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 Playback.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Brady Singer (CIN) vs ATL (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 97 pitches.
After a rough two months into his tenure as a Cincinatti Red, Brady Singer found a groove at the end of May, though there was something off. Singer has made his career as a sinker/slider arm, each playing the common role of called strike pitch and whiff pitch, respectively, however, the breaker wasn’t doing its job. With each roundup of Singer getting through outings, I would remind y’all that five whiffs on the slider via questionable command should make you uneasy.
That anxiety has disappeared in Singer’s last two starts. Despite a low whiff tally last time out, the slider precision was glorious and those who leaned into the hot hand are celebrating after Singer’s 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 97 pitches dominance against Atlanta on Friday night. This is the real slim Brady, y’all.
It wasn’t just the slider going 10/34 whiffs, it was also the sweeper returning 5/9 whiffs of its own. That’s hot. What is actually not fun is the sinker’s command. Oh boy was that thing a mess against LHB, returning a crowd-stopping 33% NC Rate on 24 thrown – that’s absolutely HORRENDOUS – and the fun part here is to tell you not to worry. Singer failed on the sinker, then went into his pocket to serve a breaker or cutter to get out of the situation. In addition, that sinker has been there so much and was far better to RHB (70% strikes) that I’d bank on a better performance moving forward.
With the breakers missing bats, you should feel great with a start against the Pirates up next, especially away from GABP. I’m not quite in a place where I’d say he’s a hold for PHI, @LAA, @LAD after, but let’s see. Maybe he’s just in too good a groove to deny him the starts.
Let’s see how every other SP did Friday:
Gavin Williams (CLE) vs MIN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 96 pitches.
You see this line and I wonder if your mind darts in the same flurry of directions that mine does. He threw strikes on the breakers? Or the cutter and heater were well spotted and major focuses? Nope and nope. Well, the four-seamer and cutter were good strike pitches, but this was four-seamers pounding the zone (and getting squeezed) to LHB with the curve returning just 50% strikes but a trio of strikeouts and the sweeper failing as a back-door offering. However, it was a strike parade to RHB with all five pitches (four sinkers!) returning 60%+ strikes. Not a plot worthy of the Louvre in any form, but I’m stoked to tell you he had a 0% “NC RATE” on 31 pitches to RHB. ATTA BOY GAVIN. Don’t forget, that heater is 97 mph with seven feet of extension, 16/17″ of vert and a slightly flat attack angle. If you’re familiar with Fan4+, it had a 132+ mark yesterday, saying “Gavin’s four-seamer was 32% better than the average four-seamer at expected whiff%.” That’s HOT. The Mets are next, which is a little spooky, but the Marlins, Sneks, and Rangers follow. LET’S DO THIS.
Clayton Kershaw (LAD) @ TBR (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 88 pitches.
Well that’s a lovely outing from Kershaw that I didn’t expect to see. The curveball was a huge part of this one at 24% usage for 73% strikes and 5/22 whiffs, while the slider was the normal strong self. Still can’t believe he’s getting away with his 88/89 mph fastball, but then again, with the pair of breakers and saving the heater for 32% usage makes it hard for batters to decide between the 85/86 mph slider and the “heater”, allowing for 9/28 called strikes on the fastball. Soooo, we like him again? Yes, if it’s a decent matchup. Sadly, the TOR, SDP, @COL are on the horizon and that’s an easy avoid.
Cade Horton (CHC) vs BAL (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 71 pitches.
Despite the wonder of Rogers on the other side, Horton earned himself a solid Win across five productive frames. Nothing startling here with decent sweepers to RHB and changeups that were major misses out of the zone or well-spotted on the outside corner. The cut four-seamer still has work to be done to find the edges consistently (it looks like he’s mostly just hurling them over the plate to RHB, while LHB have a tougher time on the outside edge and a few surprise inside offerings) and I can’t say I’m invigorated by his recent efforts. That said, he’s settling in as a proper Toby and that’s fine for a rookie.
Jacob Lopez (ATH) vs ARI (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 95 pitches.
Ahhhh, you rascal. This was the standard approach from Lopez and the pitches leaked over the plate were not taken advantage of by the Sneks (51% zone rate four-seamers is not J Lo’s game) and let’s be happy with this stream. Keep it going against the Nats up next.
Trevor Rogers (BAL) @ CHC (L) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 38% CSW, 88 pitches.
THIS. DUDE. My biggest criticism of Rogers has been his inconsistent breakers and it may surprise you to know that the slider and sweeper were not a major factor to RHB at sub 20% usage and 7/12 strikes. In addition, Rogers’ velocity has oscillated between 92 to 94 mph between starts, which was closer to 94 mph early before falling around 92 mph by the end. That’s fine. What was so great here was his precision upstairs with heaters and down with his changeup to RHB, allowing a mediocre shape heater succeed for a 40% CSW and the changeup go 42% CSW, both returning 81%+ strikes to RHB. Whoa. YEAH. And this was the Cubs! Absolutely incredible. LHB were served the standard slew of breakers with some fastballs and that’s good enough. Man, what a story this has been.
Michael Wacha (KCR) @ TOR (W) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 100 pitches.
Mmmmm that’s glorious against an elite offense (especially in Toronto!). The changeup befuddled LHB all game with 75% strikes, three strikeouts and 5/5 outs in play across 20 thrown, while the fastball and cutter jammed LHB inside. The RHB approach was a bit wonky (all three hits allowed) and he got away with a bit there, and this is the same Wacha we’ve seen all year. Up to you if you want to chance it in Fenway next – I think it’s worth the hold given his decency all year + the Nats & Rangers after.
Cooper Criswell (BOS) vs HOU (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 84 pitches.
Uhhhh SOMEONE wants a Gold Star. This is incredible. Cutters going Canibal McSanchez to both sides of the plat at 87 mph mixed with cutters underneath at -1.5 vert (that’s elite sink, y’all) + twempting sweepers and changeup down, usually out of the zone. It’s kinda awesome. Not exciting but some incredible drop on sinkers and changeups (more than the sweeper is HILARIOUS) and the cutter can absolutely work if this command sticks. He’s not in the rotation Nick. I guess not, but, uh, why not? Is Buehler really worth it instead? JUST SAYING.
Hunter Brown (HOU) @ BOS (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 97 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. The sinker was super fun to RHB and the four-seamer carved up LHB. The secondaries were pushed to the side for nearly 70% fastballs, but whatever works eh?
Nick Pivetta (SDP) vs STL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 89 pitches.
He’s on a mission and I couldn’t be happier for him. Don’t you dare overthink this.
Robbie Ray (SFG) @ NYM (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 102 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. There we go. The changeup helped despite poor feel, but it was the four-seamer + slider combo that propelled Ray through this one. I have to mention, his curve was hilariously awful to RHB to the tune of 1/11 strikes. STRIKES.
Jack Flaherty (DET) @ PHI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 95 pitches.
Yessssss. The heater is back to 93/94 mph and his slider and curve are returning whiffs (5+ on both), with both breakers landing perfectly just under the zone to LHB on demand. For those patient with Jackie Flan, you’ve been rewarded not just with this studly outing against an elite offense, but a schedule of MIN, @CHW, @MIN ahead. Awwww yis.
Matthew Liberatore (STL) @ SDP (L) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 85 pitches.
We’ve heard talks of Liberatore being limited by the Cardinals, but TWIST! Liberatore is limiting himself by pitching inefficiently and failing to putaway batters. Fun! This may be the most spread out of a RHB strikezone plot I’ve seen from him all year, which is honestly great if he could have just put away som of these batters. It’s not easy when the heater is at 93/94 mph and not pushing 95 mph. Now it’s the Dodgers and I’d be concerned there.
Bryce Elder (ATL) @ CIN (L) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 83 pitches.
Ayyyy, the slider and sinker combo was okay! The changeup was weird with a ton of floaters up-and-away to LHB that still had some success and I’ll just forget about that. In fact, I’m going to just forget about Elder in general. I suggest you do the same.
Joe Ryan (MIN) @ CLE (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 98 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. I wonder if he wanted to be traded at the deadline or not. The Twins rotation of Ryan, PabLó, Abel, Zebby, Ober/Festa/Bradley is kinda unreal for the next two years, FWIW. What about Prielipp and friends? Very true. Twins, go spend money on hitting and you should be stoked.
David Peterson (NYM) vs SFG (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 97 pitches.
He’s been a WHIP killer and I’m thrilled to see a 1.00 mark here. Blame it on the Giants. No dub, though (also blame it on the Giants…?). So it goes, we keep rolling with the fella and his great schedule ahead.
Jose Quintana (MIL) @ WSN (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 94 pitches.
This was 90 mph sinker after 90 mph sinker in the zone mixed with curveballs and a sprinkle of four-seamers to LHB that worked somehow, while THB got the usual shower of changeups teased off the outside corner with a good 39% chase rate, though the sinker was launched for a solo shot by Paul DeJong (yes, I didn’t realize he was still around. Whoops.). I guess this is good enough for Atlanta + Pittsburgh next? Then it’s Cubs (lol no) and Giants after, making 3-of-4 decent starts through August 23rd, the latter pair acting as a two-step. That’s a hold in 15-teamers, but I wouldn’t feel like I had to hold Quintana in 12-teamers.
Shane Smith (CHW) @ LAA (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 79 pitches.
Oh cool, 24 four-seamers at a 46% strike rate. Cool cool cool. We really haven’t seen Shane do it for a bit, have we? I still think we start him @TEA next, but yeah, this isn’t fun right now. The slowball went just 0/11 whiffs, y’all. Really?! Yeah.
Jack Leiter (TEX) @ SEA (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 92 pitches.
Once again, Leiter was able to destroy LHB with his heater upstairs at 77% strikes and 5/22 whiffs, and it was cool to see some curves work with some changeups helping, but to RHB, the slider isn’t doing its job (like it did last time) and the fastball wasn’t nearly as dotted. I’m happy to see him pull back a little on the sinker in favor of four-seamer there (the sinker is a great mix-up pitch, but the four-seamer is the BULL) and he’s a very clear PEAS with potential for greatness if he’s ever able to pitch consistently. The fact that his LHB command has been repeated is a good sign – development is a series of steps, y’all.
Ranger Suárez (PHI) vs DET (ND) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 92 pitches.
If not for a three-run shot with two outs in the third off the bat of Gleyber, Suárez would have cruised for seven frames. And it wasn’t a terrible cutter inside! All wonderful here.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs TEX (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 88 pitches.
Aces gonna PQS with some terrible slider command but a whole ton of four-seamers inside the zone. And look at that, more were upstairs in this one with a 43% CSW! Due to 14/40 called strikes with just a trio of whiffs. Yeah, I know. It’s why CSW matters. Anyway, keep on keepin’ on.
Andrew Heaney (PIT) @ COL (ND) – 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 74 pitches.
Yep, that’s Heaney alright. HAISTBMBWT?!
Tyler Anderson (LAA) vs CHW (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 88 pitches.
Noooooo. Anderson allowed a trio of solo shots, including on in the sixth that took away his PQS and made this a streaming loss. Sigh. SO CLOSE. The changeup was as good as ever and it was every other pitch that allowed a solo shot. Yep. That’s Baseball, Suzyn. He’s a questionable option against the Rays next (no Aranda, remember).
Carlos Rodón (NYY) @ MIA (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 2 Hits, 5 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 107 pitches.
What a weird one. Rodón couldn’t muster the four-seamer into the zone when needed, resulting in all five walks on the offering despite just two hits allowed. Of course everything came in the same frame, with a two-run shot (it was a 94 mph heater away and off the plate!) and leaving the game with another two on base (both scored, of course). I can’t ignore a 4.58 ERA across his last ten starts with a 1.25 WHIP and 25% strikeout rate, but the schedule is so dang good moving forward and I’ll consider his next start the fight to keep his AGA tag.
Anthony DeSclafani (ARI) @ ATH (L) – 2.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 59 pitches.
Tony stared at a distant light out the window. With a sigh, he looked down at his watch as the nine turned to a zero. Two in the morning. This was the last car he’d take Friday night, ending a string of dreams featuring countless bouncers giving him the same irritated response. “There are no Discos in Sacramento.”
Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs KCR (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 93 pitches.
This was two poor splitters for a 2-run shot to Yaz and a 3-run shot to Witt Jr. That’s it. Seriously. Everything else was typical Gausman (well, the splitter being worse at 5/29 whiffs and 48% strikes isn’t great) and we carry on in Coors. Maybe not against the Cubs after?
Shane Baz (TBR) vs LAD (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 98 pitches.
Sigh. The curve, y’all. It’s been a bit since I’ve seen it land down-and-in-town, returning just 21% CSW on 19% usage and 2/19 whiffs with a 58% strike rate. This is supposed to be the dominant #2 pitch to pair with the heater (which is still great, mind you, without a single hit allowed on 39 thrown and 72% strikes), but it was hung and forced more to be done with the cutter, that had some great moments (8/34 whiffs! 77% strikes!) and looks like the #3 pitch we want it to be, but isn’t meant to be the sole support. This is so frustrating, eh? One step forward (cutter!), one step back (curve). Now it’s the Angels, Sacré Verde and Yankees. We already moved on before this one (Dodgers), but if you haven’t yet, I think it’s time, even if he could take off the TIARA next time out.
Janson Junk (MIA) vs NYY (ND) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 95 pitches.
His four-seamer still intrigues me (19″ of vert at 1.3 HAVAA is a rare combo!), but he’s become The JunkBaller lately and his package of sliders, sweepers, changeups, and curves were not as delicately placed as we’ve seen at times. The Yankees are still a strong offense without Judge (which is impressive on its own, FWIW) and there’s a chance he pulls it off against the Astros, though that is an improved offense after the trade deadline. I think we can do better here.
Mitchell Parker (WSN) vs MIL (L) – 4.0 IP, 8 ER, 12 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 84 pitches.
This may be the most disappointing outing as I was holding onto the hope that Parker was figuring something out by featuring sliders to RHB in his last two starts. Thing is, it wasn’t so bad. 4/14 whiffs at a 79% strike rate, but there was a terrible hanger for a longball included. Anyway, I’ll keep watching with his 19″ of vert and seven feet of extension. There’s something in there and now I’m wishing the Nats found a suitor for him at the deadline…
Antonio Senzatela (COL) vs PIT (ND) – 0.2 IP, 8 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 31 pitches.
Senz-A does what Senz-A doe—DUDE. This is cruel at this point.
Game of the Day
Blake Snell vs. Drew Rasmussen – There are so many good games here (Skenes vs. Wheeler!!!) but Snell returns and that needs your attention.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
Have Questions? – Join my morning Playback.tv livestream! I answer all questions there for free: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET Monday through Friday.
Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)
