Luis Or-Tease

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

Luis Ortiz (PIT) vs CHC (L) – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 80 pitches.

It’s the week of the young pitcher and how could I resist talking about Luis Ortiz giving us a taste of what’s to come against the Cubs via 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 80 pitches – you couldn’t go just one more out for us?!

This should be quick: Ortiz packs a legit punch with 96-100 mph heaters and a slider that earned a whopping 10/30 whiffs in this game. For a guy you didn’t know about until last week, that’s pretty dang amazing and could profile into a legit SP4/5 next season for you, if not better if it comes with legit consistency.

As for right now, he gets the Cardinals next and I personally am going for it. I have my hesitations with his small sample (how volatile is he?) but the fastball/slider combo is the real deal and it can spell 5+ frames of cruise control with more than a strikeout per inning. I can’t wait to watch him blossom next year.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:

 

Cristian Javier (HOU) @ BAL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 76 pitches.

He kinda deserves the AGA tag, doesn’t he. His four-seamer is one of the more underrated heaters out there and when he’s able to complement it with breakers in the zone…oh BABY.

Nestor Cortes (NYY) vs BOS (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 101 pitches.

This was one of those “fastballs or die” games for Nestor and I’m glad it worked out. No, this isn’t a complete game shutout with the game ending due to rain in before the seventh. NOT IN MY BOOK. Keep it going, of course.

Dylan Cease (CWS) vs DET (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 95 pitches.

Aces gonna ace…and make managers wonder whether his lagging second half is a reason to pull back next season. At least his slider returned whiffs again (10/49), but the four-seamer and curve are the same ole volatile creatures I know and hate.

Drey Jameson (ARI) vs SF (ND) – 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches.

Yup. He’s legit and gets the Giants one more time. Start him there too, his stuff is good enough and h*ck, he may not walk three next time, too.

Aníbal Sánchez (WSH) @ MIA (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 95 pitches.

Aníbal, I didn’t make the same mistake twice. Good job fella, we’re all so proud of you. So we’re holding him? What? No. It’s the Phillies next, not the Marlins a third time. Get it together.

Freddy Peralta (MIL) @ CIN (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 44 pitches.

Freddy pitched a pair as we expected and he was fine. Aaron Ashby came in after (as expected) and sadly just went 1.2 frames of blegh, making this a legit bullpen game. No fun. Don’t anticipate either arm returning fantasy value before the end – there’s too little time to get stretched out now.

Scott Alexander (SF) @ ARI (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 12 pitches.

Ayyyy, Jakob Junis was double-opened for and returned 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks in 83 pitches. The slider was good, the changeup was not, and he has one more start left as he faces the Sneks. That’s a no from me, sorry bud. It’s been a ride.

Nick Lodolo (CIN) vs MIL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 99 pitches.

Yesssss. You hear that sound? It’s him wooooshing past other pitchers as he flies up 2023 draft boards.

Brayan Bello (BOS) @ NYY (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 95 pitches.

He earned the loss because rain ended this one early (okay, he still may have), but don’t let that take away from a solid outing against a good offense. Once again the slider and change came through, though it’s not equating to a large number of strikeouts. He gets the Jays next and that’s a coin flip to me. There’s something here for 2023, though. I can taste it.

Adrian Sampson (CHC) @ PIT (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 67 pitches.

That’s two-for-two with Sampson coming through against mediocre opponents and we have one left as he hosts the Reds in Wrigley. Why not, right? What could go wrong?

Max Scherzer (NYM) @ OAK (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 91 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Yep, that’s how it’s done, Jakob.

Tyler Alexander (DET) @ CWS (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 79 pitches.

Yep, I’m still amazed this is working out well for T-Lex. No, I don’t want to start him against Minnesota, but I’ll do him the respect of making him sit at the bottom of the third tier now.

Austin Voth (BAL) vs HOU (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 83 pitches.

I definitely expected worse than this from Voth and I’m glad he was able to give us a taste of what could’ve been before his final two starts of the year…against the Yankees and Jays. Nah, I think I’ll just stay out of this and let y’all take the chance. I’ll be over here putting on my swim cap and relaxing in The Hot Tub of Relaxation.

Ross Stripling (TOR) @ TB (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 76 pitches.

Yessssss. It’s not the best I’ve seen from Stripling – changeup was mediocre and his overall command was a bit off – but he made it work and I think we’re safe against the Red Sox. He’ll likely have the slow ball back there.

Michael Grove (LAD) vs STL (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 69 pitches.

Man, I didn’t expect Grove to pitch again and was worried that his five-inning limitation would prevent him from producing against a decent Cardinals team…and I was wrong again. Where do the Dodgers find these guys? I won’t make the same mistake again with Dustin May now on the IL – it means Grove gets his next start against Rockie Road – let’s do it.

José Suarez (LAA) @ MIN (W) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 97 pitches.

Soooo Suarez is throwing a massively harder slider – 3.6 ticks up! – and he essentially gave you a VPQS with a Win. Okay. He’s not a terrible play against the Rangers, but I don’t think he’s your league winner or anything. I’d chase the other fun streams instead.

Aaron Civale (CLE) @ TEX (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 75 pitches.

Ahhhh we saw 36% curveballs usage and Civale is back in line. I’d make it happen against the Royals next.

Cole Ragans (TEX) vs CLE (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 79 pitches.

Closer, but the fastball command isn’t there yet. One day we’ll get the CR level we deserve.

Edward Cabrera (MIA) vs WSH (L) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 52 pitches.

He left this one in the fourth with an ankle sprain. Ugggggh, poor guy. You can drop him, I’d be shocked if the Marlins pushed him through it in any way to make one more start.

Shane McClanahan (TB) vs TOR (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 76 pitches.

Blegh. I elected to be cautious here as he was likely on a pitch count after the neck spasms + they may affect him + it’s the Jays and we saw a small dip in velocity paired with breakers that weren’t nearly as effective as they need to be. One start to go against the Astros and I don’t know what we’ll see. Good luck, McClanafans.

Dylan Bundy (MIN) vs LAA (L) – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 84 pitches.

Oh hey, it’s Bundy. … Okay, bye Bundy!

Adam Wainwright (STL) @ LAD (L) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 15% CSW, 74 pitches.

Yeaaaaah. At least you have the Pirates next, though, so let’s hope it’s not fatigue and has one more in the tank.

Luis Castillo (SEA) @ KC (ND) – 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 97 pitches.

Well that’s not fun. His slider was really good but he struggled with everything else as the changeup still isn’t its vintage self. With his extension signed with the Mariners, I wonder if we’ll see him lean in next year in Seattle and keep this slider, new velocity, and get back the old changeup. As for now, treat this like a One Night Bland.

Kyle Gibson (PHI) vs ATL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 25 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 90 pitches.

I’m sorry, WHAT. 25 WHIFFS?! A “GOLDEN GOAL”?! He went 31% sliders and tallied 11 whiffs alone on the pitch, while the cutter dominated as well ad his fastballs found strikes. Simply unreal. I guess he is the most Cherry Bomb arm out there right now. Kyle. Gibson. Be careful flipping that quarter.

Mike Clevinger (SD) @ COL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 80 pitches.

It’s a struggling Clevinger in Coors. Absolutely not.

Charlie Morton (ATL) @ PHI (ND) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 102 pitches.

Aces gonna make us so dang frustrated at the end of a tumultuous season. I don’t think he was particularly bad, it just didn’t work. That seems to happen more often than it should for Morton. That’s a tough call against the Mets next, I think you still do it.

Max Castillo (KC) vs SEA (ND) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 84 pitches.

No one won the Battle of the Castillos. It was a sad day for all of humanity, as battles traditionally are.

JP Sears (OAK) vs NYM (L) – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 78 pitches.

It’s the Mariners for his last start and as I point to the line above, y’all don’t need me.

Kyle Freeland (COL) vs SD (L) – 2.2 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 63 pitches.

Freeland has limited upside, pitches his home games at Coors Field, and doesn’t deserve a spot on your team. This should be the blurb for every Colorado starter.

 

Game of the Day

 

Roansy Contreras vs. Cincinnati Reds – I want to see more of the growth of Contreras. Give me MORE.

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 Minda Haas Kuhlmann (https://www.flickr.com/people/mindahaas/) | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)