Clayton Richard - Fantasy News & Updates
Clayton Richard - Fantasy News & Updates
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While Richard battled with inconsistency throughout the season, he did manage to settle in nicely in the NL, illustrated by a 3.12 ERA in September. The 26-year-old should only improve as he gains more Major League experience, but don't expect anything more than a No. 3 or 4 starter.
There's nothing like moving to the National League to boost a player's fantasy fortunes. Richard had a 4.65 ERA in 26 games with the White Sox, but rang up a much improved 4.08 mark to go with a tidy 5-2 record in 12 starts with the Padres. PETCO Park is a great place to pitch, of course, but Richard's run of three straight fine starts to end the season included two road games. Over that stretch, Richard posted an eye-opening 0.95 ERA in 19 innings, despite a 9/8 K/BB ratio. He's not overwhelming, but given his solid work down the stretch and favorable home park, Richard will look like an appealing option in NL-only leagues next year.
This was Richard's first road quality start as a Padre. In four previous outings away from San Diego, Richard posted a 10.69 ERA and a 2.50 WHIP to warrant himself all but a spot starter strictly in home affairs. That hasn't necessarily changed since a start against the Pirates' anemic offense isn't an ideal barometer to judge whether Richard has solved his road woes. Keep him on the bench for his Sept. 24 start vs. the powerful Rockies at Coors Field.
This was Richard's second loss in eight starts with the Padres, and it's becoming more apparent where owners can expect his future losses to occur. Richards sports a dominant 1.88 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in four starts at PETCO Park vs. a 10.69 ERA and a 2.50 WHIP in four road starts for the Padres. With a home start against the Rockies on tap for Sept. 12, owners should overlook Monday's rough outing and keep Richards in the lineup for his next trip to the hill.
Richard surely loves his pitcher-friendly home ballpark. The big southpaw has allowed just five earned runs and 16 hits over 24 innings at PETCO Park, resulting in three wins and a no-decision in that span. His next outing will come in another favorable pitching environment, San Francisco's AT&T Park, though he'll need to be at the top of his game against opposing starter Tim Lincecum.
Thursday's effort reinforced the notion that Richard's role in fantasy might be that of a spot starter during his home outings. Richard is 2-0 with a ridiculously low 2.08 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP in 17 1/3 innings over three starts at PETCO Park. On the other hand, he's sporting a devastatingly high 9.75 ERA with an equally unsightly 2.58 WHIP over just 12 innings in three road starts as a Padre. On that note, he should be activated in all formats on Sept. 1 when he returns to spacious PETCO Park for a matchup vs. the Nationals.
Richard has allowed just four earned runs on 12 hits in 17 1/3 innings over three starts at his new home, PETCO Park. He might have enjoyed some luck by not allowing so much as an extra-base hit on any of the seven flyouts he served. Still, he's an excellent spot start option whenever he takes the hill in San Diego.
Richard had all kinds of problems locating his pitches in this one, tossing just 48 of 93 pitches for strikes, throwing a wild pitch and handing out the six walks, which were a season-high. Control issues have become a trend for the young southpaw, who’s walked multiple batters in each of his last seven starts. For the year, he’s fanned 80 against 52 walks in 110 innings. He’ll have to exhibit much better command in his next start on Aug. 21 vs. a patient and dangerous Cardinals lineup.
The strikeouts are a pleasant surprise, but Richard had looked very sharp in his last two starts with the White Sox, and should benefit from the move to the homer-graveyard that is Petco. Richard has now allowed just three earned runs (and struck out 15) in his last 21 1/3 innings. That's a 1.25 ERA, and also a clear signal to NL-only owners that they should toss a bid in on the 25-year-old lefty, anemic Pads offense notwithstanding. Richard's next start is on August 6, at home against the light-hitting Mets.
This is a reflection of the Padres' need to open up roster spots for the recently acquired Clayton Richard and Aaron Poreda more than it bespeaks any setback for Giles and Young. There is still no timetable for Giles' return, but that has been the case for awhile, and the Padres are clearly more inclined to try out young players in the outfield in the hopes of unearthing a 2010 starter. Young has been on the DL since June, and despite playing catch with Manager Bud Black before games, he, too, is still a ways away from a return.
Richard is a much more promising fantasy option than Geer, and may bear a look in NL-only leagues. Despite his powerful build, Richard isn't much of a strikeout pitcher, but he was a passable 4-3 with a 4.65 ERA in 26 games (14 of them starts) with the White Sox, and will surely benefit from a move to the cavernous Petco. Geer had has moments with the Friars this season, but his 1-7 record and 5.96 ERA prevented him from making much of a fantasy impact.
That's back-to-back quality starts from Richard, who's surrendered just two earned runs on nine hits over 16 innings during that span. Still, it may not be a smart idea to go with the young left-hander for his next start vs. a powerful Yankees offense Aug. 1.
Richard had posted a 10.50 ERA in his five previous starts so this stellar performance could be a sign that the 25-year-old southpaw is starting to figure things out at the big league level. Still, with Bartolo Colon set to return from the DL later this week, it may not be long before Richard is bumped from the rotation. His next scheduled start is set for July 26 on the road vs. the Tigers.
Poreda, the team's top pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, has become an instant bullpen presence with a 0.90 ERA over eight games. With Clayton Richard having logged a 10.50 ERA over his past five starts, the people's choice for Chicago's fifth starter among in-house candidates going into the All-Star break was Poreda. But with proven veterans such as Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia working their way back into big league pitching form at Triple-A Charlotte, White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said the club will keep the talented rookie in his role for the time being.
"The control was outstanding, his velocity was not there and he threw more breaking balls," said White Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen of Colon. The 36-year-old veteran is next slated to hurl a Single-A rehab start on July 14. With the burly right-hander still a few starts away from rejoining the big league club, Clayton Richard will remain in the White Sox rotation at the start of the second half.
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