Questioning Your Faith

I’m probably one of the highest on Zack Godley among any other writers you may read across the internet. I don’t know, I try to not read too many in order to stay unbiased for y’all. Godley has been at #10/11 for a few weeks now and he’s had an odd string of starts since his initial boost to the Top 15, with his recent 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks that will turn more heads. I can see the comments now suggesting that “he’s good, but clearly not Top 15,” to which I say, “um nah, he’s still Top 10.” Okay, I totally get that he a deserved to get a little hit around this outing. His hard contact was an absurdly high 69.2%. That’s atrocious. And this might sound like I’m being biased toward one of my guys, but I also see 12.3% whiff rate (14.2% for the year!) as he earned a co-Gallows Pole victory and his stuff hasn’t changed. He made a few mistakes last night and got punished. This isn’t a new Godley, it’s the same old one that will be your man for the final weeks of the year.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

Dallas Keuchel – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. This is all kinds of nostalgic, remind me of early 2015 when I didn’t want to give Keuchel love since it came with such a low strikeout tally. Even if it doesn’t come with 6+ Ks per game, it’s clear you should be happy with how Keuchel has looked in his last two starts now. Here’s to hoping he’s set for the weeks ahead.

Drew Pomeranz – 3.1 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. The Dirty Cheerleader left this game with a back issue. Because we can’t have nice things. Pomeranz has been one of the unspoken heroes of the season, being a super solid arm at the backend of your squad all season. He deserves better.

Jake Arrieta – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Arrieta is in a groove and we should all be happy his command is a step up from his 2016 self. It’s not close to 2015, but we’ll take this.

Corey Kluber – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Aces gonna ace…until they sprain their ankle. And Scherzer hit the DL with a strained neck. And Lester left yesterday’s game. I feel terrible for all the owners losing their studs moments before the playoffs.

Matt Grace – 4.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks. With Scherzer scratched, Grace was asked to start as the Nationals had a bullpen game. Good job fella, no way I’m going with you if you get this spot in the rotation.

Justin Nicolino – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks. Sure, whatever Nicolino.

Erasmo Ramirez – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. This is the kind of boring start from Ramirez that will make you think that you can trust him every so often. Think is the key word there as I’d hate to but faith on Erasmo for a solid outing on any given day.

Sal Romano – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. This is so far away from what Romano needs to do to get out of the doghouse

Andrew Cashner – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks. Man, a lot of blegh starters had surpsingly decent outings today. Okay, this one comes with a terrible WHIP and just two strikeouts, but you get the idea.

Matt Moore – 7.1 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. That’s two good starts! Please don’t do this.

James Shields – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. As if you can bet on Shields doing this again.

Chris Flexen – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks. Hey Nick, what’s the easiest way to get me ignored for The List? Four walks and 1 strikeout should do the trick.

Rich Hill – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. A bit disappointing as Hill faced the Tigers. So it goes, no reason to let this start stop you from rolling with Hill.

Sean Manaea – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. I think this is a good start for Manaea. Yeah, not the amount of whiffs you want or a solid ERA (PQS!) but I’ll take that from a struggling Manaea right now against the mighty Astros. I’d cool with a temp add and seeing how he does against the Orioles next time around.

Carlos Martinez – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Ehhhh, it’s kinda boring but as long as he isn’t killing your week then you keep starting CarMart.

Jordan Montgomery – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. I wish The Bear did more in this outing against the Red Sox, especially as he could face them again in a few weeks (if Tanaka isn’t back). Speaking of which, if we see JorMont again, I’ll take him vs. the Tigers.

Luis Perdomo – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. It’s a VPQS for Perdomo. I feel like we’ve seen a lot of those from him.

Ervin Santana – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. And a VVPQS for Santana as he faced the Diamondbacks. I can see someone liking this outing, but it does very little for me to change my opinion of Santana.

R.A. Dickey – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks. Dannnnng nine strikeouts! Which is kinda weird when he only got nine whiffs total. My guess is that it wasn’t moving as much as normal, making batters take the pitch more often than not since they expected it to break out of the zone. Would also explain the 4 ER when they elected to swing. Regardless, you’ll know the drill. Don’t Trust A Knuckleballer.

German Marquez – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Ehhhh, Coors sucks n all but just a 46.2% F-Strike rate and 7.4% whiff rate are a bit disappointing. Fortunately, it’s the Royals next so at least hold him for that.

J.A. Happ – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. It was a tough second inning that did Happ in as he got Singled Out but overall pitched pretty well. It was a low bar for the Gallows Pole as he co-earned it with Godley and…ugh…Zimmermann with 13 whiffs.

Andrew Heaney – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. It was DLH, so I’ll let Heaney off the hook this time. Can’t say I expect more than a Toby from him, though.

Ian Kennedy – 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. We’re not putting any more faith in Kennedy this year, right?

Zach Eflin – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Eflin just isn’t the Philly arm you want.

Austin Pruitt – 7.0 IP, 6 ER, 11 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Pruitt is pretty much a Cup of Schmo. I can imagine him being an okay streamer at some point, but definitely not now.

Matt Garza – 4.1 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Looks like Garza is once again making owners feel like this.

Jeremy Hellickson – 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks. The Devil is doing more town burning things. Remember these starts when he has a great two-start run again. Also, I have to take the loss as I just didn’t like any other matchups. Womp womp. Streamer Record 64-46-14.

Jordan Zimmermann – 5.1 IP, 7 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Yep, that’s Zimmerman alright…who somehow got a share of the Gallows Pole with 13 whiffs. Weird.

Trevor Williams – 3.0 IP, 8 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. You’re being such a Frank, Williams. And I’m totally cool with that.

Today’s Streamer

Jered Eickhoff vs. San Francisco Giants – The clear choice here as Eickhoff has looked much like his 2016 self since returning from the DL.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Luis Castillo vs. Atlanta Braves – I’m amazed he’s still so unowned in leagues and obviously I’m starting him here. For those ahead of the game, Adam Conley against the Mets could work out okay, while I’d sit Dinelson Lamet against the Harper-less Nats.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Tyler Skaggs vs. Texas Rangers – As much as I don’t want to trust Skaggs and his two-pitch approach, he’s the best choice of the lot.

Game of the Day

Zack Greinke vs. Jose Berrios – Here’s to Berrios figuring it out and Greinke dominating.