Stream, Stream, Stream: 2x SP 8.26-9.1

Here’s  a link to the spreadsheet I keep of results so that readers can feel free to peruse it at their leisure.

And here are this weeks (young fireballer) recommendations:

Sonny Gray – 40.6% ESPN – @DET (.343 team wOBA), v. TB (.327)

This one isn’t so much about the matchups — they’re actually among the toughest an AL pitcher can have — but that I think this might be the only shot for someone to nab Gray not only for 2xSP, but just to have.

Gray’s come out of the minors straight dealing, ripping through lineups with a 93.6 mph fastball while flashing a very good curveball and a four-pitch mix overall. None of his rates are obscenely out of whack — save for the .169 BABIP, of course — leaving a 1.44/2.76/2.82 pitching slash that means he’s been lucky, but also pretty flipping good. Groundballs (49.2%) and strikeouts (9.7 per 9) are a beautiful thing, my friends.

Jarred Cosart – 4.4% ESPN – @CWS (.300), v. SEA (.312)

Cosart throws the crap out of the ball (94.7 mph) and has a 1.60 ERA. But there’s certainly a reason he’s owned in fewer than five percent of all leagues.

Rather, a few reasons. He doesn’t win much by virtue of playing for the Astros. Similarly, somehow Cosart is only fanning 4.2 per 9, and has as many walks as strikeouts (21). He’s suppressed home runs at a fluky rate (0.2 per 9), and currently carries a .231 BABIP.

Summarily, that leaves his pitching slash a somewhat scary 1.60/3.79/4.45.

But he gets a couple pretty nice matchups this week, and you could either go with Cosart or the likes of Juan Nicasio. Your choice, really.

Tyson Ross – 21.5% ESPN – @AZ (.313), @LAD (.318)

Even after his quasi-blowup against the Pirates in his last start, Ross has still been downright ridiculous since entering the rotation. In that six start span, Ross has tossed 40.1 innings — a cool 6.2 innings per start — of 2.01 ERA ball with 42 strikeouts (9.4 K/9) and a .497 OPS allowed.

And if all that isn’t tantalizing enough, Ross also carries a healthy 53.5% groundball rate. There’s a lot of projection here for a guy whose fastball is averaging 94.0 mph. Grab him while you can.





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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