Whiskey In The Jar

It’s been a tough second half for Jameson Taillon, who had allowed 17 ER at the end of July, and after last night’s 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 11 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks outing against the Cubs, I’m sure people are ready to let loose. Remember, he had nine walks across two starts just at the end of August and this seems like the last straw. I get it. Let’s look at your options, though. Taillon now has two starts against the Brewers coming up and I imagine that’s a better chance than whatever you can find on your wire. Maybe not, but take a moment to think it through before making a big change. As for 2018, I see Taillon sitting around the mid 40s as there is some clear risk, but I think he can reach his upside granted a smooth season that doesn’t include, oh I don’t know, getting testicular cancer. I’m not ready to give up on him yet.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

Sonny Gray – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. I gotta say, Gray is making an easy case for Top 20 next year and I’m not sure I buy it. It’s weird. Nothing to say for this year as you definitely should be starting him through to the end save for something catastrophic, but I’m curious what my feelings are when I come out the other side.

Clayton Kershaw – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. Kershaw, what is this. Don’t you know we’re in the playoff time? Wait. That actually makes a lot of sense now.

Corey Kluber – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 13 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Of course Kluber won the Gallows Pole as his 21 whiffs were 50% more than second place.

Clayton Richard – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. It’s the wrong Clayton! But it was the right Clayton…WHERE AM I?

Jon Gray – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Just 5 whiffs in 107 pitches? I know I can’t be upset here it’s just hard to get behind him when Gray’s biggest pull was his massive strikeout potential. I see him being overdrafted next season…though I can also see him get his act together as well. Too much haze ahead is making me look elsewhere.

Jon Lester – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks. Ehhhh sure. 1 ER and 5 Ks work. Don’t force me to be thrilled by the 1.50 WHIP though.

Sam Gaviglio – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Ugggggh it’s so boring. Gaviglio is your neighborhood’s rambler who repeats the same thing over and over while changing about five words. WE GET IT SAM, IT WAS A LARGE BOAT, MOVE ON.

Lance Lynn – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Three strikeouts as he’s nearing the 2.00 gap between his ERA and xFIP. Yes, keep starting him n all but I’d be surprised if he found his way onto my teams next year.

Kyle Gibson – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks. I’ll take this from Gibson as he now heads into a two-start week against the Padres and Jays. But zero strikeouts? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO FEED MY FAMILY WITH THIS?

Matt Harvey – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks. This start does absolutely nothing in regards to my opinion of Harvey. Sure, just 2 ER and six baserunners, but 1 K means that BABIP was hit best friend and anything can happen if the Baseball Gods intervene.

Aaron Nola – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. Yes it’s a bad WHIP. Yes I’m still super happy with this as Nola has gone through a rough patch. Keep starting him and don’t look back. What’s interesting here is save for these recent weeks, Nola was on track to be drafted inside the Top 20 starters. Now? Not so much. Sweeeeet.

Tyler Mahle – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks. Palmer and I talked about Mahle on the late night Podcast and I’m not impressed with what we’ve seen thus far. He’s supposed to be command heavy guy, but he hasn’t flexed it thus far. Secondary pitches are fine but aren’t blowing me away and I think I look elsewhere down the stretch. Let’s be honest, the Mets did this (wait, they’ve been actually decent this week…?) and if Mahle can’t convert against the Mets, you can’t depend on him against anyone. Streamer Record 70-55-16.

Sean Newcomb – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. I gave up on Newcomb a while ago and I’m sticking to that. I think I actually believe in Gohara more than I do Newcomb. Wild, I know.

Tanner Roark – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. It’s a PQS but I’ll take that + six Ks from Roark any day.

Dan Straily – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Funny story, I hated Straily last year, started liking him a good amount around the end of May, and fully hate him again. STAY AWAY FROM MY FAMILY.

Mike Pelfrey – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. Yep, that’s Pelfrey alright.

Kevin Gausman – 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. A ton of Fastballs that wasn’t at his best, leading to 20% Splitters. Whiff rate was phenomenal overall at 16.5% though, and I wouldn’t be super quick to let him go as he gets the Jays next. Totally fine dumping him after that though as I don’t have confidence in Gaus for the Red Sox.

Today’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.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Edwin Jackson vs. Philadelphia Phillies – The Phils are terrible and EJax has the Nats on his side. Mike Montgomery could work as a desperate weekend stream as well.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

A. J. Cole vs. Phialdelphia Phillies – This is a terrible day for streamers and thus the world.

Game of the Day

Max Scherzer vs. Phillies – He is okay, right? He better as I’m banking on 10+ Ks here.