Years Of Debt After Spending On Edu

This is going to be a relatively quick one as I dive a little bit on Eduardo Rodriguez who went 6.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks against the Orioles. Since returning from the DL on July 17th, he’s holding a fantastic 9.95 K/9…but a 3.45 BB/9, low 5.5 IPS, 1.38 WHIP, and a 5.08 ERA. Yikes. He’s faced some meh teams in that time as well including the White Sox, Royals, Cardinals, Orioles, Jays, etc. and I’m finding it harder and harder to get behind the southpaw. He flashes his upside in these outings, but often he gets that one inning where it falls apart and ruins everything. In this one, his second inning was an atrocity, allowing all 5 ER in one outbreak of offense, as he cruised through the other 5.2 frames. That’s often better than laboring through full starts, but when this happens in what feels like every start, you have to question it. I guess I don’t see Edu as a 5.08 ERA guy and he could be that 3.50 ERA man through the end, but I’m not taking him over other upside arms ranked near him like McHugh, Peacock, Castillo, Weaver, Morton, Bauer, etc.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

Mike Clevinger – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. Mmmmmm that’s a beautiful outing Clev. Simply gorgeous as you dominated the Royals and I’m on board for the Tigers and White Sox ahead. Streamer Record 67-50-14.

Gerrit Cole – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. Cole hit a solo shot as well, creating a start where he essentially won the game for his team save for two innings not pitched. He really needed this start as he’d collected 15 ER in his previous four games and made people question him once again. I think we’ll never get to a point where owners aren’t questioning Cole – it’s why he’s the King of Really Good – but enjoy this and keep starting him, of course.

Zach Davies – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. The ride continues for Davies as he took down the Dodgers. That’s 1 ER allowed across three straight starts and still 1 ER across four of his last five. The 7 Ks are a bit of a shock given his 6.03 K/9 this season and even with this solid push, I’m not trusting it will show up again. Still, I think The Vargas Rule applies here and I’d keep starting him until he gives us reason not to.

Kevin Gausman – 7.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Mo’ Splitters, no problems, that’s what I always say. 24% isn’t exactly where we want to be, but I’ll take it as he was feeling his heater through the day. Impressive that he did this against the Red Sox and he’s an easy start against the Jays next.

Ross Stripling – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. It’s crazy to me that the Dodgers, who have about 8 great starters to their name, need to start Stripling. Absurd. If you guys don’t remember him, he isn’t a Spice Girl and does not deserve your attention with his 5 Ks. I doubt he’ll get another start this season as well.

Luis Castillo – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks. Siiiigh. This is what love feels like. Talk to me in the middle of September when Castillo gets shut down and I’ll know what heartbreak feels like.

Odrisamer Despaigne – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. The man with the best last name is back! Despaigne. Mmmm say it again. Despaiggggnnnneee. We’re not starting him, by the way.

Sonny Gray – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. Gray really is showing off this year, painting himself as a good floor option heading into next season. He’s also earned his share of the Gallows Pole today as one of three with 16 whiffs.

Dinelson Lamet – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Solid stuff from Lamet as he faced the Marlins. Bad news here is that the Dodgers are ahead and I’m not thrilled about that. Cardinals, Twins, Diamondbacks, Rockies follow, which save for the Cardinals (and maybe the Twins), I have my concerns. I understand if you need to run with him, and let’s see if he can handle the Dodgers. I’d sit if I could.

Brad Peacock – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. And we still don’t know if Peacock will stay in the rotation. I stand by what I’ve said all season – If we know that Peacock gets the ball every five days for the rest of the year, he’s a Top 30 starter. I’m really curious to see where he lands in drafts next year. On one hand, he could be the talk of the town and get overhyped. On the other, I can see people letting him fall to the 16th/17th and I can’t wait to snag that value – if it’s apparent he has a starting job, of course. Which he should. Because he’s dope.

Taijuan Walker – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. I will definitely take this from Walker, but he’s still a PEAS in my mind as this does little to change my opinion.

Madison Bumgarner – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Have no doubt in Mad Bum down the stretch.

Gio Gonzalez – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. Wait wait wait. Gio, aren’t you supposed to be a great source of strikeouts every time you pitch? I mean, I’m not mad or anything with 2 ER and seven baserunners, just I wanted at least 5 Ks, you know?

Robert Gsellman – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. That’s a near 3.00 WHIP from Gsellman and just 2 ER. How.

Kyle Hendricks – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks. Since returning from his DL stint, Hendricks now holds a 2.48 ERA, 8.55 K/9, 2.48 BB/9 and 28.0% hard contact. Weird part here is that he’s only inducing 41.5% groundballs, SIERA is at 4.06, and last night was against the Phils, marking the highest strikeout tally of the season. He should be owned in 12-teamers, though I won’t be drafting him next year and there’s such a small margin for error here. Oh, and enjoy your co-owned Gallows Pole with 16 whiffs.

Sean Manaea – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Ehhhhh, fine. At least it’s not a blowup, right?

Blake Snell – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. What’s interesting here is that Snell elected to not use his Curveball like he had in his previous two starts – the best pitch in his repertoire in my opinion – and favored his Slider like he had in the first half of the season. Can’t argue against the results here, though I still have my reservations if you’re thinking of trusting Snell. Also, congrats on your Gallows Pole co-owner today.

Marco Estrada – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Six of Estrada’s last seven games have been 3 ER or fewer as he gets the PQS here. I think if you can pick and choose your starts that there’s value to be had here and I’d roll him out there against the Orioles next time.

Buck Farmer – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Barmer is living up to his name. Just a Cup of Schmo again.

Kyle Freeland – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. I feel like this was coming from a guy that had a BABIP well below where it should be. He’s been a TEEs all year.

Yovani Gallardo – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks. Yep, that’s Gallardo alright.

Dillon Gee – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Gee, I wonder why I’d start you.

Jason Hammel – 6.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Awww, I wanted the 3 ER or fewer streak to continue. Now he gives you nothing save for a decent WHIP. Whoop de freakin’ do.

Mike Leake – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. Here we were, all pumped for a possible callup of Jack Flaherty but no. The Cardinals wanted Leake to start instead and he gave us this boring outing. Thanks for nothing.

Sean Newcomb – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Yeah, I really don’t want to touch Newcomb.

Tyler Skaggs – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. And this is why I’m staying away from Skaggs. I don’t trust the upside as much as others with a floor that is, as you can see, bad.

Cole Hamels – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. This followed a 2 ER, 5 baserunner, 7.0 IP game and I’d be super frustrated as an owner as you don’t know what you’re going to get on a given day. That’s not someone I want to roll with for me playoffs.

Edward Lively – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. Another day, another start where Rageddy Ann does nothing to rid himself of his nickname.

Carlos Rodon – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. I think the problem here was Rodon trusting his Changeup as much as his Slider in this one, with the slow ball earning 0 swings-and-misses in 17 thrown. 4 out of 18 for his Slider is okay, but not nearly what we’ve grown used to, especially with the pitch landing in the zone just three times the entire game. That’s not going to work Rodon.

Today’s Streamer

A.J. Griffin vs. Oakland Athletics – Can’t say I love Griffin at all, but he’s able to give you some value against a bad Oakland offense.

Tomorrow’s Streamer

Mike Montgomery vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – I can see someone liking Mark Leiter Jr. against the Braves and taking that chance, or Andrew Heaney getting another shot against the A’s, but I’m going Monty after tossing a decent outing last time out as he faces a poor Pirates offense.

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

Matt Moore vs. San Diego Padres – It’s weird putting faith in Moore, but he’s been throwing well and he gets the Padres. I can see people going with his opponent in Luis Perdomo or taking gambles with Jake Junis against the Rays and Mark Leiter Jr. as he faces the Braves.

Game of the Day

Yu Darvish vs. Jimmy Nelson – It’s not a DLH situation for Darvish as he returns while I want to see Nelson dominate despite facing the Dodgers.