Let’s be real and consider what’s going on with Jacob DeGrom. It has been far from the expected season from The Hair and yesterday’s 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks didn’t do much to make things better. Well, it’s the first time he’s collected seven strikeouts all year, but he needed 100 pitches to get through just five frames. Am I hugely concerned moving forward? Yes and no. I don’t believe we’re going to see a major fall from grace like many others inside the Top 20, as he’s always been a finesse pitcher at heart who just happened to throw harder than what finesse pitchers are supposed to do. Still, he clearly is having issues commanding his Fastball, which has always been the crux of his success. I’d consider him a decent buy-low as I’m sure there are owners who just want to jump ship, though I’ll have him outside the Top 10 tomorrow.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
Matt Shoemaker – 7.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 12 Ks. Boy, Shoemaker can be really appealing at times. The makeup will come off in a major way though, and you’ll be left wondering why on earth you took him out to dinner.
Joe Kelly – 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 3 BBs, 7 Ks. It was Kelly at his finest as he came back from the DL. Too bad his finest is like the sun in Seattle and comes out only a few times a year.
Michael Fulmer – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 11 Ks. Jeez, a lot of pitchers did super well last night. The upside of Fulmer fully clicked against the Rays and you may be thinking it’s here to stay. I don’t buy that. Well, he’s on your team in the first place because of this kind of upside and you might as well take a flier on him if he’s floating on your WW, but I would be shocked if this catapulted him into a string of amazing outings. It just rarely works like that when you’ve had such inconsistency issues like Fulmer has.
Williams Perez – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Sir dub just has to get in on the action, but did it the only way he could – with only four strikeouts. Don’t buy into Perez, he’ll hurt you a ton.
Mike Leake – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. Clearly something click last week with Leake, and now he gets the Nats/Brewers/Reds ahead. I’d keep rolling him if I owned him and if he’s somehow out on the WW I’d snatch him up in a 12 teamer.
Alex Wood – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 13 Ks. Our Call Boy was gorgeous, setting a career high in strikeouts against the…Padres? It seems like everyone is setting their career highs against the Pads. Anyway, I’d obviously throw him out there against the Mets, but them I’m selling given his future dates against the Cubs/Rockies/Giants.
Jonathon Niese – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Don’t care Niese, you’re still super duper boring.
Jose Fernandez – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks. Aces gonna ace. And just one walk this time! One walk this time! Sliiiiide to the left! CRISS CROSS!
Cesar Ramos – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. The Rangers have a way of finding really boring starters to outperform their FIP/xFIP for a little bit. Ramos is not the guy you’re looking for as this is a One Night Bland.
Cesar Vargas – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks. That’s five of his six starts now surrendering 2 or fewer ER, and back-to-back 7 K outings. Ehhhh he faced the Brewers and Dodgers, the Pads don’t win games and he sports a sub 90 MPH heater. Not for me.
Felix Hernandez – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. It’s amazing how Felix is clearly not at the top of his game yet holds a 2.21 ERA…then again he’s allowing just 23.9% hard contact…then again Juan Nicasio and Scott Kazmir are the leaders across qualified starters…then again I should move on.
Masahiro Tanaka – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. A fully healthy Tanaka is a Top 30 arm y’all. Maybe even Top 25.
Mike Fiers – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. Okay, the strikeouts are kinda returning like a new Land Before Time movie (shouldn’t they be at time by now?) though it’s far from enough to convince to roster Fiers.
J.A. Happ – 7.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. A good WHIP and a handful of Ks, but that ERA is bleghity blegh blegh as he earned the Loss in Minnesota. He’s got a tough road ahead now and he’s a safe drop for a few weeks.
Miguel Gonzalez – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 8 Ks. Wow 8 Ks from Miguel? Seriously, what happened to bats last night? Anyway you know the schtick by now and it’s not changing: Miguel……no.
Pat Dean – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. Dean held a near 5.00 K/9 through his five years in the minors. He’s just a Cup of Schmo.
Kevin Gausman – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Love it Gausman. Love it.
Matt Cain – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. Cain got his first win in ages, and I’m happy he has his little moment. It’s not going to hang around like a Counting Crow, unfortunately. Poor guy.
Danny Duffy – 4.1 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. He only threw 63 pitches since he hasn’t been stretched out, or maybe it’s because the Royals didn’t want to play with fire anymore. You may be looking up Duffy now and be careful. He’s amazing ratios are due to him being a reliever for 16 games and I do not believe in him to be a good add. Feel free to take the flier if you really need the help, though he won’t go deep into games and he simply isn’t that good.
Tyler Chatwood – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. Chatwood 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.
Robbie Ray – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks. Will you cut it with the walks? Seriously bud, the whole romantic beach thing is so overplayed now.
Adam Morgan – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks. The time spent picking up Morgan is time wasted that could have been better used to, oh I don’t know, stare at a wall. I wonder the things this wall has seen…
Drew Smyly – 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. After killing it out of the gate, Smyly now has only 22 Ks in his last four outings. Sure, he’s had to face the Tigers, Mariners, and Jays, but it’s a little worrisome. On the plus side, he gets some much needed respite as he now gets the Marlins, Royals, and Twins next. Should be a fun time.
John Lamb – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. I’ve put the Lamb experiment to rest for a little, but I still believe he can turn it around in the near future. Don’t forget about him.
Joe Ross – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. So the peripherals are starting to swing up for Ross despite allowing 10 baserunners and 3 ER in under 6 frames. But here’s the thing. After next week’s questionable start against the Cards, here are Ross’ projected opponents: Phils, ChiSox, Phils, Padres, Dodgers, Mets, Reds, Mets. Ummmm buy now even if you want to play it safe against St. Louis. Everywhere.
Zach Davies – 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. A proper Zach Attack. It’s like those tickle attacks from your weird uncle Zach who never understood that you’re not laughing out of happiness.
Sean Manaea – 6.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. No one is still sitting on Manaea’s upside, right?
Trevor Bauer – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks. Nor Bauer’s. Please don’t put faith into Bauer.
Jon Lester – 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. Oh no, not you too Lester! Everyone has been flailing like a Magikarp and you were supposed to be the guy creeping up The List as you took advantage of the opportunity. Bleeegggh this is annoying.
Today’s Streamers
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.
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.
Day After Tomorrow’s Streamer
Nate Karns vs. Oakland Athletics – He’s owned in under 30% of ESPN leagues, which could change after Karns continues to strike out guys at a 9.39 K/9 clip.
Game of the Day
Carlos Rodon vs. Yordano Ventura – It’s a battle of the PEAS where I want to see if Rodon can keep it up.