Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup – Long Term Bassitt

Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Friday 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.  

Chris Bassitt (TOR) vs ATL (W) – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 103 pitches.

Another night, another arm flirting (and accomplishing) a CGSHO with Chris Bassitt nearly accomplishing a Maddux via 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 103 pitches against Atlanta. Atlanta! And guess what, Bassitt has eliminated all signs of his early blowup. Seriously, his ERA now sits under 3.50 with a WHIP better than its 2022 mark at 1.08. In fact, Bassitt has allowed 10 ER in seven games after his 9 ER blowup in 3.1 innings. Wild.

And that’s the thing about Bassitt, isn’t it? He’s supposed to be a rock for your team and that first start was so weird and erratic that it had to fall down after. He’s a kitchen-sink arm with a highly-effective sinker, and just about everything else to mess batters up inside and outside the zone. Don’t anticipate eight strikeouts with 19 whiffs on any regular basis, but then again, he finally earned four-seamer whiffs (4/10) as he often saves them to elevate in two-strike counts.

Hold on tight – in a year where so many are injured, volatile, and down-right awful, Bassitt has managed to become a stable asset…even if his strikeout rate is just over 20% at the moment. He should be a strong Holly throughout the year.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Friday:

 

Corbin Burnes (MIL) vs KC (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 104 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. I’m stoked to see the slider return 5/15 whiffs and the curve return 36% CSW – those are the two weak points of Burnes’ season thus far in my view. The walks are annoying but forget it. That shouldn’t continue.

Kyle Bradish (BAL) vs PIT (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 89 pitches.

Atta boy Bradish. The curve returned 9/13 strikes as the slider was magnificent and the four-seamer was able to sit in the zone without damage. Hmmmm. Wouldn’t expect that last one to stick. Be careful against the Angels next.

MacKenzie Gore (WSH) vs NYM (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 96 pitches.

Blegh. Weird seeing that word this high up the roundup (I sort them by ER, y’all. I imagine some of you didn’t even realize after all this time) and our fears of Gore’s pitch inefficiencies materialized against the Mets. The curve didn’t perform, forcing far too many heaters and I’m still waiting for the legit breakout to happen. At least you have the Marlins next.

Josh Taylor (KC) @ MIL (L) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 25 pitches.

Taylor opened for 80 pitches of Max Castillo – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – and it’s not the life I want for the Royals. What if every baseball team had to spend exactly $300M on players every year? Wouldn’t that be something? ($80M for 2023 is far from competitive, y’all.)

John Brebbia (SF) @ ARI (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 21 pitches.

The Giants elected to open for Ross Stripling and it didn’t work – 3.1 IP of 4 ER ball. Those who chased Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, and Sean Manaea instead of Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Cobb, I feel for ya.

Spencer Strider (ATL) @ TOR (L) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 12 Ks – 33 Whiffs, 45% CSW, 110 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Bassitt ensured Strider didn’t get a Win, but a Golden Goal and thirty-three whiffs?! The Irish Panda is in shambles.

J.P. France (HOU) @ CWS (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 94 pitches.

Ayyyy it worked! If you think of France as a Toby pitching for a winning team, you’re gonna have a good time. And with the Cubs + Brewers + Twins next, that may be worth a hold here. He throws enough strikes while dancing around the zone to make it through six.

Sonny Gray (MIN) vs CHC (ND) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 94 pitches.

YES. I was a little worried we’d see a continued fall from Gray and I’m thrilled to see him return with nine strikeouts. Suitman whispers in my ear. Wait…just eight curveballs thrown?! WHY. That’s been his stellar pitch all season (38% CSW and 25% SwStr here!) and the sweeper went…18% CSW across 22 thrown. I DON’T GET IT. What a weird start. Whatever, we keep starting Gray…and maybe sell high. I hate when things feel weird and this is weird. Just because it doesn’t follow the conventions you know doesn’t mean it’s weird. …that’s exactly what weird means. YOU DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING. Okay, that’s completely fair and I may very well be missing something here (I have in the past a ton), but the variance mixed with Gray’s history generally speaks to regression that I’d cash out on. But hey, we keep starting in the meantime, of course. I think I raised Gray as much as I can last time out on The List and now we see how this plays out.

Tylor Megill (NYM) @ WSH (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 93 pitches.

That’s a Dusty Donut with four walks, a 1.80 WHIP, and just four strikeouts, but hey! A Win! A low ERA! And…what’s this?! 7/20 curveball whiffs?! YOU CAN DO THAT?! Okay, it was a sporadic pitch and has all the glitter of “I’m just passing through” as you longingly stare off your balcony into the pink dawn wishing it would come back, wearing its fedora and carrying a brown leather briefcase. This morning marks the year anniversary when you arrived and never came back. We could have been something.

Johan Oviedo (PIT) @ BAL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 86 pitches.

I think y’all know he’s a Cherry Bomb at this point and I don’t think I’m going to lean on Oviedo until a) I trust his breaking ball command or b) he improves his four-seamer dramatically. Kinda makes me think he’s still a Young Gun.

Trevor Kelley (TB) @ NYY (ND) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 33 pitches.

Honestly, 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks from Josh Fleming in relief is actually pretty dang great if you were trying to vulture a Win. Thing is, the Rays offense didn’t do their part and the other Kelly messed things up. Whoops.

Dustin May (LAD) vs SD (ND) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 90 pitches.

Works for me. As long as the expectation isn’t an ace and more like a Holly, then all is fine. His pitch inefficiencies make him prone to short starts and he obviously doesn’t get the whiffs we want, but that’s fine? I love how his name is always a suggestion of what could be. Dustin maaaay…

Blake Snell (SD) @ LAD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 101 pitches.

Hmmm. This is an odd Toby-esque start from Snell with a 1.50 WHIP and just four strikeouts. His changeup has become the main secondary once again (27% usage vs. 26% usage between slider and curve) as the hook went 0/10 CSW (20% strikes) and the slider returned just 19% CSW (50% strikes). Sigh. It has to click at some point, at least he’s not getting demolished while you hold out for it?

Drew Smyly (CHC) @ MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 75 pitches.

Sweet, the curveball came back and Smyly was able to cook for six frames. Unfortunately, now he gets the Astros + Mets + Rays. I don’t think that’s worth it.

Marco Gonzales (SEA) @ DET (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 89 pitches.

HAHAHAHAHA. IT WORKED. Okay, now we send him back to the wire. BUT WHAT A FUN DAY THIS IS.

Gerrit Cole (NYY) vs TB (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 95 pitches.

Blegh. Hey, I could really use one of those nights in the near future. Can you come through and not go 16/4 whiffs to strikeouts? Is that a real stat? …it is now? Legit just got my brain cooking and I wonder if there’s something there. ANYWAY, he’s fine. We’re getting a little better on the slider, but still not at awesome-sauce territory. He’ll get there.

James Paxton (BOS) vs STL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 87 pitches.

I’m sorry. WHAT. Paxton sat 96 mph in this one and pumped heaters over the plate all game and got away with it against the Cardinals. WHAAAAAT. His cutter and curve were far from refined and it didn’t really feel like a nine-strikeout game, save for the Cardinals simply swinging through heaters down the pipe (and one super bounced curve lol Goldy) but hot DANG this was such a cool thing. I think we jump on this – if the cutter and curve come back and his heater can still go something close to 10/53 whiffs and 45% CSW…then we’ve got an ace. This is so cool. Yeah, we spec add now with the Padres up next. I don’t care if they are scary.

Eury Pérez (MIA) vs CIN (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 88 pitches.

Welcome to the show. I watched all of this (duh) and I generally loved it. He allowed a pair of solo shots off four-seamers and his second walk was a squeezed 3-2 pitched while he earned six whiffs apiece on his slider and curve. I felt the slider had two distinct shapes too: one a little tighter closer to 90 mph while a second one with more bite around 87 mph. I wonder if that was just how they came out of his hand differently or if it came with intent. In the end, all the comps to Sandy Alcantara are pretty legit, though there was no sinker at play here and his changeup isn’t here yet. Thing is, Sandy took a few years to become the guy we know and Eury is twenty-years-old. I dig this with a solid heater that finds the zone easily, though I have some small concerns in the short term this year as the breakers aren’t super overpowering, nor did they come across as massive strike-earners. The floor is lower than I’d like for 2023 (based on an MLB debut, mind you), but the future is bright. He’s a clear hold in 12-teamers and I’m excited to watch more.

Michael Kopech (CWS) vs HOU (L) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 1 Hits, 6 BBs, 5 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 94 pitches.

Kopech tried really hard to do the BSB, but couldn’t get enough chases with the four-seamer up to justify it as it soared out of the zone. His heater simply isn’t Cristian Javier’s. We move on.

Austin Gomber (COL) vs PHI (ND) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 77 pitches.

Honestly, I’m legit impressed Gomber performed this well. His hook was as good as we’ve seen at 46% CSW, he even earned 7/27 whiffs on changeups + sliders as well, avoiding the heart of the play plenty. H*ck, the four-seamers found the top of the zone perfectly. And yet I have no interest as he pitches two more games in Coors ahead. Nope, can’t risk that.

Taijuan Walker (PHI) @ COL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 73 pitches.

So it’s a real thing. Walker went 50% splitters last time and leaned back in at 42% here…returning 19% CSW. It’s Coors, but that shouldn’t affect splitters, right? Fun fact – the four-seamer and sweeper returned 40%+ CSW each in this bizarro world Walker lives in. The Cubs + Atlanta + Mets are next and that’s clearly a pass, even if he gave you a PQS here.

Tyler Anderson (LAA) @ CLE (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 96 pitches.

That’s a VPQS with a HAISTBMBWT?! from a Toby and I’m gonna stop throwing terms at you now, I promise. I wanted more from Tyler, but the changeup wasn’t its best self and let’s at least be happy he gave us something. Well, not for you non-QS fellas. Then this just hurts and I’m sorry for that. I’ll have Tyler write you some cards with a flower on them. What flower? What does it say? Why, What in Carnation?! of course.

Graham Ashcraft (CIN) @ MIA (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 99 pitches.

That’s a Philly and now that we have two starts of mediocrity, I imagine I’m going to have a lot of problems selling Ashcraft now. Sigh. Come on fella, give me one EXPLOSIVE outing, I NEED YA.

Ken Waldichuk (OAK) vs TEX (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 93 pitches.

Well, yeah. It’s Waldichuk against the Rangers.

Logan Allen (CLE) vs LAA (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 96 pitches.

Blegh. Is he just a Toby in the end? Does it matter if the White Sox are up for two games in a row now? I’m glad to see at least four whiffs on his sweeper, change, and four-seamer, so let’s not read too much into a game where he got Singled Out.

Martín Pérez (TEX) @ OAK (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 88 pitches.

Bleeeegh. I expected better here from Pérez and he simply got burned by the longball here as three taters = sadness for all. It’s Atlanta + Pittsburgh next, which isn’t fun, but there’s always a chance Martin pulls it off.

Adam Wainwright (STL) @ BOS (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 86 pitches.

You’re still starting Waino? Why?

Ryne Nelson (ARI) vs SF (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 93 pitches.

Ah yes, where do you store your organic produce? No no no, not the fresh stuff, I’m planning something for weeks ahead. Yes, the freezer. In the back left near the Hungry Man dinners? Thank you so much.

Matthew Boyd (DET) vs SEA (L) – 1.1 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 55 pitches.

Yiiiikes. Y’all know the situation – until we see an exuberant amount of slider whiffs, we are staying away from Boyd. We like our bread buttered, after all.

Game of the Day 

Joe Musgrove vs. Julio Urías – This has all the makings of a fun matchup.

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

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Photo courtesy of Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Aaron Polcare (@bearydoesgfx on Twitter)