Throwing Heat Week 18

by
September 14, 2022
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Throwing Heat is coming down the stretch! I can’t believe there are just a few weeks left in the regular season! For those who didn’t read these articles last season, this weekly article focuses on pitchers who are pitching well and how they are doing it.

This article’s beauty is that it highlights all types of pitchers from the best in the league to pitchers who are barely rostered. If someone is on a hot streak they will be in this article. I will also tell you if the hot streak is legit or if it appears to be a facade. I hope you enjoy it!

*Stats as of 9/14*

Jeffrey Springs, TBR

Last three starts: 0.00 ERA, 23.7 K%, 0.95 WHIP

In this article I actually spoke about Springs about a month ago and here is what I said, “Springs has two solid pitches with another being an elite pitch. He seems to do everything right and is a pitcher you can confidently start week in and week out. Just keep an eye on some potential innings limits in the future.”

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Since that article Springs has started in five more starts where he accumulated 26.1 innings to the tune of a 2.05 ERA. He had one start against Boston where he pitched just three innings but besides that, they have basically let him go six innings. Since the Rays are pushing for an AL East title they might not limit Springs after all which is great for fantasy managers.

Logan Gilbert, SEA

Last three starts: 0.53 ERA, 34.3 K%, 0.88 WHIP

Logan Gilbert had been solid all season until the month of August when he pitched 26.2 innings with a 6.75 ERA. The good news is, since then he has rebounded and in three starts in September he has only allowed one earned run while upping his strikeout rate.

The 34.3 K% in his last three starts is way above his season-average strikeout rate of 22.5%. The 34.3% is actually what most fantasy managers expected from Gilbert coming into the season, maybe not that high but definitely higher than 22.5%. The difference in these three starts is that he has focused on his fastball more and his curveball less.

The curveball has never been a true strikeout pitch and relying on the fastball more, which he throws at an impressive 96 MPH, has really helped out Gilbert’s slider. In the month of September Gilbert’s slider has an astounding 27.3 SwStr% which is much higher than its season SwStr% of 11.7%.

It seems as if Gilbert needed a pitch mix change to get out of a month-long rut and it is certainly working.

Framber Valdez, HOU

Last three starts: 1.52 ERA, 28.7 K%, 1.01 WHIP

Framber Valdez has been on an insanely good run. He has 24 straight quality starts. Twenty four. I’ll say it one more time. Twenty four. In these 24 starts, he has a 2.34 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 23.5 K%, and a 65.5% ground ball rate. He has been utterly fantastic this season.

Adrian Sampson, CHC

Last three starts: 1.59 ERA, 12.7 K%, 1.00 WHIP

Adrian Sampson has undoubtedly been good in his last three starts but the 1.59 ERA comes with a 4.89 xFIP, a .208 BABIP, and an 89.7 LOB%. Basically showing us that he is getting very lucky.

Overall on the season though, he does hold a 3.48 ERA with a putrid strikeout rate but SIERA, and xERA don’t necessarily hate him. They basically call for about a 4.00 ERA moving forward and while you won’t be getting strikeouts you could end up with decent ratios if you decide to stream him moving forward.

Bailey Falter, PHI

Last three starts: 2.04 ERA, 18.8 K%, 0.91 WHIP

It’s honestly such a shame Bailey Falter will likely be out of the rotation soon with Zack Wheeler and Zach Eflin coming back soon. He was starting to hit his stride producing a 1.77 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in his last four starts.

Falter’s sinker is a bit of a weak point for him but his four-seam and slider aren’t half bad. They both have decent whiff rates and both don’t give up a ton of hard contact. He is a grade-A streamer in my eyes and it’s a shame we will most likely no longer be able to utilize him in solid matchups.





 

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