I've been kinda throwing away questions about Alex Cobb thus far as I was just waiting for him to flounder again and quiet the mob, but it's getting harder to ignore as he went 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. His last 12 starts feature a 3.38 ERA, which includes his disastrous 9 ER starts against the Mariners. So why is Cobb still not on The List? Because he's a huge TEEs. The Cobb we used to know what a strikeout fiend due to a Split-Changeup that was simply baller. He threw that pitch under 5% of the time last night against the Pirates and he's averaging 4.33 strikeouts per start in this excellent 12 start run, with a 4.77 xFIP and just 13.6% soft contact. This is bad. 4.89 SIERA, 34.6% hard contact, 1.28 WHIP, etc. The only thing that isn't bad is his luck creating the 3.38 ERA. Considering we're making a Three-Fists Compromise with Cobb, that means his ERA needs to be better than 3.70 rest of the way (and that's generous) for me to consider him over a strikeout upside arm. That's not a bet I want to make.
Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:
is Cobb a sell-high?
No question.
who’s a good buy-low target to flip him for 1-1?
Anything that helps, honestly. I wouldn’t be owning Cobb in the first place.
Nola’s command abondoned him only at the start of the 5th (or 4th?), where he threw 10 straight balls all over the place. After that, he was solid and impressively unrattled vs a tough lineup, even after made to go way past 100 with Philly showing no trust in their pen.
He definitely looked questionable in the first and seventh (pitch count up) as well. That’s the thing, he’ll look so amazing and out of of control in the same start.
I’m used to seeing his Fastball be the rock for everything and seeing it go in-and-out of focus through the night was a bit unnerving.
Nola and Pax were getting squeezed – I’d love to replay that game with a pitcher friendly ump. Even 6 innings in they couldn’t expand the zone at all… Too bad.
With Biagini I’ve noticed he has had difficulty locating his fastball low like he used to consistently. Mix leaving the fastball up with not getting a curve over and that leads to trouble.
On the Manaea front, if he nearly got the QS against the Astros on a night when he didn’t have his stuff I’m all on board. Doesn’t do much for his ceiling, but I believe that speaks to a high floor.
For tomorrow’s streamer, did you mean Dinelson Lamet? Luis is pitching today.
Thanks for the heads up! Looks like it got swapped around.
Yep, I’d be rolling with Lamet.
Even with his 2 most recent starts, can’t start Lackey at Washington tonight, yeah?
Correct, I’d sit this one out.
i cant catch a break with clev. i see mike montgomery is trending up and clev down but theyre pretty close on the list so who would you rather at the moment
Clevinger. Much better overall stuff.
How comfortable would you be starting Rodon tonight in NY?
Not at all. DLH and it’s the Yankees. And it’s Rodon.
re: Scherzer leaving after 93, seems like maybe it was because of recent high pitch totals in addition to the nats lead at the time. 120 pitches last time out and 985 pitches in his last 9 starts.
Hey Nick,
I need a streaming option today. Who do you feel most comfortable rolling out?
Bauer vs Rangers
Porcello vs Twins
Ryu vs Angles
Also, I can play a SP with RP designation as well.
Meyer vs LA
Perdomo vs ATL
I’m leaning towards Porcello (cringe) and Perdomo given matchup and pitching opponent. Thanks in advance for your insight.
Ryu or Perdomo, but if I needed strikeouts I’d go Bauer instead.
Hi Nick. Curious, how big of a bump on the list would you give Mike Leake for QS leagues? Dude pitches 6 innings almost every single outing (all but once so far this year). Trying to decide between him & Clevinger (who has much more K upside but almost never gets through 6)
A little, but I think owning Clevinger will be better still. He has the skill set to be a QS guy as well.
thanks!
2 of Walker’s BB’s were intentional.
Gossett bumped up to starting today @ Houston (vs Peacock). Guessing you’re not starting him here?
No I am not. Womp womp.