Too Full For Tanner

So Tanner Roark  went 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks against the Braves tonight and I have to hand it to the fellow. He was holding a 9.00 K/9 and 2.52 BB/9 with a 3.24 ERA in his previous eight starts and while the ERA will tick slightly higher, that K/BB is gorgeous. Sure, it’s been against weak teams (Braves, Phils, Mets, Brewers, Angels, etc.), but he’s taken advantage and there’s something to that. Now, this is a nice run n all, but I don’t want you to forget his walk rate that’s hovering 3.00 per nine with strikeout production that is hit-or-miss through a season as his ERA sits at 4.41 with a 4.10 FIP. That’s not something I want to chase next season. Sidenote: This is a terrible headline and I should feel bad. I feel bad.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

Carson Fulmer – 0.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks. Fulmer left this outing with a blister on his right index finger. Womp womp. He’s lined up to get the Angels and Indians next, though I wonder if he gets skipped and faces just the Indians now. I hope he doesn’t.

Clayton Richard – 7.1 IP, 0 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks. It’s the wrong Clayton! Who’s the right Clayton this week! What a Richard.

Carlos Martinez – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Dude, for real? Yeah I know the six Ks are cool and a Win is nice, but that ERA/WHIP hurts more than doing jumping jacks at 7:00am on July 5th. Sure, Grand American Ballpark is a tough place to pitch but you gots to do better! Now your ERA sits at 3.63 for the year with a 9.46 K/9, 3.00 BB/9, WHIP just over 1.20, and a 6.5 IPS. Those are all solid save for the ERA, and I wonder where you’ll be drafted next season. Probably in the Top 25, though I’m tempted to make a bet that Luis Castillo has a better season than CarMart. Now that would be fun.

Jason Vargas – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. But but but the Vargas Rule! Suit man whisper in my ear. Ohhhhhh. Blame it on the Jays.

Jake Arrieta – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. Ehhhh sure Arrieta. Just two Ks are silly and it’s a short start but at least you didn’t kill me. That’s always a plus.

Cole Hamels – 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. The secret sauce for Hamels being a boss is Changeups tossed across the plate like moths to a flame. The pitch has been terrible in his recent starts, but it was classic Hamels tonight with 11 whiffs across the 27 thrown. Does that mean it will be there next time against the Astros? I want to say yes, but my gut says no. I can hear it. Yeah, it’s a pretty annoying sound that is definitely the ringtone I set for you. Why would you do that? That’s a very good question.

J.A. Happ – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Atta boy Happ, way to take advantage of a matchup against the Royals. Now just one start left as you head to Fenway. I’m leaning no here and it’s been a fun season with you. Totally down to chill next April.

Mark Leiter Jr. – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. I’m pretty surprised by Leiter here as he faced the Dodgers. This is coming off a three start run of 16 ER so I’d be amazed if you get to enjoy this.

Adalberto Mejia – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Blegh. I know this doesn’t hurt it, but under five innings is actually somewhat expected from Mejia. Yeah.

Danny Salazar – 2.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Some of you streamed him. I understand why, but note that Salazar threw 54 pitches here and didn’t survive the 3rd. That’s not a good stream, four Ks or not.

James Paxton – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Speaking of shortened outings, Paxton tossed 73 pitches in under four frames leading to another early exit. Good news here is that his velocity was back up to just under 95mph, but it does bring a little extra concern to his next start against the A’s. I think I still roll with him there but I ain’t blast it out of my boombox.

Kenta Maeda – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Because you can’t talk about short starts in front of a mirror with Maeda appearing, here’s Maeda. Why are you writing this in front of a mirror? I gotta make sure I look good at all times. You never know who’s watching. Like us. Watching Maeda. And looked terrible against the Giants. THE GIANTS. I’m reading this like you’re short on breath. Gotta run at all times too. Never know when you’ll lose the calories. That doesn’t make any sen–IT DOESN’T MATTER. Maeda is now in the pen the rest of the season as the Dodgers have a day off next week. What’s kinda nuts is that he replicated he had a slightly better K/BB (9.40 K/9, 2.17 BB/9) but a worse ERA (4.21) and an even worse IPS. WHICH WAS HIS BIGGEST CONCERN. Stop yelling. Fine. I’m just passionate about including Alex “Think” Fast in this as Maeda surely wasn’t on top of his game with all the “starter, just playing you’re a reliever OH WAIT YOU’RE A STARTER” nonsense through the year. He can go 6-7 each time and they didn’t let him. Unless he falls to the very end of the draft next year, I just don’t want to bet on the Dodgers treating him like a normal man.

Gabriel Ynoa – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Ynoa what? Gabriel was touched by a Trout tonight. It’s like the best kind of Birthday Party you’ll find.

Zach Davies – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Solid rebound for Davies after his 6 ER disaster against the Marlins. I was avoiding this outing as he faced the Cubs and while I didn’t get much of anything in the W, WHIP, or K column, I can’t be mad with that ERA. Doesn’t make me too thrilled to start you against the Reds next time out though.

R.A. Dickey – 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. Don’t Trust a Knuckleballer. But wait. He went 8 IP with 2 ER. That’s really good. Maybe Trust A Knuckleballer. Ahhhh just playin’, no way I’d ever bank on this again. Don’t Trust A Knuckleballer. Seriously.

Dallas Keuchel – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. Yep, I’ll definitely take this from a Keuchel that has recently reminded more of 2014 than 2015. Remember, Keuchel didn’t turn on the strikeout production until 2015, and look at that! 7 Ks! Gives me a little more confidence starting him Arlington next week. Don’t love that, but if you own him I think you do it.

Tyler Anderson – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. Our Call Boy was one out away from a PQS, but even without it, I think his seven strikeouts without a terrible WHIP make this one a win. Just don’t start him in Coors against the Marlins next time. Streamer Record 79-58-17.

Matt Andriese – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. Mmmmmm those eight Ks are gorgeous and I’m sure are going to make me lift an eyebrow when I’m reviewing Andriese in January. Give me another Andriese and make a believer.

Jordan Zimmermann – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Yep, that’s ZImmermann alright.

Homer Bailey – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. I can see us having trouble believing Homer Bale can be a man to own next year even if he kills it out of the gate. Kills what? The rabbit that the dogs chase. Okay that’s morbid. YOU’RE MORBID. Like Bailey’s career? Yes. Dang man. That’s cold.

Parker Bridwell – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. Bridwell isn’t a Toby. He’s just a guy that I might stream here and there, like someone I give a respectable head nod to when I’m surprised to see them at Whole Foods.

Today’s Streamer

Kyle Gibson vs. Detroit Tigers – I know Gibson didn’t do well against the Jays last time, but he also fanned 8 and had to deal with Josh Donaldson being ridiculous. Other considerations are Reynaldo Lopez against the Royals and Ben Lively against the Braves if you need an extra arm.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Miguel Gonzalez vs. Oakland Athletics – It’s in O.Co and as much as I dislike Miguel, there’s a chance he pulls this off. Shudders

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Jordan Montgomery vs. Toronto Blue Jays – The Bear is fresh off a 6.0 IP 0 ER performance and I think he should be able to take care of the Jays.

Game of the Day

Garrett Richards vs. Justin Verlander – I love watching Richards pitch and there’s Verlander too. Sweet.