Sometimes things just don’t go your way and it’s time to hang em up. I’ve been pretty dang high on Jerad Eickhoff this season given his good strikeout stuff mixed with a serviceable walk rate and enough finesse ability to keep him from imploding too often. However, after last night’s 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks against the Braves, I’m questioning if it’s time to call it quits. He’s nearly completely abandoned his Slider, turning into a near two-pitch pitcher, which we’ve discussed before as a bad omen for starters. Additionally, his hard contact is well above 30% and his whiff rates are down. However, there may yet be some hope. His SIERA sits under 3.50, his k rate is sitting right around 8.00 per 9 and walking fewer than 5% of batters he faces. What I’m saying is that while I’ll most likely be removing him from the Top 50 next week, he’s still going to be Top 65. He has the excellent schedule in front of him to help him get on track if he’s going to get there. Monitor it closely and I understand if you want to drop him to chase other upside options.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
Max Scherzer – 9.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 20 Ks. It would have been too easy leading with Scherzer after this historic game that had me yelling at A) The Nationals in the bottom of the 8th to stop prolonging that inning and B) Rendon for making the out at second base. Just bobble the ball for history’s sake! Any way, it goes without saying that any worries you had about Scherzer should go away, though don’t be too shocked if he has some trouble down the road. He’s not as consistent as we’d like, but he’s still definitively Top 5.
John Lackey – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. It’s hard not to be a Lackey fan these days. Sure, I expect it to slow down a little, but if you own him you should be very pleased.
Williams Perez – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. Perez has tied his partner-in-crime Wisler for the lowest MS Score this season of 7. Congrats…?
Drew Pomeranz – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 10 Ks. The Dirty Cheerleader is living up to his name. Well the dirty part. Anyway, he’s still not owned everywhere, which is crazy since his K% is above 30% at this point, and you best be happy with this outing against the Cubs. Sidenote: I’d be lying if I wasn’t a bit worried about his walk rate (4.28 BB/9!), but he hasn’t walked more than 3 in a game all year, albeit
Jaime Garcia – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. Garcia got the Angels and did what’s right. I don’t think he constantly strikes out enough guys to be Top 25, but I like this more than Juniors’ cheesecake. Okay, maybe not that but this is delicious. Damn now I want Juniors’ cheesecake. Why do I do this to myself.
Noah Syndergaard – 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Too bad you don’t get the two HRs he swatted with 4 RBIs on top of a studly outing.
Madison Bumgarner – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks. Aces gonna somewhat ace. Just chill with the walks, okay Bumgarner?
Wei-Yin Chen – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 12 Ks. Chen can do this? He’s only had one prior double-digit game in his career – 12 Ks in July 2012 – so take this with a severe grain of salt. Yes, I expect you to stare at your salt and select the grainiest of the grains.
Doug Fister – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. Ah yes, the Grave Mistake.
Danny Salazar – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 6 BBs, 10 Ks. His WHIP was 3.00 exiting the 2nd inning. That means he left the bases loaded twice in a row, yet had five Ks as well. So is the life of Salazar, who I upgraded out of the Cherry Bomb tier, but still likes to make owners sweat way too often. Not cool man.
Kyle Hendricks – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. You know that Hendricks now holds a 2.94 xFIP with a 61.9% GB rate, 7.82 K/9, and 1.77 BB/9, while playing for a winning team, right? Okay, just checking.
Tyler Wilson – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. Wilson is the backup option on his pitching staff. For the Orioles. Let that sink in for a moment.
Chase Anderson – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Sorry Anderson, I’m not close to trusting you yet.
Alfredo Simon – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Even on his best nights Simon doesn’t look appealing.
Rick Porcello – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. This was supposed to be better against the A’s. I still like Porcello, but this is like that awkward semi-fight during a party and we’re in that moment of silence before someone suggests beer pong.
Juan Nicasio – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. You gave me this against the Reds? Ugh, step it up Nicasio.
Jordan Zimmermann – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Hmmmm. The xFIP dictated a regression, he was everyone’s favorite sell high, which leads to everyone holding instead, and now you’re left yourself wondering where is value lies. Don’t worry too much, I don’t forsee him being this boring all the time, and you may be able to capitalize on someone thinking they are getting a buy low after this. Who knows, people are weird. Anyway, JZ is currently Top 40 and I think he’ll stick around there as long as he steps up the K production a little and has flashes of brilliance.
Taijuan Walker – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks. Here he tells us he’s fine despite his stiff neck and he gives us the worst outing of the season, even with the 9 Ks. I think he’ll bounce back next time out with a proper routine.
Marcus Stroman – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Pretty bleghy from Stroman but it’s been worse and the Giants can be tough. I still like him y’all.
Chad Bettis – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks. Bettis 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.
Yordano Ventura – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. Like PEAS in a pod. I’m not going near Ventura.
Cole Hamels – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks. Ehhhhh I’m not sure how to feel here. 0 BBs! 3 ER in under 6 innings…9 Ks! A near 1.60 WHIP…What am I supposed to do with you Hamels?
Chris Archer – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks. Oh come on Archer. I thought we already went through this. Sure, the first inning was where pretty much all the damage happened and you settled down nicely after, but this needs to change fella.
Kenta Maeda – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. We knew it wasn’t going to last with Maeda, but who would have guessed all of his 4 ER came from a pair of HRs from a God himself?
Michael Pineda – 5.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks. If only Pineda could start pitching in the 2nd inning – he allowed 4 ER to lead off the game, then allowed the final pair during his final effort in the 6th.
Matt Shoemaker – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks. Are you starting Shoemaker? Yes? Do you have a sole? Please excuse me for that joke.
Mat Latos – 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 5 BBs, 0 Ks. Five walks and zero Ks? Yeah, that’s the Latos we know and hate.
Robbie Ray – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks. You can see the strikeout upside wanting to come out but there’s a lot of work left with Ray.
Colin Rea – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. Is this Rea life or is it fantasy? Definitely Rea life.
Eric Surkamp – 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. I’m not sure even Surkamp was happy he was called up for this outing. It’s like forcing one of your players to guard the best point guard in the league. He’ll show up for the job but he knows it isn’t going to end well.
Phil Hughes – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. It’s clear in my head the MFRTSPA is going to Berrios, I just feel bad for Hughes who is clutching his 2014 award like it’s his teddy bear Chuckles. Chuckles is the best…
Today’s Streamers
Aaron Blair vs. Philadelphia Phillies – Blair is exclusive to streams and he gets a good matchup against the Phils. Other options include Bartolo Colon against the Dodgers as well as Nathan Eovaldi vs. the Royals if the other two options aren’t available.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Nate Karns vs. Los Angeles Angels – There are a decent amount of options including Nick Tropeano, Timothy Adleman, Ross Stripling, and Josh Tomlin. I’m going with the hot hand in Karns against a very weak opponent.
Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer
John Lamb vs. Philadelphia Phillies – He’s expected to make his next start and holds the kind of upside you’d want from a rarely owned starter against the Phils.
Game of the Day
Bartolo Colon vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – After giving us one of the greatest moments in baseball history, I want to see The Big Apple do it again. Because we always want MORE.