Starts & Sits July 30-August 2
A look ahead for planning your starts & sits
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Here we go, folks- the weekend before trade deadline-mageddon. I am super interested in how it’s going to pan out. The rumor mill has been kinda quiet; I’m wondering if that is just because there are still a lot of teams in the Wild Card race. If you’re one of these teams, you know where you stand; this week isn’t going to make or break your postseason run. Unless you act on emotions, which is never the answer.
I’ll throw out a couple of predictions for fun. Tarik Skubal is going to be in Dodger Blue by the end of the weekend(as I said on Sunday’s edition), the Padres fire sale takes place, and the Rays do something they never do and go ALL IN BABY. An interesting dynamic in all of this is the uncertainty of next season. Something not many people are aware of is that the Orioles have a lot of prospect talent who are Rule 5 Draft-eligible this offseason unless they add them to the 40-man. They could be a sneaky team to pick up a bigger name with more years of control. Pls don’t trade Trevor Rogers, I beg you, Mike Elias….
I digress. Let’s look at these pitcher previews for the weekend slate!
LEGEND
Anchor Arms - General consensus is they are going to dominate the matchup.
Send it Guys - Expect a solid performance. Thanks to either a favorable matchup or just a hot hand.
Danger Zone - Could be an awesome start with a solid amount of upside, but it’s not a comfortable matchup.
Desperation Station - A super unfavorable matchup, but you are desperate for points, so you start them anyway.
Hard Pass - Dudes I don’t have any interest in starting.
DISCLAIMER - Starters subject to change; we use the best information we have available to project who will be starting on a given day.
Thursday July 30th
ANCHOR ARMS
Paul Skenes @ Cincinnati - Last two starts going over 100 pitches; he’s had his A+ strikeout stuff recently.
SEND IT GUYS
Eury Perez @ NYM
Nolan McLean vs Miami - Nice little pitcher’s duel to watch Thursday night.
Sean Burke vs NYY - What a breakout this year thanks to his slightly improved command.
Foster Griffin @ Atlanta - The lefties in the lineup are going to have nightmares before this game. He’s on an unreal run. Could this be his last start for the Nats?? Boy, I sure hope not.
Since June 1st Ryan Weathers @ CWS - Looks like he’s going to be staying in the rotation with Will Warren sucking! They’re still going to be watching his innings.
DANGER ZONE
Nathan Eovaldi @ Tampa Bay - He’s been phenomenal at home, not so much on the road. Not bad but not great.
Sonny Gray @ Athletics - Cooled off significantly after an extraordinary June. Not an ideal environment.
Shane McClanahan vs Texas - Hasn’t been getting many K’s lately; owning a K-BB% of 11.8% in the month of July isn’t ideal.
Bryce Miller @ LAD - He’s been awful on the road, and lefties are killing him. I’m personally sitting Bryce in LA.
Shota Imanaga @ St. Louis - Last four starts show pretty promising stuff in the arsenal. Throwing a ton of strikes and getting a lot of weak contact.
DESPERATION STATION
Roki Sasaki vs Seattle - Mariners have been struggling at the plate mightily before last night’s explosion of runs, thanks mostly to Dominic Canzone. July has been very good for Roki; a 35% Ball% this month is probably the best of his career.
Andre Pallante vs CHC
Noah Cameron @ Minnesota - His fastball sucks, but he’s got a solid cutter and a fantastic curveball. He’s racked up a ton of Ks in his last four starts, leaning on those two great pitches more.
Grant Holmes vs Washington
HARD PASS
German Marquez vs San Francisco
Robbie Ray @ San Diego - Pad’s bats are on fire; they matchup well against LHP. Projections hate Robbie in SD.
Bailey Ober vs Kansas City - Great in first two starts off the IL, gave up eight hits in four innings last time out. Only getting five whiffs.
Mason Barnett vs Boston - Bullpen guy.
Rhett Lowder vs Pittsburgh
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