Michael Pineda and the Yankees snapped the Mets’ win streak Friday
The Mets amazing win streak is over after 11 games, as their cross-town rivals, the Yankees, downed them 6-1 on Friday night. Outstanding starting pitching fueled their winning streak, but Jacob deGrom was not effective for the Mets and the streak ended. There were other major fantasy storylines that unfolded last night, and this is the daily update for April 25, 2015.
Recap
Marvelous Michael Pineda ends the Mets’ 11-game win streak
Pineda continued on his great start to the 2015 season, while deGrom struggled, in a 6-1 Yankees win. The young Mets’ starter allowed six runs and three home runs, two to Mark Teixiera, in five innings, tripling his two earned runs allowed for the season in one appearance. Pineda, on the other hand, was brilliant in 7 2/3 innings, striking out seven batters without a walk. Pineda now has 27 strikeouts and two walks allowed for the season in 25 2/3 innings. This low walk rate, 0.7 per nine, is not an aberration, as his walks per nine last year stood at 0.8. Both deGrom and Pineda are in the same place for the 2015 season in terms of fantasy. They are SP3 with upside to SP2.
Shane Greene comes back to Earth
Greene had allowed one earned run in 23 innings coming into his appearance with the Indians on Friday night. He allowed nine hits and eight runs in four innings of Friday night’s matchup with Cleveland. Greene was not as good as his first three starts, nor is he as bad as last night’s start. Greene will not strike out a lot of batters, he only has 12 for the season, but he only has walked seven batters this season as well. Greene is a contact pitcher and as long as the ball is not hit hard or for a home run, Greene is a decent SP4 or SP5 option, especially with a powerful offense behind him. He has not allowed a home run yet this season, and he has allowed seven hits per nine innings. He allowed 9.32 hits per nine innings and 0.91 home runs per nine innings with the Yankees last season, so the 2015 ratios may not change by much.
Aaron Harang solid for Phillies in no-decision against Braves
Harang has had a respectable three year run in the NL East, as he pitched eight innings of two-hit ball for the Phillies last night. Since moving to the Mets in late 2013, and playing for the Braves in 2014 as well, Harang has a 3.34 ERA; this is a very respectful mark for a pitcher that posted a 5.76 ERA with the Mariners in 120 1/3 innings in the beginning of 2013. Harang has a .165 batting average against, a 0.80 WHIP, and 1.37 ERA; one factor to consider in evaluating Harang, though, is that his career .304 batting average on balls in play sits at .203 in the early season. He also has posted a very solid strand rate of 86.7%; Harang should be added as a back of the rotation option for fantasy purposes.
Carlos Martinez up to the task for Cardinals against Brewers
Martinez pitched seven solid innings for the Cardinals, striking out a season-high eight batters. He has a 0.90 WHIP and .159 batting average against in 20 innings this season. His only three runs allowed this season have been off of solo home runs against the Reds and he has not allowed more than five hits in any of his starts. Martinez has potential as an SP3 this season and the 23 year old has huge value in dynasty formats, especially if he strikes out more than a batter per inning like he has thus far in 2015.
Felix Hernandez throws a shutout against Twins
Phil Hughes regained his 2014 form with eight innings pitched, nine strikeouts, and no walks, and Nelson Cruz hit his major league-leading ninth home run, but the story of the Mariners-Twins matchup was Hernandez. In just over two hours, Hernandez carved the Twins lineup by allowing only five hits and striking out nine batters. After leaving an April 18 game against the Rangers after five innings, Hernandez has pitched 16 innings, allowing seven hits, one run, striking out 21 batters and allowing only two walks. Hernandez’s value cannot be understated, and the stronger Mariners’ lineup will only enhance his value. He is a buy-high candidate, and this may be the season that he is the consensus No. 1 SP.
What to watch for
There is a full schedule today, headlined by Matt Harvey going against the Yankees looking to get the Mets back on their winning ways. Adam Wainwright will pitch for the Cardinals against the Brewers, Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals will face the Marlins, and Trevor Bauer will pitch for the Indians against the Tigers. All of these are premier matchups, but the best may be the Reds-Cubs contest of Anthony DeSclafani and Jake Arrieta. The two have a combined 1.30 ERA in 41 2/3 innings pitched.
Chris Zolli is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Chris, check out his archive and follow him @thezman2010.
