Totaling The Car

(Photo by Jimmy Simmons/Icon Sportswire)

What should you do with Carlos Martinez? After going 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks tonight, you’re incredibly upset with his performances since coming off the DL, going 0-for-4 in production as you continue to play the waiting game. Even though he walked just two here, it was 19 CSW in 91 pitches, with just six whiffs. Holy Tillman, that’s bad. He’s introduced a cutter that hasn’t done much of anything for him, his slider earned two whiffs on 19 thrown and he just looks lost. I’ll be lowering him on The List, though I’m not ready to give up fully. Velocity still at 95mph and you have to imagine his dope slider is still in there. Give him the TIARA, maybe bench him until he figures it out, but I’d imagine by the second half at the latest you get the CarMart you signed up for.

Let’s see how every other SP did Thursday:

Madison Bumgarner – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. It’s great to see Bumgarner finally show up. If only everyone could simply schedule a date with the Padres to get their lives in order. 34 CSW here on 100 pitches – just 8 whiffs oddly enough – and while I don’t think Bumgarner is suddenly fixed, he clearly had a better feel for his cutter in this one than in his previous outings (17/29 CSW + 7 BIP! That’s a lot of strikes). He’s hosting the Rockies next – hallelujah! – before a date in Coors itself – D’oh! – and hopefully he can at least make that first one also profitable. Probably, still feel like I need to add some hope.

Rick Porcello – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Porcello’s slider piece wasn’t all too good in this one, but the balls in play found some gloves and that’s cool. I guess. Still just 2 CSW on 25 sliders (10 BIP with a 90.4mph EV!), but it worked tonight against the Twins and we can rest easy. For now…

Tyson Ross – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Hey Tyson, I know it’s not easy n all, but can you please do better than 3 or 4 Ks in four of your last five starts? It’s getting a bit frustrating now, but I’m willing to overlook this with that luscious ERA and WHIP. I pay you for Ks though, so chop chop.

Kyle Freeland – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. It’s the Rocky Mountain Way as Freeland had a date with Mets. Live by it and don’t go outside it.

Kevin Gausman – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. You want to know what makes no sense to me? How Gausman can throw 114 pitches and get just three swings-and-misses. THREE. Are you even trying Gausman? YOU HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE DEPENDING ON YOU. Seriously though, I’ll take 2 ER from Gaus against the Nats, it’s just so weird to see this line. I think you keep rolling with him as long as the matchups agree.

Kyle Gibson – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Slider was still dope – even had some called strikes! – and I’m impressed with Gibson against the Sawx, even if it came with a Loss and 1.67 WHIP. He shouldn’t give you a salvageable 3.00 ERA and 5 Ks against Boston, just think if this happened last year how crazy it would sound. CRAZY!

Zack Godley – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. His curveball was good – not incredible, but good – and he found his way through six frames. A little too stressful and only 7 whiffs make me still a little cautious, but I’ll take this from Godley against the Pirates.

Matt Harvey – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Harvey, bud, if you want me to buy into this, you’re going to have to do better than a 23 CSW and 8 whiffs. Just saying.

Aaron Sanchez – 1.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks. Sanchez was pulled early with a finger contusion – not related to his previous blister problems. I wonder if being terrible made that happen.

Max Scherzer – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks. Aces gonna ace. In shocking news, Scherzer earned himself a Gallows Pole with 21 whiffs. Crazy, I know. 36 CSW in 101 pitches too, but you kinda expect that from numero uno.

Brent Suter – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. That’s two straight 7 IP starts from Suter, this one against the Cardinals. I can fathom him as a discount Toby, but I see his 20% K rate and 4.09 SIERA and think “yep, that’s about right.”

John Lamb – 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Tyler Skaggs was scratched with a hamstring injury, forcing Lamb to take his place at the last minute. I’m impressed with the nine whiffs in 76 pitches, but there’s nothing else to latch onto here. I don’t think this year spells breakout for Johnny.

Luis Severino – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Aces gonna get a Philly and make me all upset. So close to getting through six against the Mariners, but today wasn’t his day. At least he got you the dub and we can embrace him fully next time.

Kyle Hendricks – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks. The descent of the Prof continues, with Hendricks now allowing 9 walks across three games. It’s also four in his last six where he’s failed to go at least six frames. And he hasn’t earned 6 Ks in five starts. This isn’t looking good.

James Paxton – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks. Paxton had himself a horrific first inning with a pair of two-run shots (and almost a solo bomb as well!), but then settled down for the final four frames, acrruing nine strikeouts along the way. The Yanks are good, Paxton got squeezed, and let’s not freak out here. He’s fine.

Steven Matz – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. This was Coors. Coors Does Things. Matz also does things – often bad things – and this was no different, with just 6 whiffs in 97 pitches. I don’t like these things.

Chad Kuhl – 2.0 IP, 8 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. So this is hilarious. I posted an article on Rotographs just an hour before this start talking about Kuhl’s adjustment to throwing more sliders. And then this happened. HA Ha ha…He threw under 20% sliders, they were bad, and I feel bad. So it goes.

Today’s Streamer

Shane Bieber vs. Detroit Tigers – He’s not owned in enough leagues right now.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Andrew Suarez vs. San Diego Padres – It’s the Padres and Suarez worked against the Fish. He’s good enough to make this work.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Derekc Rodriguez vs. San Diego Padres – I said he’d get the call again and it’s not like there are any other glaring options to go with instead.

Game of the Day

Luis Castillo vs. Jose Quintana – Can’t they both just do well? Please?