Dylan Sanity

I feel like Dylan Bundy deserved some time in the spotlight after last week’s strong performance against the Athletics and last night’s 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks line where he earned his first King Cole title with a 42% CSW. Unreal. He allowed a three-run shot in the first as his sole blemish, effective earning strikes with high fastballs, curveballs landing for called strikes (50% CS!) earning a solid 7/17 CSW on changeups and of course his slider which did both the whiff dance and the “HYEAH!” dance. Is that a really bad way of saying it earned swinging strikes and called strikes? Sure is.

With their day off next Monday, the great news here is that Bundy gets to face the Mariners again while avoiding the Rangers. Hold tight y’all, with Bundy going 33% fastballs, he’s finally becoming the man we always wanted him to be. Keep it up Dylan, we’re all rooting for you.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Thursday:

 

Shane Bieber @ MIN (W) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 13 Ks, 22 Whiffs, 39% CSW. Aces gonna super ace. I told you Bieber wouldn’t strike out fourteen again! Last week he faced the Royals, but he had the other side of the coin here against the Twins and…was better? Unless Clevinger does something silly today, I don’t think I have a choice but to move Bieber up ahead of him, even into Tier 1 with Cole, deGrom, and Scherzer. Would anyone contest that?

Marco Gonzales @ LAA (W) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks, 9 Whiffs, 35% CSW. Okay this is a legit streaming victory. YES. Streaming Record: 1-6. I decided to turn yesterday’s into a loss – I DON’T NEED NO CHARITY. I did it, y’all. I did it. Annnnnnyway another impressive CSW for Marco, fueled by called strikes as he rarely left the zone with sinkers and cutters. Remember when Gonzo was good back in 2018? All the rave was about his cutter, and it went 13/28 CSW here. That’ll work. I’m not convinced it’s here to dominate each time and I’m not sure I’d even do it again in a repeat against the Angels next week (six-man rotation for the Mariners).

Max Fried vs TB (W) – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks, 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW. Great outing here from Fried as he was settled in with both his curveball and slider, using the “Blake Snell Blueprint” in full effect to dot heaters up in the zone. Still a few too many mistakes in the middle of the plate for my liking, but the man looked as good as we could hope for right now. Color me excited.

Dinelson Lamet @ SF (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks, 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW. Professor Chaos strikes again! he was sitting 96/97 mph with fastballs here and, yes, a bit unruly per usual and we all hoped he would have the ability to say “hey, these are the Giants, I can pepper the zone” and ensure he didn’t walk four batters. We hoped wrong. But whatever, you know what you’re getting from Lamet and y’all should be happy for that.

Ryan Yarbrough @ ATL (L) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks, 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW. I’m still impressed by what I’ve seen from the Fratty Pirate as his SwStr rate continues to climb despite sub 90 mph velocity. His cutter and changeup really did all the work here, with a cutter coming in at just 83.3 mph, and it’s pretty wild. Seriously, cutters and changeups made up 86% of all of Yarbrough’s pitches. Great work bud. I think I’d still start him against the Red Sox as the Rays are letting Yarbrough go past 85 pitches now.

Martin Perez @ NYM (W) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks, 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW. This is obviously better than that atrocity against the Orioles last week, but I’m not buying back in, even if you served us a strong Philly. He’s hoping to be a Toby. 

Ivan Nova vs KC (ND) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks, 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW. He went Super Nova for the first time this year, which essentially is any time Nova doesn’t kill your ERA. Look at that line. Three strikeouts. A poor WHIP. Against the Royals. Oh Nova, we’re ovah. Wait, we were a thing? Well, no. But it’s ovah. Okay.

Jose Berrios vs CLE (L) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks, 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW. You were a bit worried about Berrios given the desolation he brought lineups on opening day, but this is more in line with what you expected against the Indians. Keep starting him, it’ll even out just fine in the end.

Brady Singer @ DET (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks, 5 Whiffs, 29% CSW. After being so bold as to throw ten sliders in a row during his debut, Singer didn’t record a single whiff on the breaker in this one, not even against the Tigers. This is actually the type of line I expected during his debut and it’s fine but not the excitement you thought you were getting. Still hold for the Cubs next, but you may want to consider a swap for his following start against the Twins.

Erick Fedde @ TOR (ND) – 3.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks, 2 Whiffs, 14% CSW. Don’t trust the Feddes. Man, 14% CSW?! That’s really rough and I know how Fedde has a little bit in him to be more, I’m sad to see it wasn’t there today.

Steven Matz vs BOS (L) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks, 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW. It was mostly the same Matz we saw last time – 94/95 mph, sinkers up, and changeups and curveballs around the zone. This should give us an understanding of Matz – his ceiling is capped but it’s a decent floor and ability. It’s essentially a Toby with a tinge of upside for more.

Ross Stripling @ ARI (W) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks, 5 Whiffs, 29% CSW. Now in a start against a worthy offensive lineup, Stripling wasn’t nearly as successful with just five whiffs in the books. This kills the Ks. He gets the Padres next and I’d still own him there.

Kevin Gausman vs SD (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks, 14 Whiffs, 44% CSW. Funny story, Gausman would have been coronated as today’s King Cole if he had just recorded two more outs. Shame. We knew he wasn’t going to go long like our podcasts after throwing under 60 pitches in relief last week, but he was still pushed to 73 and had his splitter working. I’m disappointed to see few four-seamers at the top or above the zone, but clearly he didn’t need to today as the Padres looked like a traffic cop, waving in all the four-seamers for called strikes. Yep, yep, come on through. Sadly we can’t do much with this outing now as he gets Coors and the Dodgers next, but stash it away for later. He’ll be a solid stream at some point, I’m sure.

J.A. Happ @ BAL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks, 5 Whiffs, 19% CSW. Happ, I know you aren’t quite your 2018 self again, but 19% CSW against the Orioles? Seriously? Your offense even scored five runs in the first frame for you. We need you to be better.

Robbie Ray vs LAD (L) – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 6 BBs, 4 Ks, 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW. Blegggggh. Ray’s arm-circle is exciting but his timing still isn’t consistent. I really hope he can figure that out – it’s more believable than ever. He gets the Astros next and like a slat of wood in a park, that’s a bench.

Hyun Jin Ryu vs WSH (L) – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks, 8 Whiffs, 27% CSW. Ugh, I was willing to overlook last week’s first game against the Rays, but the Nationals aren’t a scary offense right now. Ryu, you’re supposed to be the Dwayne. The movie with Nic Cage. The pet I had in middle school. BE OUR ROCK.

John Means vs NYY (ND) – 2.1 IP, 5 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks, 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW. I know it was just 51 pitches and he got shelled as his changeup was floated often and he had terrible command, but the dude was throwing 95 mph. This is Means, you know, the southpaw who sat 91 mph last year. That’s crazy. Means was known as a command guy so I wonder if the scare with his arm messed him up for this one and if he just needs a start or two to calibrate…to which he’ll have a phenomenal changeup and 95 mph velocity. Ummmm yeah I’m kinda excited for Means in two weeks.

 

Today’s Streamer

 

For those unaware, I’m forced to make my streamer picks under the condition of sub-20% owned in Fantasy Pros’ consolidated ownership rates.

 

Tyler Chatwood vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – He increased his cutter usage with its higher velocity and had himself a day against the Brewers. Now he gets the Pirates, let’s do it. Chatwood is going Saturday now because of yesterday’s rainout. Very few options here, but I’ll go with Randy Dobnak vs. Cleveland Indians as he could survive 5.0+ frames and maybe even a Win, even if he is facing Mike Clevinger.

 

Tomorrow’s Streamer

 

Jon Lester vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – I think you can steal a Win here against a poor offense. Even Kyle Freeland was considered here (sadly Anibal Sanchez vs. the Marlins won’t be happening), but I think this is the safest play. Yesterday’s rainout pushes the Cubs starters back a day. That means Tyler Chatwood vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – He increased his cutter usage with its higher velocity and had himself a day against the Brewers. Now he gets the Pirates, let’s do it.

 

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

 

Chris Bassitt vs. Seattle Mariners – He looked good last time out and the Mariners don’t scare me, even with Kyle Lewis there.

 

Game of the Day

 

Kris Bubic vs. Dallas Keuchel – It’s the MLB debut for Bubic and we’re going to have a GIF Breakdown out for you. I also want to see if Keuchel can be as pristine as he was last week against a weaker offense.

 

(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire)