Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Monday game. I apologize for the jokes written in my delirium in advance. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Twitch weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Domingo Germán (NYY) vs CLE (ND) – 8.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 88 pitches.
I’ve been a bit cautious chasing Domingo Germán as of late even if he’s earned a 16%+ SwStr rate in four of his last five starts, and I was made the fool tonight (despite making him my streamer of the day) as he went 8.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 88 pitches earning himself a King Cole and unfortunately not a Win. Is this something to buy into?
Sadly, not right now simply because it’s the Rays twice + Jays in his next three outings. Oh. Yeah, sorry, I didn’t mean to tease you like that. But hey! Germán’s curveball is doing great things (49% CSW across 44% usage!) while the changeup and fastball are doing enough to make him not turn into your generic two-pitch guy with just one good offering. You can pass over him for now, but I imagine he’s done enough to earn the #5 spot over Clarke Schmidt and Jhony Brito once Rodón and Severino return, making him someone of interest in a few weeks once the matchup gauntlet passes. That curveball is in such a good place.
Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:
Luis Garcia (HOU) vs SF (ND) – 0.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 13% CSW, 8 pitches.
Garcia was pulled with an elbow injury and IT’S NOT FAIR. Just when he was finding his groove! His PURPOSE. Baseball, you cruel devil. Brandon Bielak was recalled today and brought in to toss 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks and there’s nothing new here to report. He’s not the answer (maybe Forrest Whitley is?).
Drew Smyly (CHC) @ WSH (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 84 pitches.
The BSB is still in full effect for Smyly and that curve is getting all the results you want…except for, you know, whiffs. Whatever, you hold onto him for the Marlins and we’ll talk after that.
Cal Quantrill (CLE) @ NYY (ND) – 7.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 15% CSW, 97 pitches.
You take away the Judge and you take away the hammer of this offense. Seriously, one whiff and he goes 22 outs with just two earned runs?! CAL QUANTRILL’S MAGIC HATH RETURNED. What a time to be alive.
Ross Stripling (SF) @ HOU (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 73 pitches.
Props to Stripling surviving here against the Astros, turning to his four-seamer just 23% of the time. Y’all know I dig that and I love how commonplace it’s become – I was in awe just in 2020 when Aaron Civale started to do it. I won’t rule out success against the Brewers to close out the week, but don’t go sprinting to the wire – nothing here was exceptional.
Blake Snell (SD) vs CIN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 101 pitches.
That’s a Gallows Pole for Snell as he FINALLY had his curveball working at 64% strikes and 48% CSW. THANK YOU. But it was a near VPQS. Steps, not leaps. 0 BBs and 7 Ks should tell you the real story here and it could be the first step in the direction of legit dominance. Now all that’s left is for that slider to do better than 2/10 strikes…Oh, and please spot those heaters a little better, k thx.
Tylor Megill (NYM) vs ATL (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 87 pitches.
Ah, that’s a Philly and honestly, that’s good for Megill when facing Atlanta…? You couldn’t have expected more given Megill’s 94/95 mph fastball and lack of dominance this season with his changeup and slider. At least it’s Rockie Road and the Nationals next, surely that can be serviceable, yeah?
Corey Kluber (BOS) vs TOR (ND) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 104 pitches.
I’m glad he got seven strikeouts, but he did so without earning more than two whiffs on any single pitch and the rest is what you’d anticipate when facing the Jays. Now it’s the Phils + Cards + Padres and I’d rather watch the 14th Land Before Time movie. They have 14 of them? Yeah wild, isn’t it? I thought they’d be at time by now.
Tony Gonsolin (LAD) vs PHI (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 80 pitches.
I’m glad he’s stretched out a bit more now, but the concerns we had after his first start are still present – he’s down 1 to 2 ticks on the heater, while the splitter isn’t as great as it was last season. There has to be something better out there, like Stone or Bryce.
Charlie Morton (ATL) @ NYM (L) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 92 pitches.
Blegh. The curve was good, the fastball wasn’t good enough. He’s essentially Kyle Wright these days with his hook focus and I hope I don’t regret that comp. It’s not a great schedule ahead with the Orioles + Rangers + Dodgers up next and I feel for those holding on tightly. He’s a two-pitch pitcher with only one elite pitch…
Luke Weaver (CIN) @ SD (ND) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 79 pitches.
I don’t see much of an appeal chasing Weaver, but there is an outside chance he performs against the White Sox and Marlins up next if he can get his heater upstairs to get the most out of his changeup. That’s a real deep option, though, and you’re still at risk of catching a boot.
Spencer Strider (ATL) @ NYM (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 107 pitches.
Aces gonna make us roll our eyes. He allowed a three-run shot to Alonso on a hanging slider that ruined his day, but honestly, most of this was Strider being Strider. He’s still super good, obviously.
MacKenzie Gore (WSH) vs CHC (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 102 pitches.
Womp womp. The Cubs are a much better offense than we expected them to be and they got to Gore here. I dug the breakers falling mostly in the bottom third, and while the fastball found the zone a good amount, it wasn’t well spotted. It’s not a death sentence for the southpaw by any means and he could still be valuable against the Diamondbacks next time out. I still think there’s something here for the length of the season.
José Berríos (TOR) @ BOS (ND) – 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 11 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 93 pitches.
HIS NAME IS THE GREAT UNDULATOR.
Denyi Reyes (NYM) vs ATL (L) – 1.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 37 pitches.
Nothing quite says modern baseball like a “good” ole bullpen day. Thanks, Manfred.
Taijuan Walker (PHI) @ LAD (L) – 3.1 IP, 8 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 82 pitches.
His velocity was back to 93/94 mph at least, but yeaaaaaah. Like me finally going to Amazon to get a new microwave after enduring the same semi-broken one for ten years, sometimes you gotta reassess how you’re living your life and make decisions to better yourself. The dang tray stopped spinning, okay?
Game of the Day
Tanner Bibee vs. Gerrit Cole – My SP #1 against a budding prospect arm? SIGN. ME. UP.
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)
Snell got the W. Great work as always!