Roto Riteup: June 16, 2018

by
June 16, 2018

Sometimes you have to play the aging veterans in order to keep them sharp.

On the Agenda:
1. Strong Pitching Performances
2. Various News and Notes
3. Streaming Pitchers

Strong Pitching Performances
On Saturday’s I like to highlight significant performances in hitting or pitching. This week I’m going to dive into a few pitching performances that stood out.

Charlie Morton at KC: 6 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 9 K
Morton logged a quality start for the 10th time in 14 tries this season. His ERA jumped to 2.94 for the year, to go along with a 1.14 WHIP and a 105/33 K:BB ratio spanning 82.2 IP. His HR/9 and Barrel% are both up from last year, his ERA has steadily dropped since April, and he’s started to struggle with men on base (11.20 ERA with runners in scoring position), but there’s no denying his increase in velocity (96 mph) and his .121 BAA with a 58% K on his curve ball – which he throws over 30% of the time. Injuries have plagued him throughout the years (surpassed 170 IP once in 11 MLB seasons), but he’s currently a top-25 starter that should remain a top-30 ish guy the rest of the way. There were only 15 starters that spun 200 innings in 2017 – 38 starters accomplished that feat 10 years earlier – we don’t need as many innings from top-tier starters as we used to. Morton is a “buy” candidate if people are thinking he’s about to fall off in a major way.

Zack Godley vs NYM: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
Godley came into yesterday’s outing with significant drops in BB%, F-Strike%, SwStr%, K%, and SIERA. He has allowed 2 ER or less in three-of-his-last-four games, but his underlying metrics remain rather uninspiring. His three-pitch mix is a curve, cutter, and sinker. While his sinker helps get him 50% groundballs – which is obviously great – it hasn’t consistently helped get hitters out. Opposing batters are currently hitting .298 and .345 against the sinker and cutter respectively, with his cutter in particular seeing a sizeable dip in Whiff% (7%) and K% (13%). He uses his curve the most, but it’s not a good enough pitch to support what he demonstrated statistically in 2017. Unfortunately, while he has a 2.89 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in the “humidor,” I believe we’ll be seeing a rather mid-level starter the rest of the way.

Tyler Skaggs at OAK: 7 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
The Athletics have struggled against Skaggs over two starts this season, as he’s allowed 2 R (0 ER) on 10 H with 13 K and 1 BB over 13.1 IP against them. Prior to yesterday, Skaggs has demonstrated tangible improvements in K%, SwStr% (career-high 11%), and GB%. He’s throwing his fastball up in the zone for the most part, while targeting the low-outside corner with his sinker, change-up, and curveball to RHB. He’s averaging close to 26% in whiff-rate and K% with both of his most used offerings – the fastball and curve – and he’s getting over double the amount of weak contact from last year. His SIERA (3.58) is still a half a run higher than his actual ERA (3.08), but I expect Skaggs to remain a steady asset as the season goes on, again, barring injury.

Other Notable Performances
Rick Porcello at SEA: 6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 9 K

Aaron Sanchez vs WAS: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 8 K

Kevin Gausman vs MIA: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K

Derek Holland at LAD: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER (2 HR), 2 BB, 7 K

Chad Kuhl vs CIN: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K

Jonathan Loaisiga vs TB: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 6 K

Clayton Richard at ATL: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

Ross Stripling vs SF: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

Jose Urena at BAL: 8 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K

Kyle Gibson at CLE: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K

Jon Lester at STL: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Brent Suter vs PHI (recommendation from yesterday): 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Reynaldo Lopez vs DET: 6 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

 

Various News and Notes
Robbie Ray struggled in his first rehab outing with High-A Visalia, sitting 91-93 mph with his fastball. Despite the lower velocity, he came out of it feeling good. He should only need two-to-three more minor league starts before returning to the Diamondbacks rotation.

Joey Lucchesi was dominant in his first rehab outing for High-A Lake Elsinore on Thursday, hurling four hitless innings with six strikeouts and touching 96 mph with his fastball. There’s a possibility he returns to the Padres rotation next week.

Wil Myers (oblique), Franchy Cordero (forearm), and Austin Hedges all participated in rehab games on Thursday. Cordero has the earliest timetable right now, but all of them should be back in the next or so.

According to the Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins, Josh Donaldson is still “working through his baserunning so he can be competitive when he returns.” He was not activated yesterday and has been sidelined since late-May due to a calf injury. His activation is coming, it might just be another few days before we get to see him.

The Pirates activated Jung-Ho Kang from the restricted list and sent him to Triple-A Indianapolis. He’ll return to the Pirates 40-man roster and is inching closer to a possible return to the big leagues. The moral compass of his situation is less than desirable – so I’m all for people who flat-out refuse to own him – but he could be an asset in mixed leagues fairly soon. He’s currently hitting .282/.388/.564 with three home runs, 12 RBI, and a 6/7 K:BB ratio over 49 PA during his rehab assignment.

Marcus Stroman is set to make another rehab start with Double-A New Hampshire on Monday. He’s been out since early-May with shoulder fatigue, but should return to the Blue Jays rotation sometime in the next week.

Yu Darvish threw a 35-pitch bullpen session on Friday. The Cubs aren’t ruling out a return before June if things go swimmingly during his rehab. He’s been sidelined since May 23rd due to tendinitis in his right triceps.

The Angels had four players head to the 10-day disabled list on Friday. The players include Zack Cozart, Jim Johnson, Garrett Richards, and Nick Tropeano.


Luis Valbuena figures to see an increase in playing time, with John Lamb getting the nod today on the bump. We’re still awaiting MRI results for Richards, but Tropeano’s (shoulder inflammation) injury is more precautionary.

Clayton Kershaw remains on track for an early-July return as he completed a 55-pitch bullpen session without any issues on Friday.

Jeff Samardzija faired well in his first minor league rehab outing for Triple-A Sacramento – he should be on his way back to the Giants rotation after another start or two.

Royals manager Ned Yost expressed that he expects Jorge Soler to be out for a wile after he suffered a fracture of the first metatarsal on his left foot on Friday. Abraham Almonte is his likely fill-in at the moment.

 

Streaming Pitchers
A Pitcher for Today: None
High-Risk Option: Ivan Nova vs CIN/ Junior Guerra vs PHI (if available)

A Pitcher for Tomorrow: Joe Musgrove vs CIN (if available)
High-Risk Option: Blaine Hardy at CWS





 

Fantasy Baseball and Tampa Bay Rays enthusiast. Restaurant manager by day, fantasy analyst by night. Contributor to Rotographs, Baseball HQ, Fantasy Pros, and co-owner of Friends with Fantasy Benefits. Follow me @MikeWernerFWFB.

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Metropolitans
5 years ago

Sit Carlos Martinez tonight vs. Cubs?

0
Mike Werner
5 years ago
Reply to  Metropolitans

I would, he’s been awful and the Cubs are on a roll.

1
Turd Furgeson
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike Werner

Good call lol

1