Taking Mahle

Let’s talk a little about Reds’ prospect Tyler Mahle who struggled in his debut but rebounded with a 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks against the Pirates Saturday night. I watched a decent amount of his start and the main takeaway I have is that his Fastball command wasn’t great…which shouldn’t surprise anyone with the way he pitches. I’ve talked a ton about Jake Arrieta’s mechanics, where his landing foot is closed, stepping toward the right-handed batter’s box. Mahle does this as well (look at his backfoot and front foot – everything is going away from the plate!) and it forces him to throw across his body, something that makes it really really hard to be consistent with your location. Pitches move more, but making them go where you want is very difficult. Thing is, Mahle’s pitches aren’t so incredible movement wise to out-weigh the location of them like we’ve seen with Arrieta or Adam Ottavino…leading me to be a bit bearish on Mahle. On the other hand, he gets the Mets next and that’s as good of a chance to do well as any. I’m okay with that stream, but I think you sit out the rest.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

Kyle Gibson – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. I led with Gibson last time and he continued his solid stretched against the Royals. Now it’s the Rays, Padres, Jays, Tigers. I know how weird it is, but if you’re in dire need and Gibson is out there…this might be the chance you need to take.

Lance Lynn – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. And Lynn keeps cruising along. Yes it’s The Vargas Rule and I have no qualms with you still holding onto him. Keep in mind that six of his last seven starts all have come with 4 Ks or fewer, meaning when he does stop living by a .229 BABIP, there won’t be much to salvage. I wonder what his ADP will be next year, I’m guessing right around 35, which is absurd.

Marcus Stroman – 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. If you’re thinking this reads like an injury that’s because it was an injury. Stroman had a liner at 108mph hit into his pitching arm and he left the game. He said he’ll be ready for his next start, so let’s hope that’s true.

Jameson Taillon – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Look at that! Taillon is getting it together after a horrid stretch.

Patrick Corbin – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. Corbin went to Coors and Corbin continued being one of the hottest starters around. Let’s lift our glasses to those who were able to get on this train.

Corey Kluber – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. Aces gonna ace. This is getting crazy now. Oh and of course he won the Gallows Pole with 18 whiffs. Just standard business.

Yu Darvish – 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Did anyone tell Darvish that he was facing the Padres? I feel like he didn’t read this critical memo.

Brad Peacock – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. Ehhh, sure. I’m just happy that I get something out of him as he’ll most likely be displaced when McCullers comes back.

Carlos Rodon – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. If you told me that Rodon would have four of five games striking out just 4 batters, I would think either he’d be terrible in those outings or you’d be crazy. But that’s what we’re dealing with as he’s allowed 2 ER or fewer in six of his last seven. It’s a weird time, but let’s just go with it as I’m tossing him out there every start the rest of the way, even Cleveland this week.

Jeff Samardzija – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. Look at Braces having a great start with nine Ks and not blowing up in the process. This is what I wanted all year and you gave it to me when it’s playoff time. Atta boy. Can’t say I expect it to be consistent given you’re a Cherry Bomb, but I can’t help but be happy now, right? Right?

Max Scherzer – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Aces gonna…limp to first running out a grounder with a pulled calf. WE NEED THE DH. Seriously, I know it’s popular to speak against it, but it just makes so much more sense to have it. It’s an ancient rule that doesn’t fit in today’s game y’all. But back to the point, we still don’t know what the seriousness of the injury is but man it couldn’t come at a worse time. He said he could “pitch on it but couldn’t run.” I’m hoping it’s just one skipped precautionary start.

Brock Stewart – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks. Ehhhh, I doubt we’ll see much more of Stewart as he pitched during a double-header.

Masahiro Tanaka – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Tanaka is still rolling and that should make you happy. It makes me happy.

Brandon Woodruff – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. So that’s a 1.52 ERA in his first four starts and I know that look. It’s also a .250 BAIBP and 90.2% LOB rate with a 3.42 BB/9 and I don’t love his stuff save for a Changeup that is nasty at times. He gets the Cubs next, which I’d avoid, but a pair of dates against the Pirates after could make for some sneaky value down the stretch.

Chris Archer – 0.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks. He felt some forearm tightness and took himself out early. In an interview he said he didn’t feel it was serious and he’s taking it “day-to-day”. My guess is one missed start, though it could be a shutdown situation too. Don’t do anything yet, just wait for a little more info first.

Yovani Gallardo – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Of course Gallardo lasted just three frames and was terrible across the board while throwing 80 pitches. Duh.

A.J. Griffin – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Griffin got his act together and surprisingly had just over a strikeout per inning. I would gladly take this if I streamed him…but I chose Stratton and was wrong again as he was bumped to make room for Bumgarner to go today. The life of Stratton is a tough one. Back to Griffin. Can’t say I love him as a streamer, but I recognize that you can get lucky with him a little more often than other options on your wire.

Jordan Lyles – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. Wait, Lyles is starting again? Oh right, double header n all. Nothing like 4.1 frames of 2.30 WHIP, am I right?

Wade Miley – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. If you had the brass to roll with Miley, you deserve this. Not really, but you get my point.

Charlie Morton – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks. The Mets are bad and they definitely feel bad. I’m confident Morton’s spot is secured with the addition of Verlander and don’t you dare stop rolling with him now.

Jon Gray – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. Just nine whiffs as he hosted the Diamondbacks in Coors. This could have been a lot worse, but now he heads to LA and Arizona and I’m not certain I want to keep rolling the die.

Ricky Nolasco – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. Sure, whatever Nolasco.

Clayton Richard – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. It’s the Wrong Clayton! With a VVVPQS. That’s not good.

Jharel Cotton – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. He’s a Young Gun and I hope he is well deserving of the name in retrospect come 2018.

Onelki Garcia – 0.1 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks. Poor fella, getting his first MLB start in his fifth career game in the bigs and it went as poorly as you can imagine. Not worth your time for fantasy purposes (Cup of Schmo n all) but you have to have a little sympathy.

Jon Lester – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Blegh. Please Lester. We need you.

Seth Lugo – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Six Ks from Lugo is cool, the rest isn’t. Which is kinda standard for him. Womp womp.

Drew Pomeranz – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. The Dirty Cheerleader hasn’t been so dirty lately, with 12 baserunners against the Jays last time and another 10 here against the Yanks. He allowed a 3-run HR in the sixth on his 101th pitch as well, which isn’t quite a Careful, Icarus but I felt the need to mention it. Good news is that he faces the Rays/A’s/O’s/Jays in his next four and I think you still start him through it all.

Dan Straily – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Come on Straily, this was the Phils. The Phils! You’re supposed to do double-digit Ks n stuff.

Jordan Zimmermann – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 12 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks. Yep, that’s Zimmermann alright.

Aaron Nola – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. Nooooo, that’s twice in a row Nola has been crushed by the Marlins and it hurts. A lot. I thought we were in the “start against anyone” territory and now he’s giving me caution. I don’t like that at all.

Matt Harvey – 2.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. Like this wasn’t the most predictable line from last night.

Lucas Sims – 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. Yeah, Sims really isn’t a guy you want to chase.

Today’s Streamer

Edwin Jackson vs. Milwaukee Brewers – Not only am I surprised to be endorsing Jackson, but I’m amazed I’m happy I get to. This season has been a weird one.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Jakob Junis vs. Detroit Tigers – He’s been on a roll in his last four starts and the Tigers offense looks absolutely miserable right now. I can see people streaming Rafael Montero against the Phils as well.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Robert Stephenson vs. Milwaukee Brewers – He’s striking out a ton and while that floor is poor, it may still be salvageable if it happens. Garrett Richards also returns this day against the A’s and I’d be tempted to start that one…but he has to be on a strict pitch count and you’re better off waiting for the next one.

Game of the Day

Chris Sale vs. Luis Severino – I can just see ESPN now as this is the matchup they got. Drooooool.