You know what is one of the more impressive stats from Sonny Gray this season? He’s averaging over seven innings per start, which hold 2.06 ERA over 161.2 innings of work. That total was boosted by a 9.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks performance in yesterday’s game that makes owners pretty giddy, even though he managed to get 22 of 27 outs via the batted ball. Great to see a zero walk effort after allowing four free passes last time out, and it’s his third start in a row allowing 1 or fewer ER while dancing across 25 innings. But here’s where we get a little dark Dims lights. Dude, I meant in tone, jeez now I can’t see the keyboard when I typrloksdj. Brightens lights. Thanks bud. Anyway, while Gray does have a history of surpressing HRs, I’m still cautious that his xFIP is nearly 1.5 points separated from his ERA at 3.42. Let’s just imagine that he doesn’t regress all the way, and holds a 3.00 ERA here on out. When that’s mixed with a 7.57 K/9, it’s hard to be super enthused and call him a Top 10, maybe even Top 15 guy. Trade deadlines are coming up if they haven’t passed yet, and I’d be looking to flip Gray for someone who believes his low ERA ways are here to stay.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
Chase Anderson – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. Chase returned from the DL and had what may be his best start of the season. Go figure, I don’t think he’ll keep performing like this, though I wouldn’t blame you for a stream next week against Philly.
Jordan Zimmermann – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. He’s still soooo middling to me. Sure, he has an all around good floor, but when you get excited from 6 Ks on a given night from a guy that’s supposed to be your #2, it’s kinda sad.
Raisel Iglesias – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. So you went with Raisel hoping for his upside to come alive like a starving beast living in a cage that is getting shipped off to Peru but it really belongs FREE AND WITH ITS FAMILY in Africa, and you got it. Glad the ball bounced your way today, just don’t get cocky and blindly toss him out next time.
Jake Odorizzi – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. That’s three starts from Jake where he’s only walked one batter. I think it’ll be a solid second half for the Rizzi.
Edinson Volquez – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. I mean, if you’re really hurting for ERA, fine go after Volquez. But we know there is a bunch o’ risk without much reward.
Lance Lynn – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks. 66% of awesomeness, 33% of duuuude…
R.A. Dickey – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Dickey claims that he can lick his own elbow. Since he’s a human, he can’t. Don’t trust a knuckleballer. Hard not to feel a little sympathy for the Yankees though, dealing with a pair of knucklers on their game twice in three games.
Nathan Eovaldi – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Yeah, that’s Eovaldi for ya. Never gonna give you to whole enchilada. I wonder why that’s a phrase and how enchiladas won that trophy. In second place, The Vermonster! Awww, there’s something at least I can totally relate to wanting the whole thing but never expecting that I can actually get all of it.
Jacob deGrom – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. Solid, not great with a 3.00 ERA, but solid.
Hisashi Iwakuma – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. Another productive outing from Iwakuma, though the ERA leaves much to be desired.
Jon Lester – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. This does nothing to the value.
James Shields – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. Shields is still able to provide some value, but it always comes with a caveat. I would hate to be a Shields owner this year, as you can’t drop him, but no one is willing to give you any sort of return if you trade him. Try for a cheap closer if you can. Closers are currency.
Jose Fernandez – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. He was pulled after just 76 pitches because he threw 110+ last time. Well that’s silly, but saying the Marlins are doing dumb things is like dunking on a 2 foot hoop.
Gerrit Cole – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Oh no, I’m getting flashbacks from 2014. MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP!
John Danks – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. Danks stank. Well, it has some baby powder to cover the smell a little. But you know how it really smells.
Julio Teheran – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. I know I speak for owners everywhere when I say I’m so done with you Teheran. Just let me live my life in peace.
Aaron Nola – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Not what you wanted from Nola, and I think he’ll be better moving forward.
Joe Kelly – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. I’m impressed that Kelly managed to only walk two batters while punching out 7 and only allowed 2 guys cross the plate. That ends my impressed opinion of Kelly.
Dallas Keuchel – 7.2 IP, 3 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. He got Singled Out, which is weird given his elite soft contact %.
Cole Hamels – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. Hamels is doing a standup job of making Texas hate him. Nice going bud!
Jorge De La Rosa – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 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.
Ryan Vogelsong – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. So he’s back and now I need to restrain myself from making “song” jokes once again. But it was such a fun melody to sing! I mean, what else am I going to do, you already know he shouldn’t be started.
Clayton Kershaw – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. What is this Kershaw. Come on man, we were becoming ultra tight like that time you made that awesome popsicle house for me. How did you know blue was my favorite color?!
Andrew Heaney – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. He had a near 2 point gap between his ERA and xFIP, so this isn’t all too shocking. I think he’s still effective, but he doesn’t strikeout enough batters to give you the full confidence moving forward.
Kevin Gausman – 5.2 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Yeah, this is what I worried about with Gausman. He’s very prone to getting hit around and ruining your night, even a Friday night.
Tyler Cravy – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Cravy is in the rotation now that Kyle Lohse has been booted and made me super sad. I really enjoyed the LoKer TOCAL, even if it was just for the awesome name.
Cody Anderson – 2.2 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. You’ve already dropped Anderson by now, right?
Daniel Norris – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. Many were considering streaming Norris and I feel bad for those who went with it. Norris had a shaky start to 2014, and his time in the minors wasn’t encouraging enough for the Jays to toss him out there before he was traded to Detroit. I don’t think I’ll get to a point when I feel comfortable starting Norris this year, though if I see some development he could be a post-hype sleeper for next season.
Mike Pelfrey – 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. Ha! So that MFRTSPA is still completely up in the air. I really have no idea who should get it, maybe a combination of Trevor May and Ervin Santana? Yuck.
Today’s Streamer
Nathan Karns vs. New York Mets – I don’t care if they are the top of the NL East, the Mets are still a bottom tier offense, and Karns is cruising right now.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Matt Shoemaker vs. Baltimore Orioles – Not the best matchup, but Shoe has 27 Ks across his last three outings, and you gotta roll with it.
Game of the Day
Stephen Strasburg vs. Colorado Rockies – It’s his first start back from the DL and you bet I’m itching to see what he’s like.