Welcome back to the second half of the season sports fans. We’ve got a couple of interesting weeks ahead of us. Recently we have had a few COVID outbreaks over the course of the last week which is slightly concerning but hopefully we move past this without issue. However, there are exciting revelations on the horizon, those being, we will find out who fancies themselves buyers or sellers leading up to the trade deadline.
Moving onto the news, we have some injuries and some returns from the IL. We’ll start with Ian Anderson hitting the IL with a shoulder injury. John Means is set to start Tuesday. Jake Arrieta hit the IL with a hamstring injury. Jose Urena hit the IL with a groin injury. Clayton Kershaw is on the IL with a forearm strain. Pablo Lopez hit the IL with a shoulder strain. Jacob deGrom has hit the IL with a forearm strain. Aaron Nola went on the COVID list but will start Tuesday. That’s the major injuries and returns this week and it’s time to get back to a full week of baseball so let’s go get it!
MUST START
1. Lance Lynn CHW: (7/19 vs MIN)(7/25 @ MIL)
– Fresh off of inking a new contract, Lynn takes on the team he saw in his last start in which he was his typical dominant self. Expect more of that this week in both matchups.
2. Yu Darvish SD: (7/19 @ ATL)(7/24 @ MIA)
– The Friars are making their way through the NL East right now and Darvish has been smacked around by both the Nats and Phillies in his last 2 starts. He then hit the IL and is slated to return Monday. I like him with the way the Padres are currently swinging the bats. An Acuna-less Braves team and a putrid offensive Marlins team should bode well for Darvish on the road this week.
3. Jose Berrios MIN: (7/19 @ CHW)(7/24 vs LAA)
– Berrios has been his normal self this year. Pretty damn good. Two of his last 3 starts have been against the White Sox, so there is recent familiarity between the two. I still expect a solid start from him in that game and then I also expect a good game from him at home against the Angels since he’s been even better at home this year.
4. Aaron Nola PHI: (7/20 @ NYY)(7/25 vs ATL)
– Nola missed his last start due to COVID contact tracing protocols. He tested negative and returns on Tuesday against the Yankees, a team he dominated in his one start against them this year. Still Nola is leaving a lot left to be desired. His underlying numbers indicate he should be having a better year as he’s striking a ton of guys out and not walking anyone. I still believe his issues are to do with his fastball command. He’ll get his strikeouts and I’m hoping the break will have helped him to get back to the Nola of old.
5. Shohei Ohtani LAA: (7/19 @ OAK)(7/25 @ MIN)
– Rarely do we get to see Ohtani in the two start category but it just may happen this week. Both these matchups are away, where he’s been slightly less productive but none the less they are two pretty decent matchups. You know you’re starting Ohtani no matter what!!!
6. Kyle Gibson TEX: (7/19 @ DET)(7/25 @ HOU)
– Gibsons last start came against Detroit, in that game it was the first time he allowed more than 3 runs in any start since his first start of the season. He still struck out 7 in the start though. I expect Gibson to get right back on track here since Detroit just isn’t very good. The Houston matchup away is problematic for anyone but with the way Gibson has pitched this year you have too trust him.
7. Alex Wood SF: (@ LAD)(vs PIT)
– This is merely a guess, but Wood should start either Monday or Tuesday. It’s tough to know right after the All-Star break how the rotations will shake out. In any event Wood has been pretty good this year and while the Dodgers could be a tough matchup for the lefty, a home tilt versus the Pirates is enough for me to have him as a must start.
8. Zack Greinke HOU: (7/19 vs CLE)(7/25 vs TEX)
– Greinke returns from the IL for a two start week, and although he has been much better on the road this year, these matchups can not be ignored. I expect good things this week for the vet.
Questionables
9. Casey Mize DET: (7/19 vs TEX)(7/24 @ KC)
– Mize is having a strong rookie season, and he hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any start since April 23rd. I would have had him bringing up the rear of the must starts category had it not been for his last 2 outings only lasting 3 and 4 innings respectively. Regardless I love both these matchups for him and I’m starting him.
10. Tarik Skubal DET: (7/20 vs TEX)(7/25 @ KC)
– Two Detroit Tigers back to back! Who would have ever seen that coming? Similar to Mize he has two really good matchups here and although his last two starts didn’t go so well, the break is over his mind is reset and it’s a great week to get back on track. I am starting him.
11. Caleb Smith ARI: (7/19 vs PIT)(7/25 @ CHC)
– Smith got ambushed in his last start where the Dodgers took him to the toolshed. Still Smith was having a decent year and that game destroyed his ERA. I like these matchups especially with the Pirates matchup at home. I’m starting him.
12. Shane McClanahan TB: (vs BAL)(@ CLE)
– The thought is he should start Monday but we do not really know. If it is him, I like him. He might not go deep into games but he’s very young and has wipeout stuff. I love these matchups regardless and he should fair well in both games so I’m starting him.
13. James Kaprielian OAK: (vs LAA)(@ SEA)
– The same applies here for the rookie. We don’t really know if he’ll be the guy too toe the rubber Monday but that is the thought. If he does, these are two good matchups for the impressive rookie who’s sporting a .200 BAA. I’m starting him.
14. Tony Gonsolin LAD: (vs SF)(vs COL)
– Another one, that we’re not sure who is starting Monday but it should be Gonsolin and if it is I’m in on him. The Dodgers are being careful not to over-extend him which is smart considering his prior injury this year. With that said the Gonzo has a BAA of .194. He’s simply hard to square up.
POINTS LEAGUE
15. Vladimir Gutierrez CIN: (7/19 vs NYM)(7/25 vs STL)
16. Ryan Weathers SD: (7/20 @ ATL)(7/25 @ MIA)
17. Nick Pivetta BOS: (7/19 @ TOR)(7/25 vs NYY)
Keep in mind a lot of the rotations are not set, so it is hard to get a beat on who will start and when coming off of the All-Star break. This will account for the lack of names on the list.
NO THANKS
Domingo German NYY: (7/20 vs PHI)(7/25 @ BOS), Ross Stripling TOR: (7/19 vs BOS)(7/25 @ NYM), Marco Gonzalez SEA: (7/20 @ COL)(7/25 vs OAK), Triston McKenzie CLE: (7/20 @ HOU)(7/25 vs TB), Alec Mills CHC: (7/19 @ STL)(7/24 vs ARI), Bailey Ober MIN: (7/19 @ CHW)(7/25 vs LAA), Jean-Carlos Mejia CLE: (7/19 @ HOU)(7/24 vs TB), Chase De Jong PIT: (7/19 @ ARI)(7/25 @ SF)
