One of the many fun things about fantasy baseball is that feeling of having “your guys”. Everyone has biases towards certain players rooted from that game they once had or maybe you fell in love with his comeback Fastball. For a good amount of people, Trevor Bauer is one of their guys and I’m sure they were giddy after last night’s 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks performance. Well, hard to break it to you but you still shouldn’t touch Bauer. Sure, he may have another start like this, but the walks won’t disappear and the guy just isn’t a stable producer like you need him to be. I have zero trust that he can take a giant leap forward this year and be the man you want him to be so badly. If he is indeed “one of your guys”, I hope this can help sway you from your totally in-your-control bias.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
J.A. Happ – 8.2 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. I know he has a 4.36 xFIP. I know he has a 5.59 K/9. But he’s only allowed more than 2 ER twice all year (just 3 ER in both starts) and he’s kind picking up where he left off last year as he pitches for a winning team.. He’ll never be Top 50 and most likely not Top 60, but he’s more serviceable than a standard stream.
Rubby De La Rosa – 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Rubby did this in the hell hole that is Coors Field. I’m not saying you’re going to love having Rubby on your team, but you might get a Kiss from La Rosa more often than you expect. He’s worth an add in deeper 12-teamers.
Mike Leake – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. In the two-start article I was banking on Leake finally having a productive outing this season as he faced the Angels last night followed by a date with the Dodgers. Good work Leake, I don’t love you at all, but good work.
Matt Cain – 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. If you think Cain is back, you probably still own a Pog collection.
Adam Morgan – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Nah, this is a One Night Bland.
Alex Wood – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. Our Call Boy got the job done in a big way. You know, that’s 25 Ks in just his last three starts now. I’d be holding as he gets the Cards/Padres/Reds lined up next.
Chris Devenski – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Devenski is making it work and here I am just waiting for him to hit puberty so I can say The Balls Have Dropped. It’s a phrase reserved for when guys have a good first couple of starts and are somehow juggling all of their glaring issues so they don’t get burned. But one game he’ll suddenly falter and turn into the man we know he he is –> The Balls Have Dropped.
Kevin Gausman – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. I’m impressed with this outing despite the 4.50 ERA. He’s limiting walks and racking up Ks without demolishing ERA/WHIP. That’s what’s up.
Jacob DeGrom – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. This is okay, but where’s the freakin’ awesome deGrom we know and love and have a giant poster of on our wall and grew out our hair for and wish would ask me to prom and takes nothing from nobody?
Jon Lester – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Blegh. At least he’s not tanking like half of the Top 20 already have.
Matt Wisler – 8.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. No I don’t care about Wisler. He’s way too volatile without enough upside.
Wade Miley – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. When I see Miley, I understand why some people could like him, but he’s just not for me. I wouldn’t roster him in a 12 teamer.
Zach Davies – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. Go away Davies. Please.
Jose Berrios – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. I still believe in Berrios, but now he gets the Tigers + Jays ahead before some much needed respite. It’s really annoying because I think he’s just a start or two away from beginning to dominate. I’d probably not risk it against those two opponents, but hold him on my bench.
Michael Fulmer – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. Yeah…while I think Fulmer has a great Fastball/Slider combo, there is clearly more work to be done as he’s lacking a proper third pitch. Time to move on guys.
Sean Manaea – 2.2 IP, 8 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks. Speaking of which, Manaea is flat-out a mess and there is no reason to keep him around at this time.
Masahiro Tanaka – 7.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. Remember the talk that Tanaka is a Top 25 guy if he didn’t have injury problems? I still feel that way, despite this effort against the Royals.
Joe Ross – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. He was kinda due for an outing like this – albeit against Detroit – as he’s not a demi-god nor a stud ace (yes you can be a demi-god and not a stud ace). I love him and feel lucky to have him wherever I do, but recognize that the floor isn’t as high as you think.
Sean O’Sullivan – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 12 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. O’Suckivan is at it again, now in Boston. I think we have a new candidate for the Anti-List.
Chris Rusin – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. 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.
Adam Conley – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Ohhhh damn. If Conley can’t come out of a start against the Brewers with some sort of upside expression, then we’ve got a problem here. I guess I bought into the hype a little too much. Maybe I should have gathered that since his hype man was the voice of the Electric Slide.
Hector Santiago – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Stop holding onto Santiago’s early production. It’s not going to happen.
Carlos Rodon – 6.2 IP, 6 ER, 12 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. Boy, this has escalated quickly. He’s droppable in standard leagues, though I understand if you want to hold him as a stash. It’s definitely possible he figures it out in the next month.
Drew Smyly – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. Awwww, he was off to such a good start to the season. He allowed a pair of HRs that accounted for five of his six ER, which gives some hope, but there isn’t really a good way to mask this outing. Welp, three of his next five starts are against Oakland, Miami, and Minnesota, so at least he’s got that going for him.
Kris Medlen – 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks. I was so excited about you in 2012. SO EXCITED.
Derek Holland – 2.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. The Dutch economy has collapsed.
Cesar Vargas – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. You knew it was coming, right? I started him. Yeah and you start Jered Weaver every time out. I also started him. Not you too Brutus!
Today’s Streamers
Jerad Eickhoff vs. Atlanta Braves – I don’t understand it, but Eickhoff is owned in under 21% of ESPN leagues, which means he’s a super easy and awesome stream.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Aaron Blair vs. Philadelphia Phillies – Blair is exclusive to streams and he gets a good matchup against the Phils. Other options include Bartolo Colon against the Dodgers as well as Nathan Eovaldi vs. the Royals if the other two options aren’t available.
Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer
Nate Karns vs. Los Angeles Angels – There are a decent amount of options including Nick Tropeano, Timothy Adleman, Ross Stripling, and Josh Tomlin. I’m going with the hot hand in Karns against a very weak opponent.
Game of the Day
Marcus Stroman vs. Madison Bumgarner – Did you notice whose name I put first. That’s because he’s been killing it lately and Bumgarner’s got an annoying face. Sorry Giants fans, but you need to learn to accept the hate for your favorite team.