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 9 am-11 am ET.
Tyler Anderson (LAD) @ WSH (W) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 101 pitches.
Sometimes a Toby is more than just a Toby and hints and something more. Maybe I’ll wear a blue suit today. Tyler Anderson has been rocking the white and blue this year and while I’ve been tempering expectations, he’s going to make it harder to do so after going 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 101 pitches against the Nationals, securing a win for Los Angeles. Yes. Twenty-one whiffs.
We saw it at times last year: Anderson’s changeup goes nuts and his four-seamer takes advantage of it. Here we saw the slow ball go 10/37 whiffs while the four-seamer returned 37% CSW. It was glorious, lovely, and I don’t expect it to be a frequent occurrence. This is to say I’m sure many of you are upset you didn’t snag Anderson earlier in the year and I say meh. Sure, he’s helping out teams n whatnot, but this isn’t a Kyle Wright situation. Anderson will have some good days and he’ll have some bad. Maybe he’s making the play for Spider-Man as the best Toby out there and that’s great. It doesn’t suddenly mean he’s clearly going to dominate the Mets. That’s just as much of a shrug as ever.
Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:
JT Brubaker (PIT) vs COL (ND) – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 85 pitches.
Coffee Cakes was the right choice and I’m so frustrated I went with Kuhl. Oddly enough, between both their sliders, they returned just five whiffs on the night. Go figure. Anyway, that’s the first of two good matchups this week for Brubaker, let’s hope the breaker is better against the Pads over the weekend.
Triston McKenzie (CLE) @ HOU (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 95 pitches.
His fastball sat a full tick higher today and it led to more outs in the field than usual. The breakers did a good job finding the zone as well and it gave Triston a chance to get through seven frames under 100 pitches. I like the velocity, I’m not quite sold he has the approach that kills yet, you know? Just 19% CSW on those heaters despite the velocity give me a bit more uneasiness than I’d like, but hey, this was the Astros and he gets Detroit next. Sounds good to me.
Adrian Houser (MIL) @ SD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 99 pitches.
Ayyyy that’s two in a row for Houser, taking advantage of the Friars’ inability to hit right-handers. Can’t say I had faith in this one after he failed to soar against the Reds, twice, but why not, be happy for him. I personally don’t like flipping this coin, but your Houser, your rules.
Chad Kuhl (COL) @ PIT (ND) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 103 pitches.
As I mentioned in the Brubaker blurb, I knew I was picking the wrong right-hander with a nasty slider and a great matchup. Blegh. That WHIP stings + just one strikeout?! HAISTBMBWT?! That slider went just 11% CSW and one whiff across 19 thrown. What the h*ck.
Chris Archer (MIN) vs DET (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 72 pitches.
It’s like a band you’re eager to see playing six songs and calling it a night. Oh, that’s it? You don’t have an encore for the fifth or sixth? Cool. Cool cool cool. Even if he gets stretched out, I’m not sure Archer brings enough to the table these days.
Zack Wheeler (PHI) @ ATL (W) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 105 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Yeah, the dude is back. 96/97 mph heaters, a King Cole and a slider that returned a 25% SwStr rate across 32 thrown. NEVER LEAVE US AGAIN.
David Peterson (NYM) @ SF (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 99 pitches.
Well look at this. I didn’t expect much of anything from Peterson against the lefty-mashing Giants, but he featured his best slider — 8/26 whiffs! — while the heater sat 93/94 mph. Loved his command of that breaker + sinkers inside to left-handers, though not much else to get excited about here. I think I’m in for a stream against the Nationals next, though I have to warn you: there’s no guarantee that slider will return.
Luis Garcia (HOU) vs CLE (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 85 pitches.
His cutter worked and his heater was decent. Nothing exceptional here, though, and it’s another performance where I just don’t know what to make of it moving forward. It’s a good cutter and 94 mph is fine for the heater, but is it enough through the year? We’ll find out.
Nick Martinez (SD) vs MIL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 106 pitches.
He’s back in the rotation and I’m stunned to see him toss over 100 pitches. He made it work for his squad but not your WHIP as the cutter and curveball combined for 0/26 whiffs. Ouch. He gets the Cardinals next and I think I’m holding off for now.
Miles Mikolas (STL) vs TOR (ND) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 99 pitches.
All of you who have Mikolas on your squads, I know the anxiety you felt with this start — It’s a Vargas Rule, but the Jays! THE JAYS! — and we’ll all take this one happily. Keep the ride going with the Brewers next.
Jordan Lyles (BAL) @ NYY (W) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 117 pitches.
Eight strikeouts and a better than PQS against the Yankees? Brah, Bravo. I don’t care if Lyles is on a mini-roll now like his face is plastered on a Pillsbury biscuit, I’d not riding this for the Sawx and Mariners ahead.
José Berríos (TOR) @ STL (ND) – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 102 pitches.
The Great Undulator continues his march, here serving a Dusty Donut and barely beating a PQS. We’ll take this, thanks José.
Drew Smyly (CHC) @ CIN (W) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 101 pitches.
His fastball is down to 91 mph, but his curveball was filthy against the Reds for 10/41 whiffs and 41 CSW. It’s cool to see and makes you wish he had a bit more in the arsenal to make it sing for a full season. But nay, it’s best if you fold this DS.
Elvin Rodriguez (DET) @ MIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 75 pitches.
The Tigers have gone from Erod to Erod. And it changes nothing. There isn’t enough under the hood to latch onto, sadly. I won’t be delvin’ into Elvin like he was so hot we have to use Kelvin. This is terrible. So I guess Elvin we’ll be shelvin’. MAKE IT STOP. Like a clock twelvin’, our hands are up. NOOOOOOOO
Vladimir Gutierrez (CIN) vs CHC (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 73 pitches.
Yes, I know, you’re shocked he still has a rotation spot. I wonder if Ashcraft will get the call to take his spot soon as this really isn’t working out.
Zach Davies (ARI) vs KC (ND) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 84 pitches.
The changeup is gone and I imagine his mental state isn’t great, either. That’s a no from me.
Gerrit Cole (NYY) vs BAL (L) – 8.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 22 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 110 pitches.
Aces gonna earn a Gallows Pole yet struggle in the third and need to go eight innings to salvage the night. Props to him for pushing himself to give the Yanks a better chance + that WHIP and 11 strikeouts are sweet. Stinks the poor inning happened, though, and you really shouldn’t think much of it. The slider is back.
Marco Gonzales (SEA) vs OAK (W) – 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 94 pitches.
Awwwww. He was on one of his patented stretches and he tossed a few too many hittable pitches in this one. Still pretty dang good pitch separation, but not good enough to deal with the Astros next.
Tucker Davidson (ATL) vs PHI (L) – 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 76 pitches.
You thought TD would be bank — no one thought that. Or maybe you thought he would be a touchdown — definitely didn’t think that. Or maybe — NO. Fine. There was a moment of intrigue last year, but Davidson is hyper-reliant on command to make it work. He didn’t have it. #LetStriderStart.
Alex Cobb (SF) vs NYM (L) – 6.0 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 90 pitches.
I promise I’m not just “sticking to my guns” for the sake of it. Y’all know me. Cobb is getting pretty unfortunate, is still throwing decently hard (94.3 mph) and has a good feel for his splitter. You gotta buy into a bounceback, at least next time against the Reds.
Joan Adon (WSH) vs LAD (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 92 pitches.
Yes, I know. He was a one hit Joander. When was the hit? October 3rd, 2021. Sigh.
Zach Logue (OAK) @ SEA (L) – 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 97 pitches.
Ouch. The changeup was his main thing before this and his last start, but the breakers tried to take over a second time in a row and it wasn’t great. You can avoid Logue moving forward.
Zack Greinke (L) @ ARI (ND) – 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 87 pitches.
Womp womp. At least he got five strikeouts…? We all want Greinke to succeed and this stinks.
Game of the Day
Roansy Contreras vs. Kyle Freeland – The eyes will be on Contreras, but Freeland could be the better pitcher here. Also, Pablo López vs. Shane McClanahan?! BE STILL MY BEATING HEART.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)
I keep waiting for Cobb to some kind of good luck for once, but it hasn’t happened. It is painful. 4 of his 10 hits didn’t leave the infield. 2 infield hits in one inning, a bloop misplay by Ruf (counted as a double / xba on that was 0.010) and then a 2 out HR by Alonso, 5 run inning. 66+% gb rate, 27.7K%, FIP, xFIP, xERA, etc. all say he should be doing so much better. That strand rate and babip luck continue to plague him. I can’t believe his numbers when I look at all of the other stats. He has a 6.25 ERA. Ouch
Agree with all of this HOWEVER results are what matter in fantasy. I have been ‘believing’ in guys like Cobb & J Montgomery all year… I’m in bottom third of my league. Granted it’s not all pitching related but the bad luck is not helping. Luck is a skill as much as health. At some point we have to just cut bait and move on to someone that won’t hurt our team as much — both figuratively and emotionally. Seriously, waiting for Cobb’s rise is starting to wear me out.
Jays fan from north of the border who watches every game… at some point you need to play the hand you’re dealt. And the cards you’re getting of late, like for quite a while, are not good. So about the frequent “but the Jays” comments and similar, you start middling pitchers against them right now. They are ice freaking cold.
They are a mess. As of this morning, the only teams who they are outscoring based on runs per game are: BAL, OAK, PIT, DET. Let that sink in for a minute. 26th out of 30. They just finished a 3-game series against the Reds who have the highest ERA in MLB and TOR scored a whopping total of 7 runs in 3 games. The Cubs just put up 7 on the Reds yesterday.
Shoutout to Elvin Rodriguez though. First career start (2nd appearance), gave up a grand slam in the first inning, then buckled down and didn’t give up another run in his remaining 4 innings.