Lucas Warm Reception

Last night was the return of Lucas Giolito to the majors as he made his first start of 2017 for the White Sox, going 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. I intently watched this game as I’m writing a GIF Breakdown on Giolito that I’ll be finishing up once this article is live. (By the way, if you guys are curious where all these GIF Breakdowns of mine are, they’re on Rotographs as I’m doing two a week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.) Anyway, what you’ll see in that article is how terrible Giolito’s command is. It’s really really bad. His Fastball was all over the place and faced a ton of hitters’ counts. His Curveball couldn’t fall for a strike and his Changeup was inconsistent as well. He allowed 3 HR, but it felt like a matter of time as he missed so many locations it hurt. I recommend checking out the back-and-forth I had on Twitter with Jeff Long of Baseball Prospectus if you want more thoughts on this game, but in the end, I’m not trusting Giolito in a 12-teamer next time out and I question if we’ll see a version I can trust this season. He just lacks so much polish.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

Kyle Gibson – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. You know what is the crazy part about this outing? I was forced to watch it as Gibson went opposite Giolito and I couldn’t help but think “Gee (Yes? Ugh, get out of here Dillon), Gibson looks a lot better than Giolito. And this is Kyle freakin’ Gibson. That says a lot about Giolito.

Lucas Sims – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. This is the ceiling of Sims. It’s a really tall ceiling that you needed to bring a trampoline into the living room to reach. You somehow avoided injury today, but you know I’m not going back on that damn thing. I like my ankles not being destroyed.

Chris Archer – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Alright alright, maybe I was too harsh on Archer a week ago. It’s not like he was owning teams like this, though.

Patrick Corbin – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. This is getting crazy from Corbin as he’s suggesting Top 25 territory. That’s crazy Nick. Is it? Just 2 ER over his last four games while averaging over 7 Ks per start and save for a 7 ER blip against the Cubs on the 1st of August, he’s allowed 3 ER or fewer in every game since June 8th. That’s 14 of 15 starts! If he’s somehow still out there, you best get on board.

Doug Fister – 9.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Of course Fister pulls one out of his…briefcase to go nine innings against the Indians. Don’t you dare believe he can do this again.

Ricky Nolasco – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. Sure, whatever Nolasco.

Aaron Nola – 6.1 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. Um…what? This was Nola day and Nola day is supposed to be the best day. THE BEST. You could argue there was a little Careful Icarus here as Nola allowed 4 ER via the longball in the seventh – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BB, 7 Ks prior – but I can’t just do that every time. It’s not fair. NO IT’S NOT. Nola is also coming off a 5 ER outing against the Giants, so you might think that Nola is now going to drop a ton in the rankings and kill your team the rest of the way. Come on, don’t be so reactionary. It’s possible we’re in for a rough patch, but are we going to give up on Nola after such a fantastic run when his Fastball velocity didn’t drop (at least not in this one) and kept the same pitch mix? I’m staying strong.

Jameson Taillon – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 1 Ks. Now with Taillon…this a bit more disconcerting. There’s one thing struggling against the Dodgers, it’s another to do so while walking five and fanning just one. It was raining a bit last time out, allowing me to excuse the three walks a little, but this…this is weird. Call me crazy, do what you want, but I’m holding Taillon and think he’ll come out the other end of this serviceable come September. I’ll go down with this ship if I have to, it seems either he’s hurt or he’ll recover.

Carlos Carrasco – 6.2 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. And then there’s Carrasco who got manhandled by the Red Sox. For a guy with such good stuff, it’s amazing how often he coughs up a terrible outing amid stud performances. He’s the ultimate Cherry Bomb and I really need to start treating him like one. This is the fifth time in eleven starts that he’s allowed at least 5 ER. That’s just not acceptable.

Jeff Samardzija – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Speaking of Cherry Bombs, we have Loose Lips over here doing nothing extreme whatsoever. Huh. Doesn’t change my opinion of him either way as he’s someone I’m starting more times than not, but it would be remiss not to mention that his floor is lower than it should be.

Jimmy Nelson – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. Uggggggh. That’s a 2.00 WHIP with an atrocious ERA and I don’t know what to think about Nelson right now. I want to group him in with Taillon and Nola and say that he’ll come out the other side n all, but seeing him at 99 pitches through five just doesn’t inspire confidence. We’re going to dive into this on the podcast, and for now I’m still holding. We’ve come so far Nelson, I’m not losing you yet. Sidenote: I feel like August has been the month of all good things coming to an end – Nola, Taillon, Nelson, Clevinger Godley struggling, Paxton + Lester + Scherzer hurt…funniest part is that it all should be corrected by September. The Battle of Augustus.

Danny Duffy – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. That’s a beautiful outing Duffy after allowing 12 ER in his previous three games. I wonder which side we’ll see more of in the final weeks but for now, you’re starting him until there’s a big reason not to.

Homer Bailey – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. Bailey left this game early with a shoulder issue, and said it’s not a problem. Sure it isn’t Homer Bale. Sure it isn’t.

Paul Blackburn – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks. Blackburn also left early as he was struck by a line drive on his pitching hand. I’d guess he misses a start, though y’all know I’m not a fan of him in the first place.

Marco Gonzales – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. I want to call Marco a Young Gun as I’m not ready to give up on him for future seasons, but there is no reason to chase him in 2017.

Jon Gray – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Okay so this is clearly good as Gray went to Kansas City. Just 8 whiffs across 101 pitches isn’t ideal, but we’re still riding him in Atlanta next time without a doubt.

Tanner Roark – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. You’re happy with this from Roark as he faced the Astros. Yet I still question if Roark will help more than hurt down the stretch. You could do worse in a 12-teamer, but don’t forget how much of a coin flip he is.

Tyson Ross – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. I just feel sad looking at Ross’ starts every five days. It’s going to be a tough trip to Free Agency this off-season.

Dan Straily – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks. This is what Straily does. He’s super boring a ton then BAM! 10 Ks. It helps that he faced the Phillies, who he’s earned 7& 10 Ks against in his other two starts this year. And guess what! He gets them two more times before September 15th. Awwww yis. Oh, and enjoy your Gallows Pole with a luscious 23 whiff count.

Masahiro Tanaka – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. Welcome back Tanaka, I’ll take this if you decided his short stint wasn’t worth listening to the DLH gods.

Jose Urena – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. I made a bet with Ian on the podcast last week that Urena would allow at least 3 ER in this start, as if you’re starting him you’re making the bet that he’ll give up just 2 ER or fewer. It’s pretty easy when you think of it this way.

Lance Lynn – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. I have to admit, I’m amazed it took this long for Lynn to serve up a bad ERA start. I hope that 1.17 WHIP is worth it as 4 Ks do little to help.

Charlie Morton – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. I was hoping Morton could pull it off against a hurt Nationals lineup and…he kinda did? Obviously the 4 ER are bad, but a 1.00 WHIP and 6 Ks help you out. Keep rolling with him.

Clayton Richard – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. It’s the wrong Clayton! The real one comes back next week. YES.

Chris Rowley – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. Hold on a second Chris…almost there…ahhh there we go. Sorry, I couldn’t write this blurb without listening to Ozzy Osbourne, Mr. C. Rowley. What is it that you want to tell me? You’re a Cup of Schmo. That’s it? Yep, but before you go, can you do the solo? IT’S SO GOOD.

Ubaldo Jimenez – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Yep, that’s Ubaldo alright.

Tommy Milone – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Milone Schmilone. Wait, you’re back? Why?

Brock Stewart – 2.0 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks. Blegh. I was curious if Stewart could provide some value, but the answer is a pretty obvious no.

John Lackey – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Dang, Lackey was getting into a groove prior and now he takes a step back against the Reds, who have been super hot. Fortunately he gets the Phils next and you want all of that.

Nick Pivetta – 1.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. It was a double-header day and I was hoping Pivetta could pull off a good amount of strikeouts while not killing your ratios. Yeah, that didn’t work out. That’s the life of streaming. Streamer Record 66-48-14.

Matt Boyd – 2.1 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. This is why we’re Boyd Watching.

Today’s Streamer

Andrew Heaney vs. Texas Rangers – I don’t think he’ll allow 4 HR again and the other options are Matt Moore vs the Brewers , who I never want to trust and Austin Pruitt against the Jays, which just doesn’t seem like it has a high enough ceiling.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Jerad Eickhoff vs. Miami Marlins – Fortunately y’all dropped Eickhoff down below 25% so he’s back on the table as there was nothing else to choose here. Phew.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Adam Conley vs. San Diego Padres – Conley racked up 11 Ks last time out and now he gets the Padres. Yes please. I could imagine someone streaming A.J. Griffin against the Athletics as well if I really needed the help.

Game of the Day

Luke Weaver vs. San Diego Padres – A couple of intriguing starters going to day- Godley vs. Mets, Bundy vs. Oakland – but it’s Weaver’s return to the rotation and I want to see where he’s at.