This is getting to the point where every day I need to talk about another expected stud trippin’ and not in the Doc Ellis way. Today’s victim is Chris Archer who just went 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks and now owners are once against freaking out like whoa. I have mixed feelings about it all. My first instinct is that Archer will drive you guys crazy for a bunch of the season and this isn’t going to disappear in the next week or two. His BB/9 is stupidly high at 4.47 and don’t get me started on his 35%+ hard contact rate. Then on the other hand you have an xFIP below 3.50 (21.7% HR/FB), a K/9 comfortably above 11.00, and he’s allowed more than 2 ER in four of his starts – under half his 2016 total. It’s a tough call, but in these types of situations, it’s often best to rid yourself of the headache, especially when said headache still holds plenty of value in Archer. Sure, he could return back to his 1st half 2015 form as I outlined earlier, but you’re essentially hedging your bets by selling, since the return piece shouldn’t be a major drop-off that would destroy your chances this season. Just don’t go selling him for Pogs and you’ll be fine.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
Madison Bumgarner – 7.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Aces.
Noah Syndergaard – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks. Gonna.
Max Scherzer – 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks. Ace.
Zack Greinke – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. Ace. Oh damn, my bad. Dude, get with the program. Anyway, this one felt real good given the question marks around Greinke’s slow start. The window to buy low on Greinke is shrinking like a Rick Moranis film, and I’d hop on it now. What does Spaceballs have to do with this? Nothing, but can we agree that movie is amazing? It’s amazing.
Cole Hamels – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 11 Ks. After a pair of questionable outings, Hamels finally turned it back on against the Stros and I’m starting to reconsider if he should hint at the Top 20 again. He’ll probably rise a little tomorrow.
Marcus Stroman – 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. I feel like South Park’s version of George R. R. Martin whenever I talk about Stroman. The strikeouts are coming! The strikeouts are coming!
Jerad Eickhoff – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Way to bounce back Eickhoff! Sure the Ks are lacking like Mariners WS rings, but one step at a time here for one of my favorite Call Boys. Sidenote: Sorry for the low blow Mariners fans, you guys took my Cano away and I’m still a little sour, okay?
Jered Weaver – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Did he steal Melisandre’s necklace or something? What’s with the Game of Thrones references tonight? My apologies, I guess I’m recovering from that freakin’ door. It hit me hard. Real hard.
Kyle Hendricks – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. I guess I’ll take it, but it’s pretty hilarious how his K/9 fell from 8.12 to 7.38 just from this start alone. Ahhh, the wonders of first half.
Rick Porcello – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Keep the train rolling Porcello, you guys know I love this given my pre-season ranking of him.
Jordan Zimmermann – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. I may have poorly named the Grave Mistake, though that pun is way too fun not to do. Oh, yes I’m still selling JZ like I’m part of Tower Records.
Michael Pineda – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Sure Pineda, you’re kinda stuck in purgatory right as you could go either way after a start like this, but whatever. You can’t get too mad if you rolled with him in Oakland.
Carlos Rodon – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Blegh. Rodon isn’t supposed to be Blegh, but well, there it is.
Chase Anderson – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. After flirting with a no-hitter his previous time out, Chase was pretty dang boring this time, though he is continuing to express that decent K upside. You could do worse in NL only leagues.
Colin Rea – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Is this fantasy? Nope, just Rea life. Yeah, I’m going to make this the Rea blurb pretty much always.
Yordano Ventura – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. Ditch PEAS.
Kenta Maeda – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Maeda is starting to turn into a Toby and that’s not a good thing at all.
Wade Miley – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. This is why we get on that boat and Roe with others while Wade with Miley. Fine, I’ve wanted to do a pun like for a while, YOU CAUGHT ME.
Jesse Hahn – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. If you’re starting Jesse, you best be preparing for trouble. If you got that reference, I like you. If you didn’t, I like you too but there’s this weird wedge between us now that I’m not sure we can destroy. Maybe with love, but who knows really?
Phil Hughes – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks. A 0/1 K per BB? What is this, my line each night if I were a pinch hitter? Hughes should not rostered in a 12 teamer if you guys are considering it.
Casey Kelly – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks. I’ll be completely honest, I didn’t realize Kelly wasn’t still a Padre. But then again, he’s so insignificant that I’m not surprised at all. He’s taking Aaron Blair’s spot in the rotation and he’s a Cup of Schmo.
Danny Salazar – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. It’s about dang time we had to have more question marks around Salazar – it was weird not feeling nervous about the kid. I mean, fine you’re probably not going to do anything different after just one start like this from Salazar, but that BB/9 is now all the way up to 4.31 and his xFIP is 3.40…I mean I wouldn’t necessarily sell, but if you get a deal for him at a great price, I think you’ll be happy with it. I just have a hard time thinking that his 11.10 K/9, near 1.12 WHIP and 2.32 ERA are going to stick around moving forward.
Dallas Keuchel – 6.0 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Okay, so the walks aren’t as bad, meaning this isn’t soooooo terrible. But it’s pretty terrible. Fine it’s terrible. There’s nothing you really can do at this point but wait it out as he’s on your bench, but if you really need the spot in a super shallow league I don’t blame you for dropping him. Crazy we’re talking about Keuchel talking about this, but so it goes.
Ubaldo Jimenez – 5.2 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. I’ll take things that don’t surprise me for $400, Alex.
Alfredo Simon – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. At least he gave us this wondrous event. Yes that is a 54 MPH pitch. Yes this is Simon’s best pitch. Ouch.
Adam Conley – 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 7 BBs, 2 Ks. I hope you enjoyed the Top 60 Conley, it might be a little while before you’re back. Hope you tried the trofie al pesto, it’s divine over there.
Jaime Garcia – 2.1 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks. Wow, talk about Singled Out as the only extra-base hit here was a double. Welp, pull up dem pants and get back it next time against the Nats.
Today’s Streamers
Mike Clevinger vs. Chicago White Sox – Not too many options today, making Clevinger the most interesting of the lot. The ChiSox aren’t looking too great offensively, and you could get a nice productive outing from the Rook’s sophomore outing. Other options include Derek Holland against the Angels, which brings some major worry given his earlier implosions, and Nick Tropeano against the Rangers, but I like Clev the most here.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Nate Karns vs. Oakland Athletics – He’s owned in under 30% of ESPN leagues, which could change after Karns continues to strike out guys at a 9.39 K/9 clip.
Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer
Mike Foltynewicz vs. Milwaukee Brewers – There are actually a decent amount of streaming options here, though it’s from a lot of bleghy guys like Ross Stripling and Matt Andriese who both get weak opponents. There’s also Tyler Duffey against the Royals that could be super fun. I’m going with Folty against the brew crew since he hasn’t walked a batter in three starts and has the K upside to have some fun.
Game of the Day
Clayton Kershaw vs. Cincinnati Reds – I’m feeling perfection in the air tonight. Just sayin’.