And I Said Haaaaaayden, What’s Going On?

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.

Wade Miley (CHC) vs CIN (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 69 pitches.

Technically this blurb should be about Wade Miley and his 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 69 pitches return from the IL – lovely stuff, Miley. I feel great about you moving forward despite it being September, yada yada yada – but in actuality, what turned heads tonight was the man who came in after. He was sent over by the Yankees at the deadline for Scott Effross and destroyed the Reds via 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 61 pitches. That man’s name? Mike Trout Hayden Wesneski.

Sure, Blame it on the Reds. That’s a very fair take on this, but then you’d be missing out on a filthy breaker that had the man strutting around the mound constantly (43% usage and 35% CSW!), while pumping 92-96 mph heaters into the zone for a 77% strike rate. So what? Do we pick him up now? I’m not exactly sure as I have no idea how they plan to use him – Justin Steele went on the IL, but the Cubs could operate as a five-man rotation just fine – and with only 61 pitches here, even if he did get a full start, it’ll be challenging to go a full five again. But let’s say he does fall into the rotation after Miley during the next pass, then he’d face…the Mets.

In short, it means we don’t go after Wesneski quite yet. In long, we’re aware of the youngin’ and can take advantage of a possible stream down the road. That’s what matters most right now: identifying which underrostered pitchers can return value when all of the regular arms are unavailable for trades.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:

 

Mitch Keller (PIT) vs NYM (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 100 pitches.

Ayyyyy he survived against the Mets via the way of the batted ball. That’s something you can trust, right? …no. Not at all. Not the worst command on the four-seamer, though.

Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs CWS (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 101 pitches.

Atta boy Gilbert! The four-seamer did all of the work, per usual, and the Padres are next as the last tough team on the docket. Take em down.

John Brebbia (SF) @ LAD (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 13 pitches.

That’s a bullpen game for the Giants and I’m already falling asleep typing this blurawoeihfkolj;wnef;oijh

Shane Bieber (CLE) @ KC (W) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 99 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Glad to see a Win for Bieber as the cutter was the star of the night at 9/41 whiffs – the slider and curve took a major backseat, so let’s be happy the pitch showed up.

Brandon Woodruff (MIL) @ COL (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 91 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Inside Coors no less! It was the final tough matchup for Woody and let’s hope he soars through the finish line.

Aaron Nola (PHI) vs MIA (ND) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 97 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Neither of these pitchers deserved a Loss, so neither got a Win. That’s baseball, Suzyn. 200+ strikeouts for Nola this year, by the way. Well deserved.

Johnny Cueto (CWS) @ SEA (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 96 pitches.

That’s Cueto magic for ya. And now he gets the Athletics, Tigers, and Guardians. Let it ride.

José Quintana (STL) vs WSH (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 87 pitches.

The command is back in order with curveballs down and four-seamers up. Phew. Now soar against the Pirates thrice and the Reds (it’s okay, we’ll bench you against the Dodgers).

Jesús Luzardo (MIA) @ PHI (ND) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 92 pitches.

That second earned run is highly questionable given it was on a “catcher’s interference” during a play at the plate and I hate it. Otherwise, he went sinker-heavy at about 96 mph, lasted seven full frames, and earned 15 whiffs on curves + changeups. I feel like you gotta start him against Atlanta and really all the way through the end at this point. Let’s. GO.

Framber Valdez (HOU) vs TEX (L) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 11 Ks – 25 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 107 pitches.

Aces gonna ace with a Golden Goal for Valdez. That’s the 23rd straight quality start and it’s unreal…even if he walked four and had a poor 1.50 WHIP. What are we gonna do with you Valdez…

Mike Mayers (LAA) vs DET (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 72 pitches.

You really can stream anyone against the Tigers, eh? Sorry Mayers, I mean to throw no shade, it’s just…Blame it on the Tigers and let’s not start him against the Guardians. Maaaybe a desperate play against the Athletics later.

Glenn Otto (TEX) @ HOU (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 80 pitches.

I expected nothing and got a 4.50 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP. But hey, five strikeouts and it does make for a considerable stream against the Marlins next week. Sneaky sneaky.

JT Chargois (TB) vs BOS (ND) – 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 27 pitches.

The Rays weren’t ready for Yonny Chirinos to return and Drew Rasmussen had to go on the paternity list, which means the Rays went with their bread n butter – a bullpen game. Of course they won.

Eduardo Rodriguez (DET) @ LAA (ND) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 90 pitches.

This looked rough early, but he settled down and produced for trusting managers. The heater fell another 1.5 ticks to just 90.4 mph, the changeup earned just 2/13 whiffs, and I fail to buy this. Do whatever you want Erod, but leave me out of it.

Kris Bubic (KC) vs CLE (L) – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 95 pitches.

This is as good as you could have honestly hoped from Bubic, who had 92.7 mph velocity and a decent changeup. Considering this is the ceiling, you should know to avoid it.

Tyler Anderson (LAD) vs SF (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 80 pitches.

Meh. Enjoy your Win y’all, the real Tyler is rearing his head as he couldn’t stay inside that dang trenchcoat any longer. IT’S TOO STUFFY.

Paolo Espino (WSH) @ STL (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 85 pitches.

This isn’t the start we’re considering for Espino, it’s the super borderline game against the Orioles next time out. I’m not doing it in standard leagues, but that NL-Only? This is your chance. I BELIEVE.

Justin Dunn (CIN) @ CHC (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 81 pitches.

Mmmmmm nope. He’s still working on finding the feel for his slider and curve and until then, we ain’t touching this. HAISTBMBWT?!

Kyle Bradish (BAL) vs TOR (ND) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 66 pitches.

Blegh. It was the Jays and he did go 42% slider with a 36% CSW, but again, it was the Jays. His next outing may be the only one we can start Bradish for the rest of the way as he gets Natty Lite. I’m not enthusiastic, but I’m game.

Merrill Kelly (ARI) @ SD (ND) – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 96 pitches.

A trio of longballs did Kelly in – all four baserunners came in – and even with that low WHIP and handful of strikeouts, you start to wonder if you really should be holding onto Kelly. It’s the Dodgers, Padres, Dodgers next…you don’t have to do this, y’all.

Taijuan Walker (NYM) @ PIT (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 80 pitches.

Womp womp. But the Pirates! But his splitter and slider returned 4/38 whiffs and he sat 93.4 mph on the heater. Not great. He still has one of the best schedules around, so let’s just hope he gets his act together.

Joe Musgrove (SD) vs ARI (ND) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 99 pitches.

Aces gonna…OH COME ON NOT NOW MUSGROVE. Sigh. I thought we were over this last week! He held just an 11% CSW on the slider and his stuff was too hittable. Ugh. Still hold and truck through this, it should be better. The Padres really are cursed, aren’t they.

Chad Kuhl (COL) vs MIL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 74 pitches.

Ah yes, the Kuhl WHIP has returned. It never left. Looking around my apartment with 20 containers of the dang thing. Sure didn’t.

Rich Hill (BOS) @ TB (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 64 pitches.

Womp womp. I really wish he never had that 7 IP, 11 K game. It’s the hope that kills ya.

Mitch White (TOR) @ BAL (L) – 2.1 IP, 5 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 63 pitches.

You’re still chasing this? Why?

Kyle Wright (ATL) @ OAK (ND) – 4.0 IP, 8 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 75 pitches.

Oh dear. The curve was incredibly erratic, forcing more sinkers than Wright should ever throw, and it was rough. At least the velocity was normal, though, and it was just one of those days when the elite curve took a vacation. Don’t worry about the future, but I’m sorry about the present.

Cole Irvin (OAK) vs ATL (ND) – 4.2 IP, 9 ER, 9 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 84 pitches.

Yeah, this wasn’t the Irvin start to chase. Maaaybe the Rangers next, but honestly, I think you’re better off streaming other options. The schedule is too dang rough.

 

Game of the Day

 

Spencer Strider vs. Ken Waldichuk – Strider is must-see TV, while I’m curious to see more of Waldichuk’s development in the majors.

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)