Uncanning Ability

It’s time we sat down to discuss Griffin Canning who couldn’t handle the Giants offense to the tune of 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 22% CSW. That’s not the Canning we know and love and it’s making us wonder if it’s time to let him go – Nick, it was time two starts ago! – That’s probably right, but we thought this Giants start would be way better given his stuff and ability…alright let me explain.

I’m surprised to see 0/18 whiffs here from Canning’s slider. That’s a legit 20%+ SwStr offering that wasn’t horribly located in this one and has been his bread-and-butter for ages. Four-seamers were focused on the top of the zone, and curveballs were located effectively down-and-away. It’s downright weird to see his struggles given his locations, but looking deeper, things are amiss.

Four-seamer velocity is down 1.5 ticks and his slider has dropped 12 points in O-Swing and returned only a 9% SwStr rate (22% last year!). That’s…not great at all. Those two have led to a near 4 point drop in overall SwStr, a giant boost in HR/9, and a near two-point hike in H/9 as he flirts with the ghastly double-digits. Canning’s soft contact this year? 5.6%. 

So yeah, we drop him. I think his stuff is better than the results, but it’s not the rhythm we want, his velocity is down, and he’s not earning whiffs. I don’t think is a forever problem, but given the PRP injection and the fact that we’re likely not rostering him for much more of this season (can you really trust him after his last three starts?), I worry not for just 2020 but also 2021 and beyond. It really stinks, I still see a little Shane Bieber in him given that repertoire.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:

 

Matt Wisler vs KC (ND) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 43% CSW. This is cool Wisler, you know that since you’re actually a reliever we can’t be friends, sadly. I know. What a cruel world we live in.

Alex Reyes vs CHC (ND) – 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 33% CSW. It’s cool seeing Reyes return and as a “starter”, but this isn’t a starter and this isn’t Alex “the wunderkind” Reyes. Maybe there’s a shot for 2021, but certainly not 2020.

Zac Gallen vs OAK (ND) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 31% CSW. Aces gonna ace. That’s the Dodgers, Astros, Coors, and A’s that Gallen has cruised through now. If you’re not enamored, I question your capacity for love.

Brandon Bielak vs COL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 33% CSW. Our backup streamer did good things hosting Rockie Road, securing another Win despite four walks in the books (at least he’s true to his BB name). I know it’s weird for me to rank Bielak above Framber, but I think his repertoire speaks to a higher floor than the Cherry Bomb nature of Valdez, allowing for more overall value as a cheap ratio/Win Toby. 

Hyun Jin Ryu @ BAL (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 21% CSW. It’s far from sexy, but Ryu is making it work after a rough start to the year. He’s pushing for the Spider-Man award and you should be happy about that.

Jordan Montgomery vs BOS (ND) – 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 39% CSW. If not for a rain delay, I think this would have been The Bear’s proper breakout start that we’ve been waiting for. Breakers were solid, fastball velocity was there, and I’d be thrilled owning JorMont moving forward.

Kwang Hyun Kim @ CHC (ND) – 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 23% CSW. It shouldn’t be much a surprise that Kim went sub 60 pitches here – the Cardinals rotation as a whole will need some time to ramp up – but the line looks kinda typical for Kim. I don’t you should give him a whole lot of consideration until we see him go 80+ pitches and at that point, he’s a Toby at best. A decent streamer, maybe, but nothing more.

Robert Gsellman @ MIA (ND) – 1.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 19% CSW. Slow and steady, Gsellman will get to be a starter in full. It’s like you’re inviting your friend from out of state whenever you host a party. If they ever want to show up, cool, you’re welcome Robert, but we’re not going to you and I’d be shocked if I see you.

Kyle Freeland @ HOU (L) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW. Despite facing the Astros, Freeland, once again, looked like a solid Toby. That’s a 2.56 ERA for the year as he’s continued to lean on his changeup and slider, even throwing in a ton of curveballs here as well. However, my favorite stat of the night may be his sub 30% fastballs thrown. That’s how’s it’s done. Still too risky for not enough reward to start him against the Dodgers on the road next, but he heads to Arizona after and that’s cool.

Gio Gonzalez vs DET (ND) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 36% CSW. I’ll be honest, I’m a bit happy GG didn’t earn the other GG (though, no run at the King Cole with just 4.2 IP), as this was just weird and silly and as clear of a Birthday Party as you’ll find. Enjoy that Gallows Pole though, I doubt you’ll be able to earn 15 whiffs on curveballs and changeups again. That’s just…not you.

Kris Bubic @ MIN (L) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 25% CSW. He’s had a rough go of it facing the Twins n all and he hadn’t pitched above High-A before this season. Ooof. No reason to go after Bubic these days, let him blossom in his own time and return to the farm in the future.

Tyson Miller @ STL (ND) – 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 0 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 19% CSW. With Tyler Chatwood off to the IL and a doubleheader on their hands, the Cubs looked to Tyson to make his MLB debut in a limited “start”. Decent sinker and slider on him, but yeah, this is a Cup of Schmo. You already knew that.

Kyle Hendricks vs STL (L) – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 32% CSW. Solid stuff from Hendricks, despite a blegh ERA, and we’re all a little upset he wasn’t able to go two more outs for another “complete game.” 16 whiffs is oh-so-pretty and y’all know the drill. Don’t stop starting Hendricks.

Chris Bassitt @ ARI (ND) – 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW. Blegh. Bassitt’s sinker is still doing unreal things (38% CSW!), but some games he doesn’t get enough from his secondary stuff and it lands flat. I think you should keep starting Bassitt moving forward, but yeah, I want more.

Zach Davies @ TEX (W) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 31% CSW. This may have been a deep streaming option against the Rangers and for what it’s worth, I think Davies did what you’d expect with good changeups down and even flashing a decent cutter. He’s a streaming option and a Toby at best, so don’t consider Davies for all that much.

Anibal Sanchez @ ATL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 19% CSW. Sanchez is so far away from the pitcher he resembled in 2018. I mean, seriously? One strikeout? HAISTFMFWT?! Don’t consider him as a streamer, it’s too risky.

Matthew Boyd @ CWS (L) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 29% CSW. Of course Boyd allowed a pair of HRs to start his game for the second start in a row. Thing is, he was kinda great after, featuring the best slider we’ve seen all year – FINALLY – at 41% CSW, paired with four-seamers exclusively up in the zone at 92 mph. Changeups were decent as well and…okay I’m not going full Boyd Boy again but at least this is better than before! He needed 90 pitches for four innings, but there’s a part of me that thinks he’s going to be a sneaky stream against the Indians next time. Yes, “stream” as I imagine he’s been dropped in most leagues now.

Martin Perez @ NYY (L) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 28% CSW. It’s not a happy state of affairs in Beantown and luckily for Perez, the rain showed up and stopped this one from getting worse. It’s a HAISTFMFWT?! because of it, and I feel a little weird handing it out given the circumstance, but whatever, there you go Perez.

Jordan Yamamoto vs NYM (L) – 1.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 23% CSW. He’s a kitchen sink guy that sometimes needs the bathtub and that’s a hard thing to lug around. Just one strikeout (HAISTFMFWT?!) and all the disappointment on the back of that one manager who actually started Jordan. I hope for better days from him, but it’s hard to expect them soon.

Touki Toussaint vs WSH (ND) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 2 Hits, 6 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW. I’ll be honest, I’m not too shocked with this one, but still wanted to take the chance that we saw good Touki instead of this Touki. Streaming Record: 13-11. His splitter command was blegh, his four-seamer, while not located often in the heart of the plate, is still badly commanded, and his curveball wasn’t enough to survive. Six walks Touki…six walks…He hosts the Phillies next and while I’m not completely against it, that’s not a locked start.

Alex Cobb vs TOR (L) – 6.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 32% CSW. We saw “The Thing” working well (that’s his splitter’s name, for the initiated), but his four-seamer was all over the place, preventing the BSB from working and it fell apart, even with decent curveballs for strikes. He’s still a sleeper streamer, though, so don’t rule Cobb out in deeper leagues.

Tyler Anderson @ LAA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 47% CSW. Well this is something. Anderson made it the full five frames to earn himself the King Cole as he dominated not just with changeups (13/36 whiffs!) but earning a whopping 59% on 34 four-seamers. Whoaaaaa. His tossed heaters effortlessly in the zone and like an Amish wagon on highway, the Angels elected to let them pass. 16/34 called strikes on that fastball and I simply don’t see that repeating. He seemed to toss his changeup at the right time in each at-bat and yes, this is a clear Birthday Party. Cool to see Tyler be somewhat relevant again, though. Remember those times 3/4 years ago when he was a Rockie? Sigh…

Jordan Lyles vs SD (L) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 26% CSW. We’re all hoping for Lyles to be that arm with curveballs down and fastballs up, but he’s just not there yet. It’s like me staring at that EZ-Bake oven as a kid. I just wanted it to be ready and I felt like it never was when I wanted it to be.

Ross Stripling vs SEA (ND) – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 26% CSW. Stripling, what is this. You got the Mariners and your curveball, one of my favorite hooks to watch in the game, was…bad. 0/22 whiffs with just 18% CSW, allowing your heater to get smacked around. Against Seattle. Uggggh. I’m not actually scared about Stripling’s ability to rebound, I’m more worried that the Dodgers will do something silly and not keep him in the rotation if Gonsolin does what he should do tonight. I wouldn’t bet on that, but, you know, Dodgeritis is dumb. Hold for now.

Justin Dunn @ LAD (ND) – 2.0 IP, 6 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks – 2 Whiffs, 19% CSW. Yeaaaaah, I wonder if he’s a Young Gun and could be something down the road, but for now we just have to give him support as Dunn does his best to get accustomed to the bigs. Keep fighting.

 

Today’s Streamer

 

For those unaware, I’m forced to make my streamer picks under the condition of sub-20% owned in Fantasy Pros’ consolidated ownership rates.

 

 

David Peterson vs. Miami Marlins – Sure, let’s do it again. Looks like the Dodgers are rolling Tony Gonsolin out there again as he faces the Seattle Mariners. Yes. Please.

 

Tomorrow’s Streamer

 

Patrick Sandoval vs. San Francisco Giants – I think it’s time to take a chance on Sandoval’s solid secondary stuff over Alec Mills‘ (vs. Cardinals) meh overall repertoire.

 

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

 

Chad Kuhl vs. Milwaukee Brewers – Now’s the time. That slider is solid and he’s stretched out properly.

 

Game of the Day

 

Tarik Skubal vs. Dylan Cease – Yes, I’m doing a GIF Breakdown, even if it’s only 40-50 pitches. It’ll be out around 10pm EST so enjoy the late-night read.

 

 

(Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire)