Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Tuesday 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.
Charlie Morton (ATL) vs WSH (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 92 pitches.
We haven’t enjoyed watching Charlie Morton allow 4 ER in three of his last four games, which makes tonight’s 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 92 pitches performance against the Nationals so dang sweet. That’s a Golden Goal led by a 41% CSW curveball and an array of secondary options – yes, everything but the hook is secondary to Morton – that came through for whiffs, outs, and called strikes.
We’re in the final stretch now and I feel it necessary to remind everyone that Morton held a 5.67 ERA and 1.48 WHIP as late as June 16th. That’s how baseball works – you can be the worst rostered pitcher for the first two full months, then take off the TIARA and look like a stud for the final four. It’s so dang hard to tell who that will happen to and let’s all thank Morton for doing his dang best to redeem his early struggles.
All that said, he has two games left against the Phils and Mets that aren’t locks. I’d starting him for both, relying on that 40%+ curveball usage to give him the lovely sunset he deserves.
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Joey Wentz (DET) @ BAL (W) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 86 pitches.
The mad man did it again and now I see that start against the Royals like it’s my fourth whiskey-ginger of the night. You’re gonna regret this, aren’t you…But it’s just 2 ER in his three starts! It’s your morning, not mine.
Mike Clevinger (SD) vs STL (W) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.
He survived, but with just two whiffs across all his secondary pitches. Nope, this ain’t the man he used to be.
Tyler Anderson (LAD) vs ARI (L) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 90 pitches.
Ahhhh, ain’t that lovely. Just hold out for two more starts, Tyler. You’re so close to closing the deal on this magical season.
Cristian Javier (HOU) @ TB (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 90 pitches.
The walks are always going to be annoying, but hot dang that heater is stupid good – 13/50 whiffs here (26% SwStr on a four-seamer y’all) and if he can get some legit command of his breaker, my oh MY Javier could be a legit stud. But he already is a stud – he has a 2.87 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 33% strikeout rate. Yes, but averaging five innings per start. There’s another level to this and he’s that close.
JP Sears (OAK) vs SEA (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 86 pitches.
Say whaaaaat. Sears was far better than I’ve seen him all year, featuring fastballs up and on the edges and sliders down for whiffs. The changeup…well that was floated a decent amount, but a 42% CSW slider and well-spotted heaters is something new in my book. I don’t think it means we consider him now for the Mets, but Sears hasn’t grabbed me this much since it was 50% off all lawn-mowers.
Drey Jameson (ARI) @ LAD (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 94 pitches.
Well hot dang, look at you! After going seven shutout against the Padres, Drey backed it up with 96/97 mph heaters and 10/33 whiffs on his slider. OH BOY. So we pick him up, right? Welllll are the Diamondbacks going to keep him in the rotation? I sure hope they do and push Davies away from his start in San Francisco or something along those lines. LET THIS KIDS PLAY.
Aaron Ashby (MIL) vs NYM (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 41 pitches.
I’m thrilled he’s back, but just 41 pitches?! Ummmm there’s not enough time for him to get stretched out properly, is there. Like a mallet on my heart, WHY MUST YOU PLAY WITH OUR EMOTIONS.
John Brebbia (SF) @ COL (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 16 pitches.
We had a double opener for Sean Hjelle as he went four frames of 2 ER and–wait! Come back! I haven’t even made the joke yet! What. You don’t want to roll with the Hjelle. WHY DID I COME BACK.
Patrick Corbin (WSH) @ ATL (ND) – 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 12 pitches.
Poor Corbin, he was pulled early as he was dealing with back spasms. Say what you want about the man, he doesn’t deserve that pain. If you can guess the name of his reliever, I’ll give you five points. Erasmo Ramírez. Yeah, didn’t expect to see that name ever again, did ya.
Pablo López (MIA) vs CHC (ND) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 105 pitches.
Okay good. The changeup earned a whole lot of strikes and we’re fine here. But the Mets are next and they crush Pablo. Yeah, I get that. Sit him there if you must, I think I’m braving it. YOU GOT THIS PABLO.
Adrian Sampson (CHC) @ MIA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 89 pitches.
If you needed another stream, this was the one to consider and I’m glad it worked for y’all…save for that 1.50 WHIP. It’s the Pirates and Reds x2 next and I know we’ll be throwing those dice at least one more time. I’ll do my best to blow on the die, but no guarantees. Feel free to take your chips off here and cash out.
Dylan Cease (CWS) vs CLE (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 107 pitches.
Ehhhhh that slider has faded hard – 4/39 whiffs?! – and it’s feeling like time is running out on Cease’s breakout season. If there’s any cure, it’s the Tigers and let’s hope he returns to Cy Young form against Detroit.
Nestor Cortes (NYY) vs PIT (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 87 pitches.
He’s all stretched out now and while he wasn’t particularly efficient here, it’s good enough to let him go against the Jays up next. Let’s do this.
Luis Ortiz (PIT) @ NYY (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 74 pitches.
Ohhhhh realllly…Yep, circle that Sunday start against the Cubs. This kid has earned 15 whiffs on his slider in two starts and sits 99 mph on his four-seamer. LET’S DO IT.
Brayan Bello (BOS) @ CIN (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 84 pitches.
The man who hasn’t a allowed a home run went to one of the most HR-friendly parks out there…and allowed a home run. Gasp. He got Singled Out a fair amount, but his slider and changeup impressed me here with 11/44 whiffs between them. Not enough to start against the Yankees, but he may be under-the-radar for 2023 if those secondaries are a hint of what’s to come.
Zach Davies (ARI) @ LAD (ND) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 79 pitches.
So we didn’t like Davies for this one, yada yada yada, but now he could get the Giants next and his changeup may be good enough to warrant a deep stream. Something to consider.
Kyle Freeland (COL) vs SF (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 92 pitches.
Huh. It was Coors and it didn’t matter for Freeland as his slider went 9/26 called strikes and he got outs with the changeup. And yet, I still don’t want anything to do with it.
Aaron Civale (CLE) @ CWS (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 69 pitches.
That’s pretty dang wonderful for a Still ILL outing, but just 20% curves is something I hope to rise across his final starts of the year. Consider him a Toby moving forward.
Austin Voth (BAL) vs DET (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 62 pitches.
With Drew Smyly getting pushed back, it meant Voth turned into the streamer and it worked out, even if he was served the Loss. I wonder when we’ll be okay starting Voth again in the future. Maybe never…
Patrick Sandoval (LAA) @ TEX (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 89 pitches.
It’s not the best WHIP, but you’re happy with this from The Irish Panada. Enjoy the final two starts against Oakland and I wonder what kind of discourse we’ll get this off-season. Will it be “his changeup disappeared” or “he was so good in the second half”? I’m likely in the first camp – I don’t want to trust a full year of Sandoval without that slow ball.
Cole Ragans (TEX) vs LAA (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 84 pitches.
For me to see this and go “hey, he’s getting better!” should tell you a whole lot about Ragans.
Michael Grove (LAD) vs ARI (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 92 pitches.
I’m talkin’ bout your Michael Grove who got the Sneks a second time and wasn’t nearly as stellar. I still kinda dig his schtick of curve + four-seamer, but there’s a whole lotta polish left to be had. This is likely it for Grove without another doubleheader, so get home safe, Michael.
Nick Lodolo (CIN) vs BOS (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 92 pitches.
Honestly, this is one run away from a great outing. This was the toughest matchup he had left, now go start him the rest of the way without reconsideration.
Carlos Carrasco (NYM) @ MIL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 90 pitches.
Blegh. The slider was meh, the fastball was a tick down, and the changeup couldn’t handle all the slack. At least you get Miami and the Nats next – hold for those.
Adam Wainwright (STL) @ SD (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 107 pitches.
Ah dang. HAISTBMBWT?! Given how the ratios hurt and he earned a Loss, the only thing Waino gave you was one strikeout. Just one. And now he gets the Dodgers. Yeah. But the Pirates are after! If your team is still around for it to matter, that is.
Zack Greinke (KC) vs MIN (ND) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 80 pitches.
If you started Greinke, I hope you enjoyed the three strikeouts. Because that’s why you start Greinke. For the strikeouts.
Luis Castillo (SEA) @ OAK (L) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 85 pitches.
Aces gonna still not have the changeup and get punished a bit for it. It’s frustrating given how good Castillo has been and you have to keep starting him. whatareyagonnado.
Dylan Bundy (MIN) @ KC (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 65 pitches.
Not even against the Royals. Womp. Womp.
Shane McClanahan (TB) vs HOU (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 80 pitches.
McShane left this one with neck spasms as he was so obviously a different man than the one we saw against the Jays. He struggled out of the gate (4 ER in the first) and was clearly disheveled from the beginning. Sigh. I feel for y’all who needed this.
Ross Stripling (TOR) @ PHI (ND) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 69 pitches.
Blegh. Stripling has been pretty dang good and even with his changeup doing everything we love, the rest of the repertoire didn’t come through as he was Singled Out in this monstrosity of a game – seriously, the final score was 18-11, like it was time for Venezuela to declare its independence. I’m still starting him against the Rays up next.
Kyle Gibson (PHI) vs TOR (L) – 5.0 IP, 7 ER, 12 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 79 pitches.
This was a risky play and we got the explosive part of the Cherry Bomb. Shouldn’t have done that. It’s another risk with Atlanta next and you may want to tiptoe around that.
Game of the Day
Kevin Gausman vs. Zack Wheeler – Please tell me Wheeler is back to his old self. It’s all I want for this Wednesday.
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 Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)