Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup 7/26: Distance Makes The Heart Grow Connor
Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Sunday 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.
Connor Prielipp (https://pitcherlist.com/player/connor-prielipp/) (MIN) vs ATH (W) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 72 pitches.
I was incredibly enthusiastic about Connor Prielipp after his few outings in the majors, but when his slider fell out of style and his changeup/curve weren’t coming along, my admiration dwindled and I moved on. He had a flurry of productive starts at the end of June before hitting the IL officially with a blister injury and all I could do is wonder if he’d return with the same love for his curveball, while still nailing the backfoot slider and hopefully keeping the changeup down. Scouring the box score, you’ll see 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 72 pitches (W), but what does it mean? What does it MEAN?!
I’m surprised to tell you that Prielipp not only didn’t have the best results on his breakers (45% strikes between curves and sliders on 22 thrown = bleeeegh), he also favored a shocking pitch against RHB – his sinker. The pitch that I wanted him to pitch more to lefties during his initial outings is not featured more than any other offering to RHB at 29% usage. Wild, I know. Or rather, it wasn’t wild. It had a 64% zone rate and returned five outs on five balls in play. It was exactly what he needed. And I don’t like it.
It’s just not a great offering, and its success may have simply been a product of a wounded lineup that read a completely different scouting report. That said, despite the few strikes, his secondaries were competitive and in their right places – curveballs backdoor, sliders inside, and changeups down and away. I dig all of that and with a matchup against the Mariners @TEA ahead, I think it’s worthwhile to take a gamble on Prielipp as he extends past 72 pitches and back into the realm of 80 and beyond. I imagine the unlikely replication of sinker success will be balanced by better results on the secondaries, and we’ll all have a grand ole time as this rookie gets the reps he needs in the majors. Just don’t hold onto it too tight unless he gives us a lovely show first. (View Game Card) (https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:vxh67fh2qpq74sdmedzbpxt7/bafkreicwddywrfq6iwgyzcok3yo3ln7qwxvu5tas3z2f7gwdg32run5tnu)
Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:
Drew Rasmussen (https://pitcherlist.com/player/drew-rasmussen/) (TBR) vs CLE (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 87 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. It’s so nice to have one of those “Ah, right, Rasmussen is dope and makes us feel dope” starts again. He pulled back on his cutter to make way for more changeups and sinkers to LHB, and that’s completely fine with me. Whatever works, Drew, your stuff is too good. (View Game Card) (https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:vxh67fh2qpq74sdmedzbpxt7/bafkreih5cu2iooc6amw5uyhm22xvuhrbnuvz6qweeyaqwjgu6c5zzfqafa)
Reynaldo López (https://pitcherlist.com/player/reynaldo-lopez/) (ATL) @ BAL (ND) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 89 pitches.
Oh hey! You’re not completely down and out. Suitman whispers into my ear. He sat WHAT?! Suitman whis–No, I heard you. 92 mph is not even close to the 94/95 mph we wanted to see and that should worry you. I’m not touching this against the Nationals on Friday. (View Game Card) (https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:vxh67fh2qpq74sdmedzbpxt7/bafkreiefacthauqv6frosgjgreg5e3yzwm6qsz7wdsffj7n2x45nipl2xm)
José Soriano (https://pitcherlist.com/player/jose-soriano/) (LAA) @ SFG (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 85 pitches.
That’s four straight decent outings from Soriano on paper, but I wouldn’t say this was prime Soriano. He struggled to execute his game plan and if it weren’t for his four-seamers earning 61% strikes, all four of his pitches would have failed to eclipse a 58% clip. He’s still chaotic as always and I’m going to Blame it on the Giants. (View Game Card) (https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:vxh67fh2qpq74sdmedzbpxt7/bafkreidgya7pvpbcnqq6zjdinwlhaa5kkj2xhnw46su7orjrliteizd6ae)
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