Jackson Thrive

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

Jackson Tetreault (WSH) vs PHI (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 91 pitches.

Today’s lede is more about nipping the discussion in the bud with Jackson Tetreault after he went 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 91 pitches against the Phillies. That’s a start sure to turn heads, especially with a potential date with Texas next weekend. You’re wondering who this guy is and whether he warrants your attention.

The answer is, unfortunately, No in my book. He made it through this outing with his four-seamer returning 15 called strikes and one more ball in play and it simply worked in his favor. He paired it with a pedestrian cutter that went 1/20 whiffs and…that’s about it. There are moments the four-seamer looked great at 97+ mph, but it settled at 94/95 mph through the outing and isn’t that pitch you want it to be.

Simply put, I wouldn’t grab him against the Rangers. Can that work? Sure, why not, it did here, after all. The ability underneath isn’t anything special, though, making him an unappealing streamer for your standard 12-team leagues.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:

 

Ian Anderson (ATL) @ CHC (W) – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 99 pitches.

That’s a lovely line, though I wouldn’t say his command was all that spectacular. It was a sub 60% strike rate on his four-seamer, his changeup wasn’t low enough, and the curve went just 8/18 strikes. I’m glad it worked against the Cubs, but this isn’t the Anderson we can rely on.

Jared Koenig (OAK) vs KC (W) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 0 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 89 pitches.

Seventeen outs. Three whiffs. ZERO strikeouts. HAISTBMBWT?! You don’t need me.

Kenny Rosenberg (LAA) @ SEA (ND) – 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 71 pitches.

That’s a 90.3 mph heater with a pedestrian slider and changeup, leading to the most logical one-strikeout game you’ll see. HAISTBMBWT?!

Austin Voth (BAL) vs TB (ND) – 2.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 41 pitches.

The Orioles went bullpen here as Jordan Lyles was a late scratch for this one. Props to Austin, but don’t you start having a Voth phase now.

Cristian Javier (HOU) vs CWS (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 93 pitches.

We’ll take it. I don’t think Javier’s command was as far off as the four walks would suggest, though I’m not sure it’s quite good enough to warrant a gamble against the Yankees next. Play that safe if you can.

Merrill Kelly (ARI) vs MIN (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 96 pitches.

Kelly has been sitting 93/94 mph for a bit now and I’m glad it’s propelled him lately. That said, the changeup hasn’t been as productive as I want and while the curveball was the secondary pitch he needed today (44% CSW), I’m not confident it will be there tomorrow. But who cares, that’s the Tigers. That’ll be fine.

Nick Pivetta (BOS) vs STL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 10 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 108 pitches.

The man just can’t be stopped right now. It wasn’t the same command we saw last time, but the four-seamer dominated with 37% CSW. His curve was inconsistent (just 16/35 strikes is horrendous), but the slider picked up the slack and stabilized at-bats. You gotta keep rolling with this one, of course.

Antonio Senzatela (COL) vs SD (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 13% CSW, 87 pitches.

Sure, whatever Senz-A. Live your life n whatnot.

Mitch Keller (PIT) vs SF (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 92 pitches.

That’s another start where Keller survived, but the breakers aren’t earning whiffs (2/35 combined ain’t it) and he oddly went sinker over four-seamer, akin to Robbie Ray’s shift, saving the four-seamer to elevate and otherwise going sinker to get outs. Anyone else kinda weirded out by four-seamer heavy pitchers suddenly reverting back to sinkers? I’m not convinced it’s the solution to Keller’s issues — this would make him a ratio play and limit the strikeouts and I’m not interested in that whatsoever.

Andrew Heaney (LAD) vs CLE (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 77 pitches.

Hot dang, look at you! Heaney returned from the IL and killed it against the Guardians in fewer than 80 pitches. I am a bit worried, though. The sinker did everything here as the slider, the pitch that got me amped in April, was horribly commanded. This was nothing like what we saw in those two early starts. Maybe the command returns as he shakes off more rust, but if it doesn’t, I do not buy Heaney as an effective 12-teamer pitcher with this sinker and slider.

Sandy Alcantara (MIA) @ NYM (W) – 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 106 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. You know, that’s seven Wins for Sandy already after earning just nine all of last year. The dude deserves it.

Shane Bieber (CLE) @ LAD (ND) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 98 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Look, do I think Bieber is still susceptible with his lower velocity fastball? Yes, but at least it was 91/92 here instead of 90.3 mph. Meanwhile, his slider has woken UP and armed with that pitch (and his curve!), he earned a Golden Goal here and has cruised for weeks. I gotta give credit where it’s due and y’all expect dominance from Bieber right now. I get it.

Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs LAA (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 89 pitches.

Great stuff Gilbert, I’m thrilled to see 9/10 strikes with your curve as the four-seamer did the rest. I think it was just “one of those days” with the hook as the slider took a backseat, so I wouldn’t expect that to be a major factor in the future, but the slider will be a bit better and the four-seamer will still carry him. Things are cool. Not stellar, but cool.

Corey Kluber (TB) @ BAL (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 92 pitches.

Solid stuff, Kluber. He pounded the zone with everything, from sinkers and cutters to curveballs and changeups, and the Orioles couldn’t do much about it. He gets a gift in the Pirates next so you can hold onto Kluber once again.

Andre Pallante (STL) @ BOS (L) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 75 pitches.

I think Andre is kinda interesting with his 95 mph four-seamer and decent breakers. Now he gets the Cubs later this week and that could be a decent NL-Only stream. It’s hard to confidently stream young arms, though, so be careful in your 12-teamer.

Chris Archer (MIN) @ ARI (L) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 61 pitches.

Arrrrr we wanted five frames from this former pirate and this, like the past, be four (you sunk my battleship). I don’t sea a future here.

Alex Cobb (SF) @ PIT (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 60 pitches.

Sigh. The Giants ultimately limited Cobb and he didn’t do a whole lot despite the excellent matchup. He hosts the Reds later in the week, though, and five strong frames could be in the reds cards.

Chris Bassitt (NYM) vs MIA (L) – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 109 pitches.

We have a Careful, Icarus here as Bassitt was shutout through six and ran into trouble that resulted in a grand slam in the seventh. Not cool. Even so, a near PQS with that WHIP and nine strikeouts is still very helpful and I’m glad Bassitt is a clear step away from his May struggles.

Adrian Houser (MIL) @ CIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 103 pitches.

Ehhhhh, unless you’re in a Quality Start league where you’d accept a PQS, that ERA and WHIP hurt too much — and this was on a good day for Houser.

Brady Singer (KC) @ OAK (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 82 pitches.

Ehhhhhhh, given the Athletics, I was hoping for more, but it doesn’t emphasize the feeling of Singer as a Cherry Bomb regardless of opponent. He’s nothing different from his 2021 self.

Drew Hutchison (DET) vs TEX (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 54 pitches.

Well there’s a name. There was a time Hutch was a strikeout upside arm, but those days are clearly far behind him — HAISTBMBWT?!

Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) vs NYY (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 80 pitches.

Kikuchi wasn’t able to perform well against the Yankees for the third time and I don’t see a reason for anyone to still be rostering Kikuchi in 15-teamers. I’m not down for his start against the Brewers.

Mike Minor (CIN) vs MIL (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 99 pitches.

Nope, not ready yet. He’s still a Frozen Banana, though I think I’ll find myself streaming him this summer.

Michael Kopech (CWS) @ HOU (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 75 pitches.

Blegh. Kopech sat just 94 mph on the heater and his slider + curve left much to be desired. I can’t help but wonder if his knee is still bothering him (it would explain the lower velocity) and it makes what should be an obvious start against the Orioles a bit more difficult.

Blake Snell (SD) @ COL (L) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 89 pitches.

Ouch. This was Coors n all and a “Questionable Start” given Snell’s lack of rhythm this year, but still. Ouch. I do dig his lean into four-seamer/slider akin to his magical August run last year, but can you command the dang things next time? You can’t go around with a 50% strike rate on your four-seamer and think it’ll work.

Zach Eflin (PHI) @ WSH (L) – 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 38 pitches.

Eflin departed early as the knee barked again, though the Phillies are saying he still could make his next start. Yeah, and I could fly to Orlando tomorrow but why the h*ck would I do that? Let him go as he’s not worth the stash through this injury.

Luis Severino (NYY) @ TOR (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 9 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 102 pitches.

Blegh. You were able to salvage nine strikeouts here as the slider is still incredibly legit (47% CSW!), but he ran into some trouble with his four-seamer command and it hurt him. Another test awaits against the Astros and I’m still starting him there with confidence — his stuff is too good.

Dane Dunning (TEX) @ DET (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 83 pitches.

Womp womp. Dunning was granted a lovely matchup against the Tigers and simply couldn’t come through. He was more erratic than usual and ladies and gentlemen, here is the floor. It doesn’t care about your matchup.

Kyle Hendricks (CHC) vs ATL (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 80 pitches.

Y’all know he’s a Cherry Bomb and even that’s generous given his disasters far outweigh the candy. This ain’t the old days of Hendricks.

 

Game of the Day 

Gerrit Cole vs. Shane McClanahan – I WANT TO GO TO THERE.

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)