Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Wednesday game. I apologize for the jokes written in my delirium in advance. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Playback.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Joey Wentz (ATL) @ KCR (ND) – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 95 pitches.
I was reckless on my Tout Wars team. It’s a points league with two RP slots and I’ve rotated between starters + Felix in the spot all year, but after Felix and Roupp went down in the same week, I realized I had to find a SPARP off the wire for this week. So I was silly and chased a pitcher who hadn’t gone five innings as a starter, but had a path toward regular frames for the next two months and had been flexing a legit cutter with an improved curveball over the last two games.
That arm was Joey Wentz and I’m going to give him the Gold Star for not only producing, but killing it against the Royals on Wednesday: 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 95 pitches. Yeah, I did not expect such dominance and there’s a chance it continues.
That cutter feel is phenomenal. It’s a bit like a gyro slider from the left side that he keeps down-and-gloveside to both sides of the plate and has continuously befuddled batters. It returned a 72% strike rate across 45% usage against Kansas City and allowed him to land a 93 mph four-seamer at 17-18″ of vert and 7.1 feet of extension above it for 8/32 called strikes.
That extension is new this year after featuring half a foot shorter at 6.5 feet for years. Pair that with better curveballs and an absurd feel for the cutter and you have a pitcher performing out of nowhere. Atlanta just added Erick Fedde and Carlos Carrasco to their squads to fill innings down the stretch, making it apparent that Wentz’s job is his to lose. Yeah, but what’s the schedule? I’m glad you asked. The Brewers, Marlins, and Guardians (likely without Kwan!) are on the horizon. This sure feels like an interesting flier.
Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:
Yu Darvish (SDP) vs NYM (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 76 pitches.
One start after I lamented that Darvish hadn’t figured it out yet, LOOK AT HIM GO. That’s a King Cole with far better feel for his slider than last time with 15/16 strikes and a 44% CSW, pulling back his sinker to just 18% usage and creating a great spread across his full arsenal. It’s hard to believe he featured six pitches at least ten times across a pitch count of just 76. Think about that math. Perfectly balanced, as it should be. There’s still a little bit of refinement needed on all those pitches and I’m shocked he threw just one cutter at 90 mph (and it was good!), but watching this gave me the complete opposite feeling from last start. Remember, that outing had him struggling to find something consistent. Here, he could throw whatever for strikes. It was awesome. SIGN ME UP.
Zack Littell (TBR) @ NYY (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 94 pitches.
Littell had one last favor for the Rays before getting shipped off to Cincy and I still can’t quite believe that he got away with his splitter and a Dancing With The Disco approach. It was just a 14% CSW splitter and his fastballs are so dang suspect. Good luck in Cincy, I’m not going to keep chasing it. Wait, the Rays don’t have a #5 starter now. They can still make a trade. Oh you can’t be serio—THE TIME HAS COME TO FULFILL THE BAILEY FALTER PROPHECY! Will you ever let this bit die? NEVER.
Cal Quantrill (MIA) @ STL (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 74 pitches.
Whoa, look at Quantrill throwing splitters down the plate to RHB (and terrible ones away to LHB) and churning outs with it. Good ole Koufax helping out the little man.
Kolby Allard (CLE) vs COL (ND) – 3.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 42 pitches.
Wow Dralla, even you can take advantage of Rockie Road with an average of 4.2 pitches per out. That’s absurd. Some batters average 4.2 pitches per plate appearance. Or at least they used to. Anyway, surely the Guardians aren’t rolling with Allard moving forward…right?
Angel Zerpa (KCR) vs ATL (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 16 pitches.
This was a full bullpen game with every reliever tossing one frame. They have to acquire someone, right?
José Soriano (LAA) vs TEX (L) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 96 pitches.
When his sinker is cooking, you know it’ll be good lookin’. That’s what I always say. Suuuuuure. We saw a trio of strikeouts on the splitter, which is a fun addition, but not one I’d bank on. It’s all about that 97 mph sinker doing work. You can also Blame it on the Rangers if you like.
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) @ LAA (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 92 pitches.
Eovaldi, don’t you ever go on the IL again. We can’t do this without you. What an incredible season of consistency.
Brayan Bello (BOS) @ MIN (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 93 pitches.
The walks are a bit frightening after we’ve talked so much about his need to attack batters, but don’t fret! He lived along the edges remarkably well and the sweeper was a heavy strike pitch, even if it allowed a trio of hits, including a solo shot to Wallner (a sweeper to a power LHB ain’t it). The cutter and changeup were either fantastic or a bit miss to LHB, which is completely fine by me, and I still feel good with Bello as a Toby, if not creeping into low-end Holly territory.
Will Warren (NYY) vs TBR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 102 pitches.
Atta boy Warren! But just four whiffs. Yeah, that’s a problem. The sweeper was a major player in this one with 3/9 whiffs to RHB, but it played as a called strike pitch to LHB with the changeup floundering for just 1/8 strikes. Yeesh. That’s the pitch we need to see return to take down LHB, while the four-seamer earned 10 called strikes, seven outs, and zero whiffs to LHB. The overall fastball command is there, the sweeper is good, now we need the changeup back and we’re golden. And maybe higher four-seamers to LHB, k thx.
Mike Burrows (PIT) @ SFG (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 91 pitches.
Burrows! You did it again! And this time, the curve and the slider got into the action for 33% usage! This was a slew of secondaries over the plate to RHB that didn’t get punished, teasing the four-seamer around the edge for a near 60% strike rate despite a low 36% zone rate. Huh. LHB saw floated changeups with some good curves and sliders down. I think this is a Blame it on the Giants but at least he’s experimenting more with the breakers and the large gap between four-seamer and curve is awesome – 17/18″ of vert on the 95/96 mph heater + -15/-16″ of drop on the curve. That’s nearly three feet at times of separation. FUN. Burrows is a Young Gun if he can master his fastball and changeup, and then effectively use the slider & curve for strikes.
Jeffrey Springs (ATH) vs SEA (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 89 pitches.
We had some more sunshine and rainbows for Springs in Sacré Verde, but this was not a product of his changeup. Nay, that pitch was thrown just 12 times and returned a 25% CSW while responsible for his only run of the game (solo shot to Julio). This was far better precision on the four-seamer upstairs to RHB than we normally see, paired with backdoor sliders to RHB and a smattering of sliders and sweepers to LHB that worked for plenty of called strikes and four strikeouts. Weird, I know. I’m not buying it.
Ryan Gusto (HOU) vs WSN (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 102 pitches.
It’s lovely to see this after Gusto’s horrific outing last week. This wasn’t a whole lot more than four-seamers up and a flurry of curves, cutters, and changeups filling the zone underneath and Koufax doing the rest. It may be enough for the Marlins next time out…if he makes that start. Who knows what the Astros rotation will look like after the deadline + Javier & Arrighetti nearing their returns.
Chris Paddack (DET) vs ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 84 pitches.
Welcome to the Tigers. The split-change and four-seamer worked well in tandem and despite the curve and cutter lacking, the main combo did its work. I’m a little surprised the heater was at 94 mph and not harder given the adrenaline of a new squad, but I’m fine with Paddack at 94 mph…if he can locate a little better. Far too many hittable pitches to RHB that he got away with here.
Logan Webb (SFG) vs PIT (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 11 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 109 pitches.
This was an interesting one. On one hand, you have 11/42 whiffs on the changeup with four strikeouts via the sweeper as a called strike darling (8/19 called strikes to LHB!) and a Gallows Pole. On the other, it’s a poor WHIP, no dub, a 45% strike rate on 42 changeups, and a sub 60% strike rate on 27 sweepers. At least the sweeper is becoming more involved once again and this is a step in the right direction. Now for the cutter…
Ryne Nelson (ARI) @ DET (L) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.
AWWWWW YIS. Nelson’s four-seamer was elite per usual, but the slider. Oh the slider! It was a proper #2 to RHB with nearly 70% strikes and 5/13 whiffs as he located it down-and-gloveside constantly. THANK YOU. Now do it again. What about LHB? Okay, that’s still a problem to solve with the curve, cutter, and one changeup appearing to help the 1/5 strike slider (whoops). The curve isn’t bad, but he’ll need something better than this package. One step at a time.
Nick Martinez (CIN) vs LAD (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 103 pitches.
That’s some lovely work against the Dodgers, who once again are struggling as an offense. I loved the sinker and cutter pitch separation to RHB, while the cutter and change did phenomenal work to LHB. Fun stuff here from Nicky Mart, who may be in a six-man rotation situation if he’s not dealt (I still feel like the Mariners are a perfect fit). If he stays, he gets the Cubs and I wouldn’t do that.
Miles Mikolas (STL) vs MIA (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 86 pitches.
That’s his second straight start of 95 mph velocity, up 2-3 ticks from his previous mark, and maybe I should be taking Mikolas a little more seriously now. After all, he’s had some decent starts without the velocity and the Cardinals still have a fantastic defense supporting him. It also helps out the Dancing With The Disco approach as the slider now sits 90 mph. He gets the Dodgers next. Yes, then Rockie Road. How sure are you that the Dodgers will remain cold next week? At the very least, I’d circle the start against the Rockies.
Taijuan Walker (PHI) @ CHW (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 80 pitches.
Oh wow. Is a 3.60 ERA worth it y’all? Worth the 1.40 WHIP, lack of win, and…ZERO STRIKEOUTS?! HAISTBMBWT?! Phils, you have to add a depth starter to replace this, right? He won’t get the CrySox every game.
José Berríos (TOR) @ BAL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 73 pitches.
Oh look, it’s The Great Undulator undulating greatly. The.
Clay Holmes (NYM) @ SDP (L) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 79 pitches.
Is this the limitation we were told would happen for The Adobe? Nah, he had two runners on after laboring already and it was an obvious time to pull him. Oh. Well even when he isn’t limited, he’s not pitching great, is he? Not really. So what are we doing here?
Tyler Alexander (CHW) vs PHI (ND) – 3.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 49 pitches.
Oh hey, it’s T-Lex, who had a short start like his arms. Ayyyy. I wonder if the White Sox grab a rando pitcher to help cover frames down the stretch.
Kyle Freeland (COL) @ CLE (L) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 40 pitches.
He was apparently dealing with an illness and I feel for him. This was a good chance for a decent start for a change.
Shohei Ohtani (LAD) @ CIN (ND) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 51 pitches.
He gave us a scare after getting removed with a trainer and fortunately it was just cramps. Phew. As expected (after it was announced in the late afternoon), Emmet Sheehan followed and the man deserved a Win, but the Dodgers offense failed to come through – 3.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hit, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 72 pitches. The four-seamer + slider combo was fantastic to RHB (13/52 whiffs on the pair is awesome) and I still love the fella. It’s a great all-around heater and despite the lack of depth on the slider, he’s commanding it down-and-gloveside well. JUST LET HIM START REGULARLY.
Dean Kremer (BAL) vs TOR (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 87 pitches.
Womp womp. It was a tough matchup n all and now it’s the Phillies. Not the time to chase Dean Werewolf.
Shota Imanaga (CHC) @ MIL (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 89 pitches.
Two solo shots from Willy Contreras were the real damage here. Otherwise, business per usual for Shota and it’s good to see that after his latest struggles. But the splitter went 3/24 whiffs with a 54% zone rate. Oh. Hmmm. Yeah, that’s not great. Get the splitter lower and out of the zone, relying more on chases, please. That should help stave off the HRs a bit.
Bryan Woo (SEA) @ ATH (L) – 6.1 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 84 pitches.
Aces gonna…whoa whoa whoa. Four solo shots?! Sacré Verde! The four-seamer down the pipe got a ROUGH reaction from Woo and that slider was hung, BUT STILL. Whatareyagonnado.
Zebby Matthews (MIN) vs BOS (L) – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 74 pitches.
Wait. This isn’t what was supposed to happen. One of the few four-seamers down to RHB was swatted for a line-drive HR, while the pitch was beautifully spotted at the top of the zone otherwise. His secondaries weren’t there for RHB (two terrible floated changeups for hits, for example), while against LHB, it was strikes galore. A few too many hits here and there and that’s your ballgame. He’s going to get regular starts from here on out and I’m still very much in. He has the skills and great control. Sure, the command in the zone needs to get a little better, and I expect that will come in time. I’m definitely in for 2026.
Freddy Peralta (MIL) vs CHC (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 85 pitches.
This one was a struggle. Despite getting strong strike rates on the four-seamer, curve, and slider, his changeup messed him up and he didn’t attack the top of the zone with his heater effectively, leaving the game with just 2/41 whiffs on the foundational pitch. Welp, we know we’d see the Bomb of this Cherry sooner or later.
MacKenzie Gore (WSN) @ HOU (L) – 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 97 pitches.
Hey Gore, you’re not doing a whole lot to make teams aggressively get you away from D.C. Don’t you want that? His command has been off and the four-seamer isn’t overwhelming as much as we’ve seen, possibly due to the curve and changeup failing to instill fear in the hearts of RHB. He should recover (especially if dealt).
Game of the Day
Kumar Rocker vs. George Kirby – Please throw all the cutters, Rocker. And Kirby, keep doing the BSB.
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 Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire and David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire | Featured Image by Ethan Kaplan (@djfreddie10.bsky.social on Blue Sky and @EthanMKaplanImages on Instagram)
