I listed the Week 26 Probable Pitchers in a piece Monday.

Tyler Anderson had yet another strong effort for the Rockies as he held the Dodgers to two runs over 6.1 innings. He only struck out one while allowing 10 hits though. That’s a third straight game of at least eight hits allowed (27 hits in 17.2 innings). The damn is about to burst, I’m telling you. Still, that’s three outings in six of two earned runs or less allowed and he’s only allowed two homers in four starts. He’s set to pitch Saturday against the Brewers who rank 9th in team OPS against lefties (.758).

Matt Andriese was blasted for 14 runs over two starts and he was dropped everywhere. The last three times since then he has allowed one, two and two runs in three outings. Matt has allowed one walk in those three outings and just one homer, and you know what, he’s having success. Andriese has only walked 1.77 batters per nine this season with a 7.58 K/9 rate. As I’ve previously said, Andriese is a better pitcher than it was looking, and then he went out there and got er’ done against the Red Sox at home after succeeding on the road in New York and Baltimore. He’s set to pitch in Texas later this week against Yu Darvish.

Madison Bumgarner is a monster on the hill. He’s posted a 2.71 ERA over 33 starts, and for the sixth straight year he posted 200-innings for the Giants (that amount of innings makes his ERA even more important to your club). He also has 246 strikeouts this season, a career best, and the sixth straight time in a row he’s had at least 190 punchouts. Check out those WHIP marks too of 1.03, 1.09 and 1.01 the last three years. The mark this season is 1.02. Stupendous. Unfortunately he’s slowing as the season comes to a close with a 3-2 record and 4.81 ERA his last eight starts, though he still has a 1.09 WHIP in that run. #ATrueFantasyAce

A.J. Cole was ejected in his last start for throwing at Jung Ho Kang after Kang applied a fake tag on Bryce Harper that resulted in a thumb injury to Harper. Could he be suspended before the season is over? Possible. Keep that in mind if you are looking to start Cole this week. Cole has failed to last more than five innings in 4-straight outings as he’s offering no depth.

Tyler Glasnow had been working out of the pen before being given a chance to start. "A lot of this stuff right now is more learning experiences than anything," Glasnow said. "I'm definitely going out there trying to do as well as I possibly can every time." Well, he didn’t transition back to the rotation well at all as the Nationals scored four runs, three earned, over three innings. Glasnow did strike out five, but through 18.1 big league innings he’s walked nine guys with a 4.91 ERA and 1.64 WHIP. He’s set to pitch against Carlos Martinez Friday in St. Louis. You’re totally desperate if you start him – if he even starts.

Robert Gsellman is set to take on the Phillies Friday (versus Alec Asher). Over six starts versus Gsellman the righty has given the Mets some strong work with 33 strikeouts over 35.0 innings. He’s also allowed just one homer thanks to an impressive 55.9 percent ground ball rate. That 2.60 GB/FB ratio is excellent and speaks to the fact that the main way he’s going to get blasted isn’t by allowing three homers, it’s going to have to happen with 13 base hits.

Colby Lewis is a solid big leaguer. Always has been. He’s not a fantasy star. He’s not even much of a fantasy asset if truth is told. Lewis is 6-4 with a 3.93 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, but check it out – here’s what you really need to know. (1) He’s allowed 1.47 homers per nine this season. (2) In three starts since returning to action he owns an 0-3 record with a 9.75 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP. Why on earth would you want to start him this week against the Rays and Jake Odorizzi Saturday?

Wade Miley came just one out short of a complete game last time out as he struck out 11, didn’t walk a batter, and allowed one run to the Diamondbacks. Of course, three starts ago he allowed six runs while recording four outings. That’s the problem with Miley; you never know who is going to show up? Ever. In the end the guy has a 5.75 ERA and 1.57 WHIP on the road and simply is the definition of desperation in fantasy. He is set to pitch Saturday at Yankee Stadium (currently it’s Masahiro Tanaka he’s slated to take on).

Brad Peacock has made four starts in a row for the Astros without a victory. He’s stuck out just 7.20 per nine in that time with a 3.15 BB/9 rate and a 1.35 HR/9 mark. Just a guy despite posting a 2.25 ERA in the four starts (his xFIP in that time is much higher at 4.59). He’s set to pitch Friday against the Angels and Jhoulys Chacin. Not a bad matchup, but there’s not much to see with Peacock.

Wily Peralta saved some folks in his last start. I found myself recommending starting him over the weekend against the Reds and he went out and allowed three runs, only two earned, over six innings. At least that worked passably well. That effort runs his quality start streak to 3-straight and 4-of-5 outings. He’s avoided the long ball for 3-straight outings as well, though that might be a problem in his next issue start given his 1.41 HR/9 rate this season. Peralta faces the Rockies, in Colorado, on Sunday. Good luck with that.

Eduardo Rodriguez faces J.A. Happ and the Blue Jays Saturday. E-Rod struck out 13 batters in his last outing and 20, against just three strikeouts, over his last two outings. He’s looked pretty sharp. However, he’s faced the Jays twice this season going 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA and a whopping five homers allowed over just 11.2 innings this season. The Blue Jays haven’t been as dominate as last year against lefties, but the team does have a .757 OPS, 11th in baseball.

CC Sabathia will pitch Thursday against the Red Sox and Drew Pomeranz. He hasn’t fared well in the matchup this season with a 6.96 ERA and a whopping 23 baserunners allowed over 10.1 innings. He has pitched decently in September with a 2.54 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, though 19 strikeouts in 28.1 innings, and a 2.11 K/BB ratio speak to the fact that he’s not exactly dominating the competition.

 

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, 8 PM EDT, Wednesday 7 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 9 PM EDT PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).