Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Sunday 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.
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) @ NYM (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 104 pitches.
Four starts. Four brilliant outings in a row from Sandy Alcantara after his field day at Citi Field on Sunday: 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 104 pitches. That’s his third straight seven-inning performance (fourth in six games) and 29 strikeouts in four games. I sure hope you made that dollar bid two weeks ago, because, yeah, he’s back.
I’ve asked for two facets of Sandy’s former arsenal to return this year in order to restore my confidence: A strong changeup foundation and well-spotted heaters. We got both in this one in a tough matchup against the Mets: 7/30 whiffs with a 30% CSW four-seamer, 31% CSW sinker, and 7/22 whiffs with a 73% strike changeup. The slider and curve failed to eclipse the desired 60% strike threshold and it didn’t matter – Sandy cruised like the ole Sandy.
This isn’t to say that he’s impervious against the Phillies up next. However, I’d be surprised to find a manager benching him there, let alone the Nationals after. The Marlins claimed “Ace Sandy” would return in the second half after they declined to sell him at the deadline, and so far, they were right.
Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:
José Soriano (LAA) @ HOU (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 93 pitches.
Wow. On a night with a sub 50% sinker strike rate, Soriano crushes it through seven. The Astros truly gave in after earning hitter counts, while they had few answers to his 50% CSW curveball and 50% CSW splitter. Both?! Yuuup. But seriously, I can’t believe that sinker went 20/41 strikes. Yeesh. What a HIPSTER.
Joe Ryan (MIN) vs SDP (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 104 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Oh hey, 94.8 mph four-seamers at 1.9 HAVAA that led to 15/56 whiffs. That’s hot.
Tarik Skubal (DET) @ KCR (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 93 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Just four strikeouts?! Yes, I’m being greedy, I DON’T CARE.
Jesús Luzardo (PHI) vs ATL (ND) – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 104 pitches.
Since the 20 ER barrage across two starts when he was tipping, Luzardo now has a 3.69 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 29% strikeout rate. That’s why he’s a Cherry Bomb.
Justin Verlander (SFG) vs BAL (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 10 Ks – 23 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 121 pitches.
Oh wow, this is awesome. Kinda. To go 121 pitches in just five frames is pretty silly and wrong, but ten strikeouts and zero ER? Nice. This is an average of 24 pitches per innings and it feels a little wrong to give him the Gallows Pole, but here we are. There has to be some fatigue hangover from this one, but he’ll have an extra day off so I think you’re okay starting him against the Cardinals.
Mitch Keller (PIT) @ BOS (L) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 90 pitches.
Whoa, lovely job there Keller! That’s two in a row with at least seven punchouts, here rooted in the sweeper working super well to RHB. No, I wouldn’t start him against the Brewers next despite the recent success, sadly. There’s not enough of a change to lean into.
Jacob deGrom (TEX) @ ATH (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 79 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. I’m glad he’s alright at 97.3 mph. Monitor if deGrom will be limited/granted more rest moving forward given the shoulder issue that had him pushed back in the first place and limited to 79 pitches here. He’d normally have gone out there for the sixth, after all.
David Morgan (SDP) @ MIN (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 29 pitches.
This was a bullpen game with Kyle Hart appearing after for just 1.1 IP and 3 ER. Let’s not waste time, it’s Labor Day.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD) vs ARI (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 98 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. The cutter is showing up in a big way to LHB (87% strikes at 23% usage!) and the splitter is dominating. We’re talking 11/26 whiffs and six strikeouts, propelling a King Cole. It’s good to see The Inquisitor doing his thing.
Hunter Brown (HOU) vs LAA (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 94 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. He hasn’t let up all year, even if he’s held a 3.28 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 23% strikeout rate across his last ten starts (to be fair, it’s a 2.12 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 23% strikeout rate in his last eight starts). Y’all know I’m not going to be as high as others next year due to his unconvincing secondaries, and I wonder if the 96/97 mph velocity will hold for another season. After all, it was just 95.4 mph here.
Lucas Giolito (BOS) vs PIT (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 95 pitches.
Since the nightmare 1.2 IP start in early June that produced Giolito’s third 6+ ER game in five starts, he’s returned a 2.26 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. Phew. The slider has gotten better and his changeup is separating more from his heater, though I’m scared right now. His fastball extension has dropped and the heater is below 93 mph, with all three pitches returning a sub 60% strike rate. Not a death sentence and it could work well against the Sneks, but that may be a tiebreaker if you’re dealing with tough choices.
Hurston Waldrep (ATL) @ PHI (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 102 pitches.
Ayyyy the splitter came back! With the pitch returning 13/45 whiffs, Waldrep was able to maneuver around a poor sinker and suspect cutter. I really don’t like trusting Hurston and his 44% splitter usage against the Mariners and Houston next, but you do you. I see it as a coin flip.
Ian Seymour (TBR) @ WSN (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 82 pitches.
This was a textbook stream against the Nationals and it’s a little harder against the Guardians in Tampa Bay, but I’m going for it. Seymour’s changeup is working beautifully.
Martín Pérez (CHW) vs NYY (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 99 pitches.
Speaking of gorgeous changeups, Pérez’s was brilliant against the Yankees (five outs in play, two punchouts) to enable the sinker for called strikes and shock batters with cutters in. Yes, you earn a Gold Star for this one, but more importantly, you’ve earned consideration for streams against the Tigers and hosting the Rays + Orioles.
Tanner Gordon (COL) vs CHC (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 81 pitches.
Gordon has limited upside, pitches his home games at Coors Field, and doesn’t deserve a spot on your team. This should be the blurb for every Colorado starter.
Bryce Miller (SEA) @ CLE (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 72 pitches.
Sure, that’s fine, especially on a day when the heater returned just three whiffs and no secondary was looking pretty. I guess we keep going against @ATL, LAA, @KCR, COL next, but I want to feel better about it, you know? I want the Heavy Miller, not the light variety.
Luis Gil (NYY) @ CHW (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 98 pitches.
Atta boy, way to earn enough strikes to take down the SlySox. I can’t say I’m too stoked seeing a 94.6 mph heater from Gil, but strikes are strikes, and we’ll take it. I think this is enough concern for me to chase something else against the Jays and Fenway up next, though. Consider your options with Gil still acting a little rough around the edges.
Andre Pallante (STL) @ CIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 95 pitches.
Oh snap, you survived for a start! You mean a 2.00 WHIP and 3.60 ERA? Yeah! That! Okay, I guess. High five! Uhhhh–HIGH. FIVE. Don’t make me Liz Lemon this.
Brady Singer (CIN) vs STL (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 102 pitches.
Sinkers were all the rage at a 41% CSW and the sweeper + slider played their roles well. Singer is in a great spot, but now is a true test against the Mets and a date in Sacré Verde. Still questionable, sadly.
Tanner Bibee (CLE) vs SEA (L) – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 91 pitches.
Oh look, another start that makes me absurdly disappointed in Bibee. This is going to be a weird post-mortem.
Matthew Boyd (CHC) @ COL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 91 pitches.
The Rockies got to him in two straight frames with Boyd failing to locate the heater as well as we’ve seen in most of his starts. That’s really the difference in this one (no HRs!) and now he gets WSN, TBR, @PIT. Stay the course.
Michael Wacha (KCR) vs DET (L) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 71 pitches.
He’s a Toby who nearly kept it together for just two runs, but couldn’t find the third out and was bounced before the fifth. That’s baseball, Suzyn. He is what he is.
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) @ LAD (ND) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 94 pitches.
Well, yeah. Pfaadt has been rough and the Dodgers are like anti-sandpaper. They make things rougher. I do dig the cutter focus, though, with consistent strikes to both RHB and LHB, and the curve has some promise to LHB with six whiffs, but the sinker…what is that thing doing here? Seven hits allowed on that pitch alone. Seven! Pfaadt has to find a way to fix its command or return to the heater or maybe don’t go 33% fastballs?
Max Scherzer (TOR) vs MIL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 67 pitches.
Oh jeez. I just had to shout “He hasn’t hurt you” that loudly, eh? He tossed so many pitches down the pipe, leading to a pair of HRs and just one strikeout. HAISTBMBWT?! Yes, it’s a tough call against the Yankees up next and fine, sit that one out if you like. As long as he’s okay and not hurt, let’s return for the Orioles after, alright?
J.T. Ginn (ATH) vs TEX (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 95 pitches.
Soooo the sinker is getting legit drop, but if Ginn isn’t executing a Neckbeard approach, it’s hard to prevent damage, like a pair of longballs that quickly put Ginn in a hole. I can see how he turns into a consistent arm with sinkers, cutters, sliders, and changeups, but he has to get that dang heater down.
Kodai Senga (NYM) vs MIA (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 75 pitches.
Bleeeeeeeeegh. Can I make that one longer? Because hot dang is this disappointing. If Senga can’t handle the Marlins, what are we doing here? He has such a good schedule, though. @CIN, TEX, WSN, @MIA… I know, and I just can’t tell you to move on, but boy is this frustrating. The cutter isn’t fooling many (4/16 hits), though 8/22 whiffs on the ghost fork does suggest the upside is still there. FINE. I hold. But if there’s a solid stream or two out there, I suggest swapping and maybe you can even get Senga back in time for his Sunday start. If you want to, of course.
Brandon Woodruff (MIL) @ TOR (L) – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 89 pitches.
His fastballs have fallen further down to 92 mph and change and they were blasted, as the collective fantasy community groaned since they needed a solid outing on a Sunday. Welp, I can’t give you the AGA if you can’t perform against solid teams, Woody. Suitman whispers into my ear He doesn’t get a strong team until 9/23 when he faces the Padres? WELL THAT’S FINE WITH ME.
Tomoyuki Sugano (BAL) @ SFG (L) – 3.1 IP, 7 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 80 pitches.
Womp womp. He was a desperate stream and I’m kinda shocked he got burned so badly despite pinpointing his splitter down-and-away to LHB and sweeper down-and-away to RHB, save for a few floated breakers. So it goes, now he gets a brutal gauntlet of LAD, @TOR, NYY, @NYY. Noooooooope.
Brad Lord (WSN) vs TBR (L) – 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 62 pitches.
This was a dart throw for those in dire need. Brad saw that one dude’s waiver pick up and furrowed his brow. “Seriously?!”
Game of the Day
Kyle Bradish vs. Dylan Cease – Bradish should be stellar + we all want Cease to return to form.
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/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)
