Boy has it been tough for Adam Wainwright to start the season as he continued his stressful April with a line of 5.1 IP, 7 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks last night. It can be very difficult to stick with pitchers who struggle mightily out of the gate like this, as you’re terrified that you’re tanking your team by keeping the faith with a player that is clearly having issues on the field. What do we do with Wain-o? Well, here’s what I see. His velocity is fine, his Curveball and Cutter are looking right in line with what he’s had in the past, but his Sinker – his primary Fastball – isn’t getting the same horizontal + vertical movement that he’s used to, leading to a 20 point drop in grounders induced from the pitch. It’s getting shellacked for HRs, allowing a 25% HR/FB rate, and it hasn’t induced a whiff yet. Yikes. Obviously those numbers are going to regress a bit, and I do believe that he will step it up to be a productive starter. Is he still Top 30 though? I’m not so sure, and I’d be totally on board with you sitting him out next time…if it weren’t against the Padres. It’s a coin flip, but in my head if he can’t take on the Padres we’re going to be waiting for a while.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
Jake Arrieta – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Sidenote: this was against the Rockies. Hot damn he’s good.
Johnny Cueto – 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. Interesting. I mean, yeah, he’s going to have more good starts than bad, he’s a Top 30 pitcher in my book after all. I think people get the idea that I wouldn’t roster Cueto or that I think he’s a bad pitcher. Not at all. I simply like him a little less than most and didn’t want to pay the price tag he was demanding on draft day. I do see some bumps and the strikeouts are a little questionable compared to the Top 25, but yeah, I obviously like him guys, I’m not blind.
Sonny Gray – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Everything I just said about Cueto also applies to Gray. They are rather similar in my head, both performing above their expected performances in the past and featuring strikeout numbers that don’t scream Top 20. But hey, I’d be very happy to have them both fighting the good fight for my squads.
Andrew Cashner – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. But Cashner? Yeah, I really want nothing to do with him. NOTHIN’.
Jonathon Niese – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Sure, Niese can do this sometimes, but it’s a Grave Mistake that doesn’t work in your favor as much as it should.
Max Scherzer – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Too bad his 2-RBI double doesn’t get added to your stats.
David Price – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks. Aces gonna ace vs the Jays. And you guys were freakin’ out.
Erasmo Ramirez – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. It was hyped as a “mystery starter” for yesterday’s game, but everyone knew it was going to be Ramirez. Let’s be real here, there was no one else to start for the Rays and they weren’t going to call up Blake Snell this early. Don’t want to start that Arbitration clock too soon. Anyway, I don’t see Ramirez having value outside of AL only leagues.
Josh Tomlin – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. Our secondary Call Boy did a mighty fine job against the Mets, though he was pulled before the 6th because of a hamstring cramp. Dude, you were so close from a QS…anyway, I like Tomlin more than most and I suggest streaming him when he gets average teams.
Christian Bergman – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. The Rockies pitchers are just loving Wrigley this weekend! Don’t care. Bergman 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.
Justin Verlander – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. That’s much better Verlander, though give me like 2 hits and 1 ER fewer, K? Okay. Ks are totally good though. Nick, you were really close there. Close with what? …Nothing. K.
Felix Hernandez – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 6 BBs, 4 Ks. Man that’s a good Whippin’. I think we’re seeing an “effectively wild” part of Felix where his Changeup/Sinker/Curveball are moving like ‘ell but he can’t fully harness it yet. I’m a little cautious guys. A little. I’m not at the point of selling unless I want the chance to feel super clever and possibly ruin my season, but I’m cautious.
Taylor Jungmann – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Jungmann Blues. He still has streaming upside, but this is against the Twins and that’s not cool.
Brandon Finnegan – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks. He allowed four unearned runs if you were confused, like I am that he is still walking four batters a game. I’d stay away for the time being, honestly, even if he was serviceable as our Call Boy.
Ricky Nolasco – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. People only like Tiny Rick, not this guy. Tiny Rick is AWESOME.
Marco Estrada – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Some of the xFIP is coming to bite him after allowing a 3 run bomb to Xander Bogaerts in this outing. I really don’t believe he’s going to have a sub 3.50 ERA this year, and I only expect like 5 or so a night from Estrada. I wouldn’t roll with him long term. Streaming here and there, sure, but nothing more.
CC Sabathia – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. This isn’t as bad as it can be from CC, though I don’t see a day in the future where I’m saying “ohhh, maybe I should start CC” in any 12 teamer.
John Danks – 6.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. Danks The Tank! Danks The Tank!
Colby Lewis – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. You really shouldn’t be owning Lewis. I can see how people are debating this as he’s at the very bottom end of deep 12 teamers, and you really don’t want to do it. You’re better off streaming.
Shelby Miller – 1.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. He was pulled from the game in the second with cuts on his knuckles due to grazing his hand with the dirt in his follow through. Can’t say I’ve heard that anything like this before, but where there’s a Mill, there’s a way.
Bud Norris – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Nud Borris just doing his thang.
Collin McHugh – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. Often times when pitchers get Singled Out, they have an increased strikeout production. More ABs –> more Ks. McHugh had the tough Tigers, so I wouldn’t judge McHugh either way for this one.
Matt Harvey – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. He was perfect through the first 11 batters, and then it just wasn’t looking all too great for Harvey. Am I worried? Not really, as he still gets the NL Easy and he’s way too good for this to continue. I’d buy low (I don’t think this is an injury thing) as he’s still Top 15 ROS.
Yovani Gallardo – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Leave it to the O’s to accumulate stud pitchers.
Scott Kazmir – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. That’s the second straight start he’s been lit up…against the same exact team (the Giants). I mean, I’m not much of a Kazmir fan, but I know when a guy is being unfairly judged.
Jered Weaver – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. Why does Weaver still pitch? Seriously, why?
Chris Young – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. If Young can’t handle the Athletics, then Young can’t handle your roster.
Aaron Nola – 5.0 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. Ohhhh damn. I’d buy low if there’s an owner who thinks the balls have dropped. He struggled out of the gate, looked like he was finding a groove after a poor first inning, then a two-out RBI double from freakin’ Scherzer + a walk –> 2-run shot from Harper made this an ugly start. Take that what you will, I’m betting on Nola rebounding and rebounding well.
Tom Koehler – 3.2 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. Down the line there may be a time that you need to remember that Koehler put up this atrocious line against the oh-so-mighty Atlanta Braves. Just tuck that away in your head somewhere for later.
Today’s Streamer
Nick Tropeano vs. Minnesota Twins – He looked good against the Athletics, and he could cruise through the Twins as well.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Jerad Eickhoff vs. New York Mets – How he’s owned in just 15.1% of ESPN leagues is beyond me. He gets the struggling Mets and you’ll be very happy.
Phil Hughes vs. Milwaukee Brewers – Eickhoff may fail to get the win with Thor opposing him, and it’s possible Hughes can capitalize on a really bad Brewers team as his miniscule walk rate keeps his WHIP from blowing up.
Game of the Day
Steven Matz vs Cleveland Indians – I have faith that Matz will rebound against the Indians and I’m excited to see it happen.