RADIO
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14-team leagues / Stream Worthy
OWNED IN: 1% of Fleaflicker Leagues
ANALYSIS: Gotta love the year of the rookie. Aaron Brooks made his starting debut at home vs Cleveland and was excellent, spinning 7.1 innings of one run ball with a 5/0 K/BB ratio. Yes, it was the Indians (23rd in runs last seven days) but he still displayed the poise of a veteran in his first start. After the game A's coach Bob Melvin said Brook earned his right to stay in the rotation.
Here's a quick rundown on Brooks: Traded to Oakland in the Ben Zobrist deal, he features a fourseam (93 mph) and change (84 mph) while mixing in a sinker (92 mph) and slider (86 mph), per Brooks Baseball. He has an over the top delivery that allows for some serious bite on the changeup and he located it well vs Cleveland. He left a few too many fastballs over the plate that better hitting teams will take advantage of, but he's got the makeup to become a solid pitcher for the A's.
He's lined up to face the Astros at home next, a team that doesn't make mistakes on fastballs (1st in HR) but they also are suspect to chase Brooks' changeups out of the zone (2nd in Ks). In shallow leagues there's likely better options but if you're starving for pitching in AL-Only setups, Brooks is a decent add considering he's earned a rotation spot here on out.
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