The Cor Principle

One storyline that has shocked me this season has been Patrick Corbin’s return from the ashes, acting as one of the premier SP options over the last two months. However, his line last night of 4.1 IP, 8 ER, 11 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks sure wasn’t that as he faced…the Padres. Um, what? After having no issues with Coors, Corbin allowed 8 ER to the Padres. Right, that makes total sense. Velocty wasn’t down, he ran into 6 ER in the fourth after getting two quick outs and 0-2 on the third batter. Then a bloop singled on a jam shot, a single on a Slider pushed to center, a walk, a broken bat single and a double down the line…it wasn’t a game that made me think “wow, Corbin is terrible again.” Keep starting him.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

Max Scherzer – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. Aces not going to ace? That actually was the story of the day as all the dudes were blegh. At least Scherzer was a co-winner of the Gallows Pole with 17 whiffs, but that was expected. On a different note, who wins the NL Cy Young this year?

Marcus Stroman – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. And Stroman too. I’m glad he didn’t skip a start and the WHIP/K production is still good. Just ease up on the ER, alright?

Chris Archer – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Speaking of guys we were worried would miss time, Archer is hurting y’all after looking great over the last month. I have no idea where he’ll go in drafts next season, but I’m telling you now that I’d be shocked if I owned him. I’m imagine a consensus #14/15 rank and I can see myself having him lower. You’re just saying this because he had one bad start after a flurry of great ones! I know how it looks, but y’all have heard me question Archer all season. I wanted to believe he was turning it around for good, but a start like this is more of the same. Please prove me wrong in the final weeks, Archer.

Yu Darvish – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Uggggggh. 16 ER over his last four starts now as I’m sure y’all are getting restless. I’m not going say that I expected Darvish to be bad and that you shouldn’t start him n all that, but I will mention this was the fear as he was cruising through the first half. We know he goes through blips and injuries and walks and whatnot and I don’t want you to forget this next season. He has a 4.25 ERA, Nick. No one is going to forget this. Huh. That makes me suddenly feel like he’ll be undervalued. Weird.

Masahiro Tanaka – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. Tanaka held a 2.08 ERA over his previous six starts as he went to Texas last night. Hope it didn’t kill your week, but he should be good the rest of the way.

Mike Clevinger – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. If you feel like you’ve seen this before, it’s because Clevinger has had 4 or 3 hits with 6.0 IP and 0 ER in each of his last three starts. This man should never be a reliever again.

Seth Lugo – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Lugo had a 6.46 ERA across his previous six starts, so don’t expect me to be all happy and excited after he finally did something productive.

Jimmy Nelson – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. On one hand, Nelson is dope and you should feel dope. On the other, he hurt his shoulder sliding back to first base. WHERE IS THE DH. He has “arm soreness” but the Brewers are apparently not worried about it. Pfffft I’m worried about it. He was linted up to face the Pirates this week (please please please) but if he gets pushed back, he’d face the Marlins over the weekend or Pirates again to start the following week. Yes, he would have had two starts against the Pirates AND NOW IT’S BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM. Can we please stop pitchers from hitting? It’s this fun novelty that has run it’s course, like wearing that silly hat for a day. It got some jokes, we all had fun, but you can’t wear it every day. Update: Nelson is going to miss the rest of the year with a right rotator cuff strain and partial anterior labrum tear. Go ahead and drop him.

Luke Weaver – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. Man, Weaver is just shooting up the 2018 draft right now as he’s simply dominating since his return to the rotation on the 23rd of August. Just 4 ER in 25.1 IP with 36 Ks to his name. Whoa. Now, he did face the Padres, Brewers, Giants, and Pirates during that stretch so take it will a little bit of salt. Reds x2 + Cubs are next and I’m curious if he comes out of that unscathed.

Buck Farmer – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Barmer had himself a Birthday Party and none of us were invited. Not cool Barmer, not cool.

Jose Urena – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Y’all know I don’t like Urena and I still don’t even after this one. Blame it on the Braves. But even that doesn’t sound right as I wouldn’t have trusted him in this one. Yeah, that’s the blegh we’re talking about here.

John Lackey – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. It’s a 3.67 ERA with a 8.63 K/9 and 2.72 BB/9 over his last 10 starts. It’s not the most amazing and jaw dropping stuff (4.52 FIP as well), but at least the Ks are flowing and there’s upside here. The Mets + Rays are next and I’m all for that.

Mike Leake – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. Leake has done well in both of his starts for the Mariners, but don’t let that make you overlook that he faced the A’s and Angels. Next he heads to Texas and that’s horrendous. In the meantime, I’ll take my dub Streamer Record 71-55-16. Magic number is at six for me to leave this year with a winning record, thought I like to think I can get more Wins than Losses and Ties combined. It’s going to be fun. And stressful. And unfair. And stupid. But fun.

German Marquez – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. Just seven whiffs in this one, none with his breaking ball as Marquez trudges through his tough schedule. The Dodgers are out, now he’s heading to Arizona where I’m sitting this one out. The Giants and Padres follow so don’t ignore him completely, though.

Matt Moore – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. So that’s a 3.18 ERA over his last five starts (plus 2.0 innings of 0 ER relief against the Cardinals) and you may be thinking he’s turned it around. Don’t do that. It’s a .242 BABIP, 84.4% LOB rate en route to a 4.49 FIP while his K/9 is still under 7.00. He’s also faced the Phils, Brewers, Padres, and ChiSox last night during this stretch. It’s not what you want.

Martin Perez – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Sure, whatever Perez.

Drew Pomeranz – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. The Dirty Cheerleader made it through the sixth and gave us seven Ks. That’s what’s up.

Mike Foltynewicz – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. This is what Folty does. He brings you in with an 8 K start like this, then is so unproductive after it. He’s a PEAS and you can’t put faith in it.

Lucas Giolito – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks. I’m a bit disappointed to see Giolito allow four walks. All I want is consistently few free passes and I’m totally on board for 2018. You can do it kid.

Ian Kennedy – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. And Kennedy left the game with shoulder tightness and we don’t know when he’s starting next. But you don’t own Kennedy anymore, right?

Collin McHugh – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks. This isn’t good at all. McHugh was the sudden sturdy arm and now he might be missing some time as his fingernail ripped off his finger. BUT GUESS WHAT. Ohhhhhh wait a second. YUP. Brad Peacock stays in the rotation yet again. He survived the addition of Justin Verlander, needed Lance McCullers to hit the DL, and now has McHugh missing time so that he keeps getting his starts. It’s kinda nuts, but he’s deftly made it work. Crazy.

Amir Garrett – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Oh hey it’s Garrett again! It was his first start since June 20th and he showed up with crazy good velocity, sitting at 94.9mph despite averaging 91-92 prior (highest was 92.5mph!). I wonder if this will stick around through the end of the year as he does have a rotation spot laid out for him come April if all goes well.

Jordan Lyles – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. Right, right. Lyles is a thing again. Well, not a thing thing, just some thing that’s there. Don’t pick it up. But the strikeouts are shiny…You’re not a bird. Don’t be a bird.

Wade Miley – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. Oh Miley, never change.

Ricky Nolasco – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Yep, that’s Nolasco alright.

Ervin Santana – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. This is how dumb W/L are. Santana earned a Win here for his 15th of the season. He pitched under 70 pitches because he just wasn’t very good. He also has a 10-7 record with a 4.23 ERA over his last 23 starts. Ridiculous. Anyway, he has a solid ROS schedule and I think you still roll with him based on the matchup.

Trevor Williams – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks. You want nothing to do with Williams.

Jake Thompson – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks. Awwww, I kinda wanted Thompson to keep moving after his last start, but here he is with 0 Ks. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO FEED MY FAMILY WITH THIS.

Jharel Cotton – 5.0 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. And Cotton is still a Young Gun. Maybe next year he’ll put it together. Maybe.

Today’s Streamer

Edwin Jackson vs. Philadelphia Phillies – The Phils are terrible and EJax has the Nats on his side. Mike Montgomery could work as a desperate weekend stream as well.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

A. J. Cole vs. Phialdelphia Phillies – This is a terrible day for streamers and thus the world.

Day After 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.

Game of the Day

Zack Godley vs. San Diego Padres – I feel like this is the start for Godley to set the tone for the rest of the season.