Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Tuesday game. I apologize for the jokes written in my delirium in advance. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Twitch.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Andrew Painter (PHI) vs WSN (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 84 pitches.
I’ve heard about Painter for years and it’s thrilling to finally get a proper look at the long-time prospect in his MLB debut against the Nationals. The results did not disappoint – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 84 pitches – and I can’t quite decide if this is what we’ll get moving forward, but I have to ask, can I actually get an accurate view of Painter’s canvas from this one start against a poor lineup?
I don’t love starting pitchers in MLB debuts as they often pitch differently than when they’ll have their feet under them following a few starts, and it’s difficult to tell you this is who he will be, for better or for worse. So what do you do? Hold on and enjoy the ride, of course. He has the situation, a cut-fastball at 96/97 mph that isn’t bad, allowing for an array of good-not-elite secondaries to be successful. The whole package should work with 88 mph sliders with good sweep but annoying lift, an 81 mph curve he throws with confidence, and a solid changeup that stays down to LHB. There’s also the correct approach with sinkers inside to RHB that we barely saw, given the Nationals’ affinity for left-handed bats.
He’ll get the Giants and Sneks up next, and we can only hope for the best. If the good pitch separation sticks, this will work. The Shag Rug exists and we’ll get a few happy mistakes, but that’s okay. This will help more than hurt.
Sidenote: Happy April Fools’ day! I hope you enjoyed our yearly tradition where Justin Paradis writes his own version of the SP Roundup and I create his graphic.
Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:
Max Fried (NYY) @ SEA (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 90 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Velo is still down a tick + two on the cutter, but the command is stellar and he cruised in Seattle. It’s fun when Fried actually produces early in the year.
Shohei Ohtani (LAD) vs CLE (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 87 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. 87 pitches and six frames in his first outing of the year. I don’t think he’s going to get babied, y’all. His velocity is down 1-2 ticks, but don’t be alarmed. It’s the first of the year and it’s still quality.
José Soriano (LAA) @ CHC (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 90 pitches.
Duuuuuude, this is awesome. He pulled off the sinker in favor of four-seamers, embracing its extra vert and flat attack angle for 71% strikes and a ridiculous 48% CSW. The curve was fantastic and stayed down, the splitter earned a handful of whiffs, and this was a fun outing against the Cubs. The biggest concern? Just four strikeouts and two hits. In other words, he had the good graces of Koufax across 67% grounders (13 outs on 15 BIP), which is sure to regress given the Angels’ defense n all. Obviously a pitcher needs hit prevention to have a beneficial outing and maybe Soriano is pitching more effectively to keep the BABIP lower. Why does he have to face Atlanta + Yankees + Padres next? I understand that you feel like you have to, but that’s a tough sell.
Andre Pallante (STL) vs NYM (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 88 pitches.
Wait, this worked? Jeez, take this Gold Star. He’s made a major transition toward sinkers and sliders against RHB, saving the four-seamer for LHB where it was taken by the passive Mets lineup, and Koufax smiled upon him. This isn’t your next big pickup.
Jameson Taillon (CHC) vs LAA (ND) – 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 85 pitches.
The velocity is still down (just under 91 mph), but we saw more cut and 19/20″ of vert with big separation on the cutter, and we’re here for that. I’m stoked he was able to produce in some fashion here, even it was super strange to see four walks. That’s so not him, and the 61% overall strike rate doesn’t match.
Bubba Chandler (PIT) @ CIN (ND) – 4.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 6 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 81 pitches.
I know you have some nerves given this is your first start out of camp in your career, but jeeeeez, can you get that four-seamer a little lower, please? It’s such a dope pitch when he doesn’t return 58% strikes across 74% usage. 17″ of vert at a low arm angle and cut and good extension and a flat attack angle AND 99 MPH. Just not so high and non-competitive, alright? We barely saw the change and slider here, which are also excellent pitches, but he couldn’t wrangle them either, especially the slider (1/8 strikes, missing well upstairs). That’s not him, and I can’t wait for the games ahead that don’t come with so many free passes. But it was a no-hitter! Don’t you dare compare him to Ejax. DON’T YOU DARE.
Ryan Feltner (COL) @ TOR (ND) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 47 pitches.
Feltner was struck by a 106mph comebacker, leaving this one early after sitting two ticks higher. It’s obviously terrible leaving a game like this, but to do so when you’re showing off how much better you are is simply not fair.
Max Scherzer (TOR) vs COL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 83 pitches.
FINALLY. An easy stream that goes exactly as it should. I don’t know what took so long. Much appreciated, Scherzer. No, you don’t need to hold for the Dodgers, but it may be worthwhile with the Twins and @ ARI after.
Casey Mize (DET) @ ARI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 93 pitches.
Oh hey, it was alright! His splitter cooked against LHB for 32% SwStr and 68% strikes, while the slider was unexpectedly great at 44% CSW and 72% strikes. Not the best fastballs all around, but if Mize has sliders and splitters on point like this, the Twins and Marlins may roll over easily.
Hunter Brown (HOU) vs BOS (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 78 pitches.
Aces gonna ace for a King Cole. A little more erratic than usual from Brown with his sinker inside the zone (read: not armside), but the Sawx were sleeping at the plate, accepting a 44% called strike rate on the pitch, with two strikeouts looking. How nice of them.
Tanner Bibee (CLE) @ LAD (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 74 pitches.
Is he okay? I was hyped after Bibee flexed a four inch boost in vert with his four-seamer to 18″ last time out, and we actually saw that fantastic pitch here again…for about ten of his fastballs. He had another 4/5 that were far worse and the jury is still out if Bibee will have a much better heater across the season. He also seems to be throwing two different cutters now, which is surely going to get reclassified as an 88/89 mph cutter and a 84-87mph slider, and the slide piece was much better than the harder, high vert cutter. But let’s be real here. After all the haze of his last start, to see Bibee survive in Los Angeles and still give us hope for a better arsenal is really cool. Guess we’re letting it fly for a two-step against the Royals and Atlanta next week, right?
Zach Eflin (BAL) vs TEX (ND) – 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 74 pitches.
I was so excited for this start. Eflin was sitting 92/93 mph in the spring (over a tick up!) and came out hot, fanning four of his first six batters and looking like the same stud of March. Then the velo took a bit of a hit in the third, and another in the fourth, and despite fanning seven in eleven outs, he left the game early with an elbow issue. I went from stoked and looking ahead to a trio of starts @CHW, vs. SFG, @CLE, to pure pain. He’s going to hit the IL y’all, and you should just drop him. Sigh.
Kodai Senga (NYM) @ STL (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.
Remember how we were reporting that Senga was throwing harder in the spring? Yeah, that wasn’t smoke and mirrors. The dude was 97/98 mph across 92 pitches here, actually earning whiffs on the pitch at a 19% clip. The cutter was also benefiting at 90/91 mph and 38% CSW, and the ghost-fork, sweeper, and slider boasted eight whiffs and four punchouts, too. He’s back ya’ll. HE’S SO BACK. He’s even doing the Canibal McSanchez and it’s masking the four-seamer exactly how we want him to. Get pumped for a date in Oracle Park up next.
Aaron Civale (ATH) @ ATL (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 87 pitches.
Despite losing 1-2 ticks that Civale really can’t lose at this point in his career, he stuck it out for a Win. Those backdoor cutters and curves were clutch against LHB, but you know who we really have to thank. Koufax, you rascal.
Brandon Woodruff (MIL) vs TBR (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 67 pitches.
I’m thrilled to tell you that this felt exactly like the Woodruff you know from last season. He’s likely going to be limited like this a fair amount, and yet, it’s still productive. I’d feel great having Woody at this point.
Shane McClanahan (TBR) @ MIL (L) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 79 pitches.
He’s such a good pitcher. Or at least was absurd through four before he walked two with a single and couldn’t quite close the door with two outs, leading to all three runs coming in. Ugh. He was likely gassed even if the velocity wasn’t showing it, and it may be a few starts before he can cruise without a lapse of command past pitch 65. But that changeup, y’all. 41% CSW and 77% strikes. 95/96 mph velocity (not 94!). Legit sliders is the right spots. He’s a SWATCH with more velocity. I’m a McClanaFan.
Janson Junk (MIA) vs CHW (ND) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 79 pitches.
He was up 1-2 ticks here with 19″ of vert and a 1.8 HAVAA and…wait. Junk? At 95/96 mph? With a kick-change and 17″ of ride + an 88 mph hyro slider with -5/6 sweep? Uhhhh, this is elite stuff. Dude. WHAT. That four-seamer is blowing my mind right now. Sure, he didn’t locate it upstairs and oddly refused to throw it to RHB (16% usage despite those marks?!), but I’m kinda in disbelief right now. He’ll get the Reds Carpet on Monday and I’m heavily considering this. It’s clear that he’s a vastly different pitcher now.
Logan Webb (SFG) @ SDP (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 104 pitches.
Oh wow, our first PQS of the season, and of course it’s from Webb. His changeup was way off here at just 35% strikes and he’ll find his rhythm soon, don’t you worry.
Zack Littell (WSH) @ PHI (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 75 pitches.
This game began with PJ’s effort as an opener and ended with the wake-up call of Littell entering in the sixth for 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 K across 75 pitches. HAISTBMBWT?! Oh, you were hoping for a vulture Win? Did you forget it was Littell, or that he pitched for the Nationals, or that he was facing the Phillies? I DIDN’T THINK, OKAY?!
Erick Fedde (CHW) @ MIA (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 80 pitches.
Huge props to Fedde for shelving the four-seamer and going cutter upstairs with changeups down to LHB, but even if you squeeze the most out of the lemon, it’s not enough for a full glass. That almost seems wise. There’s something there, I’m sure of it.
Jacob deGrom (TEX) @ BAL (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 79 pitches.
He got the first two outs of the fifth with ease and three straight hits knocked him out of the game within grasp of a dub. Sigh. At least his stick neck is a thing of the past and his slider is back to being the dopest of dope at 92 mph with a 32% SwStr rate and dotting the corner. As it is often in the first week or two, deGrom was more gassed than usual in the fifth and don’t expect that to last throughout the year.
José Suarez (ATL) vs ATH (L) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 66 pitches.
This wasn’t his best, but even if it was, would it be any different? Probably. Yeah, maybe like a run or two. Welp, see ya later.
Germán Márquez (SDP) vs SFG (ND) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 65 pitches.
Oh, you thought the 20+ whiffs were real? And you made biscuits for the table? Oh, sweet summer child. That bread ain’t gotta be buttered by Márquez. It’s so dry. Get used to it.
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs DET (ND) – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 85 pitches.
The third was an inning of torture with all five runs coming on six hits in play, but that doesn’t mean Pfaadt was stellar otherwise. Yes, his curveball and sweeper were looking solid and his sinker was sitting down-and-away effectively to LHB, I’m worried about the cutter over the plate + the lack of four-seamers and changeups making a difference. Consider this performance more in line with a PQS.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs NYY (L) – 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 95 pitches.
Aces gonna run into trouble early and late. Oh no, so Gilbert is bad now? Oh, not the case at all. His new cutter is super cool at 91 mph, allowing him to play the Canibal McSanchez game upstairs, though I am surprised to see the slider lose some velocity in favor of more drop – I think it benefited from the extra velo at 88 mph than the need for 3-4″ more depth (just 1/13 whiffs here). Regardless, we keep starting him n all. Whatareyagonnado.
Brayan Bello (BOS) @ HOU (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 92 pitches.
The Astros came out swinging and it’s always dissonant to see a Gallows Pole come with just two strikeouts. No, those whiffs from the “new curve”, which is awfully similar to the sweeper he’s had for a bit, and neither are particularly inspiring. I don’t think he pitched terribly, though he’s certain to hold off on four-seamers in the future after the few he threw returned 3/8 hits. With the Brewers, Cardinals, and Tigers up next, this could very well still work for Bello, but witnessing less velocity and worse movement on everything, it’s hard to be sold that he’ll replicate this absurd SwStr rate and become a steady arm.
Brandon Williamson (CIN) vs PIT (L) – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 94 pitches.
Seriously?! Look, I understand if it didn’t go smoothly, but why do I have to see you all the way down here? Why did you have to earn the most ER of any SP? Wait, the roundups are sorted by ER? Always have been. I was really digging Williamson’s cutter inside to RHB with changeups down, and some beautifully spotted sweepers away to LHB, but all of that doesn’t matter when four runs can hit the board off two pitches during back-to-back HRs in the second. Yes, they were both off four-seamers (four of his six hits were, after all), and it’s arguably his worst offering. He’ll get the Marlins on Monday and I’m totally fine ignoring that one, even if my gut tells me this start wasn’t as far from decency as the line may seem.
Game of the Day
Cam Schlittler vs. George Kirby – I’m just so obsessed with Schlitter’s cutter and I also hope for Kirby to throw sinkers inside to RHB. Please. JUST ONE GAME.
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 Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)
