Sinking Your Ships

If you read this site often, you’ll know I have a tumultuous relationship with Jeff Samardzija, who I call Loose Lips given his ability to sink ships and other silly reasons. He may be doing just that after last night’s 5.2 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks against the White Sox, but you own him and are alive for the next two weeks, you have a tough choice to make. Will Samardzija be effective enough to survive a date against the Diamondbacks, then against the Dodgers? That’s a great question as he’s coming of a trio of solid outings that would suggest he still has it in the tank. I feel like I should mentioned that Loose Lips allowed all his ER via the longball, while overall pitching somewhat well. The Diamondbacks aren’t a great team on the road – and AT&T Park is one of the friendliest places to pitch – making me inclined to still start him next time out. I understand your frustration, it’s what being a Samardzija owner is all about, but I think you have to tough this one out.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

Luis Severino – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 10 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Man is he good. I’m not sure where I’ll be placing him next year. On one hand, I think this breakout season is closer to his ceiling than where he’ll be settling over time, meaning people will reach a little higher for him than I’d chase him. On the other, he has been a stud in every way and he hasn’t gotten the massive attention like Kluber, Scherzer, Kershaw, Greinke, etc. Ahh the offseason, I look forward to our time in front of the fireplace.

Andrew Albers – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Albers is a Cup of Schmo so please don’t buy into this like stock in Blockbuster.

Chase Anderson – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. At least this Brewer knows how to stay healthy. Didn’t he miss about two months earlier in the year? I MISS YOU NELSON. Keep rolling with Anderson through the tough schedule, he’s clearly good enough to handle it.

Alex Wood – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. If you’re cool n stuff, you’re probably wondering what Wood’s velocity was. 91.5mph. When he was killing it earlier this year, that number was 92.5 – 94 mph. This isn’t good at all. I think you still roll with him despite the low velocity and two bad starts in a row, but I can see a situation where you’re picking your starts wisely and let Wood take a breather.

Chris Sale – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. Aces gonna ace. About freakin’ time, Sale.

Carlos Martinez – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Thank you for not falling apart like many others, CarMart.

Zack Godley – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks. Aces gonna ace. This is the Godley I know he can be over a full season.

Andrew Cashner – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Look at Cashner, still rolling with his ridiculous 1.96 point difference in ERA and xFIP. And he pitches in Arlington! It’s wild. Especially when his 4.79 K/9 could easily be his ERA.

Daniel Gossett – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. Whoaaaaa Gossett not only did well finally but did it against the Astros. It’s a Birthday Party as he won’t show up with gifts next week.

Chad Kuhl – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 5 BBs, 6 Ks. Kuhl story, bro. Still a Young Gun to me as that walk rate needs to come down – third pitch please! – but good on him for doing well here.

Rafael Montero – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks. Five walks and just 1 ER? You’re more like EJax than EJax!

James Shields – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Sure, whatever Shields.

Brett Anderson – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. Great start Anderson, no way I’m buying this.

Chad Bell – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. He is not the Belle of the ball. He’s not a Bell cow. He will get his Bell rung, though. Are you done yet? This won’t end Bell. Okay I’m done.

Mark Leiter Jr. – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. Whoa, look at those strikeouts! I was talking about this yesterday with a friend of mine where ER is the most overrated fantasy stat, and this is a prime example. Compare this start to a 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 9 baserunners, 1 strikeout. This Leiter Jr. outing helps in two categories (WHIP and Ks) while the example only helps in ER, yet I imagine many would have claimed the example was a better outing. Quality Start leagues, duh! Well, that’s another story, but you get the point.

Jose Berrios – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. Aha! This is what I’m talking about. Well, the WHIP isn’t so bad, but you don’t get anything from the strikeout department. And that’s not cool Berrios, not cool at all.

Andrew Heaney – 2.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Heaney left the game with shoulder tightness in the third inning, while also hitting 60 pitches in a short outing. You can drop him. You should drop him.

Jake Junis – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. With Junis, his Slider is a fantastic pitch, but the weakest link in the chain has the say on a given afternoon. His Fastball was great, earning 13 called/swinging strikes among the 54 thrown, allowing him to cruise through the outing. While this was the Twins, I still don’t have enough confidence to throw him out there against the Indians, though.

Charlie Morton – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks. Eight strikeouts are great. The ERA/WHIP are not and I would say I treat Morton as the lower option in the tier of intriguing upside arms around the 30s/40s. He just doesn’t go deep into games with a great rations often enough, even if the Ks are flowing.

Josh Tomlin – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. Salazar died for this?!

Chad Bettis – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. I’m happy he’s pitching from a real life perspective, but this isn’t the fantasy I had in mind.

Max Fried – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Out of the pan into the Fried, am I right? I was hoping for better. Me too…me too…

Gabriel Ynoa – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks. Ynoa what? Gabriel isn’t an angel after all. Why does that shock you.

Adam Conley – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. And the head scratcher that is Conley continues. I’m just avoiding him completely now.

Jhoulys Chacin – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Chacin will do well when Jhoulyst expect it.

Mike Montgomery – 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks. Man this was rough. Monty had was fine through the first two frames before a pair of walks and a single + double that kicked him out of the third without an out.  Of course the relief squad did nothing to save him and he got burned for the full 4 ER.

Homer Bailey – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. I wanted Homer Bale to have that wonderful September, riding into the sunset as we get excited for the 2018 sequel, Homer Bale: The Quickening. It just wasn’t meant to be. Also, I’ve seen outlets question if Luis Castillo is the ace next year for the Reds, citing DeSclafani and Bailey. Um, Castillo was the ace this year and he was limited to under 100 major league innings. Some people, you know?

Edwin Jackson – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Why. Why are you going this to me now after we were getting serious for a good few weeks. It was just a summer fling, babe. DON’T CALL ME BABE. Don’t call me serious. Okay this one hit closer to home, let’s just take the loss and move on. Streamer Record 71-56-16.

Matt Andriese – 1.2 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. It was DLH, though I’d be shocked if someone wanted to start him and then said “oh right, DLH.” I wonder if Andriese will ever breakout proper.

Today’s Streamer

A. J. Cole vs. Philadelphia Phillies – This is a terrible day for streamers and thus the world. Update: I left in the blurb because it really is terrible today. Cole came in relief in Saturday’s game, knocking him out of the starting role today, meaning I have to go with…Erasmo Ramirez vs. Los Angeles Angels. Ugh, I hate it. HATE IT.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Reynaldo Lopez vs. Kansas City Royals – He’s 8.1% owned in ESPN Leagues. Julio Teheran is owned in 63.3% of leagues with a 4.77 ERA. Huh.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Kyle Gibson vs. San Diego Padres – He’s on a roll against weak teams and gets the Padres next. Let’s do this.

Game of the Day

Carson Fulmer vs. Madison Bumgarner – I’m curious if Fulmer is someone that can develop into a dependable starter for the White Sox while we also get to watch Bumgarner be Bumgarner.