(Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire)
I expect some of you to think Wilmer Font may be worth a pickup after going 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks against the Yanks. That’s a wonderful line and you want to cash that in. The problem here is how many mistakes he made and how often he was lucky. Multiple outs at over 100mph on pitches down the middle of the plate and this wasn’t a pitcher dominating across 80 pitches. It’s a short lead, but an important one. Keep Wilmer on the waiver wire as I’m just not too Font of him.
Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:
Zack Greinke – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. Aces gonna ace. This is the start you’ve been waiting for. It’s legit.
Mike Leake – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Leake allowed 5 ER last time out, but just 7 ER total in his previous five games and after realizing he has a money pitch in his slider, you may think this is something you chase. This was the Red Sawx after all! Yeah, don’t do that. He has these games out of nowhere, but he also has five games of 3 Ks or fewer in his last seven games prior. Ouch. He’s a hail mary play, and a rare stream. Nothing more.
Marcus Stroman – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. It was an incredibly transparent DLH and Stroman didn’t care as he cruised through five and 80 pitches. Not super impressive CSW wise (23/81), but I’m surprised to see him pump the zone often and have a bit of comfort with his slide piece. Definitely not ready to say he’s back (you know what I mean) and if he’s on the wire, I’m still hesitant. Obviously Top 40 upside – was just outside it in the preseason -but it’ll take a good while for me to trust that.
Chase Anderson – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 9 Ks. It’s #VelocityWatch2018 and Anderson was around 93mph. That’s not what we want. 34 CSW in 100 though as he still did work with his four-seamer. Kinda wild to see sub 10% marks on both his changeup and cutter – that explains the walks -but his heater/deuce combination racked up the strikeouts. This doesn’t add up to sustained success.
Jaime Barria – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks. Barria rebounded after a disappointing start against the Diamondbacks, but this still isn’t the super dominating outing you wanted either as that 1.60 WHIP certainly hurts. Too bad it’s Sawx + Mariners twice next as I’m sitting out.
Trevor Bauer – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 11 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Yep, he’s entering the Top 10 tomorrow. 44 CSW in 112 pitches and 19 whiffs for a co-Gallows Pole. The dude is legit and I don’t know how anyone can doubt that.
Trevor Richards – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. In case you were wondering, this start followed a 6 ER clunker. That’s the life of Richards and this changes nothing, even if it was miraculously pitched in Coors.
Matt Strahm – 3.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. 59 pitches this time as Strahm held a 24/59 CSW. That’s over 40%. Yes I want him to keep stretching out and start by the end of July. PLEASE.
Andrew Suarez – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. It wasn’t pretty as he was Singled Out a bit, but it’s a beneficial outing and another win for me. Streaming Record: 46-24. Great two-start week from Suarez, let’s hope Dereck can pull it off tomorrow. Is this anything more than a stream? Sure isn’t.
Dylan Bundy – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. Atta babe Bundy, I’m a little surprised to see this result despite 20% sliders and only 12 whiffs – a 91.5mph heater also makes this a little short of a Holiday Bundle (30% sliders and 92mph heat) – but you did this against the Braves and I’m still loving you.
Anthony DeSclafani – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. Tony Disco hit a grand slam today. He had more RBI than strikeouts. I hope he can be a Toby like this moving forward, I’m still not ready to believe in it yet.
Ian Kennedy – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Sure, whatever Kennedy. You’re a Werewolf and we don’t want that ju-ju around our teams.
Clayton Kershaw – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. I didn’t label this a proper DLH, but Kershaw was limited to just 55 pitches here. That’s too bad. I think I’m going to rank him after Severino come Monday as I need some time to trust that he is actually healthy. I know we won’t ever really be convinced moving forward, but that seems reasonable, right?
Francisco Liriano – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Oh hey Liriano, didn’t see you there. Probably won’t see you again much anymore so while I’ve got you I just wanna let you know that I liked you for like a weeks week back in the day. It was a wild time.
Miles Mikolas – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. 8Miles is still cruising and you should be happy. I’m happy.
Aaron Nola – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Not dominating, but this helps across the board. Happy Nola Day.
Jacob deGrom – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. Aces gonna give you a PQS and 6 Ks. Meh. I’m so used to deGrom killing it and I’m going to be upset at a 3 ER game. Whatever, I do what I want.
Luke Farrell – 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Farrell! The forgotten former Astros starter/reliever that is like visiting a diner with “world famous onion rings” off in the middle of nowhere – it’s not worth your time.
Erick Fedde – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. It’s a VVPQS for Fedde and you should feel dirty if you’re happy with this.
Lance McCullers – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. A PQS with a 1.00 WHIP and 9 Ks? Yep, that’s totally cool to me from McCullers. It’s what you signed up for.
Tyler Anderson – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. I was at this game – did a live play-by-play as well! – and Anderson had a solid six frames before getting a Careful Icarus in the seventh. Eight Ks is impressive (19 whiffs for a co-Gallows Pole!), even if it was the Marlins, but man it’s hard to put much faith in Anderson. Still do the Rocky Mountain Way n all, but have a little caution.
Dylan Covey – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks. Don’t Covey Thy Dylan. I was told today by Paul Spoiler that his name is pronounced Cove-E. The joke will live on, I DON’T CARE.
Yovani Gallardo – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Why is YoGa back. No one asked for this.
Sonny Gray – 6.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. On one hand, it was 32 CSW in 101 with 17 whiffs – that’s awesome – but there was too much in the middle of the plate and the mistakes piled up. He’s close and hey, maybe the BABIP could have gone better to save him. I can see myself taking the chance here in deeper leagues, but still not ready in a 12-teamer.
Eduardo Rodriguez – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Dang Edu, that’s a 16 CSW as you were lost today. Terrible pitches from his cutter, 0 whiffs on 11 changeups and that’s just not going to work. I’m not worried it’s the start of a long-term trend, but this was bad. Seriously. Here’s to shrugging it off and trusting him against the…Yankees? Ugh, wait one more game against the Nationals + Rangers after. If he does well, great, you’ll feel better about it.
Daniel Mengden – 2.0 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks. We labeled Mengden’s success as a Vargas Rule situation, and now Mengden can’t handle the ChiSox. That should be enough confirmation.
Joe Musgrove – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. Bleeeeegh. Musgrove hinted at disappointment against the Cubs after struggling against the Reds and it showed up in spades. Not cool at all, still worth your time in 12-teamers. He’s a 3.70 ERA guy, while he should be walking closer to 1 moving forward.
Jake Odorizzi – 1.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Odorizzi got burnt and I don’t understand why you’d want to take a chance on this in a 12-teamer. There just isn’t enough here.
Julio Teheran – 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. Do you hate Teheran yet? Why not?
Today’s Streamer
Dereck 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.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Mike Montgomery vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – It’s 21%, not 20%, but this is all I got. We cool? I hope we’re cool.
Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer
Chad Kuhl vs New York Mets – Call me crazy, but I’m going with Kuhl despite getting blown up for 8 ERs last time out. That was the dBacks, this is the Mets.
Game of the Day
Domingo German vs. Tampa Bay Rays – I’m curious if German can continue his fantastic command + keep the feel for his changeup.
