There are a handful of pitchers that are like a really good looking parachute – so alluring but they will constantly let you down. Don’t invest in them. These guys often have major walk issues as they simply can’t harness the power they hold. Yordano Ventura is a prime example and even two years after he made a big splash out of spring training, he still puts up lines like 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 3 Hits, 6 BBs, 1 Ks. It’s not going to happen, guys. It’s unwise to bank on them putting it all together, and you’re better off going for players with a more dependable upside or pitchers that will hold a high floor but not hold the same price tag as their interpreted ceiling is lower. It’s why I’m not as high as others on guys like Garrett Richards, Carlos Rodon, and Tyson Ross. Keep it in mind, y’all.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
Wade Miley – 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. Huh. This reminds me of another Miley moment. You know, when you realize the person isn’t completely bonkers all the time and has some redeeming qualities. But the moment you believe the person is normal, that’s when they get you.
Rick Porcello – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. And the Porcello train keeps on chugging along. I really do believe that Porcello made a change in his approach in the second half last year and it’s carried over, and he gets the Yankees again + Oakland + Royals + Indians next in line. I’d roll with him through it all.
Jesse Hahn – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Hahn is back and he’s fine. I don’t really trust him to be more than a Toby, but he’ll be in The List on Monday.
Jordan Zimmermann – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. Okay, so in my heart I’m going to keep telling you to sell. But then I just looked at his schedule: After getting the average Rangers and O’s, he gets Twins/Rays/Oakland/Angels. Dayyyuuum. I guess you kinda have hold through that. Just lose him by the time June comes along when everyone here will be demanding I put him in the Top 15. Hint: I’m never going to be doing that.
Chris Rusin – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. Rusin 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.
Francisco Liriano – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. So Liriano handled the Reds without walking a batter, which lowered his BB/9 to 5.46. Yeah, okay.
Derek Holland – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks. One of our Call Boys got the super boring job done. Nice work Dutch, now go back to Europe.
Jacob DeGrom – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks. What is it with aces suddenly holding high walk rates? I mean, I’m not in anyway worried about deGrom, it just seems like there is an epidemic of either batters being ultra patient or pitchers not figuring it out in April.
Chris Archer – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. Pretty much the same applies for Archer. I think the worries people had in the first couple weeks are donezo.
Tyler Duffey – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. Keep in mind, Duffey allowed a trio of unearned runs as well, but hot damn this is the upside I was talking about when ranking Duffey in the preseason. I’m not sure how long he’ll be in the rotation – it hinges on the statuses of Ervin Santana and Kyle Gibson, and how long Alex Meyer will stick replacing Tommy Milone…Oh right, Meyer is getting a start this week for Tommy. If you don’t know him, he has a an incredible Fastball/Curveball combo, but essentially no third pitch, which is why Meyer moved to the bullpen in the first place. I’ll be watching on Tuesday when he makes his SP debut.
Zack Greinke – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. I’ve been telling y’all not to worry mightily about Greinke, and BOOM he produces against the Rockies. Here’s the good news: he faces easy opponents for the rest of the first half outside of two stops in Coors. I’m buying everywhere y’all.
Joe Ross – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Welcome back you beautiful man. The Ks will come guys, just be happy with his 0.79 ERA through 22.2 frames.
Kevin Gausman – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. This is fine from Gaus. Sure you want more Ks, but the walks/WHIP were stellar and a 3.00 ERA is all good.
Wei-Yin Chen – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Pretty bleghy but you’re paying for a high floor, not a tall ceiling.
Colin Rea – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Yeah, I want nothing to do with Rea.
J.A. Happ – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. Another Call Boy surprised us with over a K per inning, but it came with an unfortunate WHIP and ERA. Pretty much the opposite of what I expect.
Jerad Eickhoff – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. Not terrible, but I expected a little more Ks and an ER or two fewer. Still like Eickhoff at the end of your staff.
Jaime Garcia – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. This is pretty bad Garcia, though all four runs came in the first inning. He cruised afterwards and I’d buy low if you could.
Chris Devenski – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. I took a quick look at Devenski and wasn’t all too impressed. I don’t see him being anything more than a possible streamer, if even that.
Michael Pineda – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Pineda walking three batters? I still believe he’ll pick it up a big way, but I don’t have any gripe with you benching him til he shows up.
Trevor Bauer – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Doesn’t matter if he faces the Phils, Bauer will find a way to disappoint. :(
Matt Cain – 6.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Cain followed Peavy with another 6 ER outing. What a special bond they share.
Alfredo Simon – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. Whoa, Simon wasn’t the worst guy today? I think he lowered his ERA in the process, no joke.
Ross Stripling – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. The final Call Boy was Stripling who has been pretty dang disappointing as of late. He’s a Toby and nothing more, sadly.
Mat Latos – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 11 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. So the Latos ride is slowing down. Sure the O’s aren’t the easiest of teams to face, but this is a pretty good shellacking.
Chase Anderson – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. Yeah, the Diamondbacks definitely won that off-season trade.
Matt Shoemaker – 2.1 IP, 7 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks. Remember when Shoemaker had an incredible second half of 2014? It seems so far away.
Today’s Streamers
Drew Pomeranz vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – I’m really excited for tomorrow because of this, but also because it’s ace day. That leaves few pitchers, and I assume Rich Hill is taken in your league, leaving The Dirty Cheerleader as your best option if you’re looking for one last push to win your week.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Bartolo Colon vs. Atlanta Braves – The Big Apple gets a great matchup as the Mets are rolling. Yes please!
Game of the Day
Noah Syndergaard vs. Madison Bumgarner – Looks like they are playing through the rain/drizzle today in Citi Field, which means we get a matchup of aces in New York. Awwww yeah.