Don’t Forget About Drey

Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Thursday 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.  

Drey Jameson (ARI) vs SD (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 90 pitches.

We had another fun prospect promotion on Thursday, with Arizona’s Drey Jameson dominating the Padres via 7.0 P, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 90 Pitches. Pretty amazing stuff, especially in an MLB debut.

I watched all of this one and I wasn’t blown away as much as I expected. His heater sat ~97 mph in the first, but settled into ~95 through the game, seemingly favoring a sinker over a four-seamer, or possibly a four-seamer with less vertical ride than I’d like.

It’s a solid fastball, but it wasn’t as overpowering as the velocity would suggest, which takes us to the breakers. The low 80s slider and high 70s curve have potential – each carries a whole lot of break but aren’t the tightest you’ll see – though I question whether Drey has enough command of them now to truly keep batter’s off-balance.

All-in-all, he throws hard and has some decent breakers that I want to see find the plate more. I kinda wish he threw harder or at least missed more bats with his fastballs (2/65 whiffs between sinker and four-seamer), and maybe we’ll see it with more time. If he sticks for another turn or two, he could get the Dodgers and Giants, with a start against the Giants possibly returning value. Don’t forget this man.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Thursday:

 

Shane McClanahan (TB) @ TOR (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 69 pitches.

I had no idea what to expect and preached caution with McShane as I expected a low pitch count, was facing a great offense, and we didn’t know whether his stuff was back. Well, he didn’t hit 70 pitches, but his velocity was amazing at 97.7 mph as he touched triple digits while his slider went 6/15 whiffs and it didn’t matter that he faced the Jays – it was the McShane we know and LOVE. Enjoy the King Cole and start the man despite the tough schedule ahead. He’s BACK.

Carlos Carrasco (NYM) vs PIT (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 11 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 104 pitches.

Hot dang, look at you! Sure, Blame it on the Pirates all you want, that’s eleven strikeouts y’all. This man went 14/41 changeup whiffs (!) and you have to be blown away by it. The schedule is awfully easy the rest of the way, too, and I’m sure not pulling him off any of my rosters.

Chase Anderson (CIN) @ STL (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 80 pitches.

Mr. Something Else (Chase…something else) came through for a change against a solid St. Louis offense, and there’s nothing here to make me say anything but I hope it was a nice Birthday Party.

Pablo López (MIA) vs PHI (W) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 95 pitches.

Phew. The changeup wasn’t at its peak as he hung far too many, but they earned outs while the four-seamer dotted the edges. It’s not one of those starts that inspires me to push him through the finish line, but it at least wasn’t more disaster and you should be fine with the Cubs up next.

Lance Lynn (CWS) @ CLE (W) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 106 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. That new curveball reliance? 0/9 CSW. Thankfully, his four-seamer is still super good and that’s the real foundation that matters.

Lance McCullers Jr. (HOU) vs OAK (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 11 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 99 pitches.

McCullers tossed just ten fastballs in this one. Ten. And it helped him fan eleven batters and earn a share of the Gallows Pole. What. A. CHAMP. His changeup was as good as you’ll ever see it and I sure hope he keeps this feel for a long time. Just fix the curve a little, k thx.

James Kaprielian (OAK) @ HOU (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 105 pitches.

He had his best slider and squeezed his way through six productive frames against the Astros. It’s always in his array of outcomes, though the scales were tipped in his favor here. Don’t get seduced by it. I’d still avoid against the Mariners next.

Sean Manaea (SD) @ ARI (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 76 pitches.

I had little faith Manaea was going to pull this off after his struggles across the last month, so hats off to him for the step forward. Thing is, he just pumped heaters in this one, albeit at two ticks harder than usual (93 mph!), but I hate seeing his slider and changeup get placed in timeout. I’m still out here despite the velocity – without the secondaries cooking, it’s a hard sell.

Dylan Bundy (MIN) vs KC (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 60 pitches.

Just four frames ain’t gonna cut it, Bundy. I’m so glad I chose Drey as the streamer. Never chase Bundy.

Miles Mikolas (STL) vs CIN (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 101 pitches.

Blegh. No, I don’t want a near VPQS from Mikolas while hosting the Reds. Let’s get it together, there are only a few more starts before I can watch you get overdrafted next season.

Daniel Lynch (KC) @ MIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 96 pitches.

Despite earning a Gallows Pole and eight punchouts, Lynch hurt your squad with poor ratios and I’m not going to tell you it’ll get better. Curious to see the curve get more play in this one, though. At least he’s trying something new.

Noah Syndergaard (PHI) @ MIA (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 82 pitches.

He can’t even handle the Marlins?! This is Thor from Endgame, isn’t it. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN. You can drop him, you know.

Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs TB (L) – 7.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 103 pitches.

Blegh. It’s weird to see the WHIP in check but the ERA falling apart from Gausman for a change. It’s odd to see him rely on more sliders than splitters, but then again, he earned just 3/24 whiffs with the signature pitch. It’s been such a rollercoaster with Gausman and I think you’re stuck riding it to the end. Good luck.

JT Brubaker (PIT) @ NYM (L) – 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 71 pitches.

The slider was good, the rest wasn’t. At least he gets the Cubs next where there’s a decent chance it’ll work out – I’m not saying it will, just decent enough to try for a weekend stream where you need it.

Hunter Gaddis (CLE) vs CWS (L) – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 92 pitches.

I was curious what we’d see from Gaddis as I believe his changeup has moments where it looks like a plus pitch…but it went 1/14 CSW and he’s so the man we want him to be. Maybe be more of a gatherer, Gaddis.

 

Game of the Day

 

Dustin May vs. Logan Webb – I wonder if May will get back on his feet and if Webb can take down the dragon of Los Angeles.

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)