#2xSP: 6.13-6.19

After a rough week eight, we’re off to a pretty solid start with week nine — 3.92 ERA, 23-1 K/BB ratio, 10 K/9 and 0.92 WHIP with two quality starts in three opportunities — and hopefully we can parlay that into something solid here in week 10.

Here are the season results so far:

19-15
3.96 ERA
8.2 K/9
3.0 K/BB
1.33 WHIP
30 quality starts

Here are this week’s recommendations, with opposing team’s wRC+ in parentheses:

RHP Jerad Eickhoff – 12.8% ESPN – @TOR (95), v. ARI (98)

I really hate recommending pitchers going up against one another on Monday or Tuesday, and that’s exactly what’s happening here. Still, it is a very sparse week to choose from, and I like how Eickhoff has pitched for the most part recently. Especially last time out, as he held the Cubs to just one earned run in seven innings with eight strikeouts and just four baserunners total (two hits, two walks). That’s a hell of an offense to shut down. Four of Eickhoff’s last five starts have been quality starts, and for the most part he’s been pretty sturdy all season long (4.15 ERA in April, 3.99 in May). I’m a sucker for guys who can get grounders and strikeouts, especially if they don’t walk anyone (1.8 BB/9).

RHP R.A. Dickey – 20.6% ESPN – v. PHI (72), @BAL (107)

Dickey’s rates have been a bit whack of late — his K and BB marks have been all over the place — but he’s been more or less blow-up free since allowing six earned in as many innings to the White Sox on April 26 — eight starts ago. He’s lowered his ERA over two runs since — 6.75 down to his present-day 4.15 — and here’s what his numbers look like since the beginning of May, when this stronger stretch started: 2.81 ERA and .221/.295/.379 slash allowed. I am concerned about a couple things, as he’s allowed seven home runs in those 51.1 innings with a 31-18 K/BB ratio. Blech. But I’m convinced he can handle the Phillies offense with relative ease. The Orioles offense I’m less sure about, though they’ve run cooler lately than they did earlier in the season. We’ll see.

RHP Brandon Finnegan – 11.7% ESPN – @ATL (68), @HOU (97)

Finnegan might be this year’s Shelby Miller, as he’s got a 3.72 ERA in his last eight starts dating back to May 1 but the Reds are 1-7 in that stretch. Finnegan is just 1-3 — and has four quality starts in that stretch — but between an iffy offense and an awful bullpen, there isn’t a ton of support here. He isn’t entirely blameless; he’s allowed a .258/.333/.399 line to the opposition and has just a 30-20 K/BB ratio in that time frame (48.1 innings). But part of it is I like what I’ve seen from him lately — a combined three earned runs over the last two starts to the Nationals and Cardinals. He didn’t strike out many Nationals (two in 6.1 innings) but did bounce back with seven in as many frames against the Cardinals. We all know he’s uber talented based on his handling upon being drafted, so I’ll take a chance on that kind of skill. You could also go with Jimmy Nelson, who has a tough road stretch ahead of him (@SFG, @LAD) and is owned in almost 40 percent of leagues anyway.





In addition to Rotographs, Warne writes about the Minnesota Twins for The Athletic and is a sportswriter for Sportradar U.S. in downtown Minneapolis. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Warne, or feel free to email him to do podcasts or for any old reason at brandon.r.warne@gmail-dot-com

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feslenraster
7 years ago

I like Dickey v Orioles, mainly for the strikeouts the O’s hitters provide. I do like Eickoff a bit, if only he was provided run support.