Tyler Anderson continues to get it done as he’s made 15 starts for the Rockies with a 3.43 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. He’s also pushed the strikeout total up to 82 in 89.1 frames with 15 strikeouts his last 11.1 innings. On the season he has just 22 walks (a strong 3.73 K/BB ratio). All good stuff. Still, over his last four outings his ratios are 4.64 in the ERA column and 1.22 WHIP. The ERA is elevated, though the WHIP has remained unchanged. Still, the HR/9 is 1.69. How many innings will he be allowed to go after he missed last season with a stress fracture in his elbow? He’s up to 116.1 innings this season.

Brandon Finnegan is up to 154.2 innings after he threw just 105.1 frames last season, so he could be shut down at any point. However long it lasts it seems that you can be confident that Finnegan will be effective. Over his last seven outings he has 46 strikeouts in 43.1 innings, he has a 3.32 K/BB ratio, a 2.28 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. Only once in those seven starts has he allowed more than three runs, once it was four, and he’s allowed four runs his last three outings. His future is extremely bright after a slow start to the 2016 campaign.

Matt Garza stinks with a 5-6 record, 4.57 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 15 starts. Over his last 40 starts he’s 11-20 with a 5.26 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and a 6.28 K/9 rate. He’s just not the pitcher he once was, not even close. Hell, he ain’t even league average. But… Garza has looked better his last two outings with 17 strikeouts and one earned run allowed his last two starts. Of course, he’s also walked five guys over the 12.1 innings and he’s also allowed five unearned runs. Balls of stone if you stream this guy.

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Jason Hammel seems destined to fail to reach 180-innings this season, a total he has never reached in his big league career (he’s currently at 146 innings). For the fifth time in seven outings Hammel allowed one earned run or less in his last outing against the Pirates. Still, over his last three efforts he owns a 7.71 ERA, 1.97 WHIP and he’s allowed three homers. He’s been great this year, but those two beatings he took at the hands of the Dodgers and Rockies, and the lack of big innings in his career, have me way more concerned than I should be given how good he has been in ‘16.

Felix Hernandez wasn’t good at all against the Rangers as he walked four batters and allowed six runs over four innings. That comes on the heels of him allowing six runs over his previous four starts. He just isn’t right which is easy to see that in that he’s walked four batters in three of five outings and four of seven outings. So unlike him. His career BB/9 rate is 2.57 and he’s more than a full batter above that this season at 3.85 per nine.

Bud Norris – from June 4th to July 6th – posted a 2.23 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. I warned you about him. Hopefully you listened. Since the All-Star break he’s made seven starts with a 7.42 ERA and 1.78 WHIP as his walk rate has exploded to 5.04 per nine. On the year he’s 6-10 with a 4.92 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. He stinks, as you were told.

THE FINAL PLAYER RANKINGS UPDATE IS NOW AVAILABLE. HERE ARE THE REST OF THE WAY RANKINGS FOR FANTASY ALARM.

Shelby Miller was the guy I told everyone to draft last season. He went out and posted a solid 3.02 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 171 strikeouts to end the year as a strong add. This season – the exact opposite situation has arisen as he’s been monumentally hideous over 15 starts with a 2-10 record, 6.81 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. He’s been hurt, been in the minors and folks moved on about three months ago. In his return to the majors against the Giants he allowed two runs, and just one walk, over six innings. Can’t start him for the rest of 2016 but keep an eye on his work the final month with an eye to 2017.

Matt Moore has made six starts with the Giants and they have gotten exactly the way the club hoped as Moore has a 3.16 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 36 strikeouts over 37 innings. Over his last two outings he’s allowed just six hits, four walks and one run over 14 innings. I worry a bit about the innings, he only threw 114.1 innings last season in his comeback from Tommy John surgery, as he’s up to 167 innings this season. Nothing in his performance indicates he’s slowing though.

Jose Abreu hasn’t lived up to expectations but is on fire at the moment. Injuries have derailed Hunter Pence’s season for the most part but he is hot right now. 650 players are ranked in the final monthly rankings of the season. Check out theBIG3 VIDEO.

Adam Morgan has thrown two quality starts his last three outings. The other time he allowed six runs over five innings. No reason to trust him down the stretch in any format, especially as the homers start to mount (eight in five games).

Martin Perez tossed six scoreless innings against the Mariners his last outing, the third time in five outings he’s allowed one or fewer earned runs. The other two outings, two of the last three, he allowed 12 runs in 11.2 innings. He is exactly the same guys he’s always been, and it’s not a usable piece in mixed leagues.

Chris Sale has allowed five runs his last three starts, all three efforts being at least eight innings in length. Clearly he’s not wearing down. Over his last eight starts since the All-Star Game he’s picked up one victory against four loses, but that means nothing. I focus on the 9.20 K/9, the 2.37 BB/9, the 2.52 WHIP and the 0.99 WHIP in that time. He’s also allowed just two homers.

Matt Wisler struck out 10 batters his last outing against the Padres. I don’t care at all. He has a 6.95 batter per nine mark this season in the strikeout column and in his previous three outings Wisler had 10 strikeouts. Since the start of July he’s made seven starts for the Braves. He has a 6.25 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, a 2.23 HR/9 rate and, oh hell, he’s just not pitching well. Move on.

 

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).