Eduardo Rodriguez vs HOU (ND) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 106 pitches.
This should be relatively quick. After going 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks against the Astros today, Eduardo Rodríguez holds a 6.03 ERA with a 1.45 WHIP. That hurts. A lot. He is striking out batters above a 25% rate, and there were some signs of encouragement as he earned 13 whiffs between his four-seamer and changeup, but the slow ball isn’t good enough at the moment and there wasn’t much else to offer. It’s a problem.
If you’re still holding onto Eduardo at the moment, simply put: don’t. He gets Atlanta next, and while there will be some great starts ahead through the year, there’s just too much risk in the way. This wasn’t a game where he pitched well but the results weren’t there. This was a game where he had hints of success but made too many mistakes. Don’t let him keep bringing you down.
Let’s see how every other SP did Thursday:
Ian Anderson @ PHI (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 98 pitches.
To forgive is divine. Anderson did a phenomenal job getting his changeup to land at the bottom of the zone while keeping his fastballs alluring and mixing in a decent amount of hooks. He’s not totally there yet, but it’s an improvement. I think I’m okay starting him next time against the Sox.
Zack Wheeler vs ATL (ND) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 12 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 105 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He’s just too dang good, even earning 53% CSW on 32 sliders in this one. My heart is at its fullest.
Tyler Alexander vs SEA (ND) – 2.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 56 pitches.
Hey, it’s T-Lex! And he only went 2.2 pitches in this bullpen game. Yay.
Freddy Peralta @ CIN (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 75 pitches.
Aces gonna…toss just four innings. Ugh. His four-seamer wasn’t nearly as good as we’ve seen in the past, carrying just a 17% CSW in this one, leading to an early hook as he failed to give us the efficiency he needs. Sure, this will happen every so often, and it’s a feature, not a bug. Don’t worry about it. Note: I should mention that a 30+ minute rain delay did ultimately kick Peralta from the game, though 75 pitches/4 IP is still inefficient and should be taken into consideration.
Mike Minor @ OAK (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 106 pitches.
Whoaaa, solid stuff here from Minor as he…sat 89.8 mph. Jeeeeez. Yeah, it’s getting worse, yet he earned 12 whiffs on the pitch. His spin rates were down with that velocity dip, but he was able to command the pitch in the upper third, doing his best BSB impression and it clearly worked. I don’t buy it, but if he continues to have this command I guess we have to listen? I dunno, it feels like a trap.
Frankie Montas vs KC (L) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 96 pitches.
Solid stuff from Montas, who recognized his splitter was gone and leaned instead on 23% sliders, returning 32% CSW on the pitch. His fastballs were excellent and having that one secondary offering to perform well is all he needed to succeed against the mediocre Royals. I’m not terribly thrilled given that we have yet to see a start where his fastballs + splitter + slider are all working in tandem, but I’m still starting Montas indefinitely, especially against LAA + @TEX + @SFG next.
Trevor Rogers vs COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 87 pitches.
Aces gonna ace and earn a King Cole. There’s a reason we call it Rockie Road, and it’s good to see Trevor take full advantage. Fun fact: All three pitches earned at least 35% CSW. So fun.
Dallas Keuchel vs TOR (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 104 pitches.
Wait what. Keuchel earned 21 whiffs and a Gallows Pole?! Have I changed timelines? Am I a Variant?! I’m in shock here, but his cutter earned 10/35 whiffs while the changeup went 9/38 on its own. Unreal. And here I was sad that he wasn’t facing the Tigers tomorrow. He gets the Rays next and I guess we have no choice but to start him there. Just 30% fastballs in the one.
Michael King @ MIN (ND) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 69 pitches.
Yeaaaah, there is nothing of interest here. Seriously, nothing. I wouldn’t be considering King in any capacity, kinda like the Minutemen of old. No King! No King!
Hyun Jin Ryu @ CWS (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 95 pitches.
Aces gonna earn a PQS with just three strikeouts. Not all of us can be Robbie Ray. His cutter and changeup weren’t at its peak — again — and I’m hoping they’ll both return next time out.
Justus Sheffield @ DET (L) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches.
Nooooo. Streaming Record: 41-28. Sheff was able to get whiffs with his slider + earn a 35% CSW on changeups, but it’s a product of his sinker performing like a glove filled with molasses. Why is that the image you wanted to give us. Because he’s forced to deal with it and we’re all so sorry about the circumstance. If you can’t handle the Tigers as a southpaw, you can’t be trusted to handle anything. Not even your taxes? Not even your taxes. Gasp.
Julio Urías @ PIT (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 86 pitches.
Aces gonna disappoint…? I feel like we all wanted more from Urías than a PQS against the Pirates, but hey, I guess this helps. So yeah, be better but I’m happy you’re not terrible?
Luis Castillo vs MIL (L) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 96 pitches.
That’s two straight productive starts from Castillo, though the three earned runs sure are annoying. He got more whiffs with changeups as he sat 97/98 mph as we’re starting to get confident slotting Castillo into our lineups. He has one more start against the Brewers next to get on a roll before San Diego + Atlanta next, and let’s hope he makes us feel better about that gauntlet.
Zack Greinke @ BOS (ND) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 64 pitches.
Bleeeegh. Greinke was a Questionable Start like Eduardo on the opposite side of this slugfest matchup and Greinke wasn’t able to do a whole lot with anything but his sub 90 mph heater. Brush it off, you have success waiting for you ahead as he gets TEX, @BAL, @DET ahead. It’s about to get lovely up in here.
Mitch Keller vs LAD (L) – 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 72 pitches.
I had no expectations for Mitch against the Dodgers, yet I’m somehow still disappointed. Maybe it’s the 0/16 whiffs on curveballs. Yeah, that’ll do it.
J.A. Happ vs NYY (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 101 pitches.
Happ just isn’t something you want to consider, like getting a third remote for your TV when you’re living in a studio apartment. I just don’t see the point. Neither do I.
Chi Chi González @ MIA (L) – 5.0 IP, 8 ER, 11 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 88 pitches.
Womp womp. I was considering this one a deep stream as Chi Chi has a long leash and faced a poor offense outside Coors, and boy was barking up the wrong tree. That’s the last time I look at Ginkgo the same way. Let’s not make this mistake again.
Game of the Day
Blake Snell vs Jacob deGrom – It’s deGOAT and we can’t take him for granted, while Snell should build off his dominance last time out. You need to watch this.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Aaron Polcare
