Nolasco earns franchise-record win: It took him three tries, but on Tuesday against the Rockies, Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco earned the 69th victory of his career, breaking Dontrelle Willis franchise mark. In the early going, it did not look like Nolasco was going to even be in line for a win, as he struggled mightily through the first inning of the game, allowing three early runs on four hits and walk. He would settle down from there, allowing just one more run, finishing with four runs allowed total on eight hits and a walk in six innings. The offense bailed him out early enough that he was able to pick up the franchise-record win, 7-6, improving his record on the season to 5-2. He struck out a season-high six batters in the game. (Updated 05/23/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/25/12).
Fantasy Analysis
It took a bit of help from the offense, however Nolasco finally got the win, after losing in his previous two attempts. More importantly, he was able to strike batters out, a skill that had been sorely missing from his repertoire previously this season. He is still striking out a career-low 5.30 batters per nine innings, however he maintains a solid strikeout-to-walk ratio of better than 2-to-1. His ERA now stands at 4.31 heading into his next start, a matchup with the Giants on Sunday to finish off a two-start Week 8 (May 21-27). He has a 1.56 ERA in 52 career innings against the Giants, and should be a solid Fantasy option for the outing. (Updated 05/23/2012).
05/20/2012 08:36 Top 70 starters for Week 8
A lot to take into consideration before setting your pitching staffs for Fantasy Week 8. Our Al Melchior runs through his Top 70 starting options and has all the matchups.
05/17/2012 22:12 Beachy stops Marlins, earns first shutout
Brandon Beachy improved his major-league best ERA with a couple of career milestones and the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 7-0 on Thursday night.
05/13/2012 20:18 Hit Parade for Week 7
As interleague play gets under way there are many matchups to break down. Our Scott White tells you who the best bets and biggest risks are in his Hit Parade for Week 7.
05/12/2012 16:51 Mets ride Wright to win vs. Marlins
David Wright homered and singled three times in his fourth consecutive multi-hit game Saturday, and R.A. Dickey earned his fifth victory by pitching six innings to help the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 9-3.
You've had about enough of Ricky Nolasco, haven't you? Every year he gets hyped as a breakout candidate based on his stellar strikeout-to-walk ratio, and every year, he falls well short of expectations. Well, guess what? He may have finally blown it for good last year. He started out well enough, going 4-0 with a 3.04 ERA in his first 10 starts but beginning with his 15-hit, eight-run outing on May 29, he began to unravel, taking one lump after another before ending the season by going 1-4 with an 8.18 ERA over his final eight starts. Worst of all, that strikeout rate that made him so enticing in the first place dipped to a not-so-impressive 6.5 per nine innings, placing him behind pitch-to-contact types like Tim Hudson and Derek Lowe. Nolasco had just enough success last year that not every Fantasy owner will be so quick to write him off, pointing out that he would have had a 3.62 ERA if not for the three starts in which he allowed eight-plus earned runs. But unfortunately those starts count and for Nolasco, they've become all too common. He's still worth a late-round flier just in case he finally does deliver on his so-called "promise," but you don't want to be the sucker who reaches for him any earlier than that. (Updated 2/17/12)