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.
Johan Oviedo (PIT) vs CHC (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 82 pitches.
I remember last year watching Johan Oviedo in St. Louis and wondering what he’d look like if he was able to consistently throw strikes. Well, last night’s 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 82 pitches affair against the Cubs was essentially that.
His breakers returned 78% strikes and a 96/97 mph heater challenged batters in the zone constantly. It works. At the same time, it’s not quite as overpowering as you’d think: His slider isn’t the most vicious in town, and the heater can get whiffs when utilized properly, but it’s not there yet – just 2/38 whiffs here. I’m seeing a productive starter when he’s able to avoid free passes and stay ahead of batters, but not a budding ace even with his velocity.
All that said, he’s grown since last year with the Cardinals, and who’s to say the 24-year-old doesn’t continue to grow with more time on the bump? I think it’s unwise to believe this performance equates to consistency in his final start of the year against the Cardinals, but you’ll see him at the backend of rankings for next year. Those hard-throwing Pirates pitchers are a curious bunch.
Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:
Alek Manoah (TOR) @ TB (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 113 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. 7/23 slider whiffs + excellent sinker command made me crack a smile. It’s about dang time!
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) vs WSH (W) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 11 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 99 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. 21 whiffs (Gallows Pole). 11 strikeouts. And a Cy Young already in transit.
Drew Rasmussen (TB) vs TOR (L) – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 88 pitches.
Whoaaaa he came through! Rasmussen has been rough in his last two against the Jays + Astros and I lost hope he’d showcase something tangible for us to grasp. Here, his cutter and slider were well-spotted down-and-gloveside, while the fastball ran around the zone. If he repeats it, it could work against the Astros, but that’s an IF on another IF. What, like a second basemen and shortstop on top of each other? Please leave.
Cal Quantrill (CLE) @ TEX (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 83 pitches.
He is the Toby. Do your thing, I guess.
Glenn Otto (TEX) vs CLE (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 73 pitches.
We’ll take it from Otto, but it felt like another “oh, this is actually working out?” kind of outing. It’s nice, but I still have my reservations, like dinner for two at Al Di La on Friday, even though I’m likely out of town. Do you know how hard it is to get a table there?!
Wade Miley (CHC) @ PIT (L) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 65 pitches.
This start was going according to plan until a bunt laid down in the fifth caused Miley to throw to third…and he hurt his oblique and threw it into the outfield. He’s done for the year now and to say this is frustrating – a Marlins start ruined by errors and a seemingly great Pirates started cut short by injury – is an understatement. Poor guy, he’s better than these lines.
Merrill Kelly (ARI) vs SF (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 93 pitches.
That’s a 3.13 ERA and 1.11 WHIP for Kelly this year and I won’t forget this season. I won’t. So many will call me nuts for ignoring you next season and it’s nothing personal, I just don’t like your repertoire. One more start to go, though, and you don’t need me to tell you to keep the train moving.
Corbin Burnes (MIL) @ CIN (W) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 102 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Thank you Burnes, we needed this.
Clayton Kershaw (LAD) vs STL (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 88 pitches.
A King Cole for TATIAGA. Sure, that WHIP ain’t ideal, but you have to appreciate the man. He has to have another year of dominance left in him, yeah? Even if he’s hurt for half of it.
Yu Darvish (SD) @ COL (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 87 pitches.
Hey. You. Just start Darvish. Always.
Kyle Wright (ATL) @ PHI (W) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 97 pitches.
Even without the best curve, Wright found a way through nearly six frames. Good on ya, Kyle. You’ve been a league winner for so many.
Drew Hutchison (DET) @ CWS (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 77 pitches.
HAISTBMBWT?! He gets the Twins next and I maintain my view: Don’t Startsky The Hutch.
Mike Baumann (BAL) vs HOU (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 58 pitches.
He started in place of Tyler Wells and it went better than you expected, even at 58 pitches. Like playing tag by yourself, there’s nothing to chase here.
Davis Martin (CWS) vs DET (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 93 pitches.
Look, if you were in a desperate spot and needed to stream Martin, you’re happy with a PQS. He’s not a guy to start against the Padres or Twins, though.
Chad Kuhl (COL) vs SD (L) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 100 pitches.
It’s odd how this Kuhl WHIP is never sweet.
Domingo Germán (NYY) vs BOS (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 66 pitches.
Mmmm I’ll take this Dusty Donut. His curve was excellent and I’d expect it to return against the Orioles next week. Go for it.
Kris Bubic (KC) vs SEA (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 103 pitches.
Noooooooope. Kris? Mas? NOPE.
Joe Ryan (MIN) vs LAA (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 69 pitches.
Command was poor, and while the fastball was able to do its thing a decent amount of the time, he labored through the start. Fret not, the Tigers are next. We good.
Erick Fedde (WSH) @ MIA (L) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 94 pitches.
Womp womp. Fedde has a history of coming through against the Marlins and I’m sad he let us down here. The one time I had any hope for it to work. Don’t Trust The Feddes.
Framber Valdez (HOU) @ BAL (ND) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 11 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 103 pitches.
Wait. It’s not a quality start?! WHAT. He got Singled Out and it’s what normally prevents players from going on 25-game Quality Start streaks.
Ken Waldichuk (OAK) vs NYM (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 71 pitches.
I’m curious as to whether he can develop into a Toby for 2023 but that’s about it. It’s the time of year when those Frozen Bananas are gonna develop a “protective ice layer” before we remember they exist.
Graham Ashcraft (CIN) vs MIL (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 70 pitches.
He returned from the IL and sat 99 mph on his cutter…and it didn’t matter. Burnes was on the other side and said “no no no, you gotta get it down. And with a lot more movement.” I don’t know why Ashcraft didn’t listen.
Reid Detmers (LAA) @ MIN (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 71 pitches.
Blegh. He’s gonna be a divisive guy entering 2023, and if he’s a dart throw at the end of the draft, sign me up. If he’s requiring a Top 200 pick, it may be tougher. Do we buy that he’ll make the correction with his slider and curveball command in the off-season or during the early parts of 2023? At the very least, I’m moving on for this season. Not enough time left.
Nick Pivetta (BOS) @ NYY (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 8 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 95 pitches.
You started Pivetta for strikeouts and you got them. You sat him for his ratios, and you blissfully leaned away as the bullet raced past your hair. Let’s be happy.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) @ KC (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 76 pitches.
Bleeeeeggggh. That’s awfully disappointing from Gilbert as his command was off. You’re still starting him, but I feel the pain.
Alex Cobb (SF) @ ARI (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 93 pitches.
After surviving the Dodgers, Cobb lost his splitter against the Sneks. So if you held, benched, then started for this one, you’ve been suffering for a few weeks now – you have my sympathy. He’ll miss the expected Rockie Road start now, sadly, which means it’s Arizona a second time and that’s still okay, even after this. If the splitter returns, life is good.
Jacob deGrom (NYM) @ OAK (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 80 pitches.
Oh my. Ohhhhhh my. OHHHH MMMYYYYY. His command was bad. That’s all there is to it. Y’all know how rare that is and we’re gonna move on.
Jordan Montgomery (STL) @ LAD (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 80 pitches.
Yeaaaaah. I wonder if some saw José Quintana’s success and double-backed to start The Bear. I hope not. But don’t fret, it’s the Pirates next and if you didn’t drop him before this one, now you have a lovely reward. Enjoy.
Bailey Falter (PHI) vs ATL (L) – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 90 pitches.
Ouch. We liked Falter when he faces poor offenses, not against a top-tier opponent. This doesn’t change anything for his next start against the Nationals – start him there and don’t think about it.
Game of the Day
Freddy Peralta vs. Nick Lodolo – I could watch these arms all day.
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 Graessle/Icon Sportswire | Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire
No McClanahan write-up?