You may have noticed that I’m not too keen on Kyle Hendricks, and I’m sure you’re expecting me to hold back enthusiasm even after last night’s 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks. And I’d say it’s flattering and endearing that you know me so well. But let’s dive into this. Since returning from the DL on July 24th, Hendricks holds a 2.36 ERA, 7.59 K/9, 2.36 BB/9, with a 2.29 BABIP, 88.3% LOB Rate, and 484.% groundball rate. He’s faced the Pirates, Braves, Phils, Jays, Giants, Brewers, and White Sox in those nine starts (Reds and Nats were the only two tough outings). Whiff rate sits at an even 10%, Fastball still at 87mph. Hendricks has had a relatively easy schedule and was able to beat his 3.69 FIP by a mile as he’s induced just 25.6% hard contact. I’m not going to make the argument that he shouldn’t be rostered and started – he gets a suitable ROS schedule of Brewers, Cardinals, Brewers, Cardinals left and he could easily be productive through it – I just would favor other arms over him in this time. Nothing’s really changed as his margin for error is smaller than the rest, and he’s not bringing in the strikeouts to make it worth while when it goes poorly. He’s Top 50, yes, but not Top 30 like his recent ERA might suggest. That’s all I’m trying to get at.
Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:
Marco Estrada – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. This came after allowing 18 ER across his last four games. Against the Red Sawx. How am I supposed to expect this?
Jake Odorizzi – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Wait, Odorizzi can have a good start? Really? This is the only start over two innings with 0 ER all year. In 24 starts. Also just the fourth start of the season with 6+ Ks. Jeeeez.
Stephen Strasburg – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Stras got moved into the Top 5 this past week given how many games he had left, and there’s no reason not to love him the rest of the way.
Zach Davies – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Davies’ last five starts: 1.11 ERA, 6.12 K/9, 1.95 BB/9, 1.05 WHIP, 54.2% GB rate. His last three starts have came against the Dodgers, Nationals, and Reds, though the former pair aren’t as strong as they have been for the majority of the year. Now he gets the Cubs, Marlins, Cubs, and I’m still a little worried. You’re making a Grave Mistake against three good teams and that doesn’t sound like a great roll of die, even with Davies on a good roll.
Odrisamer Despaigne – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Whoa whoa whoa, Odrisamer are you telling me that not only do you have the sexiest name in baseball – Despaigne – but you also don’t suck every so often? That’s like owning an apple watch and getting something out of it once in a while. Well, I guess only if you live in New England.
Zack Greinke – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Aces gonna ace. I wonder where Greinke will go in next year’s drafts. If he’s not consensus Top 10, that’s just silly.
Jacob deGrom – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. I’ve been messing around with deGrom vs. Greinke for a bit, and finally we get some legit separation, though I’m not going to act like I’m happy about this. It’s been a terrible stretch for him as you’ve need deGrom the most, allowing 20 ER in his last five starts. Yikes. At least the Ks are still there (6+ KPS), but jeez, against the Phillies? This is stupid. This isn’t a massive implosion that will continue through to the end – velocity was at 97mph! – and I don’t think you should be benching against the Cubs, especially as he has the Braves in the same week.
Tyler Chatwood – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Chatwood had been in the bullpen a bit, forcing him out of the game after 61 pitches. Nothing to see here.
Edward Lively – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. Raggedy Ann had himself a day because the Mets are the Mets and let Lively collect 4 RBI. FOUR! Hope it was a wonderful Birthday Party, I lost my invitation somehow.
Ariel Miranda – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 0 Hits, 6 BBs, 5 Ks. Six walks and a WHIP of 1.00. HOW. This is classic EJax and I hate it so much. I’d rather watch re-runs of The Real World. IT WASN’T CLOSE TO BEING REAL.
Garrett Richards – 3.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Richards is back and it’s awesome and I’m falling for him again and I can’t contain myself. I’m being too emotional though – he gets the Astros twice in his next three games and even entering next season he’ll have this massive cloud above his head like it’s a toupee. But it’s not a toupee.
Hyun-Jin Ryu – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 5 BBs, 7 Ks. With Hill, Darvish, Kershaw, Maeda, Wood all in L.A., it’s possible the Dodgers do a six-man rotation and give Ryu more outings. I hope so as he gets the Giants next, but monitor the situation closely.
Anibal Sanchez – 0.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks. He was so defeated after allowing that single that he took himself out of the game. Wait, didn’t he take a liner off the calf? Tomato, Tomahto. No one says Tomahto. YOU DON’T SAY TOMAHTO. …Right.
Robert Stephenson – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 7 Ks. Our Call Boy exhibited his horrid floor via five walks…and still made it work for you. Atta boy Stephenson. And congrats on earning your half of the Gallows Pole with 14 whiffs. Streamer Record 70-53-16.
Justin Verlander – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Who wants to make a wager on his ADP next year? I’m not even sure where I’m slotting him just yet. Top 15?
Bartolo Colon – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Look at Paul Funyun making his case to stick around in 2018. Just because he’s presenting to the court and he makes a good point doesn’t mean you need to sit around and watch it, let alone believe him.
Eduardo Rodriguez – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. Even facing the Jays, I had my concerns about E-Rod. He’s been terribly inconsistent and we just don’t know what we’re going to get each day. Well he gave us a doozy and now we should feel great about the A’s up ahead. One start at a time y’all. Also, enjoy your co-win of the Gallows Pole with 14 whiffs.
Steven Brault – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks. Five innings and not a single strikeout? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO FEED MY FAMILY WITH THIS?
Jeremy Hellickson – 2.1 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks. The Devil is real and lives in Baltimore.
Michael Wacha – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. It’s a VVPQS from Wacha as he faced the Padres, which is pretty silly SINCE IT’S THE PADRES. Dude had been killing it and while the floor was still good here with six Ks to boot, you had that ceiling, not floor. Whatever, now it’s the Pirates and you’re still rolling with him there.
Kendall Graveman – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Graveman got the Angels and was just as blegh as we remember him. I wish Kendall was as pretty as a Ken-doll. I’ve been waiting for the bad jokes to return. I know, I know, I took some time off from that. Needed a brief cleanse, BUT I’M BACK BABY.
Danny Salazar – 0.2 IP, 4 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. Well, this was all kinds of disappointing. Salazar killed it when returning in August and after a short DL stint, we thought DLH could be ignored against the ChiSox. Nope. Good news is that he’s not injured, but the Indians didn’t want him pitching over 30 pitches in the opening frame. Your guess is as good as mine as far as how he performs in his next start.
Ty Blach – 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Blach.
CC Sabathia – 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Sabathia allowed 7 ER in his previous start against the O’s, and now 5 last night…meh too small of a sample and I’m leaving out the 2 ER outing on April 9th. I will mention that the Rays are next and are outside the Top 25 in wOBA against left-handers.
David Holmberg – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks. Holmberg is like the 90s VHS tape that sits in your parent’s house that will never be watched again but a few people you know claim they’ve seen it once before. Was it any good? Meh.
Travis Wood – 2.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks. It’s the wrong wood! Honey, there is no wro—oh. Right. Travis vs. Alex. Got it.
Jason Vargas – 2.0 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks. Jason, I have to hand it to you for living up to the term named in your honor. It was the Vargas Rule for a good while and after hitting that wall, the wheels are spinning but the car ain’t moving.
Today’s Streamer
Nick Pivetta vs. New York Mets – It’s the Mets. Yes please.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Tyler Mahle vs. New York Mets – You might notice a pattern here…
Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer
Mike Leake vs. Los Angeles Angels – There are no good options today so I’ll go with Leake after his studly outing last time out.
Game of the Day
Luis Castillo vs. Milwaukee Brewers – It’s the last day of Castillo today and I’m playing My Heart Will Go On.
Luiz Gohara vs. Texas Rangers – Last night rained out, which means I’m writing his breakdown today. Should be fun.
Castillo was phenomenal this afternoon.
I have no idea what to do with Salazar at this point. On one hand he has a great ROS schedule, but on the other, he looked absolutely terrible last night against a supposed “bottom” team. To hold or to drop and stream pitchers for the playoff push…?
What does your gut tell you about how he’ll perform in his next couple games, Nick?
Hold Salazar or try and find someone else to replace him?