SF are in a free fall and it won’t stop until Rodon or Webb pitch and Giants find their offense. Hate to see them lose again but taking Cubs for lucky #7.
SF are in a free fall and it won’t stop until Rodon or Webb pitch and Giants find their offense. Hate to see them lose again but taking Cubs for lucky #7.
Alex Wood (65% rostered in ESPN leagues) hit a rough patch in mid-June, but he's rebounded with a 2.05 ERA and 10.6 K/9 over his last five starts. He's showing more zip on his sinker than he was a month ago when he was struggling, and his 34% O-Swing% (percentage of pitches batters swing at outside the zone) is his best mark since 2019. Pitching against a Chicago Cubs team that's fanning at a 25% clip in July, Wood finds himself in a high-upside matchup on Thursday's slate.
There aren't many safe streaming options available on Thursday, but Justin Steele(6%) at least deserves some consideration. The 27-year-old lefty owns a 2.85 ERA over his last eight starts and has surrendered only one run in three of his last four turns. Steele's arsenal, which includes a low-90s fastball and lackluster control, doesn't necessarily portend long-term success, but he's making it work for the time being. Although the San Francisco Giants don't present a particularly enticing matchup, their offense has been slightly below average in July and Oracle Park is a great venue for pitchers, so Steele should be able to get through this outing relatively unscathed.