Eman, The Myth, The Legend

Jake Odorizzi vs LAA (ND) – 0.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – 0 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 5 pitches.

We had ourselves a wild MLB debut yesterday. With Jake Odorizzi leaving the game with forearm tightness after just one out, Kent Emanuel came on in relief and pitched 8.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks to secure the Win in his MLB debut. Un. Be. Lieve. A. Ble. I’m just like you, I had no idea who Kent was before I saw this line (he was recently re-instated after an 80-game suspension for PEDs) and I originally thought it was an error. Nope, the Astros won 16-2, allowing Kent to keep coasting as long as he kept his pitch count down.

Is he worth your time in fantasy? Sadly, I don’t think so. He tosses a 91-92 mph sinker paired with a changeup and slider that were both good but nothing exciting. His slider floats in there, his changeup works arm-side, but this isn’t your arsenal that makes you jump out of your chair. In short, Emanuel is a legend. Congrats to him for this day, we’ll be citing him in trivia for a while.

As for Odorizzi, they’re hopeful he’s okay, but forearm tightness? That’s never just brushed off. This isn’t good.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:

 

John Gant vs CIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 80 pitches.

Am I not giving enough respect to Gant? That’s just 5 ER on the season across 20 frames and a near strikeout per inning…and 13 walks…and a 5.23 SIERA and yeah okay, we’re done with this. Don’t buy into Gant and his 91 mph sinker as he gets the Phillies and Mets ahead.

Dallas Keuchel vs TEX (ND) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 93 pitches.

Another year, another application for Spider-Man from Keuchel. This is the Toby you signed up for.

Trevor Cahill @ MIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 88 pitches.

Cahill is on that patented roll now and here I thought it was just a Birthday Party last time. It’s the full kitchen-sink approach with just 16% fastballs as he’s earning strikes with curveballs, cutters, and changeups. It’s terrifyingly precarious, though, and I wouldn’t trust him against the Cardinals.

Kevin Gausman vs MIA (ND) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 11 Ks – 21 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 101 pitches.

Hot dang! That’s a Golden Goal from Gausman as he carved up the Marlins with splitters down and four-seamers up. It’s the best splitter in baseball for how consistent it has been across his career, even going to Cobb route and featuring it 56% of the time in this start. Cobb, you think you can out Splitter ME?! 16 whiffs on just splitters. Unreal. The man is in rhythm and just in time, too, as he faces the Padres + Coors next. Take a deep breath all, we’re going in.

Matthew Boyd vs KC (L) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 89 pitches.

Please tell me he had slider whiffs…please tell me he had slider whiffs…He went 2/14 on sliders. NOOOO. It’s weird, I’ve been yelling about this for the past 3-4 weeks and yet, Boyd keeps cruising. Sure, it was the Royals and he was super lucky in BABIP – 21/24 outs via the ball in play! – so I guess this is a Vargas Rule unless he finally gets the slider back. I think y’all would agree with that.

Chris Flexen @ BOS (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 88 pitches.

Look at this! It’s Flexen at the beach! His cutter did more whiffing than sniffing the edges and…we’ll that’s actually about it. This was a cuter Cutter than the prestigious John ann I’m not sure the excellent pitch will consistently tear it up. No, that was not a typo, I’m just “funny”. I wouldn’t trust Chris against the Angels.

Brady Singer @ DET (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 93 pitches.

Look at Singer go, taking full advantage of the Tigers, even earning 15(!) whiffs with nine on his sinker. Yes, that is incredibly weird and should not stick but who cares, he gets the Pirates and Cleveland next. That’s fantastic and you should be thrilled rostering Singer at the moment. Long term? He’s not polished enough for a season-long hold, just enjoy this while it lasts.

Joe Ross @ NYM (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 91 pitches.

After getting demolished, Ross rebounded nicely against the Mets in a proper Cherry Bomb fashion. Well, kinda. Normally the cherries are a bit sweeter than four strikeouts, you know? His slider is performing better with six whiffs here and he could be a decent stream against Miami next time out.

Pablo Lopez @ SF (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 97 pitches.

Changeup working? Check. Four-seamer earning whiffs and well commanded? Check. That’s all you need for a successful PabLo start and while I wish I saw more from his cutter or breaker taking a step forward, I’m always happy to see that fastball/slow ball combo working.

Kyle Gibson @ CWS (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 99 pitches.

If you follow our weekly On The Corner podcast, you’ll know that Fast and I were on different sides of this start, with Alex in favor of starting Gibson vs. my trepidation. I’m awfully glad Fast is right as we had a lovely performance from Gibson against a tough Chicago offense as Gibson featured wonderful sliders and cutters. He had a bit of fortune with that sinker as well and you’re treating this like a proper Vargas Rule now. That’s cool with me, I’m not expecting it to continue through Boston + Minnesota, but he’s already proved me wrong once.

Gerrit Cole @ CLE (W) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 11 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 111 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. What a wonderful game this was and those who are clamoring for deGrom to be in his own tier may be forgetting that Cole has a 40% strikeout rate and sub 2.00 ERA. Just saying.

Shane Bieber vs NYY (L) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 9 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 119 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. It’s weird to say that Bieber hasn’t been so great when he has a sub 2.50 ERA, but it feels that way with Cole and deGrom outclassing him in the ERA department. Whatever, he’s dope and makes you feel dope.

Blake Snell @ LAD (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 87 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Yes, I know, we want to see Snell go six frames consistently and not hurt our WHIP, but we also want him to not have to face the Dodgers any longer. It’ll come, don’t worry…okay fine, worry slightly as he couldn’t get sliders or curveballs in the zone here. Just a touch.

Chris Bassitt @ BAL (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 101 pitches.

It’s one ER away from a VPQS but who cares, Bassitt did what you wanted him to and was able to surprisingly get eight strikeouts along the way. Now he has two starts against the Rays in his next three and that should work for you to hold.

Adbert Alzolay vs MIL (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 83 pitches.

I’ve often compared Alzolay to Peralta and not just because they’ve faced each other three times already this year and look at this, both failing to five frames yet fanning seven. Alzolay embraced his fantastic slider for 53% usage to a 39% CSW, but there is work to be done with his four-seamer to truly push him forward, not to mention there isn’t a hint of promise in a third offering any time soon. Not ideal, but there is strikeout streaming to be had here…when he doesn’t face Atlanta and the Dodgers.

Wade Miley @ STL (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 96 pitches.

Ayyyy, the Miley-mobile keeps plodding along as he makes another claim for Spider-Man. Okay, we know he’s not going to be that, but now he gets the Cubs, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. This could very well work. That cutter is BACK BABY.

Freddy Peralta @ CHC (ND) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 81 pitches.

It’s frustrating to see Peralta go just four frames with poor rations, but it was seven strikeouts and this is the life of General Disarray. I mean, just look at that strikezone plot, is this a man in command? I THINK NOT. It’s going to be a balance of short and medium sized starts through the year, get used to it.

Trevor Bauer vs SD (W) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 103 pitches.

Aces gonna ace. Bauer is everything we were promised and now that the gauntlet is over, this should be a fun ride.

Brent Honeywell Jr. vs TOR (ND) – 1.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 17% CSW, 30 pitches.

Ouch, sorry Honeywell. This one is really about Ryan Yarbrough, though, who went 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks in relief via a pedestrian 28% CSW across 88 pitches with 11 whiffs to his name. The Fratty Pirate was back doing his thang with cutters, though the slow ball wasn’t nearly what we think of. Whatever, this works and it makes you consider him against the hawt Athletics. That’ll be a questionable one for me.

Robbie Ray @ TB (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 94 pitches.

This is what happens when Ray pounds the zone with fastballs. Seriously, look at all that red! The pitch earned 14 whiffs because, you know, it’s good and shockingly, he would have done even better if he had proper command of his typical wipeout slider. Am I excited? Sure am, it’s just we don’t know if he’ll get fastballs in the zone today, then fall back to the ole I DON’T KNOW WHERE IT’S GOING Ray tomorrow. It’s Washington next, but let’s be honest, the team matters less for Ray than your standard tosser. I’d take the chance.

Wade LeBlanc vs OAK (L) – 1.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 48 pitches.

I guess LeBlanc is here for a moment in Baltimore again. Yay.

Aaron Nola @ COL (W) – 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 101 pitches.

Aces gonna head into Coors and be off your game just a bit to return a blegh ERA. Solid WHIP, though. This changes nothing.

Marcus Stroman vs WSH (L) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 18% CSW, 72 pitches.

Awwww. Stroman was teetering on the edge of being a legit promising arm or falling off the other side and sadly the lack of major secondary pitch bit him in this one. 18% CSW is rough. I think you still hold onto Stroman against the Phillies, but let’s hope he becomes something more than a Toby, you know?

Michael Pineda vs PIT (L) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 90 pitches.

Wait what. Pineda, you’ve been cruising for ages, why did you let the Pirates – THE PIRATES! – bring your stretch to an end? Ohhhh, you didn’t have your slider working. At all. Well, you get the Royals next, you have a week to figure it out. I believe in you.

Antonio Senzatela vs PHI (ND) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 88 pitches.

This is the Senz-a we know and give a slight nod to without saying a word.

Nathan Eovaldi vs SEA (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 87 pitches.

Nooooo. This is fresh after I was filled with regret, realizing that Eovaldi now had a luscious schedule ahead of three pleasant matchups and here he stumbles out of the gate. I’ve been admiring that Eovaldi suddenly has a bevy of secondary pitches to choose from, but that only works if his four-seamer is doing good things and in this one, going 1/35 whiffs on fastballs ain’t good things. I think it’s best for you to have a short memory and hold Eovaldi for the Rangers and Tigers next, but I’m with you. I was hoping this start would propel him in the ranks tomorrow and I guess I just have to sit tight now.

Griffin Canning @ HOU (L) – 2.1 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 54 pitches.

Paiiin. Canning didn’t have his slider, forcing him to rely on changeups. Changeups! At least he gets the Mariners next and it’s worthy of a stream for those that need it, but yeah, please get your breakers in order, Griffin.

 

Game of the Day 

 

Hyun Jin Ryu vs. Luis Patiño – There are so many excellent games today and I’m stoked to see Patiño return to the majors, even if it’s in an opening role.

 

But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.

 

Photo from Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire | Design by Quincey Dong (@threerundong on Twitter)