Jake Arrieta was obliterated for seven runs against the Pirates Wednesday as he limps to the finish line. He’s just not right folks. Over his last six outings Arrieta has gone 2-3 with a 5.30 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. He’s struck out 32 in 35.2 innings, but he’s walking 3.53 batters per nine and has a 1.26 HR/9 rate. I’d be a bit concerned if I was looking for him to dominate in the playoffs.
Clay Buchholz has made five starts since returning to the rotation. He’s the owner of a 3.14 ERA and 1.15 WHIP while going 3-0. He’s looked excellent in four of those outings but he’s still Clay so the other outing was a six run allowed while getting only nine out effort against the Blue Jays. You know I don’t trust him.
Tyler Chatwood is 12-9 with a 3.87 ERA. He’s been solid for the Rockies for sure, but rather boring in fantasy baseball… unless you used him wisely. In Colorado he was awful with a 4-8 record, a 6.12 ERA and 1.64 WHIP over 14 starts. Horrific. However, when on the road he channeled his inner Johnny Cueto going 8-1 with a 1.69 ERA and 1.11 WHIP which is rather remarkable.
Anthony DeSclafani made 20 starts this season after struggling with an oblique issue forever. He was very good with a 9-5 record, 3.28 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. The 7.66 K/9 rate is solid but the 2.19 BB/9 rate is even more intriguing. I don’t like the loss of grounders, he posted a 45 percent rate last season and was down at 42 percent this season, but it’s well within the realm of the expected so it’s not something to really worry about.
Sonny Gray came back and tossed an inning. Good for him to end a horrible season on a high note. After three impressive seasons he flat out blew chunks all over himself in the crapper, ran into the bar, and tried to sweet talk the ladies with the vomit dripping down his chin. I won’t even bother trying to break it down (5-11, 5.69 ERA, 1.50 WHIP). I will just say that I’m buying Gray next season given that his price will be rock bottom. Probably half of what it cost for him this season, maybe less.
Cole Hamels did it again. He is just good. Don’t know why people doubt that. He won 15 games, his largest total since 2012 with a 3.32 ERA (career 3.31). Hamels also struck out 200 batters, a seventh straight season with at least 194, a remarkable run in this day and age of injury. He also tossed 200.2 innings, a 7th consecutive season with 200-innings pitched. Yes his walk rate was up to 3.45 per nine, a career worst which caused his WHIP to climb to a career worse 1.31, but this is still a guy you can count on.
Mike Leake posted a 4.17 K/BB ratio, the best of his career. He posted a 1.02 HR/9 mark, just off his 1.10 career mark. He posted a 1.32 WHIP, just off his 1.28 career mark. Somehow he went 9-12 with a 4.69 ERA despite basically pitching the same way as he always does.
Francisco Liriano tossed 12.1 shutout innings his last two games to end his tumultuous season on a high note. The soon to be 33 year old left went 8-13 with a 4.69 ERA and 1.48 WHIP. He’s just not trustworthy. Great arm, but no consistency at all.
Look who finished the year on a high note. Shelby Miller didn’t allow a run in either of his two starts. Of course, he was dreadful all season long. Worth a dollar or a 29th round flier next season, nothing more, but keep an eye on how he looks in spring.
Bryan Mitchell has made five starts for the Yankees with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. He’s not allowing runs, but not much else. He somehow has had success with a deplorable 0.92 K/BB ratio thank to less than four strikeouts per nine and 4.32 walks per nine. #Dreadful
James Paxton has made 20 starts with a 6-7 record, 3.79 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Big fan of the skills (1.60 GB/FB, 8.70 K/9, 1.79 BB/9), but they just rarely seem to come together. That BABIP never came down, did it? The .347 mark is amazingly high.
Robbie Ray will end the year with a 11.25 K/9 mark, one of the 25 best marks in league history. Seriously it was 21st. Other than the 215 punchouts in 169.2 innings, and the 1.44 GB/FB ratio, what else is there here? He went 8-14 with a 4.77 ERA, 3.55 BB/9, 1.46 WHIP. I keep thinking Mr. Liriano...
Ervin Santana quietly made 30 starts with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He’s just solid.
Chris Tillman is 16-6 with a 3.77 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with a 7.33 K/9. Other than the record, that’s a lot of just solid work, nothing more. From June 1st on he made 19 starts with a 4.28 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and struck out just 6.62 batters per nine. Almost certain he will be over drafted next season.
Jameson Taillon has been tremendous in his first run through the bigs with a 5-4 record, 3.38 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 7.36 K/9 and a 1.47 BB/9 ratio. Add in his impressive 52.4 percent ground ball rate leading to a 1.92 GB/FB ratio, and you have yourself a potential All-Star next season. The bidding will be hot and heavy.
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).