MLB Daily Notes: Friday, September 23
Playoff Update
Big night for me last night! I’m down 8-4 but I just need a 6-6 to advance, and we got a lot closer after what my pitchers did. I threw 23 innings and gave up just four earned runs to put up a 1.57 ERA and a 0.74 WHIP (shout out Zac Gallen!). That brings my totals down to what you see above, just massive gains in ERA and WHIP without giving up anything in K/9 (shout out Max Fried for having one of those rare strikeout games).
The hitters did nothing, but it was pretty much expected as my Dodgers took on Gallen and I had a bunch of dudes benched. I did start Bubba Thompson even though he was benched, praying for that pinch-run steal, and the guy actually got the opportunity but got thrown out - brutal.
Clint added some K/9 with Hunter Greene but couldn’t turn it into a QS or a W, but he got the amazing start from that Hayden Wesneski dude who I had never heard of. A few people took to Twitter to dunk on me about my ignorance of him - but guess what - joke is on you bros! The minor leagues aren’t real!
It’s Friday now, which basically just means the week is about to start. I still feel incredibly confident about R-HR-RBI, and I did nudge a little bit closer to relevancy in OBP. Also, I got two saves yesterday to bring that category back up-for-grabs. So I’m in a good spot, and the weekend will be a whole bunch of fun regardless of what happens.
I tweeted about it last night, but this is legitimately the only time of the year where I feel any bit of stress. That means one of two things or both:
I am one of the few people on earth that doesn’t feel stress about normal life
I take this fantasy baseball league way too seriously
The answer is both. The fact that I don’t get stressed out when my wife is in labor or my kids are sick or having their tonsils out but do get stressed just trying to beat Stupid Ass Clint in fantasy baseball is strange, I will admit that.
The answer, I think, is that I just have this blind faith that everything in life will work out fine. I don’t have blind faith that I will in my fantasy baseball league, though, because I don’t think God really cares about my fantasy baseball league. I don’t think God necessarily wants me to have a comfortable, happy life here on earth either - but from all the evidence I’ve gathered over 31 years that does seem to be the case - but I’m rambling now.
I now ask for your thoughts and prayers as I head towards the weekend in this crucial matchup. Actually, just give me your thoughts, there are more important things to pray for. I humbly ask for your thoughts and comments. Yeah, that’s it. It won’t help me win, but it will make me feel good tonight to think to myself “wow, some strangers ou there might be thinking about me right now” after Aaron Judge takes Rich Hill deep in the first inning and I close the runs gap by one.
Other players for you to root for tonight:
Shohei Ohtani vs. Twins
Aaron Nola vs. Braves
Jeffrey Springs vs. Blue Jays
Jon Gray vs. Guardians
Brady Singer vs. Mariners
And players to root fervently against:
Carlos Rodon vs. Diamondbacks
Gerrit Cole vs. Red Sox
Gallen just has gone nutso ever since July started or so. He has a 30.1% CSW%, a 30.% K%, a 6.3% BB%, and a .256 xwOBA allowed. The only other pitchers since July with a strikeout rate above 30% and a walk rate below 7% are:
Max Scherzer
Shohei Ohtani (hell yeah)
Carlos Rodon (shit!)
Gerrit Cole (shit!!)
Gausman, Darvish, Woodruff, Ray, and Strider narrowly miss the cut.
OPS Leaders of September
Judge 1.522
Bichette 1.267
J Turner 1.097
Correa 1.073
Trout 1.038
E Escobar 1.037
Jimenez .996
Adames .988
Semien .984
Freeman .968
T Kemp .957
Varsho .944
N Lowe .944
J Baez .940
Harris II .940
Andrus .940
Bogaerts .939
Ohtani .938
Altuve .938
Torres .938
And here is the rest of the report!
CSW% Leaders - Yesterday
1. Zac Gallen (ARI): 18.4 SwStr%, 42.9 CSW%
2. Hunter Greene (CIN): 23.1 SwStr%, 36.3 CSW%
3. Brandon Woodruff (MIL): 17.7 SwStr%, 35.4 CSW%
4. Jameson Taillon (NYY): 16.8 SwStr%, 34.7 CSW%
5. Max Fried (ATL): 15.9 SwStr%, 32.7 CSW%
6. Ranger Suarez (PHI): 14.5 SwStr%, 31.3 CSW%
7. Adrian Martinez (OAK): 12.3 SwStr%, 30.9 CSW%
8. Jose Urena (COL): 16.0 SwStr%, 29.8 CSW%
9. Johnny Cueto (CWS): 13.2 SwStr%, 28.6 CSW%
10. Michael Lorenzen (LAA): 14.1 SwStr%, 28.3 CSW%
Top Pitcher JA Scores - Yesterday
1. Zac Gallen - 8.0 IP - 109.75 JA Points
2. Kyle Bradish - 8.67 IP - 76.0 JA Points
3. Brandon Woodruff - 6.0 IP - 75.5 JA Points
4. Max Fried - 5.0 IP - 73.5 JA Points
5. Jameson Taillon - 6.0 IP - 72.25 JA Points
6. Hunter Greene - 5.0 IP - 69.75 JA Points
7. Michael Lorenzen - 5.0 IP - 54.25 JA Points
8. Shane Bieber - 7.67 IP - 49.0 JA Points
9. Mitch Keller - 6.0 IP - 45.5 JA Points
10. Jose Urena - 5.67 IP - 43.75 JA Points
Pitcher JA Scores - Season
1. Spencer Strider (ATL) - 20.0 GS - 57.89 JA Points
2. Corbin Burnes (MIL) - 29.0 GS - 51.93 JA Points
3. Shane McClanahan (TB) - 26.0 GS - 50.62 JA Points
4. Carlos Rodon (SF) - 29.0 GS - 50.07 JA Points
5. Shohei Ohtani (LAA) - 25.0 GS - 50.04 JA Points
6. Gerrit Cole (NYY) - 29.0 GS - 48.52 JA Points
7. Blake Snell (SD) - 22.0 GS - 47.46 JA Points
8. Dylan Cease (CWS) - 30.0 GS - 47.37 JA Points
9. Max Scherzer (NYM) - 21.0 GS - 47.14 JA Points
10. Brandon Woodruff (MIL) - 25.0 GS - 46.04 JA Points
Velo Changes - Yesterday
Michael Lorenzen's SL velo (24 pitches) UP 1.5mph to 84.7
Mitch Keller's SL velo (28 pitches) DOWN -1.6mph to 83.0
Ranger Suarez's CH velo (19 pitches) DOWN -1.6mph to 83.5
Johnny Cueto's SL velo (11 pitches) DOWN -2.6mph to 80.9
Pitch Mix Changes - Yesterday
Brandon Woodruff's SL usage (22.9%) up 12.2 points
George Kirby's SI usage (23.2%) up 11.4 points
Hayden Wesneski's FC usage (21.8%) up 12.9 points
Hayden Wesneski's CH usage (17.2%) up 11.7 points
Johnny Cueto's FF usage (31.9%) up 14.1 points
Johnny Cueto's FC usage (30.8%) up 13.3 points
Jose Berrios's SI usage (36.5%) up 11.5 points
Jose Urena's SL usage (39.4%) up 16.5 points
Kyle Bradish's CU usage (24.0%) up 12.4 points
Kyle Bradish's SI usage (16.0%) up 14.2 points
Max Fried's SI usage (25.2%) up 12.7 points
Michael Lorenzen's FF usage (34.3%) up 14.2 points
Michael Lorenzen's CH usage (32.3%) up 12.3 points
Ranger Suarez's FC usage (21.7%) up 13.4 points
Shane Bieber's FC usage (32.0%) up 15.5 points
Zac Gallen's CU usage (38.8%) up 17.7 points
CSW% Leaders - Last 3 Weeks
Jacob deGrom - 67 TBF, 38.2% CSW%
Gerrit Cole - 73 TBF, 37.1% CSW%
Corbin Burnes - 106 TBF, 35.7% CSW%
Charlie Morton - 94 TBF, 34.9% CSW%
Spencer Strider - 71 TBF, 34.7% CSW%
Brandon Woodruff - 100 TBF, 34.5% CSW%
Clayton Kershaw - 71 TBF, 34.4% CSW%
Logan Webb - 91 TBF, 34.0% CSW%
Framber Valdez - 87 TBF, 33.6% CSW%
Corey Kluber - 87 TBF, 33.6% CSW%
K% Leaders - Last 3 Weeks
Jacob deGrom - 67 TBF, 46.3% K%
Gerrit Cole - 73 TBF, 43.8% K%
Nick Lodolo - 96 TBF, 39.6% K%
Spencer Strider - 71 TBF, 39.4% K%
Blake Snell - 93 TBF, 37.6% K%
Brandon Woodruff - 100 TBF, 37.0% K%
Zac Gallen - 95 TBF, 36.8% K%
Logan Gilbert - 69 TBF, 36.2% K%
Clayton Kershaw - 71 TBF, 32.4% K%
Jesus Luzardo - 92 TBF, 31.5% K%
K-BB% Leaders - Last 3 Weeks
Jacob deGrom - 67 TBF, 44.8% K-BB%
Nick Lodolo - 96 TBF, 35.4% K-BB%
Gerrit Cole - 73 TBF, 34.2% K-BB%
Zac Gallen - 95 TBF, 32.6% K-BB%
Blake Snell - 93 TBF, 31.2% K-BB%
Clayton Kershaw - 71 TBF, 31.0% K-BB%
Brandon Woodruff - 100 TBF, 31.0% K-BB%
Logan Gilbert - 69 TBF, 30.4% K-BB%
Spencer Strider - 71 TBF, 29.6% K-BB%
Kevin Gausman - 105 TBF, 24.8% K-BB%
GB% Leaders - Last 3 Weeks
Kyle Wright - 68 TBF, 65.9% GB%
Framber Valdez - 87 TBF, 63.6% GB%
Alex Cobb - 73 TBF, 62.0% GB%
Brady Singer - 74 TBF, 57.6% GB%
Nick Lodolo - 96 TBF, 57.1% GB%
Ranger Suarez - 93 TBF, 55.1% GB%
Jose Urena - 96 TBF, 54.8% GB%
Corbin Burnes - 106 TBF, 52.1% GB%
Shane Bieber - 108 TBF, 51.9% GB%
Daniel Lynch - 83 TBF, 51.7% GB%
Magic Formula Qualifiers - Pitchers - Last 3 Weeks
Brandon Woodruff - 100 TBF, 37.0 K%, 6.0 BB%, 46.4% GB%
Carlos Carrasco - 80 TBF, 28.8 K%, 7.5 BB%, 49.0% GB%
Chris Bassitt - 66 TBF, 30.3 K%, 7.6 BB%, 45.0% GB%
Framber Valdez - 87 TBF, 29.9 K%, 6.9 BB%, 63.6% GB%
Jacob deGrom - 67 TBF, 46.3 K%, 1.5 BB%, 45.7% GB%
Luis Castillo - 99 TBF, 28.3 K%, 5.1 BB%, 51.6% GB%
Nick Lodolo - 96 TBF, 39.6 K%, 4.2 BB%, 57.1% GB%
Hot Pitcher Tracker - Last 3 Weeks vs. Career
Triston McKenzie - +2.7% CSW%, -4.6 BB%
Zac Gallen - +3.5% CSW%, -3.6 BB%
Mitch Keller - +2.7% CSW%, -1.7 BB%
Blake Snell - +2.9% CSW%, -4.2 BB%
Logan Webb - +3.5% CSW%, -4.5 BB%
Framber Valdez - +3.6% CSW%, -1.5 BB%
Dylan Bundy - +2.1% CSW%, -3.6 BB%
Jose Suarez - +3.3% CSW%, -5.6 BB%
Chad Kuhl - +3.6% CSW%, -3.8 BB%
Daniel Lynch - +2.3% CSW%, -4.2 BB%
Multiple Barrels
Edward Olivares (KC) 3 PA, 6 Swings, 2 Barrels, 1 HR
Gleyber Torres (NYY) 4 PA, 5 Swings, 2 Barrels, 0 HR
Kolten Wong (MIL) 4 PA, 6 Swings, 2 Barrels, 3 HR
MJ Melendez (KC) 4 PA, 6 Swings, 2 Barrels, 0 HR
Mike Yastrzemski (SF) 5 PA, 10 Swings, 2 Barrels, 1 HR
Top Hitter JA Scores - Yesterday
1. Kolten Wong - 4.0 PA - 78.0 JA Points
2. Lars Nootbaar - 4.0 PA - 66.0 JA Points
3. Randy Arozarena - 5.0 PA - 55.0 JA Points
4. Manny Machado - 4.0 PA - 49.0 JA Points
5. Marcus Semien - 4.0 PA - 48.0 JA Points
6. Tommy Pham - 5.0 PA - 44.0 JA Points
7. Aaron Judge - 5.0 PA - 44.0 JA Points
8. Jarred Kelenic - 4.0 PA - 41.0 JA Points
9. Bryan Reynolds - 4.0 PA - 41.0 JA Points
10. Whit Merrifield - 4.0 PA - 40.0 JA Points
Hitter JA Scores - Season
1. Aaron Judge (NYY) - 625.0 PA - 150.72 JA Points
2. Yordan Alvarez (HOU) - 509.0 PA - 148.76 JA Points
3. Juan Soto (SD) - 607.0 PA - 131.53 JA Points
4. Freddie Freeman (LAD) - 645.0 PA - 119.57 JA Points
5. Paul Goldschmidt (STL) - 617.0 PA - 108.98 JA Points
6. Alejandro Kirk (TOR) - 497.0 PA - 103.34 JA Points
7. Yandy Diaz (TB) - 546.0 PA - 101.39 JA Points
8. Alex Bregman (HOU) - 605.0 PA - 100.76 JA Points
9. Luis Arraez (MIN) - 561.0 PA - 88.84 JA Points
10. Will Smith (LAD) - 527.0 PA - 85.01 JA Points
Hardest Hit Balls
Aaron Judge (NYY) - 113.0mph - field_out
Mike Trout (LAA) - 112.0mph - double
Magneuris Sierra (LAA) - 111.7mph - foul
Josh Naylor (CLE) - 111.2mph - double
Austin Riley (ATL) - 110.8mph - double
Drew Waters (KC) - 110.6mph - home_run
Bryan Reynolds (PIT) - 110.0mph - single
Randy Arozarena (TB) - 109.8mph - double
Seth Brown (OAK) - 109.6mph - foul
Julio Rodriguez (SEA) - 109.1mph - double
Last 3 Weeks - Brl% Leaders
Aaron Judge - 80 PA, 47 BIP, 17 Brls, 36.2 Brl%
Yordan Alvarez - 68 PA, 52 BIP, 16 Brls, 30.8 Brl%
Ryan Mountcastle - 72 PA, 49 BIP, 15 Brls, 30.6 Brl%
Seth Brown - 68 PA, 38 BIP, 10 Brls, 26.3 Brl%
Joey Gallo - 53 PA, 25 BIP, 6 Brls, 24.0 Brl%
J.T. Realmuto - 66 PA, 46 BIP, 11 Brls, 23.9 Brl%
Oneil Cruz - 83 PA, 43 BIP, 10 Brls, 23.3 Brl%
Max Muncy - 62 PA, 39 BIP, 8 Brls, 20.5 Brl%
Eloy Jimenez - 79 PA, 56 BIP, 11 Brls, 19.6 Brl%
Gleyber Torres - 78 PA, 53 BIP, 10 Brls, 18.9 Brl%
Last 3 Weeks - xwOBA Leaders
Aaron Judge - 80 PA, 0.559 xwOBA
Yordan Alvarez - 68 PA, 0.543 xwOBA
Freddie Freeman - 75 PA, 0.454 xwOBA
Ryan Mountcastle - 72 PA, 0.453 xwOBA
Eduardo Escobar - 75 PA, 0.45 xwOBA
Willy Adames - 86 PA, 0.438 xwOBA
Bo Bichette - 96 PA, 0.435 xwOBA
Eloy Jimenez - 79 PA, 0.435 xwOBA
J.T. Realmuto - 66 PA, 0.426 xwOBA
Carlos Santana - 61 PA, 0.408 xwOBA
Last 3 Weeks - Contact% Leaders
Isiah Kiner-Falefa - 67 PA, 98 Swings, 93.9 Cont%
Luis Arraez - 77 PA, 157 Swings, 93.6 Cont%
Yuli Gurriel - 68 PA, 126 Swings, 92.9 Cont%
Steven Kwan - 99 PA, 168 Swings, 92.9 Cont%
Myles Straw - 80 PA, 116 Swings, 90.5 Cont%
Tony Kemp - 66 PA, 110 Swings, 90.0 Cont%
Wander Franco - 57 PA, 107 Swings, 89.7 Cont%
Santiago Espinal - 51 PA, 88 Swings, 88.6 Cont%
Alejandro Kirk - 66 PA, 114 Swings, 87.7 Cont%
Vimael Machin - 62 PA, 104 Swings, 86.5 Cont%
Magic Formula Qualifiers - Hitters - Last 3 Weeks
Adolis Garcia - 70 PA, 20.0 K%, 16.3 Brl%
Eduardo Escobar - 75 PA, 16.0 K%, 17.5 Brl%
Freddie Freeman - 75 PA, 13.3 K%, 15.8 Brl%
Josh Donaldson - 63 PA, 19.0 K%, 14.0 Brl%
MJ Melendez - 77 PA, 19.5 K%, 15.1 Brl%
Ryan Mountcastle - 72 PA, 19.4 K%, 30.6 Brl%
Yordan Alvarez - 68 PA, 11.8 K%, 30.8 Brl%
Hot Hitter Tracker - Last 7 vs. Career
Ian Happ - +13.0% Contact%, +3.6 mph exit velo, -8.4 Chase%
Aaron Judge - +4.6% Contact%, +3.0 mph exit velo, -4.0 Chase%
Taylor Ward - +5.4% Contact%, +3.4 mph exit velo, -6.4 Chase%
Jeremy Pena - +9.8% Contact%, +6.5 mph exit velo, -9.5 Chase%
Juan Soto - +4.7% Contact%, +3.3 mph exit velo, -3.5 Chase%
J.P. Crawford - +7.1% Contact%, +6.2 mph exit velo, -6.2 Chase%
A.J. Pollock - +20.0% Contact%, +3.7 mph exit velo, -4.0 Chase%
Ha-Seong Kim - +4.9% Contact%, +4.2 mph exit velo, -7.9 Chase%
Geraldo Perdomo - +3.1% Contact%, +5.9 mph exit velo, -4.5 Chase%
Jurickson Profar - +11.6% Contact%, +3.1 mph exit velo, -11.9 Chase%
Ryan Mountcastle - +14.3% Contact%, +8.7 mph exit velo, -20.4 Chase%
Super Ultra Mega Hot Hitters - Last 15 Days
Juan Soto - 0.377 xwOBA, 16.1% Brl%, 80.6% Contact%, 15.7% Chase%, 19.2% K%
Marcus Semien - 0.408 xwOBA, 11.4% Brl%, 83.3% Contact%, 23.6% Chase%, 15.8% K%
Cold Hitters - Last 2 Weeks
Bubba Thompson - 37.1% Whiff%, 76.9% Weak%, 0.961 Cold Rating
Joey Gallo - 42.1% Whiff%, 75.0% Weak%, 0.96 Cold Rating
Franmil Reyes - 38.5% Whiff%, 71.4% Weak%, 0.916 Cold Rating
Daulton Varsho - 36.0% Whiff%, 71.9% Weak%, 0.913 Cold Rating
Michael A. Taylor - 31.5% Whiff%, 73.9% Weak%, 0.891 Cold Rating
Gary Sanchez - 37.8% Whiff%, 70.4% Weak%, 0.887 Cold Rating
Tommy Edman - 31.0% Whiff%, 74.3% Weak%, 0.883 Cold Rating
Josh Donaldson - 31.2% Whiff%, 71.4% Weak%, 0.863 Cold Rating
Austin Hedges - 37.0% Whiff%, 69.2% Weak%, 0.856 Cold Rating
Cavan Biggio - 30.6% Whiff%, 71.4% Weak%, 0.854 Cold Rating
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