All articles tagged with #starting pitching
Nick Pollack’s SP Roundup for Monday breaks down every starter, led by Zack Wheeler’s alarming 4-inning, 8-run outing that flags command and walk-rate issues, while strong efforts from Kevin Gausman, Sandy Alcantara, Zebby Matthews, Parker Messick, and Kumar Rocker provide fantasy hope; Tyler Glasnow’s return headlines the Game of the Day, and streaming picks have moved to the SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings piece.
Atlanta Braves entered the trade deadline as obvious buyers with a commanding NL East lead and strong playoff odds, adding Lane Thomas and Brent Suter but not landing a starting pitcher. The rotation remains thin behind Chris Sale, a gap the article argues represents a notable missed opportunity given their postseason chances and the available rotation options.
With the MLB trade deadline looming, teams are aggressively pursuing controllable starting pitching. Seattle is weighing deals for George Kirby or Emerson Hancock, with Hancock viewed as more tradable; the Rockies have moved Brenton Doyle and are likely to deal Antonio Senzatela; the Rangers may flip MacKenzie Gore for longer‑term arms. Other clubs such as the Mets, Angels, Red Sox, and Nationals have sell lists and talks ongoing, while Washington signals CJ Abrams is unlikely to be moved, highlighting a market where rotations are the hot commodity despite balancing assets.
Reports say multiple clubs, including the Chicago Cubs, have shown interest in Mariners pitcher George Kirby as Seattle listens on trades ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline. Kirby, 28 and under arbitration through 2027-28 with a strong groundball profile and high innings total, is a prized cost-controlled arm, though teams are weighing the value against the impact of other available starters like Emerson Hancock and Luis Castillo.
Dodgers executives downplay Ohtani’s knee issue but keep it central to their deadline planning, while actively pursuing star-level pitching like Tarik Skubal. The club has Emmet Sheehan and several prospects in play, with other targets such as Alex Call and Eric Lauer also involved. If health or roster logistics shift, pitchers like Clay Holmes could enter the mix, underscoring that LA will explore aggressive moves to fortify its rotation as the Aug. 3 deadline approaches.
The Cubs are weighing a trade for Tarik Skubal to bolster their rotation, viewing him as a marquee rental who could significantly boost playoff odds; Detroit would command a sizable package, and Chicago is weighing this option amid a crowded market, with their rotation in flux after DFAing Jameson Taillon and awaiting returns from other pitchers.
Tim Kelly outlines a realistic Phillies deadline plan: add an outfielder like Jo Adell (potential platoon against lefties), shore up the bullpen with one or two rentals (A.J. Minter and/or Brooks Raley), and pursue a veteran starter to stabilize the rotation, all while protecting the farm system and avoiding costly, franchise-altering trades. The goal is a playoff push without gutting their prospect pipeline.
The Chicago Cubs designated Jameson Taillon for assignment and promoted lefty Andrew Wantz after Taillon’s difficult season (34 years old, 15 starts, 76 innings, 5.96 ERA, 25 homers). With a battered rotation due to injuries, the Cubs have already added David Peterson and Aaron Civale and are expected to pursue further starting pitching before the August 3 trade deadline.
Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski was scratched from his Sunday start due to fatigue and will resume throwing on Tuesday; he will not pitch in Milwaukee's three-game series vs. Miami this week and could be pushed to the end of the rotation to start next Tuesday against the Mets, as the club manages workload amid a number of rotation injuries.
Eno Sarris updates rest-of-season MLB starting-pitching rankings for fantasy baseball, dividing pitchers into two groups: the “Hype Youngsters”—high-velocity, high-upside arms (Misiorowski, Schlittler, McLean, Burns, Yesavage, Sheehan, Pérez)—with notes on velocity depth for a couple of them, and the “Model Beaters,” where predictive metrics like SIERA, Stuff+, and K-BB lift pitchers such as Luzardo, Imanaga, Leiter, Holmes, and Elder. The piece emphasizes that ERA is not predictive, uses these stats to guide rest-of-season bets, and also surveys Triple-A prospects to watch for future pickups.
Pirates have joined a crowded market for left-hander Framber Valdez after he declined the Astros’ qualifying offer, a pursuit that would likely require a multi-year, potentially franchise-record contract and could cost Pittsburgh a top draft pick. The bid would bolster Pittsburgh’s rotation depth and, if paired with strategic moves for hitting, signals a bold push into the upper end of MLB payroll in a bid to transform their title contending window.
Boston has rebuilt its rotation with Ranger Suárez, Sonny Gray, and Johan Oviedo, giving eight to ten viable options and Triple-A depth; while they aren’t compelled to deal, reports suggest they could move top chips Payton Tolle or Connelly Early to land an impact bat (Ketel Marte, Brendan Donovan, or Isaac Paredes) to shore up the infield, with other starters like Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Kyle Harrison, and Patrick Sandoval as possible trade candidates.
Michael King re-signed with the San Diego Padres on a three-year, $75 million deal, aiming to recover from an injury-plagued 2025 season and bolster the team's starting rotation, which has faced significant challenges due to injuries and trades.
The Cubs are actively seeking starting pitching help before the trade deadline, exploring options like Zach Eflin from Orioles, Shane Bieber from Guardians, and considering other pitchers from Rays, with various prospects and rental options on their radar due to injuries and team needs.
The Chicago Cubs suffered a frustrating 8-4 loss to the Royals, highlighted by defensive errors and a poor pitching performance from Colin Rea, underscoring their urgent need for starting pitching upgrades before the trade deadline. The team has upcoming games against the White Sox and Brewers, with fans hoping for better results and roster improvements.