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Jolly Rogers

Nick Pollack reviews every starting pitcher performance from Tuesday.

Trevor Rogers vs WSH (L) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 96 pitches.

I know some of you had some fear about Trevor Rogers heading into tonight’s start against the Nationals and while he did earn the loss and failed to go six frames his 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 96 pitches line should be a very welcome sight.

He earned an even five whiffs on each of his three pitches – four-seamer, slider, and changeup – while featuring a full tick extra velo on his fastball. The changeup and slider were well commanded at the bottom of the zone with consistency, and while I think there’s another level to hit with fastball locations, this was a plenty better Trevor than we’d seen in the second half thus far. I don’t think you needed me to tell you to start him against the Mets and Phillies are fanning ten batters, but I’m going to tell you to do it anyway. Everyone can use a little extra positive encouragement.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:

 

Josh Rogers @ MIA (W) – 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 103 pitches.

Funny story, the headline could have been for Josh instead of Trevor, with this Nationals pitcher ultimately winning the Battle of the Neighborhoods.  Streaming Record: 89-72. He earned five whiffs on his slider once again…but tossed 44 of them to get there. Look, he gets @CIN + BOS for his final two starts. You streamed him, it worked, we celebrate, and move on. That’s just life, JR.

Jesse Chavez @ ARI (ND) – 1.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 28 pitches.

We had a Drew Smyly sighting for 3.1 frames of 1 ER ball here, so that was cool. That’s it? Yeah, that’s it.

Jake Woodford @ MIL (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 84 pitches.

Huh. The Amish Mustang pulled it off. His sinker was incredibly effective at 41% CSW while he mixed in sliders and a few curves successfully. Now he gets the Cubs twice and it’s hard not to think he could be a decent streamer in at least one of those games. Both? Nah, but sure, I can see one working out. Good luck figuring out which one.

Conner Greene @ PHI (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 24 pitches.

With the way the Orioles rotation has gone all year, are you really shocked they elected to go with a bullpen game?

Adonis Medina vs BAL (ND) – 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 69 pitches.

Props to Meina for pulling this one off with 46% CSW on 24 sliders leading the way. I don’t think he does a whole lot in his repertoire to suggest an 80+ pitch version being fantasy viable, but I see you Adonis. I see you.

Jordan Montgomery vs TEX (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 93 pitches.

Sweeeet. He had his curveball and changeup working last time out and it was more of the same here. He’s still not quite there with his fastballs & cutter, but with those two secondaries, he’ll continue to produce against middling teams…which is sad to say when the Red Sox and Rays mark his final two starts. Ugh. I’m leaning start against the Red Sox, but that’s awfully close.

Brandon Woodruff vs STL (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 93 pitches.

Aces gonna ace, earn a Golden Goal and earn a Loss as the Cardinal Devil Magic hath returned. The man had a 52% CSW on his changeup tonight and I don’t think I’ve seen that before from Woodruff. He’s so dang good.

Cal Quantrill vs KC (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 102 pitches.

You can’t stop Quantrill. Don’t think about it, just start the dang man. But—START HIM.

Alek Manoah @ TB (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 6 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 99 pitches.

Jeeeez, six walks?! That’s a Dusty Donut with that horrendous WHIP, but at least he still got the Win. We’re just two starts away from sealing a sub 3.50 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with a 25%+ strikeout on the year for Manoah and what a wonderful ride it’s been.

Marco Gonzales @ OAK (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 99 pitches.

Yep, that’ll work. He’s a Toby and squeezed out production in a tough matchup. I’m proud of ya, Marco. I know we’ve had our differences over the years but we’re finally on the same page and that’s a cool thing. Enjoy two starts against the Angels now.

Drew Rasmussen vs TOR (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 70 pitches.

Welp, the mad man did it again, this time with a more pedestrian ERA and still three strikeouts and a great WHIP. He’s like a fisher price Vargas Rule as he doesn’t do a whole lot but he’s certainly not bad. No, I’m still not starting him against the Astros next. This isn’t worth the risk.

Eduardo Rodriguez vs NYM (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 92 pitches.

Those are some rough ratios given just 4.1 frames of work for Erod as his four-seamer once again was left hanging without much else doing him good. I wouldn’t chase him against the Yankees next.

Mitch Keller @ CIN (W) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 83 pitches.

That WHIP is pain as he fanned just two in nearly six frames. Keller, even if when you succeed, it doesn’t feel like success. Sigh.

Tyler Alexander vs CWS (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 91 pitches.

T-Lex went up against Keuchel and did his best impression with a 2.00 WHIP including two walks and just two strikeouts despite allowing only two ER in five frames. Wow. That’s a lot of twos. Well, it was Twos-Day after all. NICK. PLEASE.

Dallas Keuchel @ DET (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 11 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 95 pitches.

Nothing like tossing five frames for a 3.60 ERA and 2.40 WHIP. Nothing quite like it. #StopStartingKeuchel.

Dane Dunning @ NYY (L) – 2.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 57 pitches.

Yeaaaaah. Maybe one day he’ll become a great Dane again, but for now, we’re watching from afar. From a-very-a-far.

Paul Blackburn vs SEA (L) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 83 pitches.

Womp womp. Blackburn is a wannabe Toby who wasn’t able to take advantage of a good matchup against the Mariners. He’d get the Astros twice if he sticks in the rotation (Chris Bassitt is returning on Thursday) and you definitely don’t want that.

Tyler Mahle vs PIT (L) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 96 pitches.

I hate home much the home/road splits are real for Mahle. I honestly should be happy it’s that easy, but it shouldn’t be this way. And now he hosts the Nationals and I feel like we have zero choice but to sit him. SERENITY NOW!

Luke Weaver vs ATL (ND) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 102 pitches.

Hot dang, look at Weaver earning himself a share of the Gallows Pole against Atlanta. His cutter was featured a little more at 10% usage while his four-seamer missed bats left-and-right for 11 whiffs, sitting a tick higher than usual at 94/95 mph. I’m happy for him, but I sure don’t buy that he’s suddenly fixed quite yet. Does it make him a dark horse stream against the Giants next week? Sure, why not – anyone who has the ability to toss 100+ pitches can be a dark horse streamer, just look at Wily Peralta on Sunday. Just don’t do it unless you’re desperate.

Griffin Jax @ CHC (ND) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 72 pitches.

Ehhhhh, he was the backup streamer and while he did collect a fair amount of punchouts, that 9.00 ERA with a 2.00 WHIP hurts plenty. Let’s just avoid Jax entirely moving forward, okay?

Julio Urías @ COL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 73 pitches.

Blegh. You want a bit better from Urías, even if it is Coors. He still held a 36% CSW between his four-seamer and curveball, FWIW, earning all 18 outs on just 73 pitches. In other words, he’s still a dang good pitcher.

José Urquidy @ LAA (W) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 79 pitches.

Ehhhh, Urquidy isn’t as overwhelming as we want him to be, but he is spotting his slider and four-seamers well enough to generally survive starts. He has a decent shot of coming through against the Rays next but he’s not a must-hold if you’re trying to survive this week.

Antonio Senzatela vs LAD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 88 pitches.

So there was barely not enough magic for Senz-A to pull off yet another shockingly productive outing, but even still, this was awfully close to a PQS with a 1.00 WHIP. Mind-boggling. No, I wouldn’t start him as he hosts the Giants in Coors next start. Y’all know that.

Packy Naughton vs HOU (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 78 pitches.

That’s a HAISTBMBWT?! as we put in all this work, and for what?! Naughton!

Marcus Stroman @ BOS (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 95 pitches.

Blegh. Stroman needed to have his premier slider for the mighty Sawx and returned just 3/23 CSW on the sweeper. That ain’t it. Fortunately, it’s the Marlins next and that should be a much-needed palate cleanser.

Kevin Gausman @ SD (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 74 pitches.

This is what happens, Larry. This is what happens when you meet a stranger in the alps who doesn’t have his splitter and he uses it as his sole #2 pitch and the fastball isn’t as elite as it once was. I’m pretty sure that’s the exact quote. Anyway, it’s not fun seeing Gausman in no-man’s land at a time before he heads off the Coors and I’d have some serious talks before blindly starting him there. Who knows if the splitty will be there on Sunday.

Daniel Lynch @ CLE (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 99 pitches.

Okay okay okay. Okay okay okay okay OKAY. Don’t consider Lynch again (I had him in the Do Not Start tier, for what it’s worth). He’s a Young Gun and there’s nothing to see here for 2021…(even if he’s elevating heaters with a purpose and keeping sliders down BUT FINE! The results aren’t there. Ignore it).

Joe Musgrove vs SF (ND) – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 98 pitches.

Yikes. A bit of Careful, Icarus here as Musgrove allowed his final two runs in the sixth, but the real problem was his curveball and slider combining for just 15% CSW and three whiffs. Oh no. Will somebody please think of the children?! Sorry, I should have warned y’all to not let the kids see that. It’s just too gruesome. Musgrove’s schedule is among the worst out there in September and now has to pick himself back up against Atlanta on Sunday. I think he has it in him but he better not show up without his breakers again.

Alec Mills vs MIN (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.

Yikes. This was the poor outcome we haven’t seen a whole lot of from Mills and now with the Cardinals twice ahead, I’d look elsewhere. That time is on fire.

 

Game of the Day 

 

Zack Wheeler vs. Baltimore Orioles Why do I feel like this will be a no-hitter.

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)

Nick Pollack

Founder of Pitcher List. Creator of CSW, The List, and SP Roundup. Worked with MSG, FanGraphs, CBS Sports, and Washington Post. Former college pitcher, travel coach, pitching coach, and Brandeis alum. Wants every pitcher to be dope.

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