Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup – Blanco Check

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 Twitch weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.  

Ronel Blanco (HOU) @ TOR (ND) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 94 pitches.

You took a glance at the box scores from tonight and Ronel Blanco’s start against the Jays stuck out to you – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 94 pitches. Oh dang, I should probably pick him up. Well, let’s not get hasty here, even if this was the Blue Jays.

Blanco sadly breaks what I call the Huascar Ynoa Rule which states “Do not chase a two-pitch pitcher with an excellent slider and a mediocre fastball”. It allowed us to avoid Roansy Contreras, for example, and I’m sad to report that it applies to Blanco as well. The slider is legit – 33% CSW with 12/51 whiffs here (54% usage!), but the heater is…not great. Just 46% strikes for the 94/95 mph four-seamer is a disaster waiting to happen and he survived this one by failing to give anything meaty in the heart of the plate for the Jays to punish.

I think this is a bit of a trap and not an auto-stream against the Nationals next time out. It’s a great slider, don’t get me wrong, but you need more meat on the bone to make it a meal worth having.

Let’s see how every other SP did Wednesday:

Corbin Burnes (MIL) vs BAL (W) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 40% CSW, 96 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. The cutter was fantastic (per usual) but the curve going 54% CSW and the changeup returning 11/15 strikes are the actual story. Well fine, that cutter was dotted on the corner, too. I don’t want to speak too soon, but the start really did feel like the good ole days.

Jack Flaherty (STL) @ TEX (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 105 pitches.

Flaherty squirmed around the mighty lineup to make it go his way, earning him tonight’s Gold Star. It wasn’t a sexy CSW at a 28% clip, but he spotted his pitches super well and he battled through this one while flirting with 93 mph. I respect this start a lot and I’m in for the Giants next.

Michael Wacha (SD) vs SEA (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 82 pitches.

Shhhhh don’t be loud or you may wake up fantasy managers who don’t realize Wacha’s ridiculous stretch where he’s allowed just 5 ER in seven straight starts. And now he get’s the Guardians + Giants + Brewers?! OH YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS. Look what you’ve done, they’re all awake now. Are you happy? Kinda, more people need to know. You know what, you’re right. Atta boy Wacha.

Shawn Armstrong (TB) vs MIN (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 24 pitches.

He opened for 3.1…