Last night’s performance by Rick Porcello was just stupid – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 13 Ks. I can’t be trifled with such ridiculousness so today I’m just going to throw some numbers at you. 5. 97. 3252. √2. Before last night, Porcello’s season high for strikeouts was seven which he achieved once. His FIP including last night is 4.37 this season. He has more games of 7 ER or more than 7 Ks or more. But Nick! What about across his last six starts? You’re going to make me do this even though it includes a major one month gap? Fine. He looks great using this small sample – which is obviously inflated massively by last night’s game – but even in his best light this holds a 3.59 FIP and came with two starts against the ChiSox and one against Miami. Just don’t go near him. Seriously guys, don’t make this a thing.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
Drew Smyly – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks. Not gonna lie, I’m super intrigued with Smyly and I’ll be spending today preparing a GIF Breakdown for you guys that should come out some time tomorrow. Short answer is that he has this ability but it doesn’t always come out. If analysts don’t get too nutty next January/Febraury, he could be a solid steal in your 2016 drafts.
Jimmy Nelson – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. This time it wasn’t raining and BLAMO no walks, a WHIP well under 1.00, and six Ks to go with it. Nelson has some tasty upside but it just doesn’t always show itself. Is it possible he can put it all together next season? It’s not out of the question as he’s still somewhat young at 26-year-olds and now just over a year of MLB experience under his belt. Still, I’m not buying into him for dynasty players.
Zack Greinke – 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Aces gonna ace.
Michael Pineda – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. Nice to see Pineda look more like the dominant ace he is.
Matt Shoemaker – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. So now that’s two straight startable outings from Shoemaker and you’re thinking that he may be worth that pickup now. I’m staying away because I know of the crash that he is capable of, but I know some of you are like Craaaaash…into me. Thanks guys, now I have Dave Matthews stuck in my head.
Justin Nicolino – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. “This isn’t going to end well,” – exactly what I say after each One Night Bland if you know what I mean.
Marco Estrada – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. Estrada is continuing to beat the odds and managed to put up another start that is just good enough for you to consider adding him yourself. It will come to screeching halt and I sure don’t want to be stuck in the portable bathroom when it happens.
Madison Bumgarner – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. Aces gonna ace.
Cody Anderson – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Not falling for this trap again. Even if it comes with peanut butter. Smooth…delicious…peanut butter.
Patrick Corbin – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. This is fine. Corbin is proving to have a very safe floor and deserves a spot near the high 30s.
Dan Haren – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. The Duece in Chicago is finally showing some value in the Windy City. It’ll get blown out of his hand soon enough.
Anthony DeSclafani – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. Tony Disco has had a mini resurgerence featuring a 3.62 ERA and matching FIP/xFIP with a 7.79 K/9 since July 24th. Yeah, it’s mini but it should be Top 100 worthy.
Kyle Kendrick – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Kendrick 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.
Yohan Flande – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Flande 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. Yes, there was a double-header today.
Rubby De La Rosa – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. Ehhhhh Rubby just isn’t a jewel in my life.
Justin Verlander – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Okay, so this was against the Royals. Still can’t be too enthused from a 4.00 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with only 4 Ks. Those all aboard on the bootleg JZ (his biggest hit was 99 problems but a career ain’t one) have to be a bit disappointed, but a matchup in Cleveland should be better next time. Should.
Chris Sale – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks. He got Singled Out in the second and cruised the rest of the way racking up the Ks like we knew he would.
Tyler Duffey – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. Blegh. You don’t want that MFRTSPA either, do you?
Roenis Elias – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. There may come a time that Elias is a guy you want to grab. Won’t be for a long time though.
Aaron Harang – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. HARRRRANNG!
Joe Ross – 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 1 Hits, 6 BBs, 3 Ks. Really disappointing to see the six walks. He had 2 Ks and 2 BBs with 0 hits entering the third and it all just fell apart. It’s like he was doing his best impression of his older brother, which he realized afterward may have been a poor idea growing up. He’s droppable now if there are tastier options on your wire as he only has a couple starts left.
Andrew Cashner – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. Cashed Out.
Johnny Cueto – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks. This isn’t what the Royals paid for. Not like they care, they just want him for the playoffs. Once again, royals are ruining it for the 99%.
Yovani Gallardo – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. YoGa felt guilty about performing way above his head and pulled off the sheet with poorly cut out holes. Okay guys, I’m not really a ghost you caught me!
Scott Feldman – 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 2 Ks. Feldman Schmeldman.
Manny Banuelos – 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks. Don’t see any value at all in Manny these days. He could turn into something next season, but redraft leagues have no reason touching this.
Jonathon Niese – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Just like your own niece, you shouldn’t be throwing Jonathon into the stream mix.
Marco Gonzales – 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks. He took the spot for Cmart as the Cards are trying to restrict Martinez’s innings down the stretch. Gonzales has upside but he may not even get another shot in the rotation this season. He’s a lottery pick for 2016.
Gerrit Cole – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. Once the season ends and I’ll be able to take the time to implement VPR and VPRs properly, and I’m curious what Cole will look like. He seems to be a guy that is hanging around the Neutral column a lot more than a guy in his Top tier should be and it makes me a bit bearish on the youngin’ moving forward. I’ll be diving into him a lot this offseason, I have a feeling.
Cody Martin – 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks. Ah yes, your standard Cup of Schmo.
Chris Tillman – 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. – You can’t spell Win with Tillman. But seriously, that run looks super dead now. Avoid like the plague.
Today’s Streamers
Ian Kennedy vs. Texas Rangers – It doesn’t feel great, but Kennedy has been cruising lately and I like it more than, say Raisel Iglesias against a HR friendly Cubs team or inconsistent Kevin Gausman against the Rays.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Mat Latos vs. San Diego Padres – I really, really don’t want to do this one, but given that there are few games being played this Thursday, it’s this or Taylor Jungmann against the Pirates, and the latter isn’t a good matchup at all for the lanky Brewer. You could pray from a ERA/WHIP victory with Kyle Gibson against the ChiSox but I personally wouldn’t touch that.
Game of the Day
Max Scherzer vs. Michael Wacha – Two great teams featuring two great pitchers, now that’s just great baseball.