Buying Your First Car, Son

We’re going to be talking about plenty of sleepers during the 2018 off-season and I’m starting to believe that Carson Fulmer may be someone to keep an eye on. After 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks against the Indians, Fulmer held a 1.59 ERA and near 9.00 K/9 over his 17 frames (I’m excluding his 0.1 IP start as he had a blister on his hand). Yes, he had some trouble with walks (3.18 BB/9), but I think his stuff plays up to be a considerable streaming option right out of the gate. Good life on a 93-95mph heater with a solid Slider/Cutter that is his clear money pitch. I’m not saying he’s a “must-own” guy at the end of your staff, but AL-Only leagues may be happy to grab Fulmer for the cost of nothing if he has a secure job out of training camp, with a chance for more standard leagues to take interest. Don’t forget about him.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday

Chris Archer – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. I led with Archer last time talking about how I’m not in love with the guy for next season despite his peripherals indicating much better. Great start here, though, and while I’m throwing him shade it’s clear I still want to own him…just not at the price he’ll be next season. I may even have a bold prediction prepared about it. We’ll see. Oh, and congrats on the clear Gallows Pole victory, with 16 whiffs as Nolasco came in second with 11. Yeesh, talk about a bad day.

Matt Cain – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. And so the saga of Cain comes to an end. A perfect game, three world series victories, 104 Wins, career 3.68 ERA, 331 starts and nearly 2,100 innings. I’m happy he had the proper send off and vintage Cain was a beautiful thing to witness. San Fran will feel a little empty without you.

Jon Lester – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. And there’s Lester being solid. Yes, a 4.33 ERA and 1.33 WHIP is bad. It’s really bad over 180.2 innings and hurt your team more than it helped. But, it’s also a K per inning, a 68.7% LOB rate, .310 BABIP and a elevated 15.8% HR/FB mark. This could be the beginning of the end for Lester, it could be a down year where he improves next season. I don’t think a 3.60 ERA season is outside his grasp and I wouldn’t want to overlook that in my draft.

CC Sabathia – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. You may have needed a last minute weekend stream and Sabathia was your answer. I think I speak for everyone when I say I did not expect this to work so well.

Max Scherzer – 3.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. He was pulled in the fourth with a hamstring cramp, preventing what would have clearly been a CGSHO. On the real though, sorry you didn’t get your win.

Jhoulys Chacin – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Chacin will do well when Jhoulyst expect it. Well, not really since he was our Call Boy as he faced the Giants in AT&T Park and killed it. KILLED IT. Thanks, friend. Streamer Record 85-61-17. One more day left and I’ll be doing this streaming record again next season, hoping to hit 90 Wins. That sounds fun.

Buck Farmer – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. Barmer didn’t live up to his nickname for once, which is nice. Good for you buddy.

Corey Kluber – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Kinda. Sorta. Sure. I guess this is the Cy Young winner, right? Poor Sale, like knocking off a $60 microwave to $59.99.

Ricky Nolasco – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. Sure, whatever Nolasco.

Drew Pomeranz – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. The Dirty Cheerleader ended his season on a good note, with a 3.32 ERA and 9.02 K/9….and 3.58 BB/9, 1.35 WHIP and 5.4 IPS. He’s a Toby that may have actually hurt your team if you play Roto. I’ll probably have him outside the Top 40, maybe even 50 tomorrow when I update the Top 100 for 2018. Super excited to see what shenanigans I come up with tomorrow.

Taijuan Walker – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. After 157.1 frames and 28 starts, Walker gave us a 8.35 K/9, 3.49 BB/9, 3.49 ERA, and 1.33 WHIP. This is his ceiling, in my book, and that’s not a good thing. With DIPS all well over the 4.00 mark, a low 5.6 IPS, and that horrendous WHIP, he’s a discount Drew Pomeranz and I’ve already classifed him as a Toby. Yikes.

Jameson Taillon – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. And here’s where the fun begins. If you look at Taillon vs. Walker, there really isn’t too much different. I’m sure I can have plenty a talk about these numbers and that, but one thing that I believe is overlooked is understanding that actual pitcher at hand. Taillon’s stuff speaks to better days with a clear path to improvement in his Changeup. His 3.10 BB/9 seems out of whack given his history of stellar control + his overall ability that I’ve seen plenty. This was a tough year, he rebounded at the end, and I think a full year will wash away all memories of the turbulent year that was 2017.

Andrew Cashner – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Cashner was able to reel it in for one more good outing, ending the season with a 3.40 ERA and 5.52 SIERA. A 2.12 difference. While his 12.2% K rate is laughable. HA HA HA HA. Here’s to Cashner getting paid out for a lucky ride.

Odrisamer Despaigne – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Look at this. The sexiest name in baseball providing an equally sexy line. Despaigne…Too bad this is a rare coincidence rather than a standard affair.

Jake Junis – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Junis lives and dies by his Slider…and only had 4 whiffs among the 34 thrown yesterday…but then survived. Somehow. Huh. I don’t see Junis as a potential breakout candidate in 2018 as I question his Fastball being the strong foundation he needs. Maybe if he develops a new third pitch. Maybe.

Seth Lugo – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. It’s pretty bleghy and you should expect no less from Lugo. Seriously. You’ll be entranced with Lugo every so often as a possible sleeper and I strongly advise just let him float away like a leaf in the wind. It might look pretty as it goes by, but trust me, you’re better off just letting it carry on without you in its life. That started somewhat promising but faded at the end. LIKE THE LEAF DURING THE YEAR. So deep.

Aaron Slegers – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Man, I remember suggesting that Slegers could be a super sneaky play a few weeks back as a two-start arm. I think that is the only time I have and will refer to Slegers as considerable.

Marcus Stroman – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. A pretty disappointing way for Stroman to end the year, even if came with just two ER. Still a 4.50 ERA with nothing to gain. Well…yeah. Fine. It is disappointing through and through. I saw ESPN rank Stroman in the top 70 overall and I think you already know how silly that is to me. He’s had a sub 20% strikeout rate for three straight seasons, WHIP has been 1.29 and 1.31 in both 2016 and 2017, and his SIERA went up in 2017, with a poor 3.84 mark compared to 3.62 in ’16. This is a Toby, not your SP #2.

Andrew Albers – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Albers is a Cup of Schmo and you’ll forget who he is in a few days.

Henderson Alvarez – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 6 BBs, 0 Ks. Pfffffft this is ridiculous. It’s an EJax and without a strikeout in 14 outs. HAISTFMFWT?

Miguel Castro – 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Castro got the start in a loose bullpen game. Yaaaaay.

Junior Guerra – 2.1 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Hey look, Guerra’s back! This was kinda what was expected but I’m sure he’ll be considered a sleeper next year simply because he didn’t have the time this season. I can see that…but only for NL-Only leagues. No way is Guerra in my gameplan for 2018 in standard leagues.

Clayton Kershaw – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks. Dude. Kersh. Please. You and Max accounting from just 7.1 IP and 7 Ks is kinda wack.

German Marquez – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. It’s a PQS for Marquez as he closes the year, making us wonder if he should be owned in 2018. Obviously, the 4.39 ERA is bad, but a 8.17 K/9 with a 2.72 BB/9 shows off that he was a useful streamer this year and I think he can still be that again in ’18. Not a rostered arm, though.

Daniel Gossett – 1.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks. Another day, another Gosse Egg. Some things change, and other things don’t. Wow Matrix, you really know how to cut deep.

Jackson Stephens – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Robert’s father and Jack’s son is nothing like the rest of his family. I don’t get it. Yeah, let’s just ignore that and nod our heads in understanding as Stephens will be forgotten.

Lance McCullers Jr. – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Bleggggh. Are people going to chase McCullers in drafts next year? I think this season showed all of the highs and lows of Lance in one nice bundle with a 10.01 K/9, but a 3.03 BB/9 and 4.25 ERA, with a terrible 5.41 IPS. Sure, I expect that to improve when he’s not constantly hurt n all…or should we? That’s kinda the M.O. of McCullers, the walks won’t go away, and his IPS has never been good. In three seasons, McCullers has never made more than 22 starts or accumulated over 126 innings*. Whoa. *In the majors, 2015 had a total of 157.2 including the minors.

Lucas Sims – 2.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks. There’s the Sims I know and hate.

Luke Weaver – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. Hmmmm. On one hand, I wanted Weaver to have a great bounce back game after not having it against the Cubs. Show the people he’s not that man, you know? On the other, he is surely going to drop in your draft now and that’s a great thing. Yes I still want Weaver next season and I’m liking his value even more now. Can’t want to spread the gospel come March.

Today’s Streamer

Jordan Montgomery vs. Toronto Blue Jays – I’m not even sure this is happening as the Yankees are silly like that and it’s the last day of the season. Backup options are Nick Pivetta against the Mets, Luis Perdomo against the Giants, Anibal Sanchez against the Twins, and Blake Snell against the Orioles.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

None – JUST KIDDING. There’s actually a chance that the Yankees and Red Sox square off on Monday, meaning CC Sabathia, Chris Sale, Luis Severino, David Price, etc. are all in play for a possible Monday start if you’re neck-and-neck in a roto league. Considering that these guys would have been dropped in your league by now, you may be able to snatch one of them for this outing. No reason not to drop any starters that have 0 games left for any Red Sox/Yankee arm or bat. NONE. Because the season is actually done now without a possible one-game playoff. I’ll miss this, truly.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Season’s over ya’ll – I’ll be running podcasts and having articles through the off-season, including GIFs through the playoffs and tournaments through the off-season. Thanks for another great ride :-)