Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Saturday 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.
Shane McClanahan (TB) @ DET (L) – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 92 pitches.
There are starts during the week that you circle with massive expectations. I can’t wait to watch Shane McClanahan demolish the Tigers! And despite not having the worst of starts, you see 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 92 pitches and think “That’s It?!”
Something is seemingly going on here and it seems like the heater is the culprit. Despite jumping back up to 96.6 mph, it earned just one whiff on the night, a startling result given its 14% SwStr rate for the year. Sure, the slider was terrible too, but that 2022 fastball was a significant shift for McClanahan into the stud he is (the new changeup benefits from a harder-to-hit heater), and without it dominating the zone per usual, it opened the door for mediocrity.
The question is if this sticks around or not. We’ve seen enough of McShane this year to give him a decent amount of slack to recover and monitor that fastball performance moving forward (it did have less rise in this one as well) if the struggles continue. It may just be bad luck moving forward if that four-seamer is back to normal.
Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:
Max Scherzer (NYM) vs ATL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 23 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 108 pitches.
Aces gonna earn a Gallows Pole and make me consider putting him as the #2 SP. I may do it.
Dane Dunning (TEX) vs CWS (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 103 pitches.
Dunning had his premier slider command and even if he didn’t get many strikes with them, it allowed him to induce plenty of outs with his sinker. It’s a good sign, but I don’t think it’s enough to trust against the Mariners next. Not a bad AL-Only play, though.
Drew Smyly (CHC) vs MIA (W) – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 106 pitches.
Ohhh dang. The curve is still good and the sinker was able to survive against the Marlins. Props to Smyly for it and now he heads to Cincy…hmmm. Not the worst gamble I’ve seen.
Cal Quantrill (CLE) vs HOU (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 85 pitches.
Of course, Quantrill looks like his former self in the game after I renounce him as a serviceable Toby. Three whiffs y’all. THREE. Against the Astros. And now he gets the Jays?! Watch him perform well out of pure spite. HE WOULD DO THAT.
David Peterson (NYM) vs ATL (W) – 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 81 pitches.
Ayyyyy it worked! The slider was excellent and helped him sneak four-seamers into the zone. I don’t think we’ll see Peterson again until a double-header or injury (welcome back deGrom!), so send him back to the wire if you picked him up.
Jordan Montgomery (STL) vs NYY (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 83 pitches.
Huge props to The Bear as he faced his former team in his first start as a Cardinal. Baseball is so cruel. He was pulled a little early with cramps as he embraced the Cardinal way of HAISTBMBWT?! through five frames of shutout ball. He leaned more on the four-seamer than usual, failed to land his changeup or cutter, and I think got super lucky here. You’re okay starting him against the Brewers though, as he’s essentially a Toby. Cool for him.
Andrew Heaney (LAD) vs SD (ND) – 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 81 pitches.
I’m pretty annoyed Dodgeritis is affecting Heaney as he’s limited to ~80 pitches per start, but he did a solid job holding off the upgraded Padres as his slider command was much better in this one.
Reid Detmers (LAA) @ SEA (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 106 pitches.
DETMERS HATH ARRIVED. Okay, he arrived last start, but man it’s good seeing him repeat the domination with his slider – 35% CSW across 41% usage – allowing the fastball to excel up in the zone and allow the curve to take a backseat. I’m tempted to start him against the Twins now because he’s just that locked in.
George Kirby (SEA) vs LAA (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 80 pitches.
Atta boy Kirby! I’m glad he was able to toss 80 pitches and take full advantage of this outing. There’s an elephant in the room, though: How much do we see Kirby now? Do the Mariners do a six-man rotation, or do they skip every other start? Don’t get too enamored by this one as his secondaries are still lacking and the whole Blame it on the Angels thing. I think you’re okay leaving Kirby on the wire for those concerns if there’s something else to chase.
Garrett Hill (DET) vs TB (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 93 pitches.
Hill’s 91 mph four-seamer returned 30% CSW as he did a great job keeping his heaters up-and-armside through the game. I don’t dig much else in his repertoire though, meaning for him to return a 1.50 WHIP and 1 ER, he needs his heater to be its best self. Yeaaah no thanks.
Carlos Rodón (SF) @ OAK (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 98 pitches.
Aces gonna underwhelm in a gift of an outing. Just 12% CSW on his slider is awfully disappointing as he spiked many of them and let’s hope he actually takes advantage of the Pirates next.
Domingo Germán (NYY) @ STL (L) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 86 pitches.
The curve did a whole lot of work here as the four-seamer command was all over the place and it makes me pretty skeptical this is gonna last. I wouldn’t pick him up for the Red Sox next.
Merrill Kelly (ARI) vs COL (ND) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 93 pitches.
Rockie Road is a lovely thing. Not to say that Kelly hasn’t performed well regardless, but a 45% CSW on his sinker? Naaaaah. This season-long success story should get better with the Pirates next, but after that, it’s gonna get rough with the Padres and Dodgers on the horizon. Get ready for it.
Antonio Senzatela (COL) @ ARI (ND) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 94 pitches.
Ha, sure Senz-A. You do you buddy.
Max Fried (ATL) @ NYM (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 93 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Not as good as Scherzer, but is anyone truly better than him right now?
Jaime Barria (LAA) @ SEA (L) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 76 pitches.
Yeaaaah there’s nothing here to get me excited for Barria, sadly. Let’s not do this.
Jake Odorizzi (ATL) @ NYM (L) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 96 pitches.
He didn’t have his best command and the Mets punished him for it. Fortunately, the Marlins are next and I think that’s an okay stream.
Dylan Bundy (MIN) vs TOR (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 65 pitches.
That low pitch count is odd as he was pulled early, and while you may look at this and go “oh that ain’t so bad!”, you should realize it’s a 4.50 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP. Yeah, not what you want, even with the strikeouts. On the plus side, he did go 42% sliders – FINALLY – for 44% CSW. Maybe, just maybe, he learned a thing or two and can keep that breaker usage up. One can only hope.
Ranger Suárez (PHI) vs WSH (W) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 96 pitches.
Blegh. I was hoping for more from Suárez against Natty Lite as his change returned just three whiffs and he allowed far too many hittable pitches in this one. Now it’s the Mets and I’m a little upset by it. I can see him getting back on track, but you likely don’t want to risk it.
Austin Voth (BAL) vs PIT (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 75 pitches.
The PL+ community wanted a “Battle on Voth” headline and we may see one in the near future if he can continue to earn 39% CSW on his curve + cutter. But for now Blame it on the Pirates, at least for those pitch results. The line is…suspect.
Nick Lodolo (CIN) @ MIL (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 100 pitches.
Womp womp. I was disappointed on both sides of the ball in this one, with Ashby vs. Lodolo being a “who will do better?” conversation when in fact it was a “who will do worse?” as they combined for nine walks between them. The real issue was the inconsistency of Lodolo’s secondaries in this one, returning about 50% strikes on the curve and just 31% on the changeup (despite locating close to the zone). Yuck. We know that’s not the Lodolo we fell for and I’d hold for a bounce back against the Cubs. Things should be better.
Mitch White (TOR) @ MIN (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 85 pitches.
White was super fringey before and now facing the Twins? Yeah, that’s not gonna work. His breakers – his best assets – earned just 3/30 CSW, so yeah, not great Bob. He’s a Frozen Banana.
JT Brubaker (PIT) @ BAL (L) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 88 pitches.
Coffee Cakes had the good slider – 9/20 whiffs – but he got Singled Out with a bit of an erratic sinker. The Sneks are next and he feels like a desperate strikeout play each week. Not for me.
Daniel Lynch (KC) vs BOS (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 90 pitches.
Ehhh, the command of changeups and sliders is not there yet. I’m still out until I see those secondary locations improved.
Nathan Eovaldi (BOS) @ KC (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 99 pitches.
A Dusty Donut isn’t the worst thing ever, but this was Kansas City and 4 ER ain’t okay, even with 16 whiffs (thanks for waking up splitter!). Still, the four-seamer is so bad at 94.1 mph, returning just 1/28 whiffs that I think it makes Eovaldi droppable, especially with the Yankees next. I know, you don’t want to hear that, but the dude isn’t going to earn ten splitter whiffs consistently and that heater isn’t recovering any time soon. This is who he is now.
Luis Garcia (HOU) @ CLE (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 82 pitches.
That’s a King Cole and a night of getting Singled Out for Garcia. Tough noogies, kiddo, maybe don’t have 1/18 CSW on your cutter? The Athletics should be a much easier time on Saturday.
Pablo López (MIA) @ CHC (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.
Blegh. the changeup wasn’t great and the four-seamer command wasn’t pristine. He needs at least one to soar to save his starts and missing both = failure against even the Cubs. You know, after his first four starts of the year, Pablo holds a 4.31 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 24% strikeout rate across 100 frames. Makes you think.
Adam Oller (OAK) vs SF (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 93 pitches.
Oller Twist over here went to the baseball Gods after getting just one strikeout. Please, may I have some more? HAISTBMBWT?!
Aaron Ashby (MIL) vs CIN (L) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 98 pitches.
Yeeeeeesh. The changeup was floated, the sinker wasn’t consistent, the slider fell nicely out of the zone half the time and was wild the other half…yeah this is the other side of his dominant outing where the wonky command comes back to bite him. It feels like a slight Cherry Bomb situation with that command, but I think with time he irons it out. I’m leaning start against the Cards next.
Michael Kopech (CWS) @ TEX (L) – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 74 pitches.
Annnnnd the velocity is back down against to 94.3 mph. What a roller-coaster of a season this has been and I’m inclined to say “look, if you’ve got something else you want to chase, by all Johns means get off this ride.” Seriously, it’s maddening as the secondaries are chaotic as well. Kopech is a Cherry Bomb in every way.
Chris Flexen (SEA) vs LAA (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 108 pitches.
18 whiffs is pretty dang cool from Flexen, but it’s the Angels and we’re all disappointed. The Rangers are kinda tough and I’m leaning don’t risk it there. Cool changeup here, though.
Mike Clevinger (SD) @ LAD (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 93 pitches.
The breakers aren’t there yet and the fastball was 93.5 mph. Play it by the matchup with Clevinger and with Natty Lite next, let him loose. Don’t overthink it until we get the elite breakers back.
Patrick Corbin (WSH) @ PHI (L) – 0.2 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 43 pitches.
Oh jeez. These weren’t “bad luck” hits, either. I really hope another team can get Corbin in some salary dump deal and take a stab at fixing him because this is bad.
Game of the Day
Spencer Strider vs. Jacob deGrom – Ummmm can this be every night? Please?
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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