While I’ll never tell someone that I’m looking forward to the baseball off-season, there are a bunch of elements to the site that will be upgraded, including VPR table implementation across the site. Why am I bringing this up? Because I have a feeling it will help illustrate my lack of love for Jon Lester who can’t stop finding ways to make me shake my head in anger. After having himself was has been a solid 2nd half – outside of a few major clunkers here and there – he fell down once again going 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks against the Cards. Look, I understand that his K/BB is essentially mimicked from his renaissance 2014 season, and the single point jump in ERA can be attributed a bit to a rise in HRs and some bad luck, but I just can’t shake the feeling that Lester is too inconsistent for me to be all too happy with his ability as an ace SP. What he does have going for him is the enigma of most guys near #20, and he’ll be hanging around there come 2016. I don’t think I’ll be signing up for the Chicago Southpaw, as the sea-saw of emotions is just too much for me to handle.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
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Tyler Duffey – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. The one true Duff Man has been a savior streamer for many and he just keeps rolling. Is he a dark horse candidate to win MFRTSPA? It’s possible….it’s possible.
Julio Teheran – 8.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. I’m impressed with his 8/1 K per BB, but I’m going to Blame it on the Phillies. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Teheran brings this ability consistently, I’m just not going to invest in it. There’s so much risk and it’s annoying like those air horns that I have no idea why people feel like they are cool blowing them. NO ONE LIKES YOU.
Matt Harvey – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. This is absolute ideal for Harvey moving forward as he was shut down after five innings. Well, he didn’t get the Win cause the Mets are still the Mets (11-2 suckas!), but other than that ideal. Since he was cruising through these five innings, I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t make it this deep in future games and if you need IP in your H2H league, it’s okay to drop Harvey for a 2-start guy. I know it’s hard, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
Stephen Strasburg – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 10 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Man, I’m going to have a huge dilemma entering next season. Do I trust Strasburg to keep being his studly self from the 2nd half or is he too much of a risk to be trusted as a Top 10 guy?
Collin McHugh – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks. Collin was one of my dudes before the season started and he elected to make me look silly by being…the #41 overall SP according to ESPN Player Rater (Wins are the best stat EVER). I had him around #25, so he didn’t completely humiliate me but it’s like he pointed out a stain that I didn’t notice on my jeans in passing in front of some super hip people. I had no idea that stain was there. My point here is that I’m also super conflicted about McHugh’s outlook for 2016. I think there is potential for him to breakout as he’s had a much better 2nd half of the season, but I look at the numbers and don’t see a change. He didn’t boost his K numbers in that time and his xFIP has been chilling around 4.00. I can’t do it, and he’ll most likely be around the #50 or so. We’ll see.
Josh Tomlin – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks. And here’s another guy that I just can’t decide on because, let me tell you, I want to love Tomlin. So badly I want to get on this bandwagon. I really really do. I just see his 4.49 FIP (4.29 xFIP tonight alone) and ridiculously low sub .200 BABIP and think we’re all going to get bamboozled. And no one wants that.
Aaron Nola – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. Our second Call Boy did well against the Braves, though the K/BB leaves a bit to be desired.
Tim Hudson – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. It’s kinda lame but you’ll take this and love it.
Gerrit Cole – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks. Aces gonna pretty much ace. Still not my favorite young gun but he’s Top 15 entering next year definitely.
CC Sabathia – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. I watched a bit of this outing and a graphic came up notifiying me that CC’s last start where he allowed 0 ER was the first time since APRIL 2013 that CC had a scoreless outing. Yeah, that’s kinda embarrassing.
Rich Hill – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 10 Ks. Wow, Hill is one heck of an add. First he strikes out ten Rays – fine, you blame that on Tampa – but then ten Jays? Too bad his next team isn’t called the Oriays. But yes I’d be starting him. That Curveball is just racking up the Ks, enough to necessitate a K rack.
Carlos Martinez – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks. I’ll take it Cmart.
James Shields – 6.2 IP, 4 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 8 Ks. Remember when Shields had the best K/9 in the game in April and nearly everyone wanted him? What crazy days.
Jeremy Hellickson – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Go away Hellickson, no one likes you.
Aaron Brooks – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Last week’s joke is one of those times when I know I can’t top it and it’s a little sad. But I’ll try. We already read the Brooks on him and it tells us to stay away.
Ariel Pena – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Life is higher ,with Pena on the wire, take it from meeeeee.
Felix Hernandez – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 5 BBs, 5 Ks. The King’s throne is melting like chocolate. No wonder he hasn’t stood up in years…
Kris Medlen – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks. Yup, that’s a Toby. Kris, the king of Tobys everywhere.
Kevin Gausman – 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Dang, I really liked this Gausman start and he just didn’t come through as he allowed a 3 run shot in the fifth. Baaah.
Mark Buehrle – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. The Burly Buehrle doing his thang and disregarding your WHIP.
John Danks – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Danks probably wears spanks. Not because it rhymes, but because they feel so good.
Mike Bolsinger – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. Bleeeeeegh.
Jake Odorizzi – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Hmmm, that’s now 4 of his last five starts with at least 3 ER. Hmmm his xFIP for the year is 3.90. Hmmmm Odorizzi could be overrated next year. Mmmhmmm.
Anthony DeSclafani – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. Tony Disco was feeling the beat against some tough teams, then tripped on his shoelaces against the Brew Crew. Baseball just isn’t fair.
Matt Shoemaker – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. Despite the decent matchup against the Twins, Shoemaker couldn’t get it done. He’s still a boom-bust candidate, and if you need a big impact, I can understand those chasing his upside down the stretch.
Justin Nicolino – 5.2 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Nicoli-no. It’s that simple.
Kyle Kendrick – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Kendrick 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.
Derek Holland – 4.1 IP, 7 ER, 7 Hits, 5 BBs, 3 Ks. Pass the Dutchie.
Alfredo Simon – 4.1 IP, 8 ER, 13 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Alfredo? But I ordered the Bolognese!
Today’s Streamers
Brett Anderson vs. Arizona Diamondbacks – Very few guys to choose from given that it’s a Monday and Ace day, and Anderson is the best Toby available.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Tampa Bay Rays – I know you may tell me that the Rays are solid against lefties – totally get you – but I love how Erod is pitching these days, and fellow teammate and south paw Hill was able to carve them up last time the Sox faced the Rays.
Tomorrow’s Streamer
Logan Verrett vs. Atlanta Braves – The Braves are pretty much the best team to pitch against these days and the Mets should pull a victory against the weak Atlanta club. Throw in a guy who has surprising upside and you have yourself a solid streamer.
Game of the Day
Chris Archer vs. Eduardo Rodriguez – There’s more stuff in this game than the diabetes inducing triple-decker Oreo.