Patrick Corbin dominated the Dodgers yesterday. Was it the humidor? I don't think that had anything to do with his 12 strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work while allowing just 1(!) hit. Corbin could not be off to a hotter start. If he's available, definitely pick him up across the board. At 28, he could be poised for a breakout season. Last year was a bit of a mixed bag with an ERA that settled around 4, but interestingly he struggled mightily on the road vs. at home, which we don't typically see for guys with a home ballpark that hitters adore. His stock is going upwards.
Max Scherzer took the loss yesterday, in part due to allowed 5 runs (only 2 earned) over 5 IP. He struck out seven on the day. Scherzer looks poised to contend for another Cy Young this season despite the mixed bag of results yesterday. It was a matchup most owners were hoping he would feast on, but it wasn't his day, as he allowed a 2 RBI double to the opposing pitcher.
Preston Tucker is now batting a robust .429 after going 1-for-2 with a walk and 3 RBI yesterday, including a HR off Max Scherzer. The 27-year-old is one of the hottest hitters in baseball presently, but it will likely end soon. Despite hitting in the middle of the Braves lineup, Tucker doesn't have a great history of being a dominating bat. While he slugged 24 HR in 128 AAA games last year, he sported an OPS of just .798. I'd expect him to cool off sooner rather than later.
Mike Foltynewicz pitched well over 5.1 innings yesterday, striking out 8 while allowing just 1 ER (and he hit a double!). Even more positively, he walked just 2 batters with a GB% of 55%. At age 26, he has a decently high ceiling that we advised folks to target later in drafts. We can see why early as he's tallied 15 strikeouts and 10+ innings. If he's available on the waiver wire, he's worth a flier, but expect some inconsistency moving forward.
Noah Syndergaard made it through just 4 innings (92 pitches) yesterday, allowing 2 ER with 4 hits and 7 strikeouts. His ERA sits at 5.40 on the young season. It was an unlucky start for the ace, as he had a BABIP of .444 with 55% of balls on the ground. Despite what the stats show, Syndergaard looks pretty good early on. I would expect a number of short outings over the next month, which isn't the end of the world as he'll run up against an innings cap at some point otherwise.
Ivan Nova was kicked around through 5.1 innings, allowing 5 ER off 5 hits and 3 strikeouts. Nova isn't a recommended option in any format; to be successful, he'll need to massive increase his GB rate since he lacks the stuff for consistent strikeouts. It doesn't appear to be happening. He'll post some decent starts in Pittsburgh, but I don't foresee any consistency.
