So I had a podcast yesterday. We do them twice a week now (woot!) and yesterday we talked about Jacob Faria, who has a decently secure spot inside the Rays rotation with Matt Andriese missing a significant amount of time. I discussed what I saw in his debut start against the ChiSox, which was a good Slider, an inconsistent Changeup and spotty Fastball command. Needless to say, I wasn't so confident in this start against the Blue Jays and it was...different. 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks different. Thing is, I kinda feel the same way, but with more confidence on the strikeout side. His Changeup and Slider can be outright deadly, with vicious movement on both that will make him a strikeout threat. But I really hate his Fastball. Really. It's not spotting the edges and it's super flat. If he could command it high and tight to left handers while elevating properly to right-handers and set up his Slider/Changeup effectively, that's one thing, but I don't see that happening consistently. I also don't believe he'll have great command of his two secondary pitches to throw them for strikes with confidence - he did at times and made me very happy but I can't see it happening at will - which means that he'll get hit hard off his heater or walk batters. His Curveball is meh and not a good enough fourth pitch to be that missing piece right now. All in all, I think you definitely should own him, but I question how many obstacles he's going to run into. He's a better Spice Girl than most, though, and given this landscape I wouldn't be surprised elevating him to the 50s while hinting at the 40s with the strikeout upside he has.
Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:
Re: CC, do you think they’ll go with another bullpen game with Green? I assume they’ll call up Mitchell since he’s been in the AAA rotation and can (hopefully) give them more than 50-60 pitches.
It could be that as well, either way I wouldn’t start whoever gets the ball over the weekend.
Green to me has more upside, so it’s more relevant if he gets a shot to stick around.
Yeah, I guess that reply was more a real-baseball thing and less fantasy relevant.
Drop Jimmy Nelson for Faria? Or should we hold on for one more start?
Hold Nelson.
Forgot to ask, I could also drop Peacock. Would that make more sense?
Peacock and Faria are pretty even in my book.
I’m slightly leaning Faria given more experience as a starter, so make the switch.
Cool. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions!
I think you mean the Cubs instead of the Nats in your Wheeler comments. Though the Nationals did their damage to Dickey as well.
Complete brainfart there, let me change that blurb.
Thanks!
If you hate davies so much maybe a switch to the incomparable Matt Strahm should be in order? I know hes on a pretty low pitch count, but show your boy some love.
I would but the low pitch count makes for a bad streaming choice.
Will be the game of the day for sure, though.
I appreciate your pop culture references, always up-to-date.
I’m really showing my age aren’t I
It’s okay, I recognize it because I’m right there with you.
Does Biagini have a chance to stick in the Jays rotation? I’m thinking about including him in a deal to upgrade my bats, and I’d be giving up Berrios, but I don’t want to lose too much pitching-wise either. How much of a drop-off is there between the 2 ROS if Biagini has a rotation spot?
There’s definitely a drop off, considering K upside and Berrios could pitch just as well as Biagini even without the strikeouts.
I think the Jays do keep Biagini in the rotation for a while, though.
I’m looking at streaming Marquez today, but McCarthy is also available. How do you think he does facing off against Kluber and the Indians on the road?
It’s close, I slightly lean Marquez. I’d be okay going with McCarthy.
Ride with Faria, or drop for Biangini? I can’t add Peacock in a QS league, plus he screwed me against the Angels.
I prefer Biagini more. Less K upside, but seems like a more dependable arm for QS given better command.
Gibson got a standing ovation after coming out last night. It was so weird.
Yeah that’s…weird.
Drop Jimmy Nelson for Joe Biagini?
Super even in my book, I think I roll with Nelson as it’s a slightly easier schedule ahead