Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article where I discuss the performance of every starting pitcher from every Monday game. I apologize in advance for the jokes I wrote in my delirium. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Playback.tv weekday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon ET.
Tyler Mahle (TEXT) @BOS (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 puffs, 32% CSW92 parking spaces.
Is it time to get back into Tyler Mahle? Maybe tonight will convince you 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 15 whiffs, 32% CSW, 92 throws Trip against Boston, although I’m still a little hesitant.
It is still about the four-seamer, a pitch that has a solid shape but only reaches 92 miles per hour and has no elite Quality, aside from top-third accuracy. It’s a great foundation (not elite foundation) and requires his splitter or slider to get better for Mahle to become a consistent pitcher to be reckoned with. Ober has his changeup, Imanaga has his splitter, and Gilbert has his slider. Mahle has no real secondary (I don’t think it’s his splitter, but I hope I’m wrong!) and his fastball needs about three more ticks for me to really be sold on him.
It’s possible that his heater accuracy is the missing piece of the puzzle that actually makes this whole thing work, no matter how fast it is. I don’t blame anyone who wants to get Mahle and try it against the Twins – he’s definitely been successful in the past. Given Mahle’s de facto worthlessness in his track record + lesser heater velocity + questionable secondary stats, I’m generally going to hold off on 12-teamers for now.
Let’s see how all the other SPs did on Monday:
Blake Snell (SFG) against ATL (ND) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 11 Ks – 19 touch, 34% CSW114 parking spaces.
Aces gonna ace with a co-share of Gallows post. The BSB has been used to its full potential by the starter himself, with the curve still the overpowering force in 2024. He has a sub-1.00 ERA in his last seven starts since returning from the IL. That’s so stupid.
Chris Sales (ATL) @SFG (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 12 Ks – 19 touch, 36% CSW107 parking spaces.
Aces become aces. A common share of the Gallows post is to be expected considering how damn good Sale is this year. That slider blows everyone away and then all of a sudden, POW! There’s 97 miles per hour. It’s awesome.
Joe Musgrove (SDP) against PIT (ND) – 4.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 puffs, 30% CSW63 parking spaces.
Ayyyy he’s back! And he looked… good? Kind of boring? At least it’s a kitchen sink again and the speed is normal at 92/93, but I was kind of hoping for something more momentum, you know? With only 63 throws, you might want to wait for one more start while he goes to Coors and then get back in after that.
Francis of Bowden (GOAL) @LAA (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hit, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 9 puffs, 31% CSW81 parking spaces.
Oh, snap, it worked. His four-seamer had good form and was great over the plate, while his secondaries were able to take out batters for punchouts. Yes, a hefty pinch Blame the angels has been applied to this line, but there could be more to it. I’m hesitant to trust Francis next time against the Cubs, but who knows? Maybe Bowden is the only potential left on your line. I don’t blame you for trying, but personally, I’m not a huge fan of this arsenal.
Andrew Abbott (CIN) Comparison to STL (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 9 puffs, 31% CSW93 parking spaces.
It was BSB Action for Abbott for the second time in a row and I’m all for it. The approach produced poor results last time but much better here, although his four-seamer does not have a good profile and was hit into play quite a lot in this game. I still consider him a Cherry Bomb even with this approach, but at least it is an expression of good control. Finally.
Jake Woodford (PIT) @SDP (To) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 puffs, 24% CSW74 parking spaces.
Whoa whoa whoa, the Amish Mustang gets a Gold Star?! IN WHAT TIMES ARE WE LIVING.
Brayan Bello (BOS) against TEX (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 puffs, 29% CW95 parking spaces.
Yeeeeeeeeessss. The change was great, we saw Bello go Dancing with the disco and his sinker worked well over the plate. This is the Bello I’ve been waiting for. The guy who can even perform against the Rangers.
Clayton Kershaw (BOY) @MIL (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 puffs, 29% CW83 parking spaces.
That was Kershaw’s first-class slider mastery and I’m so damn excited to see more displays like that from the pitcher of our generation. Thanks, Kershaw, it’s good to see another display of your skills.
Framber Valdez (HOU) @TBR (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 12 puffs, 33% CSW101 parking spaces.
Framber is on one of his runs while the curveball and changeup are at their peak. Put your feet up and enjoy the good times – who knows how long they will last.
Pablo Lopez (MIN) against KCR (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 puffs, 33% CSW96 parking spaces.
Much better. The breakers were on point, especially the curve, which offered much more action than usual. His BSB The approach was as good as I’ve seen him all year, although he did bounce a few more breakers than ideal (I’m looking at you, sweeper) and his changeup lacked that extra touch of fade we usually get. He rebounded as expected after his last outing and I have every confidence he’ll keep going. The heater is great, the breakers are great and the changeup should be better.
Ky Bush (CHW) against NYY (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 hits, 7 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 puffs, 29% CW97 parking spaces.
Seven walks?? 13 baserunners and only 2 ER?! How. HOW. HOWWWWWWWW.
Bradley Blalock (Split) @ARI (ND) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 puffs, 27% CW96 parking spaces.
Blalock got the call chance because Quantrill landed on the IL and he has a true four-seamer vert at 17-18″ iVBbut the pitch reaches 93/94 mph, coupled with a splitter and a slider that leave a lot to be desired. COL history, brother? Yeah, COL story, brother.
Shota Imanaga (CHC) @CLE (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 puffs, 25% CSW81 parking spaces.
Ugh. Imanaga was hit here by a pair of longballs and three additional unearned runs, with one home run coming from a splitter So below the zone and I’m still shocked by it. I didn’t price in enough risk for this start as Cleveland’s HR tendencies merge with Imanaga’s, that’s on me. We’ll get them next time.
Ben Lively (CLE) against CHC (ND) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 puffs, 22% CSW79 parking spaces.
I think it’s time to do this Vargas rule to bed. Four walks and only one strikeout (HAISTBMBWT?!) despite basically the same approach as before? And only two whiffs? Yeeeees, it’s catching up with him.
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) against COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 19 touch, 44% CSW94 parking spaces.
Damn solo strike in the sixth set ruined this quality start, when Pfaadt Golden Gate because of the incredible control around the zone – only three of these 11 punchouts were inside the strike zone (maybe four…). I believe in Pfaadt’s improved precision and I also believe in Rockie Street to help many pitchers get into top form. I’m all for Pfaadt going to the Marlins next.
Freddy Peralta (MIL) against LAD (To) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 puffs, 26% CW96 parking spaces.
It was the Dodgers and that could have been far worse, but damn, he was very similar to Professor Chaos in that movie. I was Really I was hoping Peralta would be precise and break down this tough offense in a defiant display of his desire to earn the AGA title again, but no. It was a loose, wild commando. We can only hope for better.
Davis Daniel (LAA) against TOR (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 touch, 32% CSW92 parking spaces.
You know, for real slider and changeup accuracy, this is a pretty mediocre line. Just save it for a stream against the worst attacks that definitely Atlanta is not included next.
Luis Gil (New York) @CHW (To) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 13 touch, 28% CW98 parking spaces.
Uh, what? Gil wasn’t at his best, but the White Sox were. What a strange game. Even without the best slider or changeup command, Gil should did a lot better here. That’s right, I still like him against the Guardians.
Brady Singer (KCR) @MIN (To) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 10 puffs, 25% CSW95 parking spaces.
Look, my son, there he is again. The man with the fuse and the stick. Singer, the city Cherry Bomb.
Sonny Gray (STL) @CIN (To) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 puffs, 33% CSW85 parking spaces.
Three home runs ruined Gray’s otherwise fantastic performance. That’s a weird excuse. That’s THREE home runs. Yeah, yeah, nine strikeouts, folks. And good control in general. Steer x2 + Elly was in the way, okay?
Taj Bradley (TBR) against HOU (To) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 touch, 27% CW93 parking spaces.
Oh man. The splitter had less than 50% strikes with a lot of uncompetitive bouncers, while a lot of pitches landed in y-mLoc, where the Astros celebrated. All of Taj’s hits came from throws in the land of medium height (what, about 5’9″?) and it’s the third consecutive appearance of amazing control from our favorite player Cherry Bomb. I guess I’ll have to demote him further in rank after all. Sigh. Don’t drop the guy – just as he wasn’t destined to be a sub-2.00 ERA pitcher for the year, he’s not destined to only have poor control in the future. It will probably help rather than hurt in the future as it has a ceiling that sometimes buys you weeks.
Match of the day
Matthew Boyd vs Chicago Cubs – BOYD BOYZ, UNITE.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming tips? – I have moved them to the daily article “SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings”.
Do you have questions? – Join my morning Playback.tv livestream where I answer all questions for free: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
Photo by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Aaron Polcare (@bearydoesgfx on X)
