Repeater Tan?

I had no expectations for Tanner Houck as he made his MLB debut yesterday against the Marlins, but he turned many heads after earning a win across 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW. That’s luscious across the board and now we’re wondering if Tanner is the ticket to your championship for his final two starts of the year.

It’s a 3.5 pitch mix (the .5 is what I call pitchers with both a sinker and four-seamer) as Houck tries to earn weak balls in play with a sinker that rides plenty into right-handers, then using four-seamers up in the zone. I’m fine that approach, though I do feel his four-seamer at 92-95 is a bit more effective than his sinker that can get away from him a good amount. The belle of the ball is his slider, though, as its movement is what you dream of from breaking balls. Just 5 whiffs in this one, but 40% CSW and it’s the pitch that creates a good amount of intrigue moving forward. Sadly his changeup had little shine and I question if it’s a proper third option moving forward.

The arsenal depicts a volatile pitcher with strikeout upside and a low floor, amplified by a history of poor walk rates. With the Yankees heating up and next on the docket followed by the Braves after, I’d remove Houck from the menu of streamers – why did I even waste your time? – but I’d imagine Houck will fight for a rotation spot in 2021. If a steady third option appears, there could be some regular consideration.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Tuesday:

 

Matthew Boyd vs KC (W) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW. Ayyyy, he got good luck this time! His slider is still far from its glorious state, forcing Boyd to be a fastball/changeup arm and that heater sat just 91 mph here. Yeah, this isn’t the Boyd that turned us in Boyd Boyz, but it is an easy schedule of Cleveland + KC again. He’s a Cherry Bomb through and through and it’s up to you if you want to flip that coin.

Huascar Ynoa @ BAL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW. Well this is the best you’ll see of Huascar and let’s all be happy for him during his Birthday Party.

John Curtiss vs WSH (ND) – 1.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 26% CSW. He opened for Ryan Yarbrough – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 26% CSW – and that’s a solid line from the Fratty Pirate. I’m glad to see 86 pitches as well and if he gets the Orioles on Sunday, I’d feel fine starting him there. Something new to consider.

Antonio Senzatela vs OAK (W) – 9.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 25% CSW. It blows my mind each time, especially in these starts inside Coors. Sure, the A’s are without Matt Chapman, but they’ve been heating up as of late and to see a nine-inning, one earned run start with just three strikeouts is a little…much. He gets the Dodgers next in Coors (nope), but I’m cool with Senz-A in Arizona.

Jose Urquidy vs TEX (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW. We love Urquidy’s schedule ROS and this is everything we could have hoped for. 90 pitches, changeups showing up for 4/19 whiffs, his slider and curveball earning strikes, and fastballs at 93/94 with intent to elevate. And now it’s Arizona + Texas the rest of the way. ALLLL ABOOOAARD!

Dane Dunning vs MIN (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW. We had a good amount of surprising outings on Tuesday and this was a D&D fantasy. His sinker earned a ton of called strikes to earn 41% CSW overall, while his secondary stuff was actually a bit lacking – 0/13 CSW on his changeup as it was fouled off a lot, his slider was a bit meh, and his curveball was used just five times. I don’t think this was a turned corner, but it was enough for me to give the green light for the Reds up next.

Tony Gonsolin @ SD (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 23% CSW. I was labeling Gonsolin as a strikeout play for this one, expecting some questionable ratios against the Padres and BOY WAS I WRONG. He got a bit lucky here with a ton of pitches in the middle of the plate, but his slider did a great job inducing outs along the outside corner to right-handers. Ugh, why does he have to head to Coors next? With his splitter not looking good here – 2/20 whiffs and hung a good amount – I’d avoid him there while complaining about it loudly.

Sandy Alcantara vs BOS (L) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW. Ayyy Sandy pulled it off! I’m waiting for his changeup to become a major thing again for me to get truly excited and sadly it went 1/11 CSW here. Ouch. Well, what about his slider? Yeah, that was 15% CSW across 20 thrown. Oh. This was a game of pounding sinkers until they hit them in play with four-seamers getting called strikes and it worked. It helps having 96+ mph velocity with good command. I’m crossing my fingers Alcantara can find at least one secondary pitch next time out against the Nationals and that’s certainly a gamble I’m willing to make.

Jake Arrieta vs NYM (W) – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW. I’m glad this worked for you Arrieta, I have no faith you can do this again with your 5.08 ERA on the year and, well, every indication you can’t.

Michael Lorenzen vs PIT (W) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 29% CSW. Whoa, Lorenzen actually went 76 pitches?! Wild. He made it work with some excellent changeups down in the zone – 43% CSW! – but yeah, I’m not investing in this whatsoever. I doubt he goes again and there’s too little here to consider him even if he does. Blame it on the Pirates.

Kyle Cody @ HOU (ND) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 23% CSW. Hey, not so bad Cody! He was allowed to go 74 pitches this time and leaned on his slider for 45% of his pitches. I’m cool with that, but it only earned 3/33 whiffs and his 94 mph heater didn’t do a whole lot. I know it’s the Astros n all, but yeah, I wouldn’t chase this.

Taijuan Walker @ NYY (L) – 1.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 3 Whiffs, 28% CSW. Blegh. The Yankee offense has turned on and I’m sorry you had to deal with it, Taijuan. The Phils are next and that could work out, especially if they are still banged up. Not something I’m running to the wire for, but I’d consider it as a Sunday play.

Brett Anderson vs STL (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW. Ladies and gents, welcome to Anderson’s ceiling. It’s coated in that popcorn texture we all dislike and please, resist from rubbing against it. It’s very fragile.

Thomas Eshelman vs ATL (L) – 3.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 31% CSW. I wish he could be a six-inning grinder of a pitcher, like a sturdy Toby so I could call him Thomas The Tank. Right now, he’s just Thomas The Prius and that’s not enough for me.

Yu Darvish vs CLE (ND) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 29% CSW. Aces gonna almost ace. Come on Darvish, you’re going for the Cy Young! You can’t allow 3 ER to Cleveland. UNACCEPTABLE. (Love you)

Deivi Garcia vs TOR (W) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 25% CSW. The ratios aren’t ideal and his curveball – what I think is his best secondary pitch – returned 0/3 CSW in this one. That’s right, he went changeup/slider instead and they were fine. His four-seamer is really propelling his success as I think it plays up more than the 92.5 mph velocity on paper. I’d stick with him through the end with the Sawx and Marlins up next.

Zach Davies vs LAD (L) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 35% CSW. His changeup was still great – 37% CSW across 40% usage – and it’s why you see a King Cole, but if he’s to give you more than a VPQS against the Dodgers, Davies needs more than just that changeup. Whatever, he gets the Angels next and this does little to deter a start there.

Carlos Carrasco @ CHC (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW. Aces gonna give you a VPQS and you’re gonna deal with it. Not the best we’ve seen from Carrasco as his slider was pretty blegh and fastballs weren’t as well command as we’d like, but hopefully you’re in a QS league and can salvage this start.

Sean Manaea @ COL (L) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 25% CSW. We’re out on Manaea the rest of the way and ignored this start in Coors, but this was a little better than I expected, especially with seven strikeouts in the books. It was fastball/changeup here and I’d take 7/34 whiffs on the slow ball all day. He’s still a bench against the Dodgers next.

Rick Porcello @ PHI (L) – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 31% CSW. Porcello is a deep stream for those chasing a QS and he didn’t quite make it in this one, even with Rhys Hoskins and JT Realmuto out of this lineup. Womp womp.

Joe Musgrove @ CIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 34% CSW. Man, that’s a proper Dusty Donut alright with a fantastic strikeout game paired with poor ratios. Streaming Record: 25-25. Uh-oh, I have to get above .500 before this season ends…guide me Royals pitchers! Anyway, it’s incredible seeing him lean into his slider and curveball for 45% of his pitches, returning 19/39 CSW along the way (that’s just under 50%!), and his fastball was up to 93 mph this time around, but he made a few too many mistake pitches with sinkers and four-seamers and it hurt. He’s as close as I’ve seen him and I’d consider him as a strikeout stream for the Cardinals next.

Randy Dobnak @ CWS (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 27% CSW. Blegh. He’s a ratio play each time and you don’t want to make that move against the White Sox. But hey! That’s nearly a strikeout per inning! Whoa.

Julio Teheran vs ARI (ND) – 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 31% CSW. Yeah…Teheran ain’t the guy you want.

Jakob Junis @ DET (L) – 2.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 24% CSW. With Danny Duffy missing his flight and thus this start, Junis stepped in. Poor Junis, I imagine he wasn’t close to prepared for this, even if it was the Tigers.

Anibal Sanchez @ TB (L) – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 32% CSW. Oddly enough, this was a Gallows Pole for Sanchez as he finally had a good feel for his splitter, but that’s not enough. I guess you can consider him as a hail mary play next time out now, but you really don’t want to.

Madison Bumgarner @ LAA (ND) – 5.1 IP, 8 ER, 13 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 25% CSW. Bumgarner is trying to shove 5/6 innings with 88 mph heat and a cutter/curveball combination that fails to earn whiffs like the old days. It’s a terrible approach for your fantasy squads.

Jack Flaherty @ MIL (L) – 3.0 IP, 9 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 32% CSW. What on Earth is this. You didn’t hold onto Flaherty through all of his short games for 9 ER in nine outs against the Brewers. Bleggggh. I feel your pain, fortunately he has every opportunity to redeem himself with the Pirates next and I really hope this didn’t ruin everything for you.

 

Today’s Streamer

For those unaware, I’m forced to make my streamer picks under the condition of sub-20% owned in Fantasy Pros’ consolidated ownership rates.

 

 

Brady Singer vs. Detroit Tigers – Sign. Me. Up.

 

Tomorrow’s Streamer

 

Dean Kremer vs. Tampa Bay Rays – I could understand going Griffin Canning against the Diamondbacks instead, but I feel his volatility is way higher than Kremer’s and it makes for a questionable choice. I mean, Kremer is too, but Canning is a little moreso.

 

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

 

Danny Duffy vs. Milwaukee Brewers – He missed his flight for the Tigers, but the Brewers are just as good of a team to stream against – actually better as the Tigers are surprisingly good against lefties this year.

 

Game of the Day

 

 

Jacob deGrom vs. Zack Wheeler – Now that’s a fun one.

 

(Photo by Icon Sportswire)