We all had high hopes for Garrett Richards after last season’s display. We all wept when we saw his knee cave in as he ran to first last August and we only hoped he’d be healthy enough to give us a chunk of innings this year. He’s certainly done that – 154.0 IP total after last night’s start – but it’s not the dream we’ve hoped for and it’s turning nightmarish after going 5.0 IP, 7 ER, 10 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks against Toronto. Look, I understand Toronto is THE toughest matchup in the majors these days, but allowing three walks and seven ER in five innings against any team is not what you’d expect from a universal Top 30 pre-season guy. He’s only had one start under 3 ER in his last seven starts, and I really want to stick him outside the Top 40 tomorrow. It’s not like his K rate (7.07 per 9) is helping us salvage these poor performances.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
Logan Verrett – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BB, 8 Ks. The Dark Knight himself Matt Harvey had his turn in the rotation skipped this week in an effort to preserve his innings total for this season and called up Verrett for the spot start. Manager Terry Collins claimed it was the only time Harvey was getting skipped so don’t fret too much about this. Oh, and as for Verrett, despite a shockingly fantastic line in Coors, he ends getting slapped with a Cup of Schmo tag as he’ll in all likelihood stick around in the minors for the rest of the season.
Aaron Nola – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Our Call Boy showed off his great floor with a solid game across the board. Sure, six strikeouts are a little underwhelming but he was able to generate quick outs instead, which helped him go the full eight innings in exactly 100 pitches. My man.
Raisel Iglesias – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 13 Ks. The next streamer mentioned put on a bit of a show as he fanned thirteen Arizona hitters across only seven innings. It’s hard not to jump on board at this point if he’s still out there, as his FIP/xFIP are going to be sub 3.50 and that K/9 will be well north of 9.00. There is caution – he has a history of putting up some bleghy numbers and three walks a game are certainly a possibility. If you need Ks though, oh boy you’ll get them.
Kevin Gausman – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks. The last of the trio of streaming choices also served you well as Guasman was locked in against the Twins. It’s his third straight start hold an xFIP under 3.60, featuring 20 Ks in that span. Better yet, he faces the Rangers then Rays meaning it’s time to enter the house of Gaus.
Clayton Kershaw – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks. Aces gonna ace. I hope you guys have learned you lesson to never doubt Kershaw again. FUN FACT TIME. Before this start (which had a 1.70 xFIP), his 2.14 xFIP was only 0.06 points higher than last year’s 2.08. Oh, and then in his previous 15 starts (since 5/26) he’s held a 1.30 ERA with 139 Ks across 110.2 IP. Yes, he’s averaging heading into the 8th inning in each start, yes he’s the best in the game.
Trevor Bauer – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 6 BBs, 7 Ks. This looks like a Bauer start alright. I still don’t get the six walks, and you should understand the reprecussions that it will have in the future, but Bauer owners will take this.
Chase Anderson – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. Okay, but I don’t believe you Anderson. You come in here with you’re smile face emojis and endering messages but then you’re suddenly flying to Florida for the next month. Uh huh.
Adam Conley – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks. Sure, Conley. Whatever.
Francisco Liriano – 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. He walked all three batters in the second inning and still got out unscathed. The rest of the game he was pretty dang dominant, as his league leading weak contact dictates. Good to see him back to normal and keep plugging him in with confidence.
Jake Odorizzi – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BB, 4 Ks. That’s fine Odorizzi. I’ll take it.
Lance McCullers – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks. Pretty solid return for McCullers and he picked up right where he was before the worst Monday ever when he muttered “I knew I should have stayed home today” on his bus to the minors.
Jason Hammel – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Alright, good. Looks like Maddon a little more faith in Jason as he tossed 105 pitches this time out, and while the Ks weren’t all there, I’m happier to see him go deeper and show owners he can still give you good rate stats first. The Ks will return too, so hold onto Hammel. Hold him tight.
Michael Wacha – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Yeah, I’m okay with this. We know Wacha isn’t a strikeout machine, and as long as he’s holding on for dear life with the rate stats despite everything that points to regression, I’m cool with it.
Matt Boyd – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. A bit odd since Boyd is a K upside guy, but it could be a bit worse for those who streamed him. Then, again those who did stream him probably did it in desperation to pull a Sunday win out of nothing, and to those I feel bad. For the rest of us, we’ll be Boyd watching again on Friday against the Jays. Just watching, not starting. Sidenote: It’s a true pity he never gets a start in Busch stadium. So…much…pun…potential…
David Hale – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. Whoa look at those strikeouts! Nick, don’t act like dog who just got a whiff of bacon. Oh dang, my bad. Hale has limited upside, pitches his home games at Coors Field, and doesn’t deserve a spot on your team. This should be the blurb for every Colorado starter.
Cole Hamels – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Hamels, I just don’t know man. It’s really tough to be happy with you when you’re not realizing your ceiling often. He’s supposed to be a steady guy, but when owners are forgetting the last time you made them happy we have a real problem. You know that Top 20 you love so much? It’s going to keep fading into black like Metallica…But they are supposed to have a new album soon! I mean the song. THE SONG.
Eduardo Rodriguez – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks. I hate it and I love it. Sounds like school alright.
Jordan Zimmermann – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BB, 7 Ks. Stop trying to impress us with Ks. When you strike out a lot of guys normally it takes you out of your element and you drop the ERA/WHIP ball. But Nick, don’t you have a theory about BABIP guys who get Singled Out striking out more batters than normal? Yes I do but
CC Sabathia – 2.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – Oh no! Sabathia is injured! What am I going to do? – said no one. What it does mean is that the expected six-man rotation that was going to start when Michael Pineda returns this week is actually going to be a standard 5-man. Everyone wins!
Taijuan Walker – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. Hey, no walks! Hey only four strikeouts and 5 ER! :(
Edinson Volquez – 6.2 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. That’s two of his last three now where he’s allowed at least 5 ER. Not cool Volquez, not cool. No Jolly Rodgers here.
Mike Pelfrey – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BB, 3 Ks. Seriously, I feel like I need to hold a vote to figure out who should win the MFRTPSA. You know what, let’s do that. At the bottom of this post you’ll find a poll. I’m genuinely curious to find out who you guys think deserves the award, and I’m not going to allow a Trevor May/Ervin Santana combo. Just doesn’t feel right.
Colin Rea – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Fo Rea!?
Ryan Vogelsong – 3.1 IP. 3 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks. I pity the man who needs Vogelsong in his lineup.
R.A. Dickey – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 11 Hits, 1 BB, 1 Ks. First he gets demolished against the Phils last week, now the Angels gave him a good ole smiting. I had a discussion about Dickey last week with someone who tried to detail that R.A. was a worthy start moving forward. I bet that guy was a knuckle baller
John Danks – 5.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. Danks the Tank.
Matt Garza – 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 6 BBs, 7 Ks. Ah yes, Garza is once again making owners feel like this.
Matt Wisler – 2.2 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. Wisler, buddy, this whole fantasy pitching thing just isn’t working out. It hasn’t for a while, but we can’t just whistle like we don’t care. Because we do care. And something has to change.
Today’s Streamers
Julio Teheran vs. Colorado – Can’t believe I’m endorsing Teheran, but he has looked a little improved recently, and faces a Colorado team outside of Coors and without CarGo.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Nathan Karns vs. Minnesota Twins – The kid has been cruising and is following up a 1 ER, 8 K performance. Jump on board where you can as he’s still owned in under 35% of ESPN leagues.
Game of the Day
Corey Kluber vs. Jon Lester – Raise your hand if you like good pitching. Raise your hand if you want to be entertained. Now give each other high-fives with your raised hands because this game should be right up your alley.
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