TOO SOON.
Aaron Civale (TBR) @ LAA (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 78 pitches.
A two-run shot on a terrible sinker to Trout in the first was the sole real damage done to Civale as we still dig the man moving forward. If the Angels don’t want to swing, then that’s fine with us. That CSW is a lovely thing and it could have been even better if some of those hooks and splitters properly landed low.
Alex Wood (OAK) @ TEX (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 67 pitches.
The BSB wasn’t there in this one. His sinker wasn’t skillfully placed at just 90 mph and he returned 1/33 whiffs on changeups + sliders. It was the Rangers, sure, but I wanted a little more Oomph to get me excited about as start against the Nationals. Are we cool with that one?
Zack Wheeler (PHI) @ STL (L) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 107 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. The velocity is still down at just 94 mph for the third straight start and yet, this is a solid night, even at 3 ER. It’ll come back + Wheeler’s command has been so good.
Kyle Harrison (SFG) vs WSN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 93 pitches.
Well hot dang, I love Harrison’s four-seamer precision in this one as he painted the top third of the zone absolutely red with four-seamers. He also leaned more changeup than curve, which missed arm-side and never down…which I’m not a huge fan of. If he can get one of those two pitches properly low (curve or change) and keep that heater inside the zone and up, you have yourself a lovely BSB stew brewing. But Nick! He just did so well, why the judgement? IT WAS THE NATS Y’ALL. I want a sustainable future, don’t you?
Cal Quantrill (COL) vs ARI (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 98 pitches.
COL story, bro. Are we celebrating a PQS? I think so? That tells you everything.
Frankie Montas (CIN) vs MIL (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 96 pitches.
Blegh. That’s the Montas I’m afraid of – a man who returned just 2/47 whiffs on non-fastballs. Feel free to pick your spots if you like, I see Montas as a Cherry Bomb without a whole lot sweet.
Cole Ragans (KCR) vs HOU (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Ragans had a bit of an off night as he failed to put batters away and didn’t have his slider against RHB, and yet he still walked just one batter and earned 16 whiffs as he was Singled Out by the Astros. Yep, he’s still stupid legit and is about to have a blast in New York against the Mets.
Patrick Sandoval (LAA) vs TBR (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 101 pitches.
As much as I want the Irish Panda to thrive, if he can’t take down the very streamable Rays, then you really can’t trust the man. Oh, and he’s not going 45% CSW and 5/22 whiffs on that sinker again. Absolutely not.
Joe Musgrove (SDP) vs CHC (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 85 pitches.
That line looks awful, but there so much to unpack. Seiya went 3-3 hitting a trio of pitches that are normally outs and they found outfield grass. Musgrove had 0 ER through four frames, allowed a solo shot, a walk, a groundball single, a HBP, then was pulled…to watch a grand slam from the dugout. Did he pitch exceptionally well? Nah, his cutter and fastball were not delicately placed, forcing Musgrove to lean heavily on his curve (it’s still a dope pitch!), but hot dang did he not deserve that line. Even the HBP barely clipped Bellinger’s backfoot as he bounced a curveball. We’re still going with Musgrove.
Michael Soroka (CHW) @ CLE (ND) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 79 pitches.
I feel weird that I see this line and wish Soroka could have walked one more batter before inducing a groundout. May the fours be with you. There will be a time this season that Soroka becomes a proper Toby. Now is not that time.
Adrian Houser (NYM) @ ATL (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 95 pitches.
Houser gave us a HAISTBMBWT?! against Atlanta because of course he did. He doesn’t have a whiff pitch y’all.
George Kirby (SEA) @ TOR (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 87 pitches.
Oh no. He got Singled Out and only one pitch, his four-seamer, was responsible. Poorly spotted sinkers and sliders were the biggest culprits, though Kirby earned just four whiffs across the board and it marks the second straight outing of dramatic sadness after his first start set the tone for domination. Hey George, can you, um, command better? It would make all of us happy, thanks.
Logan Allen (CLE) vs CHW (ND) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 76 pitches.
I should have known – two first names. Allen was Singled Out and leaned into his four-seamer upstairs, which I absolutely dig with his flat HAVAA. Sadly, it’s the Yankees next and that’s too risky for me, but I’d try this again when he faces the Athletics after. Yes, even with this one not going his way.
Louie Varland (MIN) vs LAD (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 97 pitches.
It’s uncommon to have a game’s two starters bookend the Roundup. Varland wasn’t expected to soar against the mighty Dodgers and we shouldn’t hold it against him. What you can reserve the skepticism for is his four-seamer approach, which hasn’t quite landed at the top of the zone with a heavy frequency yet. I would love to see that pitch return to form and there’s no better time to swing back in our favor than a start against the Tigers next. I’d take the shot, Detroit really isn’t a strong crew.
Game of the Day
Bobby Miller vs. Chris Paddack – Sure, Paddack is here, but I just want to see Bobby dominate against to distance himself from his last outing.
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 Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X)
Is it possible Wheeler is deliberately not throwing as hard as he can? UCL/shoulder/back injury prevention/delay? Just a thought.
So Cole Ragans gives up 11 baserunners and 3 runs in just 5 innings, and your response is AGA?? That’s easily a bottom 20th percentile performance and it’s considered “acing.”