I’m Sorry Mr. Jackson

Jackson Kowar @ LAA (L) – 0.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 15% CSW, 39 pitches.

We had another major league debut on Monday, this time Royals’ prospect Jackson Kowar got his taste of the majors and it was…rough – 0.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 15% CSW, 39 pitches. Yeah, he needed nearly 40 pitches in the opening frame and didn’t complete it. It was a mix of 96 mph heaters and 86 mph changeups, with the former missing the zone a lot and the latter definitely missing the zone a lot. There wasn’t a whole lot to get amped about save for a couple of nicely thrown changeups as Kowar seemed to battle himself with every pitch and his early hook seemed fitting. It just wasn’t there. Streaming Record: 40-26 (it was the only pick I could make!)

I’m not ignoring the hint of bliss in his stuff — it is mid-90s with a solid changeup at times — but those hoping for an Alek Manoah-esque debut were left in the dust. You can drop him for now as we watch from afar, singing I’m sorry Mr. Jackson, you’re not for reeaaaalll.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:

 

Zach Thompson @ BOS (L) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 55 pitches.

The Marlins elected to give Pablo López an extra day of rest, so Mr. Simpson Thompson got the start instead, returning a HAISTFMFWT?!. Now Mr. Thompson, when I bang on your foot and say hello, you’re going to give us at least four innings. …I think you’re looking for Pablo. Because it’s 2021, Thompson left this game with an injury, too. Unreal.

Nick Pivetta vs MIA (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 92 pitches.

Blegh. I expected more from Pivetta against the Marlins, and while he did sit 95 mph, his breakers earned just 2/38 whiffs as he failed to get them at the bottom and under the strike zone. That’s not how it’s done, Pivetta, get your curveballs and sliders in check. It makes me wonder if he’s worthwhile on your squads — after all, he’s rostered in 66% of leagues for some reason — and the question is made easy when you realize Toronto is next on the docket. Do yourself a favor and make your league the minority if you’re still rostering him.

Dylan Bundy vs KC (W) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 72 pitches.

Is he fixed? Ehhh. It was 91 mph (not 92 mph) as he threw some pretty dang hittable heaters and he featured his slider only 19% of the time, but at least his trio of changeups/sliders/curveballs returned 40% CSW across 56% usage, leading to the 31% CSW King Cole. That’s a step in the right direction, and hopefully he can build on that with @OAK + DET next. I think I’m starting him for both, grimacing as I prepare for a possible impact.

Ryan Weathers vs CHC (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 81 pitches.

I want to feel more things for Weathers, and I’m starting to grasp that his brilliant 5.2 frames against the Dodgers back in April are still influencing me today. I watched this one and his slider isn’t hinting at whiffs like before — just 1/31! — while his heater was at a pedestrian 93 mph. I’m now asking myself what I was chasing, and while it’s great he’s at 81 pitches, I feel like I’ve opened a chest at the end of a dungeon just to find a potion I’ll never use. I’ll never take a side-quest from that old man again.

Adbert Alzolay @ SD (L) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 82 pitches.

Yikes. Alzolay was able to handle the Padres and has been on a wonderful roll, but his first frame set the tone for his fastball heading all over the place, and Padres hitters were willing to practice patience against sliders. It got even worse as Alzolay was pulled early with a blister on his middle finger, leaving us with this atrocity of a line. It’s a frustrating way to kick off your week and if we’re lucky, he’ll get a chance for redemption against the Cardinals over the weekend. Let’s just hope that blister is more like a “blister”. Sidenote: These 10 Whiffs earned a Gallows Pole. It was that kind of six pitcher day.

 

Game of the Day 

 

Robbie Ray vs Carlos Rodón – Two southpaws who could dominate squaring off against either other? Yes please.

 

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

 

Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)