Soooooo Mike Leake decided to do stupid things against the Brewers today and go 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks. If you can’t see my face right now, you’re missing some serious eye rolling action. Yes, I’m perpetually doing it so readers at different times can witness it. Anyway, Leake has his moments against weak teams where we gets K happy and makes a case to be considered a strikeout threat. Funny part is that he hadn’t K’d more than 6 batters all season before this miraculous game. His FIP is still 4.02, and while he certainly has been unlucky with a 67.6% LOB rate, don’t think that these Ks suddenly change him as a pitcher as he now holds a super-mega-awesome 6.16 K/9. Womp womp.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
Madison Bumgarner – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 14 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Tempting to put him at #1, but don’t forget this is coming off a pair of questionable outings against bad teams.
David Price – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Case in point about Bumgarner, just because Price does this today doesn’t mean he does it tomorrow.
Mike Foltynewicz – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks. For realsies. I for one understand the upside of Folty, but I also fully understand how he can show up one day like a baller who is calling dem shots and the next day have a hangover worse than after my best friend’s barber’s cousin’s bar mitzvah. That party was crazy. I don’t blame you for chasing him in 12 teamers – what have you got to lose at this point? – but I do not see him shooting up to Top 40 territory this year at all. There’s an outside ultra slimfast chance that he makes Top 50, but I really don’t want to be quoted on that.
Kenta Maeda – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 13 Ks. Hot damn! I was already ramping up my Maeda love – he’s like the new Iwakuma – and this is too pretty. Don’t forget it was against the Padres, but I’m not discounting his skills and I think he provides Top 30 value the rest of the way as there are so few pitchers that can give consistent value these days. It’s been a stupid year for starting pitchers.
Sean Manaea – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. Nope. Not going to believe that Manaea can go seven innings without a walk on a consistent basis. Yeah, but even if he allowed three walks in this game I’d still be happy. Well yeah, but what I’m trying to tell you is that his command is rarely this good. That means more hits, fewer Ks, shorter outing, etc. Just don’t buy into it.
Dallas Keuchel – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Oh, Keuchel must have played a poor team. *Notices he faced the Athletics* Welp, there it is y’all. Blame it on the Athletics.
Chris Tillman – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks. So Tillman was able to take advantage of a good matchup against the Angels. Good on him, still don’t like Tillman much moving forward.
R.A. Dickey – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Dickey told me he was an All-star this year. Yeah, and I’m starting for the NL squad. Don’t trust a knuckleballer.
Mike Montgomery – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. Good to see Monty back on the bump as a starter. I don’t consider him a guy you should be chasing too hard, but I think if you pick your spots, things can go well.
James Shields – 7.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. And now that’s just 8 ER total in his four starts following Slippin’ Jimmy’s fall. Not bad at all, but still not enough for me to forget what happened. It will never be the same.
Steven Matz – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks. He allowed a 2 run shot to Murph dawwwwg in the first and it seemed to be a horrendous effort from the start. But he did settle down a little and turn it into not the most disastrous outing you’ve ever seen. Yay…? I think Matz will move a little south in tomorrow’s ranking, but I still see him as definitively Top 30 ROS.
Archie Bradley – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. I miss his brother Milton. There were so much fun together. Anywho, solid bounce back after disappointing me against the Pads, so of course he’s going to do well against the Giants. Of course.
Gio Gonzalez – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. I guess this is better from Mini-Gio, which is tough to say when he holds a 3/4 K per BB ratio. Not a fan.
Zach Eflin – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Like you really were starting him in Colorado unless it was a specific strategy for your Sunday in an H2H league. I believe Eflin will be a solid streaming option in 12 teamers in the second half and this start doesn’t exist in my book.
Tommy Milone – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Milone Schmilone.
Christian Friedrich – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. Not the worst start ever, though I find it very difficult to consider endorsing Friedrich. You know, the guy with the sub 90 mph heater and is well above 4.00 in all ERA metrics.
Junior Guerra – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. It’s not easy going up against the Cards, and at least it didn’t blow up in yer face.
John Lackey – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. Okay, there is something clearly going on with Lackey and it’s going to be reflected in tomorrow’s The List. Not sure how far yet, but he won’t be in the Top 20 no mo’.
Dillon Gee – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Gee, I wonder how this will work out in the long term. I do too Nick, I do too…Whoa! What is Dillon Gee’s spector doing in my apartment?! You got any Bagel Bites? Nah man, that was my last roommate’s jam. Awww damn.
Jake Odorizzi – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. That real life trade value is getting worse by the outing. Can’t say I’m much of a fan myself.
Tim Lincecum – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Wow, what a great comeback.
Carlos Carrasco – 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Bad defense led to Carrasco getting pulled after throwing over 80 pitches in under four innings. Still love him to death and you’re going to be super happy you own him.
Cody Reed – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. Reed was once an exciting add, but I don’t see him consistently commanding his pitches well enough – nor does he have a proper third option – to make a good impact on your squads.
Tom Koehler – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. I left this blurb to write last because there’s nothing left to say about Tom. He’s really bad and you’d rather paint a fence than start him.
Tyler Chatwood – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. Chatwood 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 not named Gray and maybe even Gray.
Anibal Sanchez – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Is anyone happy that Anibal is back? I guess that teams he faces.
Masahiro Tanaka – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Talk about getting Singled Out. Stick with Masahiro, he’ll be a solid member of your staff in the second half.
A.J. Griffin – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Oh boy, Griffin faltered as badly as he has all year against the lowly Twins. Whatareyagonnado.
Jonathon Niese – 3.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. I prefer the Nephew.
Today’s Streamers
All-Star break is among us. It’s gonna be tough not having any fantasy stats for four days.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
None – The break isn’t one day guys, yeesh. Teams haven’t announced their 2nd half rotations just yet, and here’s to hoping I’ll be able to whip up some streamers for you guys tomorrow.
Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer
None – Nope, not enough info yet. Just gotta wait this one out :-/
Game of the Day
Liar’s Dice – If you haven’t gotten a chance to play this game yet, you best get on it.