Hello Urquidy

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.  

José Urquidy (HOU) @ NYY (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 100 pitches.

I don’t really know what to make of José Urquidy right now. After today’s ridiculous start against the Yankees – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 100 pitches – he holds a 4.36 ERA and 6.67 K/9 with a 1.37 WHIP, but this marks two straight starts of 6+ frames and just 1 ER and we’re hoping a corner has been turned.

I’m not inclined to believe so, sadly. Both starts were a product of his heater inducing outs, sporting 55%+ usage in each start without a whole lot of support from his secondaries. Even though his slider earned 40% CSW here across 20 thrown, it was not in a way that relieves the necessity of his four-seamer from holding a low BABIP.

And that’s the root of the issue. It could be the start of a Vargas Rule that continues against the Angels next and I don’t blame anyone hoping for a third straight day of production there. However, as long as Urquidy is a shadow of the kitchen-sink arm that enticed us in previous seasons, I’m personally not buying his recent success.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:

 

Jack Flaherty (STL) vs CHC (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 49 pitches.

Flaherty left this one earlier with shoulder stiffness…just like he did last year. UGGGGHHHH. Expect an IL stint here.

Andrew Wantz (LAA) vs SEA (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 54% CSW, 13 pitches.

Wantz was ejected after tossing at too many Mariners batters. Andrew does what he Wantz, I guess. He was the planned opener for José Suarez, though, who flat-out dominated via 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 87 pitches to earn a dub. We’ve seen Suarez from time-to-time explode for a game like this, especially with 9/34 whiffs on the changeup. It rarely lasts for long, though, and with Houston next, it’s a pretty easy pass.

Spencer Strider (ATL) vs LAD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 95 pitches.

Ayyyyy how many of you sat this one out after the Giants start? I wouldn’t blame you for it as Isildur’s heir has earned the label of Cherry Bomb, rooted in his ability to earn strikes with his four-seamer and slider. Well, today he had his control, boasting a 80% strike rate on four-seamers and 64% on sliders, and what do you know, he dominated. Generally, having control should speak to more successes than failures, given it’s less about precision and more about “just get the dang thing over the plate”, and we’ll see if he can rid himself of the lamented CB label. I’m going to continue taking chances on Spencer in hopes he takes…strides.

Tony Gonsolin (LAD) @ ATL (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 94 pitches.

The line looks a little susceptible, but he did a great job hovering the down-and-gloveside corner with his splitter and slider and it helped him survive for a Philly. Sure, the four-seamer command was rough and I hope that gets tweaked next time, but the lovely first-half run continues charging forward.

Dylan Cease (CWS) vs BAL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 13 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 101 pitches.

Does Cease deserve the AGA label? That’s nine of his eleven starts coming with 1 or fewer earned runs and the strikeouts are obviously flowing (Gallows Pole here after going 16/46 slider whiffs!), but he’s also a WHIP liability, holding a 1.23 clip after today’s game. I wanted to give it to him, and we’ll talk about it tomorrow during my live stream of The List at 1pm ET here. Be there if you want to share your thoughts.

Shane McClanahan (TB) vs PIT (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 99 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Yep, that’s pretty much what we expected. Enjoy the King Cole, you beautiful man.

Jackson Tetreault (WSH) @ TEX (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 99 pitches.

Hot dang, look at you! The kid kept it going, sitting 95 mph and turning it up to as high as 97.4 mph here, getting aid from his cutter plenty around the zone. There’s a chance he can continue his mini-run against the Marlins, but it does feel like it’s a streak of good fortune and less of a man demanding productivity. In other words, I don’t believe this is the league-saving pickup some may believe it to be. Still, you could do worse than experimenting against Miami.

Rich Hill (BOS) @ CLE (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 83 pitches.

I’m glad it worked for those who needed it, but a Dusty Donut is not really giving me the confidence in Hill we’re searching for. I guess he’s an actual Toby as you start him for the Cubs? Blegh.

Roansy Contreras (PIT) @ TB (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 97 pitches.

Ehhhhhhh, that’s a Dusty Donut with a 1.80 WHIP that matches the ERA (I know I’m a nerd when I say I kinda dig when that happens) as Roansy more often than not hasn’t had pristine command. I’m not giving up yet and would likely start him against the Brewers, but I’m losing hope for him to truly breakout this year.

Daniel Castano (MIA) vs NYM (ND) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 93 pitches.

Whoa. It’s the second start of his last three with 6.2+ frames, both coming with four strikeouts or fewer and combining for 2 ER. Yeaaaah, I can’t do this. He gets the Nationals next and I’d rather not Castoff here, even if he did go 66% sliders + cutters. I just don’t think it’s all that good.

David Peterson (NYM) @ MIA (ND) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 104 pitches.

Ohhhhh dang, he did it again! I mean, it was the Marlins twice, but the slider was legit for the second straight start — 9/34 whiffs & a 67% strike rate — and with a start against Texas next, I think I’m down. Let’s see it, Peterson.

Marco Gonzales (SEA) @ LAA (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 100 pitches.

Way to keep your cool Gonzales, one run shy of a VPQS. The Athletics are next and like a regular lunch of a ham and cheese sandwich, it should be more of the “it’s not terrible, but it sure isn’t extraordinary” same.

Tyler Mahle (CIN) @ SF (W) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 97 pitches.

Mahle was on the road and picked up where he left off, even with a Careful, Icarus as he allowed 2 ER in the seventh. A home start against Atlanta may be a bit more of a struggle, but hot dang was that four-seamer excellent across this one. Let’s hope he still has it there.

Yu Darvish (SD) vs PHI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 102 pitches.

Even with a near VPQS you’re likely okay with this given the nine punchouts. It’s the life of Darvish: You’ll never feel like he’s a true ace for your squad, but he’s sure worth that SP #3 spot in your lineup.

James Kaprielian (OAK) @ KC (ND) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 84 pitches.

Blegh. I was hoping for a slider-first start here from Kap, instead we saw just 15% slide pieces as he went four-seamer heavy, favoring the curve over the slider. Back to the drawing board.

Joe Ryan (MIN) vs COL (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 102 pitches.

In the battle of the Ryans, Joe came out on top (SURNAMES FTW), even if it came with terrible ratios and just one strikeout. ONE STRIKEOUT!? HAISTBMBWT?! Seriously, this is a stunning result from Joe against Rockie Road as his slider disappeared and his fastball command was a bit out of whack. Regardless of our concerns, we don’t have a choice but to keep starting him as he faces the Orioles next.

Nestor Cortes (NYY) vs HOU (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 85 pitches.

I’m glad the strikeouts returned here and it does give me hope that Cortes could begin to look like his May self again soon, especially when he doesn’t face teams like the Astros. We’ll likely not see the same stretch of dominance from Nestor, but a firm SP #3/4? Yeah, that works for me.

Chi Chi González (MIL) vs TOR (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 59 pitches.

Congrats Chi Chi, you outdueled Berríos. Here’s one whiff as a prize.

Aaron Civale (CLE) vs BOS (L) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 87 pitches.

Welp, the slider has turned back into the cutter and it was pretty meh. Sure, he faced the Sawx, but I was hoping for two-thirds usage of curve + slider again and we just didn’t get that. And now he gets the Yankees. This isn’t the time to roster Civale.

Jordan Lyles (BAL) @ CWS (L) – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 111 pitches.

Props to Lyles for sticking it through 111 pitches and seven frames after allowing 4 ER through four. That’s all I’m giving you today and the Twins are on the horizon. Good luck.

Dallas Keuchel (ARI) vs DET (ND) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 98 pitches.

Oh right, he’s on a new team. I can see Keuchel talking to the Diamondbacks like Hagrid. I’m withered, ARI. They didn’t care, added him to the roster, saw his 4.1 frames, gave him a pat on the back, and are sure to let him do it all over again. It’s going to happen and you really shouldn’t go near it.

Brady Singer (KC) vs OAK (L) – 8.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 99 pitches.

The man was efficient, I’ll give him that. It’s a sub 1.00 WHIP and was a near Quality Start (4 ER in 8 = 3 ER in 6) if he didn’t allow one more in the ninth. But yeah, this was the Athletics and he still wasn’t a good choice in retrospect. I suggest you Sing a different tune.

Ryan Feltner (COL) @ MIN (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 80 pitches.

Even outside of Coors, this was the Twins. A clear avoid and what does he do? Why, sit a tick lower on his heater. Yeaaaaaah.

Beau Brieske (DET) @ ARI (ND) – 3.2 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 75 pitches.

We were hoping Brieske had a little bit of magic left to take advantage of the Sneks, but it wasn’t meant to be. I don’t think I’d chase him and his spotty secondaries against the Royals next unless I were in an AL-Only.

Kyle Gibson (PHI) @ SD (ND) – 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 61 pitches.

Yikes. Maybe the Padres are waking up a bit against right-handers? No, it’s the Gibson who is wrong. He’s been a solid Toby through the year, but most come with a poor floor and here’s Gibson showing it. So it goes, we plod along and wonder if we’re willing to take the shot against the Cardinals. He’ll likely be at the bottom of the Questionable Start tier there.

Alec Mills (CHC) @ STL (ND) – 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 14% CSW, 51 pitches.

Remember when Mills was the miraculous Toby of the second half? He has a long  way to go, especially with Boston next. Ooof.

Glenn Otto (TEX) vs WSH (L) – 2.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 60 pitches.

It appeared Otto was to be opened for, didn’t, and maybe should have been. He’s a clear Frozen Banana that will never cost $10.

Anthony DeSclafani (SF) vs CIN (L) – 2.2 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 53 pitches.

Ohhhhh no this isn’t fun. We weren’t chasing Tony Disco yet, but now we really aren’t chasing Tony Disco yet. I’m willing to wager we’ll consider him later in the summer as a proper Toby, but sure not right now. Oh boy not now.

José Berríos (TOR) @ MIL (L) – 2.2 IP, 8 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 66 pitches.

Oh dear. Come on Berríos, you’re supposed to have a longer high before stringing a pair of starts accumulating 14 ER. His curveball was off here, which meant more fastballs and changeups over the plate that were teed off on. Get ready to see Berríos on your waiver wire tomorrow and get ready to snag him. WHAT?! Yep, I’m the crazy guy that will chase this. He gets the Rays next and it’s ultra-rare for a pitcher to have blowups like these throughout a full year. Given the ceiling of Berríos and his reputation, I’m down to buy in at the nadir of his value. It’s a worthy gamble, in my book, even if you pick him up for one start and bench to see what happens.

 

Game of the Day 

Lucas Giolito vs. Noah Syndergaard – I’m curious if Thor is more than a Toby and if Giolito can regain his footing.

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)