By Fulmerlin’s Beard

I think it’s time to legit dive into Michael Fulmer after killing it against the Angels with a 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks line. For those that didn’t watch it, it was great seeing him past the 100 pitch mark in the 7th and still pump 97mph while getting the final outs to close the inning. I rarely talk about the ethereal intangibles with pitchers, but there’s something to be said about Fulmer’s ability to bear down in tough situations and make the pitches when he needs to while eating through innings – all his starts have been QS this year. Yes, Alex Think Fast has arrived. Anyway, let’s tackle all of the complaints I’ve heard about Fulmer. His strikeouts aren’t there! Pffft that’s 16 in the last two games and averaging six per start, which includes a meh 3 and 4 K outing, and he holds a solid 10.5% whiff rate. He’s getting super lucky! Yeah, a .238 BABIP isn’t going to stick around, but a 3.43 FIP isn’t enough to deter me. He’s just a good #3, nothing more! Well, if he were 30/31 and we’d seen seasons of this, sure I’d believe you. But he’s 24-years-old and developing his repertoire in front of us. I said in the preseason that I expected his K rate to rise from 7.47 K/9 and he’s already taken steps forward. His stuff is good enough to lay a foundation for better days ahead and the best could still be yet to come. This guy is legit y’all, start treating him like it.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

Zack Greinke – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 11 Ks. IS IT TIME? Nods proudly. Ahem…Aces gonna ace.

Dallas Keuchel – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks. Well this is a magical day as for one of the very few times in my life I’ll say that I feel like Oprah. Aces gonna ace.

Jason Vargas – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. So this is more in line with the Vargas I expected when he was doing well. Relying on a .167 BAIP to get by and holding a 4.73 SIERA for the outing. This ride is going to end, I’m still selling here, but if no one is buying then keep riding until he crashes.

Jimmy Nelson – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 8 Ks. Eight strikeouts against the Red Sox is pretty impressive, especially when he held 12 across the last four starts combined. I don’t like rolling the dice with Neslon each outing – we just don’t know which one is going to show up – but I’d be foolish to overlook that he’s a man of extremes. Not the worst Home-Run streaming option when in need.

Eduardo Rodriguez – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. Rodriguez is in a great place right now and I’m digging it.

Clayton Richard – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. It’s the wrong Clayton! 

Jake Odorizzi – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Odorizzi isn’t missing a beat since returning for the DL. He’s not this good, but he’s a slight step up from your typical back-end rotation guy.

Marco Estrada – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks. There are going to be people that look at Estrada’s 3.91 xFIP and think his 3.12 ERA isn’t sustainable. I say his .282 BABIP and 9.8% HR/FB rate are perfectly in line with an extreme flyballer and he’s killing it. I’m buying here.

Ty Blach – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. Blech. Anyone want to guess his K/9 right now? I’ll even do you one better. His BB/9 is at 2.60 and is higher than his K/9. Yep, that’s a 2.28 mark and I want nothing to do with Ty.

Gerrit Cole – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Uh oh. Uh oh? Why uh oh? This is a good start! Right. A good start. Not a great start or elite start. Okay, I’m over reacting but I really don’t want Cole to return to being The King of Pretty Good. I want him to be a stud! Wait, who has that title now? That would be…um…good question. Let’s go with Dylan Bundy…for now.

Michael Pineda – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. Can anyone guess what the only blemish is on this solid outing from Pineda? Okay not the only blemish, but Carlos Correa launched a 2-run HR to right in the first and it’s exactly what Pineda does.

Bronson Arroyo – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. WHOA IT’S A QUALITY START. Weaver leads 3-2 in the GQSB 2.0. 

Martin Perez – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Boy is it boring. Boy is it exactly what we expect from Perez, with room for another ER or two. Is he a Toby? I wouldn’t be owning Perez, so no. Man, I really haven’t been using that phrase this year, maybe it’s becaue

Jeff Hoffman – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. I watched a good amount of this one and I was impressed. Great Fastball, good breaking ball, and solid command all around. It really is too bad he has to play in Coors but he’s my favorite Rockie arm outside of Jon Gray.

JC Ramirez – 7.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Blegh, I didn’t have high hopes for JC against Detroit, though after a three-run bomb in the first, JC settled down somewhat nicely and survived through seven. Next four starts: White Sox, Rays, Marlins, Twins. Whaaaaaat.

Derek Holland – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. It’s almost like you could tell that regression was coming for Holland…THE DUTCH INVASION IS HERE.

Phil Hughes – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Dude that K/BB just isn’t cutting it.

Chase De Jong – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. De Jong winding road of Chase’s career has brought him to this horrible spot. You thought I ran out of De Jong jokes after last time right? But seriously, poor fella.

Hyun-Jin Ryu – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 6 BBs, 4 Ks. Ryu is magically back and Maeda is on the DL because the Dodgers are incredibly skilled at shifting their 20-man rotation around. I feel bad for Ryu though, as his schedule has included plenty of Rockies and Diamondbacks thus far. If he doesn’t get injured again, he’ll face the Giants next in AT&T park and I like the sound of that.

Today’s Streamer

Miguel Gonzalez vs San Diego Padres – So a rainout pushed Miggy back a day as he was supposed to be yesterday’s streamer, but now he gets the Padres and I’m not going a half. FULL POINT BABY. Jesse Hahn against the Texas Rangers is another decent option as well as he faces a poor offense and Hahn even with his command problems could return a very favorable outing.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Mike Clevinger vs. Minnesota Twins – Very few options here and I’d prefer not to chase Zack Davies against the Mets. Half point here.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Dan Straily vs. Atlanta Braves – There’s really no one left. I guess if you’re desperate for strikeouts, Trevor Bauer against the Twins could give you 5-6, but those ratios will take a hit. I’m not starting Straily unless I’m truly desperate and don’t put this one on the board.

Game of the Day

Dylan Bundy vs. Danny Duffy – The battle of regression candidates square off in Kansas City.