STRASBURG – AGAIN
Stephen Strasburg is headed for an MRI after feeling a pinch in his elbow. "He did everything that was asked of him. He was cleared," manager Dusty Baker said. "He wasn't trying to be a hero. He said that he felt fine. But a lot of times you really don't know until you get into action. … We thought everything was fine, because [catcher Wilson] Ramos said he was throwing the heck out of the ball. He said his changeup was outstanding, and he had good command. And usually if something's wrong, you don't have command. So we're hoping that it's something minor.”
Strasburg had just missed 16 games with an elbow issue before being activated from the disabled list to take the hill Wednesday night. His return lasted 2.1 innings. Clearly, he’s not right. In fact, he hasn’t been right since the All-Star break. Over his last seven outings he’s 2-4 with a 7.36 ERA and 1.52 WHIP.
And this brings up the main point with Strasburg that some folks just don’t seem to get. Let me be clear, Strasburg is never worth the draft day cost. He is always hurt. He’s currently at 147.2 innings pitched. He needs 12.1 innings the rest of the way to avoid this becoming the fourth time in six years that he’s failed to reach 160-innings pitched.
Please don’t ask me about him again next spring.
This story has been written.
EDITORS NOTE: Strasburg has a flexor mass strain. His UCL is fine. Just what the plan is for the rest of the 2016 season though is up in the air at the moment.
BUNDY BLOWING IT?
Dylan Bundy is a great talent.
Dylan Bundy has been a terrific waiver-wire addition.
Dylan Bundy is really slowing down of late.
Over his last three starts Bundy has thrown a total of 13.1 innings. In those three starts he’s allowed 10 earned runs, has allowed two homers, and permitted nine walks. That’s simply awful levels of pitching. Going back a bit further. Over his last five starts Bundy has a 6.46 ERA, 1.82 WHIP, a 5.70 BB/9 and a 2.28 HR/9 mark. That’s abysmal, soul crushing work.
At this point you cannot be starting Bundy.
I wonder how long the Orioles will continue to start him.
PUIG HEATING UP
Yasiel Puig appeared in 19 games at Triple-A after unceremoniously being demoted. He hit .348 with four homers, 12 RBI, 12 runs and had a .994 OPS. That effort forced the Dodgers to bring him back up, personality issues aside.
Puig has appeared in four games since being recalled and has hit .444 with two homers, five RBI and four runs scored. Alas, he’s only started one on the last three Dodgers games. Why? Josh Reddick has one homer and three RBI in 29 games for the Dodgers. Why is he playing over Puig? Fair to point out that he is batting .379 with a homer and three RBI his last nine games, but you cannot make an argument that is valid, that says Reddick is more talented than Puig. The last two weeks Kike Hernandez has a .239 wOBA, Howie Kendrick .284, Joc Pederson .316.
If you’ve got Yasiel you might as well play him Dodgers. We in the fantasy world would be much obliged.
NOT WHAT I ONCE WAS BUT…
Matt Kemp was one homer away from going 40/40 in 2011. Over the last five seasons he’s stolen a total of 38 bases. He just doesn’t run anymore.
From 2007 to 2012 Kemp hit at least .290 five times in six years. He’s hitting just .262 this season after batting .265 last year.
But…
Kemp has hit 28 homers with 94 RBI this season. As of this writing, only eight men in baseball can match those numbers. How many have gone .262-28-94-72? Have to drop Albert Pujols, David Ortiz and Mark Trumbo from the list. That leaves Kemp, Nolan Arenado, Edwin Encarnacion, Mookie Betts and Anthony Rizzo.
So, Kemp isn’t what he once was, but he’s still a mighty productive player.
DFS DIAMONDS
*The following list of players are guys that Ray recommends as daily plays.
CATCHER: Nick Hundley has hit .317/.360/.561 against lefties this season. Clayton Richard has allowed righties to hit .310 off him with a .386 OBP this season.
FIRST BASE: Joey Gallo has hit seven homers in 124 at-bats at the big league level. He has as much power as any man in baseball. Over his last 10 starts Taijuan Walker has allowed, get this, 13 homers including three last time out while he picked up just two outs.
SECOND BASE: Josh Harrison is batting .360 in six games in September, and over his last 31 games he’s stolen five bases, scored 16 runs and hit .310 He takes on Dan Straily who has allowed eight runs, and five homers, his last 8.1 innings.
THIRD BASE: Evan Longoria sees beach balls when CC Sabathia is on the bump. In 84 career plate appearances Longo has seven homers, nine doubles, a .400 batting average and a .829 SLG. He’s also sporting a .500 OBP.
SHORTSTOP: Cesar Hernandez has hit .276 with a .758 OPS against righties this season. He’s hit .326 with a .814 OPS on the road. He’s hit .318 with a .919 OPS the last six games. He faces A.J. Cole.
OUTFIELD: Randal Grichuk has hit four homers with two doubles his last nine games as he’s driven in 10 runs batted in. He’s a major power bat in a nice groove. He faces Junior Guerra who was only allowed to throw 3.1 innings in his first start back from the DL after missing a month.
OUTFIELD: Since the All-Star break Jaime Garcia has a 5.09 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. His last four starts the numbers are 7.36 and 1.64. Ryan Braun crushes lefties this season with a .356/.430/.606 slash line. He has two homers, five RBI and four runs scored his last four games. BvP be damned here.
OUTFIELD: Franklin Gutierrez takes on lefty Derek Holland. He’s hit .292 with a .382 OBP and .544 SLG with 12 homers this season against lefties. Over his last nine games he’s hit three homers, has driven in 10 runs and posted a .523 wOBA.
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).