Can you guess who went 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. last night? I mean, that’s not a real question since you saw the bad pun in the headline and already saw Colby Lewis‘ name highlighted, but it was Lewis who now holds a 2.75 ERA for the season. I know what you’re thinking. Okay, what’s the downside? Nah, don’t care I’m still going to pick him up since that ERA is so good! You can do that, and I will obviously concede that he’s done well thus far. Funny thing is that you don’t get credit for his previous starts when you pick him up and every piece of data we have on Colby suggests that he’s going to be pretty bad pretty soon. His LOB rate right now is 92.3%. His 4.13 SIERA is lower than both his 4.46 FIP and 4.24 xFIP is 4.24. He hasn’t been a strikeout guy since 2012, and he’ll be sitting comfortable under the 7.00 K/9 this year. What this means is you’re just chasing that low ERA and hoping a low WHIP follows suit – a Grave Mistake – with every indication that he won’t keep up his side of the deal. If you like, I’ll make down this very start and see how he performs ROS. If his ERA is under 3.50 and WHIP below 1.15, I’ll write a poem about Lewis’ success. And I hate writing poems.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
Jake Arrieta – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. Aces gonna ace.
Steven Matz – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks. Yesssss, Matz is okay and he’s still dealing like whoa. It’s kinda nuts how good he is right now. He’s holding a 9.45 K/9, 1.35 BB/9, 54.1% GB rate, 1.06 WHIP, and 1.35 ERA (2.24 FIP, 2.58 xFIP, 2.68 SIERA) since the clunker in his 2016 debut. That’s absurdly good. The only question is his longevity given his injury question marks and throwing just 141 innings last season, though I wouldn’t be looking to sell if you’re worried about your playoff run. He could miss some time here and there that will make him free for September.
CC Sabathia – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. Hot damn! Look at CC carving up the A’s, following 7 innings of shutout ball against the O’s. Is CC returning back to form? Psssh, yeah okay. Don’t buy into this guys.
Corey Kluber – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Klubs was able to be productive against the Sawx, have no fear moving forward.
Matt Wisler – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. Wisler isn’t this good guys. That 4.75 xFIP is stankier than stank. Yes that makes sense.
Tanner Roark – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. It’s funny how Wisler and Roark are just one hit away from identical lines when they are both overperforming dramatically. Roark is not a strikeout guy. He just isn’t and I can’t sit here and tell you to expect more of them moving forward because that’s just not who he is. The Regression Angels are coming.
Dan Straily – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Freakin’ Straily man with a2.85 ERA and 7.80 K/9 now. Still hate him with his abysmal 4.37 BB/9 and 4.44 FIP (4.74 xFIP) and you’re making this annoying, Dan.
Aaron Sanchez – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. Super solid Sanchez. It was the Twins, still super solid.
Patrick Corbin – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks. Great to see the strikeouts alive with a good ERA, but those four walks are just ruining the party more than that kinda friend’s cousin’s boyfriend. That guy is the worst.
Dillon Gee – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Gee this is boring. And not repeatable.
Lance McCullers – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. Good rebound from McCullers as he gave us a typical Lance line. More than a K per inning with 3 BBs and a suitable ERA. Here’s to hoping the walk rate shrinks a bit, though he’s never held a sub 3.00 BB/9 through the minors and majors. It’s not as obnoxious as guys like Liriano/Tyson/Rodon so you can still enjoy McCullers, but it will never be elite.
Aaron Nola – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. If this is Nola’s regression, we’re in for one beautiful season.
Eddie Butler – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 1 Ks. Butler 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 not named Gray and maybe even Gray.
Gerrit Cole – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks. How does a man allow 10 hits while striking out NOT A SINGLE BATTER and get through seven frames with just one earned run? Only Cole would confuse and frustrate owners like that.
Hisashi Iwakuma – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. This line looks like it can’t make up it’s mind like my 10 year old self trying to pick out a candy bar. 6? Nah 3. No wait 6. DEFINITELY 3…or maybe 6? Anyway, Iwakuma is still struggling to be the pitcher we know he can be, and give his injury problems as well it doesn’t look like the hill is worth the climb.
Wily Peralta – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Stop being so Wily! Well, this isn’t as Wily and Wily, but it’s still pretty Wily.
Clay Buchholz – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. There is pretty much no hope left that Buchholz will get back to the place he hinted at last year.
Mike Wright – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Bleeegggggh. He should never be considered to start on your roster.
Jose Quintana – 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks. Awwww, our QS king wasn’t able to deliver last night against the Royals. Whatever, still love you duder.
Matt Andriese – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. This is why SSS (Small Sample Size) is a dangerous thing. Also why I didn’t include Andriese to The List last week.
Justin Nicolino – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks. I mean, did you expect anything different from Nicolino?
Scott Kazmir – 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 3 Hits, 7 BBs, 5 Ks. Seven walks? Kaz was in the game long enough to accumulate seven walks? At least you have the power to axe him swiftly.
Christian Friedrich – 3.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. Wow, Friedrich is really excelling now that he’s out of Colorado…
Anibal Sanchez – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Please tell me none of you are still rostering Anibal. Don’t do this to yourself.
Carlos Martinez – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. And the selling of Cmart begins.
Hector Santiago – 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. So the velocity was in between its lows and highs that we’ve been dancing between this year, but was things didn’t go his way, Santiago got ejected to spare owners of more damage to their numbers. Mad respect Santiago, taking one for the team and all.
Sonny Gray – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. It just keeps getting worse and worse for Gray. Yes he’s taking another dive on Monday and who knows when he’ll recover.
Tyler Duffey – 5.2 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. This was a risky start given that he was facing the Jays, and I still love Duffey given that he has a relatively easy schedule moving forward.
Jake Peavy – 1.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks. Please, just make it stop. This is going to get worse before it gets better. But is it ever going to get better? It might now random man. It might not.
Today’s Streamers
Alex Wood vs. San Diego Padres – Wood got pushed back a day for Bolsinger, which means he’s our DATS again. Other options include J.A. Happ against the Twins if his owner dropped him after his last horrific effort, or Mike Fiers against Texas, though that’s not a stream I’d be thrilled about.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Jerad Eickhoff vs. Atlanta Braves – I’m still a believer that Eickhoff isn’t as bad as he’s been as of late and there are few opponents that give pitchers confidence like the Braves. Those in need of a deep stream can also consider Ubaldo Jimenez against the Angels, but I’d stay away unless you’re desperate in a 12 teamer.
Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer
Mike Clevinger vs. Chicago White Sox – Not too many options today, making Clevinger the most interesting of the lot. The ChiSox aren’t looking too great offensively, and you could get a nice productive outing from the Rook’s sophomore outing. Other options include Derek Holland against the Angels, which brings some major worry given his earlier implosions, and Nick Tropeano against the Rangers, but I like Clev the most here.
Game of the Day
Jose Fernandez vs. Joe Ross Round 2 – It’s a matchup of these two pitchers I adore, and I have a feeling Ross is going to break out and dominate like he was born to do. I will become the stud my brother could never be.