The Holes In Romano’s Cheese

I’m sure I’m going to get some questions about Sal Romano after his 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks outing against the Pirates last night, so let’s dive in here. He’s allowed just 9 ER total over his last six starts, while facing the Braves, Cubs, Mets twice, and Pirates twice. The most impressive part of the run is just 11 walks to his name, especially with 0 in each of his last twice starts (Mets and Pirates). I think we can all agree that his next start against the Sawx should be avoided, but what about that matchup against Milwaukee on the 28th? Yeah, I’m not buying that either. I understand he has strikeout upside and has pitched to a 2.09 ERA in this time with a near 55% groundball rate. That’s great! 3.52 FIP and 3.94 xFIP aren’t so bad either. I really just hate his mechanics that explain his overall questionable command. It was on last night for him across eight frames and it’s hard not to think he’s made some tweak, but there’s no way I’m taking that dice roll here. Over a full season, it’s possible he shows that consistency, but Romano will not be on my 2018 radar unless I’m in an NL-Only league and even then he isn’t near the top of the list. Sidenote: This might be the worst headline of the season from me. I am so sorry.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

Tyler Anderson – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Whoa, you’re back! Anderson has been a questionable value guy in my mind, but with him missing so much time I’m not going to take chances here. Glad this went well, though.

Parker Bridwell – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. After a pair of starts totally 13 ER against Oakland twice, Bridwell has recovered with 2 Er against the Mariners and Rangers. But you already know I’m not buying this. These seven strikeouts were only the second time in 17 starts that he had over five Ks and that FIP/xFIP at 4.56/4.87 is enough for me to shy away. And he gets Houston next! Nope.

Kendall Graveman – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks. The rain shortened this one to two innings. Womp womp. I can see someone streaming him against Texas in O.Co next time, can’t say I love it though.

Edward Lively – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks.  Raggedy Ann was the other to get the end of the rainout, which is too bad because I want to see more of him pitch. Give me a larger sample to determine if I can call you a streamer next season or not.

Zack Greinke – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. Aces gonna ace. I wonder how deGrom did…

Jacob deGrom – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Good to see him act dominant for the second game in a row after stumbling majorly three times over the last month. I’m willing to wager deGrom is outside the Top 10 (or at least behind Greinke) next season and I can see myself – for the fourth season in a row – targeting deGrom in drafts. I think people look at his 3.55 ERA now and shy away, forgetting that he allowed 15 ER in two back-to-back games at the end of May. After that? 2.85 ERA. Dude is a stud, he’s your anchor, and you won’t have to pay a Top 40 pick to get that.

Jordan Montgomery – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. So last time The Bear started, he allowed 3 ER with four walks in just 3.1 innings and I wondered if he was running out of fuel in September. The fella threw 139.1 frames in 2016 and he was past the 140 mark after his outing in Texas. It’s good to see him on top of his game here against the Orioles and I’m definitely targeting him next season as one of my final SP arms. Outside of JorMont, the Yanks only have three starters heading into the season, so don’t have any worry that he won’t have a starting gig out of Spring Training.

Rick Porcello – 7.1 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Porcello faced the Rays twice in two games and was successful again. It doesn’t help me forget your 7 ER effort against the Jays just before it, sadly.

Kyle Hendricks – 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. And Hendricks keeps cruising. Still find it hard to invest in 2018 – I’d like to own him, but I see him going at a time where I can get high strikeout arms as well with the same ratio upside – but you best be starting him here on out. Duh.

Rich Hill – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. What was the number we placed on Hill starts this year? 20-25? He’s at 23 now and I think we all need to happy about that. Sure, it comes with a horrendous 5.3 IPS, but 6.3 Ks per start as well.

Dallas Keuchel – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Ehhhh sure. I hate how much I’m thinking of 2014 Keuchel right now.

Madison Bumgarner – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Aces gonna ace. I know he’s been rugged, but you have to believe Bummy is going to be Bummy down the stretch. Super curious what his ADP will be in March.

Marco Estrada – 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Estrada is trying to make his case as he enters the off-season, with three straight solid outings now under his belt against the Sawx, Orioles, and Twins. Can’t say I’m buying it against the Yankees next, though.

Cole Hamels – 7.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks. That’s nice Hamels, maybe. I think so. Anyway, I’m not trusting you moving forward with Championships on the line.

Ivan Nova – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Oh hey, Nova is trying to bookend his season with good runs and act like the giant bump that is a bell curve of a season doesn’t exist. NICE TRY.

Alex Cobb – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. Cobb faced the Sawx and just couldn’t get it fully done. I’m surprisingly on board now with Cobb after a long hiatus. Weird, I know. Let’s just start him against Baltimore and move on.

A.J. Cole – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. It’s the wrong Cole/A.J.! Well, maybe it is the right A.J. I dunno. They are both somewhat alluring but ruin lives as you sit there mulling about what you’ve done. Much like a jay. I’ll be here for the next two weeks, people.

Adam Conley – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. I’m done with Conley and so should you.

Adalberto Mejia – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. You didn’t expect more than this, right?

Michael Wacha – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 5 BBs, 7 Ks. Five walks? Why do you have to walk five batters? It prevented owners from getting a Quality Start and you were missing a good amount of bats anyway. Blegh. Pirates are next so obviously go with Wacha.

Carlos Carrasco – 6.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. It was due, right? Carrasco had four straight stud starts so clearly he’s going to falter against the Royals. WHY MUST YOU BE LIKE THIS. He’s going to get a lot of comparisons to deGrom in the off-season, but ya’ll know who I’m going for and it rhymes with Le Prom. Also, Carrasco won the Gallows Pole with 17 whiffs, so good on you, I guess.

Reynaldo Lopez – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. That’s two straight games with 1 strikeout from Lopez and I’m confounded. He’s not using his Curveball much at all, which to me is the pitch that will turn him into a K machine. I think I’d take a chance in 2018 with Lopez, and for now I’d still start him against the Royals this week. Angels after…we’ll see. I have to take the Loss here even though he got you a Win as everything else hurts. Streamer Record 76-58-16.

R.A. Dickey – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks. Dickey told me that he was coming to today’s Pitcher List NYC Meetup. I know he’s not in town. Don’t Trust A Knuckleballer.

Myles Jaye – 1.2 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. Pass The Jaye On The Right Hand Side. Myles isn’t the brew you want to drink.

Zach Davies – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks. Davies was producing despite a tough schedule prior, but he had trouble with the Marlins and now it’s the Cubs/Reds. That doesn’t speak pretty things.

Jason Hammel – 6.0 IP, 6 ER, 11 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Yeaaaaaaah. Hammel’s upside was about squeaking out Quality Starts despite the ERA/WHIP and he’s not close to doing that now. Don’t do this.

Jeremy Hellickson – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. The Devil is real and lives in Baltimore.

Jordan Lyles – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. Yep, that’s Lyles alright.

Erasmo Ramirez – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. For those that have been wondering why I’ve been down on Erasmo – I didn’t even include him on The List! – this is why. The man has a low floor (Exhibit A) and his ceiling is pretty low and he still struggles to jump high enough to reach it. Not the kind of pitcher I like rolling with.

Today’s Streamer

Garrett Richards vs. Texas Rangers – He’s owned in under 25% of leagues and he’s reading to produce for your squad. Other options include Kyle Gibson against the Jays because the dude is rolling and I’m on board as long as he’s facing poor squads, as well as Robert Stephenson against the Pirates if you need last-minute strikeout upside.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Luis Perdomo vs. Arizona Diamondbacks – There is no streamer I would actually go with today, so I’ll take the HR chance in Perdomo as the Diamondbacks are out of Arizona and Perdomo has gone six innings in each of his last ten games. Don’t do this.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Luiz Gohara vs. Washington Nationals – Not much to choose from here (assuming German Marquez is taken in your league), leaving Gohara who looked plenty better in his last start against the Nats.

Game of the Day

Garrett Richards vs. Texas Rangers – I’m curious how far the Angels will let Richards go as I want to see him let it all out in one start this year.