Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Wednesday 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.
Alex Faedo (DET) @ PIT (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 82 pitches.
I wanted to give a shoutout today to Alex Faedo as he steamrolled the Pirates via 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 82 pitches. Sure, it was the Pirates, but his slider was the pitch we wanted it to be with 9/26 whiffs, while he was able to execute solid pitch separation with four-seamers generally in the upper third and pristine sliders down-and-armside.
The reason I wanted to lead with Faedo is the likely chance you’re wondering if he’s worth a pickup. I wouldn’t say he’s a league-winner or a must-add, but it is the ChiSox and Rangers up next in a two-start week and you can bet he’ll be the talk of Twitter over the weekend as he gets added for that two-step. I’m willing to wager he’s stellar for just one of them — his slider hasn’t been as consistent as we’ve wanted it to be and he’s nothing without it. Do with that as you will.
Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) vs WSH (ND) – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 105 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Okay okay, he’s Tier 1 on Monday. In celebration of this Golden Goal, we have a new shirt on sale: Sandy Crush. He crushes, I have a crush on him, and it’s like that crush game. IT’S COOL I PROMISE.
Aaron Nola (PHI) @ MIL (W) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 103 pitches.
ATTA BOY NOLA. It’s weird seeing such dominance from Nola in a game where no pitch earned more than three whiffs, but things went his way for once, while the curveball was never hung. He’s been altering phenomenal starts with clunkers and let’s hope he breaks the trend next time out.
Merrill Kelly (ARI) @ CIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.
Whoaaaa. Kelly earned himself a share of the Gallows Pole as he ramped up his heater to 93/94 mph and leaned heavily on four-seamer/changeup. Don’t get used to nine whiffs on that fastball, but I’m glad Kelly was able to take advantage of a good matchup. He gets the Reds a second time and that’s completely fine with me.
Sean Manaea (SD) vs NYM (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 91 pitches.
I’m a bit shocked to see Manaea allowed at least 3 ER for six straight outings before his last outing as I consider him a little unappreciated so far this year. After this start he’s hovering a 3.50 ERA with nearly a strikeout per inning. That’s pretty dang cool to me.
Josiah Gray (WSH) @ MIA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 101 pitches.
Hey that’s another solid outing from Gray as his slider was crazy good at 11/32 whiffs, while the curveball landed for 68% strikes and his four-seamer avoided the heart of the plate. That’s phenomenal stuff. Is Josiah legit coming around now? I can’t help but wonder as this was possibly the best command I’ve seen from him all year. We’ll see.
Nathan Eovaldi (BOS) @ LAA (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 84 pitches.
Eovaldi had his splitter once again and while his velocity was massively down — we’re talking 94 mph from Eovaldi. NINETY FOUR — he still pulled through. That velo drop is awfully worrisome given how stark it is at a 2.7 tick drop on his heater & about two ticks on everything. Pay attention as it may be an injury.
Reid Detmers (LAA) vs BOS (ND) – 4.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 85 pitches.
Sure, I guess it’s a goose egg in the run department, but just one strikeout?! HAISTBMBWT?! I may be most disappointed about Detmers’ progression this year than any other as I’m still asking the same question two months into the season — when we will finally see sliders for whiffs? WHEN?!
Shane Bieber (CLE) vs TEX (ND) – 4.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 54 pitches.
Well this is stupid. Bieber was cruising with his slider into the fifth when a rain delay cut his night short. 54 pitches across 13 outs. 54! That’s a seven-inning gem stolen by nature. ARE YOU HAPPY, MOTHER?! I still consider him a bit of a sell high given the 90.3 mph velocity (as I imagine some see him as a flat-out ace), but he’s still an SP #2 with that slider in his pocket.
Mitch Keller (PIT) vs DET (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 95 pitches.
Hmmmm that’s two straight strong outings from Keller, last time allowing 2 ER against the Dodgers…albeit with five walks as well. Thing is, Keller finally did the thing — he went 10/30 slider whiffs. Whiffs! On a breaking ball! But I just can’t buy into this being consistent and not a case of Tiger Silly. Tiger Silly? You know, not Tigerlily, but the Tigers being a silly easy offense to stream against. Ah. The Cardinals are next so take it easy and leave Mitch off your squad.
Alex Wood (SF) vs COL (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 101 pitches.
Ayyyyyyy THERE HE IS. This felt like a make-or-break start from Wood after we’ve given him every excuse we could and he pulled through at 92.3 mph. Now he gets the Royals and Pirates and you really should hold for that, too.
Tony Gonsolin (LAD) @ CWS (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 84 pitches.
Another day, another strong six from Gonsolin. I wasn’t impressed by his slider or splitter and the four-seamer was kinda hittable, but it went his way and I’m willing to shrug and keep putting him in the lineup. Sure makes me feel like he’s a sell high if someone’s buying, but that all depends on what you’re getting back — I’d only deal him if you get in return a legit upgrade for your offense.
Antonio Senzatela (COL) @ SF (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 101 pitches.
Sure, whatever you want Senz-A. You’re not getting my Bud Light.
Chris Archer (MIN) vs NYY (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 70 pitches.
Huh, Archer finally went five frames and it somehow happened against the Yankees and allowing four walks. Weird.
Ian Anderson (ATL) vs OAK (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 92 pitches.
The changeup was excellent, the four-seamer and curveball and Athletics offense were not. That’s good enough for me. I’d start him against the Nats next as well and hope the slow ball is commanded this well again.
Johnny Cueto (CWS) vs LAD (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 90 pitches.
If Cueto can spin a PQS against you, surely the Dodgers are a bit of a mess, right? Right?!
Logan Gilbert (SEA) @ HOU (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 109 pitches.
A VVPQS with just three strikeouts isn’t exactly what I had in mind for Gilbert and while I know it’s Houston, it doesn’t ease my concerns that Gilbert is an SP #3/#4 the rest of the way. He’s good n all, but if someone sees his 2.41 ERA and nearly a strikeout per inning paired with a 1.08 WHIP and wants in, I’d let him go quickly. The secondaries simply aren’t doing what they need to.
Corey Kluber (TB) vs STL (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 80 pitches.
Ehhhhh….? It’s a Dusty Donut with those ratios but a Win and strikeout per inning. Do you have the brass to try it against the Yankees again? I don’t think I do with everything sitting sub 89 mph and just 4/24 whiffs on the breaker.
Brady Singer (KC) vs TOR (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 98 pitches.
Ehhhhh, it’s the same ole sinker/slider and while the slider has been great — 10/37 whiffs is cool with me! — it’s still a hittable sinker. If you treat Singer like a Cherry Bomb to start only in good matchups, you’ll be a happy manager.
Mike Minor (CIN) vs ARI (L) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 85 pitches.
Blegh. Okay Minor, you’re not where you need to be yet, we get it. No, I won’t start you against the Sneks for a repeat matchup after this one, even if would be your third start with potentially more rust shaken off. Stop with your logic.
Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) @ KC (ND) – 0.2 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 45 pitches.
Sigh. I was really hoping Kikuchi could hold onto some of his magic, but he labored as much as anyone in the first and got the hook with 45 pitches and only two outs to his name. Even with the Orioles next, I don’t think you can risk it.
Nestor Cortes (NYY) @ MIN (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 88 pitches.
Noooooooooo. I finally stick him in the Top 10, and on his potential AGA graduation day, Nestor comes down to Earth. I’m not saying he enters a spiral now, but it does make us toss the cake in the trash. He should recover given his dominance this year.
José Urquidy (HOU) vs SEA (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 91 pitches.
Womp womp. Urquidy has been a drop for a bit and it’s just getting worse now. Man, it’s wild to see it from Urquidy — he used to be the guy with the deepest repertoire.
Jared Koenig (OAK) @ ATL (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 76 pitches.
There was a bit of anticipation for Koenig’s first start and this was…pretty mediocre. His 89/90 mph heater leaves a lot to be desired, forcing the curve to do too much & using the slider every so often to show that it’s helping. Grab him everywhere? What, absolutely not. JK! JK! Oh. I see.
Dane Dunning (TEX) @ CLE (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 64 pitches.
And here I was, suddenly thinking Dunning’s command would carry him through a start against the Guardians. And just one strikeout, too! HAISTBMBWT?! I let my guard down for one minute…
Packy Naughton (STL) @ TB (L) – 1.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 25 pitches.
I bet I’m like the rest of you, staying up til 3:00am because I just can’t stop wishing Naughton was better so Packy became a household name. Sigh. Some dreams never experience the sweet scent of reality.
Adrian Houser (MIL) vs PHI (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 96 pitches.
It makes you wonder if Hosuer will still be in the rotation when Freddy Peralta inevitably returns. Ashby is shouting from the dining room: THIS IS MY HOUSER NOW.
Chris Bassitt (NYM) @ SD (L) – 3.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 75 pitches.
Yeaaaaaaah, imma have to take that AGA label from you now. The Padres have struggled against right-handers all year and Bassitt simply couldn’t take advantage with his sinker. It’s normally a called strike machine, yet it went 4/23 here and even though the slider/cutter/four-seamer weren’t bad (I actually kinda dug their command), too much went wrong and Bassitt was trounced with a 6 spot. I still believe in Bassitt as a strong arm through the year, but it’s time to place him in the Buehler/Webb/Urías tier of The List.
Game of the Day
Stephen Strasburg vs. Trevor Rogers – It’s the return of Stras! And, yeah, sure, I guess Rogers could be good, too.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
Have Questions? – Join my morning Twitch livestream! I answer all questions there for free: 9:00 am – 11:00 am ET Monday through Friday.
Photos by Trường Trung/Unsplash, Calum Lewis/Unsplash, and Steven King/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Ethan Kaplan (@DJFreddie10 on Twitter and @EthanMKaplanImages on Instagram)
Re: Nestor – People don’t just become top 10 SP in a quarter of a season. Make him earn it. Bassitt also is not an ace. This doesn’t have to be so reactionary. That is what Twitter is for. The idea that Bassitt just sunk down to the WB tier is absurd! I remember when I first started reading this site it was much better than the rest because it wasn’t desperately looking for the next big thing and I felt like it didn’t feel like it had to answer to anyone. What you know, Nick, is worth more than all of what Twitter has to say combined. I still like the site and your rankings but I can tell you that there did not used to be so much movement. The group of elite players is not in fact changing much from year to year. At some point you are quantifying recent past performance rather than ranking what they are going forward… which is what I think these rankings are supposed to be. For example, Alcantara has a very nice track record and career trajectory going on. So what if it takes him a few years to earn his status.
I appreciate the Wood research pointing out the next two starts. Sounds like a priority stream/add.
I don’t know much but I would think that Urquidy sounds like a better add than a drop. Is something rally wrong with him? When a guy is a universal drop, they are right on the fringe of being a great add. Gonsolin is likely a sell-high. I like him but the Dodgers are right up there with the Rays in mismanaging arms. I will never pay for arms on those teams. I have watched nearly zero baseball in a few years so I don’t have the insight that I used to. I do have common sense and experience which is worth something though. I don’t think that most “experts” watch much baseball either so that is kind of interesting. You don’t need much more than WHIP, OPS and BABIP if you are going to be an expert and not watch baseball so I still have access to that public information which puts me ahead of most experts getting lost in worthless metrics. Simply not being so reactionary puts me well ahead of most.
Nick… I. Anderson was just cut in my NL only head-to-head league. Is he a must-add for ROS? Thanks!
Yes. If your NL-only waiver wires looked anything like mine, you’d wonder why someone cut a guy who still has a rotation spot.
you’ve got your Boyd Boyz, your Gallen Gals, how about your Sandy Stans? WE LOVE SANDY