Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup 5/25: A Deep Dive into the Numbers
Welcome to the SP Roundup, where we dive into the numbers and performance of every starting pitcher from every Monday game. Today's edition is packed with insights, commentary, and personal opinions. Let's get started!
Matthew Liberatore: Unstable Command, Unpredictable Results
Matthew Liberatore had a rough outing against the Brewers, but his performance is worth discussing. Liberatore's two-strike and putaway rates are high, which is a concern. However, his best slider of the year (70% strikes and 25% SwStr) is a positive sign. The issue lies in his overall command, as he struggled with down-and-armside control, four-seamers, and a jumbled changeup. Despite the whiffs and strikeouts, I'm not convinced by Liberatore's performance, especially with a challenging schedule ahead.
Jesús Luzardo: Pitching with Precision
Jesús Luzardo had one of his best outings against the Padres, showcasing excellent pitch separation to right-handed batters. His performance is a reminder that he's capable of consistent success. Luzardo's ability to separate his pitches is a key strength, and he's on a roll with six of seven great outings.
Tatsuya Imai: Unnerving Performance
Tatsuya Imai's six frames of a combined no-hitter for Houston are intriguing. However, his performance is more unnerving than impressive. Imai's 56% four-seamer strikes and reverse sliders are not typical, and I'm not convinced by his overall performance. The lack of control and understanding of his pitches is a concern.
Shane McClanahan: Back to Laying Goose Eggs
Shane McClanahan is back to laying goose eggs, with his fifth 0 ER outing in six starts. His changeup is a concern, but his slider is a strength. McClanahan's ability to keep starting him against the Angels is a testament to his talent. However, his overall performance is not impressive.
Luis Castillo: Best Slider Command, Limited Success
Luis Castillo had some of the best slider command I've seen, but it cost him his feel for his four-seamer and sinker. His performance is a reminder that his success is limited to specific pitches. Castillo's ability to replicate a 55% CSW slider regularly is a question mark.
Bryce Miller: Velocity and Dominance
Bryce Miller had a solid outing, with a little lower velocity than before. His split cutter and slider dominated, and his four-seamer landed upstairs more often. Miller's performance is a positive sign, and he's a player to watch.
Zack Littell: Gold Star Performance
Zack Littell had a Gold Star performance, featuring 1-2 ticks more velocity on everything but his four-seamer. His performance against the Indians is a reminder of his talent. Littell's ability to make a fool of Rhys Hoskins is a positive sign.
Jacob Misiorowski: Aces Gonna Ace
Jacob Misiorowski is an ace, with a best fastball in baseball. His 22% SwStr rate, 42% CSW, and 70% strike rate on the pitch are impressive. Misiorowski's performance is a reminder of his talent.
Ben Brown: Curveball Mastery
Ben Brown's curveball is a mystery, as it's just an 87 mph gyro slider. His performance is a reminder of his talent, but I'm skeptical about his ability to keep pulling it off.
Kyle Bradish: Fastballs and Sliders
Kyle Bradish had a solid outing, with a feel for his fastballs. His four-seamer and sinker are landing upstairs to left-handed batters, and both pitches avoid the heart of the plate. Bradish's performance is a positive sign.
Nick Lodolo: Making a Fool of the Mets
Nick Lodolo made a fool of the Mets, with his struggling curveball waking up for a 31% SwStr rate and 65% strikes. His performance is a reminder of his talent.
Anthony Kay: High Heaters and Low Changeups
Anthony Kay had a solid outing, delivering high heaters, low changeups, and sweepers with ease. His performance is a positive sign.
Carmen Mlodzinski: Dusty Donut Performance
Carmen Mlodzinski had a Dusty Donut performance, with a 1.60 WHIP and just two strikeouts. His performance is a concern.
Janson Junk: Will He Ever Dominate?
Janson Junk's ability to wriggle out of jams is a positive sign. His performance is a reminder of his talent.
Tanner Gordon: No Dud Light
Tanner Gordon had a solid outing, but his performance is not impressive.
Merrill Kelly: Solid, Low-End Holly Production
Merrill Kelly had a solid outing, with a 2.17 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP. His performance is a positive sign.
Michael Wacha: Stud Season on the Back of His Changeup
Michael Wacha is having a stud season, with a strong changeup and curveball. His performance is a positive sign.
Will Warren: Toby at the End of the Day?
Will Warren's performance is a concern, with a lack of secondary excellence. His ability to throw 93 mph four-seamers 52% of the time is not impressive.
Landen Roupp: Curveball Mastery
Landen Roupp had a solid outing, with a curveball that had 9" drop and 19" of sweep. His performance is a positive sign.
Emmet Sheehan: 94 mph and Deadly Sliders
Emmet Sheehan had a solid outing, with 94 mph and deadly sliders. His performance is a positive sign.
Griffin Canning: Solid Line, Not Impressive Stuff
Griffin Canning had a solid line, but his performance was not impressive. His changeup was weak, and he got away with more pitches than usual.
Zebby Matthews: Concerned in First Two Outings
Zebby Matthews had a solid outing, but his performance is a concern. His breakers are a question mark.
Kumar Rocker: High Sinkers and Low Sliders
Kumar Rocker had a solid outing, with high sinkers and low sliders. His performance is a reminder of his talent.
Trey Yesavage: Careful, Icarus
Trey Yesavage had a solid outing, with a splitter that did more work. His performance is a positive sign.
Aaron Civale: Monstrosity of a Third Frame
Aaron Civale had a monstrosity of a third frame, with a 1.47 WHIP and 16% strikeout rate. His performance is a concern.
Nolan McLean: Disasters from McLean
Nolan McLean had two straight disasters, with a lack of secondary command. His performance is a concern.
Tanner Bibee: Wet Rain Performance
Tanner Bibee had a wet rain performance, with a 7 ER outing. His performance is a concern.
Game of the Day: Griffin Jax vs. Shane Baz
Griffin Jax vs. Shane Baz is a game to watch. Jax's ability to keep dominating and keep his velocity across 70-80 pitches is a positive sign.
Streaming Picks: Daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings
The streaming picks have been moved to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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