Okay I know that headline is the exact opposite of what I want to detail about Matt Shoemaker – I mean he went 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BB, 7 Ks. last night – but I know I was going to forget that wordplay and didn’t want it to go to waste. Anyway, he now holds a sub 2.00 ERA across his last five starts, and while there are some regression indications like him holding a 5.4% HR/FB in that span, he’s been keeping the ball lower in the zone, while racking up 17 Ks across his last two shutout starts. With Michael Pineda going down and you need a short term replacement, Shoemaker might be a decent choice, especially since he gets Cleveland and the ChiSox next in line.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
Carlos Carrasco – 9.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BB, 7 Ks. I guess he needed a little slap on the wrist to get his act together. Yes I take full credit for this recovery after dropping him in The List on Monday. Yes I say that with a straight face.
Jimmy Nelson – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks. Are we witnessing a turned corner from Nelson? That’s his third 0 ER start in four outings, and his second game with 8 Ks in three games. I’d jump on board if you need the SP help in a 12 teamer.
Scott Kazmir – 7.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. As long as he keeps the ball in the yard at a fantastic 5.8% clip (he had a 7.8% last season), Kazmir will be solid for you with his 3.07 rate. He’s not going to sparkle with the K upside like you want him to, but there’s no denying his ERA/WHIP/Wins value.
Max Scherzer – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. Aces gonna ace.
Steven Wright – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. There’s no way you can depend on this.
Dan Haren – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. That’s better Haren, but can you see why kids love the taste of Cinnamon Toast Crunch?
Jonathon Niese – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BB, 6 Ks. Whoa, a Niese start that looks pretty solid all the way through, like 4 ply toilet paper instead of the 1 ply we get errrr day.
Chris Bassitt – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BB, 6 Ks. Those wondering if Bassitt is an acceptable add, I’ll help you out. NO. FIP/xFIP are out of whack at 3.96/4.77 with a paltry 5.98 K/9.
Marco Estrada – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Jake Arrieta – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. Arrieta never looked sharp in this outing, but his stuff is good enough for him to claw through and be serviceable.
David Holmberg – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. He’s a Cup of Schmo that could be around for a few starts, but you’ve already forgotten his name. Let’s keep it that way.
Alfredo Simon – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 K. A.S. if.
Aaron Harang – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BB, 3 Ks. This was Harang’s resounding return from the DL. You don’t want nothing to do with this Dewey Cox!
Danny Duffy – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. Permission to use an old joke? Granted. DUFF MAN! OHHHHH NO!
Shelby Miller – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 11 Hits, 1 BB, 4 Ks. The regression is coming! The regression is coming!
Yovani Gallardo – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 K. You know when your friend is like “buddy! I’ve got the perfect girl for you! She’s got these select few things that sound appealing but have no substance to forming an actual relationship” then you meet her and those good things are super insignificant and you want to punch your friend? YoGa is that girl.
Andrew Cashner – 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. He’s Cash money…but it’s all in Zimbabwean dollars.
Carlos Martinez – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. It’s a disappointing start for Cmart owners, and he got a bit Singled Out. Keep sticking with him.
Phil Hughes – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. Whoa, sorta-twinsies! Leave it to Hughes to screw it up by failing to strike out a batter.
Chris Rusin – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. Almost triplets! Today had a lot of guys being super lame. Speaking of which, Rusin has limited upside, pitches his home games at Coors Field, and doesn’t deserve a spot on your team. This should be the blurb for every Colorado starter.
CC Sabathia – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BB, 3 Ks. If you think this has a happy ending, you haven’t been watching closely.
Chris Sale – 5.0 IP, 7 ER, 12 Hits, 1 BB, 7 Ks. He was looking alright after four, but the wheels came off in the fifth and sixth. You could say the rain had something to do with it, and I’d ignore
Miguel Gonzalez – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BB, 1 K. Miguel…no.
J.A. Happ – 3.1 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BB, 2 Ks. That Happened.
A.J. Burnett – 4.1 IP, 7 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Man, I was very high on Burnett for a while, but I may have to demote him to the back of the 40s now. He’s allowed 6, 5, and now 7 ER in his last three outings. You could call it fatigue, age, or whatever, but there’s something off here and you don’t want him in your lineup until he figures it out. Makes me think he’s playing through an injury that he refuses to acknowledge given his final season and playoff push.
Today’s Streamer
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Tampa Bay – How is he owned in only 41.1% of fantasy leagues? Take advantage of it, hold him onto your roster and love your life as he carves through the Rays’ lineup.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Joe Ross vs. New York Mets – He’s still owned in under 30% of leagues so jump on it when he gets the lame-o Mets.
Game of the Day
Johnny Cueto vs. Drew Hutchison – Three cool things are at play here: 1) Cueto pitches his first game as a Royal, 2) Cueto and Tulo still find a way to face each other 3) Hutchison gets a chance to continue his super unusual home success.