Jakob’s Ladder

(Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire)

There are some nights where middling arms act like studs and Jake Junis is sure to make owners consider the pickup after putting up a line of 9.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks Tuesday night. Thing is, Junis was kinda killing it entering this start, returning a 2.45 ERA and 1.88 FIP across his last four starts. Still, I’m a bit conflicted. You’d think in a start like this that his slider was fantastic and helped him cruise to the finish line -it’s his money pitch and performed well in each of those last four games. Well, the slider was actually pretty meh if not blegh (big difference in meh and blegh, y’all) and his lucky BABIP on fastballs and slide pieces were the difference here. It’s a bit of Blame it on the Tigers, a bit of “good run magic” (is that a thing?), and we have to still consider him as just a streamer. After an easy skip next time against the Indians, the Twins follow back-to-back and you might find yourself okay with him a bit September. Don’t blindly start Junis, but just keep him in the pool of options down the stretch. Streaming Record: 83-41.

Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:

Clay Buchholz – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. His stuff just keeps going his way and you should let it ride, let it ride. Don’t trust it for next year, but who cares right now?

Madison Bumgarner – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks. He’s going deeper and having success. Not a clean outing, but this helps across the board and I’m a fan. I can see a strong end to the year and I’m super curious where his ADP will fall next year. Maybe Top 20? We’ll see.

Carlos Carrasco – 7.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 11 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Great rebound after his 5 ER effort against the Sawx last time out and here’s to a strong September ahead.

Kyle Freeland – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Cutters actually took a step back in this one to about 25% instead of 35%, but still a great game from Freeland and I’m a believer.

Cole Hamels – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks.  His cutter is still killing it, though it’s a bit disappointing to see him leave so soon from the game.  Nevertheless, Hamels is still in a fantastic groove and even if this short start, he helped out plenty. Keep on keepin’ on, fella.

Jacob Nix – 8.1 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks. You’re reading that right. Not a single walk or strikeout, which tallied up to a 79 pitch 8.1 performance, pulled after allowing a Nelson Cruz HR in the ninth. He went 21 curveballs with just 7 changeups, tallying only one whiff across all 79 pitches. Yikes. I think there’s a solid arm underneath it all, but I’m not ready to trust in a BABIP like this agai.

Ryne Stanek – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks. Another False Start here as Yonny Chirinos followed with 2 ER and 10 baserunners in five innings. Just stop trying to make this work your fantasy team. It’s not gonna happen.

Jacob deGrom – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks. Aces gonna ace. It’s crazy, that’s 6 of his last 10 games with at least 8.0 IP. The dude is the best pitcher in the NL, deal with it. Even though this game suspended and won’t “exist” until it’s completed on Wednesday afternoon, deGrom earns the Gallows Pole at 21 whiffs. Atta boy.

Jack Flaherty – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. We’re going to be talking about Flaherty a lot this off-season, I’m sure, though I have to believe I’ll be slotting him right around #25 come March. The lack of third pitch paired with small(ish) sample size forces me to bake in more regression than I’d like. That doesn’t mention how his IPS is generally plenty lower than seven frames. A #25 rank doesn’t mean I dislike him, just not enough to reach in drafts. And maybe I’ll come around by Spring Trainng. We’ll see.

Brian Johnson – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. You may have started Johnson in hopes to steal a Win. It’s hard to do that when you don’t pitch five frames. Hard? I mean Hard as a Rock. What you thought I’d break tradition and leave out an AC/DC reference? Not a chance.

Aaron Nola – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. Aces gonna aces. Guess who loves Nola Day? ME. I love Nola day.

Walker Buehler – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks.  Wild to see Buehler needing 84 pitches to get through just four frames against the Rangers but, well, there it is. That 1.50 WHIP and 4.50 ERA sure aren’t pretty but at least it’s five Ks and not many frames of ratio expression? Forget it and move on.

Felix Hernandez – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. The Prince had one of the better games he’ll have all season and let’s all have a wonderful Birthday Party in celebration. Let’s not make this more than it is, y’all.

Edwin Jackson – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. It’s as if EJax was performing above his paygrade until his previous start. As my high school basketball coach would say after a suggestion of his worked, WHAT A CONCEPT! WHAT A CONCEPT!

Noe Ramirez – 1.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks. Another False Start as the Angels are in shambles. SHAMBLES I SAY! But seriously, this is a Noe from me, dawg.

James Shields – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. Jimmy Bucklers tried to steal a Quality Start against the Yanks but aaahhhh these coppers! They got him good. I’m amazed he made a 3:4 K per BB survive. Somehow.

Ariel Jurado – 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. I don’t want to be a part of this world. I have more. When Ariel parks in the mall, he puts his car under the C. Sometimes I wonder if I should restrain myself a little more.

Lance Lynn – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. I can’t help but be impressed by Lynn’s K per BB numbers since becoming a Yankee, but I’m not too shocked by his third 3 ER game in five starts. I think he should be started against middling to poor teams as he’s in pinstripes, but ignored otherwise. Such a hot take, I know.

Charlie Morton – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. Bleeeeeegh. I need you now Morton, if you’re healthy – and I still can’t believe that you are – I need more from you. Please.

Josh Rogers – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. Josh is stuck wondering why he can’t be more like Aaron or Steve. Heck, even Kenny. At least he did some good things sometimes. Except for that whole camera incident. Don’t be like that Josh.

Max Scherzer – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. Aces gonna wonder what happened to owning the #1 spot. WHAT HAPPENED.

Anthony DeSclafani – 6.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. His Slider was still solid, but the just isn’t enough overall to make him a consistently strong play. A decent Hail Mary stream, but not a good overall play.

Ivan Nova – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. Nothing like a good ole Grave Mistake from Nova to make you wonder why you ever thought things could be different. Just one strikeout Nova? HAISTFMFWT?!

Julio Teheran – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Yeah that’s about right. A little too much pain without enough reward from Teheran.

Jose Urena – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. It’s a VPNQS and I’ll never do that acronym again. It’s terrible. Just like rolling with Urena costly because, as they say, if you roster Jose, Urena boatload of trouble.

Matt Boyd – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. Super disappointing here from Boyd as he faced the Royals. Fastball was on the lower end hover 90/91 instead of the 91/92 we’ve seen + 28/97 CSW is a little too average. He’s been a bit better than expected lately and this step back may make me turn elsewhere if he is one of many options.

Kyle Gibson – 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. Gibson has been in a rut and facing the Indians isn’t fair. Good news here is his ROS schedule is plenty more favorable. I’d be tempted to chase Gibby if he were dropped in my league

Junior Guerra – 1.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Man, I would have ran out with this and it’s terrible. Straight terrible. Not saying that his pitches were straight, but they sure weren’t sharp and it’s hard to believe in Guerra against the Nationals and Giants next.

Thomas Pannone – 3.1 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks. We all knew this wouldn’t Pannout like the Jays wanted it to. Enjoy your Cup of Schmo label, Tommy.

Today’s Streamer

Mike Minor vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – He’s improved his velocity and makes for a decent streaming option the rest of way.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

John Gant vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – Not much of a choice here, hopefully he can go 5+ strong.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Andrew Suarez vs. New York Mets – It’s between Suarez and Austin Gomber vs. Cincinnati Reds and I’m going to bet against the offense over the starter.

Game of the Day

Michael Fulmer vs. Kansas City Royals – He doesn’t get a ton of favorable starts and I’m 50/50 on this one. Here’s to hoping he looks pristine.