Pivetting Nick

I try to make it clear that the content we provide on the site is geared toward 12-teamers in standard H2H leagues. There are times, though, that I go out of my way to tell you to consider a pitcher in deeper leagues that is performing worse than he should. My favorite name for that has been Nick Pivetta who finally had that one breakout game going 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks against the Red Sox on Thursday evening. He was sporting a heater that averaged above 94mph, with a solid Slider and turned to his Change + Curveball when the lineups turned over. Now, don’t get him in 12-teamers. A ton of hard contact here and this start was mainly a success because his heater found gloves instead of grass. Still, he showcased the upside without the polish and I think he’s capable of making that next step as he grows inside the majors. Maybe this start gives him false confidence that actually translates into legit confidence. At the end of the day, don’t rush to the wire for him in standard leagues, but don’t call it a fluke if he begins stringing together solid starts down the road. Nick, this sounds super vague. You sound super vague.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

Matt Strahm – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. You know, I was planning on leading with Strahm, but the real problem here is his future schedule: Boston, Tigers, Twins, Dodgers to close out the first half. That’s rougher than Jeremy Guthrie’s 2017 season. I really hope he can pull through and not be terrible during that stretch so he can still be a starter in the second half, but for now I think you hold off from adding him. If he is still starting come mid-July, I think he can be a sleeper 2nd half starter that can help in a 12-teamer.

Chris Sale – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Of course he got the loss. Nothing has changed from Chicago, NOTHING.

Jose Berrios – 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Yes, he has a 7.5% HR/FB rate and a 4.51 xFIP, but man do I believe he is an 9+ K/9 guy who can be 2.50 BB/9 and get better with more time in the majors. Just 22.2% hard contact thus far!

Gio Gonzalez – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. Just 5 ER in his last three starts now, with a 2.89 ERA…and 4.30 FIP. Good to see the walks down again and those strikeouts are fine, just keep in mind this was the Mets. Gio is a guy that can collapse in a hurry so don’t get too comfortable with him, but you obviously start him next time against the Fish and go from there.

Justin Verlander – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks. I benched Verlander tonight against the Rays in one of my leagues because I wanted to wait and see. Five walks and six hits hurts. Six Ks and a sub 3.00 ERA doesn’t. I think I’m going to have to bench him again as he pitches against the Mariners next :(

David Holmberg – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. It was a fun run Holmberg (Has it though?), Shields is returning this weekend, which means it’s back to the bullpen for you.

Alex Cobb – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. This is a pretty boring start, albeit a QS and sub 3.00 ERA. I find it super tough to get on the Cobb train as his K/9 is a paltry 6.25, he’s boasting a 4.17 ERA, 4.29 FIP, 4.56 xFIP, and even if we ignore his 9 ER blowup on June 3rd, his FIP & xFIP numbers are pretty much the same. He’s not the guy from previous years as he’s now sporting a worse Changeup and I think you’re better off playing streamers or chasing Spice Girls. 

Jeff Hoffman – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. On the plus side, just 1 ER during a Coors start is cool. On the negative, that’s three walks, just two Ks and a 2.00 WHIP. That’s not cool Hoffman, you’re supposed to have a super high whiff rate…which dropped 1.7 points in this outing. Okay, but it’s still 11.3% for the year! Now he hosts the Diamondbacks and I’m a little scared, but then it’s AT&T park, then Arizona, then hosting the ChiSox and I think I’m cool with all of that if he sticks in the rotation.

Jordan Montgomery – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Monty, this was the Athletics. You’re supposed to get that extra out and one fewer ER. JUST ONE EACH. Whatever, still love him and great to see him keep his walk rate down once again. This guy is gold for a 12-teamers.

Sonny Gray – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. Gray had the tough matchup of facing the Yankees and couldn’t quite make it to the land of Quality Starts where you get free passes for an atrocious WHIP and 4.50 ERA. It’s a kind place. I still like starting him pretty freely and think you should still start him against Houston…though that does come with some serious hesitation.

Josh Tomlin – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. Seeing Tomlin tied for the 3rd highest strikeout total of the night is hilarious.

Ricky Nolasco – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Sure, whatever Nolasco.

Zach Davies – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks. Blegh. Davies is a complete waste of roster space. Streamer Record 35-23-10.

Michael Wacha – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Dude, stop walking people. I know it’s in your name, but seriously, stop. That’s 12 in your last four starts and making it tough on yourself despite getting decent matchups. He’s falling into the land of possible QS guys like Lynn, Odorizzi, etc. and I’d rather chase upside arms first.

Chris Tillman – 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 11 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. You Can’t Spell Win With Tillman. I really need to get that on a shirt.

Rich Hill – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. If you haven’t dropped Hill yet, do it now.

Ariel Miranda – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. Fast and I got into Miranda a bit during the podcast last night. I hate Miranda, which y’all probably know as I label him a TEEs and this just affirms my belief that he shouldn’t be owned in a 12-teamer.

Robert Gsellman – 5.0 IP, 7 ER, 11 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Welp, that was a fun run. To be fair, it was an easy bench facing the Nationals, but we all secretly wanted Gsellman to pull off a great start and make us really take him seriously again. 

Matt Moore – 3.0 IP, 8 ER, 11 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. And Moore is continuing to struggle. Whatever, I preferred Connery anyway.

Today’s Streamer

Joe Biagini vs. Chicago White Sox – Biagini is still so underowned and should be rostered, really.

Junior Guerra vs. San Diego Padres – He’s owned under 25% of leagues after his last start and you should be on board.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Mike Clevinger vs. Minnesota Twins – He should be owned and he’s probably not. Welcome back Clev.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

JC Ramirez vs. Kansas City Royals – I went back-and-forth here between a few options, but I’m going to Ramirez here as the Royals are just bad. Other options if you need to cram in starts on Sunday are Buck Farmer against the Rays, Tyler Chatwood against the Giants (though, this is in Coors and Chatty is really bad in Coors), and even Luis Perdomo against the Brewers.

Game of the Day

James Paxton vs Tyson Ross – Way too many good games today…Manaea vs. Severino, Matz vs. Scherzer, and it’s Nola day! But I want to see where Ross is after missing so much time and of course I’m hoping Paxton rebounds after two high walk totals.