Matt Andriese is back in the rotation for the Rays now that Matt Moore is wearing a Giants uniform. Matt’s been in the pen for a while now which is why he’s only gone 4.0 and 4.2 innings his last two starts. As he stretches back out he will continue to work on what has been a very solid season. He’s made 10 starts this year with a 5-2 record, 3.10 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a solid 2.87 K/BB ratio. He’s not a big strike arm in the least with a 6.92 K/9 rate, but he keeps the walks down and owns a 47 percent ground ball rate through two years. Not a bad streaming option at all.

Dylan Bundy has thrown 85 pitches in each of his last four outings but he’s yet to reach 95 as the Orioles are being very careful with his workload. He’s made five starts now with a 3.00 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 33 strikeouts versus six walks in 27 frames. Tremendous work. At this point you just roll with him in virtually any format until (A) he gets hurt or (B) he ends up being shut down.

Gerrit Cole has made five starts since returning from the disabled list. Two of those outings were roughish as he allowed four runs, but in the middle three outings he allowed a single run in each effort. He’s also struck out 28 batters in 29.2 innings, has walked only eight men (2.43 BB/9) and has not allowed a homer. Not elite, but really solid work.

Zach Davies has allowed more than three runs, of the earned variety, once in 13 starts. Over those 13 starts he’s walked 14 guys with a 2.63 ERA. Remove the one bad outing and the numbers are 12 walks and a 2.09 ERA over 12 starts. A rather remarkable run from nowhere has it been. Too bad I went Chase Anderson when I had the chance, and sorry to those of you who I told to do the same. #IFailedYou

Jacob deGrom has just seven wins this season but that doesn’t tell you anything. After a slow start, built around velocity concerns, deGrom has really done some pitching. He’s currently the owner of a 2.35 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP, numbers that are eerily close to his career levels (2.54 and 1.06). His walk rate is down to 1.99 per nine and even the strikeouts have returned as he’s up to 8.55 per nine. Over his last eight starts he has more outings allowing zero earned runs (four) than games allowing two earned runs (two). The dude is a beast.

Gio Gonzalez was washed up. You all told me that. He’s not. He was awful from June 19-30th allowing 15 runs over 14.1 innings. I said maintain the faith. Over six starts since the calendar flipped to July he’s only 3-2 with a 2.43 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Only 6.08 strikeouts per nine in that time, but overall he’s pitching like the solid vet he is.

Cole Hamels has allowed three or fewer runs, while lasting at least six innings, in each of his last five starts at Coors Field. That’s 5-straight quality starts at Coors. That’s impressive. Dan Haren from 2006-10 pulled off the treat six times in a row. No other pitcher in history can match this duo. Hamels has allowed seven earned runs his last five starts this season as his ERA is down to 2.89. Simply one of the best as he improved to 12-3 Monday night.

Kyle Hendricks has a 2.17 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. The only hurler in baseball who has a better ERA is Clayton Kershaw (1.79 ERA).

Tom Koehler is locked in right now. Tyrell Jenkins is just not a pitcher you can trust. Matt Moore needs to but back on his walks. See the Daily Dive Video. 

Dallas Keuchel has been better with a 3.13 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over his last nine starts. Actually, that’s really good work. He got bombed two starts ago, but if take out that one beating we end up with 8-of-9 starts resulting in a 4-1 record, 2.45 ERA and 1.11. Didn’t think we would see it, but there it is – he’s basically been Dallas Keuchel the last two months… finally.

Joe Musgrove has looked great in two outings with the Astros with 14 strikeouts and one walk over 11.1 innings of one run ball. Lance McCullers is likely out of action until September which means Musgrove will get some run as a starter. In 10 starts at Triple-A this season he had a 3.81 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and an 8.14 K/BB ratio. He’s been on his game all year and shouldn’t be on waivers at this point in virtually any league.

David Phelps is now starting for the Marlins. The last time out was in Colorado and he didn’t allow a run over 4.1 innings. "I'm trying to take it the same as it's been all year and just focus on one hitter at a time," Phelps said. "One thing I was doing well early in the year was separating, taking each hitter as its own separate competition.” It’s his first start after 50 strong outings from the pen this season. A league average starter his first four seasons, it’s hard to predict full on success, even with his strong bullpen work to date. He held the Giants to one run over five innings Wednesday (3 BB, 4 H, 5 Ks).

Anibal Sanchez is #trending. He’s gone at least six innings in 4-straight games. In two of his last three outings he hasn’t walked a batter, and he’s allowed just two runs his last two starts covering 14 innings. He cannot be trusted, we all know that by now, but he has the potential to be a nice waiver-wire addition if he can stay healthy and consistent, something he hasn’t been able to do for a few years.

Marcus Stroman has allowed a homer in 3-straight games, and there continues to be uneven results from the righty. Take a look at his earned runs allowed total per start of late: 2, 6, 1, 4, 1, 3. That’s not exactly a great amount of consistency now is it? Still, he’s been better than Matt Shoemaker (who folks seems to love) since the calendar flipped to July: 3.52 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 9.20 K/9 and a 1.37 BB/9. Heck, he’s been pretty darn good overall even if from start to start there is some vacillation.

 

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).