Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Monday 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.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) @ LAA (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 11 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 98 pitches.
I was skeptical of Logan Gilbert after his stellar spring. His four-seamer is an excellent offering, but his slider and changeup didn’t develop into a whiff pitch and it seemed as if he needed that one extra complement in his repertoire to put him over the edge.
It’s now the middle of September and despite all my words of caution and “prophetic” fears, Gilbert holds a 3.13 ERA and a near strikeout per inning…albeit with a near 1.20 WHIP across 172.2 frames, including tonight’s blissful 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 11 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 98 pitches. Sure, the WHIP is in line with what I was outlining in May, but it makes you wonder if he’s destined to flirt with a 3.00 ERA next year.
Well, if the man can keep earning Gallows Poles, you dang well can. He did see so here with a slower slider than we normally see, and it may be a sign of better things as its 2.1 mph drop returned 7/30 whiffs. It’s akin to the slide piece he had in 2021 before adopting the faster cutter-esque pitch and I wonder if a return to the bigger breaker could spell more strikeouts in the future.
Regardless, it’s still the 2022 season and you’re not letting go of Gilbert as he has three fantastic matchups left in the tank. I wonder if we’ll see more of this slower slider along the way.
Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:
Tyler Alexander (DET) @ BAL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 87 pitches.
Naaaaah. Don’t short-arm yourself by rostering T-Lex. It’s a Birthday Party, not your secret to winning your league. But I just streamed him and now I’m going to win my league. WELL FINE. CONGRATS. THANK YOU. YOU’RE WELCOME. I still refuse to endorse him.
Max Scherzer (NYM) @ MIL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 68 pitches.
Aces gonna toss six perfect frames and get pulled because it was his first start back from the IL. What a King Cole.
Luis Garcia (HOU) @ TB (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 86 pitches.
Ayyy, the curveball was shelved (THANK YOU) and we’ll take it despite the four walks. Still kinda iffy on Garcia and I don’t love the start against the Orioles next. Not bad in a 12-teamer, just not something I feel like I need to do.
Clayton Kershaw (LAD) vs ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 94 pitches.
Aces gonna ace for TATIAGA. The man is pure butter against weak teams, it’s amazing.
Kyle Wright (ATL) vs WSH (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 88 pitches.
He got Singled Out but the curve was back and we’ll take it. I’m gonna have to do a lot of thinking about Kyle Wright this off-season as I’m awfully conflicted. Does he get better in 2023? How? For starters, his changeup went 47% CSW in this one. Hmmmm. Maybe.
Cal Quantrill (CLE) vs MIN (W) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 95 pitches.
Yep, that’s a Toby. I hope you enjoyed the Win because that’s all you got.
Edward Cabrera (MIA) vs CHC (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 79 pitches.
The four-seamer is a problem – just 11/25 strikes is horrendous – but fortunately the change and slider are not. I wonder when (if?) the command will kick into full gear as the stuff is clearly there.
Wade Miley (CHC) @ MIA (L) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 74 pitches.
Wait what. This was supposed to be easy money. EASY. MONEY. He had an error in the third, then got a bit unlucky in the fourth and poof, that’s 3 ER (four more unearned) and you’re out of the game. Blegh. I’m still streaming him on Sunday against the Pirates.
Drew Rasmussen (TB) vs HOU (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 85 pitches.
Blegh. It’s the Astros, after all, and it’s not like he had poor command. It’s just harder for him to get his best possible outcome. It’s another difficult spin of the wheel against the Jays next (why are all the wheel spaces labeled “INSTANT DEATH”??) and I’d weigh my options on the wire.
Cory Abbott (WSH) @ ATL (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 69 pitches.
HAISTBMBWT?! Was there an easier bench than this one? His name is a bit misleading, it should be Cory TwoBBott. OH COME ON NICK.
Sonny Gray (MIN) @ CLE (L) – 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 44 pitches.
Gray was sitting two ticks down before getting pulled with a hamstring injury that apparently has been nagging at him all month. I couldn’t find a report about his next start, but I have to believe he’s going to get some extra rest now. Bummer. If you’re on the edge about dropping him, I think I’m giving you the green light – I’d be shocked if he’s approved to start and goes 80+ pitches.
Corbin Burnes (MIL) vs NYM (L) – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 100 pitches.
Aces gonna give up a TANK to Pete Alonso and continue this weird haze of a month, even if he was ridiculous last time out. Nothing you can do but keep starting him and be glad the Reds and Marlins are next.
José Suarez (LAA) vs SEA (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches.
But I was so sure he was the one! I know, I know. Suarez is a fool for breaking your trust. Maybe I should give him another chance. NO. You’re so much better than he is.
Merrill Kelly (ARI) @ LAD (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 97 pitches.
This wasn’t a start for us to chase, but at least we get the Giants twice up next. You can start Kelly all you want now. Go and be freeeee.
Chad Kuhl (COL) vs SF (ND) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 95 pitches.
[ColoradoStarter.blurb]. You’ve done that two nights in a row now. And? Okay, fair.
Jakob Junis (SF) @ COL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 12 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 86 pitches.
It was Coors and you’re not even starting Junis against the Sneks. Sometimes life is easy, y’all.
Tyler Wells (BAL) vs DET (L) – 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 66 pitches.
He wasn’t ready. HE WASN’T READY.
Game of the Day
Cristian Javier vs. Shane McClanahan – Sure, Aaron Ashby is coming back from the IL, but we could see twenty strikeouts here. TWENTY.
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 Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)