Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard

Today marked the day that Julio Urias returned to the majors in what will most likely be the first of a forever stint in the majors. If you drafted him and stashed, I’m sure you were rethinking that for a moment in the first week or two, but now that bench spot is paying its dividends…kinda. Today’s line was 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks, which is pretty bleghy. That’s a poor WHIP, only four strikeouts, not deep enough for a quality start, but at least a good ERA? Now those four walks included an IBB and you have to think Urias needs a little time to get rid of any jitters for the rest of his life, but I do have some concern here in that I wonder how much production we can really expect. I imagine the Dodgers will want to keep him regularly going every five days without having to do a Strasburg-esque September shutdown if they can avoid it. That would mean if they want to keep him under 180 innings, his IPS is going to be pretty terrible. Like 5.0 terrible. That means he’ll have to hold a 9.00 K/9 just to get five strikeouts per start with minimal room for error in the WHIP/ERA department. I know you’ve been waiting to finally get some production from Urias, but now may be the time to sell if you own him. See if there’s an owner who wants to get in on the hype and grab a more secure Top 40 arm or sturdy bat instead.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

Masahiro Tanaka – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. There it is Tanaka. All of his pitches were working today and while you want the strikeouts to be more plentiful, Tanaka cruised through this game by inducing plenty of weak contact. This wasn’t the Red Sox not taking advantage of Tanaka’s mistakes, but rather great execution that led to quicker outs. Start believing in Tanaka again.

Taijuan Walker – 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks. Seriously, the Padres are just making a joke out of this. I really can’t put any weight in this start since so many pitchers have faced the Padres and had an absurd amount of Ks. I want to, we all want Walker to breakout n all, but I just can’t do it captain.

Matt Moore – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks. This is just so Moore. After back-to-back horrendous outings (albeit against the Rockies) he then shows up to remind people why they just can’t drop him. Get used to this dance, it’s going to be here all year.

Justin Verlander – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. Aces gonna ace. See, he’s fine. Just fiiiiiine.

Chris Sale – 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks. Aces gonna also ace. Man, Farrell why did you bring Sale out for the 9th when he was past 100 pitches. All you did was add 2 ER and three hits to his line. Whatever, if you trusted in the preseason and took Sale instead of Bumgarner, I feel bad that I won by default but a Win is a Win, right? Maybe? Alright, I feel dirty saying that. My bad.

Mat Latos – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. 0 ER from Latos? I bet that won’t happen again before the start of June, heck July.

Hisashi Iwakuma – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. I guess this is the ceiling now for Iwakuma. Yay.

Ricky Nolasco – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Sure, whatever Nolasco. Blame it on the Athletics.

Kendall Graveman – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. This one sure looked bad out of the gate, allowing three hits in a row for two runs with two outs in the first. But then Graveman remembered that he was facing Trout and some other people who have slipped my mind. Still don’t trust him with essentially one pitch and a lot of hard contact and I fear that it won’t end well against the Astros next.

Corey Kluber – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 4 BBs, 10 Ks. Alright Klubs, this was your last warning. May approacheth and you best be ready. Make like Timberlake and buy buy buy now.

Jeremy Hellickson – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks. I find it amazing that Hellickson has a combined 14 walks and strikeouts in 30 innings. CarMart nearly had that amount in today’s game alone.

Carlos Martinez – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks. Speaking of CarMart, this is pretty unacceptable against the languishing Jays. I demoted you on Monday, but I think I’ll have to do it again until that command looks like it returns a bit.

Gio Gonzalez – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Blegh, but this was in Coors so I’m all good forgetting it.

R.A. Dickey – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. This looks like a Top 10 start from Dickey. Don’t believe me? What, did Dickey convince you otherwise? Don’t Trust A Knuckleballer.

Mike Fiers – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Fiers will be one of those pitchers in 10 years that will make people say “wow, I completely forgot about that guy.” Poor Fiers.

Edinson Volquez – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks. Ehhhhhh that WHIP is terrible, but Volquez also was just over a 3.00 ERA as well…let’s call it even. Streamer Record 11.5-7-3. Yes this includes Norris’ stream yesterday, I was upset yesterday and didn’t include it, alright?

Adam Wainwright – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. So that’s three of his last four starts with 4 Ks or fewer. Sure, he had 9 strikeouts last time, but I think this is morning in line with what to expect. Waino just isn’t a guy you want to have rostered.

Antonio Senzatela – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. If you listened to today’s Podcast you’ll know that Eddy and I briefly talked about Senzatela vs Chatwood where I took Senz-a’s side. Great, thanks Eddy. Now I actually have some sort of care on how Senzatela performs even though I have zero investment in him otherwise. You’re the best. Anyway, this was the Nats in Coors, which is a worse idea than putting mayo on top of ice cream. Yes, that is where my mind is right now.

Jered Weaver – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. Oh damn, what was that contest I had with Weaver? Ohhh right, it’s the Geezer Quality Start Battle 2.0 of Weaver vs. Bronson Arroyo – The matchup we always dreamed of. Weaver’s up 3-1, clearly not because of this start. I wonder how long it’ll be before anyone scores again…uh oh. This is going to be like watching a 9-year-old youth basketball game, isn’t it.

Casey Lawrence – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. You know what they say, never trust a man with two first names.

Matt Harvey – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 1 Ks. …I guess that goes for you too. This is just sad at this point as the Mets staff as whole – outside of deGrom who is my hero – is falling a part. I could hear Harvey mutter under his breath after each walk: I’m not even supposed to be here today. He didn’t know he had the start until this morning and it’s totally possible that’s why he was so bad. Some guys revel in that and throw no-hitters, but that’s just not Harvey’s jam, you know?

Today’s Streamer

Adam Conley vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – Conley gets another easy opponent in the Phils Pirates (rainouts are fun) and there really aren’t any other options to go with here. If Lance Lynn is still out there somehow, I’d prefer him against the Reds.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Brandon McCarthy vs. Philadelphia Phillies – There’s some confusion about if McCarthy is actually getting this start – I think he is but whatever – and he has the upside to take care of the Phils.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

JC Ramirez vs Texas Rangers – Yep this is a gamble, but I think the Rangers aren’t as good of an offense as we think they are and Ramirez is lighting it up right now.

Game of the Day

Jacob deGrom vs. Max Scherzer – Two top 10 pitches dueling on a Friday night. Sign me up.