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badlydrawndrawnings · 5 years ago

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13 Suspicious Incidents (ATWQ 2.5 Thoughts)

*See today is Friday the Thirteenth*

Perfect.

Did anyone as a child read Encyclopedia Brown, or Two Minutes Mysteries? I read them both as a kid (the latter is a big yikes because I think those were written for more mature audiences) and boy, I had a love/hate relationship with them. The stories were fun to read, but I found the solutions either something I never would have know/not see because I do not posses the right knowledge or not an observant person so the clues went over my head, or went ‘So apparently me doing or knowing [X] would get me arrested and/or call a fraud.’

Examples: someone hasn’t visit his friend for days, and the Doctor guy was all ‘you the killer’ because the person knew the house was being painted because he jumped the newly painted stairs and didn’t knock on the door but the window (the friend could have smell the fresh paint). Another one had a character (not the Doctor guy) use the a different term for baking soda and realized the bakery was a front (a term I don’t think even a baker would know or hell, most people would know. The fact I forgot it myself is proof that story is just wack). Something from Encyclopedia Brown had someone had their bike stolen and he went to this one kid who gave up bike riding, and trick her to riding her bike to proof she is still a decent bike rider because her bike was still in good condition (and I’m like...maybe she just takes care of her bike?).

I honestly Kermit when I starting reading 13 Suspicious Incidents because I am not strong enough to deal with those types of stories. However, I trust Daniel Handler to not get me arrested If I existed in Lemony Snicket’s world, and continue reading while hoping I’m not the fool I was as a child.

I am still that fool, but I feel happy the Snicket World got explore more.

1. Inside Job: I figured Dagmar was replacing something while Marguerite was in the mines. But I thought it was the frames...for some reason. I didn’t think it was nails that was actually pretty smart of Marguerite’s dad. [Deep Mine: I don’t want to know what the heck Dagwood is doing but I think the natural sounds are underground animals. Also notebooks found by the museum? Kit reference?.]

2. Pinched Creature: Okay, so apparently I have never seen zinnias before in my life so I felt I learn something from this story because I had to look up zinnias. I honestly did not thought the ‘doorknob salesman’ was behind the missing newt. Also, how old is Georgina? Paltryville and their eye doctor got a namedrop due to Moxie (thank goodness Oliver never went there). Okay, maybe it’s a position assigned to a VFD member and Georgina is the latest kind of like Netflix. [Backseat: I maybe be reading it wrong, but either Doctors Sobol are the criminals or it’s Bertram. I think it’s Bertram.]

3. Ransom Note: This was the only Incident I got done to a ‘T’. If Lysistrata the dog wasn’t barking it had to be someone the dog knew and the one person who fits with the need for speed was the grandpa. The image of the grandpa and the dog sticking their heads out is kind of funny. [Quiet Street: No comment other than I hope VFD isn’t there.]

4. Walkie-Talkie: I feel this is the only time I got close to tolerating Stew he just freaking outsmarted everyone with his prank just to steal food from Jake. (I hope Jake doesn’t get the pecan muffins get stolen by Stew). It’s a cruel thing, but I actually laughed my ass off at the end. [Beneath the Street: Passageway for small lizards and amphibians huh? And goes to a mine? Nice.]

5. Bad Gang: This was all for boards for a DIY bookshelf and swords to be a pirate. You go Florence and Kevin achieve your dreams by robbing stores. Nice to know Theodora has a sister. Hm...given Theodora is always getting described with her wild hair, I wonder if TWWHBNB is the sister because ‘hair’ is a description for both women. Could be a family trait. Also, is Kevin Old a child version of Kevin the Ambidextrous? Kevin is holding a board in each hand? Did the family business died out and Kevin had no choice but to go to Caligari Carnival? If that’s the case then he was maybe proud of being ambidextrous but things change? [Small Courtyard: Dagwood and Violetta are related? I thought Violetta was a made up person!]

6. Silver Spoon: I don’t want to say Smogface Wiley is Sir, in part because of Randall’s age and I get the feeling Sir is in the same ‘generation’ as the SBG. But then again, maybe Sir is a freaking sugar daddy because his family has businesses from lumber to tube socks to melons. Either way, I guess Sir’s last name is Wiley and his first name is unpronounceable? I didn’t think Smogface stole from Randall to follow the alphabet. [Missing Pets: Are the lizards stolen by Ms. Flammarion the ones Bertram stole? Who wants these lizards in the first place?]

7. Violent Butcher: You go Lemony for (temporary) locking up Drumstick’s dad in the attic for Drumstick to escape to his mom. Honestly I was more focus on the Drumstick getting the hell out of town than caring where he was hiding. [Large Meal: WHO WAS GONNA EAT THE LIZARDS? Was it Dagwood and Violetta? Oh god, is that why the lizards were in the passageway to avoid getting eaten?]

8. Twelve or Thirteen: Gary Dorian -> Picture of Dorian Gray reference? I never read it but through osmosis I know the basic idea. I thought Chase was frame by cops I never expected the wife. [Other Name: I don’t get it like how was both sides gonna help the villain be warn.]

9. Midnight Demon: So Lemony gets seasick huh? How the hell did you survived the trip on the Prospero? I actually figure Treacle was pretending to be his sister Tatiana, but the whole wig thing...I thought he put the wig on the dog not in the basket. [Sand & Shore: Are the ships in the bottom of the sea?]

10. Three Suspects: I feel so happy that this was obvious from the get thank you Daniel Handler for giving me mercy for one case and just put a sign that reads ‘hey it’s the third brother’. But uh...’Stain’d-by-the-Sea’s only library, for as long as it lasted’...what does that mean??? Also: 20-18=0 is something I never thought I read before in my life. And what was Mimi gonna say about a woman and a man (actually I don’t want to know). [Poor Joke: I hate abandon punchlines.]

11. Vanished Message: If Lemony was an adult and living by himself, he could have pour some cereal into his mouth, chew it, and drink directly from the milk carton (I did that once with a gallon of milk wasn’t too bad it’s good in a pinch and if you need to finish the milk). I am a fool for not realizing the postcard was inside the book. Also, I can’t believe Lois is VFD and Lemony has a file that could be the Snicket File (or maybe a general file label Snicket). [Message Recorded: Okay, so T is Theodora. Is Q is Qwerty? I mean, I guess Theodora can mistaken him for a VFD member I don’t think they interact much from what I can remember of the last two books and this could be their first proper meeting.]

12. Troublesome Ghost: I never had waffles before so I have to talk Lemony’s word not only Jake’s waffles are good, but (banana) waffles in general. I didn’t expect it to be Billy Decker I thought maybe we had a real ghost in town. I’m glad he and Ms. Mann got a happy ending of sorts. [Nervous Wreck: Thanks for the message?]

13. Figure in Fog: I can’t believe Qwerty just went out and call Lemony a suspicious incident, and honestly speaking, Lemony is suspicious from an outsider POV he is bringing lots of trouble that probably weren’t noticeable before he and Theodora arrived (I mean, I get it was noticeable but no one gave a second glance). Also, I want to say the figure is Ellington because I don’t think it’s a ghost (or anyone else...). [Last Word: I’m trying to think of nine letter words but I’m drawing a blank].

#all the wrong questions #atwq #13 suspicious incidents #file under: 13 suspicious incidents #asoue #a series of unfortunate events #lemony snicket #encyclopedia brown #two minute mysteries #i mean i talk about those as well?#sorry about that #this is a text post

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your-dietician · 3 years ago

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Most glaring Trade Deadline needs for each contender

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/mlb/most-glaring-trade-deadline-needs-for-each-contender/

Most glaring Trade Deadline needs for each contender

The Trade Deadline is three weeks from Friday, and while a handful of teams figure to be sellers during the coming weeks, more than two-thirds of the league is still within striking distance of a postseason berth.

What moves would help those teams make a run with an eye toward October? Some of the teams below might ultimately wind up selling off pieces by the end of the month, but as of Tuesday, each of these 21 clubs took the field within 7 1/2 games of a postseason spot.

Some teams have more than one hole to fill, but here’s a look at the most glaring need for each team as executives look to bolster their rosters for the second half.

Red Sox: First baseman Boston’s .663 OPS at first base ranks 12th in the AL, though Bobby Dalbec has 10 home runs in 226 at-bats. The Red Sox lineup is predominantly right-handed — Rafael Devers and Alex Verdugo are the only everyday lefties, while Marwin Gonzalez is a switch-hitter — so adding a left-handed bat would be preferable. Potential fit: C.J. Cron, Rockies

Rays: Starting pitcher It’s unclear when — or if — the Rays will get injured ace Tyler Glasnow back. (He’s optimistic he’ll return before the postseason, but it’s still too early to say.) In his absence, Tampa Bay hasn’t been able to replace his top-of-the-rotation production; entering Wednesday, the Rays only have two starters with an ERA+ better than league average: 41-year-old Rich Hill and soft-contact specialist Josh Fleming. Perhaps rookies Shane McClanahan or Luis Patiño will step forward to fill the void, or prospect Shane Baz or veteran Chris Archer will provide a late-season boost, but adding a frontline starter would help the Rays in their effort to overtake the Red Sox. Potential fit: Kyle Gibson, Rangers

Blue Jays: Relief pitcher Toronto’s acquisition of Adam Cimber was a start, but the Blue Jays — who also acquired Trevor Richards from the Brewers Tuesday in a deal for Rowdy Tellez — are in need of more relief help for the second half. The Jays have dealt with their share of injuries this season (then again, who hasn’t?), but in an ultra-competitive AL East, Toronto will need to bring in a relief arm or two (not to mention at least one starter) to take aim at the division title. Potential fit: Richard Rodríguez, Pirates

Yankees: Starting pitcher The Yankees’ roster doesn’t have many holes, though underperformance by players such as Gleyber Torres, DJ LeMahieu and Clint Frazier gives off a different impression. If those players can bounce back in the second half, the most glaring need is a starting pitcher to slot in behind Gerrit Cole and Corey Kluber, assuming the latter can return from the injured list and regain his early-season form. Potential fit: Tyler Anderson, Pirates

White Sox: Second baseman The biggest second-half acquisitions for the White Sox would be the return of Eloy Jiménez and Luis Robert, but Nick Madrigal’s season-ending injury left a gaping hole at second base that Chicago will likely address before the Trade Deadline. Given Madrigal’s age and control, a rental second baseman would be the logical move for the White Sox, who will also be in the market for bullpen help like nearly every other contender. Potential fit: Adam Frazier, Pirates

Indians: Outfielder Eddie Rosario’s abdominal injury was a big blow to the Cleveland lineup, taking away one of the club’s more productive hitters. The Indians’ outfield has a collective .713 OPS (10th in the AL), making a solid outfield bat a must-add for the second half. Cleveland could also use some starting pitching depth, even with Zach Plesac set to rejoin the rotation from the injured list. Potential fit: David Peralta, D-Backs

Astros: Relief pitcher Houston could get some relievers back from the injured list in the coming weeks (Joe Smith, Bryan Abreu, Josh James and perhaps Pedro Báez), but adding a dependable reliever to pair with Ryan Pressly would make Houston a strong favorite in the AL West. Potential fit: Taylor Rogers, Twins

Athletics: Relief pitcher Houston isn’t the only AL West contender in need of bullpen help. Oakland’s relief corps features just two dependable late-inning options (Yusmeiro Petit and Lou Trivino), though Sergio Romo has been better of late. Adding another high-leverage reliever would go a long way for the Athletics, who could also use another power bat such as Nelson Cruz. Potential fit: Daniel Bard, Rockies

Mariners: Outfielder/DH The surprising Mariners won’t be dealing away any of their prime young assets for short-term fixes, but GM Jerry Dipoto has always been willing to make a deal when the right one presents itself. Seattle could certainly use an arm or two in both the rotation and bullpen, but the lineup needs to be better if the Mariners plan to contend for a postseason spot. Adding an outfielder or a designated hitter on an expiring contract could help the cause without blocking the path for top prospects Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodríguez in the long-term. Potential fit: Nelson Cruz, Twins

Angels: Starting pitcher The Angels have survived the absence of Mike Trout to this point, climbing back to the .500 mark as they seek their first postseason appearance since 2014. The rotation’s 5.26 ERA ranks 13th in the AL, so adding a starter (or two) would seem to be the obvious move for GM Perry Minasian if Los Angeles plans to be in the mix down the stretch. Potential fit: Danny Duffy, Royals

Mets: Starting pitcher The Mets’ offense has struggled for most of the season, but recent setbacks for both Carlos Carrasco and Noah Syndergaard have accentuated the need for New York to add a starter to slot in behind Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman and Taijuan Walker. The Mets have plenty of talent in the lineup; as long as Francisco Lindor can bounce back and Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith can continue their recent production, the offense should correct itself without any major acquisitions. Potential fit: José Berríos, Twins

Nationals: Starting pitcher Max Scherzer continues to do his thing at the age of 36, but the rest of the Washington rotation has been inconsistent all season. There is no timetable for Stephen Strasburg’s return, while Jon Lester looks like his best days are behind him. The NL East is still up for grabs, making the addition of a starter (or two) the clear direction for the Nationals if they want to contend. Potential fit: Jon Gray, Rockies

Braves: Impact bat That may sound vague, but the Braves have a couple of options depending on who they can acquire. In a perfect world, a left fielder would be the ideal candidate, but Atlanta could also add a third baseman and move Austin Riley to left field. Either way, the need for an additional offensive weapon is clear cut. Potential fit: Joey Gallo, Rangers

Phillies: Relief pitcher This feels like an annual thing for the Phillies, who have struggled to put together a solid bullpen for several years. Philadelphia could also use some back-of-the-rotation help, but the Phillies’ 4.78 bullpen ERA ranks 12th in the NL and shows no signs of getting better. Philly’s biggest problem? The team’s farm system ranked 23rd in MLB Pipeline’s preseason rankings, leaving a scarcity of quality prospects from which to deal. Potential fit: Ian Kennedy, Rangers

Brewers: Third baseman Luis Urías has held his own at the hot corner, but the Brewers could use an upgrade to bolster their lineup. Having already addressed first base (Rowdy Tellez) and shortstop (Willy Adames), Milwaukee is clearly trying to boost its offense to give its stellar pitching staff some run support. Potential fit: Eduardo Escobar, D-backs

Reds: Relief pitcher Following Tuesday’s walk-off loss to the Royals, the Reds’ 5.29 bullpen ERA ranked 14th out of 15 NL clubs, making the bullpen the obvious area of weakness in Cincinnati. Seven different relievers have earned at least one save this season, so adding a lockdown ninth-inning option would benefit the Reds, who have a stable of relievers with ERAs north of 5.00. Potential fit: Yimi García, Marlins

Cubs: Starting pitcher The Cubs’ lineup has struggled during the recent slide, but if Chicago is going to add, the rotation should be the top target. The rotation’s 4.58 ERA ranks 13th in the NL thanks to inconsistency from every starter not named Kyle Hendricks. Of course, the lengthy losing streak has dampened most hopes that the Cubs — who traded Yu Darvish this offseason — will become big buyers in the coming weeks. Potential fit: Matthew Boyd, Tigers

Cardinals: Relief pitcher The return of Jack Flaherty and Miles Mikolas from the injured list should remove the need to add a starter, but the Cardinals’ bullpen could certainly use some help. St. Louis will likely try to add another relief arm that manager Mike Shildt can trust in the late innings to go with Giovanny Gallegos, Alex Reyes and Génesis Cabrera. Potential fit: Kendall Graveman, Mariners

Giants: Starting pitcher Kevin Gausman and Anthony DeSclafani have been a solid 1-2 punch for the Giants, but the back end of the rotation has been impacted by injuries. Adding some rotation depth should be at the front of San Francisco’s list, as the Giants’ roster doesn’t have many other holes that need to be addressed. Potential fit: Danny Duffy, Royals

Dodgers: Starting pitcher The Dodgers were already in need of a starter before Trevor Bauer was placed on administrative leave, making it possible that Los Angeles will need to add two arms to the rotation this month. Julio Urías has already set a career high with 99 1/3 innings pitched, while Tony Gonsolin missed two months with a shoulder injury. Top pitching prospect Josiah Gray also missed two months, and there are questions as to whether he can make an impact in the Majors this season. Potential fit: J.A. Happ, Twins

Padres: Starting pitcher San Diego could use some bullpen help and an outfield bat, but the rotation is arguably the club’s biggest need given Dinelson Lamet’s health, Blake Snell’s inconsistency and Ryan Weathers’ potential workload limitations (he’s thrown 51 1/3 innings, more than half of his career-high 96 from 2019). Potential fit: Michael Pineda, Twins

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madpicks · 8 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://www.madpicks.com/sports/mlb/ranking-15-opening-day-matchups-around-baseball/

Ranking the 15 Opening Day matchups around baseball

Opening Day is when the aces come out from their ace caves. Which starting-pitcher matchup is the best?

The mythos of the Opening Day starter appeals to me. Oh, how it appeals to me. It’s everything there is to love about baseball: Arbitrary designations, arguments about those designations, talented baseball men, that Opening Day smell, and a chance to laugh at the less fortunate teams around baseball. When teams announce their Opening Day starters, I am so in.

With that in mind, it’s time to rank all of these Opening Day matchups. While baseball doesn’t have a true, pure opening day anymore, with some teams cordoned off for a special Sunday schedule, we still get 15 of these hand-picked duels, with every team in baseball saying, “This is the best we have, unless we’re dealing with injuries. Or maybe a general organizational malaise that will spread across generations.”

These are the 15 Opening Day starting-pitcher matchups, ranked:

15. Ricky Nolasco vs. Kendall Graveman (Angels at A’s)

This will mark Nolasco’s 28th year in Major League Baseball, yet this is his first Opening Day start. And, no, I’m not looking that up. Feels true, though.

Nolasco was excellent for the Angels for 11 starts after they acquired him, though his overall season was kind of a drag (4.42 ERA, 93 ERA+). He has the third-highest ERA of any starter with 50 starts or more since 2014, and the two pitchers with worse ERAs are a non-roster invitee (Kyle Kendrick) and someone who’s out of baseball (Tim Lincecum).

Graveman is a perfectly competent starter who’s in this spot because of injury (Sonny Gray) and because the A’s understandably don’t want to shove a second-year player like Sean Manaea in the Opening Day slot.

14. Jeremy Hellickson vs. Scott Feldman (Phillies at Reds)

I used to play baseball with a guy who played with a guy who became the Opening Day starter for the Reds. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to update my Twitter bio, because that sounds really important.

This isn’t No. 15 because Hellickson was kinda sorta okay last year — roughly what Nolasco did with the Angels, but more consistently spread out over the entire year. This still doesn’t have an Opening Day feel to it. And if this matchup happened on May 28, you know there would still be about 12 or 13 more interesting matchups.

13. Jon Gray vs. Junior Guerra (Rockies at Brewers)

Junior Guerra is one of baseball’s best stories. Dude pitched in Spain. Spain. Like, not even Italy or in a honkbal league. SPAIN.

Guerra made a name in Europe during the 2010 season, when he dominated the Spanish Division de Honor, pitching for CBS Sant Boi. He had an 11-1 record with an ERA of 0.89 in 17 games. He struck out 122 in 91 innings, while allowing just 47 hits.

Here come Sant Boi. This is a very good baseball story. That doesn’t mean I want to watch him pitch more than Stephen Strasburg, but don’t make fun.

Jon Gray is a big, strong, pitchery pitcher. That’s a compliment. He got his hair at the Noah Syndergaard Outlet Store, and he’s a solid breakout pick for 2017. This is a better matchup than you think.

12. Edinson Volquez vs. Stephen Strasburg (Marlins at Nationals)

Strasburg isn’t just fun to watch: He’s fun to speculate about and read too much into when he struggles. There might not be an ace-type in baseball that’s better for concern-trolling, which means you’re guaranteed a good time out, regardless of what he does. Also, he’s excellent at pitching and stuff, which counts for a lot. Even though this should be Max Scherzer’s spot, it’s not like we’re suffering too much, here.

Volquez is a known quantity, and even though his 2016 was lousy, he’s still probably fine. Good enough, at least, that he won’t drag Strasburg down too much in this ranking.

11. Marco Estrada vs. Kevin Gausman (Blue Jays at Orioles)

Another surprisingly compelling matchup, but mostly for baseball nerds. Gausman didn’t get enough credit for putting up a 3.61 ERA in Camden Yards in a homer-happy season (his 123 ERA+ tells a more complete story), he’s really here because Chris Tillman is out. That’s okay, though. I like watching Gausman just as much.

Estrada has never cracked 200 innings in a season, but he has had the lowest hits-allowed rate in the American League for two straight years. A strong infield defense helps with that, sure, but he’s still a quality pitcher, and he has been for years. Not bad for a guy the Nationals once waived to make room for Tyler Walker.

10. Danny Duffy vs. Ervin Santana (Royals at Twins)

I spent a lot of time making fun of the Ervin Santana signing. He has been a very consistent starter for many years, and I would like to apologize to him, the Twins organization, and my family because he’s kind of good.

Danny Duffy is better, of course, one of last year’s breakout stars. On a watchability scale, he’s in the second tier of baseball’s best, pushing his way into the top tier. Look at this guy:

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9. Jhoulys Chacin vs. Clayton Kershaw (Padres at Dodgers)

Of course, this is the most watchable pitcher in baseball — one of the greatest pure talents in baseball history — so it’s hard to rank him anywhere near the bottom. On the other hand, he’s facing Jhoulys Chacin, who is the reason I had to put (Team at Team) next to all the matchups. That’ll ding them in the ranking.

Chacin was really, really good in both 2011 and 2013, so it’s not quite fair to consider him a random journeyman. On the other hand, he wasn’t very effective with the Angels last year, to the point where the Angels were like, nah, we can do better.

That guy is an Opening Day starter. It takes more than Clayton Danged Kershaw to make up for that.

(Padres win, 8-2.)

8. Masahiro Tanaka vs. Chris Archer (Yankees at Rays, Sunday)

And now we have reached the tipping point, where all of the matchups become Unambiguously Good Pitching Matchups. Archer struggled with the home run ball and almost lost 20 games somehow, but you all know he’s still great.

Tanaka finished seventh in the Cy Young voting, making 31 starts and staying healthy all year. Not bad for a guy who was contemplating Tommy John surgery a couple years ago and had surgery to remove bone spurs before the start of last season.

This is the kind of matchup that could be No. 1 next year. Of course, both of them might be on the Dodgers, but that’s a minor concern.

7. Felix Hernandez vs. Dallas Keuchel (Mariners at Astros)

Cy Young vs. Cy Young. Just, uh, ignore the 2016 season, which wasn’t too hot for either of them.

This is a great matchup, though, because both of their teams are desperately counting on them to be excellent again, so everyone will read way too much into their first outings. It’s almost like a Groundhog Day of first games, where if they see their shadows and pitch seven strong innings, both teams will have five months of summer. If they combine to give up 12 earned runs, the panic will be thick enough to spread on a slice of French bread.

There is nothing better than smooth, creamy panic on a slice of French bread. But these guys are probably going to have strong seasons, so you’ll have to look elsewhere.

6. Gerrit Cole vs. Rick Porcello (Pirates at Red Sox)

My biases come into play here because I automatically thought, “Alright, Gerrit Cole!” That was followed by “Huh. Rick Porcello.” This is because I watch more National League games, I’m sure, but it’s also because I missed the entire Porcello story last year. Dude won the Cy Young. That seems good.

There are instant demerits, though, for being the necessary interleague Opening Day matchup. This is not a classic rivalry. Or a rivalry at all. Also, there are demerits for me wanting to watch Chris Sale instead, which isn’t odd.

Still, Cole vs. Porcello is an excellent, compelling matchup, and it’s the kind that would make you turn on a Pirates/Red Sox game in July. If this is your Opening Day pick, you’ve chosen wisely.

5. Julio Teheran vs. Noah Syndergaard (Braves at Mets)

Syndergaard pitched once vs. the Braves last year. ONCE. Clayton Kershaw made just 21 starts last year, and he still pitched five times against the Giants. So the Braves deserve this. They deserve to see Syndergaard three times in April. Not that I’m bitter.

Teheran is a fine talent, and if you want to move this up the power rankings, go right ahead. This isn’t a seven- or eight-way tie at the top, but that doesn’t mean there are any wrong answers, here.

4. Madison Bumgarner vs. Zack Greinke (Giants at Diamondbacks, Sunday)

Last year, this would have been the best matchup, and it wouldn’t have been close. It was a rough year for Greinke, though, and it didn’t get better this spring:

Greinke’s game-by-game velocity including four appearances in Spring Training this year. Not great. pic.twitter.com/BYb1uWijhG

— Kyle Boddy (@drivelinebases) March 25, 2017

I still believe. But a 33-year-old pitcher with diminished velocity and his worst FIP in a decade is a pitcher that should scare you. This matchup is near the top because of name recognition and star power, but your mileage may vary.

Bumgarner, for his part, had what might have been the only good spring training he’s ever had. This makes me worried that he’ll struggle mightily in April, but that’s because I’m a strange, cynical man. He sure looks ready.

3. Jon Lester vs. Carlos Martinez (Cubs at Cardinals, Sunday)

Carlos Martinez might be the most underrated starter in baseball. His nickname is Tsunami, and he should just go by it at all times, like Rock Raines on the 1989 Topps.

Guys, I’m Rock now. Thanks for understanding.

If Martinez does that with “Tsunami,” he’s talked about in the same breath as Chris Sale and Corey Kluber, like he should be. As is, it takes some gentle prodding and a reminder that he’s an extraordinary pitcher to justify a ranking like this.

Say, how did he get the nickname, “Tsunami?”

I’ve had a lot of ups and downs on my road to the Big Leagues, but for the sake of this blog let’s just say there was a WAVE of adversity.

I don’t get it.

2. Justin Verlander vs. Jose Quintana (Tigers at White Sox)

Last year’s Cy Young should-be vs. a walking trade rumor. I love this matchup so. The contrast in styles is fun, too, with Verlander the classic, strong right-handed ace, and Quintana the left-handed control monster (though not exactly a soft-tosser). It would be a lot cooler of a matchup if the White Sox were any good, but at least they are when Quintana pitches.

There are fewer than 10 “Of course we’re starting this guy” matchups on this list. This is the most obvious one, really. The cliff after these two is steep, but at least we’ll get the best of the best on Opening Day.

1. Corey Kluber vs. Yu Darvish (Indians at Rangers)

Never forget:

That is still one of the greatest baseball GIFs ever made, and it works so well because Yu Darvish is a wonder. He’s one of the most delightful pitchers to watch, and of course he’s starting Opening Day. He deserves it.

Corey Kluber is made out of gears and sprockets, a steampunk version of a mechanical pitcher, and his silent consistency doesn’t take away from his exhilarating stuff. He just goes out there and pitches better than the other guy.

UNLESS THE OTHER GUY IS YU DARVISH. Maybe. I mean, that’s the point. We’ll see.

Those are the best Opening Day duels, from Nolasco/Graveman to Kluber/Darvish. The most important part is that baseball is back, and we get to watch it. Here, have some Cy Young winners and assorted aces. This’ll help make up for the dumb winter, which is dumb every year.

#MLB

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ecoorganic · 4 years ago

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MLB Power Rankings: Who's Already Surprising Us?

What's gotten into the Rockies? Has David Ross already revived the Cubs? The ... Marlins?

The 2020 MLB campaign is only two weeks old, and unfortunately that has already been ample time to become skeptical of the season’s viability. COVID-19 outbreaks have caused the league to quarantine entire teams and make drastic alterations to an already wonky schedule, while the commissioner

lays blame on the players and deflects accountability.

With so much opportunity for dismay, we're using Week 3 of Power Rankings to highlight one pleasant surprise from each club. Because what are the early days of a baseball season for if not a little positivity?

30. Pittsburgh Pirates (Last Week: 29)

It wasn’t enough to prevent falling into the basement of our rankings, but the Pirates secured a walk-off win on Thursday against the Twins, who entered with MLB’s best record. Kevin Newman had the game-winning single after racking up four walk-off hits last year as a rookie.

29. Kansas City Royals (Last Week: 26)

At long last, Trevor Rosenthal appears to have rediscovered his form (and, more importantly, his health). He missed all of 2018 recovering from Tommy John surgery, then posted a 13.50 ERA with 26 walks in 15 1/3 innings for the Nationals and Tigers last season. So far in 2020, he has a 1.93 ERA with five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings, and has yet to walk a batter. His fastball is as firm as ever, averaging 98 mph.

28. Seattle Mariners (Last Week: 28)

The emergence of J.P. Crawford’s bat has to be music to the ears of Mariners fans. Crawford, a former top prospect whose defense has always been strong, hit .222/.320/.367 in 165 games before this season. He’s batting .280/.410/.380 through 14 games, and has cut down his strikeout rate from 21% in 2019 to just 11.5% in 2020.

27. Detroit Tigers (Last Week: 24)

Tyler Alexander’s record-setting 10-strikeout performance in relief on Sunday is among the most surprising feats of the young season. Alexander has never had overpowering stuff, with a fastball sitting around 90 mph. He’s faced 26 batters on the season and struck out half of them, providing support for a Tigers bullpen that ranks 18th in the Majors with a 4.30 ERA.

26. Baltimore Orioles (Last Week: 30)

Does moving out of the cellar of SI’s power rankings qualify as a pleasant surprise? Last weekend’s sweep of the Rays certainly counts, as does Hanser Alberto’s hot start. The 27-year-old still rarely walks (1.9% walk rate in 53 plate appearances), but he’s improved his plate discipline, swinging less often at pitches out of the zone and more often at strikes than he did a season ago.

25. Texas Rangers (Last Week: 23)

It’s been a tough start to the season collectively for Rangers hitters, who are batting a combined .208/.290/.362 through 11 games. One positive note has been 34-year-old Todd Frazier, who’s hitting .289/.372/.553 after signing with Texas on a one-year, $5 million deal this offseason.

24. Boston Red Sox (Last Week: 21)

The Red Sox have had the worst starting rotation in the American League, so finding a bright spot requires a bit of squinting. Left-hander Martin Perez has been just that through his first three starts, going 2-1 with a 3.45 ERA and no home runs allowed while inducing weak contact—his average exit velocity is 82.5 mph, among the lowest in baseball.

23. Arizona Diamondbacks (Last Week: 22)

While Madison Bumgarner and Robbie Ray have both taken a nosedive this season and brought along Arizona’s playoff odds with them, rotation mates Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen have tried to pick up the slack by recording ERAs under 3.00 in five combined starts so far.

22. San Francisco Giants (Last Week: 27)

Mike Yastrzemski has been doing his best impression of Mike Trout at the plate, slashing .304/.458/.630 to lead the Majors in fWAR (1.1) entering Thursday. Like Trout, he’s also playing center field, but in spacious Oracle Park after manning the corners last season, increasing his value for the Giants even more.

21. Miami Marlins (Last Week: 25)

The Marlins are somehow leading the NL East despite playing with a skeleton crew after over half their team tested positive for COVID-19. Their ragtag group of green youngsters and journeymen swept a four-game set from the surprisingly frisky Orioles to help Don Mattingly, who admitted he didn’t know some of his newly signed players, become the franchise’s all-time winningest manager.

APSTEIN: Marlins' Eddy Alvarez Becomes First Winter Olympic Medalist to Play MLB

20. Los Angeles Angels (Last Week: 20)

The Angels traded four minor leaguers for Dylan Bundy this offseason to help improve a starting rotation that ranked last in combined fWAR last season, and the early results have been spectacular. Bundy tossed his third career complete game on Thursday, and is 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA in three starts with 25 strikeouts and just two walks in 21 2/3 innings.

19. Toronto Blue Jays (Last Week: 18)

This young Toronto lineup has yet to find its rhythm, but 27-year-old Teoscar Hernandez has been a steady force. Six of Hernandez’s 11 hits have gone for extra bases (four homers and two doubles).

18. New York Mets (Last Week: 13)

Robbie Cano is slapping singles like it’s going out of style—which, it sort of is. He's batting .412 on the back of 11 singles in 39 plate appearances, the highest single rate (which sounds like an unfortunate romantic stat) among players with at least seven singles entering Thursday’s games.

• Verducci: What Happened to MLB's Elite First Basemen?

17. Milwaukee Brewers (Last Week: 16)

The Brewers are yet another team whose schedule has been interrupted by COVID-19. None of Milwaukee’s hitters have really found a groove yet, but Adrian Houser’s seven innings of shutout ball against the White Sox on Wednesday lowered his ERA to 0.75, vaulting him to third on the MLB leaderboard.

16. Philadelphia Phillies (Last Week: 17)

The Phillies have played just seven games in 14 days, or as many as they’ll play in a five-day span against Miami in September. The most pleasant surprise of their season so far is that no players were infected with the coronavirus when they played the COVID-stricken Marlins on opening weekend.

15. Cincinnati Reds (Last Week: 12)

Nick Castellanos had a tale of two seasons while split between the Tigers and Cubs last year. Reds fans are happy he’s carrying over what he showed in Chicago, ranking among the top five league-wide in home runs (six), RBI (13) and OPS (1.212) and carrying a 12-game hitting streak to begin the season until it was snapped Thursday.

14. St. Louis Cardinals (Last Week: 14)

The Cardinals have just five games under their belt and haven’t taken the field since last Wednesday, so it’s hard to draw any conclusions here. Longtime heralded prospect Tyler O’Neill has two home runs in 15 at-bats, so that’s … something.

13. San Diego Padres (Last Week: 11)

A renewed emphasis on plate discipline has translated to the best Padres offense since the steroid era, as San Diego leads the NL with 5.5 runs per game. Just as it seemed like Wil Myers had worn out his chances to start in San Diego, he’s finally hit his stride in his sixth season in SoCal and leads the Padres in OPS (1.109).

12. Chicago White Sox (Last Week: 19)

White Sox starting pitchers have scuffled so far with a collective 5.46 ERA. The bullpen, though, has been stellar. Alex Colome, Evan Marshall, Ross Detwiler and Matt Foster have pitched a combined 23 1/3 innings of relief without allowing a run.

11. Tampa Bay Rays (Last Week: 4)

Dropping from fourth to 11th may seem harsh, but that’s where getting swept by the Orioles will get you. The Rays have dropped six of their last seven, but a silver lining has been the improvements made by second baseman Brandon Lowe. Lowe was an All-Star last year and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting, and now he’s improved his slash line to .302/.375/.605. He’s particularly doing damage on fastballs, hitting .389 against heaters in 2020 after batting .291 on fastballs last year.

10. Cleveland Indians (Last Week: 6)

One of the few consistent contributors in Cleveland's lineup has been Cesar Hernandez, who’s batting .319/.429/.383 after two years of below-average performance in Philadelphia. The bullpen must be mentioned here as well—Cleveland relievers have a combined 1.34 ERA with no home runs allowed in 33 2/3 innings.

9. Washington Nationals (Last Week: 7)

Washington’s bullpen has the third-best ERA (1.53) in the Majors among teams who haven’t had COVID-related postponements after the unit recorded an NL-worst 5.68 ERA in 2019.

MLB Blog: Nationals's Early-Season Woes Strike Again in 2020

8. Colorado Rockies (Last Week: 15)

Colorado’s core four starters (Kyle Freeland, German Marquez, Jon Gray, Antonio Senzatela) have combined for a 2.49 ERA in 11 starts, providing a nice collective rebound after all except Gray struggled to repeat their 2018 form last season. All three of Colorado’s losses have been by one run. Rocktober will likely be upon us soon enough.

7. Atlanta Braves (Last Week: 8)

Mike Soroka may be out for the season, but Max Fried looks ready to assume the ace role in Atlanta after allowing a total of four runs in three starts against the Mets, Rays and Blue Jays.

6. Houston Astros (Last Week: 5)

The Astros’ rotation would be in dire straits were it not for two youngsters: Cristian Javier and Framber Valdez. The pair has combined for a 1.93 ERA in 23 1/3 innings pitched, with 21 strikeouts and just one home run allowed. With Justin Verlander injured and Lance McCullers still struggling, Javier and Valdez will be relied upon to keep Houston in contention.

5. Oakland Athletics (Last Week: 10)

The A’s have risen to the top of the AL West thanks to their sensational pitching. Oakland pitchers ranked eighth in the Majors last year in total WAR, but rank second through 13 games so far. That jump is thanks to the team’s bullpen, which sports a 1.80 ERA in 55 innings.

4. Chicago Cubs (Last Week: 9)

Before the Cubbies were inexplicably whipped by the Royals on Thursday to snap a six-game winning streak, their rotation held a MLB-best 1.95 ERA. Every starter has carried his weight, from steady veterans Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester to the resurgent pair of Yu Darvish and Tyler Chatwood (Thursday’s debacle aside) and even the soft-contact dependent Alec Mills.

3. Minnesota Twins (Last Week: 3)

Everyone expected the Twins’ lineup to rake this year, but few likely expected Minnesota’s rotation to pitch this well. Twins starters had a 4.19 ERA last season, ranking 11th in the majors. The group’s 2.71 ERA through 13 games ranks third-best in 2020—led by ground-ball machine Randy Dobnak, who’s posted a 0.60 ERA through three starts.

2. New York Yankees (Last Week: 2)

Yankees fans who watched him thrive last year might not consider this a surprise, but Gio Urshela has picked up where he left off last season and taken his game to an even higher level. Urshela is batting .324/.405/.649 through the team’s first 12 games, posting a ludicrous 57.7% hard-hit rate. Any doubts about the legitimacy of Urshela’s breakout 2019 campaign are quickly being put to bed.

BACCELLIERI: What's the Craziest Feat We Could See in 60 Games?

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (Last Week: 1)

Accidental Opening Day starter Dustin May has upped his velocity another notch this season and throws the fastest sinker in the league (97.8 mph), per Fangraphs. He also made Manny Machado look like a Little Leaguer with one of the nastiest pitches of the season on Tuesday, when he picked up his first win of the season while pitching a career-high six innings.

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buddyrabrahams · 7 years ago

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Each MLB team’s biggest weakness to address

The MLB season is in full swing, and advantages and flaws for teams are becoming quite obvious. Even the best teams have issues that could use addressing. It may be through calling up prospects, making trades, or simply hoping that people with a track record ultimately come good and start producing as they have in the past.

Here are the biggest weaknesses that each MLB team needs to consider.

Arizona Diamondbacks — Offense

Yes, we could easily single out one position here, but it wouldn’t make sense to do that, because the entire Arizona offense has been brutal. Most of the team’s players are hitting under .250, and Alex Avila, Jarrod Dyson and Chris Owings are all hitting under .200. On the whole, the team average is .213, the worst in baseball. That simply isn’t going to cut it, and it has to be fixed mostly internally, too.

Atlanta Braves — Back of the rotation

Surprisingly, the Braves haven’t shown many weaknesses so far this season. Their offense has produced and the bullpen has been more or less airtight. The one exception has been the back of the rotation, which hasn’t been quite as sharp as the rest of the team thanks in part to injuries and also some underperformance on the part of Julio Teheran. It’s premature to say it must be addressed, but it’s something to watch going forward.

Baltimore Orioles — Starting rotation

Very little about the Orioles is particularly good — in fact, it’s more or less limited to Manny Machado, who’s probably getting traded. That said, the real big issue is the starting rotation, which has long been a problem with the organization and only seems to be getting worse. Only Kevin Gausman has an ERA under 4, and the team has allowed Chris Tillman to make seven starts despite an ERA over 10. That’s either entirely too much patience or an admission that the other options are even worse.

Boston Red Sox — Center field

It’s an odd and surprising thing, as not long ago Jackie Bradley Jr. was considered one of the sport’s better young outfielders. He’s still good defensively, which is most of the reason he’s still allowed to play, but the guy has not hit above .233 at any point in the season and hasn’t shown much power either. His numbers are unacceptably bad, even for a defense-first player, and you have to wonder how long Boston can justify sticking with him.

Chicago Cubs — Back of the rotation

Similar to the Braves, the Cubs have guys whose numbers have underwhelmed so far despite a strong history. Jose Quintana and Yu Darvish have both been very good MLB pitchers, but they have ERAs over four right now. It’s nitpicky, but the Cubs’ roster is solid, and most of their issues are down to underperformance. Anthony Rizzo’s issues are another big one. Given time, they’ll probably straighten themselves out.

Chicago White Sox — Rotation

Only Reynaldo Lopez has performed well for the White Sox, and that could well be down to smoke and mirrors — his FIP is 4.80 and his underlying numbers indicate that regression is coming. Outside of Lopez, the White Sox rotation has been awful, with ERAs of 4.62, 7.53, and 8.07 among the other three starters who have received the most work (James Shields, Lucas Giolito, and Carson Fulmer, respectively). Even for a rebuilding operation, that’s bad.

Cincinnati Reds — Rotation

Seeing a trend? Only one Reds starter has an ERA under 5, and it’s Tyler Mahle with an unremarkable 4.53 mark. Homer Bailey is at 6.21, and the since-demoted Brandon Finnegan was at 7.40. With pitchers putting up numbers like those, it’s not that difficult to figure out why the team was so willing to give Matt Harvey a shot.

Cleveland Indians — Bullpen

Once one of the Indians’ strengths, the Cleveland bullpen has become something that manager Terry Francona has to be wary of turning to. Cody Allen has done a good enough job, but almost everyone else who has come out of the ‘pen to throw at least ten innings for Cleveland has an ERA over 5. The exception is Andrew Miller, but even he has struggled at times, missing time due to injury and then looking unconvincing upon his return.

Colorado Rockies — First base

Ian Desmond is very much not getting the job done. The Colorado first baseman has been hitting under .200 most of the season, and his eight home runs aren’t a big enough saving grace to make anyone happy. The five-year deal he signed with the team looks worse and worse, as he’s not known for his defense and he’s not hitting at all. They’re stuck in a bad place with him. One has to wonder how long they can send him out there every day.

Detroit Tigers — Bullpen

It’s always been the issue, hasn’t it? Though the Tigers don’t really excel in any department, the bullpen has been particularly deficient, with only youngster Joe Jimenez looking like he might have some long-term staying power. Shane Greene is alright, but he’s not a closer on a good team, and the remainder of the arms are not top quality at all.

Houston Astros — Outfield offense

The Astros have been so good that you have to squint to find anything wrong with them, but they could be getting more out of their outfield offensively. George Springer has been his typically solid self, but demoted Jake Marisnick was hitting just .157, while Marwin Gonzalez and Josh Reddick are under .230. These players have value in other ways — Reddick has a .331 OBP, for instance — but the averages are lower than they’d like.

Kansas City Royals — Rotation

If there’s one common thread among the bad teams in baseball this year, it’s that their rotations are overwhelmingly poor. The Royals are no exception, with only Jakob Junis looking like someone worth keeping around. Most of the Royals’ starters have ERAs over 5.00, including Danny Duffy, who has looked and sounded completely lost.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim — Offense

In spite of Shohei Ohtani, the Angels offense has had its struggles this season, with even Mike Trout going through an unprecedented slump. They’re towards the bottom in the AL in bating average, weighed down by the likes of Ian Kinsler and Kole Calhoun, who have really struggled. These are generally players who have hit in the past, and they will be given the opportunity to turn it around, but for now, it’s an issue.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Offense

There must be something in the water in Southern California. The Dodgers have struggled even more than the Angels have offensively, sitting 10th in the NL with a .236 team average. It’s ugly virtually across the board: Cody Bellinger is hitting .243, Chase Utley just .229, Yasiel Puig .224, and Corey Seager is out for the season. Perhaps Justin Turner’s return will help matters some.

Miami Marlins — Pitching

The less said about the Miami pitching staff, the better. Their team ERA is the worst in the National League, and most of the individual numbers are ugly. Jose Urena, who leads the team in innings, has a 4.55 ERA, and high-priced Wei-Yin Chen continues to be a bust with a 6.55 ERA. The bullpen hasn’t been much better outside of Kyle Barraclough, and none of it looks like it’s going to change anytime soon.

Milwaukee Brewers — One more starter

If the Brewers make a trade before July 31, one would have to figure that the rotation will be targeted. While Jhoulys Chacin, Chase Anderson, and Junior Guerra have been solid, the underlying numbers are alarming, and none of them would be considered aces. One more high-quality starting pitcher would really shore up the rotation and do wonders for a Milwaukee team that has legitimate playoff aspirations.

Minnesota Twins — Offense

On the whole, the Twins can’t hit. The exceptions have been Eduardo Escobar and Eddie Rosario, while Joe Mauer and Max Kepler have also contributed. Miguel Sano can provide a huge boost, but Byron Buxton is off to a very slow start, shortstop and DH haven’t produced much, and starting catcher Jason Castro is out for the season. They may have to fill one or two of these openings externally.

New York Mets — Catcher

The back of the rotation has plenty of issues too, but it’s impossible to ignore what’s happened to the Mets’ catching position. Between injuries to Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki and total underperformance from their replacements, the position is hitting below .200 for the Mets this season. Devin Mesoraco, acquired from the Reds in the Matt Harvey deal, is the latest roll of the dice. It’s no surprise they’ve been linked to a bigger deal.

New York Yankees — Back of the rotation

Luis Severino has been outstanding and CC Sabathia has been mostly solid, but the rest of the rotation is some cause for worry for the Yankees. Sonny Gray has been a huge disappointment since the Yankees made a big deal for him last summer. Masahiro Tanaka has not been up to his usual high standards, either. They may have to go trade for a starter if this keeps up, though Tanaka in particular stands a good chance of rebounding if he can limit the home runs.

Oakland Athletics — Outfield bats

The Athletics have been a pleasant surprise in the AL West, with a solid all-around team coming together. One issue remains their outfield bats, which haven’t been great. Center fielder Mark Canha has been alright, but Matthew Joyce is hitting around .200 and Stephen Piscotty has been scuffling a bit, though the circumstances he’s dealt with must be considered. Perhaps Dustin Fowler can provide a boost now that he’s back on the field.

Philadelphia Phillies — First base

It’s safe to say the Carlos Santana signing hasn’t worked out the way the Phillies hoped it would, at least so far. He’s hitting below .200, though he’s been walking plenty and hitting for power to at least give the Phillies some production. The Phillies don’t have much of a recourse here — they’ve committed $60 million to Santana through 2020 — so they’re just going to have to hope he picks it up.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Rotation

The Pirates have settled into the post-McCutchen era surprisingly well, jumping out to a strong start. If they want to keep it going, they’ll probably have to add to their rotation. Trevor Williams has done a very solid job with a 3.05 ERA, and Jameson Taillon has been mostly reliable. Chad Kuhl and Ivan Nova have had their struggles, and while they’re not downright bad, it’s not quite what the Pirates would like to see.

San Diego Padres — Offense

The Padres have never really been known as a high-quality offensive team, but they have three regulars hitting under .200 in Austin Hedges, Manuel Margot, and Carlos Asuaje, who started for much of April but has since been sent to the minors. They have one of the worst offenses in baseball and have the record to match that.

San Francisco Giants — Rotation

Injuries and poor performance have conspired to make the Giants’ rotation a huge disappointment. Johnny Cueto was doing amazing before an injury sidelined him, and Madison Bumgarner broke his hand in spring training. He’s closing in on a return, which is a relief, as the rest of the rotation has really struggled. Ty Blach’s 4.37 ERA is the best of all of their healthy starters right now, and Jeff Samardzija in particular has had an ugly season with a 6.23 ERA.

Seattle Mariners — Second base

A week ago, the rotation would have been Seattle’s biggest problem. It still is, but Robinson Cano’s suspension has thrown things for a loop. Outfielder Dee Gordon moved there, which created a hole in center field, and then Gordon promptly fractured his toe, leaving the Mariners with huge problems on offense. It’s hard to see them filling them effectively before Cano returns in August.

St. Louis Cardinals — Second base

Kolten Wong’s situation is a problem. The Cardinals second baseman is hitting just .179 with three home runs this season, leaving St. Louis in a very difficult spot. Wong is a player the Cardinals have put a lot of faith in, but his sub-.600 OPS won’t cut it. To make matters worse, Matt Carpenter and Dexter Fowler have also struggled, so it’s hard for the Cardinals to lean on anyone but Tommy Pham and Jose Martinez.

Tampa Bay Rays — Rotation

Things have gotten rough for the Rays to the point that they’re experimenting with one-inning reliever stints to open ballgames to try to grab platoon advantages through pitching. Chris Archer looks increasingly like a player the Rays should have sold high on when they had the chance, though he’s starting to get it together. They’re limited to a four-man rotation, and two of those four haven’t been very good.

Texas Rangers — Offense

Whoever would have thought that the once high-octane Texas Rangers team that bats in one of the league’s more favorable hitters’ parks would end up last in the AL in batting average? That’s where they are, though, and only the Diamondbacks have a lower team average than Texas does. Adrian Beltre’s hamstring injury was a huge blow, as it took away the lineup’s only .300 hitter. Robinson Chirinos, Ryan Rua and Rougned Odor are hitting under .200. Joey Gallo is flirting with the Mendoza Line but has at least shown power.

Toronto Blue Jays — Rotation

J.A. Happ leads all Toronto starters with an ERA right under 4.00, and it only gets worse from there. Aaron Sanchez is next, then Marco Estrada, and from there it’s into the 6 and 7 range, particularly the hugely disappointing Marcus Stroman, who is at 7.71. None of Toronto’s starters have pitched effectively. Even if their offense were better, the rotation would be torpedoing their shot at contention.

Washington Nationals — Bullpen

Long an issue for the Nationals, the bullpen remains a problem outside of closer Sean Doolittle. Brandon Kintzler, Sammy Solis, and Ryan Madson all have ERAs over four, with Madson landing on the disabled list to make a bad situation worse. It’s a big reason why, despite Max Scherzer spearheading a great rotation, the Nats aren’t higher in the NL in team ERA.

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junker-town · 8 years ago

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Ranking the 15 Opening Day matchups around baseball

Opening Day is when the aces come out from their ace caves. Which starting-pitcher matchup is the best?

These are the 15 Opening Day starting-pitcher matchups, ranked:

15. Ricky Nolasco vs. Kendall Graveman (Angels at A’s)

This will mark Nolasco’s 28th year in Major League Baseball, yet this is his first Opening Day start. And, no, I’m not looking that up. Feels true, though.

14. Jeremy Hellickson vs. Scott Feldman (Phillies at Reds)

13. Jon Gray vs. Junior Guerra (Rockies at Brewers)

Junior Guerra is one of baseball’s best stories. Dude pitched in Spain. Spain. Like, not even Italy or in a honkbal league. SPAIN.

Here come Sant Boi. This is a very good baseball story. That doesn’t mean I want to watch him pitch more than Stephen Strasburg, but don’t make fun.

12. Edinson Volquez vs. Stephen Strasburg (Marlins at Nationals)

Volquez is a known quantity, and even though his 2016 was lousy, he’s still probably fine. Good enough, at least, that he won’t drag Strasburg down too much in this ranking.

11. Marco Estrada vs. Kevin Gausman (Blue Jays at Orioles)

10. Danny Duffy vs. Ervin Santana (Royals at Twins)

Danny Duffy is better, of course, one of last year’s breakout stars. On a watchability scale, he’s in the second tier of baseball’s best, pushing his way into the top tier. Look at this guy:

youtube

9. Jhoulys Chacin vs. Clayton Kershaw (Padres at Dodgers)

That guy is an Opening Day starter. It takes more than Clayton Danged Kershaw to make up for that.

(Padres win, 8-2.)

8. Masahiro Tanaka vs. Chris Archer (Yankees at Rays, Sunday)

This is the kind of matchup that could be No. 1 next year. Of course, both of them might be on the Dodgers, but that’s a minor concern.

7. Felix Hernandez vs. Dallas Keuchel (Mariners at Astros)

Cy Young vs. Cy Young. Just, uh, ignore the 2016 season, which wasn’t too hot for either of them.

There is nothing better than smooth, creamy panic on a slice of French bread. But these guys are probably going to have strong seasons, so you’ll have to look elsewhere.

6. Gerrit Cole vs. Rick Porcello (Pirates at Red Sox)

Still, Cole vs. Porcello is an excellent, compelling matchup, and it’s the kind that would make you turn on a Pirates/Red Sox game in July. If this is your Opening Day pick, you’ve chosen wisely.

5. Julio Teheran vs. Noah Syndergaard (Braves at Mets)

4. Madison Bumgarner vs. Zack Greinke (Giants at Diamondbacks, Sunday)

Last year, this would have been the best matchup, and it wouldn’t have been close. It was a rough year for Greinke, though, and it didn’t get better this spring:

Greinke's game-by-game velocity including four appearances in Spring Training this year. Not great. http://pic.twitter.com/BYb1uWijhG

— Kyle Boddy (@drivelinebases) March 25, 2017

3. Jon Lester vs. Carlos Martinez (Cubs at Cardinals, Sunday)

Carlos Martinez might be the most underrated starter in baseball. His nickname is Tsunami, and he should just go by it at all times, like Rock Raines on the 1989 Topps.

Guys, I’m Rock now. Thanks for understanding.

Say, how did he get the nickname, “Tsunami?”

I’ve had a lot of ups and downs on my road to the Big Leagues, but for the sake of this blog let’s just say there was a WAVE of adversity.

I don’t get it.

2. Justin Verlander vs. Jose Quintana (Tigers at White Sox)

1. Corey Kluber vs. Yu Darvish (Indians at Rangers)

Never forget:

UNLESS THE OTHER GUY IS YU DARVISH. Maybe. I mean, that’s the point. We’ll see.

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