Complete Game Super Nova An Oasis For Pitching-Deprived Owners

Yesterday, Ivan Nova threw a complete game with one earned run — 9 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 6 Ks — ERA at 3.20 on the Pirates, after having a 4.90 ERA on the Yankees.  This Ray Searage guy can do miracles.  People should travel far and wide to go see him with their ailments, anguish and general malaise.  “So, I was standing in line for a frappuccino and I was thinking, ‘What’s the point?’  So, what is the point, Searage?”  “Sounds like you should use the change more.”  By the way, malaise is not the actress that plays Arya Stark.  Ray Searage is a modern-day miracle worker.  Move over, Anne Sullivan!  This is also exactly what they said about Searage in regards to Juan Nicasio before he flamed out about three weeks into the season, and Gerrit Cole has been pretty gross.  Searage seems totally competent, but to think he can fix all Pirates pitchers seems foolhardy.  No relation to Tom Hardy.  I could see grabbing Nova if the matchups are right, but I’m not running out to grab him in 12 team mixed leagues.  Not simply because my computer’s at home and it makes no sense to run out anywhere.  Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Gregory Polanco – 3-for-4, 3 runs, 3 RBIs and his 18th and 19th homers.  Solid, respectable season.  I feel a twerk coming on, because I’m about to drop a but.  But it’s too bad Polanco didn’t steal 25+ bases again this year to go with his 20 homers.  Of course, it would’ve meant he was caught 35 times.

Luis Valbuena – Done for the season after undergoing hamstring surgery.  Valbuena will be a free agent this winter.  Now’s the time to set up the Kickstarter campaign if your softball team needs a new 3rd baseman.

Joe Musgrove – 4 IP, 5 ER, ERA up to 5.20, and back-to-back shellackings.  Everything Musgrove!  As in, mark him down and get him out the door.

Rich Hill – Will make his debut today.  Ironically, he sat out so long with a blister on his hand, he ended getting a bister on his ass.

Scott Kazmir – Hit the DL with neck and back injuries.  There’s a butterfly flapping in Indonesia that is wrecking some serious damage on the Dodgers’ pitching staff.

Brett Anderson – Hit the DL with a blister.  So, that’s where Hill’s went?!

Clayton Kershaw – Threw 50 pitches in the pen and said he felt good, and added he didn’t know what the next step was.  He sounds like he needs a life coach.

Rob Segedin – 1-for-4 and his 2nd homer, and 2nd in as many games.  Not much here in the big picture, but there’s five weeks left, stop worrying about the big picture.

Justin Turner – 3-for-4, 1 RBI.  Right now, you don’t want any part of the Dodgers’ offense.  Now watch Cueto shut them out today.  Ah, baseball, you are the butterfly in Indonesia messing with Dodger pitchers, aren’t you?

Andrew Toles – 2-for-2, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and his 2nd homer, and 2nd in as many games.  He came in as a pinch hitter, which is an issue if he’s not going to play every day, but if he is playing, I’m interested, but if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, I’d be a diabetic squirrel.

Madison Bumgarner – 5 IP, 5 ER, ERA at 2.44.  Making Bum lovers reconsider.  Though, maybe not so much in San Fran.

Taijuan Walker – 5 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 9 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 4.14, as he was recalled from Triple-A.  I’m glad to see him back; I’ve always had a soft spot for him.  Maybe that’s a hard spot.  Maybe you shouldn’t worry about my spots.  Never the hoo!  Walker’s struggled all year, and I’m not grabbing him in any league unless the matchup is tasty like my favorite OITNB character.

CC Sabathia – 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 4.33.  In this game, Ellsbury hit his 6th homer.  Harsh reminder, the Yankees still need about five guys to announce their retirement.

Oswaldo Arcia – Was claimed off waivers by the Marlins.  Cheap guy that adds nothing to the Marlins’ bottom line?  Yeah, surprising.

Yordano Ventura – 6 IP, 0 ER, 7 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 4.27, vs. Andrew Cashner – 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 4.73.  I crossed streams yesterday with these two guys, and the results ended up being about as good as could be expected.  Unfortch, I needed two wins from two pitchers in the same game, so shizz was dire for me.  Speaking of crossing streams, did anyone see the Ghostbusters remake?  Any of our five girl readers?

Josh Hamilton – Was released by the Rangers.  Your move, Angels.  Then, once he hurts himself on the Angels, it’ll be your turn again, Rangers.  I do not have pattern blindness.

Derek Holland – 6 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 4.92.  Great, super, adjective, but it was one game in a career where he hasn’t been good in three years.  If you own Holland, there’s a chance in his next start you might need to fumigate his Dutch oven.

Dan Straily – 6 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 3.57.  Juicy gotcha crazy!  His ERA is barely above 3.00 in home games, so could see him as a homeschooler, but, as the Stream-o-Nator points out, his next start is on the road.

Jose Peraza – 2-for-4 and two steals (11, 12), hitting .308.  I don’t know what you’re waiting for to grab him either.  A solar eclipse?  I don’t know, just guessing.

John Lackey – Nearing mound work.  Sounds like an ant.

Jake Arrieta – 8 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners (3 BBs), 6 Ks, ERA at 2.62.  I’m not going to say anything negative on him.  Okay, one thing!  Last year, he would’ve struck out 12 Padres with no walks.

Addison Russell – 2-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 19th homer, and 4th homer in three games.  Someone’s currently bananas, and bananas are good.

Kris Bryant – 1-for-2, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 33rd homer, and his 5th homer in the last six games.  JB and I talked about Bryant on the last podcast, discussing how high he will be going next year in drafts.  JB said something like, top ten?  And I said something like, I had him in the top ten already this past preseason.  JB said, oh.  And I cackled.

Tyson Ross – Ready for a rehab outing in Lake Elsinore, which I believe was a location in a Harry Potter book.

Danny Salazar – 4 IP, 6 ER, ERA up 3.90.  Well, you gave him a shot.  Don’t think it worked out quite as you would’ve hoped.  Unless you’re a masochist, which is different than owning an Indians player who wasn’t in the lineup last night, that’s a Lonnie Masochisenhall.  So, Salazar seems hurt.  If it were April, I’d say put him on your bench and see if he can fix the problem.  It’s not April.  You can drop him.

Khris Davis – 2-for-4, 3 runs, 3 RBIs and his 33rd homer, hitting .257.  Somebody wants the fictitious Chris/Khris Davis of the Year award.

Sean Manaea – 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 8 Ks, ERA at 4.53.  MediOAKer.  For further reading, see his almost-7 ERA on the road.

Danny Valencia – 2-for-5, 2 runs, hitting .302.  I didn’t mention it yesterday, but after Valencia fought Butler, their teammates came out and said things about what a great teammate Valencia is with no mention of Butler.  Also, Hosmer tweeted that he thought Valencia was a great guy.  You know, Hosmer who was also teammates with Butler.  I get the sneaky suspicion that people are sick of having to write their names on food they put in the clubhouse fridge.

Steven Wright – Expects to return on Friday.  Or as it’s known in our house, “The day Grey isn’t allowed to watch four hours of baseball at night.”

Clay Buchholz – 6 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 9 Ks, ERA at 5.18 vs. Chris Archer – 5 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 4.11.  I mentioned a few weeks ago on the site (podcast?  I really don’t remember, but I know I did mention it.) about how Buchholz is interesting to me as a guy that can’t be this bad, and might need a change of pace.  He has two whole whopping decent games in a row, but I’m a cyclops with a monocle on him in some leagues.

Aledmys Diaz – Took grounders on Tuesday.  No idea where he took them.  Doesn’t say here.

Lance Lynn – Moved his rehab to Double-A Springfield.  But in what state?  Will The Simpsons ever tell us?

Jaime Garcia – 4 IP, 6 ER.  Jaime?  More like bite me.

Randal Grichuk – 1-for-4 and his 16th homer.  If he would’ve stuck in the lineup all year, he’d be approaching 30 HRs.  These parallel universe goggles do work!

Wilmer Flores – 1-for-3, 3 RBIs and his 13th homer.  Fun fact!  When Wilmer pours some out for his homies, he pours the liquid out of his eyes.

Justin Ruggiano – 1-for-3 and his 2nd homer.  Over .400 in five games with the Mets with two homers, and whenever anyone says his last name someone takes a picture in Italy.

Jon Niese – Hit the DL with a knee injury.  His early exit from yesterday’s game and knee injury were overshadowed by his nose.  But everything is.

Freddy Galvis – 1-for-4 and his 13th homer.  Also, in this game, Jose Abreu (2-for-3, 3 RBIs) hit his 17th homer.  Galvis is a Mookie Betts away from Abreu.  And Galvis is a half a Mookie away from A-Gon.  Freddy Galvis is a modern-day Mendoza Line.  If Galvis is a Mookie away from you, you should be ashamed.

Justin Morneau – 1-for-4 and his 5th homer, hitting .274.  Has cooled off a bit, but the power’s still there for this star of the Last Week of the Red Hot Schmotatoes.

Carlos Rodon – 6 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 4 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 4.02.  This game came against the Phils, and we’re starting to get to the point where if a guy doesn’t have a favorable matchup in his next start, in most leagues, you need to look elsewhere.

Tim Anderson – 2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, hitting .280, hitting near-.350 in the last week, and I am way too jazzed about this guy already for next year.  Chillax your hormones, Fantasy Master Lothario.

Anibal Sanchez – 7 IP, 3 ER, 6 baserunners, 2 Ks, ERA at 5.83.  Two straight solid starts for her, but the start before was an 8 ER mollywhopping, and why I wouldn’t go near Anibal.

Erick Aybar – 2-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 3rd homer, and had a three-hit game on Monday.  Yeah, I wouldn’t pick him up either, I feel ya on that.  Why are you sticking out your foot?  I’m not going to actually feel you.

Brian Dozier – 2-for-4, 2 runs and a slam (29) and legs (10), hitting .268.  Guys that Dozier’s been more valuable than:  Nelson Cruz, Correa, Sale, Odor, Votto.  To name a few apples and oranges.

Reynaldo Lopez – 2 2/3 IP, 4 ER, ERA up to 5.33.  I’m going to leave this Diet Shasta right here while I got to the bathroom.  Assuming there is a bathroom in this Afghani cave.  *three hours later*  Hey, that guy looks just like me.  Wait, he’s wearing my face for a mask!  AH!!! ROOFIE!!!

Trea Turner – 4-for-4, hitting .320.  What a Treat Urner.

Chris Davis – 2-for-5, 2 runs and his 30th homer.  Doode gets 30 homers like clockwork.  You know, if the big hand was a homer hand.

Adam Jones – 4-for-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, hitting .277.  Not to harp like an extra in Heaven Can Wait, but Jones would be having a top 30 fantasy year if he was batting in the middle of the order, instead of leadoff.  Right now, he’s around a top 60 guy on the Player Rater.

Chris Tillman – Sounds headed to the DL with shoulder discomfort.  Or should-disco if you’re wearing platform shoes.

Nolan Arenado – 3-for-5, 3 RBIs and his 33rd homer.  What a pleasant day to fly a kite… Oh no!  Torenado!

Jon Gray – 6 IP, 2 ER, 7 baserunners, 10 Ks, ERA at 4.61.  He has been better on the road, where he was yesterday, but his road ERA is still over 4, and he’s been far from safe.  Decent streamer when chasing Ks, which sounds like a Snow Patrol song.

A.J. Pollock – Aiming to return this Friday.  There was internal discussion between This Week Grey and Last Week Grey about making Pollock my Friday Buy lede, but he’s owned in more than 50% of leagues, so it’s not going to happen.  I didn’t love Pollock coming into the year, told everyone to avoid him, but if it’s a matter of picking a guy up off waivers, I’d grab him.

Adonis Garcia – 3-for-5, 2 runs, and homered the night before, and has a hit in nine of his last ten games, and, ugh, I’m so oddly interested in this guy.

Steven Matz – The Mets are hopeful that Matz can return from his shoulder strain next week.  Oh, Mets, you are as naive as an 8-year-old child, and as wise with medical decisions.  Hopefully, Matz breaks his ankle on the Mets’ rehab equipment — a trampoline — and they opt to rehab him with ice cream, so he can avoid further injuring his shoulder.

Huston Street – Expects to have knee surgery today.  I love how players make surgery sound iffy.  Have you ever ‘expected’ to have surgery?  I expect Cougs to come home and disagree to having sex.  There’s potential outcomes there.  You don’t expect to have surgery.  You’re either having it or you’re not.  Any hoo!  Fernando Salas is the fill-in closer.

Tyler Skaggs – 4 IP, 4 ER, ERA up to 5.70.  I’m going to call him Scabs.

Nick Buss – 2-for-4, 2 RBIs and a slam (1) and legs (1).  Buss has taken over the righty side of an Angels’ outfield platoon, is almost 30 years old and was in the minors so long they started taking road trips on his back.  On a related note, what happened to Arte Moreno’s stock portfolio?  Did he lose a lot of money?  Why do the Angels look cheaper than the Padres?

Devon Travis – Out with an issue with the third knuckle on his right hand.  He says he should be back today.  Knock on wood.  Wait, no!

Michael Saunders – 1-for-4 and his 21st homer.  P to the fft!  Saunders, you are so a pre-All-Star break schmotato.

Jose Bautista – Expects to return on Thursday from his knee sprain.  Thank God, the Jays need their .222 leadoff hitter!

Kevin Pillar – 1-for-4, 1 run as he was activated from the DL.  Pillar’s no stud, he’s more of a column.