Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article, where I rank each starting player’s performance at each Saturday game. I apologize in advance for the jokes written in my delirium. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Playback.tv on weekday mornings from 10am to 12pm ET.
Adrian Houser (MIL) vs. ATL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 12 whiffs, 31% CSW, 89 pitches.
If there’s one pitcher that makes me smile when he comes through, it has to be one Adrian Houser, who almost deserved one VPQS against Atlanta and still gets one gold star for that ridiculous line: 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 12 whiffs, 31% CSW, 89 pitches. Right, ten strikeouts against Atlanta.
How did this happen? Houser has under 18% strikeout this game and has never fanned more than five in any previous starts this season. The difference here was some precision in counting two shots, nailing the corners up and on the glove side and down and on the arm side for punchouts, and I don’t think I’ve seen that from Houser before. He’s also slightly increased the usage of his sliders from 14% to around 23%, but just three touches doesn’t justify the big swing we just saw.
And in the end it’s still bad odds without a win. Yes, that has more to do with Atlanta being Atlanta than Houser’s ability, but it makes it easier for us to call this a fluke and not take the leap forward. And then again, he’s only allowed 7 ER in his five previous missions…no, no, no. He’s getting Atlanta again this week and it just doesn’t work. Please do not.
Let’s see how every other SP did on Saturday:
Tanner Bibee (CLE) vs. PHI (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 22 whiffs, 39% CSW, 102 pitches.
Damn, look at you! Bibee braggingly showed us what happens when everything in his repertoire comes together golden target as he raised his four-seamer, hitting strikes with his switch (although he was a little floating…) and getting his slider and curveball down far enough to return 12 shots between them. Can you please always do this? I had recently lost faith that we could put together a decent stretch in the second half and while that’s exactly Bibee’s dream, I’m still skeptical that he can do it over several weeks. However, I am so glad that now you can all see the real potential in it. He could be so damn good.
Matt Manning (DET) vs. SD (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 1 whiffs, 28% CSW, 32 pitches.
A rain delay sent Manning off and that’s pretty annoying. It could mean we’ll see him in Los Angeles sooner rather than later in the rotation, giving others an extra day off. We will see. What about Mason Englert who threw 60 shots after him? You mean the guy who allowed 9 ER in 2.1 IP? Oh. Don’t blame him, he didn’t realize he was going to pitch so early and so often. Poor guy.
Ryan Borucki (PIT) @ LAA (ND) – 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 whiffs, 43% CSW, 21 pitches.
He opened for 3.0 IP from Osvaldo Bido, Who shouldn’t be given the slightest thought these days with these limited editions. His stuff isn’t that great either.
Josiah Gray (WSH) vs. SF (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches.
Look at Josiah throwing just – you know – fourteen fastballs the whole game. Only 16% usage. Why didn’t he do this before? Because the slider, cam, and cutter typically don’t each return 65%+ strokes. H*ck, even the 14 changeups + sweepers added up to 86% strikes. His stuff was never the problem with his secondaries, it was his fastballs stuff + the location of those secondaries. And yet…only four strikeouts here, with some confidence in the balls in play, but if Josiah actually found a trick to turning consistently within the zone to win, then maybe we can properly talk about calling him back.
Zack Wheeler (PHI) @ CLE (L) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 whiffs, 28% CSW, 109 pitches.
I have to admit, it’s so much fun to see Wheeler giving you games like this. Seriously, he should do that every time he pitches, and that’s pure beauty in my eyes. 11/6 four seamer noises, low curveballs and pure bliss. He has suffered a loss. Well, you can’t have everything. Perfection is the enemy of good luck. Magneto, my fantasy team.
Johnny Cueto (MIA) vs. COL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 17 whiffs, 37% CSW, 81 pitches.
Oh. That’s ridiculous. The Marlins didn’t even want to force Cueto back into the rotation, but here he is, returning 14/40 smells on his four seater. That equates to a 35% SwStr rate on the way to a 48% CSW on a 93 mph incline, and that’s unreal. His mastery was absolutely brilliant at what counts Bailey Ober jealous and I am completely shocked. That feels like a “blame the Rocky Mountains” though, and he can’t keep it, Suitman whispers in my ear. He gets the Tigers next?! Well, I guess we’ll try.
Dylan Cease (CWS) @ MIN (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 whiffs, 28% CSW, 96 pitches.
Oddly enough, the heating and curve were the pitches that got Cease through this game, and I’m all for that. It’s rare that Cease doesn’t have his best slider and the backup options take over. it’s high time you know However, I don’t expect that to be a regular and I hate when his slider fails as it’s by far his best ability. If it’s not back, it would be greedy to expect the fastball and curve to take over a second time. But anyway, that’s not going to happen, is it?
Brandon Williamson (CIN) vs. ARI (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 whiffs, 24% CSW, 80 pitches.
He’s maintaining the jump in speed – now at nearly 94 mph from 92 and change – and command was solid enough to get through the Diamondbacks. There may be one toby At least in here, but not against the Dodgers. Absolutely not.
Paul Blackburn (OAK) vs. HOU (ND) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 whiffs, 26% CSW, 99 pitches.
Check out Paulie Punchouts. He sat 1-2 ticks harder on sinkers and cutters and sidestepped with almost everything while the Astros struggled to punish him for it. Is it something I would get myself into? No, that’s Blackburn’s top command and next is Coors. But at least he shows something of this upper limit again.
Michael Fulmer (CHC) vs. STL (ND) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 whiffs, 28% CSW, 29 pitches.
He opened for 3.2 IP and 4 ER Drew Smyly while we wait for his text message telling us his curveball is fixed. I’m right here waiting for you Smyly. I did not forget it. The sinker and the cutter were finely spotted, but the way. The consistency in the curve is simply missing.
Gerrit Cole (NYY) vs. KC (ND) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks – 19 whiffs, 27% CSW, 99 pitches.
Aces become aces. Gerrit Cole’s last nine starts: 2.59 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 29% strikeout rate, 4.5% walk rate. No wonder he is Pokémon equivalent of Mew
Sonny Gray (MIN) vs. CWS (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 whiffs, 26% CSW, 88 pitches.
I saw this as a potentially exciting duel for Gray as the White Sox tend to fight ball breaking RHB balls and… the curve went around 1/15 while the slider was only 3/20. The damn command couldn’t get through on the day when it could be most beneficial, but that’s the way it is.
Brady Singer (KC) @ NYY (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 13 whiffs, 36% CSW, 98 pitches.
Yes, this is Singer. You can’t be cherry bomb if you just explode left and right. Remember, whatever he does on any given day – disaster or bliss – it doesn’t change the game afterwards. You never know.
James Paxton (BOS) vs NYM (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 whiffs, 30% CSW, 96 pitches.
Atta Boy Paxton, you’ve now started twelve games and thrown 65 frames, which translates to a 3.46 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, and a 29% strikeout rate with a 50% win rate. If that ain’t money, I don’t know what is. Yes, but he won’t survive the rest of the season. Is it important? You fire it up until it falls off, in the meantime celebrate the production you’re getting and who knows, it might actually survive.
Cristian Javier (HOU) @ OAK (L) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 1 hits, 6 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 whiffs, 25% CSW, 97 pitches.
Six walks against the Athletics for allowing more runs than hits. Javier, they can’t hit the damn ball. The good news – his four-seater was much better lifted this time, unfortunately nothing else was close to the zone. Seriously, his slider held you 34% hit rate. Dude, we need double that. Can you imagine how good this start would have been if his fastball had a 16% SwStr rate if he had it? And that’s the thing – Javier is closer than the results show. There is only one tweak left to do, but what is that tweak? How does he get his slider control back? I don’t know, I’m here and not in the Astros’ clubhouse, but I have to imagine that they are eagerly trying to fix the problem.
Grayson Rodriguez (BAL) @ TB (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 17 whiffs, 31% CSW, 93 pitches.
Duuuude. That had a bit Careful Icarus When he had problems in the sixth round and then allowed both runs, he FINALLY made it in this one by consistently making changes and stopping. Just look at them. Well, the fastball has been both up and down here, but that’s fine as long as it’s not center, and it’s the first time I’ve really gotten excited about Grayson. I sincerely hope he can build on that start.
Reid Detmers (LAA) vs. PIT (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 whiffs, 30% CSW, 100 pitches.
hmmmm Of course I’m fine with his 3.60 ERA and nine strikeouts, but that didn’t feel like the dominance I wanted him to have, it took him 100 pitches to go through five, which was almost worse as he avoided a jam on his 100th pitch. The slider and curve served their purpose, but the fastball command was terrible, forcing him to constantly fight his way through bats, even if he wasn’t chaotic outside the zone. Okay, that’s a bit of a lie since he was bouncing around so many sliders and curves. But you get the point, and I hate that I feel like I’m apologizing to Detmers. The thing is that every time there is something new that differs a little. First it was the curveball, then the slider positions, and now it’s the four seamer command. I really hate that Toronto is next to start given the recent turmoil, but at least he’s making adjustments and if it works out he’ll step up.
Allan Winans (ATL) @ MIL (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 whiffs, 32% CSW, 71 pitches.
This was one of two MLB debuts on Saturday and I find it hard to hate a 56% CSW slider with a 33% SwStr rate, but it’s a product of outstanding mastery at anything he throws and I wonder if it’s actually sustainable if Winans actually gets a rotation spot in the future – Max Fried should return later this week at that rotation location. Winans may be a sneaky streamer in the future (ie 2024) as he gets overlooked with his 90mph heaters, but the cap just isn’t high enough when it relies so much on orders rather than things. Blame the brewers too.
Chase Anderson (COL) @ MIA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 whiffs, 29% CSW, 93 pitches.
hey, one PQS isn’t too bad for Anderson, especially with six strikeouts. It’s the little things, yes. Possibility to bring the cutting arm side, the countersinking glove side and the change down.
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) @ CIN (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 whiffs, 35% CSW, 89 pitches.
How cruel it is to get Pfaadt to make debuts with the Minors against the Rangers, Rays and now Cincy. Kudos to him for getting through here until a barrage of back-to-back HRs ruined his day in the sixth run. The focus here was more on sweepers and changeups, which helped him a lot as they each scored over 37% CSW, although I still don’t think the four-seamer at just 3/33 whiffs is the pitch I want and wish I could feel more encouraged going forward. It would be more believable if the four-seater dominated and not the change and sweeper. Next, it’s still risky against Seattle.
Bobby Miller (LAD) @ TEX (W) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 whiffs, 33% CSW, 85 pitches.
There was some trouble in the fifth frame as I held my breath and hoped he wouldn’t get the hook before securing the oh so easy win, but in the end he came through. Speed was down a tick or two across the board as I wonder if he wasn’t trying his hardest and concentrating on finding his secondary missiles, which were far better this time. We’re talking 72% strikes on the slider, over 50% on the curve, and timely switches (3/4 strikes, rare but effective), and I really like this version of Miller. Next up is the Reds in LA + Oakland and I think we’ll see how he turns things around.
Jackson Wolf (SD) @ DET (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 whiffs, 16% CSW, 75 pitches.
He turned on 89-mile heaters with a 2/25 Whiff shifter. HAISTBMBWT?! I don’t think we’re going to see much more of Jackson and I don’t think he’s a star, Wolf.
Kevin Gausman (TOR) @ SEA (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 13 whiffs, 37% CSW, 87 pitches.
Aces allow four solo shots. The speed dropped dramatically throughout the game, but he increased it as the game progressed and I’m not worried. We’ve had ups and downs throughout the year. And while you may be upset about the ERA, he almost had a win, nine strikeouts and a WHIP under 1.00. Be glad you have a stallion with 9/34 shard character – the pitch is back.
Max Scherzer (NYM) @ BOS (L) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 whiffs, 34% CSW, 93 pitches.
Aces will allow four homers and piss us all off. That’s all, everything else was great except for the fact that so many home runs were possible. These are loud things.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs. TOR (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 whiffs, 27% CSW, 94 pitches.
whoops It’s the Jays for sure, but the old Four-Seamer and Splitter skills aren’t back, while the new Slider and Curves skills didn’t share the load. Well maybe the curve at 53% CSW but only thrown 15 while the slider was mediocre. Gilbert, this fastball can’t be placed on the plate that many times. Please bring that thing back upstairs.
Miles Mikolas (STL) @ CHC (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 11 hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 whiffs, 25% CSW, 102 pitches.
I really need to stop considering Mikolas in the questionable starting tier, don’t I?
Shane McClanahan (TB) vs. BAL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 17 whiffs, 30% CSW, 86 pitches.
Aces will make two outs with one man first in the fourth round and allow five runs before hitting the third out, all without a home run. It’s baseball, Suzyn. pup, it’s happening.
Dane Dunning (TEX) vs. LAD (L) – 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 whiffs, 18% CSW, 79 pitches.
It’s the Dodgers. You didn’t want to use Dunning against the Dodgers, even with the odd sub-3.00 ERA he had this year. It might be the Padres next, but definitely not the Dodgers.
Logan Webb (SF) @ WSH (L) – 1.1 IP, 6 ER, 5 hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 whiffs, 25% CSW, 51 pitches.
wait wait wait It’s not supposed to work that way. Webb was attacked by the Nationals and finished with a two-run shot in the second run, and that’s just how it is some days. Whatareyagonnado. No, there’s really nothing to worry about here.
game of the day
Alek Manoah vs. Bryan Woo – Manoah has a lot of eyes on him (and I don’t expect things to go well), but I’m excited to see if Woo can make the adjustments from last launch to pull through.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming tips? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)