Luke What The Cards Dragged In

I think we need to take a moment to discuss Luke Weaver after his 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks yesterday afternoon against the Reds. That’s now a 1.15 ERA, 1.78 FIP, 1.98 xFIP, 12.06 K/9, 1.15 BB/9, and 0.89 WHIP (just four walks!) in his last five games as he’s faced the Padres, Brewers, Giants, Pirates, and Reds. Yes, that’s a great schedule and obviously Weaver isn’t a sub 2.00 ERA guy with a K/9 north of 10.00. Duh. The point here is that he has a fantastic foundation with his Fastball/Changeup combination that holds back the walks while getting batters well off balance. He gets the Reds, Cubs, Brewers the rest of the way and I’m obviously on board, but let’s talk more about 2018. His 91.6% LOB rate in this time is absurd and will fall as well, but even if it falls to a 3.30 ERA next season with a 9.00 K/9 and 2.50 BB/9, that’s still Top 30 value.  I think people are going to think he gets over-drafted when in actuality I see him being underdrafted because of the stigma and overall “unknown” of Weaver. I’ll probably have him near #40 when I do my super early rankings in October and I imagine him being a target in all my leagues.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

Zack Godley – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. Aces gonna ace. If you don’t have the faith, you don’t deserve the gates.

Jake Thompson – 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks. Don’t looks at the 6 Ks and 0 ER and make that stup—stop twirling your mustache. No. Please don—Added Jake Thompson. NOOOOO. The guy has a 4.21 BB/9, 4.46 ERA, and 5.91 FIP. Yes, he’s had two starts in his last three with 13 Ks/1 ER combined. Woop de do. He owned the Marlins twice after they owned him once prior. He’s not Jake the Snake, he’s Jake the For Heaven’s Sake.

Jose Berrios – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks. Uggggh, why did you have to walk four batters? You don’t need to walk four Jays batters.

Felix Hernandez – 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. Felix finally returned and did pretty well in his DLH start. He was limited to under 60 pitches and didn’t hold back mixing everything, throwing just 19 Fastballs among the 54 pitches. The Rangers are now heading to Seattle for Felix’s next start, which I imagine is about 80 pitches. Can’t say I love that, but I think by his third start against the A’s I’ll be back on board.

Jake Junis – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks. Impressive against the Indians, but just one strikeout makes me think he got away with one here. He gets the Jays next, which I’m all for, but that’s the last start I’d roll with Junis for the rest of the year.

Brad Peacock – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Raise your hand if you’re not happy to see Peacock continue to start. Jeff raises his head. Seriously? I’m playing against him in my H2H finals next week. Okay that’s fair. I hope he pitches well to the end and forces the Astros to find him a spot in their rotation come April.

Drew Pomeranz – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. The Dirty Cheerleader strikes again, though he needed 111 pitches to get through six frames in his normal style.

Brett Anderson – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. Nothing says blegh like Bleghderson.  

Ricky Nolasco – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks. Sure, whatever Nolasco.

Tanner Roark – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. Roark was granted one of the best September schedules, but that isn’t a guarantee that he’ll do well. Good to see him capitalize.

Masahiro Tanaka – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. Beautiful. Yes, the WHIP could be better, but eight strikeouts and 2 ER over 7.00? Yes please.

Josh Tomlin – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Today you, tomorrow no one. What does this even mean. It means I’ve run out of ways to say “Tomlin, you’re not good enough to trust on any given night.” Ah, thanks.

Mike Foltynewicz – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. When Folty does well in his first two starts next year, we’re not going to jump on board unless we see some major improvements, right? Can we please make that pact now? Also, he left this game early with a “Cut Finger”, if you were curious.

Daniel Gossett – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. He’s a Cup of Schmo and I’d be shocked if that changes this year or next.

Amir Garrett – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 7 Ks. I’ll be writing about Garrett right after this Roundup gets out, and from what I watched in this one, Garrett’s command just isn’t there. He has some decent raw stuff, but can we expect him to get the command down pat anytime soon? I’m not betting on it. Streamer Record 75-57-16. 

James Shields – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. Seven Ks are shocking, the rest sure isn’t.

Andrew Cashner – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 5 BBs, 2 Ks. And without Cashner giving you ratios, all you have left to salvage is…two strikeouts. I’m a little sad that he couldn’t make his ERA/xFIP gap even larger, but I can’t say I’m all too shocked he didn’t work out.

Jen-Ho Tseng – 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Some were streaming this as Tseng made his MLB debut. His minor league numbers were pretty pedestrian, and he came out firing 91-92. That’s pretty pedestrian.

Chad Bell – 3.1 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Chad got his Bell rung.

Seth Lugo – 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Remember this is 2018. Please.

Vance Worley – 1.1 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Yep, that’s Worley alright. Jeeeeeez.

Chad Bettis – 0.1 IP, 5 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks. Man, this day could not be any worse…

Wade Miley – 0.1 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks. …Challenge Accepted.

Today’s Streamer

Rafael Montero vs. Atlanta Braves – I don’t love it, but it could go decently well. What a resounding endorsement. YOU’RE A RESOUNDING ENDORSEMENT. I’m changing this one and don’t hate me. Carson Fulmer vs. Detroit Tigers. I liked the movement I saw last time from Fulmer and the Tigers are downright terrible.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Reynaldo Lopez vs. Detroit Tigers – Still only owned in 11.6% of leagues and he gets the lackluster Tigers. Awww yeah.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Garrett Richards vs. Texas Rangers – He’s owned in under 25% of leagues and he’s reading to produce for your squad. Other options include Kyle Gibson against the Jays because the dude is rolling and I’m on board as long as he’s facing poor squads, as well as Robert Stephenson against the Pirates if you need last-minute strikeout upside.

Game of the Day

James Paxton vs. Charlie Morton – PAXTON IS BACK BABY. Oh and yeah Morton is cool too, I guess.