Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Tremendous Teheran
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The Braves have been borderline unwatchable this season. Julio Teheran is doing his best every five days to change that.
Teheran on Sunday had arguably his best start in what has been a fantastic season for the righty, yielding just one hit in a shutout of the Mets. He struck out seven on the day, throwing a season-high 120 pitches. The only baserunner Teheran allowed was a Michael Conforto single to lead off the third inning.
Teheran posted a 6.35 ERA over his first three starts of the season, but he’s been one of the best pitchers in the game since then, putting up a 1.89 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 78/16 K/BB ratio over 81 innings. Because of the ineptitude of the Braves’ offense, he’s managed to accumulate only two wins over that stretch. However, could more run support for the right-hander be coming soon?
Teheran’s contract is very reasonable. He’s making $3.3 million this season and is owed $25.3 million from 2017-19 with a $12 million club option for 2020. The Braves certainly don’t need to trade him for salary relief. However, he could wind up being the best trade chip for a club that’s obviously still in need of many roster changes.
Regardless of whether Teheran is shipped to a contender or remains in Atlanta, it’s pretty clear at this point that his disappointing 2015 campaign was a bump in the road rather than a sign of things to come.
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Weaver Turns Back the Clock
Teheran wasn’t the only pitcher to throw a shutout Sunday, as Jered Weaver joined him. Yes, that Jered Weaver.
Weaver held the Athletics to just three hits – all singles – and one walk on Sunday, needing just 95 pitches to complete the gem. Yep, that’s a “Maddux.” The veteran right-hander struck out just one batter on the day. Amazingly, he threw only 11 fastballs in the final five innings. “Fastballs,” of course, being a relative term given Weaver’s velocity issues.
Even against a weak Oakland offense, Weaver might be the last person you would have predicted would throw a shutout. The 33-year-old entered the day with a 5.71 ERA, which ranked 98th out of 101 pitchers who qualify for the ERA title. His 1.53 WHIP on the day ranked 97th. His 18 home runs allowed was tied for the worst mark. His fastball velocity of 82.5 mph (according to Fanagraphs.com) bested only knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.
Unfortunately, while it was cool to see Weaver turn back the clock for one outing, his shutout doesn’t change his long-term outlook one iota. He does get another crack at the A’s next weekend, though.
Ryu’s Velocity Lacking
Recoveries from shoulder surgery often don’t go smoothly. Hyun-Jin Ryu’s recovery is no exception.
Ryu had a setback late last month when he experienced renewed soreness in his left shoulder, resulting in nearly a three-week break in between rehab starts. The southpaw has allowed just one run over his last two rehab outings. That’s the good news. The bad news is his velocity sat around 86 mph in his last start, even dropping as low as 82 mph. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says that’s not good enough.
“You want to get the average up a little bit higher,” Roberts said. “I know that it is rehab, but I expect the velocity to go up.”
Since Ryu’s rehab assignment was re-set, he can stay in the minors for another three weeks if the Dodgers don’t think he’s ready. His depressed velocity suggests that he’s not, although Roberts expects the lefty’s heater to tick up a few mph as he keeps pitching.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers are going to need a couple starters soon. Mike Bolsinger was optioned on Sunday and Julio Urias is going to be booted from the rotation after Wednesday in order to keep his workload down. The schedule allows them to go without a fifth starter until June 28 if they want, although they haven’t said that that’s what they’ll do.
Brandon McCarthy (elbow) is nearing a return but might be behind Ryu. Alex Wood (elbow) is close to throwing again but won’t be ready for a few weeks. The Dodgers would surely love to use Ryu soon, but Roberts says the southpaw needs to get his fastball at least up to 88 mph before that happens.
National League Quick Hits: Mallex Smith was diagnosed with a fractured left thumb after being hit by a pitch Sunday … Dexter Fowler underwent an MRI on his hamstring and the Cubs haven’t ruled out a trip to the disabled list … Kyle Hendricks fanned a career-high 12 batters over six frames of one-run ball in a win over the Pirates … Michael Taylor went 4-for-4 with a double and a pair of home runs in Sunday’s loss to the Padres … Marcell Ozuna went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer in Sunday’s win over the Rockies … Matt Duffy is day-to-day after departing Sunday’s game with a sore Achilles … David Peralta (back) could need a stint on the disabled list … Brandon Belt went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Sunday’s win over the Rays … Matt Garza tossed six shutout frames in Sunday’s loss to the Dodgers … Archie Bradley struck out five while allowing just one unearned run over six frames in a win over the Phillies … Anthony Rizzo homered and drove home three runs in Sunday’s victory over the Pirates … Tyler Chatwood was placed on the disabled list with a mid-back strain … Chris Owings (foot) could begin a rehab assignment with rookie league Arizona by the middle of the week … The Dodgers acquired Chris Taylor from the Mariners in exchange for Zach Lee … The Diamondbacks optioned Brandon Drury to Triple-A Reno …
American League Quick Hits: Felix Hernandez (calf) will resume flat-ground throwing on Tuesday or Wednesday … Mookie Betts went 3-for-5 with a go-ahead solo home run in Sunday’s win over the Mariners … Jordan Zimmermann spun eight frames of one-run ball in Sunday’s loss to the Royals … David Price whiffed seven over eight innings of one-run ball in Sunday’s win over the Mariners … Henderson Alvarez has been shut down after having another setback with his surgically-repaired right shoulder … Troy Tulowitzki went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday’s loss to the Orioles … Taijuan Walker had to depart Sunday’s start against the Red Sox after aggravating a foot injury … Matt Wieters finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored and four RBI in a victory over the Blue Jays … Mike Fiers recorded five strikeouts over 5 2/3 scoreless innings in a win over the Reds … Mark Teixeira (knee) is hoping to be activated from the disabled list on Saturday … Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports that the Red Sox have placed Rusney Castillo on outright waivers …
