Holy BABIP, Batman! Rodon got bad lucked so hard I had to check the stat line twice to make sure I didn’t misread it. He went only 3.2 IP, with 9 H, 7 R, 1 BB and 3 SO. All those hits came as a benefit of a .600 BABIP. That’s not a typo. Yikes! Without all those hits, he may not have got all those runs, and probably would have had a longer, better start. Oh well. Now on to Streaming Pitchers: 6/17/2015.
Jeff Locke LHP PIT (@ CWS)
I will not pick a pitcher in The Cell. I will not pick a pitcher in The Cell. I will not pick a pitcher in The… Oh, hi there Jeff Locke, didn’t see you there. Yes, you want to avoid bad parks, unless you have the arsenal to accommodate it. Locke’s solid ground ball rate should help to keep the ball in the yard, so you shouldn’t have to worry about too many HR. Now we’ve talked about the downside with Locke here before. This year he hasn’t had the control he showed last year. He has shown better control over his last two starts, though, throwing just 3 BB in the last 12.1 IP. But he’s also down on his strikeouts, with only six of them during that timeframe. Now, here’s why this start should be good. The White Sox have only hit a 78 wRC+ at home and a tiny 47 wRC+ against lefties. This one comes with some obvious risks, but if you’re willing to take the chance, he could pay off big for you.
Jesse Chavez RHP OAK (vs. SD)
You guys aren’t listening to me, apparently. Chavez is still owned in under 50% of leagues, and I just don’t get it. A 7.41 K/9 and a 2.26 BB/9 have led to a 2.64 ERA and a 2.80 FIP. He’s been lucky with the HR so far, but pitching half his games in O.co Coliseum helps keep that HR/FB rate down. Even if you just use him in home starts, he’ll bring you huge value for next to nothing. The matchup always helps too, and this should be a good one for him. The Padres hit an 89 wRC+ on the road and an 89 wRC+ against righties. The Jesse Chavez fan club lives on!
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