First off, hopefully you understand the connotation of this article’s title from last Sunday. Potential spoilers ahead? Maybe? Second, I mean, damn it! Really, Bran? Ya had to do Hodor like that? Third, he really did hold that door. Standing O and hats off to you, gentle mini-giant. You own the episode. For the first time ever Game of Thrones fans experienced an emotional heart-wrenching of sadness more than just pure shock (see: Red Wedding). Oh, spoilers? It’s been almost a week…and I’ve been dying to talk about it!
You know what hitters, ahem, have been dying to do off Gerrit Cole since May 2? Score runs. Cole’s first five starts were sub-par, especially for a pitcher of his stature, but since that May 2 visit from the Cubs, he’s rallied off 26 IP with just 3 ER. That’s Arrieta-esque. He’s holding the door shut to opposing lineups, even the most formidable ones. After his shellacking by the Cubs to start the month, he then travelled to Wrigley two starts later and threw a 8IP/3H/0ER/0BB/7K gem. He’s heating up like Daenerys Targaryen at the end of Episode 4! Well, you know, without being naked of course. Cole’s putting April behind him and ascending back to Ace status (and we’re not worrying about that strange zero strike out start two weeks ago…). Don’t be concerned about solid lineups he’ll face; the Marlins and Angels have a .158 and .132 ISO the past 30 games. Nothing to write home about.
Home. Maybe Bran’s going there now. Or may Jon’s heading back there at the bidding of Sansa. As long as it’s not Hardhome, I doubt he cares, though. Sheesh. Oh, and yes, I just geeked out on Game of Thrones. You’re freakin’ welcome.
Pitchers are listed in order by rank. Colors represent worst 8 or best 8 opponents according to team wOBA for last 30 days. And in honor of GoT, we’ll name the tiers based on my favorite characters.
Tyrion Lannister (The Best) – When you can strut into your murder trail like this, and then deliver one of the best speeches in the show’s existence…sold. Completely. Just like I am on each of these starters. There could very well be two Cy Youngs in this tier.
| Player | Opponents | ERA/FIP | K9/BB9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jose Fernandez (MIA) | PIT, NYM | 2.82/2.31 | 13.35/3.71 |
| Chris Sale (CWS) | @NYM, @DET | 2.26/2.96 | 8.67/1.76 |
| Jake Arrieta (CHC) | LAD, ARI | 1.72/2.70 | 8.87/2.78 |
| Corey Kluber (CLE) | TEX, KC | 3.78/2.86 | 9.05/2.16 |
| Gerrit Cole (PIT) | @MIA, LAA | 2.53/3.12 | 7.43/2.70 |
Jon Snow (The Replicas) – The closest thing to a noble hero that hasn’t died yet, Snow single-handedly held the collective breath of GoT fans for 10 months last year. There’s staying power there. Also on his side…he’s resurrected. No biggie. So have two names on this list from previous years, along with an almost-Ace in Nola.
| Player | Opponents | ERA/FIP | K9/BB9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Nola (PHI) | WSH, MIL | 3.14/2.54 | 9.55/1.64 |
| Jeff Samardzija (SF) | @ATL, @STL | 2.54/2.93 | 7.86/2.03 |
| Justin Verlander (DET) | @LAA, CWS | 4.02/3.64 | 9.69/3.05 |
| Carlos Martinez (STL) | @MIL, SF | 4.25/4.08 | 7.13/3.40 |
Daenerys Targaryen (The Standards) – While there’s nothing standard about her, in any capacity, is she not becoming a little bit like ol’ Papa Bear, the Mad King? Let’s just call it what it is: she’s ruling with a little Machiavellian sway towards fear over love. Scary. Beautiful. Still here. That’s what the guys in this tier are. They’re in your lineups, but they’ll burn you in a quick second if you’re not careful. Side note, why in the world are Bettis and Gray in here? The Padres and Reds are 28th and 30th in team wOBA the past 30 days. Yikes!
| Player | Opponents | ERA/FIP | K9/BB9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Hammel (CHC) | LAD, ARI | 2.17/3.34 | 7.83/3.50 |
| Drew Smyly (TB) | @KC, @MIN | 3.92/4.00 | 9.73/2.18 |
| Matthew Wisler (ATL) | SF, @LAD | 3.08/3.74 | 6.75/2.20 |
| Michael Foltynewicz (ATL) | SF, @LAD | 3.95/4.47 | 7.90/1.98 |
| Jonathan Gray (COL) | CIN, @SD | 5.95/2.93 | 10.30/2.97 |
| Lance McCullers (HOU) | @ARI, OAK | 4.60/3.53 | 12.06/6.89 |
| Tanner Roark (WSH) | @PHI, @CIN | 2.71/3.40 | 8.29/3.43 |
| Chad Bettis (COL) | CIN, @SD | 4.90/4.02 | 6.53/2.37 |
Bran Stark (The Knockoffs) – To completely disappear from the show for an entire season, and now quite possibly be the most powerful character alive? Both mind-numbingly frustrating and staggering at the possibilities of what he can do. Look no further than the top two names on this list to know exactly what I’m talking about.
| Player | Opponents | ERA/FIP | K9/BB9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Wood (LAD) | @CHC, ATL | 4.03/3.32 | 9.64/2.81 |
| Matt Harvey (NYM) | CWS, @MIA | 6.08/4.40 | 7.43/2.87 |
| Kevin Gausman (BAL) | BOS, NYY | 3.24/3.97 | 7.99/1.94 |
| Marco Estrada (TOR) | NYY, @BOS | 2.76/3.82 | 7.98/3.53 |
| James Shields (SD) | @SEA, COL | 3.06/3.87 | 7.79/3.20 |
| Collin McHugh (HOU) | @ARI, OAK | 5.13/3.48 | 8.20/2.22 |
| Nathan Karns (SEA) | SD, @TEX | 3.53/3.79 | 9.00/3.53 |
| Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA) | SD, TEX | 4.33/3.97 | 6.93/2.45 |
| Junior Guerra (MIL) | STL, @PHI | 3.30/3.15 | 9.00/3.60 |
| Scott Kazmir (LAD) | @CHC, ATL | 4.84/5.11 | 9.36/3.43 |
| Tyler Duffey (MIN) | @OAK, TB | 3.93/3.33 | 7.36/1.96 |
| Ervin Santana (MIN) | @OAK, TB | 4.17/3.77 | 7.90/3.51 |
| Ian Kennedy (KC) | TB, @CLE | 3.38/4.34 | 8.94/3.04 |
Ramsay Bolton (The Backstreet Boys) – Forget that little pipsqueak King Jeoffrey, Ramsay is the worst. Could somebody please just kill him in a horrifying way? He’s screwed over more people in the past three seasons than Theon Greyjoy before Ramsay got his hands on him. Ouch. A close second in the screwing people over rankings would be any of the names below. Tread with caution if you’re starting them this week.
| Player | Opponents | ERA/FIP | K9/BB9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Andriese (TB) | @KC, @MIN | 2.63/3.08 | 5.60/1.98 |
| Josh Tomlin (CLE) | TEX, KC | 3.35/4.38 | 6.35/1.06 |
| CC Sabathia (NYY) | @TOR, @BAL | 2.83/2.96 | 7.84/3.27 |
| Steven Wright (BOS) | @BAL, TOR | 2.52/3.13 | 8.01/3.12 |
| Rubby De La Rosa (ARI) | HOU, @CHC | 4.15/4.13 | 9.25/2.83 |
| Andrew Cashner (SD) | @SEA, COL | 4.87/4.49 | 6.42/3.98 |
| Patrick Corbin (ARI) | HOU, @CHC | 4.21/4.73 | 6.39/2.76 |
| Jeremy Hellickson (PHI) | WSH, MIL | 3.97/3.93 | 9.05/2.22 |
| Anibal Sanchez (DET) | @LAA, CWS | 6.04/5.58 | 8.05/4.53 |
| Colby Lewis (TEX) | @CLE, SEA | 3.38/4.37 | 6.33/1.83 |
| Clay Buchholz (BOS) | @BAL, TOR | 6.35/5.91 | 5.88/3.81 |
| Ivan Nova (NYY) | @TOR, @BAL | 3.65/4.25 | 5.59/1.22 |
| Jeff Locke (PIT) | @MIA, LAA | 5.08/5.32 | 5.61/4.21 |
| Kendall Graveman (OAK) | MIN, HOU | 5.36/5.66 | 6.89/3.64 |
| Dillon Gee (KC) | TB, @CLE | 3.86/5.14 | 8.23/3.34 |
| Jake Peavy (SF) | @ATL, @STL | 7.26/4.76 | 7.45/3.36 |
| Jhoulys Chacin (LAA) | DET, @PIT | 5.11/4.13 | 7.57/2.66 |
| Daniel Straily (CIN) | @COL, WSH | 2.98/4.21 | 8.61/3.98 |
| Wily Peralta (MIL) | STL, @PHI | 6.62/5.45 | 6.10/3.83 |
| Justin Nicolino (MIA) | PIT, NYM | 4.37/5.00 | 3.09/3.09 |
All players listed are projected for two starts, and this list is subject to changes after the article is posted.
Now wasn’t that fun?!? Have a great Memorial Day weekend! Enjoy Sunday’s GoT episode, and if you’re like, “OMG, that’s show is so, ugh…lame,’ well, grow some creativity and imagination during the long weekend, and binge watch the first season. Then we’ll talk. Nerds. Otherwise, drop a comment below, and good luck! Check back next weekend for Week 10!
