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.
Eury Pérez (MIA) @ WSN (L) – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 76 pitches.
You’re upset with Eury Pérez. I’m upset too, y’all. He had a laborious first frame against the Mets and was pulled at 40 pitches in an absolute nightmare, and now, against an easier Nationals lineup, he does this: 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 76 pitches (L). You want to rage quit. I get it.
This was a bamboozling in the first with three bases awarded on the basepaths from runners (wild pitch, balk, and stolen base) + a two hits off heaters and a horrific hanging curve to a LHB. Then a solo shot to the #9 hitter on a 2-1 fastball, then a hanging 1-0 sweeper to a RHB for a two-run blast, then the tears started flowing down our cheeks.
Welcome to a major decision point. He’s cooked! They’ve figured him out! Nah. Two games of terrible first frames despite the same velocity and general command does not outline a pitcher who is suddenly incapable of taking down the Nationals, Tigers, and on the road against the Rangers. I’m holding where I have him and I recommend you do the same.
Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:
Bryce Elder (ATL) @ CHC (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 101 pitches.
The mad man! His sinker and slider did all the things – called strikes, outs, strikeouts, it didn’t matter – and the changeup was helpful to LHB and made his four-seamer better above. This has to be the Gold Star and I have to ask. Has this become a Vargas Rule? You can’t actually start him against the Cubs a second time…right?!
Zac Gallen (ARI) vs TEX (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 97 pitches.
After sitting just under 93 mph for most of the year, Gallen has pushed it to 93/94 mph in the second half with 94.2 mph last time out and 93.6 mph here. It may be just enough to keep batters from sending the ball to grass (just two hits here), while a rare embrace of the slider to RHB was highly effective against the wounded Rangers offense. This has to be a full send against the Giants twice now. IT’S GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK. Let’s take off that TIARA now.
Matthew Liberatore (STL) vs ATH (W) – 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 81 pitches.
Oh hey! Liberatore is actually doing enough to take advantage of a decent matchup in St. Louis, though the heater is fighting to sit 93 mph (not 94/95) and the hook is awfully unreliable (24% NC Rate at 21% usage). I’m not interested in his next outing despite getting to sip @TEA, but if that’s good enough, fine. I’ll purchase his ticket to walk down the Reds Carpet.
Cade Horton (CHC) vs ATL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 75 pitches.
I really wish he hadn’t left that game with a blister. Or maybe you shouldn’t have overreacted to it. We rarely see pitchers continue without a hiccup after leaving with a blister! I still have questions about his overall command, but the two-plane sweeper is still lovely and Koufax is friendly with his cut-fastball that went 76% strikes at 50% usage without a hit. Yeah, we see the goose egg. How could they pull him?! Because they don’t want to push Horton before the playoffs and with said blister possibly returning. I know, history n all, but it’s the right move. They even told him before the start he’d be limited to roughly 75 pitches and it helps him plan properly. Be happy with this, but it does lower the ceiling for his next outing – a QS is highly unlikely (and he almost didn’t make it through five here!).
Braxton Ashcraft (PIT) vs LAD (ND) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 71 pitches.
You know, 0 ER is pretty lovely against the Dodgers, even with, uh, everything else. We saw Mike Burrows come in for his own version of three shutout innings, snagging the dub along the way. This isn’t what you want.
Joey Cantillo (CLE) @ BOS (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 104 pitches.
Ohhhh BABY. Cantillo made the surprise start and the Guardians pushed Logan Allen a day ahead in the rotation. I’m not exactly sure why and all I want to do is believe that Cantillo gets regular starts moving forward (replacing Bibee or Gavin or Slade or Messick instead? The former pair would be to conserve their innings for next year), and I wish I could find some answers for you. He’s a perfect example of a Boyer (Moyer + Boyd = soft-tossing southpaw with a changeup. Workshopping it.), but this one has elite extension. If he gets regular starts, I’m very much in on Cantillo down the stretch, regardless of which teams he faces on the Guardians’ September schedule.
Zebby Matthews (MIN) vs CHW (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 84 pitches.
I still dream of a day when Matthews is able to locate his four-seamer upstairs consistently with his 1.4 HAVAA and 18-19″ of vert that surprises based on his arm angle. That said, he did a great job locating his secondaries in this one and it was a proper display of the general floor Zebby should have. Sadly, we can’t bank on a precision plateau for the young arm, but @LAA is next and I’m tempted…Nah. Just five strikeouts here and the Shag Rug still exists. But maybe…
Yoendrys Gómez (CHW) @ MIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 94 pitches.
The dude keeps improving. Gómez displayed a sinker as his primary heater to RHB, which needed to get a little more inside, but came with 17″+ of run (and 93.1 mph. Blegh.) , and paired nicely with his sweeper away (6/26 whiffs on the breaker). The four-seamer still worked against LHB, albeit at 94 mph and not 95-96 mph, and his changeup was a surprise floater for called strikes that he’ll likely not get away with in the future. He’ll host the Rays next and I can see that for your 15-teamers. It’s still a bit risky for 12-teamers, especially with the drop in velo. Even moreso than with Zebby, I’m terrified of the Shag Rug
Ryan Bergert (KCR) vs LAA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 87 pitches.
Atta boy! He has surprising vert on the heater at 93 mph and was able to keep the sweeper away all day to RHB for a 36% CSW. We have one more start left before we move on from Bergert (@CLE) and despite my hesitations facing a LHB lineup with a sweeper as the main secondary, I’m going for it. Hopefully the slider and change step up.
Caden Dana (LAA) @ KCR (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 70 pitches.
Oh look, Koufax has a new friend. Dana does a good job of generally living around the edges, but the stuff is just too dang meh for me, even if he can gas it up to 97 mph at times (94/95 mph average four-seamer with deadzone movement). There are better options to chase, though he could stumble into a QS given his generally decent command and ability to live around the zone.
Casey Mize (DET) vs NYM (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 69 pitches.
Ayyyyy that’s a surprisingly boring-but-in-a-good-way start. He went BSB effectively upstairs to LHB with four-seamers and splitters, but hot dang Mize, you got away with a fair number of sinkers to RHB. And look at this, 95.7 mph four-seamers! That’s lovely. However, I’d be cautious with the Yankees up next, even if you buy the feel and velo bump. There are better Toby arms out there.
Brennan Bernardino (BOS) vs CLE (L) – 0.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 12% CSW, 17 pitches.
This was a bullpen game until Zack Kelly came in to toss four frames, followed by Dustin May for three. It’s all because Kyle Harrison had an ankle injury that scratched him from getting the call to Boston. Let’s move on.
Jack Leiter (TEX) @ ARI (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 99 pitches.
I so want to push the red button and go all-in on Leiter and I’m not sure I can yet. There were some fantastic pitches in here. Four-seamers up, changeups down and a few sliders to LHB, but it’s still a little chaotic and it unnerves me. This was a case of two innings of said chaos followed by Leiter hitting cruise control for the next four, for what it’s worth, and maybe that’s enough to convince you to chase Leiter against the Brewers. I see it as a coin-flip, personally. He just doesn’t overwhelm RHB as he should.
Jeffrey Springs (ATH) @ STL (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 87 pitches.
The changeup brought all the sunshine and rainbows to St. Louis with 9/21 whiffs, while the slider was able to return a whole slew of outs and 77% strikes. Phew. Now he gets the Sawx in two terrible places to pitch and I’m out.
Will Warren (NYY) @ HOU (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 67 pitches.
He wasn’t the prettiest we’ve seen, but it was good enough. I wish I were more encouraged about Warren and while I’m happy this worked out and I’m likely going to chance it against the Tigers up next, I have to bring up Eno mentioning that his stuff has been down massively in the second half. He may be hitting a fatigue wall, y’all. AND WHERE IS THAT CHANGEUP?!
Mitchell Parker (WSN) vs MIA (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 91 pitches.
We got another start of Parker executing the BSB with four-seamers and curveballs to RHB, but instead of sliders as the third friend, we saw nine splitters. And guess what? It allowed the sole damage of the day – a two-run HR from Wiemer in the fifth. Sigh. YOU ALMOST HAD IT, PARKER. He’ll get another shot against Miami next week and I gotta say, that’s two in a row with his command up on the heater + curves down. It’s possible he can make it three in a dream matchup.
Emmet Sheehan (LAD) @ PIT (L) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 84 pitches.
Blame Reynolds for an absurdly long at-bat for the lack of depth into this one (and yes, that led to a solo shot), but a Gallows Pole with a play for the Golden Goal (he needed one more out, y’all) in a surprise start is an obvious showcase of his talent. For real, the slider was bananas with 79% strikes and 9/29 whiffs with a 45% CSW. The word is that Ohtani was simply skipped for one start and it’s unclear if Sheehan will go on the 9th against Rockie Road. You need to circle that start if it’s confirmed, but there is risk holding onto Sheehan and the Dodgers electing to by-pass him again. THE MAN DESERVES SECURITY IN HIS LIFE.
Clay Holmes (NYM) @ DET (L) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 85 pitches.
Annnnd we’re back to erratic breakers causing inefficient at-bats and a start that makes The Adobe look like a Double Bubble. This is an easy drop, y’all. The Phillies + Padres + Cubs are the schedule ahead. You can’t put yourself through that.
Jose Quintana (MIL) vs PHI (W) – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 97 pitches.
That’s a Dusty Donut of a VVPQS (plus one out) and you know what? We’ll take it. This was the last tough matchup for Quintana and now you can cruise with @TEX, STL, @STL, Reds Carpet the rest of the way. Have fun.
Jason Alexander (HOU) vs NYY (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 98 pitches.
He had a dominant start when he last faced the Yankees and save for two HRs, it was more of the same. Kinda. It’s not enough for me to trust him @TOR, though, and @ATL, SEA, @LAA follow (if he gets the last one). I think you can do better.
Adrian Houser (TBR) vs SEA (W) – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 87 pitches.
He went five shutout frames, then ran into trouble in the sixth, concluding with a three-run shot from Julio on a terrible first-pitch sinker down the pipe. Don’t start pitchers in Tampa Bay, y’all. He’ll head to Chicago to face the SlySox next and I’m okay with that.
Germán Márquez (COL) vs SFG (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 85 pitches.
Márquez 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.
Cade Povich (BAL) @ SDP (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 85 pitches.
Bleeeegh. This was not peak Povich. His four-seamer got far too much of the plate, every pitch had a NC Rate above 11% (16% on the sinker!), and his changeup + curve had zero feel. Welp, you gotta get it back in a hurry, Cade. PIT + @CHW + TBR is next and I need you for them. Yes, I’m still starting him for Pittsburgh after this.
Robbie Ray (SFG) @ COL (ND) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 99 pitches.
Uggggh. Ray was stupid dominant through four before getting Singled Out in the fifth. His four-seamer sat 94.5 mph (SWEET) and lived upstairs with the slider consistently landing down. He’s the guy you want him to be. Hold him for Arizona x2.
Shane Bieber (TOR) @ CIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 98 pitches.
That second frame wouldn’t end. The Reds strung together hits galore in the disaster inning (five hits, one walk = five runs), mostly grounders up the middle, and he wasn’t able to bear down to earn the strikeout until Elly stepped up. Blegh. He was electric in all other frames, though (just one baserunner!) and I wouldn’t read into this.
Zack Littell (CIN) vs TOR (ND) – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 88 pitches.
Uhhh, yeah. You already jumped off this, right? The only start I’d remotely consider is @STL on the 15th, and even that is a Questionable Start.
Aaron Nola (PHI) @ MIL (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 95 pitches.
That first frame was terrible. Five runs via a walk, (SB), HBP, terrible 0-2 heater for a single, amazing curveball that somehow dropped for two runs, and a changeup that landed over the fence to cap the crooked frame. He settled in after, with your standard Nola command and dominant curve, but you can’t erase that first inning, unfortunately. He’s a questionable start for the Mets next, but I think you’re fine after that. I understand dropping Nola if you need a start NOW.
Nestor Cortes (SDP) vs BAL (L) – 2.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 57 pitches.
Oh cool, four homers. One in the first, three in the third with just one out. Welp, forget about it. Reds Carpet and Rockie Road are next. Yes, I want Cortes for those.
George Kirby (SEA) @ TBR (L) – 2.0 IP, 7 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 54 pitches.
Jeeeez, not now Kirby! Yes, the minor league park does him few favors, but let’s be real. The man was Singled Out and life is pain. Koufax, where did you go?! Six hits on seven fastballs in play?! We all deserved better.
Game of the Day
Blake Snell vs. Paul Skenes – On a day with just six games, this is a GIFT.
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)
