Tyler Chatwood was bombed for seven runs over three innings Tuesday. That’s 16 hits, five walks and 11 runs allowed his last eight innings. This was always going to happen, regression I mean. Not only is it impossible to be an ace in Colorado, Chatwood doesn’t miss enough bats to pitch as well as he had until recently. Chatwood has an impressive 57.4 percent ground ball rate, but his 5.47 K/9 rate is abysmal and his 3.47 BB/9 rate stinks. The ERA is up to 3.86, the WHIP 1.35. Tyler’s not even a league average type in fantasy.

Nathan Eovaldi has a 4.93 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 7.10 K/9 rate. After the early season hope of success this season he’s bombed and become… the same old bum he’s always been. Well, maybe there’s still hope. Maybe. Over his last 13 innings he’s allowed just one run and seven hits, with three of the four outings coming out of the bullpen. Despite those positive numbers, he’s still the same, boring guy. He’s struck out just six batters while walking seven over those 13 innings. You can do better.

Junior Guerra has made 14 starts and he’s really not slowing with a 6-2 record, 3.06 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. That’s greatness given the non-existent cost. I still can’t explain it with the 31 year old who doesn’t even have 100-innings at the big league level. His K/9 of 7.95 is solid, but not impressive. Ditto the 2.95 BB/9 rate. Ditto the 46 percent ground ball rate. Ditto the 1.28 GB/FB ratio. Ditto the 0.92 HR/9 mark. He’s basically Mike Leake with a few more strikeouts. That type of talent does not often result in a 3.06 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. Still advising caution.

Scott Kazmir is 8-3. Good for him. He also has a 4.30 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, terribly boring numbers that are somewhat hidden by the 9.80 K/9 mark. He hasn’t been any better the last eight games with a 4.17 ERA and 1.37 WHIP, though the K-rate is 10.32 in that time. He strikes guys out, but those ratios will do nothing to help you.

Dallas Keuchel might be back on his game. Really. Though he’s 6-9 with a 4.70 ERA and 1.36 WHIP this season, he’s been much better lately. DK has thrown six innings in each of his last six starts. In each of those six outings he’s allowed three of fewer earned runs (once it was four runs but only three were earned). He’s also allowed only two homers his last four starts. Here are his overall numbers in those six starts: 3-0, 2.79 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 6.75 K/9, 2.56 BB/9. Maybe there’s hope after all, but by hope I mean the stuff we’ve seen the last month, not the stuff we saw last year.

Reynaldo Lopez struck out nine batters in his first game which is the second most in Nationals history for a guy in his first outing (Stephen Strasburg had 14). "This is a young kid, pretty good delivery, and there was a lot of swing-and-miss from our guys," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. Alas, Lopez also allowed 10 hits and six runs over 4.2 innings so it was far from a successful effort. While Joe Ross remains out with a shoulder situation, it’s unclear if Lopez or Lucas Giolito will start the next time through the rotation for the Nats since both youngsters are on the same rotation schedule. Might be Giolito though after Lopez was sent down to the minors Wednesday.

Tommy Milone is doing his best to force the Twins to keep him in the rotation. Over his last three outings he’s allowed a total of five runs to lower his ERA to 4.71. The definition of “just a guy,” Milone owns a 4.02 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 6.41 strikeouts per nine over 668.2 innings. I don’t get why he’s starting with the Twins and not Jose Berrios. I really don’t.

Jake Peavy allowed four runs over six innings in Boston Tuesday as he struck out six, walked one, and allowed two homers (though only three hits). Peavy is no great shakes, but he’s a passable depth option in mixed leagues right now. Over his last seven starts he’s posted a 3.20 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 3.00 K/BB ratio. See, I told ya. Solid.

Rick Porcello improved to 12-2 Tuesday as he’s won each of his last four starts and his last six decisions have also been victories. A big key has been keeping the ball in the yard as Porcello has allowed one homer in five starts. He’s also walked just two batters his last three outings. See how simple it can be. Keep the ball in the yard and don’t put guys on base for free and success follows. Still, the guy has struck out three or fewer batters three of his last five batters as the punchouts are drying up.

Blake Snell threw a six inning, one run effort up against the Rockies Wednesday… in Colorado. That’s really impressive stuff. That’s 2-straight quality starts for the young lefty during which time he’s allowed five hits, two runs and has struck out 16 over 12 innings. The five walks still aren’t good, but that’s two pretty darn good efforts back-to-back and lend hope that he might find his groove the final two months.

DFS DIAMONDS

*The following list of players are guys that Ray recommends as daily plays.

CATCHER: J.T. Realmuto is batting .346 with a .829 OPS against righties this season (he faces Jerad Eickhoff). Check out his July numbers as well: .352/.407/.407 with six, yes six, steals.    

FIRST BASE: Miguel Cabrera has a .32/.380/.561 slash line this season against righties with 16 homers in 269 at-bats. He faces James Shields with a 1.027 OPS and two homers over 57 at-bats against James Shields. Shields has allowed 10 homers in nine games.    

SECOND BASE: Tyler Duffey has allowed 11 homers his last nine starts. He’s allowed at least four earned runs in eight of his last 10 starts (five of those outings have been five runs or more) as his ERA has swelled from 3.30 to 5.23. Dustin Pedroia has five walks in five games and has scored six runs his last eight outings.

THIRD BASE: Danny Valencia has a .357/.423/.629 slash line against lefties with five homers and four doubles over 70 at-bats. He crushes lefties. He has a .455 average and two homers over 11 at-bats against Matt Moore.  

SHORTSTOP: Didi Gregorius hit .337 in June. He’s hit .321 in July. He’s hit .302 at home this season. He’s hit .538 with seven hits in 13 at-bats against Chris Tillman.   
  
OUTFIELD: Ryan Braun bashes lefties with a .351/.430/.581 slash line. He’s been a monster on the road (.335/.391/.530). He’s posted a .292/.469/.417 line against Francisco Liriano over 32 plate appearances.

OUTFIELD:  Righties have mashed Andrew Cashner this season – check out the slash line (.305/.371/.496). In 12 July games Randal Grichuk has hit .333 with a 1.054 OPS thanks to three doubles and four homers.

OUTFIELD: Starling Marte has five hits his last three games. He’s walked once in each of those outings. He has stolen three basses his last five games. Righties have blasted Matt Garza at every turn this season with a .375/.429/.465.

 

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday through Friday, 7 PM EDT and Friday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 7 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).