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 Twitch.tv (https://twitch.tv/pitcherlist) weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Seth Lugo (KCR) @ DET (ND) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.
Seth Lugo, a stellar arm in 2024, has been a surprise package this season. His 1.48 ERA and 0.99 WHIP through four games are impressive, and his performance against the Tigers on Wednesday was no exception. Lugo's curveball (and its slight variations) were on point, earning a 53% CSW rate, while his fastballs, though highly suspect, were effective against both lefties and righties. However, his velocity has fallen a bit, and his fastballs have continued to decline since 2024. Despite this, Lugo's command of his wide arsenal was excellent, and he landed around the edges and spread out his usage effectively. I'm game to give it a whirl and hope this lasts for a while.
Carmen Mlodzinski (PIT) vs WSN (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 81 pitches.
Carmen Mlodzinski's splitter was the answer against the Nationals' lefties, earning a 65% strike rate and 6/6 outs in play at 48% usage. Now in Texas for his next start, I'm okay with it. You know how much I don't like trusting splitters start-to-start, but maybe the feel sticks around.
Dylan Cease (TOR) @ MIL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 106 pitches.
It's nice when Cease gives you a productive outing, and I'll never stop hoping for more. This is it. Cease's performance against the Brewers was solid, with 15 whiffs and a 35% CSW rate. However, I know how silly it is to hope for consistency, but I'll never stop believing.
Bryce Elder (ATL) vs MIA (W) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 79 pitches.
Elder had an easier watchup with more righties involved, and he easily took down lefties with sliders and four-seamers. However, I'm not down for the lefty-heavy Nationals up next, and I'm not missing much after that, either. It's PHI + Coors after, so you're not missing much.
Jesse Scholtens (TB) @ CHW (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 77 pitches.
Scholtens' performance against the White Sox was underwhelming, with just 5/67 whiffs. However, it's the White Sox! I get it. And now it's the Reds Carpet + Minnesota + Giants, all in the Trop. I know you're tempted, but this is the ceiling. The floor is a wasted roster spot.
Chad Patrick (MIL) vs TOR (ND) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 81 pitches.
Chad Patrick's performance against the Blue Jays was solid, with 12 whiffs and a 22% CSW rate. However, his four-seamer and curveball went sub 50% strikes between them, and it's purely reliant on the 89/90 mph cutter that lands well over the plate to lefties. But then again, it went 16/17 strikes to righties at 50% usage and returned seven whiffs. That's hot. If you must start him against the Tigers, fine. I'm out.
Dustin May (STL) vs CLE (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 91 pitches.
Dustin May's performance against the Indians was impressive, with 27% CSW rate. He nailing cutters inside and backdoor sweepers to 100% lefties, with four-seamers setting the tone in the upper half. This works well against lefties, and if he can take advantage of righties as well, then we're golden. Who better to test that out against the Marlins next time out?
Spencer Arrighetti (HOU) vs COL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 10 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 100 pitches.
Spencer Arrighetti's performance against the Rockies was solid, with 20 whiffs and a 37% CSW rate. His curveball was absurd, with 38% usage and a 42% SwStr rate for 16/38 whiffs and nine of those ten strikeouts. Absolutely bonkers. He had such a good feel for it against lefties, but I have to preach caution. That curveball feel isn't always there and he'll get a slew of lefties against the Guardians next. He did walk four batters, after all (his heaters couldn't find the zone).
Shohei Ohtani (LAD) vs NYM (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 22 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 95 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Ohtani's four-seamer dominated with sweepers and curveballs failing to earn strikes. This is dope, and I hope you were able to snag him in your two-Ohtani leagues.
Jack Flaherty (DET) vs KCR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 97 pitches.
Jack Flaherty's performance against the Royals was solid, with 10 whiffs and a 24% strikeout rate. However, it's Fenway + Cincy next and he had a sub 60% strike rate on his main three offerings. I don't think it's worthwhile chasing Flaherty.
Connelly Early (BOS) @ MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 85 pitches.
Connelly Early's performance against the Twins was solid, and I'm starting him against the Yankees. It's the embodiment of Max Fried, and that's what we're chasing from Early.
Shota Imanaga (CHC) @ PHI (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 11 Ks – 26 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 97 pitches.
Shota Imanaga's performance against the Phillies was impressive, with 26 whiffs and a 39% CSW rate. He even threw some sinkers in there. Feels good, doesn't it?
Slade Cecconi (CLE) @ STL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 87 pitches.
If you can't get it together in St. Louis, then you can't trust Slade for HOU + @TOR + @ATH coming up. I don't feel great about Coors + Cubs, but is that enough to drop him? Nah, not really. Pick your poison there, I imagine he does well for one of them. You'll get the White Sox after the pair, don't worry.
Emerson Hancock (SEA) @ SDP (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 98 pitches.
Emerson Hancock's performance against the Padres was solid, and he continues to dominate. He wasn't touched until a two-run blast from Bogaerts in the sixth (Careful, Icarus) on a decent inside sinker and it goes to show how locked in Hancock is. Man, I completely whiffed on this in the preseason, but then again, how was I supposed to believe he would be a completely different pitcher? I'm just glad to see it.
J.T. Ginn (ATH) vs TEX (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 78 pitches.
I want to believe in Ginn, but he's not there yet. At least we're near 80 pitches and he heads to @TEA + Arlington, but that's only for deeper leagues. It's Rhiskey Ginn. I don't like this. Neither do I.
Jake Irvin (WSN) @ PIT (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 85 pitches.
If you were in a situation to start Irvin, that's a Dusty Donut you'll eat all day. No, I still don't like the fella.
Clay Holmes (NYM) @ LAD (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 88 pitches.
This is awesome. I had my doubts it would be worthwhile against the Dodgers + the hamstring twinge that removed him in his previous start. Now he'll host the Twins + Nationals and I'm game. But the Twins are better now. Maybe.
Chris Paddack (MIA) @ ATL (L) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 92 pitches.
Chris Paddack's performance against the Braves was disappointing, with 25% CSW rate. It wasn't a fun time in the second, and it racked up his pitch count too far to last the fifth once he allowed a baserunner. It's too bad – this was a surprisingly good start with 93/94 mph velocity, not flirting with 93 mph. Not enough for me to start against the Cardinals, sadly.
Kumar Rocker (TEX) @ ATH (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 97 pitches.
Don't. Please. Just don't. He's now throwing more sinkers than sliders (at least the four-seamer is gone) and I don't like that 94 mph sinker at all.
Rhett Lowder (CIN) vs SFG (W) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 90 pitches.
Rhett Lowder's performance against the Giants was slightly better than PQS, with a sub 1.00 WHIP and a dub? Atta boy Lowder! That's the streamer you're supposed to be, not the poor command arm we saw last time out. @TBR is in play for his next start.
Jack Kochanowicz (LAA) @ NYY (ND) – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 97 pitches.
Jack Kochanowicz's performance against the Yankees was solid, with 96/97 mph velocity and whiffable changeups and sliders. He recovered after a pair of poor opening frames and huge props for that against the Yankees.
Jose Quintana (COL) @ HOU (L) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 75 pitches.
Jose Quintana's performance against the Astros was disappointing, and we don't want to roster him.
Kyle Bradish (BAL) vs ARI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 97 pitches.
Kyle Bradish's performance against the Diamondbacks was terrible, but I'm buying low. I'm seeing the same lovely breakers from last season and velocity is obviously not a problem. He'll be far better.
Sean Burke (CHW) vs TBR (L) – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 92 pitches.
Sean Burke's performance against the Rays was disappointing, with a four-seamer that wasn't 96 mph, but sub 94 mph with less vert and the secondaries let him down with 1/40 whiffs and terrible strike rates. We move on.
Luis Gil (NYY) vs LAA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 83 pitches.
Luis Gil's performance against the Angels was disappointing, with 52% changeup strikes and a poor fifth inning with a solo shot, strikeout, walk, two-run shot to lead things off. I'd continue to ignore Gil for a bit.
Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI) @ BAL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 98 pitches.
Eduardo Rodriguez's performance against the Orioles was disappointing, and the Vargas Rule had come to an end. But it's the White Sox next. Oh dear. Uhhhh, okay fine. He's up to 92 mph, after all. ONE MORE.
Randy Vásquez (SDP) vs SEA (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 85 pitches.
Randy Vásquez's performance against the Mariners was disappointing, with a fantastic 90/91 mph cutter returning 36% CSW…and 48% strikes. Adding to the pain was a horrible 21% strike rate on 14 changeups to lefties, where most of the damage came through. In other words, not his day. I don't feel great about Coors + Cubs, but is that enough to drop him? Nah, not really. Pick your poison there, I imagine he does well for one of them. You'll get the White Sox after the pair, don't worry.
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) vs BOS (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 92 pitches.
Simeon Woods Richardson's performance against the Red Sox was disappointing, with his secondaries too hittable and he didn't get his heater upstairs. We're still very much waiting for more.
Jesús Luzardo (PHI) vs CHC (L) – 5.1 IP, 8 ER, 12 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 98 pitches.
Jesús Luzardo's performance against the Cubs was disastrous, with three disasters of 5+ ER in four starts. Are we dropping him now? Well, that's up to you. I believe he's better than this, though he certainly didn't pitch well here, with terrible precision to righties. How about you bench against the Cubs next and see how that goes? He'll get the Giants and Marlins after. You have to imagine they'll tweak something to get him back on track. After all, this doesn't look like an injury (four-seamer was 98 mph).
Tyler Mahle (SFG) @ CIN (L) – 4.0 IP, 8 ER, 8 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 89 pitches.
It's too soon, experienced manager! We have one more against the Dodgers, the we're coasting against the Marlins and Rays. Mahle's four-seamer was up to 93 mph, hitting 94.5 mph…on the three-run shot that started the back-to-back HR bamboozling of the first frame. He didn't get it upstairs, alright? It's kinda great – managers in your league are unlikely to pick up Mahle after the Dodgers start given the results, but if the velocity is still up, we're all in.
Game of the Day
Brandon Sproat vs. Toronto Blue
