The Brady Punch

Brady Singer vs CWS (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 106 pitches.

Hey, Brady Singer did the thing again. He faced the White Sox a second time and after his first wave of success, I wasn’t a fan. Nah, I said. This called-strike reliance is a seductress and I have the mental fortitude to resist. How I wish I was weaker as he dominated via 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 106 pitches. And yes, it came with 15 sinker called strikes, once again.

It’s not like it’s a bad thing, this can and has worked, it’s just the least convincing path to success outside of purely relying on outs in the field and a performance like this could happen again…or he could fall back into old habits. In short, he’s still a Cherry Bomb and take that chance if you’d like against the Orioles.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:

 

Dominic Leone vs LAD (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 13 pitches.

We had a bullpen game in San Francisco and I hate how there’s one of these seemingly every day now. Please, let me be a curmudgeon every so often. There’s a simple joy to it.

Robbie Ray vs OAK (W) – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 10 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 107 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. He’s my Cy Young. I made a “controversial” tweet today that some thought I was trolling – I am not. ERA and IP are the only two stats that matter, with some peripheral stats helping outline some weights that should be given to ERA (e.g. team defense or park factors), but your standard WHIP, xwOBA, etc. don’t matter to me in ERA. Hits allowed, strikeouts earned, all of that helps us understand the dominance of a pitcher, but in the end, a team wins based on runs and the best pitcher – the Cy Young – is the one who limits the opponents’ runs most across the most innings. K% and CSW% and all of those are great to help us with fantasy, though.

Casey Mize @ CIN (ND) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 34 pitches.

We didn’t expect the Tigers to limit Mize here, but alas, you got three great frames against the Reds, and honestly, it’s not easy to go much more shutout in Cincy so be happy…? It’s hard rostering Mize right now given the unexpected innings, so yeah, let’s talk about this over the off-season.

Jon Lester @ MIL (ND) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 81 pitches.

The mad man did it again as the dozens of y’all – DOZENS! – got a decent ERA when you needed it…and nothing else. I guess you’re happy..?

Sam Coonrod @ MIA (ND) – 1.1 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 28 pitches.

That’s a name, alright. The Phils elected to push Wheeler back a day and Coonrod led this bullpen game and that’s about all there is to talk about. Welp, see ya later.

Janson Junk vs TEX (L) – 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 59 pitches.

What an S-Tier name. Unreal. Just 59 pitches and not enough for us to latch onto, so let’s wait this one out as well. I imagine that slider is a little better than what we saw as well.

Luis Castillo vs DET (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 91 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. The changeup is legit, the heater is 97 mph, and the slider helps. Things are great.

Corey Kluber vs BAL (ND) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 78 pitches.

Blegh. The breaker was great once again, and at least the fastball was at 90 mph, but that’s still not 91/92 and the sinker + cutter performed terribly. Keep sitting this one out.

Charlie Morton @ COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 89 pitches.

Atta boy Morton. Surviving Coors like that as you continue to produce despite a poor schedule. And now you get your respite against Miami, you deserve it.

Luis Garcia @ SD (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 80 pitches.

Yikes. This was fastball/cutter day and the cutter was…mediocre to be kind about it. The slider was noticeably removed (just six thrown?!) and I can’t say I adore Garcia’s desire to go 43% heaters, but here we are. The Angels + Rangers are next and that should be better. We want more sliders, Garcia, give the people what they want.

Tyler Gilbert vs SEA (ND) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 91 pitches.

If I had to lean on Gilbert on Sunday, I’d be pleased with a glorified PQS and a solid WHIP under 1.00. It’s the same ole Toby stuff with a cutter and heater + some splitters and curves in the mix that really don’t whiff many. He’ll get the Mariners again and while I don’t want to go for it, I can see those in QS leagues taking the chance. The cutter is decent enough, I guess.

Corbin Burnes vs STL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 86 pitches.

Aces gonna come close to ace. Is he the Cy Young to you? I personally would favor Buehler still despite today’s efforts given the massive innings gap, but I completely understand favoring Burnes’ overall dominance. Can’t go wrong.

Dylan Cease @ KC (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 24 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 98 pitches.

That’s a Golden Goal on the back of his slider going a ridiculous 17/41 whiffs + curveballs earning 41% CSW on its own. It’s pretty shocking to see a pitcher perform this well with his stuff and be so dang inefficient with his heaters (and about a third of his sliders) to bring the whole thing down, but Cease finds a way. He gets the Sawx next and I’m okay with that.

Zach Plesac @ BOS (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 101 pitches.

I didn’t expect much and I’m still a little disappointed. His changeup is so far from what it was, but at least the slider is working so that’s cool. I kinda think he’s a fun sleeper for 2022 since he’ll have plenty of time to find the pitch once again. Just a thought.

Elieser Hernandez vs PHI (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 72 pitches.

Oddly enough, the slider was his worst pitch, with solid changeups and a fastball that made a few mistakes that made up all of this one. Atlanta is next and I’d trust that slider to return + the other stuff could stick as well.

Chris Flexen @ ARI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 89 pitches.

It’s a PQS from Flexen and yeah, that seems right. Once again, we sit here, nodding our head at mediocrity and not knowing how we feel about it. That’s a Toby for the ages.

Taylor Hearn @ LAA (W) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 77 pitches.

Yeah, that’s cool with me. I’m impressed he did it across just 77 pitches, though he did get away with a decent amount of pitches in the heart of the zone. Now it’s @OAK + HOU and I think the stuff is a bit too middling for me (just 92.5 mph here, not 94!), but you could do worse against the Athletics.

Chris Paddack vs HOU (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 63 pitches.

What the h*ck is this. One whiff? ONE?! I mean, I’m not even shocked he didn’t fan a single batter, this is absurd. HAISTBMBWT?! is an understatement. Needless to say, no I’m not encouraged by this start, even if it was Houston. This is just…not right.

Luis Patino vs MIN (ND) – 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 73 pitches.

Nooooooooo. Streaming Record: 82-63. After performing well against tough teams, Patiño didn’t have his best heater against the Twins and Blamo! That was it. He really needs that fastball given the slider has plus potential yet hasn’t acted that way for ages. There is hope for a rebound as he gets the Tigers twice now, though, so don’t rule it out.

Griffin Jax @ TB (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 89 pitches.

Womp womp. The slider is still a decent pitch, but it’s not enough to overcome the inconsistent command and mediocre heater. There, that’s Jax in a box.

Keegan Akin @ NYY (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 86 pitches.

This went pretty much how we all expected. Yay.

Kutter Crawford vs CLE (L) – 2.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 57 pitches.

With Nick Pivetta hitting the COVID IL, Crawford got the call and because his name is now cursed by Carl in Boston, he labored heavily. It’s not a bad cutter mixed with a 94 mph heater, but just like asking for your fourth refill of Olive Garden breadsticks on a first date, you really shouldn’t.

Ryan Feltner vs ATL (L) – 2.2 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 61 pitches.

Sadly Austin Gomber is done for the year, forcing Feltner to take his spot in the rotation on Sunday and it was…not great. That’s a HAISTBMBWT?!, tossing a mediocre 92/93 mph heater and decent slider. There’s hope down the road, but let’s not do this until we see something decent.

Josiah Gray vs NYM (ND) – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 82 pitches.

Josiah nooooooooo. This was the worst we’ve seen him all season, including his previous outing. That’s two starts in a row and I know you’re concerned – how could you not be – as his command was shaky all game. It’s decisions like these that can make or break your season and my gut says he’ll recover. Will it come against Pittsburgh next time out? I want to say yes…though there’s always the possibility there is something underlying that’s affecting him. Ah whatever, it’s Pittsburgh. You can figure it out Josiah.

Taijuan Walker @ WSH (ND) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 82 pitches.

Blegh. Y’all remember what has made Walker exciting, right? A 95+ mph fastball? Correct. So averaging a 93.6 mph heater across this start is…? Bad? Bad. Very bad. Let’s just hope he’s at least at 94 and change against the marlins next time.

Zach Davies vs PIT (ND) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 82 pitches.

Ouch. Let’s all collectively stop starting Davies, shall we? Cool.

Walker Buehler @ SF (L) – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 53 pitches.

Awwwww, I was really hoping Buehler could pull off a sub 2.00 ERA this season. Whatever, still dope.

Cole Irvin @ TOR (L) – 2.1 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 50 pitches.

Irvin was a Toby in the first half, but has seen turned into Eric. Who’s Eric? Exactly.

Wil Crowe @ CHC (ND) – 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 68 pitches.

Womp womp. It was the Cubs and Crowe could have taken advantage if he had his good stuff. Narrator: He did not.

 

Game of the Day 

 

Zack Wheeler vs. Brandon Woodruff – I mean, duh.

But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.

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Photos by Icon Sportswire / Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)