Roto Riteup: July 7, 2017

No one has a chance against Mike Foltynewicz when he’s got 97 with armside run:

Mike Foltynewicz, 97mph Fastball Movement. No one is more impressed with it than he is. ? pic.twitter.com/5OsIodfVom

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 7, 2017

He was fantastic against the Nats (6 IP/2 ER/5 K), running his streak to four straight gems (2.16 ERA, 26 Ks in 25 IP). Going back to the start of June adds in a 3.3 IP/8 ER dud against the same Nats team, but still only pushes his ERA to 2.98 with a 1.25 WHIP, 23% K, and 9% BB in 42.3 IP.

On the Agenda:

• Final Vote Winners
• Faria’s For Real
• Anibal the Animal
• Lamet’s Lament
• Ray & Hill Duel
• Other News

Final Vote Winners

Justin Turner and Mike Moustakas won the Final Vote for the All-Star Game with Turner setting a new record at 20.8 million votes. Turner missed some time, but he leads baseball with a .380 AVG and .475 OBP through 264 PA. His .566 SLG isn’t too shabby, either. Moose played just 27 games last year due to injury (.801 OPS), but has now secured his second All-Star bid – both via the Final Vote – thanks a .275/.309/.570 with 25 HR in 320 PA.

Faria’s For Real

Rookie Jacob Faria ran his record to 4-0, opening his career with six straight quality starts (2.11 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 24% K, and 6% BB in 38.3 IP). The 23-year old right-hander is definitely throwing some of his best baseball, but he doesn’t really show any signs of slowing down. He has a strong 3.19 FIP and while his .250 BABIP and 84% LOB are favorable, they aren’t obscenely beyond average.

Anibal the Animal

Anibal Sanchez returned to the rotation on June 19th and he’s posted four straight strong starts, falling just an inning shy of a quality start in all of them. He has a 3.09 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 24% K, and 4% BB in 23.3 IP of work with just one homer allowed. His velocity is actually up a smidge from his time in the bullpen (91.1 mph, up from 90.7), but the changeup has been the key. He’s using it 23% of the time, up from 18% as a reliever, and the velocity has dipped from 82 to 80 mph. I’d be careful about trusting him in shallow leagues right, but I’m considering an add in 15+ team mixers and AL-only league.

Lamet’s Lament

San Diego’s Dinelson Lamet has been all or nothing this year and the “nothing” has been so bad that he’s hard to trust in any format at this point. He was blasted at Cleveland for six runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks in just four innings of work. He did fan five, but allowed another two homers as well (2.2 HR/9). Game Scores is a good way to highlight his inconsistency in one number: 63, 56, 15, 32, 64, 60, 76, and 29. All or nothing.

Ray & Hill Duel

Robbie Ray and Rich Hill went toe-to-toe in a strong pitcher’s duel that got a bit unruly once the bullpens got involved. Ray put up a 6 IP/1 ER effort with 13 strikeouts. He did allowed nine base runners (5 H, 4 BB), but escaped damage in the first and sixth innings when multiple runners reached based.

Hill was even sharper with a 7 IP/1 ER night that included just two hits (one of which was a Jake Lamb homer) and nine strikeouts over 95 pitches. The bullpens made it a 5-4 Dodgers walkoff win after Fernando Rodney allowed four runs on two hits and four walks without getting an out. Chris Taylor’s fourth hit of the game (4-for-5, 1 RBI) clinched for the LA.

Other News:

• Marcus Semien returns from the 60-day DL
• Jharel Cotton hits the DL with a blister issue
• Michael Taylor hits the DL with a strained oblique
• Chris Sale fanned 12 in a losing effort (7 IP/4 ER), his 5th straight w/at least 9 Ks
• Xander Bogaerts was hit in the right hand on Thursday, but X-Rays were negative
• Carlos Correa returned from thumb injury Thursday (1-for-4, 1 BB)
• Jake Lamb hit a pair of homers, giving him 20 for the year