Dealing Dylan

I’ve given a lot of talk to the Power Quads but there’s a secondary group of young arms that are making me super excited as well, with Dylan Bundy leading the charge. After his 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks start last night, Bundy is now holding an absurd 1.37 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, after facing the Jays twice and Red Sox twice. Pretty impressive stuff that gets even better: He’s holding both the third highest soft contact rate at 29.7% and third lowest hard contact rate at 16.2%. Holy Wade Boggs’ Mustache! This guy is legit! Yeaaaaaahhhhh. This is going to be a weird blurb because after being so into Bundy last year and loving him in drafts this season, I feel like I have to be the one now to tell people to hit the brakes. Funny how that works. I’ve watched a good amount of Bundy and there are two problems I have with the fella to make me think he can be a sturdy #3 for your team through the year: He makes a ton of mistakes that aren’t getting punished like they should (such as Sliders elevated inside the zone or Fastballs peeling back to the middle of the plate) and he still shows serious endurance questions later in innings. Then of course we need to consider that he threw 109 innings last year and there’s no way the Orioles are going to push him over 180 this year. None. And that’s assuming he avoids all the injuries he’s had in the past. What I’m getting at here is that I’m loving Bundy thus far – how could you not? – but I’m totally in sell high mode if people consider him Top 30 now. I’ll have him mid 30s on Monday and would be surprised if I pushed him close to Top 25 this year.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

Sean Manaea – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. So about that secondary group, which consists of five pitchers: Dylan Bundy, Sean Manaea, Garrett Richards, Jharel Cotton, and Robert Gsellman. I’m going with “The Spare Tires” (Thanks to Brandon Lundberg) as they are not the main arms in your staff but there for you when you need them (and five of them, of course). Gsellman? Where’s Norris? Norris doesn’t have the same dependability for now and Gsellman will be solid through the year. Don’t worry. But Richards is hurt! But he’s soooooo sexy. I’m keeping it. ANYWAY. Manaea gave some owners question facing the Mariners last night, but he showed up with a strikeout per inning, 1 ER and a WHIP you can live with. Yes I want those walks to fall, and I think they will soon, but man he’s getting so many whiffs – double digits once again last night and it just won’t stop. Embrace him for the longhaul.

Cole Hamels – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. This is much better than what we’ve seen…but the Ks are lower than we want. Yeah, I’m all for using this start as a way to get rid of Hamels while some owner may think he’s back to normal. Cause he’s not.

Trevor Cahill – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. He’s like Rich but with strikeouts! Terrible joke aside, well not aside because we’re talking about Cahill. Who you don’t want to own.

Jeremy Hellickson – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. Hellickson did what he was supposed to do going against the Braves and hasn’t allowed more than 2 ER in a start this season. He’s also totally 10 Ks across four starts. I think I’m okay with him starting against the Marlins, but there’s no way I’m happy with the Cubs/Nats/Nats after.

Corey Kluber – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. Wait, it’s not May yet! He played the ChiSox. Ohhhhhh.

Tim Adleman – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. Well ain’t that something. Against the Cubs! *Shrug*, I still think this is a One Night Bland.

Adam Conley – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Our Call Boy got the job done against the Padres and that’s all we want Conley for. Don’t let him set up camp on your squad. Streamer Record 8.5-5-2.

Matt Harvey – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Here we are still waiting for that one start. You know, the one that is studly as anything that gets us super hyped or the one that is horrendous and confirms our worst fears. Stop being boring and Harvey and give us some drama!

Adam Wainwright – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks. Whoa whoa whoa, whatcha doing there Waino? The Brewers are a good offense now, so this wasn’t supposed to happen. He now has a 10.61 K/9 and 2.89 BB/9, which is crazy and all, with a 3.03 xFIP and…1.93 WHIP. But that’s because his previous two starts were really bad…but that’s also why I hate rolling with Wainwright. His floor isn’t as sturdy as you’d like and now his Cutter isn’t looking nearly as good as previous years. I don’t see this being a season long resurgence and I’d be selling high if someone were buying.

Jose Quintana – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. This is so Quintana, who is the king of QS leagues. It counts, it’s still a bad 4.50 ERA and meh 1.33 WHIP, but it counts.

Drew Pomeranz – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. The Dirty Cheerleader was kinda bleghy against the Orioles. I think he’s a good arm that can help in 12 teamers if your staff is struggling, but not one that I’m expecting for a solid Top 40year.

Hector Santiago – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. That’s just 6 ER allowed all season now as he holds a 2.19 ERA. Must add, right? With a 4.68 xFIP and 16.0% soft contact? Yeah no. This is the same Santiago we know and hate.

Tanner Roark – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Get used to these outings as Roark isn’t nearly as good as last year indicated.

Alex Meyer – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. Meyer is healthy and the Angels are still trying to make him a starter. Spoiler Alert: He’ll be reliever by the end of the year.

Hisashi Iwakuma – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. Iwakuma is still owned in over 45% of ESPN leagues while Jharel Cotton is owned in under 30%. Ho’ boy.

Mike Fiers – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Honestly, if I started Fiers, I would be kinda happy with this.

Tyler Glasnow – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. It’s a step in the right direction on a long long long long road to freedom. Freedom to choose if I really want to start Glasnow.

Taijuan Walker – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Sure, that K/BB is nice and six Ks for a start is solid, but this was my worry with Walker: His high HR/FB rate that will just get amplified in Coors-Lite. But that Humidor might get installed! I don’t think that will suddenly propel Walker from a fringe 12-team starter to a must-own.

Alex Cobb – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. After four starts Cobb has 11.1% soft contact and 50.6% hard contact. What.

Justin Verlander – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 6 BBs, 4 Ks. That’s back-to-back rough starts now from Jimmy V. Don’t sell, he’s not falling apart. Just hang tough and I’m buying. We’ll be A-OK.

Bartolo Colon – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 11 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. The Giant Peach got Singled out against the Phils. He’s a risky streamer pick that I’m sure people will still keep gunning for. We’re working internally to get the stats up for y’all, but I think VPR will highlight Colon’s risk/reward well.

Tyler Chatwood – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. Wait, so that CGSHO wasn’t legit?

Alex Wood – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Yeah, I don’t expect Wood to have a high IPS and while he can have a good K/BB, expect a good amount of these rough outings.

CC Sabathia – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Awwww I was hoping Sabathia would continue being a sneaky play against weak teams like the Pirates given his skills of a hard contact mitigation and inducing weak balls in play. This doesn’t really change things but I would prefer the narrative to be fully consistent. Thanks dude.

Mat Latos – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. Wait, we’re talking about Latos again? Why?

Nathan Karns – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. There used to be a time I liked Karns’ sneaky upside. That time has past. It past a long time ago.

Jon Lester – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. The year of Ross-Less..ter was working out just fine until last night’s barrage from the Reds. Lester now holds a 3.65 SIERA, 30.9% hard contact, 14.7% soft, and just 13.4% line drives allowed. A 50.7% groundball rate plays well with his stellar infield defense behind him and a 2.68 FIP is closer to expectancy given his historically low HR/FB numbers. I think the IPS will rise from its 6.00 status now and not the worst buy if someone wants to sell him Fast.

Johnny Cueto – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. What is wrong with Cueto? 35.4% hard contact, 4.26 SIERA with his 5.15 ERA and 1.38 WHIP…now this start was in Coors so we’re not going to freak out too much here. Still, his Changeup has been laced for three HRs already after allowing just 1 tater last year with the pitch. I have to image he fixes those mistakes and things are just dandy moving forward.

Wily Peralta – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks. This is the second straight start from Peralta with zero strikeouts. Stop being so Wily!

Today’s Streamer

Charlie Morton vs. Tampa Bay Rays – Sure, he’ll get hurt at some point but as long as he’s pitching against below average offensives, I’m in.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Jordan Montgomery vs Pittsburgh Pirates – A Pirates lineup sans Marte and a lefty that has decent deception and decent whiffability? Yeah, let’s do this.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Brett Anderson vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – I would consider Miguel Gonzalez against the Royals if I were truly desperate in a deep league, but Anderson is the better choice as he could steal an easy Win to start your week.

Game of the Day

Jameson Taillon vs. Michael Pineda – Will Schrodinger be the man we want him to be? Will Taillon continue his hot 2017 and propel himself to acedom? Find out at 4:05.