Kendall Graveman has allowed two or fewer runs in six of his last seven starts. He’s also gone 4-0 with that 2.64 ERA. In the seven starts he’s walked only nine men helping to keep his WHIP down at 1.15 but… alas, smoke and mirrors he has a 4.87 K/9 rate in that time. He has a mere 0.41 HR/9 mark and 4.5 HR/FB ratio in that time. He has a far too high 78 percent left on base percentage. This is who Graveman is. Over the course of 222 career innings he owns a 5.96 K/9 rate, 2.10 K/BB ratio, 4.14 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 1.14 HR/9 ratio. Boring.

Be careful where you ride your lawn mower, while naked.

Matt Moore is 5-7 with a 4.33 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. Those aren’t great numbers, especially with a strikeout rate of 7.58 per nine, well below expectations. However, he’s got lots of talent, and he’s actually pitching – pretty well. Over his last eight outings he’s tossed at least six frames each time out. Over his last four outings he’s posted a quality start each time out. His walk rate in those four outings is a solid mark, for him at least, at 2.67 per nine. The only negative is the lack of punchouts – 14 in 27 innings. At this point Moore is trending up, but without the strikeouts he’s kinda just a rotation filler. He also threw only 10 innings in 2014 as he underwent Tommy John surgery and then 114.1 last year working his way back. Have to think 160-170 innings are the most he’s gonna throw and he’s already at 116.1.

The Pokemon craze ruins a weather broadcast.

Aaron Nola allowed 26 runs in four starts heading into the break. He was absolutely hideous. After taking 16 days off between starts Nola returned with a vengeance Monday against the Marlins throwing six scoreless innings. I would also focus on the 16 strikeout, two walk total he’s posted over his last 14.1 innings. The ERA doesn’t show it, not at 4.41, but the rest of his game impresses. Nola has 111 punchouts in 102 frames. Nola has a 2.12 BB/9 rate. Nola has a 55.1 percent ground ball rate. Nola has a 2.31 GB/FB ratio. Nola has a 3.17 SIERA and 2.94 xFIP. I still have faith in solid second half work from the Phillies’ righty.

Is this actually a fairy?

David Robertson had 39 saves in 2014 and 34 last season. This year he has 23 saves putting him on pace for 41 saves. So all is right. Well… Robertson had another one of those outings Monday as he allowed four runs while generating just two outings to pick up his third blown save of the year and his second loss. Outings like that one happen far too often with Robertson, it’s why his ERA is often elevated (3.41 last year and 4.14 this season). This year his WHIP has also skyrocketed for the first time, a growing concern. After posting a mark under 1.18 each of the past five years his ERA is all the way up to 1.49. Huge, and terrible. The increase can be directly tied to his explosion in walks. Over his first four seasons Robertson posted a walk rate of over 4.70 per nine. He then posted a 4-year run with a mark under 3.25 every season including a career best 1.85 mark last season. This year, the rate is 5.11, a career worst. Keep an eye on the walks as their troubling nature could lead to more woes for Robertson. Robertson owners should try and pick up Nate Jones as insurance if you haven’t already.

Friendly manatee props itself up on woman's paddleboard.

James Shields, for the first time since his rookie year in 2006, has been an abject failure, first as a member of the Padres and now with the White Sox. Over the course of 19 starts Shields has a horrible record, 4-11 and terrible ratios (5.10 ERA, 1.52 WHIP). Shields also owns a 6.34 K/9 rate, miles from him 7.77 career mark, while his 3.87 BB/9 rate would be a career worst and miles from his 2.35 career mark. He’s also continued to be battered by the long ball. From 2011-14 he allowed 0.99 or fewer homers per nine. Last season, his 10th in the league, the mark exploded to 1.47 per nine. Shockingly, the mark is even higher this season at 1.48. All of that is dreadful so why am I writing about Shields? Well, he’s actually been better of late. In each of his last four outings he’s pulled a Moore – they are all quality starts. His last two times out he’s thrown 7.2 and 8.0 innings while allowing a total of three runs. Over his last four starts he’s walked just seven batters. That suggest he could be a passable starter in the second half. At the same time he’s struck out three or fewer batters in eight of nine starts. OK, so he’s not even sure to be a quality starting option moving forward, but at least there are signs of improvement.

 

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).