What is happening. It’s been months since the last SP Roundup from the 2015 season and I for one am incredibly excited to be back at it every day. For those unaware, I will be reviewing every single SP performance from the previous day’s games each and every late night from now until the end of the season. I’ll be discussing the ups and downs of MLB starters, pairing fantasy analysis with dad jokes. I’ll try to limit the latter as much as I can. No promises.
Now to the fun stuff. Let’s see how starters performed last night:
Francisco Liriano – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 10 Ks. I watched his full performance, and dang he looked good. His stuff has as much movement as I’ve ever seen from Liriano…but it’s also his inevitable downfall. Those five walks are going to be an ugly animal for a bunch of starts down the road, and let’s be honest here. A 1.33 WHIP is easily the annoying kid at this party who keeps tugging your shirt asking if you want to bounce at 10:00. Fortunately, the damage was minimal and you coasted with one of Liriano’s better outings this season. I simply fear for the days when he doesn’t escape multiple base-loaded jams and suddenly the Ks feel out of place.
Adam Wainwright – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. This wasn’t Waino as we like him. He left his hook up quite often and his Cutter wasn’t cutting like it normally cuts. Like a pair of pre-school scissors. I expect him to improve in his next couple starts so don’t freak out all too much. He’s definitely better than this.
Chris Archer – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 12 Ks. Outside of his rough start to the game, Archer was dominant as anything. Yes, his walks are a bit of a problem still, but it’s not Liriano/Tyson bad, and the Ks are gonna flow like Ichiro’s all-star rhymes.
Marcus Stroman – 8.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. He had 92 pitches entering the 9th inning, so they left him out there…leading to a solo shot and a single who eventually came round to score. The HR was on a intentionally high Fastball that I blame Russell Martin’s pitch call for, so I still love me some Stroman. He looked stellar as he pounded the strike zone with lively fastballs that the Rays simply couldn’t drive with authority. The strikeouts will rise in the future when he uses his deuce more, don’t worry.
Matt Harvey – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2BBs, 2 Ks. I watched his entire outing – hell, I watched every outing today – and I have to say I wasn’t impressed. Harvey really hasn’t look like his dominant self for a long time, and this start doesn’t convince me that my lowish ranking vs. the ECR isn’t deserved. Make no mistake, Harvey’s got some Danger in him, it just might take some time.
Edinson Volquez – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Can’t say I expected Volquez to have one of the more productive outings tonight, though that may be a product of a Mets offense that isn’t all that good. I understand going for Volquez in deep 12 teamers, but that’s as much of an endorsement I can give. I think this will be a top 10 start for Volquez this season, meaning that you’re going to be awfully disappointed with a poor WHIP and low Ks a lot more often.
Today’s Streamer
Drew Smyly vs. Toronto Blue Jays – Let me make something clear. Streaming pitchers is an incredibly risky game to play the first few weeks. We need some time to get some data on both pitchers and lineups before we can get a good picture of proper streamer picks + those in roto leagues don’t want to be in a pitching hole out of the gate. Smyly doesn’t really count as a streamer anyway, since he should be owned all over the place, but he’s the only non-premier pitcher who I like going on the true Opening Day.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
J.A. Happ vs. Tampa Bay Rays – Still a risky play to stream (as we just went over two seconds ago), and who knows which Happ will show up. Let’s cross our fingers it’s the one that Ray Searage fixed like his old Harley.
Game of the Day
Jake Arrieta vs. Garrett Richards – There are plenty of excellent matchups today, but I’m intrigued to see Richards pitch as he could jump up tremendously in The List if he appears like a more complete pitcher. I won’t go 180 on y’all after one outing, though I’d love to see him with proper command. Then there’s Arrieta there as well, which is sweet as a butter biscuit.