Here’s the Jays’ rotation:
Hyu-Jin Ryu
Chase Anderson
Tanner Roark
Matt Shoemaker
Trent Thornton
Here’s the Padres’ rotation:
Chris Paddack
Garrett Richards
Zach Davies
Joey Lucchesi
Dinelson Lamet
This is why, when asked recently, if I prefer Nate Pearson to MacKenzie Gore, why I said I like both equally. I love MacKenzie Gore and have drafted him, but who has the easier path to innings? Put aside those teams’ respective aces. Say what you want about Zach Davies, Garrett Richards, Joey Lucchesi of the Rigatoni Crime Family, Dinelson Lamet, and I’ve said plenty, but Trent Thornton, Shoemaker, Roark, Chase Anderson are a goofy mess. Shoemaker injured himself reading about how he is injury-prone. Even in regards to their two respective aces, Ryu is less likely to stay healthy for even a shortened season. Pearson’s sliding into that rotation in the landmark case of sooner vs. later. Any hoo! I just wanted to put it out there that I think both will see innings, and this isn’t about which one I like better, while I make it about which I like better for 2020, but MacKenzie Gore is going to need an injury to get in the rotation or, and this ‘or’ is the size of Kanye’s ego, starters piggybacking this year, in what will be a weird year. Minor leaguers will be a part of the major league team, whether they want to or not (of course they want to). With no conceivable minor league season, Gore should be with the Padres in some form. So, what can we expect from MacKenzie Gore for 2020 fantasy baseball and what makes him a great dart throw?
Here’s what a few of our prospect guys have said about MacKenzie Gore, first up, Hobbs, “Gore came equipped with a 60-fastball, 60-curveball, 60-slider and 60-changeup out of high school with plus-control. That profile has been backed up by a 12.0 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 across 183 innings in the Minor Leagues, including a 2.56 ERA/1.01 WHIP. This arm is tremendous, with potential to debut in 2020. Love Gore in dynasty formats, and can see him being a key guy to draft or scoop up in even shallower keeper leagues with five-plus slots to play with. Unlike Grey who plays with himself.” Okay, not cool and unnecessary. Here’s what Prospect Itch said in his top 25 prospects for 2020 fantasy baseball, “I’m going to like Gore late in 2020 draft champions leagues because I think he’ll get 80 plus MLB innings, while still hating Grey.” What’s with the prospect guys!? Gore is in my top 100 starters, and Podcaster Ralph, who knows a thing or two about prospects too, says Gore is the best pitching prospect he’s ever seen. Honestly, I can’t remember a 21-year-old with four pitches rating out at 60-grade. That seems, as they say, effin’ terrific. He could be as good as Paddack this year. Will he? As kinda alluded to above, I think the shortened season might actually hurt Gore, which is why I diversified recently to Pearson. In a full season, the Padres’ rotation has more chances to make room for Gore, but in a shortened season, Gore might be a 3-IP guy who sees a game or two a week. There’s value in that, but much less than a guy being relied on to go 5+ IP. Still, of course, one hundred percent, I love MacKenzie Gore and would grab him in the last rounds for a dart throw. Speaking of 3-IP guys, Rudy’s doing a draft right now of the greatest single player seasons ever, and he alerted me to Mark Eichhorn’s 1986 season. He went 14-6/1.72/0.96/166 in 157 IP. Doesn’t sound amazing until you realize he started zero games! 157 innings and not one start?! Oh, and he only appeared in 69 games! What in the holy what. Eichhorn should never again be confused with Finkle.
