{"id":558180,"date":"2026-04-01T12:28:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T12:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/558180\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T12:28:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T12:28:08","slug":"fantasy-baseball-sp-roundup-3-31-fresh-coat-of-painter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/558180\/","title":{"rendered":"Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup 3\/31: Fresh Coat of Painter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher\u2019s performance from every Tuesday game. I apologize for the jokes written in my delirium in advance. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Twitch.tv<\/a> weekday mornings from 10 am-12 pm ET.<\/p>\n

Andrew Painter<\/a> (PHI) vs WSN (W) \u2013 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks \u2013 9 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 84 pitches.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve heard about Painter for years and it\u2019s thrilling to finally get a proper look at the long-time prospect in his MLB debut against the Nationals. The results did not disappoint \u2013\u00a05.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks \u2013 9 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 84 pitches\u00a0\u2013 and I can\u2019t quite decide if this is what we\u2019ll get moving forward, but I have to ask, can I actually get an accurate view of Painter\u2019s canvas from this one start against a poor lineup?<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t love starting pitchers in MLB debuts as they often pitch differently than when they\u2019ll have their feet under them following a few starts, and it\u2019s difficult to tell you this\u00a0is who he will be, for better or for worse. So what do you do? Hold on and enjoy the ride, of course. He has the situation, a cut-fastball at 96\/97 mph that isn\u2019t\u00a0bad,\u00a0allowing for an array of good-not-elite secondaries to be successful. The whole package should work with 88 mph sliders with good sweep but annoying lift, an 81 mph curve he throws with confidence, and a solid changeup that stays down to LHB. There\u2019s also the correct approach with sinkers inside to RHB that we barely saw, given the Nationals\u2019 affinity for left-handed bats.<\/p>\n

He\u2019ll get the Giants and Sneks up next, and we can only hope for the best. If the good pitch separation sticks, this will work. The Shag Rug exists and we\u2019ll get a few happy mistakes, but that\u2019s okay. This will help more than hurt.<\/p>\n

Sidenote:\u00a0Happy April Fools\u2019 day! I hope you enjoyed our yearly tradition where Justin Paradis writes his own version of the SP Roundup and I create his graphic.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s see how every other SP did Tuesday:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Max Fried<\/a> (NYY) @ SEA (W) \u2013 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks \u2013 9 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 90 pitches.<\/p>\n

Aces gonna ace. Velo is still down a tick + two on the cutter, but the command is stellar and he cruised in Seattle. It\u2019s fun when Fried actually produces early in the year.<\/p>\n

Shohei Ohtani<\/a> (LAD) vs CLE (ND) \u2013 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks \u2013 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 87 pitches.<\/p>\n

Aces gonna ace. 87 pitches and six frames in his first outing of the year.\u00a0I don\u2019t think he\u2019s going to get babied, y\u2019all. His velocity is down 1-2 ticks, but don\u2019t be alarmed. It\u2019s the first of the year and it\u2019s still quality.<\/p>\n

Jos\u00e9 Soriano<\/a> (LAA) @ CHC (W) \u2013 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks \u2013 10 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 90 pitches.<\/p>\n

Duuuuuude, this is awesome. He pulled off the sinker in favor of four-seamers, embracing its extra vert and flat attack angle for 71% strikes and a ridiculous 48% CSW. The curve was fantastic and stayed down, the splitter earned a handful of whiffs, and this was a fun outing against the Cubs. The biggest concern? Just four strikeouts and two hits. In other words, he had the good graces of Koufax across 67% grounders (13 outs on 15 BIP), which is sure to regress given the Angels\u2019 defense n all. Obviously a pitcher needs hit prevention to have a beneficial outing and maybe Soriano is pitching more effectively to keep the BABIP lower. Why does he have to face Atlanta + Yankees + Padres next? I understand that you feel like you have to, but that\u2019s a tough sell.<\/p>\n

Andre Pallante<\/a> (STL) vs NYM (W) \u2013 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks \u2013 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 88 pitches.<\/p>\n

Wait, this worked? Jeez, take this Gold Star. He\u2019s made a major transition toward sinkers and sliders against RHB, saving the four-seamer for LHB where it was taken by the passive Mets lineup, and Koufax smiled upon him. This isn\u2019t your next big pickup.<\/p>\n

Jameson Taillon<\/a> (CHC) vs LAA (ND) \u2013 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks \u2013 11 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 85 pitches.<\/p>\n

The velocity is still down (just under 91 mph), but we saw more cut and 19\/20\u2033 of vert with big separation on the cutter, and we\u2019re here for that. I\u2019m stoked he was able to produce in some fashion here, even it was super strange to see four walks. That\u2019s so not him, and the 61% overall strike rate doesn\u2019t match.<\/p>\n

Bubba Chandler<\/a> (PIT) @ CIN (ND) \u2013 4.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 6 BBs, 6 Ks \u2013 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 81 pitches.<\/p>\n

I know you have some nerves given this is your first start out of camp in your career, but jeeeeez, can you get that four-seamer a little lower, please? It\u2019s such a dope pitch when he doesn\u2019t return 58% strikes across 74% usage. 17\u2033 of vert at a low arm angle and\u00a0cut\u00a0and\u00a0good extension\u00a0and\u00a0a flat attack angle\u00a0AND 99 MPH.\u00a0Just not so high and non-competitive, alright? We barely saw the change and slider here, which are also excellent pitches, but he couldn\u2019t wrangle them either, especially the slider (1\/8 strikes, missing well upstairs). That\u2019s not him, and I can\u2019t wait for the games ahead that don\u2019t come with so many free passes. But it was a no-hitter!\u00a0Don\u2019t you dare compare him to Ejax. DON\u2019T YOU DARE.<\/p>\n

Ryan Feltner<\/a> (COL) @ TOR (ND) \u2013 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks \u2013 5 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 47 pitches.<\/p>\n

Feltner was struck by a 106mph comebacker, leaving this one early after sitting two ticks higher.\u00a0 It\u2019s obviously terrible leaving a game like this, but to do so when you\u2019re showing off how much better you are is simply not fair.<\/p>\n

Max Scherzer<\/a> (TOR) vs COL (W) \u2013 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks \u2013 8 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 83 pitches.<\/p>\n

FINALLY. An easy stream that goes exactly as it should. I don\u2019t know what took so long. Much appreciated, Scherzer. No, you don\u2019t need to hold for the Dodgers,\u00a0but\u00a0it may be worthwhile with the Twins and @ ARI after.<\/p>\n

Casey Mize<\/a> (DET) @ ARI (ND) \u2013 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks \u2013 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 93 pitches.<\/p>\n

Oh hey, it was alright! His splitter cooked against LHB for 32% SwStr and 68% strikes, while the slider was unexpectedly great at 44% CSW and 72% strikes. Not the best fastballs all around, but if Mize has sliders and splitters on point like this, the Twins and Marlins may roll over easily.<\/p>\n

Hunter Brown<\/a> (HOU) vs BOS (W) \u2013 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks \u2013 8 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 78 pitches.<\/p>\n

Aces gonna ace for a King Cole. A little more erratic than usual from Brown with his sinker inside the zone (read: not armside), but the Sawx were sleeping at the plate, accepting a 44% called strike rate on the pitch, with two strikeouts looking.\u00a0How nice of them.<\/p>\n

Tanner Bibee<\/a> (CLE) @ LAD (ND) \u2013 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks \u2013 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 74 pitches.<\/p>\n

Is he okay? I was hyped after Bibee flexed a four inch boost in vert with his four-seamer to 18\u2033 last time out, and we actually saw that\u00a0fantastic\u00a0pitch here again\u2026for about ten of his fastballs. He had another 4\/5 that were\u00a0far\u00a0worse and the jury is still out if Bibee will have a much better heater across the season. He also seems to be throwing two different cutters now, which is surely going to get reclassified as an 88\/89 mph cutter and a 84-87mph slider, and the slide piece was much better than the harder, high vert cutter. But let\u2019s be real here. After all the haze of his last start, to see Bibee survive in Los Angeles and still give us hope for a better arsenal is\u00a0really\u00a0cool. Guess we\u2019re letting it fly for a two-step against the Royals and Atlanta next week, right?<\/p>\n

Zach Eflin<\/a> (BAL) vs TEX (ND) \u2013 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks \u2013 12 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 74 pitches.<\/p>\n

I was so excited for this start. Eflin was sitting 92\/93 mph in the spring (over a tick up!) and came out hot, fanning four of his first six batters and looking like the same stud of March. Then the velo took a bit of a hit in the third, and another in the fourth, and despite fanning seven in eleven outs, he left the game early with an elbow issue. I went from stoked and looking ahead to a trio of starts @CHW, vs. SFG, @CLE, to pure\u00a0pain.\u00a0He\u2019s going to hit the IL y\u2019all, and you should just drop him.\u00a0Sigh.<\/p>\n

Kodai Senga<\/a> (NYM) @ STL (L) \u2013 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks \u2013 17 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.<\/p>\n

Remember how we were reporting that Senga was throwing harder in the spring? Yeah, that wasn\u2019t smoke and mirrors. The dude was 97\/98 mph across 92 pitches here, actually earning whiffs on the pitch at a 19% clip. The cutter was also benefiting at 90\/91 mph and 38% CSW, and the ghost-fork, sweeper, and slider boasted eight whiffs and four punchouts, too. He\u2019s back ya\u2019ll. HE\u2019S SO BACK. He\u2019s even doing the Canibal McSanchez and it\u2019s masking the four-seamer exactly how we want him to. Get pumped for a date in Oracle Park up next.<\/p>\n

Aaron Civale<\/a> (ATH) @ ATL (W) \u2013 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks \u2013 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 87 pitches.<\/p>\n

Despite losing 1-2 ticks that Civale\u00a0really\u00a0can\u2019t lose at this point in his career, he stuck it out for a Win. Those backdoor cutters and curves were clutch against LHB, but you know who we really have to thank.\u00a0Koufax, you rascal.<\/p>\n

Brandon Woodruff<\/a> (MIL) vs TBR (W) \u2013 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks \u2013 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 67 pitches.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m thrilled to tell you that this felt exactly like the Woodruff you know from last season. He\u2019s likely going to be limited like this a fair amount, and yet, it\u2019s still productive. I\u2019d feel great having Woody at this point.<\/p>\n

Shane McClanahan<\/a> (TBR) @ MIL (L) \u2013 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks \u2013 7 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 79 pitches.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s such a good pitcher. Or at least was absurd through four before he walked two with a single and couldn\u2019t quite close the door with two outs, leading to all three runs coming in.\u00a0Ugh.\u00a0He was likely gassed even if the velocity wasn\u2019t showing it, and it may be a few starts before he can cruise without a lapse of command past pitch 65. But that changeup, y\u2019all. 41% CSW and 77% strikes. 95\/96 mph velocity (not 94!). Legit sliders is the right spots. He\u2019s a SWATCH with more velocity. I\u2019m a McClanaFan.<\/p>\n

Janson Junk<\/a> (MIA) vs CHW (ND) \u2013 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks \u2013 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 79 pitches.<\/p>\n

He was up 1-2 ticks here with 19\u2033 of vert and a 1.8 HAVAA and\u2026wait. Junk? At 95\/96 mph? With a kick-change and 17\u2033 of ride + an 88 mph hyro slider with -5\/6 sweep? Uhhhh, this is elite stuff. Dude. WHAT. That four-seamer is blowing my mind right now. Sure, he didn\u2019t locate it upstairs and oddly refused to throw it to RHB (16% usage despite those\u00a0marks?!), but I\u2019m kinda in disbelief right now. He\u2019ll get the Reds Carpet on Monday and I\u2019m heavily considering this. It\u2019s clear that he\u2019s a vastly different pitcher now.<\/p>\n

Logan Webb<\/a> (SFG) @ SDP (ND) \u2013 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks \u2013 10 Whiffs, 21% CSW, 104 pitches.<\/p>\n

Oh wow, our first PQS of the season, and of course it\u2019s from Webb. His changeup was\u00a0way\u00a0off here at just 35% strikes and he\u2019ll find his rhythm soon, don\u2019t you worry.<\/p>\n

Zack Littell<\/a> (WSH) @ PHI (L) \u2013 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks \u2013 7 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 75 pitches.<\/p>\n

This game began with PJ\u2019s effort as an opener and ended with the wake-up call of Littell\u00a0entering in the sixth for\u00a05.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 K\u00a0across 75 pitches.\u00a0HAISTBMBWT?!\u00a0Oh, you were hoping for a vulture Win? Did you forget it was Littell, or that he pitched for the Nationals, or that he was facing the Phillies?\u00a0I DIDN\u2019T THINK, OKAY?!<\/p>\n

Erick Fedde<\/a> (CHW) @ MIA (L) \u2013 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks \u2013 8 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 80 pitches.<\/p>\n

Huge props to Fedde for shelving the four-seamer and going cutter upstairs with changeups down to LHB, but even if you squeeze the most out of the lemon, it\u2019s not enough for a full glass.\u00a0That almost seems wise.\u00a0There\u2019s something there, I\u2019m sure of it.<\/p>\n

Jacob deGrom<\/a> (TEX) @ BAL (ND) \u2013 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks \u2013 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 79 pitches.<\/p>\n

He got the first two outs of the fifth with ease and three straight hits knocked him out of the game within grasp of a dub.\u00a0Sigh.\u00a0At least his stick neck is a thing of the past and his slider is back to being the dopest of dope at 92 mph with a 32% SwStr rate and dotting the corner. As it is often in the first week or two, deGrom was more gassed than usual in the fifth and don\u2019t expect that to last throughout the year.<\/p>\n

Jos\u00e9 Suarez<\/a> (ATL) vs ATH (L) \u2013 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks \u2013 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 66 pitches.<\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t his best, but even if it was, would it be any different?\u00a0Probably.\u00a0Yeah, maybe like a run or two. Welp, see ya later.<\/p>\n

Germ\u00e1n M\u00e1rquez<\/a> (SDP) vs SFG (ND) \u2013 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks \u2013 2 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 65 pitches.<\/p>\n

Oh, you thought the 20+ whiffs were real? And you made biscuits for the table? Oh, sweet summer child. That bread ain\u2019t gotta be buttered by M\u00e1rquez.\u00a0It\u2019s so dry.\u00a0Get used to it.<\/p>\n

Brandon Pfaadt<\/a> (ARI) vs DET (ND) \u2013 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks \u2013 6 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 85 pitches.<\/p>\n

The third was an inning of torture with all five runs coming on six hits in play, but that doesn\u2019t mean Pfaadt was stellar otherwise. Yes, his curveball and sweeper were looking solid and his sinker was sitting down-and-away effectively to LHB, I\u2019m worried about the cutter over the plate + the lack of four-seamers and changeups making a difference. Consider this performance more in line with a PQS.<\/p>\n

Logan Gilbert<\/a> (SEA) vs NYY (L) \u2013 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks \u2013 14 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 95 pitches.<\/p>\n

Aces gonna run into trouble early and late.\u00a0Oh no, so Gilbert is bad now?\u00a0Oh, not the case at all. His new cutter is super cool at 91 mph, allowing him to play the Canibal McSanchez game upstairs, though I am surprised to see the slider lose some velocity in favor of more drop \u2013 I think it benefited from the extra velo at 88 mph than the need for 3-4\u2033 more depth (just 1\/13 whiffs here). Regardless, we keep starting him n all. Whatareyagonnado.<\/p>\n

Brayan Bello<\/a> (BOS) @ HOU (L) \u2013 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks \u2013 18 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 92 pitches.<\/p>\n

The Astros came out swinging and it\u2019s always dissonant to see a Gallows Pole come with just two strikeouts. No, those whiffs from the \u201cnew curve\u201d, which is awfully similar to the sweeper he\u2019s had for a bit, and neither are particularly inspiring. I don\u2019t think he pitched terribly, though he\u2019s certain to hold off on four-seamers in the future after the few he threw returned 3\/8 hits. With the Brewers, Cardinals, and Tigers up next, this could very well still work for Bello, but witnessing less velocity and worse movement on everything,\u00a0it\u2019s hard to be sold that he\u2019ll replicate this absurd SwStr rate and become a steady arm.<\/p>\n

Brandon Williamson<\/a> (CIN) vs PIT (L) \u2013 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks \u2013 9 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 94 pitches.<\/p>\n

Seriously?! Look, I understand if it didn\u2019t go smoothly, but why do I have to see you all the way down here? Why did you have to earn the\u00a0most\u00a0ER of any SP?\u00a0Wait, the roundups are sorted by ER?\u00a0Always have been. I was really digging Williamson\u2019s cutter inside to RHB with changeups down, and some beautifully spotted sweepers away to LHB, but all of that doesn\u2019t matter when four runs can hit the board off two pitches during back-to-back HRs in the second. Yes, they were both off four-seamers (four of his six hits were, after all), and it\u2019s arguably his worst offering. He\u2019ll get the Marlins on Monday and I\u2019m totally fine ignoring that one, even if my gut tells me this start wasn\u2019t as far from decency as the line may seem.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Game\u00a0of the Day\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cam Schlittler<\/a> vs. George Kirby<\/a> \u2013\u00a0I\u2019m just so obsessed with Schlitter\u2019s cutter and I also hope for Kirby to throw sinkers inside to RHB. Please. JUST ONE GAME.<\/p>\n

But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? \u2013\u00a0I\u2019ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Have Questions? \u2013 Join my morning Twitch.tv livestream!<\/a> I answer all questions there for free: 10:00 am \u2013 12:00 pm ET Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n

Photo by Terence Lewis\/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter\/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher\u2019s performance from every Tuesday…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":558181,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[99],"class_list":{"0":"post-558180","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/558180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=558180"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/558180\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/558181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=558180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=558180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=558180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}