Matt Andriese allowed just one run without permitting a walk in five innings against the Yankees in his last start, this after allowing 14 runs over nine innings in two beatings previously. His skills suggest that he’s much better than the 4.46 ERA he owns. Even with all the up and down work he still owns a 4.13 K/BB ratio and 1.23 WHIP, and those are numbers that should lead to more success than he’s offered this season.

Jake Arrieta is 17-6 with a 2.91 ERA and 1.05 WHIP this season. He’s been fantastic. Sort of. His K/9 rate from last season is down 0.70 to 8.58. His walk rate has exploded from 1.89 to 3.46 walks per nine. His homer rate has nearly doubled from 0.39 to 0.70. His GB/FB ratio has dropped precipitously from 2.47 last season to 1.94 this year. All his numbers, other than the walk rate, are still very solid, but things have not been great of late. Over his last 10 starts, since the All-Star break, Jake hasn’t been much better than a league average arm with a 6.92 K/9, 3.60 BB/9, 0.97 HR/9 and 1.92 K/BB ratio. His 3.32 ratio is solid, his 0.97 WHIP impresses, but it’s been a pretty moderate finish to his season given the expectations. 

The Rockies’ Chad Bettis has tossed 3-straight quality starts, all of them at least seven innings of two run ball. In those three starts he’s been masterful with a 1.57 ERA, 0.57 WHIP and two walks over 23 innings. Alas, two of the starts have been on the road and he just doesn’t miss bats (6.75 K/9).

Zach Davies was blasted versus the Cubs back on the 18th of August. Since then he’s made four starts, all of them “quality.” He’s been really solid for most of the season, and the last four outings of good work have helped him to ratios of a 3.59 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over his last 11 starts. He’s working on a 7.45 K/9 rate, and 1.73 BB/9 mark and he also has a 1.23 GB/FB ratio in that time. Other than limiting walks nothing really stands out other than two things – he knows how to pitch and he is avoiding the big inning more often than not. It’s working.

Brandon Finnegan could be shut down at any point since he’s up to 164.2 innings and because the Reds have nothing at all to play for. He’s allowed just two runs his last two starts, even though he’s been pulled at five innings in each outing. Finnegan has now allowed two or fewer runs in each of his last five outings but he has walked nine batters his last 10 innings. I fear the damn is about to break here. Regardless, results are results, and over his last five outings Brandon has 42 strikeouts in 30 innings with a 1.80 ERA. Hard not to start him at this point though, as long as the Reds keep starting him that is.

Zack Greinke has had a terrible season health and performance wise. It all came to a head in his start against the Dodgers when he allowed eight runs and five homers two starts ago. He rebounded with a “quality start” last time out, but he still walked four men. He’s clearly not right but that doesn’t mean Greinke should be on the bench in all formats. Some maybe, but not all. #Disappointing

Ian Kennedy has given the Royals exactly what they had hoped for. Over 29 starts Kennedy has gone 11-9 with a 3.62 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. He’s also struck out, per usual, nearly a batter per inning with 166 over 171.1 innings and he’s walked 2.94 batters per nine, six hundredths off his career rate. In two of his last four outings he permitted four runs, but those are the only two times in nine outings he has allowed more than two earned runs. That’s a 2.05 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over nine outings for those who are keeping score.

Colby Lewis has made 16 starts with a 6-2 record, 3.31 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. In his first start back from injury he allowed three runs over 5.1 innings. Doesn’t seem too bad until you note that all three of the runs scored on three solo homers, a career long issue. He’s not overly talented. He’s not as good as the ERA/WHIP suggest. He’s always a homer prone hurler. Can’t possibly trust that guy, at least I cannot.

Matt Moore has made eight starts with the Giants, and though he’s 3-4 with a 4.05 ERA and 1.33 WHIP, he’s pitched better than that, especially when you consider that he allowed six runs over 2.2 innings in one of those outings. Moore struck out 11 while walking just one in his last outing, and that pushes his strikeout total to 48 over 46.2 innings. The negative is the free pass as he’s issued 26 of them. Only one walk in two of his last three contests at least.

Adam Morgan has allowed five runs his last three starts, each of them a quality start. He’s only walked two men in three games. He’s also allowed two runs or less in four of five starts as he’s walked a total of six batters. He’s working on a nice, under the radar run to end the year. Looking for a spot starter are you? If there are lefties in the opposition lineup Morgan is an even smarter play as he’s allowed a mere .632 OPS to portsiders this season.

Aaron Sanchez is struggling with his health and performance. I wrote about that in this Daily Trends article.

Chris Tillman is 16-5 with a 3.68 ERA this season. He’s been great given expectations. In his return from the DL he allowed one run over six innings against the Tigers. Still not a huge fan of the overall game or the fact that over his last seven starts he’s gone 3-3 with a 4.89 ERA, 1.37 WHIP with a 6.75 K/9 rate and 2.23 K/BB ratio.

Jose Urena has allowed one or no runs in three of four outings. He’s also walked just six batters his last five games. He’s not the worst plug and play option you could find off waivers as he’s posted a 2.30 ERA, 0.93 WHIP with a 3.33 K/BB ratio for the Marlins. Only 20 strikeouts in 31.1 innings though so he had better continue to keep the ball in the yard (two homers in five games).

 

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).