We are back! The All-Star Break is over, the airlines are finally able to get me home, the World Cup is on its way to Spain, and now we can turn our full attention to the biggest sport in the world.
Specifically this week, we’re shifting our focus from the absolute levels from the past to a special, subset of players: SPaRP. Let’s get to it.
Good
Braxton Ashcraft, PIT
Justin Wrobleski, LAD
Foster Griffin, WSH
- We start with three All Stars. I can’t say I saw any of them getting that name before the season started, much less all three. And if you try to tell me you did, I won’t believe you. At first, Wrobleski and Griffin were getting good results with methods that weren’t entirely satisfactory. However, in the last month or so, they have been increasing those strike numbers. MarmosDad recently expressed his concerns about Griffin’s career going forward, and Wrobleski is on the Dodgers, so those are things to look out for. But if you happen to have one of these three in your lineup this season, you’re in for a treat.
Good (Ish)
Peyton Tolle, BOS
Troy Melton, DET
- Melton has been fantastic so far this season. Of his nine starts, eight of them came with 0 or 1 ER. And in his last four outings, he has given up more than a hit per inning. Even allowing for a slight dip in earned runs (because he’s good but not a “1.80 ERA for the entire season”) you can easily make the case that he deserves to be considered good, right. But when I looked I saw he threw 100 innings in 2024 and 75 in 2025, and remember he opened the season on 60-day IL with an elbow problem. None of those things make me me wait to break down or hit a wall in terms of performance, but it makes me a little cautious. So that’s why he’s there, as I wish I could be aggressive about adding him while that’s still possible.
Reid Detmers, LAA
- Last month I got rid of my doubts about Detmers and went to the top level. How did he restore my trust in him? Three of his six starts since then have come with 5 ER. Both for others, you give up 2 ER. His record was 1-1 with 4 NDs. So, basically, you are Reid Detmers. He can be very, very nice. But he can also be very bad. And you never know what will happen from one start to the next. In a roto league, you can ride the variety with confidence that something will fit in the end. But week after week, it becomes a headache.
Peter Lambert, HOU
Griffin Jax, TB
- If you play a league that is too important for QS, Jax won’t find you. And if you’re only getting .5 in K, that lack of height is less of an issue either. But, despite his last start, he has been a solid option for SPaRP putting up a good team strikeout total that puts him in a position to win more often than not.
Ian Seymour, TB
- His first few starts got me incredibly excited about what he might be able to do. Then, just before halftime, he pitched a 3 IP, 5 ER outing. Then, coming out of the break, it was another short, very bad trip. I still want to believe, but you need to give me a reason to come out in the future.
Nick Martinez, TB
- His ERA is 2.65, while his xERA sits at 4.71. His Whiff% and K% both sit in the 5th percentile. He has gone 6 innings once in his last five games. So he doesn’t score Ks, he probably won’t score you QS if you’re in a league that awards those, and the running backs look suspiciously like Tony Soprano’s team when it comes to his runs allowed. People better than me at analyzing and breaking down pitchers have him ranked higher than this. I don’t hope it will continue. The good news, however, is that if and when the other shoe drops, the weekly nature of points reduces the amount of damage done to your team. So go ahead and run him over there until then.
Not Very Good
Shane Drohan, MIL
- I would be down for the non-as-young-as-I-bought Brewer lefty. It feels a little unfair to label him Not-So Good. Because, in fact, he did look good! He has pitched QS in his last three starts, and it looks like he has a rotation spot secured because Brandon Woodruff succumbed to shoulder surgery. That said, Kyle Harrison sounds like he should be back sooner rather than later, and they’re going to trade Lance McCullers Jr. I don’t know. why they did that, but they did it. He’s currently operating without a bullpen, but the Brewers aren’t doing what you expect them to do with their pitchers.
Reynaldo Lopez, ATL
- I don’t think we will see the return of 2024 ReyLo, or she will be more than this. But I’m intrigued and want to see how the next couple starts going.
Joey Cantillo, CLE
Anthony Kay, CHW
Kyle Leahy, STL
Eric Lauer, LAD
- I know, he’s actually pitched well for the Dodgers since he got there. However, he’s not hitting anyone, and he won’t have the first week because that’s just life with the Dodgers. Because of that, I’ll have a hard time choosing to use him for weeks at a decent close. And so, here you go.
Bad
Brandon Pfaadt, ARI
- Four straight wins, all by 2 ER or less. That’s great! I’m sorry, but I don’t buy it. Not yet. I’m still hoping for a career long record and a perfect season over one decent month.
Javier Assad, CHC
Sean Manaea, NYM
- He was playing something before the last version of this column. But that seems to be just that, a tease. Do not do this in your list.
Tyler Phillips, MIA
Mike Paredes, MIN
