Ain’t No Clark Kenta

(Photo By Daniel Bartel/Icon Sportswire)

I feel like we don’t talk enough about Kenta Maeda and after a disappointing 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks game that included a blackout delay, it’s time to reflect a bit. It was of the more disappointing starts of the night as it’s back-to-back 4 ER starts now for Maeda (albeit, the last one was plenty better overall). His heater got tagged here and I’m not all too worried about the outlook of Maeda – he’s missing bats at an absurd 14.4% rate overall and it was still there yesterday – but I know you want better. We want better. Did you realize that Maeda’s slider is earning a 28.2% whiff rate?! It’s as bit-coin as it gets with a 54.1% O-Swing and 42.8% zone rate as well. His curveball…well that’s not so good, being used a strike getter (47.2% zone rate), but a sub 20% O-Swing and sub 5% whiff rate. It seems to me he needs to move on from that pitch and throw over 30% slide pieces. It’s just soooo good. But did you also realize that his slider doesn’t even hold the highest whiff rate in his repertoire? That would be his changeup at a ridiculous 30.7% whiff rate. Maeda, just go fastball/slider/changeup. Please. Life will be amazing.

Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:

Edwin Jackson – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. The PL community wants us to create a new shirt: “I survived a night with EJax.” I’m kinda enjoying that idea. Because you know, this is a horror film. “The Jax” starring seven walks and destroying your trust in streamers.

James Paxton – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks. Aces gonna ace as Paxton had a questionable DLH against the Astros. They even limited him to 82 pitches and still dominated after a slight stumble in the first. Watch this game if you can, he was so on point.

Aaron Nola – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Aces gonna ace as 15 whiffs were good enough for a Gallows Pole. 38/105 CSW as well against some mediocre team called the Red Sox. How can you not fall for this guy.

Freddy Peralta – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks. Peralta is a Cherry Bomb and despite the six strikeouts and 1 ER, he earned just 12 outs with 98 pitches. Just like my breakfast sausage, that’s not polish and I need to see a little more shine from Peralta if I’m going to consistently let him fly.

Martin Perez – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Sure, whatever Perez.

David Price – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Mmmmm nice going Price as you took advantage of your one strong matchup this week. Next is the Yanks and let’s just not do anything silly. I know what you’re thinking. Just bench him. Please. Just do it.

Gerrit Cole – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. Aces gonna ace. He flirted with a no-no here and it was sparkling until a sixth frame that just didn’t go his way. Dude is good.

Derek Holland – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Holland now has a firm rotation spot in San Fran and continues killing it, this time taking advantage of the Padres. Go get him. Streaming Record: 62-36.

Carlos Martinez – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks. Whoa this was going plenty better than expected. Then his velocity dropped under 90mph for his two-seamer and now he’s hitting the DL with a shoulder strain. Womp womp.

Shane Bieber – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. Ehhhhh okay. Good to see strikeouts alive, but he’s still a little too hittable and I’m wondering if there’s another level that Bieber can hit. I think still worth your time in a 12-teamer but…I don’t know. I’m sad.

Robbie Ray – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks. Awwww Ray was looking so good through four, then walked a pair + a longball to bring this south in a hurry. I think he’s a solid buy low as there has to be some frustrated owners out there and given the minefield that is the SP landscape, it may be worthwhile to chase someone like Ray.

Eric Lauer – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. There’s a reason I call him El. O. L. Is it because he’s not very good? Man, you’re smart.

Julio Teheran – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. Yep, that’s the Teheran we all know and hate.

Tyler Anderson – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Funny story, Anderson cruised through six frames. 1 ER, 0 walks here. Then he walked the first three batters of the seventh frame – Careful Icarus – all of whom came around to score. No Win, no QS, NO NOTHING. 1.00 WHIP and five strikeouts though. Yeah yeah, I’m still a fan of Anderson and hope there wasn’t anything dramatic that forced the walks, but I just wanted this to work better, you know?

Marco Estrada – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks. It was a DLH as Estrada returned from the DL to face the A’s and performed as expected: Badly. HAISTFMFWT?! and I’m not sure Estrada is someone to start even without the whole DLH or not. Maybe deep in August, we’ll see.

Ervin Santana – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. You could say the longball is what killed him as he earned a HAISTFMFWT?!. I’d say it’s having a terrible slider (1/24 whiffs) and a heater that’s now sitting sub 90mph, but hey, Tomato, Tomato. That doesn’t work in writing. YOU DON’T WORK IN WRITING. 

Wei-Yin Chen – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. This is the kind of Chen music that makes me charge a mound. Or like nothing for the vinyl as I want none of this. Come on, one strikeout? HAISTFMFWT?!

Today’s Streamer

Homer Bailey vs. Detroit Tigers – He’s the only option that faces a weak offense. Hooo boy.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Nick Kingham vs. Chicago Cubs – Okay. I don’t expect this to go well after how poorly he looked last time out. I was tempted to do Jake Junis against the ChiSox instead and that might be the safer play ultimately (there’s really nothing else).

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Trevor Richards vs. Philadelphia Phillies – Very limited options here and I’ll go with the guy who has allowed 3 ER in his last four against a weak team. Don’t trust it, but not much of a choice as I don’t care for Mike Montgomery.

Game of the Day

Kolby Allard vs. Miami Marlins – It’s an MLB debut! Can’t say I’m pumped for a guy with a 10% whiff rate and sub 20% K rate in the minors, BUT WHATEVER.