No Wade, Dude!

Wade Miley @ CLE (W) – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 114 pitches.

Right at the start of the season, during one of my “Making The List” streams I had this dumb moment where I talked about how gorgeous Wade Miley’s schedule looked. There was this feeling if he could get into the rhythm he had for most of 2019, there would be value to be had.

Well, he’s clearly in a rhythm now after throwing a no-hitter against Cleveland – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – dominating with changeups arm-side and cutters glove-side. He really did an incredible job avoiding the heart of the plate and spotting these pitches. It’s classic Miley and that’s a wonderful thing as he aims to be this year’s Spider-Man – even with this eight strikeout game, he’s still boasting a sub 20% strikeout rate. If he’s still out there on the wire, yeah you can pick him up for the Pirates next. The good times keep on comin’.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Friday:

 

Matt Harvey vs BOS (L) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 86 pitches.

So that fourth was grueling as four unearned runs came through and pushed Harvey’s pitch count to 86 pitches. But hey, that slider is still kinda decent and maybe he’s a desperate streamer at some point in the future. Maybe.

Zach Davies vs PIT (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 81 pitches.

Davies saw that Hendricks is starting his redemption tour and wants in. I seriously can’t believe this man went seven frames on one whiff and just one strikeout. HAISTFMFWT?! I mean, you don’t need me to tell you that this isn’t going to work. ONE. WHIFF. 16% CSW! The only reason this worked was that he faced Pittsburgh and even with my low expectations I’m still disappointed in them.

Matt Shoemaker @ DET (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 86 pitches.

Phew, The Cobbler is back and it’s with his slider as he tossed the pitch 40% of the time. It got outs, his splitter went 4/23 on whiffs, and his four-seamer got strikes. Tada, that’s a successful game against Detroit. He gets the White Sox next, though, so let this sit on the wire.

Jack Flaherty vs COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 103 pitches.

Aces gonna ace with his slider doing wonderful things. Yes, this was Rockie Road but I feel like we’ve collectively ignored Flaherty this year and that’s not fair. He’s boasting a 2.83 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and a 26% strikeout rate across 41 frames so far – with way better numbers and an IPS well above 6.0 if you throw away that weird opening day outing in the freezing cold. He’s the rock you drafted.

Zach Plesac vs CIN (ND) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 112 pitches.

I watched all of this one because, you know, Miley, and Plesac was so much better than we’ve seen previously. The man is suddenly not extreme with his RHB/LHB pitch mix splits, with changeups sprinkled in against right-handers and introducing a curveball to lefties that helped plenty in keeping the Reds off-balance. That curveball was only for left-handers and returned 41% CSW, while his slider did the excellent things we expect. Almost forgot, his fastball was a tick harder at 94+ mph instead of 93 mph. In short, his weakest link – his fastball – improved, he varied his pitch mix for better results and his best pitch is still great as he went eight innings against a strong offense. Yep, Plesac is dope again. Also, fun fact, Plesac was also the opposing pitcher in Rodon’s no-hitter. Just sayin’.

Carlos Rodon @ KC (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 92 pitches.

Oh hey, Rodon! We were just talkin’ about ya. So you’re kinda amazing now. Remember when I was pumped he was sitting 94/95 mph? Now he’s 95/96. HE’S GETTING EVEN BETTER. Changeups are still the main secondary pitch, which can make sense when your fastball is flat-out dominating. He gets the Twins and I just don’t care. He’s about two starts away (one?) from AGA at this point.

Rich Hill @ OAK (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 70 pitches.

Wow, just 70 pitches needed for six frames from Hill. You see that Snell? I guess it means we’re starting him against the Athletics, I have this overwhelming feeling Hill’s bubble is about to burst but whatever, he’s proving us wrong. Still. Somehow.

Griffin Canning vs LAD (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 85 pitches.

You may see 1/19 whiffs on sliders and be deterred, but the Dodgers were passive and Canning returned nine called strikes on the pitch. Solid. His changeup got more play than I’d like to see, though, and it wasn’t well commanded. Fastballs found the middle of the zone a bit too much and his curveball was alright. It was all just…fine. I wish I had better news as he heads into a start against the Red Sox and I’m leaning bench for that. Canning just isn’t overwhelming enough.

Zac Gallen @ NYM (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 96 pitches.

Aces gonna mostly ace. I’m a little concerned that he tossed just four sliders in this one and his changeup returned just 15% CSW. Fortunately his fastball and curveball were both fantastic and voila, there’s your 1.50 ERA. Still, I want that changeup back – it’s his moneymaker. The slider can come, too.

Eduardo Rodriguez @ BAL (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 91 pitches.

You don’t like to see the 2.00 WHIP against the Orioles and it’s only two strikeouts, but at least it’s a 1.80 ERA and a Win. It’s the second straight start where Eduardo didn’t have his fastball at all and I’m starting to worry a little…? He gets Oakland next and it could really hurt. Blegh, that risk ain’t good for more anxiety.

Trevor Rogers vs MIL (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 90 pitches.

Y’all want an AGA tag and I want to give it to him, but there is a sense that Rogers is starting to go through his adversity period right now. This was the banged-up Brewers and he wasn’t pitching as efficiently as we want him to be. His slider isn’t taking shape as a strong third option at just 8% used, and while I’m thrilled his changeup is still dope (6/23 whiffs), it does make me wonder if there is a floor that can show up soon when that fastball command drops off a touch more. We’ll see, keep starting him in the meantime because duh.

Sean Manaea vs TB (ND) – 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 68 pitches.

Right after Miley was done with his no-hitter, we all shifted to this one, where Manaea had his broken up in the eighth. What a day. With his sinker hitting the edges and changeups going in the opposite direction, Manaea found himself earning 10 strikeouts and King Cole and we all celebrated. He’s still pumping 91/92 mph heat (lovely) as his changeup continued to earn whiffs, here at a phenomenal 7/15 rate. The nice surprise was a little more reliance on curveballs, which earned a 26% CSW across 19 thrown. Not ideal, but still, a necessary addition to the arsenal and one I hope can improve moving forward. Guess I gotta move him up a bit, don’t I?

José Urquidy vs TOR (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 84 pitches.

Two strikeouts ain’t pretty, but we’ll take this against a solid Jays offense. He doesn’t have all his pitches working – his slider & curveball are lacking at the moment – but his changeup is that proper #2 pitch and he’s spotting fastballs up in the zone well. Urquidy’s boasting a sub 20% strikeout this year and while I think it can rise, he may be Spider-Man when all is said and done. That ain’t so bad.

Trevor Cahill @ CHC (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 92 pitches.

Ehhhh, I think we’re past the point where Cahill has his moment. Now it’s just Trevor O’Cahill and you don’t want that.

Zach Eflin @ ATL (W) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 99 pitches.

Just seven curveballs and it didn’t matter for Eflin, who lived on the arm-side edge with sinkers and sliders once again, actually living more in the middle more than down like he normally does. He wasn’t punished and while it doesn’t quite seem so legit – he’s not a 3.38 ERA and 1.13 WHIP pitcher with a 1.6% walk rate – keep on starting him to your heart’s content. There will be some blowups that make you reconsider this, though.

Tarik Skubal vs MIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 96 pitches.

Whoaaa eight strikeouts! Skubal is suddenly throwing a splitter on a high level with 38% CSW on 21 thrown and when I say high level I mean either really poorly or really well. Hey, it’s a splitter after all. I’m not sure if this new approach will stick around as he searches for the proper pitch-mix to pair with his four-seamer heavy approach, but at least it’s something. I am glad Detroit is letting him go 96 pitches and it does make me consider him for the Royals next as the heater is an effective pitch. I just wish I believe more in the secondary stuff, you know?

Ross Stripling @ HOU (L) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 82 pitches.

Blegh. Despite the few innings, that’s still 82 pitches and considering these roundup articles are all about the future, that is encouraging for Stripling’s long-term value. There will likely be a point this year when Stripling is considerable for your rosters. Sadly, now is not that time. I mean, 0/18 curveball whiffs ain’t it.

Brad Keller vs CWS (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 101 pitches.

Every night there’s at least one start that surprises you in a good way and here’s Keller earning a Gallows Pole as he’s sitting 94 mph again. His slider was plenty better at 39% CSW, going full BSB with four-seamers and sliders. Sinkers did some work staying away from lefties exclusively and voila, it’s 16 whiffs. Apparently. It’s great to see the velocity there and while it was just a PQS, it doesn’t warrant re-introduction to The List, especially with Detroit next. He’s worth the start there, for the most part.

Jameson Taillon vs WSH (ND) – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 99 pitches.

I’m still very encouraged by this as Taillon is playing the BSB game well. More emphasis on sliders this time for 33% CSW, four-seamers did their normal thing, and even some changeups worked in his favor. It wasn’t as successful for curveballs, but I’m digging his confidence with the pitch in the zone and yeah, we should feel good about Taillon moving forward as he tossed 99 pitches. Expect high volume, low walks (and thus low WHIP), and a solid amount of Ks. He’s only going to get better as that slider comes into form, you know.

David Peterson vs ARI (ND) – 1.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 55 pitches.

Okay this didn’t work at all, but the options were limited! Streaming Record: 22-12. The Sneks are good against lefties and Peterson labored, failing to express the same command he had last time out. Seriously, he had four straight PAs end in a walk or HBP to end this one. I’d sit this out for a moment.

Anthony DeSclafani vs SD (ND) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 89 pitches.

That’s two starts against the Padres and two outings of 3 ER. His slider was doing good things again, but I’m not in love with the rest of Tony Disco’s arsenal and it makes for him stuck in purgatory through the year. Welp, at least he gets the Pirates next so we can talk about this later. Just push it down and make it tomorrow’s problem.

Brent Suter @ MIA (L) – 2.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 39 pitches.

We all knew the Marlins would get to him Suter or later. This was a bullpen game, with Jordan Zimmermann making a 26 pitch appearance as he threw 62% sliders without a single whiff. What fun.

Patrick Corbin @ NYY (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 81 pitches.

He allowed a HR to his first batter (opposite field from DJLM on an inside fastball?! You just don’t see that) and we’re all guilty of writing off an entire start because of it. But then Corbin allowed just three baserunners the rest of the way and was able to get outs in the field. It was a start that likely came on your bench and sadly it’s not the performance I wanted. Just 2/18 slider whiffs ain’t doing it for me. There is some good news, though – his fastball was 91/92 mph and he was able to spot a lot of four-seamers inside to right-handers. So once he gets his slider back, the heater is ready for it. “Once” he gets it back. He gets the Phillies next and I’d still be cautious.

Blake Snell @ SF (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 1 Hits, 6 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 95 pitches.

Okay okay okay, we need to talk about Snell. The Giants are way better against left-handers, fine, but Snell is still struggling heavily at putting his slider and curveball in the zone. It burns him as he gets hyper-reliant on fastballs for strikes and while I kinda dig the locations of these sliders in general, it’s not what Snell needs. The Giants just spat at them, returning only 9% CSW across 33 thrown. Yikes. Now he gets Coors and you’re scared. Understandably so and yes, you’ll see Snell drop in the rankings on Monday. It may be a significant jump – I’m just worried he can’t go six frames for a good while with this pitch inefficiency.

Mike Foltynewicz vs SEA (ND) – 6.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 100 pitches.

A bit of Careful, Icarus here as Folty had the Quality Start and lost it in the seventh. The good news is that his slider is improving, and hey, that fastball sitting at 95 mph ain’t so bad. There isn’t much else in the repertoire, though, and if his slider isn’t putting the team on his back, then it can be a bit rough, even against the Mariners. He gets his first club in the Astros next and like a transparent stop sign, that’s a clear no.

Chris Flexen @ TEX (W) – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 97 pitches.

Flexen was given every opportunity to succeed here against the Rangers and gave you a dub while hurting your ERA and WHIP with just two strikeouts along the way. Was it worth it? WAS IT?!

Julio Urías @ LAA (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 76 pitches.

It’s not the result you want to see from a guy I just gave the AGA label to, but honestly, I think Urías pitched well here. Fastballs spotted effectively up, changeups away, and curveballs glove-side and down. This was a blip, not a trend.

Austin Gomber @ STL (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 81 pitches.

Funny story, I labeled this as deeeeeep sneaky stream as Gomber was finally in a position to succeed and hey, at least that’s a 1.20 WHIP and seven strikeouts! Sure, fine, it’s an atrocious 9.00 ERA and we’re all sad, but the stuff is actually pretty good. I dig his slider + curveball and maybe, just maybe, they deal him at the deadline with Jon Gray. Who knows. Anyway, avoid unless it’s a poor team on the road.

Charlie Morton vs PHI (L) – 0.2 IP, 6 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 36 pitches.

Let’s talk this one out. I watched this horrific inning and here’s what happened. Ground out. Dropped third strike. Squeezed walk vs Harper (seriously). Single. Single. Jammed groundball. Jammed flare out. Bad cutter for a 3-run shot. At 30+ pitches, he walked the pitcher, and he’s done. You’re seeing this start and a 4.98 ERA and 1.37 WHIP a season after essentially doing the same thing and you think he’s washed up. I’m telling you, I’ve seen this before and this is a pitcher who could have had a 1-2-3 first and it instead unraveled with unfortunate results. BUY LOW NOW. I have to think his manager is even considering dropping him at the moment. Make sure to not just offer your worst player, you know? Something decent like Eovaldi or something like that.

Game of the Day 

 

Max Scherzer vs. Corey Kluber – So many great matchups today but these are Cy Young winners and we hope Kluber can keep up the momentum.

 

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

 

Featured Graphic by Aaron Polcare