WADE DAVIS IN DEMAND
Wade Davis of the Royals might be dealt as teams are contacting the club about the righty 9th inning arm. Davis has a $10 million for next season, which the Royals will certainly pick up, and then it sounds like they might be listening to moving their formerly dominating arm. If a team is looking for a one-year bridge Davis is a strong option, that is if they don’t want to spend big on one of the free agent arms out there: Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon.
Davis has been arguably the best pitcher in baseball since the start of the 2014 season going 19-3 with 47 saves and 51 holds. Davis also has a 1.14 ERA, a 0.88 WHIP and 11.61 strikeouts per nine (234 in 181.1 innings). However, he was limited to a 7-year low with just 43.1 innings pitched in 2016 as he dealt with multiple issues with his forearm. He still closed 27-of-30 games with a 1.87 ERA, but he just wasn’t the same pitcher. His K/9 rate was 9.76, his BB/9 rate was 3.32 and his WHIP was 1.13. The previous two years the numbers were 12.20, 2.67 and 0.80. His only saving grace was a career best 48.6 GB-rate.
Given his track record it’s hard to bet against him, but he will be lower in my rankings next year than it would seem from a look at the surface numbers because of those arm issues.
PLAYOFF UPATES
Trevor Bauer will be moved back to Game 3 for the Indians meaning their rotation will look like this: Corey Kluber, Josh Tomlin, Bauer and Mike Clevinger. Bauer will have 10 days between starts because he hurt his finger… playing with his drone. That’s not a euphemism for his manhood, he seriously has a drone that he was hurt messing around with. It’s his pinkie so it’s the least important finger, but my goodness. Love this quote from Jordan Bastian.
Kyle Hendricks (elbow) threw a bullpen and declared himself to be good to go. He will start Game 2 for the Cubs leaving the top-4 looking like this: Jon Lester, Hendricks, Jake Arrieta and John Lackey.
Rich Hill was completely at his most Rich Hill – ness in Game 5 of the NLDS for the Dodgers. He generated six strikeouts and allowed one run. He also lasted 2.2 innings. In two starts this post-season he has a 6.43 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and he lasted seven innings. Yet I still get a note on Twitter, on nearly a daily basis, about how good he is. I just don’t get it. For a laugh, check out his minor league track record which, as pointed out by Kyle Elfrink, is amazing for it’s length.
Clayton Kershaw is the first guy in the LDS to have two starts and a save in one series (he was the first starter to get a save in the postseason on 1-day rest since Mark Buehrle in 2005). I’m sure it really doesn’t matter… but Clayton does have a bit of a wonky back so if something happens in the future Dave Roberts 
could end up getting a lot of heat for his decisions with the ace.
Francisco Liriano (concussion) is on the ALCS roster for the Blue Jays.
Matt Moore was the fifth pitcher to allow two or fewer hits, with 10 or more strikeouts, in a game in which his team faced elimination. He got a no decision in the Giants horrible bullpen meltdown in Game 5 against the Cubs meaning that three of the five men to pitch those impressive games did not emerge with a win (the only with victories were Josh Beckett in 2003 and Justin Verlander in 2013).
Daniel Murphy hit .438/.545/.438 in five games for the Nationals this playoff season. That moves his career playoff numbers to .351/.430/.662. If I’m not mistaken he’s reached base in every one of the 19 playoff games he’s participated in with seven homers, 17 RBI and 16 runs scored.
The Nationals haven’t won a playoff series since 1981 when they were the Expos. It’s the longest streak by any current team. The next longest is the Reds (1995).
Devon Travis (knee) is on the roster and sorta good to go for the Jays. Sounds like he’s not all the way there though as he could be pulled late for defense in favor of Ryan Goins.
Justin Turner hit .400 with a homer, five RBI and a 1.324 OPS in five games this NLDS. Over the course of 12 playoff games in his career Turner has hit like he’s Ted Williams with a .444/.545/.750 line. How many people realize that Turner went .275-37-90 this season?
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).