The Bradish Juice

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

Kyle Bradish vs BOS (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 81 pitches.

With John Means getting TJS, there hasn’t been a whole lot to chase in the Orioles rotation (okay, maybe Bruce Zimmermann) but on Friday they called up one of their better pitching prospects in Kyle Bradish who went 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 81 pitches against the Red Sox. That’s a Quality Start and solid ratios for an MLB debut. Is he worth the pickup?

In short, sure why not as he gets the Twins next week. In long, he features a 94 mph four-seamer with cut action, with a decent slider and curveball + a changeup that can earn whiffs against lefties (3/7). In short (again), he’s a Toby. Back to long, he’s capable of earning outs quickly with solid command and if the breakers turn into a focus in a given start, he could push over a strikeout per inning. I’m down with a pickup if you need the help, but if you’re chasing a ceiling, you’re not going to get a massive one here. Think Merrill Kelly territory.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Friday:

 

Adrian Houser vs CHC (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 101 pitches.

Atta boy Houser. There’s nothing new here as his sinker did all of the work, and that sometimes works with Houser. That makes him a streaming option and nothing more. I’d invite Adrian to my Houser about once a month.

Rich Hill @ BAL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 50 pitches.

Hill went four, Tanner Houck went three (44 pitches) and I think none of us are too thrilled, outside of Houck earning a Win. Not that Houck did poorly (0 ER and four strikeouts) it’s just so obviously not enough. Maybe this is a product of Houck not going to Toronto and he’ll go 70-80 pitches on his own next time, but he’s still not throwing sliders for strikes — just 7/13 here at 54%. As for Hill…sure. Whatever Rich, you ain’t joining my roster.

Tylor Megill vs PHI (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 88 pitches.

HIS NAME. IS TYLORD MEGILL. And he was understandably pulled after 88 pitches given the man isn’t ready to toss over a 100 in a start. The Mets pulled off the no-hitter, somehow, and the people rejoiced. What I’m not rejoicing (which would imply that I’ve joiced before and now doing it again, WHICH I’M NOT) is Megill sitting 95.2 mph tonight. Sure, he went 10/58 whiffs on the heater despite it — yay! — the slider nor changeup looked all that impressive. Megill, please. I want to preach your name from the mountain tops. I NEED you to get those secondaries (and velocity) in order. K? K.

Antonio Senzatela vs CIN (ND) – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 87 pitches.

Ah. Of course. Just one strikeout, relying on BABIP inside Coors, and it works out in Senz-A’s favor. HAISTBMBWT?! If you’re looking for an explanation, you won’t get one from me.

Corey Kluber vs MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 71 pitches.

Daaaang Kluber! Your breaking ball was great, cutter was blegh, with a middling 89 mph heater, and some great changeups. I guess the Twins aren’t that great…? And guess what, it’s Oakland next. Fine, fine, I’m down for that. You won’t see as many changeups with the right-handed focus lineup (like with Jakob Junis!) but the curveball seems like it’ll be enough. Don’t get carried away, though.

Madison Bumgarner @ STL (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 89 pitches.

Ayyyy he survived! This was a major cutter game at 50% usage and despite just 18% CSW, it earned plenty of outs. That’s it, Bumgarner found gloves and we applaud him for it. Likely wearing our gloves that caught the balls, awfully soft, and without a whole lot of vigor. Just a “Hey, I need to do this and please don’t truly take this personally…oh, you want to make a speech now. Why did I encourage this.” kind of clap.

Nestor Cortes Jr. @ KC (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 82 pitches.

Nasty Nestor wasn’t quite so phenomenal tonight — just 2/37 whiffs on the four-seamer — but he put his nose to the grindstone to produce a winning start for this club. Now comes the real test as he faces the Jays — are you starting him for that? I feel like you have to. Good luck, we’re all counting on you.

Jimmy Herget @ CWS (ND) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 43 pitches.

Noah Syndergaard was supposed to start this, but fell ill and was scratched. So Jimmy took the start and survived. No, I will not be talking about you in the third person as you pick up Jimmy, say HER! GET! Because you know better. Obviously.

Tyler Anderson vs DET (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 69 pitches.

Hey, I’m glad Tyler looked like a proper Toby against the Tigers. He’s slated to get the Cubs next and I guess that could work, though he may be restricted to just five frames once again, making for a low ceiling and an obviously low floor. It’s not a slam dunk. Cool to see his four-seamer still register legit CSW marks, though, as it landed on a 37% clip in this one. Atta boy, Anderson.

Ian Anderson @ TEX (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 90 pitches.

Anderson looked a lot better with his command, locating fastballs in the zone (31/44 strikes) and keeping his changeup down. It wasn’t prime Anderson, but it’s way better than the pure chaos that has been many of his April outings. This is encouraging — he’s super hard to hit when he’s staying in the zone.

Aaron Sanchez @ SF (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 71 pitches.

Seriously?! Sanchez earned a King Cole?! He pounded the zone with sinkers and earned a few called strikes with his changeup and four-seamer and voila, you’ve got a solid (but usually not award winning) CSW. Meanwhile, the ratios are whatever and let’s just be happy he made it through five for the chance at a Win. This isn’t the pickup you want to make as his heater sat around 91 mph tonight. There just isn’t enough here to lean on.

Garrett Richards vs ATL (L) – 1.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 22 pitches.

Richards “opened” for Spencer Howard and I use those lovely rabbit quotes because does 51 pitches across 1.2 frames really count as “following”? Sidenote: I’ve sat in front of my keyboard for a dramatic 30 seconds wondering what else I could say about this game. There’s nothing. Nothing.

Kris Bubic vs NYY (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 81 pitches.

I’ve seen worse from Bubic, but just because the water doesn’t look brown doesn’t mean you should drink it, like Evian water. Seriously, it’s terrible.

Tyler Alexander @ LAD (L) – 2.1 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 47 pitches.

What do you know, T-Lex came up short-handed once again. He was extinct from this game pretty dang quickly and will bring you down with him if you let him.

Alex Wood vs WSH (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 86 pitches.

Say what. Alex, you sat 92.8 mph in this one. 92.8! That’s a tick higher than last year. That’s supposed to spell success, not this atrocity. Fine, I’ll blame your slider and changeup being a bit too hittable against a mediocre lineup. You gotta believe that’ll correct itself next time while the velocity looks like it’s here to stay. Don’t panic, y’all. Bad starts happen.

Adam Wainwright vs ARI (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 100 pitches.

I expected a bit more than a VPQS from Waino against the Diamondbacks and it may be time that we fully acknowledge that his excellent 2021 isn’t going to be replicated this year. That means he’s a streaming option and not really that Toby we want him to be. I guess he’s fine against the Royals, but that anxiety creep has been to hit.

Elieser Hernandez vs SEA (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 97 pitches.

I think this works if you streamed Hernandez. Sure, it’s one earned run more than we like, but a 1.20 WHIP, five strikeouts, and that sweet sweet Win. Dusty Donut all the way, but I think it’s worth it. You can thank the slider going 9/43 whiffs. What a guy. He gets the Diamondbacks next and that’s going to be a Probable Start. Circle it as a pickup.

Yu Darvish @ PIT (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 98 pitches.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Opponent does not matter for Yu Darvish. Just don’t think about it. That’s a VPQS against the Pirates. Soooo yeah, another day for the premium Cherry Bomb.

Aaron Nola @ NYM (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 94 pitches.

That’s a PQS with nine strikeouts and a lovely WHIP. Sure, he allowed a longball off the bat of Pete Alonso, but hey, things happen. His four-seamer returned a 41% CSW while the curve returned a 48% clip. You know he’s dope.

Lucas Giolito vs LAA (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 99 pitches.

Like Nola, it’s a PQS with a bunch of strikeouts, barely missing a King Cole on the night. 33% would seem like a cheap victory, for what it’s worth. Anyway, the fastball velocity is still a little down at 93 mph, while his changeup is still dope and makes us feel dope. Sadly the breakers haven’t quite there so far this year, but hey, give him some time.

José Urquidy @ TOR (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 90 pitches.

Can’t say I expected Urquidy to ever win a Gallows Pole but here we are. The heater was the hero at 9/43 whiffs with plenty of intent up in the zone at 94 mph. His secondaries weren’t as filthy, though, and the Jays had their way. All this means is you should be starting Urquidy with conviction against the Tigers next. That’s all you really want at this point, right?

Hunter Greene @ COL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 95 pitches.

Soooooo Greene was still sub 97 mph and threw more sliders than fastballs. Say what. Sure, it was a good slider, but that is NOT Greene. The good news is that he gets Milwaukee next but if Greene is still living in the 96/97 mph range, I’ll be worrying. He’s turning from the Hunter into the hunted.

Zach Thompson vs SD (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 80 pitches.

Womp womp. I hope this Frozen Banana can find his cutter and curveball at some point this year.

Aaron Civale @ OAK (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 82 pitches.

Yikes. If you’re not dropping Civale after this “performance” against Oakland as he still sits two ticks down with his velocity, what are you waiting for?

Yusei Kikuchi vs HOU (ND) – 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 66 pitches.

Kikuchi is a prime example of a Frozen Banana. Don’t overthink this.

Frankie Montas vs CLE (W) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 96 pitches.

Womp womp. I was hoping to crown Montas with an AGA label after this one, but he struggled massively with the splitter (3/27 CSW?!) and it meant longer at-bats and plenty of walks. I’m willing to call it a One Night Bland and I’m still starting him against the Rays next.

Dylan Bundy @ TB (L) – 6.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 94 pitches.

Yeaaaaaah, we knew this wouldn’t last. But he had seven strikeouts! And allowed his first two longballs of the year. We’re still seeing fewer sliders than we’d like — just 18% usage here — and this just feels like a clear avoid. Womp. Womp.

Kyle Hendricks @ MIL (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 85 pitches.

BUT THIS WAS THE BREWERS. Yeah, but Hendricks is essentially the Toby version of a Cherry Bomb these days. I bet if he lasts long enough, I’ll find another random term to constantly give him. And now he gets the Dodgers. Ugh. You may want to move on. We have trust issues now.

Matt Brash @ MIA (L) – 2.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 57 pitches.

Oh no. After his first start, I expected Brash to have some struggles, but well worth the hold as “he’ll help more than he’ll hurt.” Of course the next three outings, including this one against an unintimidating Marlins crew has been pain. Lots and lots o’ pain. Is it enough to drop Brash? Maybe? I still believe that he’ll get this fixed and at some point dominate for your team — I still see Lance McCullers Jr. as a pretty decent comp — but we just don’t know when. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ If you want to settle for a Toby instead, I absolutely don’t blame you. He gets the Astros next and that’s all kinds of risky. It stinks we’re at this point for someone with such ridiculous stuff, and hopefully it’s one of those bumps in the road that we laugh about later.

 

Game of the Day 

Robbie Ray vs. Jesús Luzardo – This is a wonderful day at the park.

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)