Happy 4th of July sports fans! As the weather heats up, so are the offenses because like Charlie Manuel once said “Its hittin’ season”. Thankfully there were a grand total of zero No-Hitters last week and I for one am happy to report that news. With that said I’m still going to pick one for the up coming week. The ever so lucky pitcher that will receive my ringing endorsement is the immortal Jacob deGrom. I made it easy this week, deGrom has matchups against the Brewers and the Pirates. He seems due for a No-Hitter to be added too his Hall Of Fame career. I’ll let you guys guess who’s number one in the rankings this week.
Moving on to the news of the week, there isn’t much. David Peterson of the Mets hit the IL, he’s expected too be out for at least 8 weeks. Meanwhile, Michael Pineda threw a rehab game and should be back at some point in the very near future. The same can be said for Madison Bumgarner. Lastly, Zac Gallen left Fridays start with right hamstring tightness. Monitor him closely, no one want to see Gallen take a 3rd trip too the IL this year. Alright, that’s all for the news this week lets get to the rankings.
MUST STARTS
1. Jacob deGrom NYM: (7/6 vs MIL)(7/11 vs PIT)
– Look who decided to show up as number 1. Two home matchups against two weak offenses… sign me up. Yes I know the Brew Crew is crushing the ball, but who really cares against deGrom, he could send them right back too their terrible ways.
2. Brandon Woodruff MIL: (7/5 @ NYM)(7/10 vs CIN)
– He’ll be battling with deGrom at years end for the CY YOUNG award. But for now enjoy him shutting down deGroms team on Monday.
3. Walker Buehler LAD: (7/5 @ MIA)(7/10 vs ARI)
– Buehler has the best matchups of the week without question. So, start him, sit back, and enjoy.
4. Kevin Gausman SF:(7/5 vs STL)(7/11 vs WAS)
– Gausman struggled with control against the Dodgers in his last start but that can be forgiven. Seeing as how he’s been great all year and has great matchups this week, I’m expecting him to get back too normal and continue his dominance.
5. Corbin Burnes MIL: (7/6 @ NYM)(7/11 vs CIN)
– Burnes is an Ace. So get ready for a pitchers duel on Tuesday.
6. Trevor Rogers MIA: (7/5 vs LAD)(7/10 vs ATL)
– I feel like I write about Trevor Rogers in this column every single week. The Marlins are a pain too predict considering how young their rotation is. But this week It’s going to happen, and both these matchups are at home which makes me feel even better about Rogers this week.
7. Jose Berrios MIN: (7/6 vs CHW)(7/11 vs DET)
– His last start was downright weird. He went 5 innings allowed 10 hits and had 0 strikeouts. That start was against the White Sox and he draws them again on Tuesday. I expect a better outing from him at home this time around and then a start at home against Detroit is a nice way too end the week.
8. Joe Musgrove SD: (7/5 vs WAS)(7/10 vs COL)
– Musgrove got tagged for 5 ER in his last start against the Reds. But have no fear the Padres are heading back home this week and they’ll take on a lackluster Nationals offense and the worst road team in baseball… the Rockies. And as we’ve seen the Padres are a different team at home so I expect two dominant starts from Musgrove this week.
9. Max Fried ATL: (7/5 @ PIT)(7/11 @ MIA)
– Fried has been pitching pretty well since his return from the IL at the beginning of May. And if we take a look at these matchups they tell us Fried is in for a good week. Both matchups come against two of the worst offenses in baseball so lets just sit back and watch Fried go too work.
10. Aaron Nola PHI: (7/5 @ CHC)(7/10 @ BOS)
– The curious case of Aaron Nola is here, and where do we begin. He’s been a surefire stud for the last few years but this year has been all over the place. And its never been more evident than in his last game where he allowed 7 ER and had 11 K’s. He’s still striking everybody out but his fastball location has been terrible which I believe is leading to him being hit so hard this year. As for his matchups this week, The Cubs offense isn’t any good but neither are the Phillies on the road. And for the Red Sox matchup, Nola has had good success against them in the past, but again it’s a road game. Which Nola will show up ? I have no idea but I believe in him still so he’s in the Must Start category for now.
11. Luis Castillo CIN: (7/6 @ KC)(7/11 @ MIL)
– 5 of his last 6 starts have been quality starts, and the one that wasn’t, he was an out away from making it 6 straight. He’s a far cry from the pitcher we saw at the beginning of the season and has pretty much earned my trust back. This week should be no different as he gets two good matchups. And although they are both away and in hitters ballparks, I still like the way Castillo is trending so he’s a must start this week.
12. Chris Bassitt OAK: (7/6 @ HOU)(7/11 @ TEX)
– The true breakout season for him is still on! He’s averaging over a strikeout per inning which is really nice too see for him. Houston is a really tough matchup in their own building and the Rangers are a much better team at home, but we can’t argue against Bassitt’s results this year. He’s a must start until he proves otherwise.
13. Dylan Cease CHW: (7/5 @ MIN)(7/11 @ BAL)
– I’m putting him in the must start category but I am warning you now. Dylan Cease has been atrocious on the road this year. If both these matchups were home I’d have him ranked higher and with no caution. But that is not the case and either one of these games could turn very sour very quick. None the less I’m starting Cease this week against two bad ball clubs. If he gets wrecked again we’ll have to consider benching Cease for road games.
QUESTIONABLES
14. Rich Hill TB: (7/5 vs CLE)(7/11 vs TOR)
– After a great start to the year, Hill has come back down to earth. In his last 4 starts he’s allowed 13 ER’s and 11 BB. He should do fine against the Indians but its the Blue Jays that worry me. They are pummeling the baseball and could potentially pummel Hill. With that said I’m starting him based simply off the Cleveland start and a hope he can be serviceable against the Blue Jays.
15. Patrick Corbin WAS: (7/6 @ SD)(7/11 @ SF)
– Corbin was in the midst of decent three start stretch until he ran into the Dodgers this past week in which he got ripped apart in. These are two good teams he’s running into this week and both play well at home. We can’t even lean on the ballpark effects here because both have changed their dimensions in the last couple years. Given the outside factors and the way Corbin has pitched this year I’m benching him this week. However I’m not totally out on Corbin this year.
16. Zach Davies CHC: (7/5 vs PHI)(7/10 vs STL)
– Davies doesn’t strike anyone out but until his last start he was on a 4 start streak of quality starts. He’s got two home tilts this week against two teams that are pretty brutal on the road. I’m starting Davies this week.
17. Kolby Allard TEX: (7/5 vs DET)(7/11 vs OAK)
– Allard has been pretty serviceable since joining the rotation about a month ago. He’s only allowed more than 5 hits once in 6 starts(the one he did was at home against the A’s) but I like these matchups. He doesn’t walk anybody and he’s at home where the Rangers are a much better team so I’m starting him this week.
18. Domingo German NYY: (7/6 @ SEA)(7/11 @ HOU)
– German was on a nice run for a while where I thought he was turning a corner but his last 4 starts have painted a different picture. His line in his last 4 is brutal. 15.1 IP, 25 H, 17 ER, 7 BB and only 13 K’s. Seattle is surprisingly a good team at home and the Astros are the Astros. Stay away from him because this is not the week he’s getting back on track. Sit him.
POINTS LEAGUE ONLY
19. Tony Gonsolin LAD: (7/6 @ MIA)(7/11 vs ARI)
20. Jon Gray COL: (7/6 @ ARI)(7/11 @ SD)
21. Cal Quantrill CLE: (7/5 @ TB)(7/10 vs KC
NO THANKS
Steven Matz TOR: (7/6 @ BAL)(7/11 @ TB), Mike Minor KC: (7/5 vs CIN)(7/10 @ CLE), Jake Arrieta CHC: (7/6 vs PHI)(7/11 vs STL), Vladimir Gutierrez CIN: (7/5 @ KC)(7/10 @ MIL), Kwang Hyun Kim STL: (7/5 @ SF)(7/11 @ CHC), Martin Perez BOS: (7/5 @ LAA)(7/11 vs PHI), Ryan Weathers SD: (7/6 vs WAS)(7/11 vs COL), Jon Lester WAS: (7/5 @ SD)(7/10 @ SF), Justus Sheffield SEA: (7/6 vs NYY)(7/11 vs LAA), Bailey Ober MIN: (7/5 vs CHW)(7/10 vs DET), Chad Kuhl PIT: (7/5 vs ATL)(7/10 @ NYM), Logan Allen CLE: (7/6 @ TB)(7/11 vs KC), Jose Urena DET: (7/5 @ TEX)(7/10 @ MIN), Wily Peralta DET: (7/6 @ TEX)(7/11 @ MIN), Riley Smith ARI: (7/6 vs COL)(7/11 @ LAD), Wil Crowe PIT: (7/6 vs ATL)(7/11 @ NYM)
