Upping The Pallante

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.  

Andre Pallante (STL) @ WSH (W) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 96 pitches.

It’s a week of youngins on the wire performing well and wondering if there’s any legitimacy to it (sorry Detmers and Lodolo, you’re likely scooped up already!) and the latest to do so was Andre Pallante against the Nationals with a sparkling 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 96 pitches as he seized the Win. Well ain’t this one heck of a surprise.

I watched this one and came away with three thoughts. First, the shape of his curve and slider are still pretty slick. Big drop to them both, and that made any competitive breakers look tough to barrel and often earn a hack with a breeze. The second is how the Nationals were overwhelmed by the cut action on Pallante’s heater. We’ve seen other teams leap at the pitch, but there seemed to be something a little extra here that forced Josh Bell to roll over heaters down the middle, or right-handers get eaten up when they ran inside. Its life was wonderful.

The third isn’t what you want to see: He struggled incessantly to put the ball where he wanted to. This felt like an “effectively wild” outing as he was able to get the pitches near the zone, but far less frequent than you’d expect, his pitches would get spiked, zoom to the other side of the plate, or go right down the dang pipe.

It adds up to a pitcher who can earn a start like this in the future, but I don’t trust to replicate at the moment. I really wish I could buy into those breakers more & I’d adore watching Pallante if he can be a more precise with his heater. This was a wonderful line, though I think it worked out for him in the end. And hey, it’s the Yankees next, and I could have just led with that. Sorry.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:

 

Carlos Rodón (SF) vs CHC (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 98 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. He sat just 95.1 mph (about a tick down from his season average) but he spotted them well and the Cubs had no idea what to do with it. It’s such a good fastball, y’all. I’m glad we saw this side of Rodón and I can only hope he can make it through the final two months without significant fatigue. We can only hope.

Max Fried (ATL) vs ARI (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 104 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. The curve came alive and that’s always a pleasure to see. The man chops innings like broccoli.

Merrill Kelly (ARI) @ ATL (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 91 pitches.

His ERA now sits at 2.87 after what may have been his final start for the Sneks. What a season, eh? He even sat sub 92 mph in this one and it didn’t matter, with his curve + change tallying nine whiffs between them. We talk about Martín Pérez being the best Vargas Rule, but Kelly has to be heavily in that discussion as well.

Jake Odorizzi (HOU) vs SEA (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 94 pitches.

See? This is prime Odorizzi we’re talking about over here. Look at that red paint at the top of the zone with splitters and sliders down. That’s the way he dominates.

Austin Voth (BAL) @ CIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 77 pitches.

Dang Voth, you had your curveball workin’ today. 38% CSW and precise locations down-and-armside + avoiding the heart of the plate with heaters and cutters. Can’t say we saw that coming but here come the Pirates next and y’all know that’s tempting. Ugggggh, I guess he’s at 77 pitches now, he could do 85+…right?

Aaron Ashby (MIL) @ BOS (L) – 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 91 pitches.

Ashby had a rough fifth frame, with an extra baserunner coming from an error, then 5 unearned runs coming across, including four from three consecutive doubles. Before that, the man was cruising and tallied double-digit slider whiffs across the full outing. Still, his command is still a bit in question and he couldn’t escape the fifth-inning jam, even if he didn’t deserve to be in it in the first place. His start against Cincy later this week seems fine to me, but I’m a little more cautious about Ashby’s progression than I am about some of the other young arms. He seems a little less polished.

José Berríos (TOR) vs DET (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 80 pitches.

Okay good. I was worried for a moment he would let this phenomenal opportunity slip through his fingers, but nah, the dude soared and I thank him for it. His ERA is under 5.00 now and he has a long was to go until the 3.80 mark he’s known for, but who knows. Maybe he’s got a lovely two months of bliss ahead. He gets the Twins next. Okay, forget that.

Reid Detmers (LAA) vs TEX (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 12 Ks – 24 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 105 pitches.

YESSSSSS. That’s not just a Golden Goal but one catalyzed by…SLIDER WHIFFS. THEY HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED. 10/28 slider whiffs, which opened the door for his high heaters to mess up the Rangers bats for 9/45 whiffs on its own + the curveball landed for 39% CSW. THIS IS THE START Y’ALL. If he’s still somehow on the wire, now is the dang time to change it. GET DETMERS. NOW.

Aaron Nola (PHI) @ PIT (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 93 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. See, this is what it’s supposed to look like against the Pirates. Who are you talking to? You know who you are.

Nick Lodolo (CIN) vs BAL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 98 pitches.

Ayyyy, the man keeps pumping. He earned whiffs across the board with sinkers, curves, and changeups, and he did a fine job sticking the sinker armside and keeping curves and changeups down when he needed to. I’m digging this and would start him against Ashby and the Brewers next weekend. I CAN’T WAIT. It’s like they did it for me.

Dylan Cease (CWS) vs OAK (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 94 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. I would have been so disappointed if you didn’t pull this off. Did you really need to go 63% sliders though? 63 percent?! Yeah, I know. Pretty dang cool as it’s so far-and-away his best pitch. It’s what you should do.

Sean Manaea (SD) vs MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 83 pitches.

I was incredibly pessimistic about this outing for Manaea and boy did he come out with the punches as his changeup finally showed up with 9/32 whiffs. The pitch came in four ticks harder, making me believe it’s something brand new and I couldn’t be more thrilled about it. Pair that with 92 mph instead of sub 91 and Manaea looked like the man we’ve wanted to see all year…minus a solid breaker as he just tossed one slider in this entire outing. 99% sinker/change here. I really hope this sticks around, but the Dodgers make it too tough to start as soon as next week. Watch to see if the improvements are still there, though, so you can hopefully start him with confidence thereafter.

Dane Dunning (TEX) @ LAA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 84 pitches.

Ehhhh that WHIP is super painful and the sinker was more hittable than I like to see, but thankfully the Angels only put two runs on the board, because, well, you know the drill. Blame it on the Angels. I have no interest in his next start against the White Sox.

Josh Winckowski (BOS) vs MIL (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 65 pitches.

Okay, so he’s two starts removed from the COVID-IL now and seems like he’s back to the ole “I’m a cheap win chance, short and stout. Here is my slider, here’s one strikeout.” Or something like that. If you’re into that kind of thing, the Royals next provide a decent shot.

George Kirby (SEA) @ HOU (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 74 pitches.

I didn’t expect much and to see seven strikeouts without a damaging ERA (albeit, 4.50 isn’t good) is cool to see across just 74 pitches. Now he should get the Angels for 80/85 pitches and I’m so for that.

Bryan Shaw (CLE) @ TB (ND) – 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 40 pitches.

I came, they Shaw, I left because I don’t care about relievers.

Taijuan Walker (NYM) @ MIA (W) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 101 pitches.

Blegh. That’s an out away from a VPQS and you want more from a guy who has been absolutely cruising over the last two months. Blame the slider or the 93 mph velocity if you must, I’m gonna start him against Atlanta regardless of your blame.

Zack Greinke (KC) @ NYY (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 86 pitches.

I’m kinda upset I didn’t try to predict a Greinke line against the Yankees because I swear it would have looked exactly like this. Not the worst thing ever, but you look at it and get no joy. Expect no difference against the Sawx next.

Tony Gonsolin (LAD) @ COL (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 92 pitches.

Okay, it’s Coors and you were super close to being productive across the board. Kershaw couldn’t do it and you did, Gonsolin. Good stuff.

Dylan Bundy (MIN) @ SD (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 78 pitches.

Oh, right. Bundy is still a thing. Um, at least he sat 90 mph and went 30% sliders here? And still had just three strikeouts and a poor ERA? I think we got it. Okay, cool. That’s a wrap.

Adam Oller (OAK) @ CWS (L) – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 98 pitches.

All the Oller boys are thrilled about this with 9/48 whiffs on the four-seamer and a fantastic 14/16 strike rate on the cutter. Me? I see mediocre stuff for a guy who makes for a desperate stream against the Giants next weekend. At least he can go six innings, right?

Germán Márquez (COL) vs LAD (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 90 pitches.

The curve is still kicking and it may make for the only start of the year where I’m in on Márquez as he faces the Sneks on the road. Please don’t let me down Márquez, PLEASE.

Garrett Hill (DET) @ TOR (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 86 pitches.

Hi, yes, I’ll take one serving of absolutely nothing. Nope, two strikeouts on the side please. Thanks. Opens bag to find just one strikeout HAISTBMBWT?!

Josiah Gray (WSH) vs STL (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 95 pitches.

Blegh. The slider was solid, the curve was not (sub 50% strikes, blegh) and I’m enamored by his ability to sit upper third consistently with his heaters all of a sudden. He’s getting better y’all, and if this heater command sticks, I think the breakers will fall in line soon – just making fewer four-seamer mistakes = fewer home runs = happier times for all but the cardboard cutouts we call hitters.

Jordan Montgomery (NYY) vs KC (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 79 pitches.

Blegh. That’s two poor outing in a row for The Bear, even when his curveball was exceptional and he found a way to earn a 15% SwStr on his sinker. It’s frustrating, I know, but you gotta keep starting him as he faces the Cardinals next time out. It’s worth it.

Adrian Sampson (CHC) @ SF (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 72 pitches.

Womp womp. I loved his four-seamer precision up in the zone and I think he got a little unlucky here, though there is something to be said about the rest of his arsenal being a little too mediocre. He’s a decent dart throw against the Marlins on Saturday, but I’m not circling the date, either. He could produce if everything goes right for him, including not leaving the game after four across just 72 pitches.

Shane McClanahan (TB) vs CLE (L) – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 96 pitches.

WHAT. First Sandy and now McShane?! WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS?! He was off across all his pitches here and he had one of those laborious days at the park, summing up to a One Night Bland. I can’t help but be a touch worried that he sat 1.5 mph down on the heater, though instead of assuming that’s an injury, I’m going to sit here and say he simply didn’t have it. Let him hit the reset button and don’t do anything rash.

Pablo López (MIA) vs NYM (L) – 2.2 IP, 6 ER, 12 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 71 pitches.

Yiiiiikes, and right when the Marlins could have been selling him. Welp, as we know with Pablo, he doesn’t have two disasters in a row. The man rebounds and don’t let any fears prevent you from starting him. Seriously, even if he’s dealt, don’t carry a “he’ll be nervous for his first time pitching for a new team, so I’ll bench him.” That’s silly and we ain’t got no time for that. THIS IS FANTASY BASEBALL.

JT Brubaker (PIT) vs PHI (L) – 4.1 IP, 7 ER, 12 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 78 pitches.

Coffee Cakes crumbled against the Phils, carrying a decent curveball but nothing else. That said, it’s not a lost cause to chase a rebound against the Orioles, but y’all know by now that Brubaker’s ceiling doesn’t outweigh his floor.

 

Game of the Day 

 

Andrew Heaney vs. Logan Webb – I hope Heaney is back to form + Webb can hold off the Dodgers. Should be a fun watch.

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 Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)