Trevor Bauer has an 8-5 record, 3.88 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 7.97 strikeouts per nine. That’s passable, nothing more. He’s been better his last 11 starts with a 3.59 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 7.93 strikeouts per nine. Wait, he’s been exactly the same guy. In those 11 starts he’s allowed at least five earned runs three times. He’s allowed 0/1 earned runs six times. So is life with Mr. Bauer.

Marco Estrada is 2-3 his last seven starts. He walked four guys last time out and is dealing with a back that is a bit wonky and send him to the DL in July. Over his last 13 starts Estrada has allowed three earned runs or less every time. In 11 of those 13 starts he’s posted a “quality start.” Excellent with the consistency. Still not sure how it’s happening. Estrada’s 3.23 BB/9 rate this season is a 6-year high. His .217 BABIP is nearly identical to his league leading .216 mark from last season. Since the start of last season only one other pitcher in baseball is under .250 in Jake Arrieta (.245). Estrada can’t keep this up, but there it is. He just doesn’t have the stuff, even if he allows all the fly balls (obviously fly balls are less frequently hits than grounders or line drives). Could all go wrong at any moment.

Brandon Finnegan has tossed 3-consecutive quality starts for the Reds. However, he gave up two homers while walking six men Tuesday night so it’s not like he looked sharp. Moreover, his last four outings he owns a 3.52 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 6.65 K/9, 4.30 BB/9 and 1.96 HR/9. Playing with fire you are if you start the Finn.

Zack Greinke was solid his first game back with a quality start against the Mets (3 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 6 Ks in 6 IP). He should be good to go at this point. Over his last 10 outings Greinke is 8-0 with a 2.47 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and a 5.30 K/BB ratio. Vintage Greinke.

A.J. Griffin was a waiver-wire add people were excited about a few months back. Injury then struck. In nine starts since he’s been back on the bump he’s been… terrible. Griffin has a 5.48 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 2.44 HR/9 and a 2.18 K/BB ratio. He’s not even startable in AL-only leagues.  

Chad Kuhl is set to face the Dodgers Sunday. It’s unclear if he will stick in the rotation once Tyler Glasnow is cleared to return, but where is Kuhl right now? Through five starts Kuhl has gone 2-0 with a 3.91 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 6.04 strikeouts per nine with 3.20 walks per nine. That’s solid big league work. That’s terribly boring fantasy work though he has allowed just two runs his last two starts.

Tyler Anderson has been good, but this won’t continue in COL. Time to start using caution with Jose Fernandez as we go deep into the season. Johnny Cueto has been struggling lately. Check out the Daily Dive video.

Zachary Neal has made two starts out of 12 outings this season for the Athletics. He started the other night against the Orioles and allowed one run. Alas, he has struck out just 11 guys in 29.1 innings. You just can’t be that bad in that column and have success, even if you don’t walk people (one walk this season).

Daniel Norris is likely to stick in the rotation with the Tigers at least until Jordan Zimmermann is ready to go (Jordan is on the shelf with a strained lat that could keep him out of action anywhere from 2-6 weeks – you never know with that injury). Norris, a 2nd round selection in 2011, is an impressive left handed talent that has had big time struggles staying healthy. Norris has only made four starts this season for the Tigers, and though he hasn’t set the world on fire at all, his ERA is 4.00 his WHIP is 1.61, he’s allowed three or fewer runs each time out and has 19 strikeouts versus only five walks over 18 innings. You can’t trust him in mixed leagues, but as a spot starter he might be worth a look.

I spoke about Matt Moore and Tom Koehler in this recent Daily Dive video.

Drew Smyly has no chance of matching expectations as he’s 4-11 with a 5.04 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. Those are garbage numbers that are of no use no matter how deep your league is. However, and I know it’s hard to hear, but of late he’s looked sharp. I’m being serious. Over his last four outings Smyly has been “quality” each time out. That’s 4-straight quality starts during which time he’s the owner of a 2.52 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and a 3.17 K/BB ratio. That’s the pitcher that we drafted months ago. A huge key for Smyly is keeping the ball in the yard. He’s allowed just two homers the last four times out producing a 0.72 HR/9 mark that is half his absurdly high 1.59 season long mark. If the decidedly fly ball prone lefty keeps the ball in the yard, success follows.

Why does anyone care about Edinson Volquez? I simply don’t have a clue why his name ever comes up. Volquez is 8-10 with a 5.03 ERA and 1.48 WHIP with a 6.62 K/9 rate this season. Not one of those marks is league average. None. For his career he’s 87-78 with a 4.37 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 7.76 K/9 mark. Again, why do you ask me about him, ever? Compare his career numbers to Ubaldo Jimenez: 105-103, 4.17 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 8.27 K/9. Seriously folks.

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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 11 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).