Walk A Miley In His Shoes

Today was a pretty mundane day for pitching, save for one event: Wade Miley failing to record an out as he allowed the first six hitters on base: 0.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 0 Ks. He did more with five pitches in the playoffs last year. What a ridiculous start. Hats off to the Mariners for fouling off over 33% of Miley’s pitches before they smacked one they liked, which were all changeups and cutters in the lower half. It may have killed your week, but for those who will still survive, don’t let six at-bats make you do something silly. He gets Oakland next, and yes, I’m still starting him out there.

Let’s see how every other SP did Thursday:

Max Fried – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks. Yes Fried, YES. Curveballs earned 7/17 whiffs, sliders found strikes, and fastballs were command decently well for 31/90 CSW against the Nationals. Those low curveballs are the standout for me as it’s a nullifier for his heater, which can find a little too much of the plate at times. He gets the Phils next, and we’re certainly riding him there.

Dakota Hudson – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. He’s done it again. And you’re so proud of him – he’s smiling back at you as well. Did you see it? I did it! I saw it all Hudson … why are you sad. Because the hardest choices take the strongest wills. NOOOOO. Hudson, you have Coors, the Nationals, and Cubs twice to end the year. This isn’t gonna work. BUT DIDN’T YOU SEE. And we’re all so proud.

Kolby Allard – 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. It’s more of that fastball/cutter approach that aims to induce outs (19/89 CSW), and Allard got pretty lucky to survive here. That’s it for him for the rest of the year with the likes of the Rays, Astros, Sawx, and Yanks. It was real.

Nathan Eovaldi – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. We’re expecting Eovaldi to get stretched out a bit more as the season continues, and he was let loose to 76 pitches here against the Twins. Not bad – I would have liked to have seen mid-80s, but fine – and now with his schedule of Toronto and San Diego next, it’s time for the add, even with those four walks. Let’s do this.

Sonny Gray – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. Aces Gonna Ace. It’s getting boring now. 33% CSW, with 15/35 on his curveball alone, and there’s no way you’re holding back Gray on your rosters.

Reynaldo Lopez – 9.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 11 Ks. Whaaaaaaaaaaaat. This is so typical of ReyLo. He gives us a heart attack-inducing start followed by a masterpiece as a test of our loyalty. Thing is, his fastball – the pitch I’ve been hyped on for a month until its 97 mph turned into 95 mph last time out – was pumping … 94.9 mph. But he commanded it well, and his slider finally showed up, earning 10/24 whiffs. It’s a testament to how he can perform when he has two things working – here fastball command and his slider. And now it’s the Royals, Twins, and Tigers twice. Let’s dance ReyLo. Let’s dance.

Martin Perez – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. Hey, if I needed to start Perez for whatever reason against the Red Sox, I’d certainly be happy. But just one strikeout! So? Sure, it’s a HAISTFMFWT?! but you were hoping for good ratios. You got them in spades. IN SPADES. We’re not out of the woods yet with Washington next, but after that it’s easy coasting to the end. Take note.

Austin Pruitt – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. I wonder if we’ll ever see Pruitt toss a full six frames. Unlikely, but a man can wonder (fine, he did it once last year, happy?). What you’re looking at here is his ceiling. I’m banging my head on it while tip-toeing around Legos. You get the idea.

Trent Thornton – 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. You’re going to endure some hurt if you follow Thornton. I mean, even his name is saying, “Hey, we’re about to send, like, a lot of thorns your way.” That’s pain. 

Jose Suarez – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Solid outing from Suarez, but this will turn to liquid soon enough.

Chase Anderson – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Why are you chasing Chase? Is it because his name is a command for it? Because he gave me a 4.50 ERA in four innings. LISTEN TO YOURSELF.

John Means – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. Solid stuff from Means as he quietly acts like a productive Toby. If you hold through a clear bench against the Dodgers next, you’ll be rewarded with Detroit and Seattle. We want those two starts.

Jason Vargas – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. Nah, I’m not falling for this again. The Vargas Rule is over, you can’t just throw one game and think we care again.

Matt Boyd – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 10 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. He essentially gave you a VPQS with six strikeouts. Are we cool with this? You are in a points league, in standard it’s just what we expect these days, honestly. It’s akin to Robbie Ray, almost.

Elieser Hernandez – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Changeups were nonexistent, sliders were OK but often hung, and his fastball was sub 90 mph. That just isn’t going to cut it, Elieser.

Stephen Strasburg – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks. A PQS from Stras? After spoiling us against the Marlins last week? Fine, I guess. There are worse things.

Marco Gonzales – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 5 BBs, 0 Ks. You see this start? This is the start of giving you absolutely nothing. NOTHING. But fine, you obviously sat him for the Astros, and maybe he helps out during this CIN, @PIT, @BAL stretch. I’d risk it only for the latter two. Maybe.

Jose Quintana – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Blegh. I want more from Quintana these days, especially with his relatively lax schedule. It was the Brewers here and it gets easier with the Padres and Pirates next. Just keep sending him out there.

Glenn Sparkman – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 2 Ks. Yeaaaaah even against the Tigers, this wasn’t a good move, like h4 to open a game. THE ROOKS AREN’T THAT IMPORTANT.

Dario Agrazal – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. Wait, just one strikeout today? Well, yeah. It’s Agrazal. But fine, HAISTFMFWT?!

Brett Anderson – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. Blegh. And now it’s Houston. So yeaaaah, I don’t care if you actually got four strikeouts for once. OK I do, but we’re done here.

Zach Plesac – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Plesac, how dare you. I’m going to make this brief – you still want to hold Plesac against the Angels and Tigers next. No, this wasn’t anything close to what you wanted but he’s not this bad, just a bad day. He should be OK next week.

Logan Webb – 2.2 IP, 7 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Hooooooooo boy. This hurt. Sorry for everyone who went with Webb as a stream yesterday. Streaming Record 91-58. At least you didn’t feel betrayed by Plesac facing the White Sox. You’re still upset about that? HOW COULD HE. Now comes the hard part. This wasn’t that?! Nope. Now he gets the Pirates and Marlins. He should be better than this 11/67 CSW to make those games worthwhile, but I understand sitting out for the Pirates as a test for Miami. That’s fine.

 

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.

 

Homer Bailey vs. Detroit Tigers – It was formerly Framber Valdez vs. Seattle Mariners but I prefer Bailey’s risk/reward a little better. There are plenty of other options, including Joe Musgrove and his 94 mph velocity, Tyler Mahle against the Diamondbacks, and even Dillon Peters against the White Sox.

 

Tomorrow’s Streamer

 

Danny Duffy vs. Miami Marlins – The Royals had a six-man rotation. They may still have it, but Duffy is acting like it’s a five-man. Cool cool cool no doubt no doubt no doubt, now we can do both Duffy and Alcantara on separate days if we wanted!

 

Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer

 

Mike Montgomery vs. Miami Marlins – Ohhhh yes. Please. Other Sunday desperate streams could be Asher Wojciechowski vs. Texas, Sandy Alcantara on the other side of Monty vs. KC, and Dylan Cease against the Angels if you need a strikeout surge.

 

Game of the Day

 

Brendan McKay vs. Toronto Blue Jays – I can’t be the only one excited to see McKay again, he has a skill set that speaks well above his horrible August.

(Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire)