Tyler Glasnow could start for the Pirates Saturday. Maybe. “We’re still mulling through a couple options,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “His name keeps getting brought to me. … He’s definitely one of the guys we’re talking about.” Chad Kuhl, who had been in the rotation, is listed as the starter for the Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis. Since he was just sent down on Tuesday, he would not be eligible to be recalled unless a player is put on the disabled list so he’s out of consideration (Chad has to wait 10 days). I’m leaning toward Glasnow starting over Jeff Locke, but the fact that the Pirates can’t even commit to naming Tyler their Saturday starter has to be make you at least a wee bit cautious with Glasnow the rest of the way, doesn’t it? If they can’t commit to giving Glasnow one start, how are they gonna let him roll with 10?
Sonny Gray allowed seven runs Thursday night to the Rays. Here we go again with him. Over his last six starts he’s tossed four quality starts. The other two times: 14 runs over 11 innings. Not much of what going on here makes sense, especially since last night he didn’t walk a batter in the beating at the hands of the Rays. I’m still holding out hope for the Consistency Fairy to visit Gray during the night. His up and down nature really doesn’t make sense but it’s crushing owners who keep think they’re seeing that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Rich Hill (blister) played catch Thursday for the second day in a row, but he’s not going to be ready to start Sunday for the Athletics (Jesse Hahn will take the hill). So to recap, Hill has thrown 12 innings since May 29th. It’s July 22nd if you misplaced your calendar. I kept warning you…
Michael Pineda has an elite 10.45 per nine strikeout rate. His 2.45 walk rate per nine is a really solid mark. His 4.38 K/BB ratio is all-star level stuff. However, he’s 4-9 with a 5.25 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. He’s the definition of a guy whose talents simply aren’t ending up in the desired results. A perfect example. In three of his last five starts he’s allowed one, one and zero runs. In the other two outings he allowed five runs in five innings and five runs in six innings. Tired of trying to predict his outlook. Skills I like, results I Cannot trust (yes, I used a capitol “C on purpose).
Ervin Santana is 3-8 with a 3.93 ERA. That’s just part of the story. Over his last six starts he’s allowed as many as three earned runs just once as he’s posted a 2.03 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with a 3.25 K/BB ratio. He’s also kept the ball in the yard allowing just two big flies. That’s some really good, under the radar work from the righty. He’s on waiver-wire’s everywhere in mixed leagues, and honestly, he probably shouldn’t be. Rumors suggest he could be dealt too and if that happens it could possibly aide his record (he has just two wins in those six starts despite pitching so well).
I don’t know why you would ever do this, but it’s still pretty bad ass.
Marcus Stroman has a 4.90 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 6.58 K/9 mark over 20 uneven and frankly disappointing starts. Some perspective though. He does have a solid 8-4 record. His 60.6 percent ground ball rate is the best in baseball for a starting pitcher. There’s no way I can believe his HR/F ratio is going to remain at 17.1 percent (over his first 157.2 innings in two seasons that mark was just 7.4 percent). Though he allowed seven runs, six earned, on July 15th, his start before that (2 ER, 8 IP) and after (1 ER, 8 IP) were money. I’m still holding out hope that a strong finish is possible, though his workload is a concern (2012: 19.1 innings, 2013: 123.1 innings, 2014: 165.2 innings, 2015: 34.2 innings, 2016: 128.2 innings).
Be careful with how close you really want to be to a whale.
Justin Verlander has been better than I ever expected he would be this season. His 1.08 WHIP would be the third best mark of his career. His 9.45 K/9 rate would be his best mark since 2009 and the second best mark of his 12-year career (read that again). Folks, how did a guy with a K/9 rate of 6.95 in 2014 and 7.63 in 2015 not just return to previous levels but blow past them in his 12th season (his career mark is 8.35)? You’re gonna say ‘he’s healthy’ but that still doesn’t explain it. He’s also rolling now having allowed just one homer and seven runs his last four outings to drop his ERA to 3.74. That’s still not a very good mark, but it plays. He’s basically back to being the same pitcher his career numbers dictate he should be, expect for the increase K-rate. I remain dubious when it comes to the WHIP and the strikeouts, but with injuries everywhere it’s sure nice to feel fairly confident that he will take the ball every five games and be effective while doing so.
Meanwhile, Verlander’s teammate Jordan Zimmermann is out with a neck issue. Good news though. Sounds like he could start a rehab assignment as soon as this weekend with Triple-A Toledo after throwing a 40-pitch bullpen session Thursday. Sounds like the plan would call for a couple of starts in the minors before he’s activated. “We’ll see how far he goes in the first one,” Tigers’ manager Brad Ausmus said. “I’d say he probably needs two. But we’ll let him tell us how he feels and see how deep he goes in the first one.”
Ray Flowers can be heard Monday through Friday, 7 PM EDT and Friday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 7 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).