Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Monday 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.
MacKenzie Gore (WSN) @ ATL (L) – 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 71 pitches.
After a solid 75+ pitch outing last week, MacKenzie Gore felt like a relatively safe play against Atlanta in the final week of the season. Whoops. The southpaw was pulled after allowing the first two runners on in the third (who both scored), ending the day with a ghastly line of: 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 71 pitches (L). Not a great way to start your fantasy week.
The Nationals have a day off Thursday, making Gore line up for their final start on Sunday against the White Sox, and there are many questions. Is Gore worth it? Will he even start? How long will he go? My take? If Gore is given the pearl, you start him. As you’ll see in the rest of the roundup, I’m inclined to believe managers want their starters to end the season on a high note and with Gore only a few weeks away from his IL stint, granting him one more start to feel accomplished and ready for the off-season can do wonders for a fresh 2026.
As for the skills, I wouldn’t worry. His heater was clocked above 95 mph and returned a 42% CSW, while the changeup and curve were constantly down and in town. The slider was fine to LHB, and this was more of a bad day than a frightening display of degradation. He should take advantage of the White Sox given the chance.
Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:
Freddy Peralta (MIL) @ SDP (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 76 pitches.
Aces gonna ace for a Golden Goal, albeit without the massive whiff count we normally see for such an accolade. I’m pleased to tell you not one of his pitches returned a strike rate under 65% as Professor Chaos took a sip of his piña colada, thinking it was already the off-season. Yes, stay there. I do not expect Peralta to go six frames on Sunday, if start at all. The Brewers will have their bye locked and it will be a tune-up start at best for Peralta, likely around 50/60 pitches at most. Plan accordingly, even if that could still spell five frames if we’re lucky.
Nick Pivetta (SDP) vs MIL (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 112 pitches.
I expect this to be Pivetta’s last start of the season – he should be the Game #1 or #2 starter for the Padres in the Wild Card series and Sunday would prevent that – and not only did Pivetta have his first season under a 4.00 ERA, he had his first season under a 3.00 ERA. The home run rate went down massively (similar number of HRs but with far more innings) and there’s your answer for the ERA drop, while the 14 point drop in WHIP (1.13 to 0.99) is a result of his unsustainable 6.4 hit/9, which is a result of the .234 BABIP, which is a result of his flyballs not leaving the yard. THIS TO THAT TO THIS TO THAT. It’s honestly that simple. Now why did those flyballs stay in the park? Well, you could say San Diego helps in the spring, sure, but you all know why. The deadened ball. YUP. Pivetta was one of the biggest benefactors. Something to think about.
Justin Verlander (SFG) vs STL (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 84 pitches.
Blegh. Verlander has been “in his prime” and with a great matchup against the Cardinals during championship week, he reverts back to the disappointment of the first half. The slider was worse, the heater was hit, and a two-run shot in the fifth was the final nail in the coffin. The good news? It’s possible that Verlander will barge into the manager’s office and demand he start on Sunday against Rockie Road to end his season on a high note. I had previously thought he may get some extra rest, but this is Verlander, y’all. HOWEVER, I have to mention his four-seamer’s velocity. We’ve seen 94/95 mph on good days, and bargained for 93/94 mph on others. This wasn’t either of those days. Nay, Verlander sat 92.3 mph on his four-seamer. Oh no. Yeaaaaah, that may be a sign that he’s run out of fuel. If he does start on Sunday, I’m all for it, velocity or not. It’s Rockie Road.
Michael McGreevy (STL) @ SFG (W) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 90 pitches.
He was literally the only streaming option and on paper, this looked like it could work, and it kinda did? Nick, that line is horrible. I know, I took the streaming loss, etc., but I’m impressed they let him come back out for the fifth after the Cardinals took the lead and even left him in after allowing a solo shot to Devers, getting him through the fifth to snag a Win. Look at that! A valuable Win when you need it most. He’s set to start on Sunday against the Cubs and that’s a no-go, though there’s a chance the Cubs are taking it easy and McGreevy gets a chance to make right after this tough outing. It was the sweeper’s fault to RHB (get that dang thing away!), and his terrible curveball that went just 4/17 strikes (yikes), in concert with a few mistake pitches here and there. He’s better than this.
Chris Sale (ATL) vs WSN (W) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 80 pitches.
Aces gonna give us a Dusty Donut and do his very best to deny us even that with a rough fifth frame. I’m not sure if Atlanta wants to throw him on Sunday (let the man rest?), but if he goes, you’re starting him. Of course.
Game of the Day
PEW PEW PEW – I don’t care if there are other great games, like the return of Edward Cabrera or Tarik Skubal vs. Gavin Williams in a heated division race. I’m watching Cole Ragans.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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