Freddy Kluber

(Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire)

There’s a new kid on the block with a bunch of hits. His name is Freddy Peralta and he went into Coors like it was nothing, producing an unreal 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 13 Ks line for the Brew Crew. This is ridiculous, especially when you realize he threw 90 fastballs in 98 pitches, earning 18 whiffs and 16 called strikes with the pitch. I don’t remember another start where a pitcher dominated this much just with his heater. That fastball has a ton of cut action to it, ranging from 87 to 95, though I wonder if he emphasizes the cut more times than others at the cost of velocity. It was carving up the Rockies and even with his small frame (easily sub six feet), he gets a ton of extension allowing for plenty more deception and “playing up” his heat. Now, the reports from the minors are that this comes with poor command – that wasn’t the case today – and I wonder if we’ll see that as soon as his next start. Craig Counsell has said Peralta will get another outing to his name, which means you pick him up now and figure things out later. This was super impressive and just carrying this upside grants you a roster spot in a 12-teamer. You’ll see him around the 60s tomorrow after this incredible Corey Kluber impression that was a nightmare for the Rockies.

Let’s see how every other SP did Sunday:

Dylan Bundy – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks. Fastball velocity was up, locations were better, and suddenly 10 whiffs appear just with his slider. That’s how it works. It’s super frustrating to have to sit on your hands and wait for the fastball to show up again before jumping back in, but at least we have something to somewhat rely on now. When we see his fastball falter, there’s more faith it can return. I wouldn’t have started him here, but now I’ll start him against…the Red Sox? Nevermind, let him ride the bench one more time. It’s alright.

Jacob deGrom – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. If anyone watched this, it was the most bizarre and infuriating inning I’ve watched in a long time. 20 Foul balls, three walks, 45 pitches, four full counts, and not a single run. It cost deGrom the start as the Mets pulled him as a precaution given his whole injury scare business. I know, I know, he was throwing a no-hitter!

Derek Holland – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 7 Ks. The Dutch Invasion has been staved off by Pirates today. The next day won’t be so lucky.

Dallas Keuchel – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. Last time it was 2014 classic Keuchel. Now we have 2015 classic Keuchel. Please tell me this trend stops here as no one wants 2016 classic Keuchel.

Corey Kluber – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Sorry, I didn’t actually mention Kluber in the lead as the title may have looked, but it worked so I left it. Anyway, the strikeouts are a little low for Kluber as he’s not getting the same whiffs on his cutter and slider. It’s weird and something I think corrects itself over time, but definitely something to monitor.

Sean Newcomb – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks. Newcomb keeps rolling and while there’s a small hint of Blame it on the Marlins here, I’m amazed he threw just 9 curveballs today – NINE – while featuring 32 changeups. It’s blowing my mind.

Jeremy Hellickson – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Nick, you can’t just call him The Devil and write this off every time. He’s allowed just 7 ER in five starts now! With a .237 BABIP! 80.2% LOB rate! Yeah, but a 3.81 SIERA and 20% K rate are good with a 4% BB rate. I’ll take that in my league. THE MAN HAS A 2.5 PVAL WITH HIS FASTBALL. Wait, Hellickson is throwing a fastball that isn’t getting crushed?! NEVERMIND HE’S THE DEVIL.

Aaron Nola – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Aces gonna ace…ish. That’s a near 2.00 WHIP and just 4 Ks and I want a little more against the Mets.

Shohei Ohtani – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 11 Ks. Ohtani having great starts is good for baseball. Please stay healthy…please stay healthy…Oh and enjoy your co-Gallows Pole with 20 whiffs on many glorious splitters and sliders.

Fernando Romero – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. That’s three straight games of 3 walks, but I’ll take that with his 10.8 K/9 and 0.54 ERA. So that’s probably closer to a 3.60 SIERA and the walks will kill outings moving forward, but I think the risk is worth the reward in most scenarios. Grab and discuss later.

Luis Severino – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. Aces gonna ace. There’s a case to put him at #3 with Kluber at #4, but I’m going to hold off a little longer. Need a little more time in the oven, ya know?

Luis Castillo – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks. His velocity was overall as low as we’ve seen, but his command was better and the pitches we did see over the plate were swung through plenty by the Dodgers. Slider still needs some work and this line tacked on an extra hit and ER thanks to being sent out there for the seventh with a 92 pitch count – Careful Icarus – though it’s hard to be that upset when he earned 20 whiffs. His changeup is just too good and he better enjoy that co-Gallows Pole win today.

Blaine Hardy – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. You don’t know who he is. You don’t need to. He’s a Cup of Schmo and that’s all that matters.

Rich Hill – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. Ahhhh, nothing quite says “it’s baseball season” like Rich Hill getting pulled from a start with a finger injury. Do you drop him? Only if there’s something there that can help now, but I can imagine a lot of scenarios where the answer is yes.

Clayton Richard – 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks. It’s the Wrong Clayton! Wait, we’re sure about that, right? …Yes, yes we are.

Adam Wainwright – 2.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 6 BBs, 3 Ks. Six walks may be enough for the Cards to have a chat with Waino. Hey man, how ya feeling? Yeah, that was a rough one, we get that. Say, ever think about hitting up that old watering hole again? You know, the one called The Bullpen? We had some great times there…wonderful times…

Lucas Giolito – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 7 BBs, 3 Ks. If you didn’t think Giolito needs to go to the minors before this start, you better now. Seven walks are enough to last a full season for Rick Porcello.

Kyle Hendricks – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. Yeah, I’ll take this from Hendricks. We got our floor via a PQS and 1.00 WHIP and six Ks to boot.

Matt Moore – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Moore should be replaced by an ice-cream scooper rigged to be a trebuchet. Suit man whispers in my ear What’s that? They banned those in 1953? IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME.

James Paxton – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. Aces gonna ace? Nah. A PQS and 4 Ks aren’t enough, but at least a 1.00 WHIP can make you happy.

Drew Pomeranz – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks. The Dirty Cheerleader really needs a new nickname. I’m thinking Mop. You have to clean up after him and it’s Pom all backwards. He’s waiver wire fodder at this point and that’s too bad.

Jose Urena – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. It’s a PQS from Urena but it doesn’t excuse him from the standard affair. If you roster Jose, Urena boatload of trouble.

Brett Anderson – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. I think Brett would be on the Anti-List if I were to make one. Right around where Josh Tomlin is.

Joe Biagini – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. One day Biagini will make the leap to dependable Toby/#5 starter. One day.

Zack Godley – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. The worry this year has been whiff rates, which weren’t a problem here with a 12% overall mark. Just one walk as well and the real issue was the longball with three to his name. I’ll take that as opposed to poor control as I can believe in better performances moving forward a bit easier.

Ivan Nova – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks. Nothing like a good ole Grave Mistake from Nova. Streaming Record: 23-13.

Blake Snell – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. This was a frustrating start to watch as things didn’t go Snell’s way at all, including three solo jacks in the second. I actually don’t think Snell pitched all too badly, but he needs to throw more than 21% breaking balls if he expects more success. I THOUGHT YOU LEARNED. I’m buying low here.

Jon Gray – 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks. I feel like LD the way I see this. 10 Ks and 17 whiffs! 36 CSW in 101 pitches! Oh and a 3-run bomb in the sixth that turned this into a massive clunker. I think the signs are there for Gray to keep producing, especially when he heads to SFG next.

Danny Duffy – 3.1 IP, 9 ER, 8 Hits, 5 BBs, 2 Ks. Duffy. Buddy. You won’t be on The List tomorrow. That’s where we are right now.

Today’s Streamer

Tyler Anderson vs. San Diego Padres – It’s out of Coors and against the Padres. Yes please.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Tyler Mahle vs. San Francisco Giants – The Giants have performed poorly against good fastballs and Mahle’s is great.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Jake Faria vs. Kansas City Royals – I imagine he’ll be on the wire for a decent amount leagues after his latest blegh outing, and I’d be okay doing this. Faria fluctuates and could turn it around here.

Game of the Day

Patrick Corbin vs. Milwaukee Brewers – I know it’s also Manaea vs. Porcello, but I’m super curious if Corbin’s velocity can return. It’s kinda crucial.