Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Saturday 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.
Slade Cecconi (CLE) @ MIN (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 98 pitches.
I have been far lower on Slade Cecconi than the results have suggested this season, with a 3.99 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across his last nineteen games, including Saturday’s excellent performance of 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 98 pitches (W). It also marks his third straight stellar outing and just 7 ER total in five of his last six games, and with just one start remaining, can I accept the longstanding invitation from The Slade Brigade for a single day?
He’ll host the Rangers later this week and fine. I don’t blame anyone rolling with Cecconi for the final weekend, even if I have many questions about sustainability. In this outing against the Twins, both his fastballs led the way as the only pitches above 50% strikes, while they induced seven outs without surrendering a hit combined. These are not elite fastballs and even their locations were nothing spectacular outside of high zone rates (I have to give credit to the four-seamer with a 42% CSW, FWIW, catalyzed by 10/35 called strikes, too). The curve was his #2 offering and had its moments (including a 3-2 “called strike”…), but its 48% strike rate with two hits doesn’t inspire confidence, and I think the slider, cutter, and change are serviceable. Not exceptional, just fine.
Maybe that’s it. He’s putting a spell on batters with his cauldron of offerings, creating less damage on his heaters as a result. We’ve seen success in this fashion from Bassitt, Lugo, Darvish, etc. in the past, though the 94/95 mph gives a little more hop than Bassitt and Lugo, and his secondaries lack the electricity of Darvish’s array. For now, sure, go with him one more time and hope for the best. As for 2026, I think you can already guess that I’m not interested.
Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:
Logan Allen (CLE) @ MIN (W) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 102 pitches.
Jeez, the Guardians’ starters really messed up the Twins yesterday during that doubleheader. Without his best changeup, Allen had success with his four-seamer and cutter upstairs, and I kinda wanna say Blame it on the Twins. Is that wrong? The question now is if Allen will get another start before the end of the year – remember, this was a doubleheader – and it’s possible he starts next Sunday for Gavin Williams. If the Guardians are cemented before Sunday – locked in or out of the layoffs – they could see Gavin’s heavy workload and grant the final start to Allen instead. However, if that game matters, expect Gavin to be their champion. Not to say that you want Logan for a game hosting Texas (he’d be in the Questionable Start), but at least recognize it as a possibility.
Kyle Hendricks (LAA) @ COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 85 pitches.
HA. I wonder which fantasy managers are going to lose their weekly matchup after their opponent put on a blindfold and managed to hit a half-court shot. What a Gold Star, Hendricks. I’m glad you have something positive to hold onto as you enter the off-season next week.
George Kirby (SEA) @ HOU (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 100 pitches.
ATTA BOY. We got the good Kirby, though I am surprised he’s favoring sinkers up-and-away far more than four-seamers to RHB. (45 vs 13!). The slider was great to RHB and the success we saw against the Angels carried over against the same-handedness lineup. Now comes the tricky part. He’ll get the Dodgers to end the season. Does he have it in him? Will the playoff situation be determined by Friday? (Probably not.) I’m hesitant as he has trouble against LHB, but I know what you’re saying right now. You have to. Good luck.
Bubba Chandler (PIT) vs ATH (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 68 pitches.
Awwwwww yis. Hello my Bubba, hello my honey, hello my ragtime GAAAAALLL. That four-seamer was beautifully dotted upstairs while the slider and changeup filled the zone underneath for RHB and LHB, respectively. I’d prefer those secondaries getting some time at the bottom of the zone, too, but this is clearly working and to see production in just 68 pitches in a lovely thing. Yes, start him in Atlanta, and we’ll talk 2026 later.
Cade Cavalli (WSN) @ NYM (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 76 pitches.
It looks like there’s a new CC King of New York. On the real, I’m shocked Cavalli was able to be come through here moreso than against the Marlins twice and the Pirates. The curve was better, and his four-seamer returned outs instead of hits as he still used it more than the sinker. This does open the possibility of a successful game against the White Sox, though it’s not that impressive of an outing, with the ceiling not putting enough on the scale to favor it over the potential floor. Not the worst, but I’d hope for other options.
Carlos Rodón (NYY) @ BAL (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 23 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. A Golden Goal with his changeup as his #1 thrown pitch? THAT’S THE GOOD STUFF.
Noah Cameron (KCR) vs TOR (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 98 pitches.
Absolutely incredible. Can we all get on the same page about the brilliance of Cameron this season? Here he is, deep into the season, cruising against a Jays squad that loves to swat LHP. He kept his ways of refusing to give in with four-seamers (sub 50% strike rate is fine when they all miss upstairs), while the curve and change were stellar. Did you realize it was a 2.91 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP on the year? Stunning. One more start in Sacré Verde. Let’s do this.
Kyle Harrison (BOS) @ TBR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 86 pitches.
Huh. Soooo we saw the new cutter we all expected Harrison to feature, but it wasn’t special. The heater was under 94 mph. The changeup that looked incredible before he was traded? Meh. It was a game of the four-seamer and curve, with the heater performing better than expected and the curve getting strikes with two hits and a 20% CSW. Blegh. And then again, look at that line! That’s cool! Is this enough for me to endorse a start in Fenway against the Tigers? Probably not. I don’t see a polished Harrison here.
Nolan McLean (NYM) vs WSN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 92 pitches.
The dude is a DUDE. If the rotation continues per usual, he’d get the Marlins on Friday, but with the day off on Monday, the Mets could push him up a day against the tougher Cubs crew instead of Sproat on Thursday. It doesn’t really matter, he should be started regardless.
Germán Márquez (COL) vs LAA (L) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 84 pitches.
Ayyyy! Some happiness for Márquez! What a lovely day for a Birthday Party.
Shane Bieber (TOR) @ KCR (L) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 87 pitches.
Aces gonna ace…? Sure, he’s dope and makes us feel dope. I’m so down to draft him next year.
Luis Morales (ATH) @ PIT (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 96 pitches.
We’ll take it. It wasn’t dominant and hosting the Royals in Sacré Verde is a little scary for the final weekend. I was hoping to feel a little more confident.
Joey Wentz (ATL) @ DET (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 84 pitches.
His heater is legit with great vert and extension at 94 mph, while I’m loving his embrace of the changeup lately, even if it allowed a few hits. Circle him for the Pirates across the final weekend.
Zack Littell (CIN) vs CHC (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 73 pitches.
Look at that. Littell has a little extra magic left over, after all. I’m still avoiding him against the Brewers – this isn’t such an incredible ceiling to chase and its sustainability is heavily in question.
Miles Mikolas (STL) vs MIL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 95 pitches.
Even on a good day, you ask yourself, “Was this really a good day?” Look at that WHIP. Three strikeouts. No QS. No Win. But hey! 3.60 ERA! Such joy.
Yu Darvish (SDP) @ CHW (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 78 pitches.
After slipping on the Reds Carpet and becoming lactose-intolerant for Rockie Road, it’s no surprise to find holes in a start against the White Sox. Sigh. There’s a slim chance he comes through for the Sneks, but I’m not chasing it.
Chad Patrick (MIL) @ STL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 56 pitches.
So close. Pulled at 56 pitches?! I know he had two runners on when he got the hook, but let the guy get out of it! WHATEVER. I hope he gets one more start over the weekend, which would be a lovely strut down the Reds Carpet and with a possibily longer leash. Take note for what could be a decent stream.
Adam Mazur (MIA) @ TEX (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 63 pitches.
Mazur had horrific feel for his four-seamer (and pretty much his whole arsenal) and now it’s the Mets. Yeaaaah, I’m good.
Javier Assad (CHC) @ CIN (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 74 pitches.
Welp, that was a boring time. And then I found five dollars. Always makes a boring story better, right?
Kai-Wei Teng (SFG) @ LAD (ND) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 74 pitches.
Look at Teng, showcasing both sides of his coin with questionable volume and ERA, but bringing the strikeouts you were looking for. Now for some good news: If Teng sticks, it’s Rockie Road to end the year. You might want that, y’all. Sure, he has to throw his secondaries for strikes, but it could very well work in your favor.
Zac Gallen (ARI) vs PHI (W) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 103 pitches.
After allowing a pair of runs in the first, Gallen settled down well for a strong outing. He nailed the curve and changeup to LHB, but is this enough to trust him against the Dodgers? It could be – the Dodgers may not be sending out their best players over the weekend – though I’m not sold.
Adrian Houser (TBR) vs BOS (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 16% CSW, 102 pitches.
You went with Houser for a QS and you got one. If you’re in a non-QS league, uh, you shouldn’t be here. Go, scram! Get out of the Houser!
Yoendrys Gómez (CHW) vs SDP (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 74 pitches.
He has interesting stuff, but he’s still trying to figure out how to execute a proper attack with his weapons. He’ll get the Nationals and maybe it’ll work? Boy is this a tough weekend to figure out. Go with your gut.
Keider Montero (DET) vs ATL (ND) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 69 pitches.
This is more of what I’ve expected from Montero. I wouldn’t be relying on him for a start in Fenway.
Jack Leiter (TEX) vs MIA (L) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 94 pitches.
Bleeeeegh. He almost had it. Leiter allowed two solo shots in the sixth for a Careful, Icarus, ruining his chance for a QS and a dub. I’m happy he was able to throw strikes, but the command wasn’t nearly what he needs it to be in order for the electricity to become lightning. He needs to unlock Jack Zippo to come out every start.
Aaron Nola (PHI) @ ARI (L) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 84 pitches.
Like Leiter, Nola allowed two in the sixth frame, ruining this performance. I’m still all for a start against the laboring Twins and I’d try to brush this off. The curve is legit and the velocity is back.
Tyler Glasnow (LAD) vs SFG (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 101 pitches.
Aces gonna make us all sad. The slider has struggled plenty this season and it was rough again here, save for a pair of strikeouts. We’ll see how the week plays out and if the Dodgers will have Glasnow throw on Saturday @TEA, but he’s a clear start there if he does. Whatareyagonnado.
Joe Ryan (MIN) vs CLE (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 75 pitches.
Aces gonna have yet another rough outing. That’s the fourth in six games and you’re considering avoiding him for the Phillies over the weekend. I get it. His heater still has all the great properties, but the secondaries aren’t helping, requiring more precsion from Ryan to come through. At the same time, four solo shots are hard to watch and this could have been just fine. I’m going to go for it given the four-seamer’s ability, and I understand if you’d rather paly it safe.
Tomoyuki Sugano (BAL) vs NYY (L) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 87 pitches.
Yeaaaaah. Sugano’s schedule is absolutely brutal. No thanks.
Framber Valdez (HOU) vs SEA (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 87 pitches.
Jeeeeeeez, he’s been on such a downward spiral. It feels like a coin flip if he’ll come through for Houston when they need him most in Sacré Verde. Uhhhhhh, good luck? Sorry I can’t give you more.
Bailey Ober (MIN) vs CLE (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 90 pitches.
Sigh. The velocity was below 90 mph, but the LHB-lineup seemed to be set up to help Ober given his better attack against LHB than RHB. And it worked across four innings until the fifth was like Z100 where the hits keep coming. It’s pretty easy to tell you to avoid Ober for his final start against the Phillies, while we did get a peak at Mick Abel in relief to finish the game with 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 1 Hit, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 71 pitches. I’m still stoked for the heater (97/98 mph, 1.5 HAVAA, seven feet extension), but the secondaries aren’t finding their form quite yet. He’ll get there, just not until next season.
Game of the Day
Connelly Early vs. Joe Boyle – Early has been a joy to watch + we all want to believe that Boyle can figure it out.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)
