LAA •
2 months ago
After reducing his sinker usage significantly in his first two starts, Kochanowicz must have heard it calling to him like the Green Goblin mask because he threw it a season-high 69% of the time in this one. It did its job early, forcing 14 ground balls on the 19 total balls in play by the Astros, but they wound up getting around on it during their third time around the order and chased Kochanowicz after five straight batters reached base with two outs in the fifth inning. Then, Yainer Diaz blasted a grand slam and added three more runs to Kochanowicz’s ledger. He will probably need to find a way to throw slightly fewer sinkers if he wants to succeed at the major league level. He’s scheduled to face the Rangers in his next start.
STL •
2 months ago
Pallante worked around loads of hard contact to keep the Phillies off the board in this one. They had 10 hard-hit balls in total, but just two of those 10 were hit in the air. Half of their 18 balls in play were hit on ground, which is exactly what Pallante is out there trying to accomplish. Sometimes those balls find holes, and sometimes they practically all find a glove like they did in this game. He’s scheduled to face the Astros in another tough matchup next time out.
STL •
2 months ago
There may not be a more trusted closer in the game right now than Helsley. Despite a lead-off single by Trea Turner that put the tying run to the plate, it took him just six pitches to retire Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Nick Castellanos to end this game. He pumped his regular 100 mph fastballs and the Phillies had no chance. He is solid as a rock at the back of the Cardinals’ bullpen.
STL • LF
2 months ago
Nootbaar set the table beautifully in this one, reaching safely in all three of his plate appearances against Aaron Nola. He is totally locked in right now in terms of pitch selection and has a .403 on-base percentage in what’s now been two straight weeks atop the Cardinals’ lineup. It was nice to see him steal his first two bases of the season too.
PHI •
2 months ago
This was one of those frustrating Nola games where there was constant traffic on the bases and he couldn’t get the Cardinals hitters to chase much of anything outside the strike zone. His fifth inning was especially frustrating as Thomas Saggese reached on an infield single – aided by a poor throw by Alec Bohm – to start the inning and scored on a double from Yohel Pozo to break the scoreless tie. Then, Nola seemed to tighten up and walked Nolan Arenado and Brendan Donovan back-to-back to force in another run. Again, more of a frustrating start than a bad one per se. He’s scheduled to face the Giants in his next start.
CIN • 3B
2 months ago
Candelario got on the board with his first-inning blast off Bailey Falter. He had just one previous extra-base hit while batting .140/.208/.162 in 12 games. A corner infielder playing 81 games per year in GABP wouldn’t need to be very good in order to generate some mixed-league value, but Candelario has still fallen short of the standard since lancing a three-year, $45 million deal prior to last season. He’s probably not hopeless, but nothing so far this year has been very encouraging.
CIN •
2 months ago
Singer allowed only two hits, but they were a double and a homer that came back-to-back and after a one-out walk in the fifth. The homer, hit by Adam Frazier, was a 347-foot fly down the right field line, and it was the first surrendered by Singer this season. He’s 3-0 with a 3.18 ERA as he prepares to face the Mariners next week.
CIN •
2 months ago
Pagán gave up a walkoff homer in extra innings Friday, but he was still the choice tonight after Graham Ashcraft pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings. Tony Santillan, seemingly the primary alternative to Pagán, went unused.
PIT •
2 months ago
Falter, who averages 1.3 walks per start over the course of his career, issued free passes to the first three batters he faced tonight. He was then fortunate enough to get a double play ball before a two-run homer from Jeimer Candelario. He had more issues in the third, when he walked two and gave up two runs, both unearned, without the benefit of a hit. He avoided any additional walks, but the five made for a new career high. He had walked as many as four batters just once previously. Falter will take an 0-2 record and a 7.20 ERA into his next start against the Nationals.
NYY • C
2 months ago
Wells smacked a run-scoring double into left field off of Robbie Ray in the second inning that pulled the Yankees to within four runs at 5-1. His production at the plate has slowed considerably since the first two games of the season, as Wells is hitting just .205/.289/.462 to go with a pair of home runs and six RBI.
NYY •
2 months ago
Oof. Stroman also issued three walks in the abbreviated outing while recording one of his two outs via the strikeout. Before he could blink the Giants had tagged him for three runs as he allowed a double, walk and then a three-run homer to Jung Hoo Lee. Stroman then walked each of the next two hitters before allowing a two-run double to LaMonte Wade Jr. He then got a couple of outs before allowing a single to Tyler Fitzgerald and being lifted from the game. With the way Stroman is throwing the ball, and this disastrous outing, there’s no guarantee that he keeps his spot in the rotation when Clarke Schmidt is ready to return. He now holds an 11.57 ERA, 2.04 WHIP and a 7/7 K/BB ratio over 9 1/3 innings through his first three starts. Fantasy managers should want absolutely no part of this.
