Yovani Gallardo (SP-MIL). In his first start since his DUI arrest, Yovani Gallardo pitched 6 strong innings to pick up the win against the Giants on Thursday. He allowed 1 earned run on 5 hits and 1 walk with 6 strikeouts to earn his first win of the season, also belting a 2-run homer to help his own cause. This is a very welcomed sign for fantasy owners, as he was struggling mightily, allowing 12 earned runs and 26 hits in 16 1/3 innings through his first three starts. What has been encouraging all season is his walk rate, which now sits at 4%, much improved from his career 9%. It looks like the strikeouts have returned, and with his strand rate of 62.5% and his BABIP at .393 bound return to normalcy, look for Gallardo to continue to improve his numbers across the board.
Matt Cain (SP-SF). Matt Cain was lit up to the tune of 6 innings and 7 earned runs on 7 hits and was tagged with the loss against the Brewers on Thursday. On the surface, Cain's numbers aren't so pretty through 4 starts: 22 2/3 innings and 18 earned runs on 25 hits and 5 homers. However, Cain owners should expect a rebound soon. His K% and BB% are very much in line with his career numbers. His strand rate is 61.3% and his BABIP is at .299, significant deviations from career norms. And nothing from his Pitch FX data in terms of movement and velocity sound any alarms. So even though his ERA is at an abysmal 7.15, his xFIP is a 4.17. With better fortune and fewer homers, Cain will be Cain like very soon.
Julio Teheran (SP-ATL): Julio Teheran struggled through 5 innings on Thursday against the Pirates, allowing 4 earned runs on 7 hits (2 homers) 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. His ERA now sits at 7.31 with a 1.75 WHIP and .318 Batting Average Against through 3 starts. After he added the 2-seam fastball and dominated with it in spring, it's safe to say Teheran has disappointed fantasy owners thus far in 2013. While he's been throwing the 2-seamer more often (30.9% more than last year!) he's struggled to find consistency with it and its vertical movement has been below average. I wouldn't give up on him yet, but he's going to be a work in progress. If you can, stash him and wait to see more consistency.
Tony Cingrani (SP-CIN): Tony Cingrani won his major league debut against Jose Fernandez and the Marlins on Thursdays, tossing 5 innings with 1 earned run allowed on 5 hits, 3 walks and 8 strikeouts. The lefty induced 6 groundball outs to 3 on flyballs, and as advertised, relied heavily on his fastball to do it (81.4% usage). Cingrani is quite deceptive and is difficult to pick up, especially against lefties, so he could be a great play during his first go-round of the league. However, owners should exercise caution, as Cingrani is going to have to be more efficient with his pitches (102 in 5 innings) and demonstrate more confidence in his secondary offerings to experience sustained success in the majors. Not only that, but his spot in the rotation isn't guaranteed to be there all season. With that being said, he's worth picking up in all leagues for his upside and K potential.
Pedro Alvarez (3B-PIT): Pedro Alvarez went 1 for 3 with his first homer of the year, a 440 foot blast to dead center off Julio Teheran. Alvarez has been scuffling out of the gate to say the least as his abysmal triple slash line of .104/.204/.167 indicates. However, owners should exercise patience with the powerful lefty, as he got off to a very similar start in 2012 before heating up for the Bucs and smashing 30 HRs. Alvarez is prone to extreme streaks with his all or nothing approach, and his 30.7% K rate leaves him as a likely batting average liability. But if you paid for him on draft day, stick with him because the power will come. He'll face Tim Hudson on Friday, against whom he's 3 for 8 in his career. Look for him to streak into the weekend.
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