So this is a funny story. Jerad Eickhoff went 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks against the Nats and everyone is happy, right? I said that I was more into Canning right now than Eickhoff in yesterday’s five-long tradition of Friday Reddit AMAs. Some were aghast. Some were surprised. The reason was that Eickhoff has a decently tough schedule ahead while Canning has a trio of great matchups ahead as long as he’s in the rotation (which I kinda expect if he does well against the Tigers). Eickhoff to me was a guy with a great curveball and not much else, making it seem a bit too volatile. I was wrong. 12/27 CSW on SLIDERS yesterday is unreal and an overall 33% CSW against the Nats is a wonderful thing, regardless of how banged up they were. Eickhoff > Canning, I’m in love, and don’t let this man go. To the Top 45 you go! Streaming Record: 19-15.
Let’s see how every other SP did Friday:
Tyler Glasnow – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks. You really want me to give him the AGA label and I completely understand. I just can’t do it after one month and a start against the Orioles. Castillo made more sense. I was a sell high guy in April and while I’ve obviously changed my tune lately (I hope those that sold got something that’s working back!), this isn’t a statement that Glasnow is real suddenly. We expected him to dominate the Orioles. This really doesn’t change anything from last week outside that it hasn’t fallen apart. But hey, he gets the Diamondbacks next and…I probably won’t give it out there either if it’s more of the same. I’M SORRY.
Kyle Hendricks – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. Here I was giving those that really wanted to chase someone else on the wire the free pass to move on from Hendricks, he goes and earns a CGSHO against a good Cardinals lineup. WHAT IS THIS. I guess we’re in this one for the longhaul now. In more exciting news, Hendricks has recorded the best MS Score this year of 6 – for those unaware, MS Score = ER + Hits + BBs + Ks for starts of 8 IP or more. An additional .33 is added for each out past 24, giving us an MS Score of 6 for Hendricks. I’m not sure it’ll get beat this season.
Mike Minor – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. This is getting wild now with 22 strikeouts in just two starts from Minor, holding a 1.43 ERA on the year if you axe his first start…but also a 3.74 SIERA via a .223 BABIP and 96% LOB rate. He’s really feeling it with his fastball/changeup approach and we have no choice but to play this one out to its conclusion.
James Paxton – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. You see this line and fear hits. Yep, Paxton’s yearly injured stint is upon us as he left the game with a sore knee. Here’s to hoping he’s back on the bump before all our teams crumble.
Chris Sale – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks. We keep talking about Sale’s velocity being an issue – 93 mph in this one is much better, but we’re looking for 95 mph averaged – but does it really matter? He has 28 strikeouts in his last three starts, allowing just 4 ER in 18 IP. So while we’re waiting for “prime” Sale to show up, it’s great to see him still give us the lines that match it. Yes, this whole thing is about “better stuff = better chance he performs at an ace level”, it’s just wild to see Sale return this much production and for us to still be cautious, you know? BASEBALL IS WEIRD. He also earned seven whiffs on fastballs, which is easily the highest of the season. Phew. 38/104 CSW against the ChiSox. Things are fine.
Trent Thornton – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. This might be the best start I’ve seen from Thornton regarding his fastball command, keeping the ball high-and-tight to right-handers a ton. His curveball got a bit too much of the plate and the other secondary options were kinda bland, but the fastball was good enough to do the trick. 22/102 CSW is a product of those poor secondary offerings, but with that heater, it’s a nice foundation that he could build on moving forward. Keep him on your radar, but sit out the Twins next.
Brett Anderson – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Sure, whatever Brett.
Shane Bieber – 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. So he had that one bad game against the Braves. Whatever, he’s doing dope things and it’s wonderful. Now he has back-to-back starts against the ChiSox and we’ll soon start hearing the calls for AGA with Bieber as well.
Kevin Gausman – 1.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks. Gausman faced Urena and beaned him as revenge for throwing at Acuna last year. Baseball’s traditions are really just the greatest things, aren’t they?
Yusei Kikuchi – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks. FINALLY. Jeeez Kikuchi, what took you so long? Maybe you need the break to reset and clear your mind as 32/93 CSW is great, especially with 15 whiffs. His fastball finally started to miss bats (10/55 whiffs) and things are good. Yes, this was the Tribe so I can’t be that happy, but we’re starting him moving forward.
Robbie Ray – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. Ray survived Coors because he’s Ray and does what he wants. The WHIP is a bit on the high side because we can’t have everything, but hopefully this is a start along the “great stretch” we’ll be referencing at the All-Star break.
Brandon Woodruff – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. So that’s two straight 5.0 IP 1 ER games against the Mets with 6+ Ks – the only solid back-to-back games he’s had all year. Seriously, this is essentially identical save for one extra K and walk here. The Nats and Phils are next and I understand going after this, though I think it may be a bit tumultuous for Woodruff. Just five frames in both don’t speak to confidence.
Matt Boyd – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks. You’re a Boyd Boy or Bee Gee, right? How could you not be?
Kyle Gibson – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Gibson got the Pinstripes and was fine. Blegh WHIP and a 3.60 ERA but better than I expected. Jays next and that’s cool.
Jeremy Hellickson – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks. I know this is lovely and you’re happy, but don’t bring this man into your village. He will burn it down.
Eric Lauer – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. It’s boring, it’s productive, it’s a night that simply did not matter.
Jack Flaherty – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 9 Ks. Flaherty allowed a three-run bomb after two walks in the third and was incredibly solid otherwise. He even endured a horribly called 1-2 pitch that reminds us that life just isn’t fair at times. He blew away the competition for his Gallows Pole via 21 whiffs.
Sonny Gray – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. Blegh. I’m all for Sonny being a solid starter this year in his rebound season, but come Gray, 23% CSW against the Giants with a comfortable lead? NOT A SINGLE WHIFF ON BREAKING STUFF?! What is this.
Clayton Kershaw – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Yeah, that’s fine Kershaw. I’m not expecting the world from you, but this is fine even with a PQS.
Steven Matz – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Without whiffs on his secondary stuff, it’s hard for Matz to be consistently good. Expect a decent amount of outings like this one.
Jorge Lopez – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Whoa, six Ks! Too bad I don’t like his stuff much. JorLo is one of those arms that may end up being a Toby but I’ll call a Panda the entire year.
Joe Musgrove – 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. Bleeeeeeegh. That second frame was tough to watch and Musgrove just didn’t have it. I’m sure you want more analysis than this but you don’t need it. Just keep starting Musgrove and brush this one off. But Nick, just one strikeout! ONE STRIKEOUT?! HAISTFMFWT?!
Dan Straily – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. Ah yes, the Straily we all know and hate.
Jose Urena – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. Remember that lovely Urena start he had? No. Exactly. If you roster Jose, Urena boatload of trouble.
Tyler Anderson – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Well yeah, we’re so far removed from the days of Tyler being cool n stuff. It’s like sideways caps, they just don’t work now. They never worked. I wish I could tell my high school self that.
Reynaldo Lopez – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. Welp, pack it up boys. We were calling this start the one where we could say Lopez truly turned a corner if he pulled off a strong outing against the Sawx, but six ER and a 2.20 WHIP? But Nick! 15 whiffs and 35/105 CSW! This is actually a decent point – his slider and changeup weren’t all that bad and 5 ER came on 2 HRs with four scoreless frames in between – and he does get the Indians next. Okay, okay, Reynaldo, I’ll give you one more shot. Just one more. Don’t mess it up.
Tyler Beede – 2.1 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Well this. Um. Hmmmm. Well I looked into Beede’s beady eyes, I saw the flames. And I realize now these were legit flames of the teams I wanted to “have fun” starting Beede last night and not the flames of the Lord of Light. Yeaaaaaaah, drop and roll y’all. Drop and roll.
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.
Chris Bassitt vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – I know, it’s kinda nuts, but Bassitt has looked solid in his first two starts and it’s the Pirates.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Spencer Turnbull vs. Kansas City Royals – A pretty easy stream as Turnbull boasts a 2.57 ERA – crazy!
Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer
Anthony DeSclafani vs. San Francisco Giants – I’m a little sold on Tony Disco’s new curveball, enough that I’d trust him against the Giants. Martin Perez vs. Toronto Blue Jay is another solid option if Disco isn’t available.
Game of the Day
Zack Wheeler vs. Milwaukee Brewers – Please average 97+ on your heater. Please please please.
(Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire)
I sold Glasnow early for Eloy. Still hopeful that one isn’t a complete bust.
Has to be better than 2017 when I sold Judge early for Glasnow right?
You are getting pretty liberal with the AGA talk IMO.
I don’t think traditions is the right word for the Gausman thing. I think in 2019, tradition has a lot of negative connotation and implies that it is an artifact of the past, when it actually seems to be quite the contemporary value. I think its pretty straight forward and I get why it happens. Pitchers get upset and they don’t have much other recourse. What else would they do? We don’t refer to foul behavior in other sports as tradition. IMO, the tradition is the media making it into an issue. In any case, what I thought was really funny was rotoworld’s hacky take that, “Gausman had been struggling with his command, and the ball clearly got away from him on that one, but the got the heave-ho anyways,”. Its just the crazy nature of reporting facts and the role of narrative in modern media. Nobody knows what actually happened, but that doesn’t stop the digital ink from flowing. I though that Urena’s initial HBP was an accident lol. Why would someone want to get ejected after 1 hitter? In any case, I am huge fan of throwing behind someone’s back. Its not a cheap shot – its a formal invitation to settle it in the middle of the infield.
Too liberal? Nah all he said is people will be calling for AGA on Glasnow and Bieber. He’s taken it away from Sale and added it to Castillo.
Nick, should I drop Mikolas for Eickhoff? Hendricks over both? I dropped Hendricks (rather than Mikolas) after his last dud of an outing and then of course he goes out and throws a CGSHO, as if to spite me. I would have to wait until 5/13/19 to pick Hendricks back up due to weekly waiver locks, so at this point I’m only eyeing up this Eickhoff-for-Miles move. As always, thanks for your advice.
Cmon the Nats without Rendon, turner and Soto is nearly a marlins level lineup. I wouldn’t be confident in Eickhoff until he shows something against the cardinals.