I don’t like to often waste too much time on stud pitches, but can we all share a collective fist pump for Carlos Carrasco? After struggling in his first few starts returning to the hill, he killed it with a CGSHO against the Tigers last time out, then didn’t flinch for a second as he faced the Blue Jays tonight. He ended up with a glorious 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 14 Ks line that makes you finally happy to be a Carrasco owner. GET HYPED. He’s finally turning into the stud that he should have been from Day 1 this season and don’t think for a second that you should be selling high. This is what’s up and this is will help you win your league because it’s what’s up.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
Michael Pineda – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 12 Ks. I thought about leading with Pineda, but that’s apparently what I did last time he pitched as well…Anyway, his Slider was looking as good as ever as he steamrolled through the Texas lineup. I’m still super worried that he’ll fall down into that giant pit that is his low floor, but you best be riding this out until he gives you good reason not to. I wouldn’t be buying low as whoever owns him won’t want to give him up for the discount price you’d want to dish out.
Kenta Maeda – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Maeda is quietly returning to claim his rightful title as Spiderman, now holding a 2.82 ERA with an 8.64 K/9 and a 2.72 BB/9. Solid stuff kiddo. I just hope his 9.0% HR/FB doesn’t screw him over.
Taijuan Walker – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. If this doesn’t give owners confidence in Walker now that he’s back from his foot issues, I’m not sure what will.
A.J. Griffin – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. Daaaang Griffin, you just lowered your ERA to 2.93, while now averaging above five strikeouts per start. Not bad at all, though I do worry about your 3.56 BB/9 and your 4.45 xFIP. He’s not a complete TEEs given the strikeout rate, but it’s clear that he won’t be holding a sub 3.00 ERA this year.
Mike Leake – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Leake now has a 3.18 ERA over his last nine starts. Just sayin’. Yeah, what about his 4.11 FIP and 3.87 xFIP? Oh damn, and that 15% soft contact with a 35% hard contact…I see what you mean Random Gary. I see what you mean. Does that mean he’s a prime sell guy? Sure does Random Gary.
John Lackey – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. It’s not as exciting is it could be from Lackey this days, but whatever you’ll take it.
Madison Bumgarner – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. Aces gonna ace Bumgarner couldn’t get the coveted AGA after allowing 4 ER to the A’s, but at least he hit a double that hit outfielders’ gloves and bounce away because *&@k the DH, right?
Jake Odorizzi – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. Positives: 7 Ks and just 2 ER against the Tigers. Negatives: 3 Walks and still plays in the AL Beast. If it weren’t for Snell, I’d like him most of any Rays pitcher right now, which preseason me would have flipped out about. I really don’t like Archer or Smyly all too much these days, and Odorizzi baaaaarely edges them out.
Chris Young – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 6 BBs, 5 Ks. What a super boring game to be a Royals position player. Six walks and five Ks means just eight of the 18 batters Young faced put the ball in play. Yeesh.
R.A. Dickey – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Dickey told me that he loved dogs when he showed me his apartment. He owns a pair of dog…fish. Don’t trust a knuckleballer.
Gio Gonzalez – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 9 Ks. There’s a part of me that is starting to wonder if the Nats will elect to pull Gio from the rotation to A) Let bigger and better Gio (Lucas) stick in the rotation once Strasburg returns or even B) Allow Austin Voth to get his chance in the majors after looking solid in AAA. They don’t care about nine Ks if it comes with 10 baserunners and 4 ER.
Carlos Rodon – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. As someone who doesn’t own Rodon, it’s these kind of outings that get me a little excited. All but one of his allowed hits led to a run (two solo shots and singles aplenty), while he kept his walk rate down and Ks alive, and I’m hoping the four ER will make his owner want to get rid of him. Buy buy buy.
Mike Foltynewicz – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Folty came back to the hill and was bumped after just 61 pitches due to the mother nature getting all up in dis. Looks like it was for the best, honestly. There’s a chance Folty makes a minor impact in deeper leagues – his stuff dictate higher upside than his performances have demanded – so keep an eye out.
Steven Matz – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. This was an easy bench given his matchup against the Cubs and the injury questions. It looks like he’s going to be avoiding surgery so he’ll be around on your team, but it’s all super worrisome. He’ll need to perform well for a good amount of starts before I feel confident tossing him back into the Top 20.
Jordan Zimmermann – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Is JZ getting to droppable levels? That’s now a 3.95 ERA with just a 5.64 K/9 to show for it and he’s had to rely on a 6.8% HR/FB rate to get it – albeit his 9.0% career mark is super low but still higher than this ridiculous rate. Obviously you can’t sell (I mean, if you can get a closer by all means do it), and if there’s someone that will help you out right now, I’d do it.
Chris Tillman – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. You can’t spell Win with Tillman. I am actually a little sad to see Tillman continue to struggle, though he did get paired up with the Mariners this time out. If he can’t handle the Dodgers next time out, then we have a real issue on our hands.
Wei-Yin Chen – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Man, if Chen does this against the Braves, how can you possibly trust him against anyone else?
Tommy Milone – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Milone Schlamone.
Zach Davies – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Of course the week I add Davies he underperforms. Duh.
Brandon Finnegan – 2.1 IP, 8 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 2 Ks. Finnegan should not be considered in any league. Seriously, even that one.
Dillon Overton – 3.0 IP, 8 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. He was a Cup of Schmo before, and he’s a Cup of Schmo now.
Today’s Streamers
Jaime Garcia vs. Milwaukee Brewers – Ehhhhh I really don’t like this day for streaming. Garcia got walloped last time out, but it was against the Cubbies and he’s been successful against the Brew Crew this season. I can also understand people going with Nathan Eovaldi against the Friars, but he’s allowed at least 4 ER in five straight starts…but the Padres are bad against flamethrowing pitchers…but 8.65 ERA in his last five outings…
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Bud Norris vs. Miami Marlins – Danny Duffy vs. Philadelphia Phillies – Norris had to go get traded after his hot streak of starts (nice job Braves!) and Duffy has most likely been dropped a bit after his previous cold streak.
Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer
Adam Conley vs. Atlanta Braves – Conley is exactly the kind of pitcher that you’d want to stream against a weak team, and he gets one of the worst on Sunday.
Game of the Day
Michael Fulmer vs. Tampa Bay Rays – I want to see the Fulmer parade still floating as he comes back from a skipped start.