Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher's performance from every Monday 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.
MacKenzie Gore (https://pitcherlist.com/player/mackenzie-gore/) (TEX) vs MIN (L) – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 102 pitches.
Personally, I find it fascinating how Gore's outing against MIN showcases his resilience. Despite a three-run blast in the first inning, he bounced back to deliver six brilliant frames of one-run baseball. This performance marks his first game above seven strikeouts since April 8 and his fourth of five games with a CSW above 31%. What makes this particularly intriguing is the evolution of his pitching strategy. Gore wisely cut back on his curveball, saving it for first-pitch strikes and late punchouts, and focused on his four-seamer, changeup, and cutter. This approach, combined with his ability to adapt, suggests a potential rebound for Gore, especially with the LHP-hating Friars up next in Arlington.
Let's delve into the performances of other starting pitchers on Monday:
Dustin May (https://pitcherlist.com/player/dustin-may/) (STL) vs SDP (W) – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 101 pitches.
May's outing against SDP was nothing short of impressive. Despite my initial skepticism, he flirted with perfection, ending the seventh inning with a 3-2 walk to Tatis, followed by a Machado single off a hittable cutter. May's ability to believe in himself and execute his pitches, particularly his sweeper, is a testament to his growth as a pitcher. His high four-seamer at 16" vert and the cutter falling under are solid for his arm angle, while the sinker lives in the zone without fear to RHB.
Zack Wheeler (https://pitcherlist.com/player/zack-wheeler/) (PHI) vs MIA (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 97 pitches.
Aces like Wheeler are expected to ace, and he certainly did against MIA. While he's not returning the whiffs of old on his four-seamer, they are pounding the strike zone without issue. The splitter and cutter are also helping more than last year, and I can't believe he's matching his 96 mph velocity from 2025.
J.T. Ginn (https://pitcherlist.com/player/jt-ginn/) (ATH) vs PIT (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 98 pitches.
Ginn's performance against PIT was underwhelming, to say the least. Even in Sacré Verde, his command was off, with two ticks down on everything. The cutter and changeup command to LHB was fantastic, but his overall performance vs. the legit arm who was in arms-reach of history was highly diminished. I'd be cautious starting him at home next time out, especially with the Angels coming into town.
Chase Burns (https://pitcherlist.com/player/chase-burns/) (CIN) vs NYM (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 100 pitches.
Burns' performance against NYM was solid, but his command in two-count situations was questionable, leading to a high two-strike rate and fewer strikeouts than expected. A 73% two-strike rate, but just 44% of those batters struck out, with a low 19% per-pitch putaway rate – 0% on his slider to RHB!
Shota Imanaga (https://pitcherlist.com/player/shota-imanaga/) (CHC) vs COL (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 85 pitches.
Imanaga's performance against COL was uneventful, to say the least. The splitter let him down against RHB, and he had to throw more four-seamers that failed to get punchouts. However, the lack of home runs and inside June Wrigley pitching is a relief.
Michael Lorenzen (https://pitcherlist.com/player/michael-lorenzen/) (COL) @ CHC (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 89 pitches.
Lorenzen's performance against CHC was solid, and I'm curious to see how he fares against June Wrigley.
Andrew Alvarez (https://pitcherlist.com/player/andrew-alvarez/) (WSN) vs KCR (ND) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 58 pitches.
Alvarez's performance against KCR was underwhelming, and I'm not sure why he threw only 58 pitches. The curve and slider are still his best pitches, but the sinker is questionable, and I wouldn't classify his breakers as elite.
Drew Anderson (https://pitcherlist.com/player/drew-anderson/) (DET) @ HOU (ND) – 2.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 59 pitches.
Anderson's performance against HOU was a bullpen game, and let's move on.
Ryne Nelson (https://pitcherlist.com/player/ryne-nelson/) (ARI) vs LAA (W) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 95 pitches.
Nelson's performance against LAA was underwhelming, with only one home run allowed and three strikeouts. However, the whiffs on his slider are a positive sign, even if he's failing to get deep enough into PAs to consistently churn strikeouts.
Mike Paredes (https://pitcherlist.com/player/mike-paredes/) (MIN) @ TEX (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 59 pitches.
Paredes' performance against TEX was uneventful, and the Twins are stalling until Mick Abel is ready to return.
Walbert Ureña (https://pitcherlist.com/player/walbert-urena/) (LAA) @ ARI (L) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 88 pitches.
Ureña's performance against ARI was underwhelming, with a slightly better VPQS. However, his changeup and sweeper were sub-50% strike clips, and the sinker had to land in the zone with reckless abandon at an 86% strike rate.
Eric Lauer (https://pitcherlist.com/player/eric-lauer/) (LAD) vs TBR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 93 pitches.
Lauer's performance against TBR was uneventful, with a VPQS. His four-seamer returned just 3/38 whiffs, and his cutter was the sole pitch above a 55% strike rate.
Nick Martinez (https://pitcherlist.com/player/nick-martinez/) (TBR) @ LAD (ND) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 96 pitches.
Martinez's performance against LAD was solid, with six punchouts and a strikeout rate of 14.7%. I'm curious to see if the extra tick of velo will stick around.
Lucas Giolito (https://pitcherlist.com/player/lucas-giolito/) (SD) @ STL (L) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 85 pitches.
Giolito's performance against STL was underwhelming, with a high number of hits and a low number of whiffs.
Ryan Gusto (https://pitcherlist.com/player/ryan-gusto/) (MIA) @ PHI (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 91 pitches.
Gusto's performance against PHI was a disappointment, and I was hoping for some promise.
Jared Jones (https://pitcherlist.com/player/jared-jones/) (PIT) @ ATH (L) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 75 pitches.
Jones' performance against ATH was underwhelming, with a high number of hits and a lack of command.
Kai-Wei Teng (https://pitcherlist.com/player/kai-wei-teng/) (HOU) vs DET (L) – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 41% CSW, 81 pitches.
Teng's performance against DET was impressive, with nine strikeouts on ten outs. However, his inefficiency worsens his at-bats, and you don't want this.
Mitch Spence (https://pitcherlist.com/player/mitch-spence/) (KCR) @ WSN (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 63 pitches.
Spence's performance against WSN was underwhelming, and I'm curious to see if he can bounce back.
Tobias Myers (https://pitcherlist.com/player/tobias-myers/) (NYM) @ CIN (L) – 1.1 IP, 7 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 43 pitches.
Myers' performance against CIN was a disaster, and I feel for anyone who took a chance on him.
Game of the Day:
Kodai Senga (https://pitcherlist.com/player/kodai-senga/) vs. Cincinnati Reds (https://pitcherlist.com/teams/cincinnati-reds/) – I'm crossing my fingers that Senga is locked in after his return from the IL.
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