If there is one guy who I think has been vastly underrated in the past few weeks it is Tyler Duffey, who was today’s Call Boy and went 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. He now holds a 8.51 K/9, 1.85 BB/9 and a 1.85 ERA through his first four starts and he could earn himself the MFRTSPA if he plays his cards right. Yes, he does face the Blue Jays next (bench him) and gets a matchup with the Red Sox in a few weeks, but otherwise has a relatively easy schedule for the rest of the first half. If he’s still out there, he may be safe to leave on the wire for the next week given his start against Toronto, but if you have the room on your bench I’d grab him and leave him there for the one start. He’s going to be a good source of strikeouts while not destroying your ERA/WHIP and that’s my kind of guy at the end of 12 teamer staffs.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
Gerrit Cole – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. Boom, there’s the proper Top 15 value we want from Cole, especially against the Cubs. Now, it’s only the second of its kind this year, and he’s still a guy who will be pretty good more often than great – which means I won’t have him in my Top 10 unless there is a big change – though it’s nice seeing this effort from Cole.
Hector Santiago – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Where his velocity goes, Santiago goes with it. After sitting near 90 MPH for the last month or so, Santiago averaged 93.3 MPH with his heater in this game. ALL ABOARD!
Jon Lester – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. Aces gonna ace. I have to hand it to Lester, among all the pitchers that are faltering left and right, Lester has been pretty dang consistent.
Jose Fernandez – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 11 Ks. So JoFer decided to collect at least 11 Ks for the third time this season while keeping his WHIP at a lovely 1.00 and there was much rejoicing. I still really want him to keep his walks in check, but hot damn it’s hard not to love this performance.
Rubby De La Rosa – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks. Color me impressed, the coolest of colors. He’s worth a deep flier though I have to warn you that he have his fair share of blow ups. Keep him on a short leash.
Alex Wood – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Wood keeps on rolling and gets the Padres + Reds next. If he’s still there in your 12 teamer (not sure how he would be at this point), I’d be snatching him up. I’d hold back in shallower leagues.
Zach Davies – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. This is your weekly reminder that Davies has a 5.82 K/9 even after this game with FIP/xFIP above 4.50. Carry on.
Matt Cain – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Cain watched Peavy’s success on Saturday and needed to show me what he got. It’s pretty good Cain, too bad it’s not going to happen next time out.
Matt Wisler – 7.1 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. Fun fact because my roommate doesn’t read this: My roommate can’t whistle. Fun fact because we have more important things to discuss: I can’t roster Wisler.
Mike Leake – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Leake was a guy I pinned for a decent two-start week hoping he’d figure it out, and he rewarded me with just 2 ER total in both starts against the Angels and Dodgers. Nice work Leake, still don’t like you but nice work.
Danny Duffy – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Duffy got the start with the Royals’ injury issues and did surprisingly well in his shortened start (due to being in the pen prior and hasn’t been stretched out yet). I wouldn’t put much stock into this and I really don’t see the fake-Duffman becoming a 12 team asset.
Felix Hernandez – 7.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. Pros: Felix is striking guys out like WHOA and only walked two batters. Cons: It came with a meh ERA and WHIP. I’ll take it.
Trevor Bauer – 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. There’s no denying that Bauer has 15 Ks in his last two starts now, but I can’t sit here and ignore his history of being a Cherry Bomb. It wouldn’t be fair to not mention that, though he’ll enter The List tomorrow because I don’t have much of a choice. Just be careful, okay?
Dan Straily – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. Straily holds one of the largest ERA/xFIP discrepancies I’ve seen as he now has a 3.05 ERA with a 4.75 xFIP across six starts. Too bad that also includes a 4.35 BB/9 and a 90 MPH Fastball. I just don’t see long term success here y’all.
Tyler Chatwood – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. Chatwood 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. What about Gray? Yeah, I know, I need another start or two to make up my mind. And Chatwood? He has a 3.20 ERA! Dude, seriously? With that lucky ERA is a 4.17 FIP, 6.04 K/9 and his obvious home field issues. Let’s not suddenly shift our views about Colorado pitchers just because one guy is somewhat making me rethink the standard.
Jacob DeGrom – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. I’ll let him slide a little since this was in Coors, but deep down I really wanted deGrom to kick some booty any way. In fact, I want everyone to kick some booty. Booty kickin’ is fun.
Cesar Vargas – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. Blame it on the Brewers.
Cesar Ramos – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Eh tu, Ramos? He’s not the kind of guy you bring home to meet the parents, nor is the kind of guy that you want to hide from them. So what is he then? Someone you don’t want to have a relationship with.
Sonny Gray – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Are we getting to the point that Jon Gray is more fantasy relevant? Ahhhh just kidding Sonny, you’re okay. Too bad it’s just okay though, you used to be great. Don’t go dropping Sonny, but he clearly isn’t Top 30 anymore, and possibly outside the Top 40. Not sure yet.
Joe Ross – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Blegh, that’s two straight starts of disappointment from Ross, albeit one was against the Tigers. Still love me some Joey though and I don’t see myself changing his ranking tomorrow.
Masahiro Tanaka – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. Tanaka didn’t look on point today despite the hefty number of strikeouts. I still believe he’s Top 25 if there’s no injury risk, and I’ll most likely raise him tomorrow as he hasn’t any injury whispers thus far. Those whispers can be dangerous.
Matt Moore – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Moore is definitely droppable in 10 teamers and I would heavily consider it in 12 teamers if you need the space and/or can ride streamers.
Michael Fulmer – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. I packed this one up after the last outing, and now it’s like seeing your ex make a fool of herself at the local bar. It’s just sad to see.
Miguel Gonzalez – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 5 BBs, 1 Ks. Imagine an Italian man twirling his moustache as he breaks the bad news to Gonzalez. Miguel……no.
Aaron Sanchez – 6.2 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks. Still think his off-season workouts have stabilized his command? He’s now walked nine batters in his last two outings and averaged just fives Ks a start across his last five games. That’s not encouraging at all, and there is plenty of work left to do.
Sean O’Sullivan – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. O’Suckivan is back at it, and as a playoff contending team I have no idea why the Red Sox are putting up with this.
Kevin Gausman – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. This was the first real test for Gausman as he faced the Tigers and…yeah. I still like Gaus and believe him to be Top 50, I just find it hard to think of him as having the ceiling of other young arms.
Chris Devenski – 2.0 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. Ah, there’s the blow up I’ve been waiting for from Devenski. We have a phrase for this: The Balls Have Dropped.
Adam Morgan – 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. And to think that Morgan almost beat Velasquez for the fifth spot in the Phillies’ rotation exiting March. That would have been weird.
Today’s Streamers
John Lamb vs. Cleveland Indians – This is more of a deeper play than in shallow leagues – in those go with Adam Conley vs. the Phils – but I think Lamb provides sneaky value through the year and he’s owned in just 2.3% of ESPN Leagues.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Juan Nicasio vs. Atlanta Braves – He’s owned in under 30% of ESPN leagues and gets one of his best matchups of the year. Go for it.
Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer
Josh Tomlin Vs. Cincinnati – I can see people considering Nick Tropeano against the Dodgers, but it’s hard not to enjoy a good pitcher (Tomlin) going against a not-so-good team (Cincy).
Game of the Day
Adam Conley vs. Jerad Eickhoff – A) I want to see if Eickhoff can put it together B) I want to see if Conley can take advantage of the Phils. Essentially I’ll enjoy watching both sides of the game and that’s always fun.