Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Thursday 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.
Alex Faedo (DET) vs CWS (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 94 pitches.
Some nights have one of those games that makes everyone question if they need to jump to the waiver wire and make the move before their leaguemates. Earning tonight’s Gold Star, Alex Faedo did just that tonight against the White Sox, earning a Win as he returned 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 94 pitches.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to pick up Faedo – I wouldn’t dare try this against the Rangers next time out. What Faedo brings to the table is the Brady Singer approach of slider whiffs and fastball called strikes, where the slider is plenty volatile (to little surprise, it was excellent tonight at 11 whiffs and 37% CSW) and the four-seamer has held exactly an 18.3% called strike in both 2022 and 2023 (about league average). So he had a great night with his slider against a poor offense. Nailed it. You don’t start those guys against the #1 offense in baseball and you certainly don’t stash them for ten days to start them against the Phillies.
Let’s see how every other SP did Thursday:
Kyle Gibson (BAL) @ NYY (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 96 pitches.
Gibson does whatever the h*ck he wants and it’s kinda hilarious at this point. His sinker gets outs! His sinker also had a 10% CSW and I’m done trying to figure this out. Just start him if you have to take a risk. We move on.
Miles Mikolas (STL) @ CIN (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 95 pitches.
That’s a solid game from Mikolas, pumping sinkers at an 86% strike rate and a 72% clip on his slider. He’s not going to rid himself of the Toby tag any time soon, but the Pirates are next and that’s lovely.
Luke Weaver (CIN) vs STL (ND) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 86 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! The Cardinals sat both Arenado and Goldschmidt, paving the way for a chance of success and Weaver seized it as his four-seamer and cutter earned 15 called strikes between them, while the change and curve tallied all 12 whiffs. The latter pair frequently sat low as Weaver tossed cutter and fastball strikes with reckless abandon and I imagine against a proper lineup, this wouldn’t have favored so well. I don’t think he’s an add to make with his mediocre fastball and cutter, sadly. It seems a bit like a Birthday Party.
Scott Alexander (SF) @ MIL (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 50% CSW, 8 pitches.
I really need something for all these bullpen games. THERE WAS NO REJOICING. Sure. Whatever. Logan Webb was pushed to Saturday to give him more time to rest his back, which I totally understand now that I’m 35. This wasn’t supposed to happen to me. Oh, we also got a glimpse of Sean Manaea for 22 pitches in a quick drive-by of our hopes and dreams. Yes, I still have dreams of Manaea actually settling into the rotation. Let me live my life.
Zach Eflin (TB) vs TOR (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 94 pitches.
I was scared by the Jays and that HAISTBMBWT?! should tell you the good fortune he had to leave with a Win and a 1.14 WHIP. I’m still encouraged, but the cutter wasn’t nearly as good as it’s been as its sub 50% strike rate is rouuuugh. The schedule isn’t pretty ahead either, for what it’s worth, but we’re still rolling with Eflin – this was a productive outing after all.
Carlos Carrasco (NYM) @ CHC (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 100 pitches.
Okay, so he’s up to 100 pitches and featured a 31% CSW with the four-seamer going the called-strike route and his changeup/curve doing the–wait. Curve?! Carrasco has been a changeup/slider guy for ages and it’s weird to see him toss 22 curves vs 10 sliders. Huh. For reference, Carrasco’s curveball has been under 5% usage in past seasons. It returned a 41% CSW here and it could be a major part of a redemption tour as he looked like one of the worst pitchers in baseball across his first four starts of the season. Not sure I want to take the chance on that with the Phillies + Atlanta up next, but it’s something we should absolutely monitor.
Clarke Schmidt (NYY) vs BAL (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 97 pitches.
He gave you as good of an ERA as you could have hoped for, but it cost you a 1.40 WHIP and just four strikeouts. Was it worth it? I dunno. Still worry there’s not enough to chase here.
Julio Teheran (MIL) vs SF (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 83 pitches.
I think Teheran signing with the Brewers out of the blue to return a 1.80 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across five frames is the best representation of 2023. But Lucas Giolito walks seven batters OKAY WHATEVER YOU SAY.
JP Sears (OAK) @ SEA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 59 pitches.
I chose Sears as the streaming pick of the day for his whiff potential and to see just three across one strikeout is all kinds of strange, especially when it came with glistening ratios. HAISTBMBWT?! It was confusing to see him get the hook after just 59 pitches, but apparently there’s no injury and it was a “tactical” decision, for those concerned. As for the stuff, he didn’t elevate his heater well and the slider was a bit inconsistent. This wasn’t the Sears I’ve fallen for, but hey, it worked. Maybe bench for Atlanta next, but feast on @PIT + @MIL after.
Blake Snell (SD) @ WSH (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 99 pitches.
Sooooooo the BSB is actually back – take a look for yourself – as the curveball was legit at 47% CSW, but he missed a ton with his heater (as you can see) and the slider returned 42% strikes. It feels like he’s getting closer to that final tweak that sends him on the tear we want, but we need that slider to come back first.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs OAK (W) – 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 77 pitches.
That’s a King Cole for Gilbert with the slider earning a 35% CSW and his splitter returning 5 whiffs and a 65% strike rate. You love to see it. Just 77 pitches across eight frames is all kinds of wild, too. Sigh. Why can’t more pitchers face the Athletics each day?
Kyle Freeland (COL) vs MIA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 91 pitches.
Freeland, have a tent, a sleeping bag, and this pot of food. Now go do whatever you want in the backyard, I can’t.
Braxton Garrett (MIA) @ COL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 82 pitches.
The cutter is still good and Coors gave him a 1.80 WHIP but we keep our eyes focused on the horizon. I feel like you’re okay to start him against the Padres – Braxton has found his groove.
Jake Irvin (WSH) vs SD (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 76 pitches.
Sadly not Irwin today, though we didn’t really expect that to happen today. Nor tomorrow. Nor that day.
Kyle Hendricks (CHC) vs NYM (L) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 86 pitches.
Whoa, Hendricks is back! And he was a clear bench in this “Still Ill”, sadly showing a lack of curveball that makes it hard to buy in for his next outing. Besides, it’s the Rays + Padres next, you didn’t want that anyway. Take it slow here like his 86.9 mph fastball – Hendricks is far removed from his Cy Young days.
Dylan Dodd (ATL) vs PHI (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 83 pitches.
I feel like the guy looking at my toaster oven waiting for the bagel to have just the right amount of golden color. Opens door and inspects Hmmmm….35% slider whiffs but tons of hits on poorly spotted heaters and a meh changeup. Nope, not ready. Really loved that slider down, though. He’s close.
Lucas Giolito (CWS) @ DET (L) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 7 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 89 pitches.
Seven walks? SEVEN?! What a weird game. Welp, you shrug it off and start him against the Angels next. Doesn’t matter how I analyze this game, it’s clearly an extreme moment in time. Whatareyagonnado.
Alek Manoah (TOR) @ TB (L) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 87 pitches.
Manoah is working that shovel and he’s already six feet deep. What a wild season this has been.
Aaron Nola (PHI) @ ATL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 98 pitches.
Bleeeeeggggh. I want to give you the AGA label again so badly but this is why you don’t have it, even with a Gallows Pole. He allowed hits on everything, though plenty more on cutters and curves than fastballs and we just sit here looking at Nola with our hands in the air. What is this bucko. At least you got seven strikeouts? We keep plodding forward, hoping he doesn’t allow three home runs again. It’s all we can do.
Game of the Day
Jesús Luzardo vs. Reid Detmers – Two underperforming lefties I adore? Yes please.
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 Steven King/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)
You have to pick one, Luzardo or Detmers, who would you pick?