There are 46 pitchers who have thrown 18.2 innings this spring. The only one with single-digit strikeouts is Raul Alcantara who has nine in 20 innings. He is set to open the season as the Athletics' fifth starter since he’s out of options. Doubtful he remains in the rotation for long though, as Sonny Gray is hopeful of a return in April.
Trevor Cahill has a 3.26 ERA and 1.14 WHIP for the Padres. Completely unearned. He’s walked 11 batters in 19.1 innings while, luckily holding batters to a .155 average. Things are gonna get ugly soon for Cahill if he keeps pitching like this.
Matt Cain is donzo. He has an 8.10 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in 20 innings. He’s simply got nothing left to consistently get batters out.
I keep getting questions about Mike Foltynewicz. He has a 1.31 WHIP this spring and just 18 strikeouts in 23.2 innings. The 25-year-old righty has a good arm, but it’s often injured. He did post a solid 3.17 K/BB ratio last season though. At the same time he owns a 4.92 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and just 7.95 strikeouts per nine in 56 big-league outings. Still has a lot to prove does he.
Kyle Gibson has a 1.59 ERA and 1.02 WHIP this spring. Been burned too many times with Gibson. If you take a shot, and he gets off to a strong start, trade him to a believer quickly. His success won’t last.
Tyler Glasnow has 23 strikeouts in 14.1 innings, simply dominating work. Oddly, he’s posted a 5.65 ERA and 1.74 WHIP as batters have produced a .306 average against him. He’s just not ready yet.
Kendall Graveman questions are flying at me as folks see the 2.29 ERA and 0.81 WHIP through five outings. It doesn’t matter folks. In 57 big-league outings, 52 starts, he has a 4.08 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a pathetic 5.55 K/9 rate. He’s simply not very talented and nothing more than a spot starter in a mixed league.
For all you Rich Hill lovers... and I know there are amazingly tons... you should be awfully concerned that his current K/BB ratio is 0.93, a hideous number. Folks, Hill has walked 14 batters in 12.1 innings. He just ain’t right, no matter what you’re reading.
Phil Hughes has been battered for a .353 batting average against. He had the same surgery as Matt Harvey. He doesn’t look good at all. Move on.
Kyle Kendrick leads the spring with 29 innings. Even with a 1.00 WHIP and 2.17 ERA he’s been sent to minor league camp. He’s not very good anyway. The upshot is that Drew Pomeranz must be healthy so at least there is that.
Clayton Kershaw appears to be as healthy as ever. I still have some mild concerns after he failed to reach 150-innings last season with a back issue, but he’s looked as sharp as ever with some astounding early numbers: 2.14 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 28 strikeouts in 21 innings.
Mike Leake wasn’t good last year. He’s better than he showed without being anything to write home about unless you’re really lacking gossip to chat about. He’s been on his game early with a 1.12 WHIP over 26 innings.
Sean Manaea has a concerning 10 walks in 19 innings this spring. Still a fan though.
I keep getting questions about Hyun-Jin Ryu. It’s insane. Folks, you didn’t just discover plutonium, create the character of Batman or marry Kate Beckinsale. As I said on Twitter this morning, the answer to any question is NEVER Ryu. Never.
The most important thing right now is that Danny Salazar is healthy. He’s struggled to throw strikes with 14 free passes in 26 innings, but he’s also punched out a whopping 37 batters showing that his stuff is certainly there.
Blake Snell has a dynamic arm, zero doubt. However, he still looks like he’s searching. In 19 innings he has just 13 strikeouts and he’s still had trouble throwing strikes with nine walks. Just doesn’t appear ready to consistently get batters out at the moment.
Masahiro Tanaka has been dynamic this spring: 0.00 ERA, 0.48 WHIP over 18.2 innings.
Josh Tomlin is pitching like... Josh Tomlin. He hasn’t walked a batter in 14 innings. He also has allowed a whopping seven homers. Don’t know why folks are drafting him in mixed leagues. Don’t be one of those folks.
Taijuan Walker has punched out 28 batters in 22.1 innings. More impressive, and that’s saying something, is his total of two walks. The homers are an ongoing concern though as he’s allowed four big flies. Still, tons to like early on with the righty.
Ray Flowers can be heard Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, 7 PM EDT, Wednesday 8 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 9 PM EDT PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).
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Kyren Paris hit a two-run homer in Wednesday’s win for the Angels over the Blue Jays.
That’s the first homer for Paris since April 9 when he went deep twice against Tampa Bay and caused everyone to lose all sense of rational thought. The 23-year-old did also single and walk to improve his on-base percentage to .311,, while the homer bumps his slugging mark to .378. There is long-term upside in Paris with flashes that suggest he can be a fantasy option. Fantasy managers should still absolutely looking elsewhere for options up the middle.
Jorge Soler hit a three-run double in the bottom of the ninth to give the Angels a 5-4 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday.
Trent Grisham went 1-for-1 with a game-tying two-run home run in the eighth inning of a 4-3 win over the Padres on Wednesday.
While the Yankees won this game on a walk-off in the 10th inning, Grisham’s game-tying home run in the eighth was the biggest moment. He came on as a pinch-hitter for Jorbit Vibas against the usually stout Jason Adam and smashed a two-strike changeup into the right field seats. This clutch shot will only continue to push Grisham’s playing time in the right direction after he just started eight of the last 10 games, hit either first or second in each, and already has 10 homers in 31 games played this season.
Jeff Hoffman blew a save and picked up a loss Wednesday against the Angels.
Devin Williams struck out three batters with one walk and hit another in a scoreless 10th inning to earn the win against the Padres on Wednesday.
The Yankees entrusted Williams with the all important 10th inning and the inherited ghost runner on second base after their dramatic comeback. While he loaded the bases and had some tense moments, he left the inning unscathed and opened the door for them to win it right after. It should be noted that Luke Weaver came on for what were the most important outs of this game at the time, after Ian Hamilton walked two to begin the eighth inning and Weaver allowed both of those inherited runners to score. He was called upon as the fireman though and will likely get the next save opportunity. Still, this was a massive step in the right direction for Williams.
Max Fried allowed five hits and one run with no walks and eight strikeouts over seven innings in a no-decision against the Padres on Wednesday.
Fried’s excellent season continued as he set down the Padres easily besides for a mammoth solo home run by Jackson Merrill. It was no matter though, as they rarely threatened otherwise and Fried continued to find his strikeout stuff. This was his fourth outing of the year with at least seven strikeouts, a mark he only hit 10 times last season in 29 starts. Fried with a strikeout rate that’s better than league average – which is where he’s at right now – is a clear top-10 pitcher in fantasy baseball. He’s set for a two-start week coming up against the Mariners and Mets.