We managed to pull off one trade ahead of the deadline, adding two bullpen arms in exchange for top prospect Jackson Kowar. Rowan Wick and Mark Melancon will take some of the workload off the backs of our overworked bullpen staff.
The Good
Jon Gray (3-0, 2.02 ERA) stepped it up in Chapter Two. In 35+ innings, he allowed just 28 hits (one home run) and 11 walks, with 38 strikeouts. If he could ever pitch a full season at some point in his career, he would be incredibly valuable.
Max Scherzer (3-2, 2.29 ERA) enjoyed a productive chapter as well. His numbers are even more impressive when you take into account a disastrous start against South Loop, in which he allowed 13 hits and 6 runs (5 earned) in only 5 2/3 innings.
Sonny Gray (4-2, 3.25 ERA) also had a productive chapter that included not one, but TWO, multi-inning relief appearances in extra innings. He ended up throwing seven innings in those two games, allowed just one hit, and ended up with the win in both games.
Taylor Rogers (2.00 ERA in 18 IP) was an absolute workhorse in Chapter Two. Jimmy Cordero (2.13 in 12+) also worked a little harder than I planned for him to work.
Rafael Devers "slumped" all the way to .299/.359/538 for the chapter, and yet still led the team in runs created.
Alex Avila (.435/.519/.870) broke out of his slump in a big, big, way. His catching platoonmate, Tom Murphy (.360/.418/.800), also had a big chapter. Even our backup to the backup catcher, Bryan Holaday (.300/.370/.525) had a nice chapter.
Shohei Ohtani (.348/.353/.742, 6 HR) broke out after a slow start to the 2020 season. Cameron Maybin (.403/.456/.565) and Nick Senzel (.347/.353/.551) also raked. Ramon Laureano (.283/.316/.630) led the team with 8 home runs. Even Andrew Benintendi, of all people, had a productive chapter (.275/.378/.420).
The Bad
After a blistering Chapter One, Trea Turner's performance (.238/.278/.337) hit a wall in Chapter Two.
Anibal Sanchez (2-2, 4.11 ERA) was pretty mediocre. Trevor May (3.77 ERA in 14+ IP) was a disappointment out of the bullpen.
Jose Ramirez (.264/.298/.425) and Christian Walker (.241/.310/.464) weren't exactly awe-inspiring.
The Ugly
Stephen F'ing Strasburg. Wow, did he suck, early in the chapter. He was pummeled by Bear Country (6 IP, 8 H, 5 ER), spanked by Akron (5 IP, 8 H, 6 ER), and absolutely humiliated by Allentown (5.2 IP, 12 H, 10 ER). His numbers for the chapter: 42+ IP, 51 H, 5 HR, 14 BB, 43 K. Yuck.
We have to use our bench players quite a lot, thanks to usage limits. Unfortunately, they all pretty much sucked monkey balls the entire chapter. That includes Aledmys Diaz (.184/.310/.449), Carlos Puello (.143/.308/.429), and Tim Lopes (.138/.138/.138).
