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 Playback.tv weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.
Hunter Greene (CIN) vs PHI (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 85 pitches.
We have a rule at Pitcher List called Still ILL. You already know it. It’s an artifact from an older time when we didn’t have rehab starts tracked via Statcast, preventing insight on velocity readings or pitch counts, creating much more haze than players typically bring.
I still use this rule plenty as despite the flurry of data arriving on my desk every morning, the first game back from an extended IL stint can attract abnormal variables, including shorter leashes, adrenaline reducing accuracy and exhausting fuel early, and a lack of breaking ball feel. And yet, Hunter Greene was still in my third tier, above “Do Not Start” for his return against the Phillies on Wednesday. It looks like even that was too low: 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 85 pitches (W).
Leading with a Top 20 SP is not the norm for the SP roundup and I wanted to make an exception for Greene’s dramatic return. because hot dang, this was awesome. Greene sat 99 mph with 17-18″ of vert (remember when that was 14-15″?) and 1.2 HAVAA, which is not steep and amplifies the rise of the heater. Yessss. And do you recall, the very best thing of them all? Why that would be sliders returning strikes with ease in the spring, which was no problem here at 9/32 whiffs and a 66% strike rate. He’s back.
I won’t give him the AGA label yet, simply because it’s just one game. He has to show that he has it for at least two (typically three, but when it’s this dope, it’s dope) and there’s little reason to expect him to fail against the Angels up next – he’s even at 85 pitches already.
For those of you who drafted the healthy chlorophyll Hunter in March, I’m Greene with envy.
Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:
Shane Smith (CHW) vs DET (ND) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 92 pitches.
Ohhhh are we back? The White Sox let him throw 92 pitches…but five innings (are they really “limiting” via innings instead of pitches or is this loosening the leash again?). He displayed intent for the BSB, though the changeup and curve were good only for a whiff and not much else (45% strikes between them, yikes) leading to the balloning pitch count and need of rescuing by his four-seamer and sinkers, which fortunately returned outs in play. He’s still on the cusp of the waiver wire given the limitations and lack of secondary polish, but I’m fine with Atlanta next. Just not hosting the Royals & Yankees after that. Sidenote: We saw Martín Pérez show up for 3.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks after this one and he had moments looking like his former command-king self, and others that were…uh…not. I’d bank on him getting starts soon.
Troy Melton (DET) @ CHW (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 56 pitches.
Sometimes, a pitcher doesn’t care that they are on a pitch count. This start was dope and made me feel dope, but sadly, it was just a spot start as we get antsy in our seats for the chance to draft him in 2026. But will he be in the rotation? Uhhhh, he should? It does look like a full five right now, but there could be a signing and weird spring moments n whatnot. I DON’T CARE. Troy’s our Boy. TROY’S OUR BOY. We likely don’t see him start much more – if at all – for the rest of the year. Womp womp. Sidenote: Sawyer Gipson-Long pitched two innings of relief in just 17 pitches during his return from the IL. Unless the Tigers run out of arms, SGL is likely a safe arm to ignore this year, but highlighted with a giant circle for 2026.
Brandon Woodruff (MIL) vs PIT (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 65 pitches.
This was Woody’s first start of the season on four days rest, so they limited him to just 65 pitches and four frames. Oh. Yeaaaaah, not fun. But still fun? I dunno, his secondaries still aren’t excelling and his four-seamer + sinker combo is “weird” as Eno likes to say, giving different movement looks than batters typically see, making it work at 92 mph. Wait, 92? Right? Doesn’t that feel a bit too low for this to be so good? Well, he gets a true test next time out against the Cubs and if he can dominate there, I’ll have no choice but to AGA this man.
Trevor Rogers (BAL) vs SEA (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 95 pitches.
He. Can’t. Be. Stopped. It’s Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood and we’re just lucky to be a part of it. But the slider and sweeper were kinda questionable! And the four-seamer/sinker combo with legit changeups is obliterating RHB, what’s your point. Okay, okay…
Hunter Brown (HOU) vs BOS (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 93 pitches.
How does it feel to see the spring life of Greene and be the north-eastern October equivalent of Brown? This was a game where Hunter was struggling massively to LHB and is fortunate to execute a trio of curveballs for strikeouts and the occasional out in play to let him exhale and get through the game. That four-seamer had a 24% NC Rate with 0/17 whiffs and a 35% strike rate to LHB. Oh no. Yup. Just 41% strikes overall on the curveball, too. He’s not as his peak, y’all, and we’re just hoping he can make it another six weeks before it crumbles. Does this mean…I’m going to be lower on Hunter thanthe consensus next year. GASP. Oh stop, you already knew that.
Joe Ryan (MIN) @ NYY (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 102 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Oh look, it’s four-seamer dominance from Ryan. He not only sat 95 mph in this one, but had a stupid rare 2.0 HAVAA. Say what. Yuuuup. You really don’t see that. So awesome.
Nick Pivetta (SDP) @ SFG (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 101 pitches.
Pivetta, you’re doing it. It’s the middle of August and you have a 2.87 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP. Home runs? Never heard of em! I can’t help but laugh looking at Ryan’s 2.0 HAVAA on one side of the spectrum before seeing a straight up goose egg of 0.0 HAVAA from Pivetta right after. That’s just…wild.
Drew Rasmussen (TBR) @ ATH (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 76 pitches.
Six innings! SIX! And his command to LHB was so beautiful. AND he had great sweepers to RHB. In Sacré Verde. I have to say, Rasmussen would be in Cy Young conversations if he were allowed to go 90+ pitches every game (health, permitting). He’s just so efficient and hard to hit. He literally has the #1 four-seamer by PLV among all starting pitchers. Excuse me? That’s right, it’s a 5.50 PLV, which includes location, stuff, and count/handedness context. Whoa.
Cade Horton (CHC) @ TOR (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 82 pitches.
Eno and I chatted about Horton’s 2026 outlook on the latest episode of the Craft, down on the fact that he hasn’t been able to generate strikeouts consistently this year. So of course, right when it finishes I see that Horton had five strikeouts in three frames. Looking at the season now, Horton has failed to put batters away with his sweeper (18% to RHB is blegh) and four-seamer (16% overall), and he was more efficient this time around, returning five strikeouts between the two here (some 97/98 mph heaters were delicious). I can’t say I’m confident that will stick, but then again, he’s whipped out what looks to be a knuckle-curve with more depth to LHB, with returned a pair of strikeouts (both looking). I also loved the dotted 88 mph changeup away for a strikeout to a LHB and you can see it. Will that command be there in the future? I want to say yes – give him time – and given the Cubs defense behind him, I see Horton as a potential Holly type for next year. 150+ frames with solid ratios and a 23% strikeout rate on a winning team is well within reach. Think peak Kelly or Lugo.
Cam Schlittler (NYY) vs MIN (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 86 pitches.
Once again, Cam isn’t hurting your teams and yet, he’s not polished. Get those dang curves and sliders down, dangit! It looks like he’s moved on from the sweeper and introduced a sinker, which I’m absolutely cool with – it’s another look to keep guys off the heater up – but a 39% strike rate on the curve with just a trio of legit sliders to RHB is, uh, not it. It’s frustrating, eh? We see this here and there from young arms, where it takes them a while to get their footing and figure out the adjustment they need to make to become the dude they’re supposed to be. How long can we wait? Will he get displaced by The Fratty Pirate? (Maybe Warren gets limited instead?) At the very least, we’re holding for the Rays and Nationals next and seeing where we are after that.
Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs CHC (L) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 84 pitches.
Wow, it’s awesome to have Koufax on your side when the splitter goes 2/20 whiffs, eh? This was absurd with Gausman’s four-seamer sitting well over the plate all game and returning two strikeouts with 15 outs on 15 balls in play + a HR (not in play). I can’t save the HRs. I know Koufax, you can only do so much. But I HAVE done so much. Yes you have. That four-seamer had a +17 hit luck last year – it allowed 17 more hits than PLV says it should – while this year it has a -11 hit luck. That’s a 28 hit difference, leading to a 1.06 WHIP on the year. Obviously that coincides with a .245 BABIP, the lowest of his career by thirty points. And no, he’s not inducing less hard contact, with a 41% ICR on the season. I guess it’s about time he got fortunate, eh?
Logan Gilbert (SEA) @ BAL (ND) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 79 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. The slider was back doing work (gotta locate it better to RHB, you can do this Gilbert) while the four-seamer just can’t find the top of the zone to LHB, still. He could literally be the best pitcher in baseball if he could execute the BSB properly with just those two pitches, I’m not kidding. He’s at 7.7 FEET OF EXTENSION.
Merrill Kelly (TEX) vs ARI (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 99 pitches.
It’s a Dusty Donut without a dub and the 1.33 WHIP. At least it’s not a disaster anymore, eh?
Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) @ CIN (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 81 pitches.
Awww, I give you AGA and you responded with a PQS despite zero longballs to your name. Stupid errors and a Careful, Icarus in the sixth with three runs. Welp, we’re obviously not doing anything differently and keep starting the man.
Michael McGreevy (STL) vs COL (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 74 pitches.
He didn’t get a dub, but that’s a PQS with a 1.17 WHIP. You served your purpose, MicMc, back to the wire you go. Please work on getting that sinker further inside to RHB, k thx.
Zac Gallen (ARI) @ TEX (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 98 pitches.
Oh cool, a start that gave you nothing. Not even a delicious piece of toast! HAISTBMBWT?! I wonder what kind of contract he’ll get in the off-season…
Walker Buehler (BOS) @ HOU (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 96 pitches.
Awww, you limited your windup and was better last game, but this is, uh, not encouraging. Maybe next year?
Eury Pérez (MIA) @ CLE (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 91 pitches.
Well this is something. Eury has been trying so hard for his changeup to become a thing and at quick glance, a 35% strike rate ain’t it. HOWEVER, the Guardians sent a near exclusive LHB lineup to the dish and Pérez went for it, returning zero contact on six swings, for 6/17 whiffs and four strikeouts en route to a Gallows Pole. HE’S STARTING TO BELIEVE. There’s obviously more work to be done, but this is a huge first step. He’s pushing through the growing pains until he gets that consistent changeup and I’m thrilled about it. Next time while you do this, can you not throw heaters and curves over the heart of the plate for a pair of HRs? That would be swell.
Shohei Ohtani (LAD) @ LAA (ND) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 80 pitches.
80 pitches! IT’S TIME. You really should have been more efficient, though. The slider and sinker were the biggest culprits, while he couldn’t close the door on the fifth and had to leave before tossing too many pitches. He’s at 98/99 mph with a 42% CSW sweeper, though the LHB approach is still a work in progress. I hope we see more of the 93 mph cutter and not as much brute force with the 87/88 mph slider.
Gavin Williams (CLE) vs MIA (ND) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 75 pitches.
Yeaaaah, don’t worry about this. We normally see fatigue the game after throwing 120+ pitches in a start and the curveball feel was far worse with just under seven feet of extension (not the 7.3+ feet from last game). He also got bamboozled in the first for 4 ER off two longballs and settled down for the most part after, FWIW. Just brush this off.
Austin Gomber (COL) @ STL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 85 pitches.
You don’t need me.
Kyle Hendricks (LAA) vs LAD (ND) – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 86 pitches.
Seriously, you don’t. Okay but for the other guys. Fine.
J.T. Ginn (ATH) vs TBR (L) – 2.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 70 pitches.
Okay, maybe we don’t need you. Hey now! I was excited by Ginn’s last start, but expressed caution to believe he’d keep the feel, and he got bamboozled by the Rays with four runs in the first. It wasn’t the worst command I’ve seen from him (some sinkers and changeups to LHB though…), but the drop in velo to 92/93 mph is a bit concerning. This was also Sacré Verde and he could rebound against the Twins up next for y’all in deep leagues.
Mitch Keller (PIT) @ MIL (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 85 pitches.
He still can’t get whiffs on secondaries and the fastballs are deadzone. He’s not it, y’all. Can’t we all be on the same page?
Seth Lugo (KCR) vs WSN (ND) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 92 pitches.
Y’all are freaking out, aren’t you. He got bamboozled in the first with a grand slam off the bat of Lowe, while no pitch outside of the curveball had a strike rate above 56%, ranging as low as 36% on fourteen changeups. Oooof. But at least the curveball was far better than what it was last time out and despite all of the struggles n whatnot, I’m still sticking with him against the Rangers, 2x Tigers, Twins on the horizon. It’s a rough patch, not a death sentence.
Jake Irvin (WSN) @ KCR (ND) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 83 pitches.
Wow, 7.3 feet extension on the heater…and a near 50% strike rate on both four-seamer and sinker. Welp, there you go.
David Peterson (NYM) vs ATL (ND) – 3.1 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 80 pitches.
Yikes. On a day when Peterson had some of the best pitch separation I’ve ever seen from him (BSB with four-seamers up, breakers down, changeups away to RHB, sinkers in and sliders away to LHB), he crumbled in the fourth with four runs crossing and two more inherited to his name after the hook. I don’t think it’s time to jump off yet with the Nats up next. Sidenote: Paul Blackburn returned for the Mets and gave 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 1 Hit, 1 BB, 3 Ks in relief, and may steal a rotation spot in the near future. BUT- I know y’all. I. KNOW.
Carlos Carrasco (ATL) @ NYM (ND) – 2.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 67 pitches.
He was DFA’d after this one, making a clear path for Waldrep in the rotation. I’m not as enthused as others about Hurston, but sure, spec add if you like.
Kai-Wei Teng (SFG) vs SDP (L) – 1.2 IP, 6 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 0 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 53 pitches.
Oh dear. We saw the secondaries work beautifully in his last start and now we’re back to WHERE ARE MY GLASSES?! Poor guy.
Game of the Day
Edward Cabrera vs. Tanner Bibee – ECab is killing it and we all want Bibee to match him.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
Have Questions? – Join my morning Playback.tv livestream! I answer all questions there for free: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET Monday through Friday.
Featured Image by Ethan Kaplan (@djfreddie10.bsky.social on Blue Sky and @EthanMKaplanImages on Instagram)
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