We have to talk about Sean Manaea. After holding a 3.24 ERA and 8.80 in his previous 15 starts, Manaea was finally getting a good schedule ahead of him. Things were looking up and we all celebrated as he was set to face the Jays, Giants, Mets, and Angels. To our dismay, he's held a 6.63 ERA with a paltry 5.21 K/9 in that time, amplified by yesterday afternoon's 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. Dude, what is this. You push the rock up the hill for so long and now that you get near the top you're letting it crush you. He's been struggling with his Changeup - the pitch he's been throwing about 25% of the time - and turning to his Slider less often, bringing down his whiff rates. Speaking of that Slider, he's normally burying that down-and-in to right-handers, but has lately lost the feel for that, featuring more in the middle part of the zone and beneath it. With both secondary pitches failing him, he's simply not getting the strikeouts as before and it's gone poorly. I want to say that this can come around and I doubt there is a better option on your wire, though I completely understand benching him for the Orioles next. My gut says that he'll figure it out there, but it's the wise move to treat this like a stash until he gets it together.
Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:
I know baseball can be a game of if’s and butt’s, but Carrasco was SO close to getting out of the 6th mostly unscathed when Abe Almonte lost a ball to right that ended up being Ellsbury’s bases-clearing triple. Ellsbury was then also brought home after Carlos exited the game. Brutal way to get a 5 spot on a day where he was mostly dealing.
Good point Chris, probably should have gone into that in the Roundup. It’s always a bit different seeing a pitcher get so close to escape damage than one who labors through the full game.
Think better options to Manaea at least on my wire could be Chacin or JC Ramirez. Who’d you prefer? Former has the tougher schedule ahead but at the same time has already proven effectiveness vs some of these top 10 teams, ie CIN, LAD or WAS. Thereafter Chacin looks to get STL, SF…hmmm
Nooooo, I’d rather own Manaea there.
Would you keep Manaea or drop him for Taillon?
Taillon gets the Jays + Cards next. Sign me up.
I want to pick-up McHugh but can’t figure out who to drop…in my one league I was considering dropping Gausman or Manaea and in my other league thinking about dropping Duffy, Castillo or Berrios? Is McHugh better option than any of these guys?
Though I guess your list later today should give me some insight into your response…. Where will McHugh climb to….stay tuned…..
I wouldn’t blame anyone for wanting to own McHugh + Gaus right now over Manaea.
My gut says it should be Manaea > McHugh > Gausman rest of the way though.
Hold Duffy/Berrios/Castillo.
I shamed myself by picking up Cashner and Kuhl for the week. Nothing out there. I probably will have to move away from Clev, I’m assuming. Who to pick up– Jaime Garcia or Hoffman? I know, horrible. Somehow, I’m in 2nd place.
Hoffman at least had some sort of resurgence with his start against the Phils, go with that one.
I may be wrong, but……. two start Kennedy over the suddenly horrific Carasco?
I agree Chucky with first comment above that Carrasco looked pretty darn good yesterday until Almonte misplayed the ball that turned into Ellsbury’s base clearing triple….if A. Jackson was in right field that ball is caught.
http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/245757708/indians-austin-jackson-makes-amazing-catch/?topicId=27118372
Nope. Still Carrasco.
Anybody who was about to drop Taillon doesn’t deserve him!
Respectfully, he had a 7.36 ERA in July, and currently sports a 9.00 for two August starts. Awful WHIP too. I like his potential, But a good start against the Padres isn’t enough to convince me that he’s a good option for this season.
Well…let’s be a little a fair here. It’s really just two starts – one in July and one in August – that are causing those swings. Obviously that shouldn’t be ignored, but to throw ERA numbers over a larger period of time when it’s just two starts is a bit misleading.