JoseQuintana

News: 2 days agoQuintana (thumb) is on track to begin throwing later this week, Maddie Lee of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Spin: Quintana underwent microscopic surgery on his left thumb in early July and this will be his first time throwing since then. He has been able to continue with a workout program in the meantime. The lefty seems likely to miss at least one turn through the rotation, which figures to open the door for Alec Mills to step in as a starter.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Quintana's inconsistency was on full display in 2019 as he contrasted stretches of dominance with others of frustrating futility. From April 11 to May 21, he posted a 2.32 ERA in 50.1 innings and complemented that with another stretch in which he struck out 33 batters and allowed only four earned runs over 26.1 frames in August. Yet the southpaw concluded the season with the worst ERA (4.68) of his career, thanks in part to an ugly finish -- 23 earned runs over his last 18.2 innings. It would be convenient to chalk up his struggles to bad luck, but that would be glossing over his career-worst 37.7 Hard% and 29.2 LD%. Quintana also continued a three-year decline in strikeout rate, dropping to a below-average 20.4% last season. He should be viewed as merely a streamer in fantasy leagues.