German Made

Colorado pitchers have been a heavy discussion this year, with Gray, Hoffman, Freeland, Senzatela, Chatwood, and Anderson all getting significant airtime. And none have really stuck to make us satisfied owners. But then there’s German Marquez who slowed down for a while before exploding for 28 Ks in three games concluding with last night’s 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks. Marquez had fanned nine just once in his previous 14 games and now we need to give this the legit scrutiny as two of these games were in Coors and the sole road game was last night in D.C. I’ve done some digging and I’ve found a few things. First, he was hitting 96.5mph last night with his Fastball as he’s averaging just under 95mph on the year, and has been above his season high (save for one start) in each of his last three games. That’s definitely helping. He’s also held 11%+ whiff rates in each start – which is far from shocking giving the strikeout rates. It’s coming via his Curveball…which isn’t doing too many majorly different things. I guess I’m not totally sold he’s going to keep this up – I wonder if the velocity will stick – and I could be missing a major indicator, but I’m definitely starting him against the Mets next.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

Adam Conley – 7.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. Okay okay okay. That’s three straight great outings from Conley as he returned from the minors. Is there a major change? Well, there is one, which is his Fastball command. Check out the heatmap for the pitch prior to being demoted to the minors. Now compare that across his last three starts. It doesn’t take a genius to tell you he’s hitting his spots a lot better now, which sets the tone for everything. The main question is if this is going to stick…and maybe? It makes me think there was something mechanical that he changed, but unfortunately I can’t go digging into that right now (feel free to look and dive into it in the comments!). My gut says pick him up for Atlanta next time out and see where this takes you. If that goes well, bench for the Nats, but then Giants, Mets, Padres….that’s 4 out of his next 5 starts that could be valuable…

Kevin Gausman – 8.2 IP, 0 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks. 31.3% Splitters! 72.7% First-Pitch Strikes! Ohhhhh man, he’s feeling it right now guys. Those are the two numbers I care about with Gausman and he’s in such a good place right now. It’s Tigers, Angels, Athletics, Angels next and I want all of that.

Collin McHugh – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. THERE IS SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT TODAY. McHugh had a great start after being terrible in a clear DLH start last time out. Same approach as before, but it all worked a little better. No, I don’t buy this. He’s not the guy from 2014 where it relied so heavily on his Cutter nipping the top of the zone and I don’t see him getting the same movement on the pitch this year. I’d rather chase Gaus/Conley/Marquez.

Eduardo Rodriguez – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. I know you’re thinking you want to drop Eduardo, but he gets the ChiSox next. At least stick it out for that one and we’ll talk after that.

Trevor Cahill – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Cahill had a tough matchup in his first start as a Royal and it went poorly. I started him hoping his previous start was a fluke, but this just wasn’t good. We’re not at “DROP” territory yet as his next three starts are Mariners, Cards, White Sox, and I’m rolling with him for all three.

Junior Guerra – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. Guerra was all over the place and already had over 60 pitches in just three innings, so the Brewers pulled him early. Not like you were worried anyway because you don’t own him, but there it is.

Yusmeiro Petit – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. Okay this is super nostalgic. This was a bullpen game, though Petit has had a some history starting in his career where he somehow kept his head well above water and made owners happy. Don’t expect a repeat, I’d be shocked if this A) continues with him in the rotation and B) becomes something you feel like you “missed out on.”

Jerad Eickhoff – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Blegh. It’s just a good ERA, but only five innings, a bad WHIP and 3 Ks. I wanted you to inspire confidence after steamrolling the Braves, not this dish served lame. Are you making fun of one-legged waiters? EVERY DAY.

Yovani Gallardo – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Sure, whatever YoGa.

Zack Greinke – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Mmmmm.

Jacob deGrom – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks. Aces gonna ace. I have to say, I’m kinda enjoying this Greinke vs. deGrom battle especially when they’re pitching on the same days. They are just so close in value.

Kyle Hendricks – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. This is such a Hendricks start. A low ERA/WHIP that pulls you in, but it’s just 5 innings and 3 Ks. Hendricks is on the trampoline and getting close to the ceiling here, but will hit his head or come crashing to the floor first? Stay tuned. 

Rich Hill – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. I didn’t think Hill had it in him to coast to an easy BABIP game, but there it is. Shoutout to my good friend Dave Roberts for pulling him at 86 pitches one out away from a Quality Start.

Sean Newcomb – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. Okay this doesn’t hurt in any way and is a clear Win, but it’s a little boring, you know? Streamer Record 53-39-12.

Ty Blach – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Blach. Please don’t jump into this pool. You don’t know what’s been in that water.

Dinelson Lamet – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. Beautiful Lamet, way to take advantage of a weak team as our Backup Call Boy. I’d roll with him again as he faces the Pirates.

Adalberto Mejia – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. I’ve written and deleted what to say about Mejia about ten times now. Because it’s all just so boring and I feel like you guys deserve better. This is what you’re getting – Mejia is a TEEs and not a shirt I’d wear.

Caleb Smith – 3.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. I’d be surprised if Smith got another start with the massive Acquisition of Jaime Garcia and possibly Sonny Gray as well. Just a Cup of Schmo and we need to move on.

Matt Boyd – 7.1 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. Ehhh it’s better than what we normally see from Boyd, but I’m still here Boyd Watching.

Miguel Gonzalez – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. Miguel…no.

Mike Leake – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Leake is good for a few good starts the rest of the way. Good luck figuring out which ones those are.

Francisco Liriano – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Such a sad day for Liriano as it might be his last in Toronto. Okay we have no idea if that’s true (and would that actually be sad?) but he was able to provide value with a PQS and a 1.00 WHIP. This is the weirdest Liriano year and it makes me question our reality.

Blake Snell – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Snell is the biggest PEAS of them all and please get him off your team.

Austin Bibens-Dirkx – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. Digglerx had a nice little run to start his career as a starter, was demoted to the pen but now returned to glorious trumpets. Those Monty Python kinds. You don’t want none of this.

Corey Kluber – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 12 Ks. Aces almost going to ace but still ace but really not.

Ivan Nova – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. I’m surprised to see over a K per inning, but the rest is somewhat standard from Nova these days. Suit man whispers into my ear. Ahhhh it was the Padres! Wait, that makes what was confusing not confusing and the norm not the norm. QUIT MESSING WITH MY HEAD NOVA. But seriously, I can see Nova still owned in deep 12-teamers, but for the most part I have to imagine there is someone to chase on the SP landscape, or maybe even a possible hitter to help your offense.

Tanner Roark – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 8 Ks. Huh. That’s two straight high strikeout games from Roark.

Chris Smith – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. On top of having the most generic name is baseball, his stuff is as middling as there is. He will forever be known as Unremarkable Johnson. But his name is Smith. Well, if his name is mediocre and his stuff is mediocre, you have to think everything is mediocre.

Tim Adleman – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks. Each of Adleman’s last eight starts have been at least 3 ER. Ouch.

Today’s Streamer

Luis Castillo vs. Miami Marlins – Alright, I think I’m allowed as some assuredly dropped him after his last start out. If he’s not there I’d go with Vince Velasquez against the Braves, though that comes with some clear risk given Freeman and VV’s lackluster previous outing. Why not Homer Bailey against the Pirates? Have you seen Bailey thus far?!

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Nick Pivetta vs. Atlanta Braves – He has the K upside and doesn’t face a strong offense. Also it’s him or Jharel Cotton coming back from the DL against the Giants and I much prefer this one.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Paul Blackburn vs. San Francisco Giants – The Giants are bad and should feel bad. I’m not a Blackburn fan but he has the best matchup and holds a 2.25 ERA through five…even though it’s a 3.38 K/9 and 4.99 xFIP. So you’re saying you hate this. Sure do, but I gotta have someone and I guess I’ll roll the die here. It’s the life of picking a streamer every. Single. Day.

Game of the Day

Erick Fedde vs. Colorado Rockies – I don’t expect this to go well as Fedde to me isn’t a guy that should be too 12-teamer relevant. He’s a groundball guy with a hint of strikeout upside but nothing that would make me chase an inexperienced pitcher. But I’m ready to be proven wrong when we get a legit look at him today. Otherwise, I’d be watching Jacob Faria vs Jordan Montgomery because duh. Or Lance McCullers against Justin Verlander. Or Luis Castillo against IT DOESN’T MATTER. And Paxton…and Bumgarner…It’s a good day.