Don’t Pass The JJ

(Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire)

I am really impressed with Josh James electric stuff as his 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks line displayed his dominance against the Mariners pretty accurately. I watched a good amount of his start and pairing upper 90s heat with a changeup he became incredibly comfortable with was too much to handle for the Seattle lineup. Now, there’s definitely room to grow polish wise with commanding his fastball and a slider that had its moments but overall wasn’t close to what it should be. Still, the raw stuff is there and given proper time in the rotation, he’s as spicey of a Spice Girl as you’ll ever find. The thing is, he was called upon here for a spot-start to give the rotation an extra day of rest, which means we may not see James again. I’m actually a little upset at myself for not picking him as my streamer of the day and he’s suddenly a very intriguing upside play for 2019. At the same time, so is Colin McHugh and Brad Peacock and what is in the water in Houston?!

Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:

J. A. Happ – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. Happ impressed me here, having no trouble with the strong Betts-less Red Sox lineup. One of the more underrated starters this year and you can depend on him again this weekend as he faces the Orioles.

Liam Hendriks – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks. FALSE START. 

Nathan Eovaldi – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. I watched a good amount of this one and his cutter was so filthy. We’re talking 97mph with legit cut action painting the inside corner to left-handers. The thing is, he just isn’t consistent with it start-to-start and that’s a bit worrisome. When it’s on, he becomes so hard to hit with that cutter along the corners, sliders/splitters down, and four-seamers up. It’s up to you if you want to take that chance, though the odds are definitely higher now given he’s fresh of this sweet performance.

Michael Lorenzen – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Lorenzen is back in the Reds rotation and no one rejoiced.

Steven Matz – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks. Those five walks are gross, but I’ll digest the 1.40 WHIP for a goose egg and four strikeouts. Keep welcoming the Matz to your lineups.

Tyler Skaggs – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. It was a clear DLH with Skaggs missing tons of time while facing the strong A’s lineup. He survived – yay! – while on a short 51 pitch count. He’s not stretched out enough yet for me to consider rolling with him over the weekend, let alone against the Astros.

Eric Skoglund – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks. I dream about weird things, like a possible timeline where Skoglund becomes a household name. It just rolls right off the tongue, you know? For those wondering, this is definitely a Birthday Party and I cannot recommend enough that you avoid Eric as much as possible.

Blake Snell – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Aces gonna ace. I want more than five frames, but a dub, those ratios, and five Ks are all very helpful. 

Jameson Taillon – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 11 Ks. And all my hopes of Taillon being underrated next season have been dashed away. I’ll most likely have him in the Top 20 given his higher floor than the likes of Walker Buehler and Jack Flaherty. I think. It feels slightly wrong to do that, but my brain is moving my hand like it’s Ouija.

Austin Gomber – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Ehhhhh that 1.80 WHIP is so bad. Five Ks are cool and a 1.80 ERA is dope but that WHIP….yikes. I just don’t like trusting him when he’s playing with fire like Zuko.

Clayton Kershaw – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks. Super weird start from TATIAGA as five walks are so uncharacteristic. So much that I wonder if Kershaw was challenging himself for a day. Could I still allow just 1 ER if I walked five guys? Oh, and three strikeouts in seven frames? Yeah, super weird.

Mike Montgomery – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. Hey, Monty did good! That’s wonderful! You’re still not getting my Norris Light.

Dylan Bundy – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. That’s two straight baller starts from Bundy and you’re starting to wonder if he’s worth your time again. I just can’t let you risk it. The floor is too low for you to lose your playoffs on Bundy, though if you’re behind and need that upside, I understand it. The Yankees now with Judge are no joke, though.

Kyle Freeland – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. Oh, so we’re back to these kinds of starts Freeland? Right when I start to come around on you, this is what you give back to me? Sure, it’s a low ERA, but four strikeouts and nine baserunners make me roll me eyes faster than being lectured on how to properly swipe my MetroCard. I grew up here! I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING.

Aaron Nola – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. Aces gonna ace, even if he served you a blegh WHIP and a Philly against the Mets. 

Daniel Norris – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. His velocity is still not back and I’m not seeing enough here to make me think Norris is this sneaky play that will pay dividends. Sorry bucko.

Jake Odorizzi – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Odorizzi pulled it off against the Tigers. Atta boy, I’ll be continuing to be indecisive about your future matchups against weak teams still, but atta boy.

Aaron Sanchez – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. It’s not the worst thing ever, but it does nothing to help your team. Seriously, just one strikeout against the Orioles? HAISTFMFWT?! Streaming Record: 97-46.

Anibal Sanchez – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks. Yeah that’s all kinds of beautiful from Anibal, who has been one of the unsung heroes for many teams this year. The Mets are next and you best be starting the wild Anibal.

Stephen Strasburg – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 11 Ks. Aces gonna ace. This is this Strasburg we missed for so long. Never leave us again.

Sandy Alcantara – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 6 BBs, 3 Ks. Our backup Call Boy showcased the floor that we were afraid of. There were two starts of him nibbling the corners effectively, and now one where he couldn’t find the zone nor induce them off the plate. 

Chase Anderson – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Blegh. Chase has had a decent run in the second half, though it’s not enough for me to really consider him this year, or probably even next. It’s too bad.

Yovani Gallardo – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Yep, this only hurts like looking up photos of dogs you want to adopt but know you never will. Only pain…

Corey Kluber – 8.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 11 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Eight frames negate the 10 baserunners and 3 ER a bit, especially with 11 Ks as well. He earned himself a Gallows Pole with 22 whiffs on top of it and things are lovely.

Joey Lucchesi – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. A 1.60 WHIP and 5.40 ERA? Uggggggh. I loved both guys in this game and both failed me. Well, 8 Ks are cool n stuff, but I wanted MORE.

Derek Holland – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. One of the more disappointing starts of the night as that ERA/WHIP hurts. Six Ks are cool, but against the Padres? Be better, Holland.

Matt Andriese – 2.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. Well yeah, Andriese isn’t good.

Mike Leake – 6.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. Leake got the Astros and put up a super boring and lame and stupid start. But at least 1.00 WHIP is cool.

Carlos Rodon – 7.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. Rodon hasn’t been particularly sharp lately and he was matched up with the Indians, making this a pretty easy bench. He gets the Cubs next – no thanks – and I’m cool letting him fall to your waiver wire. Curious where he goes next season as I’d be fine owning him a Toby-type. I imagine some will flat out avoid, while others will be eager to reach.

Today’s Streamer

Chris Stratton vs. San Diego Padres – He’s on a roll and gets the Padres. What else do you want from a streamer?

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Edwin Jackson vs. Los Angeles Angels – I hate him, but this slate is terrible. Here’s to hoping we can Survive A Night With EJax.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Zach Davies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – Tough day for choices here with a lot of different ones right at the same level of Davies. His opponent Ivan Nova may work as well, Ian Kennedy against the Tigers, and even Reynaldo Lopez against the Cubs, but none of them make me all too confident. I’d choose John Gant vs the Giants if I could, but his 22% ownage rate just puts him out of my threshold of 20% or lower.

Game of the Day

Touki Toussaint vs. Jack Flaherty – This is so much fun. Touki and Flaherty?! There’s also David Price vs. Luis Severino so today is a good day.