In last week’s AMA, Raisel Iglesias was one of the most discussed players as owners are wondering if they should invest in the Cincinnati slinger. Now after a start of 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BB, 3 Ks, you’re going to be see people running to the pool faster than a man getting attacked by bees. But should they? Probably, and I would suggest it if you need help reinforcing your staff in a 12 teamer for the playoffs. While he only struck out three, when he’s playing teams not from Kansas/Missouri/wherever Kansas City actually is/33% Kansas, 66% Missouri/Let’s just go with the Royals, the Ks will be there. The main concern is has a tendency to blow up at times, while averaging under 6 IP per start. Schedule wise moving forward is somewhat neutral, with starts against the Dbacks, Brewers, and Cups in the pipeline, so I’d be rolling with him if you need it. Otherwise, let someone else roll the dice and keep your ship steady on the course. He’s not an instant winner like those Gatorade caps from the 90s before internet codes were a thing. Sigh…those were the days…
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
Ryan Vogelsong – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BB, 5 Ks. You know that guilt you get when you get away with something and realize no one is going to stop you? I’m sure that one guy in San Fran who started Vogelsong is feeling that. I HOPE YOU CRUMBLE IN YOUR EMOTIONS.
Eduardo Rodriguez – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. And here is the upside of Erod that was oh-so lovely. More Ks could be coming, but he looked good. So you may want to sit him next time against the Royals, but then he gets the Mets, Phils, and Rays lined up. Class is in session.
Felix Doubront – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hit, 6 BBs, 8 Ks. You can do worse than a guy who holds a 3.44 FIP, but the Ks are not going to be there – he holds a 5.95 K/9 including this start – though the walks will be better. This just isn’t Felix, which I realize we’ve been saying a lot lately.
Jacob deGrom – 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BB, 6 Ks. Aces gonna ace.
Clayton Kershaw – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. What the hair said.
James Shields – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. Finally, Shields gives you a start that says “whoa, I can do good things too.” Awesome, now do it against a team not named Atlanta like the Cards next week.
Jake Odorizzi – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BB, 9 Ks. When he’s striking out 9 batters and allowing only 1 ER, you bet I’m eating my eggs Odorizzi.
Edinson Volquez – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. One of the better starts you’ll see from Volquez. I’m not buying that he’ll be dependable for you, but if need Wins without the hefty risk of most guys at the bottom of the barrel, Volquez could help out.
Hisashi Iwakuma – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BB, 6 Ks. I’m starting to like Iwakuma more than I thought I would. Weird.
Lance Lynn – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks. Lynn, you gotta chill with the walks. You were a new man this year and don’t get complacent on me.
Mike Pelfrey – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BB, 4 Ks. This is the ceiling of Pelfrey. I’m a 6’4″ man and I would be struggling to walk in his house.
Chi Chi Gonzalez – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BB, 7 Ks. If you take the previous two highest K totals of Chi Chi’s season and add them together, you get tonight’s total of seven. Yeah…
Garrett Richards – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. It’s nice to see the goose eggs in the walk column, but I don’t trust him ROS. It’s possible that he figured it out and will be solid til the end, but given what we’ve seen this year, that seems unlikely.
Kevin Gausman – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BB, 6 Ks. Our Call Boy had 1 ER too many, but otherwise did the job. Don’t like Gausman too much outside of solid matchups like this one.
John Danks – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BB, 3 Ks. Johnny is still shocked that he has a job on the Sox. So are we.
Scott Feldman – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Feldman Schmeldman.
CC Sabathia – 6.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Who is a Pirate’s favorite player? You would think JJ HaRRRdy, but his heart lies with the CC…
Aaron Nola – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks. Blegh. In all fairness ,this was against the Blue Jays and you shouldn’t have started him in the first place. Nola hasn’t really had that dominant outing yet, but he still has a more polished repertoire than this start dictates. I still like him, believe it or not.
Matt Wisler – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. I wouldn’t be shocked if this is the average Wisler start. Who am I kidding, this is an average Wisler start. What does that mean? It means you shouldn’t Wisler while you work.
Francisco Liriano – 7.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. I own Liriano and I’m going to be sitting him against the Giants next week. He needs to show his dominant, non-walking self before I’m sending him back out there.
Anibal Sanchez – 2.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BB, 2 Ks. It was a rain delay that acted as a mercy for those who started him.
Jordan Zimmermann – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BB, 6 Ks. It was in Coors, these things happen.
Adam Conley – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BB, 7 Ks. He only recorded 4 outs not by way of the strikeout. This is what happens when you get Singled Out. Not like he’s actually a great pitcher underneath it all, though.
David Hale – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. 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.
Jason Hammel – 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BB, 6 Ks. Well this is awkward. Here I am thinking that Hammel will turn it around and he tosses a stinker against the Tigers. Feel free to flat out drop him if you need the room, but I would be stashing him for a start or two, as I expect him to recover and be a major part of the Cubs’ playoff push in September. Just treat him like DL guy that you can’t stick on the DL. Sidenote: To be fair, Hammel would have continue, but there was a rain delay of over 2 hours that knocked him out with only 62 pitches.
Chase Anderson – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. He’s starting to believe. Yes, you’re finally believing that Mr. Anderson is not worth a roster spot.
R.A. Dickey – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Some wanted to start him against the Phils, who Dickey told me were a group of a guys all named Phil. Don’t trust a knuckleballer.
Trevor Bauer – 1.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BB, 1 K. Don’t forget what has happened to Bauer when you see he performs well in the April next year.
Tyler Cravy – 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. His value only lies in AL-only leagues, and he’s been only disappointing since he’s entered the rotation. Don’t spend your time looking into Cravy.
Today’s Streamers
Nathan Karns vs. Houston Astros – Karns can put up a sizeable amount of strikeouts on a given night and the Astros hand them out like candles for Shabbat.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Ivan Nova. vs Cleveland Indians – Not too many other guys to pick over Nova, and he has the stuff to have a solid K game while securing the Win.
Game of the Day
Dallas Keuchel vs. Nathan Karns – Keuchel could put up a great outing vs. the weak Rays while Karns is our Call Boy and for good reason. Show me the Ks like a teenage text conversation.