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.
Ross Stripling (TOR) vs BAL (ND) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 72 pitches.
It’s always fun to take a look at today’s pitching performances and get a line that floors me. Ross Stripling did just that as he flirted with perfection against the Orioles via 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 72 pitches – an even more impressive line when you realize it was his first start back from a hip injury.
It seemed like a Still ILL scenario as he was likely limited and we had no idea how his command would be. Well, the changeup was back to being its elite self (6/17 whiffs, 41% CSW) and I love watching early curves fall for strikes + sinkers lean armside heavily to get outs. That’s the Stripling I can roster.
It’s tough to determine how sustainable it is – 72 pitches ain’t a massive sample, y’all – and with the Red Sox next, it’s a risky proposition. Thing is, if he performs well, you definitely want him for the Angels after, so what the h*ck, let’s give it a shot and hope the slow ball and sinker command is the same.
Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:
Tony Gonsolin (LAD) @ MIL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 95 pitches.
Ahhh there’s the slider. And the curve. And the splitter. And 68% four-seamer strikes at 94 mph. Okay, things look a bit better now.
Nick Lodolo (CIN) vs PHI (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 98 pitches.
Hot dang, look at you! 11 whiffs on the curveball as he moved heavily away from the changeup to go mostly sinker/curve. 19 called strikes aren’t something I’m going to expect frequently from his sinker, but the man is throwing strikes and I’m here for that. You can’t be a Cherry Bomb with some sweet nights, though, and this doesn’t remove him of the label quite yet. Do it again, please, k thx.
Ranger Suárez (PHI) @ CIN (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 95 pitches.
Yessssssssssss. The changeup went 7/22 whiffs and Suárez did his best to avoid the heart of the plate. And now he gets to host the Reds instead of pitching in Cincy. Ah h*ck, here we go again…
Austin Voth (BAL) @ TOR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 86 pitches.
Oh daaaaang. Before you go crazy, I don’t think he pitched to the tune of the line – the man threw a fair amount of strikes and his curveball was good, not excellent – and it could easily fall apart against the White Sox next time out. This isn’t a Detmers or Kelly kind of deal.
Tyler Mahle (MIN) vs KC (ND) – 2.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 42 pitches.
Mahle was sitting 89 mph (normally 94) and was pulled before more damage was done. It looks like the shoulder issues are back and we don’t know when he pitches next. Can I get some air? I’m not sure I can hold my breath much longer.
Adam Oller (OAK) @ TEX (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 77 pitches.
Look, I’ve tried to turn the Oller cheek, but I just can’t do it. He’s destined to go off like an Adam bomb. Oh no. Please don’t be one of those nights. No promises.
Carlos Rodón (SF) vs ARI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 11 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 106 pitches.
Aces gonna ace and earn a Gallows Pole because of course he did. It was the Diamondbacks…and I could end the blurb there but you need to know he sat 93.7 mph on his heater. That’s a problem, given he’s been at 96 mph all season, but I have good news. He started the game low and was sitting 95 mph by the end, finishing the start with a 97.4 mph heater. It’s just how he works, I have to think it was just one of those days and clearly he didn’t need the harder heater.
Jordan Montgomery (STL) vs COL (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 87 pitches.
The four-seamer is still getting major play as The Bear took full advantage against Rockie Road. This isn’t gonna slow down with the Cubs up next – I’m thrilled to see him finally click and getting WINS. Boy has he deserved them.
Zach Davies (ARI) @ SF (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 82 pitches.
Really? But the changeup was kinda bad…ohhh. You increased your velocity two ticks as you sat…91.1 mph. Man, are the Giants really that poor of an offense these days?
Daniel Norris (DET) @ CLE (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 89 pitches.
Oh dang, the Tigers are letting Norris go 89 pitches now? It’s too bad I don’t like his repertoire all that much, but the longer outings are cool. I wish they let him do that back in the second half of 2019, though. A LITTLE TOO LATE DETROIT.
Framber Valdez (HOU) @ CWS (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 100 pitches.
Oh no, the high WHIP is returning for Valdez, but at least you still have your high volume, a Win, and a bucket o’ Ks. Gotta get that souvenir bucket. No AGA label today, bucko.
Eric Lauer (MIL) vs LAD (L) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 105 pitches.
Ohhhh snap, he’s back to 94 mph! Just six whiffs on the four-seamer, though, but the cutter came back into style as well and there could be some late-season momentum here. Suitman whispers in my ear. THE DODGERS?! AGAIN?! Ugh, not sure I’d do that.
Cory Abbott (WSH) vs CHC (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 83 pitches.
I kinda dig the four-seamer/change approach and the slider and curve kinda work…nah. I can’t do this against the Mariners next. It’s too dang boring at 90.5 mph.
Corey Kluber (TB) @ NYY (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 90 pitches.
Wow, a King Cole for Kluber that may speak more to the Yankee offense struggling, but then again, Kluber’s cutter was brilliantly spotted gloveside and his sinker earned a sparkling 48% CSW on the night, mixed in well with curves and changeups. And now he’s rewarded with a date against the Angels – what a lovely thing.
Drew Smyly (CHC) @ WSH (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 100 pitches.
Ayyyy it worked! It was the BSB with fastballs up and curves kinda down, kinda middle of the zone, without a single cutter in sight. Ten of those sixteen whiffs came via the sinker, if you can believe it, sitting 93.6 mph just like the end of 2020. Sigh, that was a wonderful run. I wonder if this can continue against an actually decent offense in St. Louis and I’ll likely stick him at the end of the Questionable Start tier. I’m digging his pitch separation and praying the velocity sticks.
Rich Hill (BOS) @ PIT (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 57 pitches.
Hill was allowed just five frames and made the most of it. And like four people rejoiced. You can go back to ignoring Hill now.
Michael Kopech (CWS) vs HOU (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 90 pitches.
Hey, a PQS ain’t so bad against the Astros. Sure, 95.5 mph velocity isn’t the greatest and we’re still waiting for the slider to become a whiff machine again, but he survived and now you get the Royals and Sneks next. Those are worth your time.
Germán Márquez (COL) @ STL (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 103 pitches.
That’s a VVPQS with a Loss and fantasy managers are wondering why they expected anything else. You know, I should be bringing back the classic blurb from 2014. Ahem. Márquez has limited upside, pitches his home games at Coors Field, and doesn’t deserve a spot on your team. This should be the blurb for every Colorado starter.
Daniel Lynch (KC) @ MIN (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 95 pitches.
Ehhhhh….? I know Lynch is capable of getting his four-seamer elevated and he did it a decent amount while the rest of the pitches were a shotgun blast around and out of the zone. It’s the little things that take this PQS into a legit outing, especially against a strong offense like Minnesota, and it means I’m not quite ready to jump in. Soon, though. Soon.
George Kirby (SEA) @ LAA (W) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 94 pitches.
That’s a Philly with seven strikeouts and it’s fine. Kirby is the same ole Girby we know him to be. Girby? You know, Gilbert + Kirby. They’re the same mold of excellent four-seamer + questionable secondaries. Not a whole lot separating them at this point with Kirby back to 90+ pitches.
Cole Ragans (TEX) vs OAK (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 83 pitches.
Okay this is progress! I think! Cole returned just a 1.00 WHIP and one too many runs to make it a success, but his four-seamer was located up (a little too frequently very up), his cutter found stikes, and his changeup…is a bit too lofted. He’s getting there, maybe in two starts against the Tigers we’ll see him shine – it seems pretty clear to avoid the Twins next time out.
Domingo Germán (NYY) vs TB (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 71 pitches.
The curve and change were solid, the heaters were not. I think he’s pretty close to being a proper hold in a 12-teamer, but I wouldn’t want to start him against the Mets after this. I may be back in for the Athletics after, though.
Mike Clevinger (SD) @ MIA (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 89 pitches.
He earned one whiff on breakers as the problem with Clevinger is still very much alive. Sigh. THIS WAS THE MARLINS. I won’t rule out Clev getting the pitch back before the end of the season, though he’s droppable at this point. Yeah, it’s a harsh reality, it always depends on what you’re dropping him for, of course.
Max Scherzer (NYM) @ ATL (W) – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.
Aces gonna get jinxed by me using him as this week’s mystery pitcher during the Nick & Alex Baseball show. My bad y’all, my bad. In reality, this was a Careful, Icarus as three runs came in the seventh and that’s dumb. Yep, that’s all you’re getting.
Roansy Contreras (PIT) vs BOS (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 90 pitches.
So here’s the thing. That line is terrible. We hate it. How dare it. But Contreras’ slider was kinda filthy. 10/39 whiffs and a 44% CSW filthy. The four-seamer got hit a whole lot, though, and he couldn’t pull a strike off a hat even after practicing in front of his aunt for five hours last Sunday. There was too much battling himself going on here for me to believe it’ll instantly click against Atlanta in his next start, but hey, it could happen.
Cal Quantrill (CLE) vs DET (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 99 pitches.
Wait. Quantrill, you destroyed the Jays, but the Tigers score four off of you? WHY ARE YOU SO UNQUANTRILLFIABLE?! The Padres are next and that’s too uncomfortable of a decision to make on a late Wednesday night.
Touki Toussaint (LAA) vs SEA (L) – 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 62 pitches.
Womp womp. I had not-so-secret hopes for Touki to replicate the command he had in his last start and while he had moments of bliss with his curve and change, the majority of them were heavy misses, while the sinker was far from what it needed to be. This is a Frozen Banana, alright.
Jake Odorizzi (ATL) vs NYM (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 92 pitches.
Womp womp. He struggled against the Marlins last week and it was more of the same here as the four-seamer fell from its normal home at the top of the zone. Without that high heater, the rest of the stuff doesn’t play up nearly as well and BLAMO! That’s ten baserunners and just two strikeouts in five frames. The good news – he gets the Pirates next and even these locations with the heater should be fine, let alone actually doing what Odorizzi wants to do.
Pablo López (MIA) vs SD (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 85 pitches.
The descent continues for Pablo and it’s getting rough. Here, the damage came from a grand slam in the first on a hung changeup, a pitch that failed to return a single whiff the entire night. Pablo’s changeup! Like a father or mother, it’s apparent he’s out of rhythm and I’m not sure how long this will last. I want to say it’s a TIARA situation, but it’s kinda been the worry for a while – when he doesn’t have either his heater or changeup on a given night, there simply isn’t anything else in his pocket to turn to. He’s been able to get away with it for a while, but it’s seemingly catching up to him now. Can Pablo go the next two months without issue? Absolutely. Does it seem like he will? Probably not. Expect him to fall in the late 30s/early 40s on Monday.
Game of the Day
Jacob deGrom vs. Max Fried(?) – We’re not sure if Fried will be ready to go tomorrow, but who doesn’t want to watch more deGrom? Atlanta fans. Fair point.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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