Heading into the season, the two aces of the Atlanta Braves staff were supposed to be Alex Wood and Julio Teheran. The former has been as middle of the road as they come, while Teheran has made owners rip their hair out with frustration. Julio has had four starts of at least 6 ER, and currently sports a 4.56 FIP and 4.15 xFIP. But just as owners hover over the drop player button, he wakes up and goes 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 11 Ks. It’s one of those starts that makes you sit on the fence until you realize how much that hurts. I’ll make this easy for you. Don’t hold onto Teheran, he hasn’t had double digit strikeouts for over a year. Stream other guys, jump at young high upside guys, or go with a decent arm like Heston or Bolsinger. Set yourself free and notice how blue the sky is. Man, I never realized how blue it can be.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
Mike Leake – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. He’s on a nice little run and holds a 3.64 xFIP for the season, but the strikeouts are too inconsistent and he has a terrible floor given three blowups already of 6 ER, 7 ER, and 9 ER. He’s a decent streamer but not someone I’d be running to add onto rosters.
Mike Bolsinger – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Don’t look now but Bolsigner has a 2.81 FIP across his 14 starts this year. I TOLD YOU NOT TO LOOK.
John Danks – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. For the second straight outing, Danks blanked his opponent. Come on man, I’ve been saving “John Stanks” for ages. Can you please go back to your 3.38 FIp and 4.53 xFIP? k thx.
Edinson Volquez – 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. It’s his fifth 2 ER or fewer start in his last six games and it’s time to trust Edinson for the stream once again.
James Shields – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. Shields owners, you guys are pleased with this start, but I can see the lack of trust on your face from here. No that doesn’t sound creepy, we all know that you’re selling Shields ASAP, but sadly you’re going to have to stick this one out. Good luck, soldier.
Jose Fernandez – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 11 Ks. I watched a bit of this outing, and he allowed all three ER with two outs, and had no walks/only 73 pitches entering his final frame. This could have been super magical that would have earned headlines everywhere, but he lost a little something and had to walk two batters. There’s such a small distinction between being incredible and simply very good. It’s crazy.
Matt Cain – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Meh, I need more to believe in ya bud.
Lance Lynn – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. He ran into some trouble in the 6th, but got out of it and held a solid line for owners everywhere. What a guy.
Ivan Nova – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. I feel that Nova will be a bargain at some point, but in all likelihood that will be in your 2016 draft.
Collin McHugh – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. It’s…okay. Man, you were so much more than this McHugh. So much more.
Jordan Zimmermann – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. 1.00 WHIP? Cool! Six Ks? Sure, I’ll take it! A 3.86 ERA? Ehhhhhh……hhhhhhhhh.
Sonny Gray – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. This is the Gray I thought we’d see more of this season.
Noah Syndergaard – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks. Five walks? Thor, that’s gotta go man. Just tell them you’re not ready for a relationship.
Jake Odorizzi – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. This could be a lot worse. It’s not good, and you’ve been patient, sitting through his DL stint and all. I think he recovers and becomes pretty solid, but don’t expect a top 25 guy ROS.
Kevin Gausman – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. I guess I shouldn’t be shocked Gausman has set up a tent in Bleghtown. He just doesn’t have command through his repertoire to make a killing each night.
C.J. Wilson – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Speaking of Bleghtown…
Joe Kelly – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. I’m impressed he only walked one batter. That’s like being impressed that your friend is only ordering one beer tonight. He’s still gonna wind up in a barfight, though.
Kyle Hendricks – 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. Those Ks are soooo tasty, but everything else is a different story. I get the feeling that Hendricks can be a solid guy like a Wacha-lite or like a JZ type, but he’s just a hair away. A good discount guy, but not for shallow leagues.
Anibal Sanchez – 6.2 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. I think Sanchez has finally stopped leaving me voicemails. We’re entering phase 3 of the breakup.
Jorge De La Rosa – 6.0 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. De La Rosa has limited upside, pitches his home games at Coors Field, and doesn’t deserve a spot on your team. This should be the blurb for every Colorado starter.
Martin Perez – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks. Awww Perez, you know just how to make me dislike you. You know me so well!
Mike Pelfrey – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks. It took him until the 6th inning to collect his first strikeout sooooo yeah, you don’t want this.
Charlie Morton – 6.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Nor this. Definitely not this.
Felix Doubront – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. The Blue Jays are looking for an answer as they figure out their staff for the second half. Felix is not that answer.
Robbie Ray – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. Our Call Boy was pretty dang pathetic today in his worst start of the year. Welp it happens, we move on for a better tomorrow. Insert awkward Herman Cain smile.
Adam Morgan – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. No, this isn’t that girl from the US Women’s Soccer team, but she might as well have pitched instead.
Kyle Lohse – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 10 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Score another for Lohse in the LoKer TOCAL!
Tony Cingrani – 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Cingrani had his moment to shine once again on the hill as a starter…and reminded folks why he was put in the pen. Funny, he had that crazy streak to start his career by not allowing more than 5 hits in his first 22+ starts or so, and he allows six in his first try this season. Oh baseball, you’re so funny.
Dallas Beeler – 2.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks. Ah, the good ole Cup of Schmo.
Today’s Streamer
Ervin Santana vs. Los Angeles Angels – Ugh, I hate this start. There are a lot of vastly owned guys + scrubs with bad matchups today, so I’m going with Santana over Fiers vs. the Dbacks.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Chris Tillman vs. Tampa Bay Rays – It’s not secret I don’t like Tillman, but he has been pretty dang solid his past four outings, and he gets a great matchup against the Rays. It’s probably the only time all season I’ll be on the Tillman train for any amount of time so take a picture. It’ll last less time than saving a screenshot to your desktop.
Game of the Day
David Price vs. Hisashi Iwakuma – I want to get a closer look at Iwakuma with the added benefit of watching Price continue to dominate…right?