MLB Fantasy News 2012

[HacheMan]

Mad About Max
Tigers right-hander Max Scherzer had a 6-0 record, a 1.29 ERA and a 60/9 K/BB ratio over his last seven starts entering Tuesday night’s matchup with the A’s. He was a guy playing major roles on many hard-charging fantasy squads.

But now his status is a question mark entering the final two weeks of MLB’s regular season.

Scherzer was lifted after just two innings Tuesday night in Detroit because of what’s being described as “right shoulder fatigue.” An MRI taken soon after the sudden departure ruled out serious structural damage, but Scherzer will be shut down completely for the next couple of days and is sure to miss at least one turn in the Tigers’ rotation.

It’s a tough blow to fantasy owners relying on him for continued dominance, and it may kill the Tigers’ chances of scoring a postseason spot. They won on Tuesday but are three games back of the White Sox in the American League Central and five back of the Orioles for the second Wild Card. With a wounded No. 2 starter.



Chapman Nearly Ready To Return

The Reds had a 10 1/2-game lead over the Cardinals in the National League Central standings when they decided to shut down left-hander Aroldis Chapman because of minor shoulder fatigue. Over a week later, that lead has grown to 11 games. And Chapman has been the beneficiary of a nice period of uninterrupted rest.

The 24-year-old southpaw is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday in front of the Reds’ trainers and coaches and could be cleared to return to the back end of the Cincinnati bullpen as soon as this weekend if all goes well in the workout.

Chapman has registered a superb 1.60 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 119/20 K/BB ratio across 67 2/3 innings this season while converting 35 of 40 save opportunities. Jonathan Broxton will be pushed back into a setup role.




National League Quick Hits: MVP candidate Ryan Braun swiped three bases on Tuesday night … Clayton Kershaw was diagnosed Tuesday with a right hip impingement … Diamondbacks center fielder Chris Young aggravated his right quad Tuesday and is likely done for the year … Giancarlo Stanton (oblique) will be out of the Marlins’ lineup until at least Friday … Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings in Tuesday’s defeat of the Rockies … Rafael Furcal (elbow) was able to do some upper-body exercises on Tuesday at Busch Stadium … Brian McCann launched his 20th home run of 2012 in the Braves’ loss to the Marlins on Tuesday in Miami … Rockies rookie catcher Wilin Rosario is up to 25 home runs … The Mets may look to trade first baseman Ike Davis this offseason … Carlos Gonzalez was scratched from Tuesday’s lineup after experiencing lingering discomfort in his left hamstring during a pregame jog … Yovani Gallardo is 8-0 with a 2.69 ERA in his last 10 starts … Kyle Lohse shut out the Astros for seven innings Tuesday in an easy Cardinals victory … Padres closer Huston Street (calf) could be activated from the disabled list on Wednesday … Marco Scutaro is batting .355 with 32 RBI in 49 games since joining the Giants … Cameron Maybin is day-to-day with lingering soreness in his left Achilles … Danny Espinosa (shoulder) is aiming to return to the Nationals’ lineup Wednesday … Miguel Montero collected his 84th RBI in Tuesday’s win over the Diamondbacks … Reds righty Homer Bailey lowered his ERA to 3.82 in the Reds’ win against the Cubs on Tuesday … Corey Hart has felt no significant progress in his ailing left foot … Braves infielder Paul Janish is day-to-day after dislocating his left shoulder Tuesday night … Jose Reyes hit a walkoff RBI single Tuesday in the Marlins’ extra-innings defeat of the Braves … Andrelton Simmons was out Tuesday with a sore shoulder … Kenley Jansen (heart) has been cleared to return to the Dodgers’ bullpen.

American League Quick Hits: Angels ace Jered Weaver improved to 18-4 with Tuesday’s victory over the Rangers … Miguel Cabrera hit two home runs and collected six total RBI in the Tigers’ rout of the A’s on Tuesday in Detroit … Yunel Escobar was suspended three games by the Blue Jays for featuring a homophobic slur on his eyeblack during a game this past weekend … Mark Teixeira (calf) is on track to return to the Yankees’ starting lineup by the end of September … A’s right-hander A.J. Griffin was handed the first loss of his major league career Tuesday night by the Tigers … Joe Mauer went 3-for-5 with two walks Tuesday in the Twins’ extra-innings defeat of the Indians … Josh Hamilton is day-to-day with sinus and vision issues … White Sox closer Addison Reed earned his 28th save of the season on Tuesday evening against the Royals …Ian Kinsler hit his 18th home run and tallied his 71st RBI in Tuesday’s loss to the Angels … Tanner Scheppers is day-to-day with a bruised right knee … Andrew Bailey nabbed his fifth save Tuesday in Boston’s defeat of the Rays … A’s outfielder Coco Crisp had a setback with his conjunctivitis on Tuesday night … Alex Avila is still sidelined with soreness in his jaw … Veteran slugger Jim Thome is likely to be activated from the disabled list by the Orioles this Friday … Indians reliever Rafael Perez is still battling shoulder issues and has been shut down for the remainder of the 2012 season.

 

[HacheMan]

A Thread Remains It's the final throes of the season in both fantasy and real baseball. And yet, it kinda seems like the season is already over.

Is there as much juice to this year's season-end as there was last year? Remember the epic collapses? Remember that final, frantic day? Now we have a less-than-the-sum-of-its-parts Dodgers fighting the still-here Cardinals, and a trying-to-surge Angels team that's three out of a Wild Card slot. Just doesn't seem like the same sort of high drama, especially when you factor in the fact that all of these teams are playing for just one extra game. And we added a wild card to make this sort of thing happen more often.

Then again, last year's finish was epic and historical. And having fewer playoff slots helped make it so. Perhaps it's not a surprise that this year's finish is not up to the same standard.

And, as we've learned from our own fantasy playoffs, it's epic if you (or your teams) are still in it. And there are still some teams that could come out of nowhere to get into the playoffs. So we'll rank this final group of closers in honor of the long shots -- the longer the shots to make the postseason, the more like the Rays and Cardinals of last year, the better the closer.

Hopefully along the way we'll help your playoff team make that final push.

P.S. Mike Trout is my MVP. Say what you want about the triple crown stats, but Trout's been so much more valuable on the basepaths and with the glove that if you look past homers and RBIs, it's not even really that close. Cabrera might have taken one for the team in moving to third, but by most metrics (and by the eye test) he's the worst (or second-worst) third baseman in the league defensively, so he isn't offering value there. And he's not burning up the basepaths either, nor can you give either credit for 'carrying the team to the postseason' or being 'all alone' on a good team...

Tier 1: Elite (4) (AKA: The "Philadelphia Phillies" Tier.)

Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds
Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves
Joe Nathan, Texas Rangers

Jason Motte, St. Louis Cardinals

Yes, the Rays are further back from the wild card. And yes, other teams in front of the Phillies sold and gave up on the season like the Phillies did. But this team looked more lackluster than any competitor left within five games back of the postseason and is now winning games. This team spent half the season without half its infield. It lost its best starter for long stretches. It couldn't score a run. It has fewer games to play than the four teams in front of it, and yet the Phillies are only four games out of the second wild card!

Aroldis Chapman's still here because his aura is so good that it's preserving his ranking even as he's on the bench. But those scrounging for saves can definitely hold on to Jonathan Broxton, with Sean Marshall getting the lefty-heavy saves, most likely. But Chapman's supposed to throw a bullpen today, so he's close.

What a year for Jason Motte. He's got nine more strikeouts than innings pitched, and that's the first time he's put in a full year with a double-digit strikeout rate. Now that he's reliable with that above-average control, and pitches in a park that suppresses home runs, he's one of the best keeper closers… but that's for the keeper ranking coming out two weeks from now. For now, just enjoy your elite closer.

Tier 2: Rock Steady (6) (AKA: The "Milwaukee Brewers" Tier.)

Jonathan Papelbon, Philadelphia Phillies
Rafael Soriano, New York Yankees
Fernando Rodney, Tampa Bay Rays
Joel Hanrahan, Pittsburgh Pirates
Tyler Clippard, Washington Nationals
Ernesto Frieri, Los Angeles Angels

The Brewers are a game closer than the Phillies, but they also sold a major piece in the middle of the season and never looked back. What makes them slightly less of a long shot is that they have mashed all season and were supposed to do so. Offense hasn't really been a problem. It's just an amazing few finds in the rotation -- Michael Fiers, Wily Peralta and Marco Estrada in particular -- that have put them on a run and brought them closer than three games out with two weeks worth of games to play.

Jonathan Papelbon was doing fine, but just didn't have the saves going into late August to make him an elite pitcher. Sure, his strikeout rate was Papelbonian, and he wasn't walking people, but the Phillies were bad and he wasn't giving the saves. And he's an exhibit in the unpredictability in save opportunities -- just when his team got going, he started racking up saves. He added eight saves since August 24th, which is, like, a 50-save pace. Get good closers, maybe give good closers on good teams a little nudge, but don't get obsessed with save totals in season.

Joel Hanrahan's season has gone the same way, but in reverse -- he had a whopping 11 saves in July. Then had three in August. Then he went from August 19 to September 15th between saves. No reason to hate on the season he's had. Jim Johnson had ten saves in August. He has had three in September.

Tier 3: OK options (8) (AKA: The "Rays" Tier.)

Jim Johnson, Baltimore Orioles
Rafael Betancourt, Colorado Rockies
Chris Perez, Cleveland Indians
Greg Holland, Kansas City Royals
Tom Wilhelmsen, Seattle Mariners
Casey Janssen, Toronto Blue Jays

Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers
J.J. Putz, Arizona Diamondbacks

Okay, if the Rays make up six games and take Baltimore out of the playoffs, it would be epic. They are a long shot. But taking away from some of the mistique would be the fact that they did this just last season. Some part of us all would say, oh, the Rays, sure, yeah, okay.

Obviously Kenley Jansen should be ranked better on talent, now that he's been cleared to play again. But he's getting eased back into his role, and you never know when Brandon League or Ronald Belisario could steal a save. So this ranking reflects a little angst about the final two weeks, while also pointing out that you should own him if he's out there.

There was a second where it looked like David Hernandez was already the closer in Arizona -- there's a chance he'll be that next year, since Putz is a free agent -- but Putz got over his back pain and notched a clean save Tuesday night, and that does mean something. But the fact that he just missed two weeks with a stiff back, and is a 35-year-old soon-to-be-free-agent closer, well that doesn't scream 'steady value.'

Tier 4: Question marks (8) (AKA: The "Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles" Tier.)

Addison Reed, Chicago White Sox
Andrew Bailey, Red Sox

Steve Cishek, Miami Marlins
John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers
Grant Balfour, Oakland Athletics
Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers
Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs
Wilton Lopez, Houston Astros

The Orioles are the favorites for the AL's second wild card. The Pirates are only two and a half games out in the NL's second wild card race. And yet, it would be somewhat of a long shot for these guys to win. Because they've overachieved all year and weren't supposed to be here.

Addison Reed still hasn't shown the elite walk rate he had at every stop in the minor leagues, but at least he's getting the swinging strikes and the strikeouts of a real-life Closer. He also in the midst of a real-life Closer's real-life Tough Stretch. He's given up seven runs in nine September appearances, and was removed from a save opportunity (in favor of Matt Thornton) last week. But he only has two walks in September, and he's been suffering from terrible batted-ball luck: over half of the balls he's allowed into play have fallen for hits, and that number is usually 30% across baseball. Call it a bad stretch -- and Reed got the save Tuesday night after Thornton got four outs, so he hasn't been removed from the role -- but know also that the White Sox are fighting for the post season and may be finickier about their bullpen then some other teams. Matt Thornton is still an interesting play for those desperate for saves.

Andrew Bailey underachieved this year, like his team, but he's now on a roll -- four saves and a win in September, with three of those saves coming from September 14th. Don't call the Red Sox a spoiler just yet, but it's looking that way. Bailey might be an under-rated pickup in those leagues where he's a free agent if Boston is prepared to go on a run.

Ozzie Guillen said he wanted to get Heath Bell some saves for just about the eighteenth time this year. But then he blew a save early this month and that didn't come up again. The Marlins aren't providing many opportunities, anyway -- Steve Cishek has three saves in September. Tuesday he blew his second save of the month, and Heath Bell closed it out with a pristine inning. Now Bell has 11 strikeouts against one walk in his last ten outings, and he's got to be in the mix for saves, at least next season.

Read more about the most volatile closer situations on the next page.<!--RW-->

Tier 5: Rollercoaster rides (5) (AKA: The "St. Louis Cardinals" Tier.)

Sergio Romo (first chair), Javier Lopez (second chair), Santiago Casilla (third chair), San Francisco Giants
Glen Perkins (first chair), Jared Burton (second chair), Minnesota Twins
Frank Francisco (first chair), Bobby Parnell (second chair), Jon Rauch (third chair), New York Mets
Luke Gregerson (first chair), Dale Thayer (second chair), San Diego Padres

You might be surprised that the Cardinals find themselves in the postseason right now, but it's amazing what $25 million can do if you spread it around at a bunch of positions. Then again, Carlos Beltran is hobbled, Rafael Furcal is probably out for the year, and Lance Berkman's career might be over. So there's a little juice left for this team if they make it.

Glen Perkins got the save Tuesday night! He's probably the closer in Minnesota! It was the first save since the eighth of the month, and just the second since the 26th of August. Hey, desperate times, desperate measures. This is not to say Perkins isn't a good pitcher, just that the Twins aren't a good team right now.

Otherwise, this is just your average grab bag of platoon closers or iffy dudes on iffy teams. I've actually seen these guys available in some of my competitive mixed leagues, though. Might want to take a turn through your wire if you're hurting for saves or thinking about going reliever-heavy in your head-to-head matchup this week.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *​

Injured

Sergio Santos (shoulder), Toronto Blue Jays
Matt Capps (shoulder), Minnesota Twins
Huston Street (calf), San Diego Padres

Huston Street is still on the DL? What's going on? Matt Capps is throwing, yes, Kenley Jansen is off this list, but there's Huston Street. Still gimpy. Health is somewhat of a tool, so you gotta give him a demerit in that category going forward. A fifty-inning closer at most at this point. Oh look, he's supposed to be activated today. We'll see.

The Deposed

Jordan Walden, Los Angeles Angels
Hector Santiago, Chicago White Sox
Brian Fuentes, St. Louis Cardinals
Javy Guerra, Los Angeles Dodgers
Sean Marshall, Cincinnati Reds
Henry Rodriguez, Washington Nationals
Brandon League, Seattle Mariners
Rafael Dolis, Chicago Cubs
Ryan Cook, Oakland Athletics.
Santiago Casilla, San Francisco Giants
Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds

Jonathan Broxton is back on the list, just because. Chapman's breathing down his neck.

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The Steals Department

Wow, the "start anyone against Pittsburgh" strategy worked wonders on Tuesday night. Here are the guys that stole bases against the Bucs: Norichika Aoki, Ryan Braun (three), Rickie Weeks, Carlos Gomez and… Jonathan Lucroy. If you missed the boat on Aoki, then look ahead to the weekend and pick up Jose Altuve if you can. Hey, this is the shallow league portion of your Steals Department, so you might as well reach for the stars. Cleveland is giving up stolen bases like candy on Halloween, too, so Alcides Escobar is your shallow league consolation prize.

Deeper leaguers should think about Royals newcomer David Lough. The Royals face Cleveland, who is terrible at throwing out basestealers, and Lorenzo Cain (hamstring) and Jarrod Dyson (lat) are done for the season more or less. Sure, Dyson can pinch run, but he won't swing the bat for a week or so, and that's all we have left. Lough doesn't walk a ton, and is too old to be a prospect (26), but he's already got a highlight-real catch in center field, can steal a base (26 against four caught stealing in Triple-A this year), and doesn't strike out much. The Royals can always learn from auditions late in the season, and Jason Bourgeois is a righty that can only hit against lefties, too. He's a decent short-term pickup in a short-term part of the season. Jimmy Paredes, who's awkward as heck on the field and can really only hit righties, gets Pittsburgh over the weekend, so he's your deep league consolation prize

 

[HacheMan]

Kemp Keeps Hope Alive
Matt Kemp smashed a solo homer off Tyler Clippard in the ninth inning, breaking a 6-6 tie and salvaging a split of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Nationals. After dropping game one earlier in the day, it appeared that the Dodgers would cruise to an easy victory in the nightcap, taking a 6-0 lead into the eighth inning.


After the Nationals put up six runs of their own in the eighth to tie the score, Kemp’s heroics were necessary to not only save the game, but perhaps the Dodgers’ season. With the Cardinals also winning on the evening, the Dodgers sit two games back in their chase for the second Wild Card in the National League. Had they been swept in the double-dip, their already dim outlook would look even bleaker.


Even with Wednesday’s heroic 2-for-4 performance, he’s been brutal in September. Through 13 games on the month, he’s hitting just .151 (8-for-53) with two homers and four RBI and an unimpressive 14/1 K/BB ratio. Hopefully this strong game springboards Kemp to a strong finish, because they’ll certainly need his bat to get hot in a hurry if they’re to have any hope of chasing down the Cardinals.





Harvey Outstanding in Finale



Matt Harvey delivered an outstanding performance in his final start of the 2012 season. After allowing a leadoff homer to Jimmy Rollins, he surrendered no other hits and walked three over seven dazzling innings of work. He also racked up seven strikeouts on the evening.


The 23-year-old right-hander has certainly made a strong impression in his first 10 MLB starts, posting a 2.73 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 70/26 K/BB ratio over 59 1/3 innings. He’s done more than enough to lock down a spot in the Mets’ rotation for the 2013 season and looks to be a true ace in the making.


He represents a strong option in keeper formats, and should be drafted in 100% of re-draft leagues next Spring. His dazzling potential and high-strikeout upside could lead to him finishing as a top-25 starter as soon as the 2013 campaign.





Dylan Bundy Recalled by Orioles



Dylan Bundy, the Orioles’ extremely talented first round selection from the 2011 draft, was recalled from Double-A Bowie on Wednesday. It comes as a very surprising move, as he was expected to finish out his 2012 season in the fall instructional league, but with the O’s bullpen getting worn out in Tuesday’s 18-inning marathon with the Mariners, there was an immediate need for his services.


He’ll likely be used in a long relief role, and doesn’t figure to see much action down the stretch, but it’s still a very intriguing stage in his development. Having the opportunity to travel with the team and receive daily instruction from the coaching staff and the veteran pitchers on the team will surely enhance his development.


In his first professional season, Bundy posted a 9-3 record, 2.08 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 119/28 K/BB ratio over 103 2/3 innings across three minor league levels. He’s certainly someone to keep a watchful eye on, and could make an impact in the Orioles rotation as soon as the 2013 season.







National League Quick Hits: Alfonso Soriano reached the 30-homer plateau for the first time since 2007 with a two-run shot in Wednesday’s loss to the Reds… Yadier Molina blasted his 20th homer in a win over the Astros… Marco Estrada tossed seven scoreless innings, leading the Brewers to their fourth straight victory… Kris Medlen delivered yet another outstanding performance, firing eight scoreless innings in a win over the Marlins… Jason Kubel extended his hitless streak to 21 at-bats, and has fallen to .253 on the season… Drew Stubbs recorded his third straight 30-steal season… Lance Lynn tossed 6 1/3 shutout innings in a victory over the Astros… Cole Hamels fanned 10 in a no-decision against the Mets… Ryan Howard belted a game-winning, two-run homer off Josh Edgin with two-outs in the ninth inning… Jordan Zimmermann pitched six strong innings of one-run ball in a victory over the Dodgers… John Axford notched his 30th save in a victory over the Pirates… David Wright snapped a 20-game homerless drought with a solo shot.



National League Injury News and Notes: Andrew Cashner has been shut down for the remainder of the season after experiencing more problems with his injured lat… Tyler Greene was a late scratch from the Astro’s lineup due to a knee injury and is considered day-to-day… Ryan Ludwick was removed from Wednesday’s game due to left groin tightness… Clayton Kershaw was able to play catch on flat ground on Wednesday, and the Dodgers remain hopeful that he’ll be able to return to the rotation before the end of the month… Aroldis Chapman threw a successful 25-pitch bullpen session, but is still at least a few days away from returning… Bud Norris was scratched from Wednesday’s scheduled start due to the flu… Reds’ skipper Dusty Baker left the team on Wednesday to receive a chest x-ray in order to rule out a potential case of pneumonia… Frank Francisco was unavailable to pitch on Wednesday due to tendinitis in his throwing elbow. Josh Edgin blew a save opportunity in his place.





American League Quick Hits: Ichiro Suzuki had a huge night, going 4-for-4 and stealing four bases in the nightcap of Wednesday’s doubleheader… Chris Archer notched the first win of his MLB career, allowing three runs over five innings against the Red Sox… Justin Verlander hurled six scoreless innings in a critical win over the Athletics… Miguel Cabrera blasted his 41st homer of the season, pulling him to within one of Josh Hamilton for the AL lead. He has a legitimate shot at achieving the first triple crown since the 1967 season… Liam Hendriks finally notched his first victory of the season on his 14th attempt… Josh Willingham smashed his 35 home run of the season and has now driven in 110… Jake Odorizzi will make his first major league start when he takes on the Indians on Saturday… Andy Pettitte returned from the DL to toss five scoreless innings in a win over the Blue Jays… Adam Jones belted his 30th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the 11th inning to deliver the Orioles another extra-inning victory.



American League Injury News and Notes: Asdrubal Cabrera left Wednesday’s game after aggravating his right wrist injury… Brett Anderson left his start against the Tigers in the third inning and has been diagnosed with a strained right oblique. It’s an injury that could require him to miss the remainder of the regular season… Adrian Beltre sat out Wednesday’s contest with intestinal issues, but remains hopeful that he’ll return on Thursday… Brian Matusz was rushed to the emergency room on Tuesday night after experiencing an allergic reaction, but has the issue under control and has returned to the team…Coco Crisp is dealing with a severe case of pink eye in both eyes and is considered day-to-day… Alex Avila missed a second straight game with what the Tigers are calling a “mild” concussion… Josh Hamilton sat out Wednesday’s contest due to vision/sinus issues, but is hopeful he’ll return on Thursday… Max Scherzer is hoping to be ready to make his regularly scheduled start on Saturday. If he can’t go, Drew Smyly would likely take his turn in the rotation.

 

[HacheMan]

The Home(r) Stretch I say this every year around this same time, but if you're still reading this column, that means you have probably enjoyed a pretty successful season and may even have a chance to win your league. Kudos to you. I sincerely hope Waiver Wired has played a small part in putting your team on the right path to success.

This is the penultimate Waiver Wired of the season. I'll be back next Thursday with some final recommendations and will also hand out some superlatives for the best waiver wire pickups of the year. Good luck out there.

MIXED LEAGUES

Homer Bailey SP, Reds (Yahoo: 36 percent owned, ESPN: 47.8 percent)

Bailey has clinched a spot in the Reds' playoff rotation in part by posting an excellent 1.55 ERA and 26/6 K/BB ratio in 29 innings over four starts this month. Two of those starts were against the Astros while the others were against the Cubs and Pirates, so he certainly had the benefit of facing some pretty weak competition, but his upcoming matchups against the Dodgers (at home) and Pirates (on the road) aren't all that bad either. Just remember that he's been a lot better on the road than at Great American Ballpark.

Chris Nelson 2B/3B, Rockies (Yahoo: 23 percent owned, ESPN: 38.5 percent)

Don't look now, but Nelson is one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball. The 2004 first-round pick is hitting a ridiculous .526 (20-for-38) over his last 10 games and has pulled his batting average up from .265 to .296 in the process. While there haven't been many bright spots for the last-place Rockies, Nelson has emerged as the favorite to start at third base in 2013 or at least until top prospect Nolan Arenado is ready for the big leagues. It's true that he doesn't have the pop you'd normally look for in a third baseman or a CI (corner infielder), but his eligibility at second base makes him a pretty handy option in a MI (middle infielder) spot.

Matt Thornton RP, White Sox (Yahoo: 23 percent owned, ESPN: 9 percent)

Addison Reed was pulled in the middle of a save opportunity Saturday against the Twins so that Thornton could finish the job. Reed has notched two saves since while Thornton has remained in a set-up role, so his job isn't in serious jeopardy, but remember that the White Sox are trying to secure a playoff spot right now. Robin Ventura has already shown that he isn't afraid to make a move if Reed is on the ropes or if the matchup is right, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Thornton sneak another save or two over the final 14 games of the regular season.

Gavin Floyd SP, White Sox (Yahoo: 22 percent owned, ESPN: 34.9 percent)

It looks like Floyd's elbow is just fine. After striking out seven in 4 2/3 innings in his return from the disabled list last Wednesday, the 29-year-old right-hander limited the Royals to two runs over seven innings Tuesday for his 10th victory of the season. According to Brooks Baseball, Floyd was actually throwing harder than his average velocity for the season, so perhaps the extended rest will allow him to finish the season strong. Assuming he stays on his regular turn, he currently lines up to face the Angels on Sunday and the Rays next week.

Wilton Lopez RP, Astros (Yahoo: 14 percent owned, ESPN: 20.8 percent)

I know, I know. Owning the closer on the Astros isn't that exciting from a fantasy perspective, but Lopez has converted three saves since the start of last week. That's more than high-profile closers like Craig Kimbrel, Joel Hanrahan, J.J. Putz, Chris Perez and Fernando Rodney have during the very same timespan. Lopez also has a solid 2.24 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 52/7 K/BB ratio over 60 1/3 innings this season, so he isn't just about saves. The Astros are still terrible and Lopez might not get many chances moving forward, but he should absolutely be owned in more leagues right now.

Shopping at the five-and-dime:

(Players owned in less than 10 percent of Y! and ESPN.com leagues)

Eduardo Nunez 2B/3B/SS, Yankees (Yahoo: 2 percent owned, ESPN: 0.7 percent)

Last week I included Nunez under my AL-only recommendations, but he's suddenly an interesting name to consider in deeper mixed formats. The 24-year-old is 4-for-16 (.250) while filling in at shortstop over the past week, including a home run last Saturday and three stolen bases on Sunday. His shaky defense gets a lot of attention, but he can do a lot to help fantasy owners if given the opportunity. The Yankees have sorely missed a speed element in their lineup and Raul Ibanez and Andruw Jones are both struggling, so Nunez deserves at-bats out of the DH spot assuming Derek Jeter is ready to play shortstop again on a daily basis.

Anthony Gose OF, Blue Jays (Yahoo: 5 percent owned, ESPN: 7.2 percent)

Gose has been a little better with the bat since returning from the minors earlier this month, hitting .278 (10-for-31) with one home run, one double, one triple and a 10/4 K/BB ratio in 12 games, but that isn't why you should consider picking him up. One of the fastest players in the game, the 22-year-old outfielder is 15-for-17 in stolen base attempts in just 41 games in the majors this year. By the way, that would put him on pace for around 60 stolen bases over an entire season. He's playing every day right now, so if you need speed, you know what to do.

Lonnie Chisenhall 3B, Indians (Yahoo: 3 percent owned, ESPN: 3.2 percent)

When Chisenhall underwent surgery in early July to repair a fractured right forearm, it was initially thought that he would miss the rest of the season. Fortunately for fantasy owners, he made a speedy recovery. The 23-year-old is hitting .276 (8-for-29) with two homers, a double and three RBI in nine games since being activated from the disabled list on September 9 and should continue to get regular playing time at third base as the Indians play out the string. His plate discipline remains worrisome, but he has enough pop to help from a CI (corner infielder) spot in deeper mixed leagues.

Adam Eaton OF, Diamondbacks (Yahoo: 2 percent owned, ESPN: 0.5 percent)

Chris Young finally returned to center field on Tuesday night, but he ended up aggravating his right quadriceps muscle on the very first play of the ballgame. He went two weeks between starts due to the initial injury, so there's a real chance he could miss the rest of the season. That means we should continue to see Eaton in center field and at the top of the Kirk Gibson's lineup. The 23-year-old has just two hits over his last seven games, but he has displayed plenty of patience (5/10 K/BB ratio) and has scored 10 runs in just 12 games. Eaton was a .355 hitter in the minors and swiped 98 bases in 319 games, so there are worse ways to roll the dice in five-outfielder formats.

Bobby Parnell RP, Mets (Yahoo: 7 percent owned, ESPN: 5.4 percent)

Frank Francisco was unavailable Wednesday due to right elbow tendinitis. It doesn't sound too serious, but he's no sure thing to be ready this weekend. Josh Edgin got the save chance Wednesday against the Phillies because of matchups, but Mets manager Terry Collins may be reluctant to go there again after he gave up a go-ahead two-run homer to Ryan Howard. Meanwhile, Parnell tossed a scoreless eighth inning Wednesday and owns a 2.87 ERA and 56/20 K/BB ratio over 59 2/3 innings this year. Jon Rauch has been lights out for a couple of months now too, so he could also get a look in a pinch, but Parnell is the one to own in mixed leagues.

Suitable streamers:

Martin Perez SP/RP, Rangers (Yahoo: 1 percent owned, ESPN: 0 percent) - Friday at SEA

The Rangers moved Scott Feldman back to the bullpen this week, which means Perez will get a shot in the starting rotation over the final two weeks of the regular season. The 21-year-old left-hander tossed 4 1/3 hitless innings in relief of Feldman on Sunday against the Mariners while notching five strikeouts and walking just one. Perez's minor league numbers haven't quite matched the hype, but he has a great arm and it's easy to forget that the Rangers have pushed him aggressively. There's obviously some risk with a rookie and he could be on a pitch-count, but a start in Safeco is tough to pass up.

Alex Cobb SP, Rays (Yahoo: 20 percent owned, ESPN: 17 percent) - Sunday vs. TOR

Cobb is rapidly approaching his innings limit, but he should still be able to help fantasy owners this weekend. The 24-year-old right-hander has allowed three earned runs or less in 12 out of his last 13 starts dating back to the start of July, so there's a pretty good chance he'll keep the Rays in the game. And while he took his first loss since July 27 last time out, he held the Red Sox hitless until he gave up a two-run homer to Jacoby Ellsbury with two outs in the sixth inning. The Blue Jays aren't scaring anyone these days, so he makes for a pretty solid streamer.

Chris Tillman SP, Orioles (Yahoo: 16 percent owned, ESPN: 8.8 percent) - Sunday (projected) at BOS

Tillman went 14 days between starts due to elbow stiffness, but he was very impressive in his return Monday night against the Mariners, allowing just one run (a solo homer by Michael Saunders) over six innings while striking out four and walking none. The 24-year-old right-hander now owns a surprising 3.22 ERA and 53/21 K/BB ratio in 67 innings over 12 starts this season. In the past, a matchup against the Red Sox would be reason to consider alternatives, but these aren't the same Red Sox. <!--RW-->

AL ONLY

Jake Odorizzi RP, Royals (Yahoo: 0 percent owned, ESPN: 0 percent)

Triple-A Omaha was eliminated from the Pacific Coast League playoffs over the weekend, so the Royals called up Odorizzi this week to give him his first taste of major league life. Odorizzi, who was acquired from the Brewers in the Zack Greinke deal, posted a 3.03 ERA and 135/50 K/BB ratio over 145 innings this season between Double-A and Triple-A and was ranked as baseball's No. 29 prospect on Baseball America's midseason list. It was initially thought that he would get his feet wet with a relief appearance or two, but he's now expected to start Sunday against the Indians. There's some risk involved with trusting a pitcher in their first major league appearance, but that's a pretty favorable matchup. And guess what? Assuming all goes well, he'll face the Indians again next weekend.

Endy Chavez OF, Orioles (Yahoo: 0 percent owned, ESPN: 0 percent)

Chavez was designated for assignment by the Orioles earlier this summer, but he's playing every day in right field now that Nick Markakis is done for the rest of the regular season with a broken left thumb. The veteran outfielder owns a lousy .209/.245/.291 batting line in 54 games this year, but he's hitting .296 (8-for-27) with a double, three RBI and a stolen base in seven games since returning from the minors. Remember that he batted .301 with five homers and 10 stolen bases in 83 games with Texas last year, so don't be surprised if he ends up being pretty useful over the final couple weeks of the season.

NL ONLY

Jorge De La Rosa SP, Rockies (Yahoo: 2 percent owned, ESPN: 0 percent)

De La Rosa was originally expected to rejoin the Rockies earlier this summer, but his rehab from Tommy John surgery hit a bit of a snag due to some forearm tightness. However, he made it through some rehab appearances earlier this month without incident and is slated to make his return Thursday afternoon against the Giants. The 31-year-old will be subject to a pitch count and has never been much of a control guy to begin with, so it's tough to trust him over the final two weeks of the season. Still, just about anybody is relevant in NL-only leagues at this point.

Jeurys Familia RP, Mets (Yahoo: 0 percent owned, ESPN: 0 percent)

Familia has pitched well out of the bullpen since getting his first call-up to the majors earlier this month, allowing two runs over five innings while striking out five and walking none. The hard-throwing 22-year-old was originally slated to make his first major league start this week, but the Mets will keep him in the bullpen for now as that's likely where he'll fit with the big club in 2013. Still, Mets manager Terry Collins hasn't ruled out the possibility that he could make a start during the final week of the regular season. He's someone to keep an eye on at the very least.

 

[HacheMan]

Hamilton Hampered
The only thing that has been able to slow Josh Hamilton down during his impressive 2012 campaign appears to be illness or injury. Unfortunately for Rangers fans, and his fantasy owners everywhere, he isn’t quite the bastion of perfect health at the moment.


Hamilton sat out his second consecutive game on Thursday, due to blurry vision and sinus troubles. He attempted to take batting practice with his team before the game, but was unable to do so due to a continuation of his symptoms.


Rather than traveling with his team to Seattle where they open a three-game weekend series on Friday, Hamilton instead flew back to Texas to get examined by Rangers’ team doctors. It seems extremely unlikely that he’ll make it back and get clearance to play on Friday, but it also puts his entire weekend in jeopardy.


He’s having an outstanding year at the dish, hitting .304/.364/.551 with 42 homers and 123 RBI. His 42 bombs are far and away the best output of his career, and puts him one ahead of Miguel Cabrera for the American League lead. If he’s forced to miss even a few games at this stage of the season, it could put Cabrera in the driver’s seat to lock up the first Triple Crown since the 1967 season.





Upton Unleashes Walk-off Winner





B.J. Upton played the role of hero on Thursday, smashing a walk-off three run homer to cap off a six-run ninth inning in an impressive come-from-behind victory over the Red Sox.


It was a critical victory for the Rays, who even with the victory are still chasing 5 ½ games in the Wild Card race. Their margin for error is razor-thin from here on out, and dropping Thursday’s decision could have buried their dreams of making the postseason.


His 2-for-5 night pushed his average up to .250 on the season, and he matched his career-high with his 24th homer. He’s put on an extremely impressive display since the All-Star break, smashing 17 homers, driving home 42 runs and stealing 15 bases in 63 games since the mid-summer classic.





Anderson Officially Shut Down





The Athletics officially announced that Brett Anderson will miss the remainder of the 2013 regular season due to an injured oblique. He left Wednesday’s start against the Tigers after just 2 1/3 innings due to tightness he experienced in his right oblique.


In his six starts this season, he posted a stellar 4-2 record, 2.57 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 25/7 K/BB ratio over 35 innings. The 24-year-old left-hander is undoubtedly an amazing talent, but he has dealt with a wide array of injuries already in his budding young career.


Anderson hopes to make it back in time to make an impact in the postseason for the A’s, but that will all depend on how his rehab goes over the next few weeks. Travis Blackley will take his place in the rotation for the remainder of the regular season.


Even with the injury issues, Anderson will likely enter the 2013 season as a top-25 starting pitcher in most redraft leagues.







National League Quick Hits: Corey Hart returned to the Brewers’ lineup on Thursday after missing eight games with a left foot injury… The Mets intend to shut down Josh Edgin for the remainder of the 2012 season after his next appearance… Chien-Ming Wang will make a spot start for the Nationals when they take on the Brewers on Sunday… Allen Craig blasted his 22nd homer of the season as the Cardinals swept the Astros on Thursday… Jorge De La Rosa struggled in his 2012 season debut, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings… Pablo Sandoval smashed two homers and drove home four as the Giants thrashed the Rockies… Adam Eaton launched his first MLB homer in a loss to the Padres… Anthony Bass recorded his first career save, striking out the only hitter he faced to protect a one-run lead… The Padres will activate Huston Street from the DL on Friday, and he’s expected to immediately resume his closing duties… Andrew McCutchen belted his 30th homer in a losing effort against the Brewers… Jeremy Hefner surrendered seven runs on six hits and a walk, and didn’t record an out in Thursday’s loss to the Phillies… Tyler Cloyd twirled a gem, allowing one run on three hits over eight strong innings against the Mets… Ryan Howard swatted a grand slam and drove home five runs in a thrashing of the Mets… Ross Detwiler pitched brilliantly, allowing just one run on three hits over six frames in a win over the Dodgers… Jason Motte recorded his third save of the week, and now has 38 on the season… Buster Posey belted his 23rd homer of the season, and looks like he’ll receive strong consideration for the NL MVP.





American League Quick Hits: Coco Crisp was forced to miss another game on Thursday due to pink eye, but is expecting to return to the lineup on Friday… Alex Avila missed his fourth straight contest with a mild concussion, but expects to return over the weekend… Dan Straily is likely to start for the Athletics on Monday in place of the injured Brett Anderson… According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the White Sox will not exercise Jake Peavy’s $22 million option for the 2013 season, but could look to bring him back at a discounted rate… Trevor Plouffe blasted his 23rd homer in an extra-inning loss to the Indians… Mark Teixeira (calf) will begin a rehab assignment in the instructional league, and is aiming to return for the Yankees’ final series of September… Nick Swisher hit a grand slam, powering the Yankees over the Blue Jays… Clay Buchholz twirled seven scoreless innings in a no-decision vs. the Rays… Jose Iglesias hit his first MLB homer… Andrew Bailey imploded, allowing five runs on four hits in just 1/3 of an inning… Drew Smyly is expected to start against the Twins on Sunday in place of the injured Max Scherzer… Yu Darvish picked up his 16th victory, allowing one run over eight strong innings against the Angels… Adrian Beltre returned to the Rangers’ lineup and blasted a game-winning two-run homer off Ernesto Frieri in the ninth inning… Edwin Encarnacion was able to return to the Blue Jays lineup on Thursday… Phil Hughes netted his 16th victory in a win over the Blue Jays.

 

[HacheMan]

End of the Line Well, it's been a fun ride. The 2012 MLB season has been full of surprising performances, memorable moments and controversial decisions (Strasburg, anyone?). Now, the campaign is finally winding down, as late-running fantasy leagues wrap up their championship rounds with less than two weeks of action remaining.

Now that the final full week of regular-season games is upon us, the following crop of two-start pitchers will be the last of the year. There are several interesting storylines to be found here. Yu Darvish will look to continue his recent run of strong play and wrap up a successful rookie season. Justin Verlander will put the final touches on his case for a second straight Cy Young. Andy Pettitte will try to keep the magic going and help push the Yankees past the Orioles. Jorge De La Rosa, finally back from injury, will look to show something in a brief late-season audition.

It's been a pleasure bringing you these weekly previews all season, and I hope they've been helpful toward giving your team an edge. We'll see you next spring.

Going Twice…

American League

Strong Plays

Yu Darvish: OAK (Straily), LAA (Wilson)
Derek Holland: OAK, LAA (Weaver)
Jeremy Hellickson: @BOS (Matsuzaka), @CWS (Liriano)
CC Sabathia: @MIN (Vasquez), @TOR (Romero)
Andy Pettitte: @MIN (Hendriks), @TOR (Laffey)
Justin Verlander: KC (Mendoza), @MIN (Walters)
Chris Sale: CLE (McAllister), TB (Archer)

Decent Plays

Dan Straily: @TEX (Darvish), SEA (Ramirez)
C.J. Wilson: SEA (Beavan), @TEX (Darvish)
Luis Mendoza: @DET (Verlander), @CLE (Huff)
Anibal Sanchez: KC (Chen), @MIN (Hendriks)
Francisco Liriano: CLE (Kluber), TB (Hellickson)
Wei-Yin Chen: TOR (Romero), BOS (Doubront)
Zach McAllister: @CWS (Sale), KC (Chen)

At Your Own Risk

Aaron Laffey: @BAL (Gonzalez), NYY (Pettitte)
Ricky Romero: @BAL (Chen), NYY (Sabathia)
Liam Hendriks: NYY (Pettitte), DET (Sanchez)
Bruce Chen: @DET (Sanchez), @CLE (McAllister)

National League

Strong Plays

Jordan Zimmermann: MIL (Estrada), @STL (Lohse)
Matt Cain: ARI (Skaggs), @SD (Werner)
Wandy Rodriguez: @NYM (Hefner), CIN (Leake)
Cole Hamels: WAS (Lannan), @MIA (Nolasco)
Marco Estrada: @WAS (Zimmermann), HOU (Keuchel)

Decent Plays

John Lannan: @PHI (Hamels), @STL (Westbrook)
Jake Westbrook: @HOU (Abad), @WAS (Lannan)
Kyle McPherson: @NYM (Young), CIN (Bailey)
Chris Young: PIT (McPherson), @ATL (Hudson)
Michael Fiers: @CIN (Leake), HOU (Lyles)
Aaron Harang: @SD (Volquez), COL (De La Rosa)
Mike Leake: MIL (Fiers), @PIT (Rodriguez)
Paul Maholm: MIA (LeBlanc), NYM (Hefner)
Trevor Cahill: @COL (Chatwood), CHC (Wood)

At Your Own Risk

Jeremy Hefner: PIT (Rodriguez), @ATL (Maholm)
Jorge De La Rosa: CHC (Rusin), @LAD (Harang)
Tyler Chatwood: ARI (Cahill), @LAD (Kershaw)
Chris Rusin: @COL (De La Rosa), @ARI (Skaggs)
Tyler Skaggs: @SF (Cain), CHC (Rusin)
<!--RW-->
Streamer City

The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:

American League

Wednesday, 9/26: Jeremy Guthrie @ DET
Since the start of August, Guthrie has been simply splendid, going 4-1 with a 2.04 ERA in nine starts (eight of them quality).

Wednesday, 9/26: Martin Perez vs. OAK
Perez posted solid numbers in an earlier stint with the Rangers and matches up well against the offensively challenged A's.

Thursday, 9/27: Hisashi Iwakuma
He's picked up victories in five of his past nine turns, posting a 2.29 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 55 innings during that span.

National League

Wednesday, 9/26: Jeff Locke @ NYM
The reputed rookie hasn't gotten very good results overall in his three big-league starts, but an impressive 14/2 K/BB ratio suggests that good things are coming.

Thursday, 9/27: Patrick Corbin @ SF
Corbin held the Giants to two runs over eight innings when he faced them this past week and will look for similar success here.

Friday, 9/28: Jacob Turner vs. PHI
Three of Turner's past four starts have been quality, and he has put up a 17/3 K/BB ratio over that window.

Total Games

American League

5: BOS
6: CLE, LAA, MIN, SEA, TB
7: BAL, CWS, DET, KC, NYY, OAK, TEX
8: TOR

National League

6: ATL, CHC, CIN, HOU, LAD, MIA, PHI, SD, SF, STL
7: ARI, COL, MIL, NYM, PIT, WAS

Lefty/Righty Breakdowns

American League

BAL: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
BOS: 3 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CLE: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
CWS: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
DET: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
KC: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
LAA: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
MIN: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
NYY: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
OAK: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
SEA: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
TB: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
TEX: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
TOR: 2 vs. RHP, 6 vs. LHP

National League

ARI: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
ATL: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
CHC: 2 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
CIN: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
COL: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
HOU: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
LAD: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
MIA: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
MIL: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
NYM: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
PHI: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
PIT: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
SD: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
SF: 2 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
STL: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
WAS: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP

The Infirmary

You can get a full listing of injured players at Rotoworld's Injury Page but here's the latest on a few prominent players who have been out of action:

Paul Janish: Out indefinitely (shoulder)
Wilson Betemit: Out for the season (wrist)
Donnie Murphy: Out for the season (concussion)
Lorenzo Cain: Out for the season (hamstring)
Clayton Kershaw: Out until late September (hip)
Brett Anderson: Out for the season (ribs)
Andrew Cashner: Out for the season (shoulder)

 

[HacheMan]

Kung Fu (Panda) Fighting The Kung Fu Panda kicking butt highlights this week’s edition.

Timeout for a shameless piece of self-promotion: Don’t forget to tune in to hear Rick Wolf and me on Colton and the Wolfman on SiriusXM fantasy sports radio (Sirius 210 XM 87) Tuesday nights from 11pm-1am Eastern time. We will have fantasy baseball pennant races, fantasy football week 3 recaps and more.

Now back to why you clicked this column to begin with . . . .

Pablo Sandoval : The Kung Fu Panda had another big night last night, going 3-3 with a two-run homer. That's 3 jacks in three days for the Panda. Overall, he has a solid .291 average, but because of his DL time, only 12 HR and 59 RBI. Here is the good news: over the last week, Panda has 4 HR, 9 RBI and a SB. If you can, ride the Panda because he should stay hot for the last two weeks. As for next year, if you see the Panda come into camp heavy, cut his auction price by 40% as he will get hurt again. However, if it looks like he has finally grown up and taken conditioning seriously, then you could have a serious bargain on your hands. Next year he will be only 27 and in his 6th major league season -- a prescription for success IF, IF, IF he stays healthy. [Note: I still think "Kung Fu Panda" is the best nickname in sports].

Hisashi Iwakuma: Hisashi Iwakuma continued to prove he belongs by holding the big bats of the Texas Rangers to three runs on eight hits in seven innings Friday. Overall, Iwakuma has a pretty 3.41 ERA and respectable K/BB over 2.0. If you are looking for a star, this is not your guy. However, if you need cheap pitching late in your draft or auction next year, this pitcher is one to keep on your radar screen. As for this year, the next start in Anaheim is not one I would feel very good about. Just sayin.

Justin Masterson: Justin Masterson was, well . . . not good Friday giving up four runs in six innings to the Royals. Add in that he struck out just 3 and gave up 8 baserunners and you have an unhelpful roto outing. Yes, every now and again he looks great. However, for the year, the inaptly named Masterson has a pretty ugly 4.97 ERA, an equally ugly 1.45 WHIP and a K/BB below 2.0. In his four years as a starter between 2009 and 2012, he has been roto positive in only one of those four. Paying anything other than flyer money for Justin next year is hoping rather than evaluating. And, as the Wolfman always says "hope is not a management strategy."

Jonathan Niese: Unlike Masterson, Jonathan Niese added more personal positive to yet another bad season for the NY Mets. Niese struck out seven while walking only one to get the win. Overall, Niese has a sweet 3.49 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 152/46 K/BB ratio. I like him to finish strong, so grab Niese if you need a good start or two (but not necessarily if you need a win as the Mets still cannot hit). As for next year, he will be 26 and seems to have established a new and higher level of play. There is a very good chance Niese will be a bargain in 2013.

Tyler Clippard: Things are not good if you are Tyler Clippard. Not only did you lose half your closer role, you responded by blowing a game in your first outing as half closer. Overall, Clippard has had yet another strong season with 32 saves and 79 K in fewer than 70 innings. However, over the last two weeks, he has a 7.94 ERA and 1.76 WHIP. Perhaps the huge workloads have worn him down. Bottom line -- Clippard is not a good bet for many saves down the stretch. Even if he straightens out, the Nats will do all they can to keep him fresh for the playoffs.

Eric Hosmer: Eric Hosmer got the big hit Thursday helping the Royals deal a tough defeat to the division leading ChiSox. There is no question that Hosmer has fallen victim to the sophomore slump this year, hitting a paltry .240 with just 14 HR. That said, the question remains -- will Hos help you down the stretch? Probably not. His .189 average over the last two weeks looks good only compared to the .167 over the last week. However, when 2013 rolls around, you will have a player in his third year with a world of talent who has the requisite 1000 AB under his belt. Translation: Hosmer could be a bargain at next year's draft table.

B.J. Upton: BJ Upton continued his scalding September this week. Thursday, BJ hit a clutch 3-run walkoff home run to beat the Red Sox. 17 HR and 15 SB in the second half have made Upton one of the fantasy stars of the second half. Ride him to a pennant if you can but don’t overpay next year. He will be on a new team with a big contract and suffer both from "new team/big contract-itis" and maybe even some customary lack of focus.

Now, because so many of you are now focused on fantasy football, I provide here some thoughts for this week and weeks to come:

1. Yes, it is a passing league, but remember that when fantasy playoff time comes, it will be cold and wet in December and the good teams will run the football. Don’t give up on those running backs any time soon!

2. Injury prone players get hurt. If you are betting that Ryan Matthews plays the next 14 games, well, shame on you.

3. Don’t save FAAB money when yearlong quality is there for the taking. Get while the getting is good!

And last and but not least, this from the Baron of the Bottom of the Page -- Schultz says: “Like politicians and advertising executives, roto-sports writers are partial to short pithy phrases that seem to convey much knowledge in a modicum of words (unlike your humble narrator here that has never opted to say in two words what he could say mellifluously in ten). While I know my not-so-humble overlord did not invent the phrase, it's probably time to address the folly of following the logic of "injury prone players get injured" as it oversimplifies a slightly more complicated issue of discerning which players are at-risk for missing time and which are not. In lumping any player that has suffered more than one injury into the category of injury prone, it's easy to mistake a player that has a chronic injury or bad workout habits with one that is simply unlucky.

Mark Prior will likely go down in history as being an injury prone player, a misnomer if there ever was one. After being overworked by Dusty Baker as a 22-year-old, Prior suffered a shoulder injury which led to the elbow issues that effectively ended his career. Prior wasn't injury prone - he was simply injured. He wasn't prone to injury, he was simply already injured. Those who are wondering whether the Nationals made a smart move in shutting down Steven Strasburg should remember the ghost of Prior's past. It may hinder the Nationals chances for winning a World Series but it's keeping Strasburg from becoming an injured pitcher. It's also the reason Brett Anderson consistently gets mentioned in the same sentence as "potential." On the other hand, Roy Halladay had the unfair reputation of being injury prone early in his career. However, he was only unlucky, his "injury proneness" the result of two errantly hit balls that broke his leg and gave him a concussion and an emergency appendectomy. Those that could tell the difference between injury prone and bad luck likely got the best pitcher in baseball for the second half of the last decade for a bargain. That wouldn't have happened by blindly following pithy maxims.

An outfielder that habitually runs into walls? That's likely an injury prone player until he stops. Once that happens, likely injury prone no more. A base stealer that consistently pulls leg muscles? That's a sign of an athlete not properly stretching before games and likely an injury prone player until his work habits change. A pitcher with a habitually bad shoulder? Not injury prone - just injured and you could probably do well to let others take the risk. Don't let your roto-life be guided by catchy phrases. Dig deeper and make educated choices. Knowledge is power and knowing is half the battle."

Response: Quality advice from Schultz. Yes, one cannot say ARod is injury prone because he got hit on the hand or Andy Pettitte because he got hit on the leg. However, Nick Johnson, he is the poster boy for injury prone, no?

Final thoughts: Two requests of the Dallas Cowboys this week. 1) Jason Garrett please remember to stick with the run and 2) Felix Jones, when you find yourself 5+ yards deep in the end zone, kneel down and take the 25 yards you get by automatic placement at the 20 rather than run out, risk a fumble and get only to the 15. Please!

 

[HacheMan]

Forecaster: Sept. 24-Oct. 3

By Tristan H. Cockcroft | ESPN.com

On tap: This is it, the final week of the 2012 fantasy baseball season. It's an extended "week" of 10 days ending Wednesday, Oct. 3, plus any necessary tiebreaker games. By "tiebreaker games," I mean additional games needed to settle playoff positioning, not the wild-card play-in games. For example: Should the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees tie for first place in the American League East while also sharing the same record with the Oakland Athletics for the two AL wild-card spots, the Orioles and Yankees would require a one-game playoff to decide their division, a game played Thursday, Oct. 4, that would count in ESPN leagues.

Expect the unexpected in the final week -- rotations in flux, rookies granted sporadic starts as 2013 auditions, injured players shut down for the year and playoff teams resting veterans. The rotations listed below are projections and are more subject to change in this than in any of the preceding 23 weeks. We'll keep you updated throughout the weekend, leading up to the Monday weekly deadline, but understand that, while almost every pitcher is tentatively scheduled for two starts, there are no guarantees with any assignments.


Motivation is a critical angle at this stage of season. Fantasy owners want players playing for something, and they generally want to avoid players whose playoff fates are already sealed. Through Thursday's games, the following teams had either already clinched or had at least a five-game lead on their opposition in their playoff races:


• Cincinnati Reds: Clinched playoff berth, held 11-game lead in NL Central (magic number 3).
• Washington Nationals: Clinched playoff berth, held 5½-game lead in NL East (magic number 7).
• San Francisco Giants: Held 10-game lead in NL West (magic number 3).
• Atlanta Braves: Held six-game lead for first NL wild-card spot (magic number 7) and 8½ for second wild-card spot (magic number 5).


Conversely, the following teams remained within five games of a playoff spot, whether in the lead or trailing:


• Texas Rangers: 4-game lead in AL West.
• Chicago White Sox: 2-game lead in AL Central.
• Yankees: 1-game lead in AL East.
• St. Louis Cardinals: 2½-game lead for second NL wild-card spot.
• Orioles: Trail in AL East race by 1 game, tied for the two AL wild-card spots with a 4½-game lead.
• Detroit Tigers: Trail in AL Central race by 2 games.
• Milwaukee Brewers: Trail in NL wild-card race by 2½ games.
• Los Angeles Dodgers: Trail in NL wild-card race by 3 games.
• Oakland Athletics: Trail in AL West race by 4 games, tied for the two AL wild-card spots with a 4½-game lead.
• Philadelphia Phillies: Trail in NL wild-card race by 4 games.
• Los Angeles Angels: Trail in AL wild-card race by 4½ games.


The Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays were all 5½ games removed from a playoff spot. Add them to the above group and there are 14 teams that begin the week highly motivated.


The AL Central race is perhaps the most compelling this week, with the White Sox and Tigers avoiding each other in the final 10 days, fattening up on weaker divisional competition -- save, perhaps, a four-game White Sox home series versus the Rays. It's conceivable that the race will go down to the final Oct. 1-3 series for each team, and it could mean a lot of W's between the two squads. Both teams have rotation questions in need of answers before the playoffs begin: The White Sox need to determine who among Francisco Liriano, Gavin Floyd and Jose Quintana can be a viable playoff starter, while the Tigers need to hope that Max Scherzer's shoulder quickly heals.


Meanwhile, the NL's second wild-card race, and its two Central division contenders, will be under the microscope. Having just welcomed Chris Carpenter back to their rotation, the Cardinals head to Houston for three games before returning home for a pair of three-game series against the Nationals and Reds, teams that have already clinched playoff berths and might largely be playing B squads. The Brewers, meanwhile, play three in Cincinnati before returning home for a pair of soft, three-game matchups versus the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres. Their decision to move up Yovani Gallardo in their rotation last week pays off in fantasy, as he'll now get two starts this week instead of one.


ESPN leagues: Week 24



This is the second and final week of championship matchups in ESPN standard head-to-head leagues, and owners in our games need remember that those Thursday, Oct. 4, tiebreakers will count in the standings. That goes for all ESPN leagues, head-to-head and Rotisserie.


The Monday conclusion of the Brewers at Nationals four-game wraparound series creates an early lineup deadline for the week. That series finale begins at 1:05 p.m. ET. Here are the scheduled start times of the first games each day:



<style type="text/css">.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</style><table style="margin: 0px; width: 100%;"><thead><tr><th style="vertical-align: bottom;">Date</th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Time (ET)</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;">Teams</th><th style="width: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> </center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;">Date</th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Time (ET)</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;">Teams</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Mon 9/24</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1:05 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">MIL, WAS</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Sat 9/29</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1:07 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">NYY, TOR</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Tue 9/25</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">2:10 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">CHW, CLE</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Sun 9/30</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1:05 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">CLE, KC</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Wed 9/26</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1:10 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">MIN, NYY</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Mon 10/1</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7:05 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">ATL, BOS, CHW, CLE,
NYY, PHI, PIT, WAS</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Thu 9/27</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">12:35 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">CIN, MIL</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Tue 10/2</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7:05 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">ATL, BOS, CHW, CLE,
NYY, PHI, PIT, WAS</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Fri 9/28</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7:05 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">BAL, BOS, CIN, CLE,
KC, PIT</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Wed 10/3</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">12:35 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">ATL, PIT</td></tr></tbody></table>




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Probable starting pitchers | Week 24 pitcher rankings | Pitching notes
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Projected starting pitchers



The chart below lists each of the 30 MLB teams' schedules and projected starting pitchers, providing a matchup rating for each day's starter. Pitchers scheduled to start at least twice this week are in gold/beige boxes.



<style type="text/css">.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</style><table style="margin: 0px; width: 100%;"><thead><tr><th style="width: 35px; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> </center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Mon
9/24</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Tue
9/25</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Wed
9/26</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Thu
9/27</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Fri
9/28</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Sat
9/29</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Sun
9/30</center></th></tr></thead><thead><tr><th style="width: 35px; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Team</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>10/1</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>10/2</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>10/3</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>10/4</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>10/5</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>10/6</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>10/7</center></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">TOR-2
Chen
(LHP)
P: 6
Saunders
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TOR
TBD

P: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">TOR
Gonzalez
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">BOS
Tillman
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">BOS
Britton
(LHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">BOS
Chen
(LHP)
P: 6</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TB
Saunders
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TB
Gonzalez
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TB
Tillman
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">TB
Matsuzaka
(RHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">TB
Buchholz
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@BAL
Lester
(LHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@BAL
Cook
(RHP)
P: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@BAL
Doubront
(LHP)
P: 2</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@NYY
Matsuzaka
(RHP)
P: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@NYY
Buchholz
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@NYY
Lester
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CLE
Sale
(LHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CLE
Liriano
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CLE
Peavy
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">TB
Quintana
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">TB
Floyd
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">TB
Sale
(LHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">TB
Liriano
(LHP)
P: 7</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CLE
Peavy
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CLE
Quintana
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CLE
Floyd
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CHW
McAllister
(RHP)
P: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CHW
Kluber
(RHP)
P: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CHW
Masterson
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">KC
Jimenez
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">KC
Huff
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">KC
McAllister
(RHP)
P: 2</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CHW
Kluber
(RHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CHW
Masterson
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CHW
Jimenez
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">KC
Verlander
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">KC
Sanchez
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">KC
Porcello
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">KC
Fister
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIN
Scherzer
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIN
Verlander
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIN
Sanchez
(RHP)
P: 7</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@KC
Porcello
(RHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@KC
Fister
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@KC
Scherzer
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@DET
Hochevar
(RHP)
P: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@DET
Chen
(LHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@DET
Guthrie
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@DET
Mendoza
(RHP)
P: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@CLE
Smith
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@CLE
Odorizzi
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CLE
Hochevar
(RHP)
P: 3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">DET
Chen
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">DET
Guthrie
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">DET
Mendoza
(RHP)
P: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">SEA
Wilson
(LHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">SEA
Greinke
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">SEA
Santana
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TEX
Haren
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@TEX
Weaver
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TEX
Wilson
(LHP)
P: 6</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SEA
Greinke
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SEA
Santana
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SEA
Haren
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">NYY
Hendriks
(RHP)
P: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">NYY
Vasquez
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">NYY
Deduno
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">DET
Diamond
(LHP)
P: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">DET
Walters
(RHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">DET
Hendriks
(RHP)
P: 2</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TOR
Vasquez
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TOR
Deduno
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TOR
Diamond
(LHP)
P: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIN
Pettitte
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIN
Hughes
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIN
Sabathia
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TOR
Nova
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TOR
Kuroda
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TOR
Pettitte
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TOR
Hughes
(RHP)
P: 5</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">BOS
Sabathia
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">BOS
Nova
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">BOS
Kuroda
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TEX
Straily
(RHP)
P: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TEX
Milone
(LHP)
P: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TEX
Parker
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TEX
Blackley
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">SEA
Griffin
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">SEA
Straily
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">SEA
Milone
(LHP)
P: 5</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">TEX
Parker
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">TEX
Blackley
(LHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">TEX
Griffin
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@LAA
Ramirez
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@LAA
Hernandez
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@LAA
Iwakuma
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@OAK
Beavan
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@OAK
Vargas
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@OAK
Ramirez
(RHP)
P: 9</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">LAA
Hernandez
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">LAA
Iwakuma
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">LAA
Beavan
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@BOS
Hellickson
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@BOS
Price
(LHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CHW
Shields
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CHW
Moore
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@CHW
Cobb
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CHW
Hellickson
(RHP)
P: 6</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">BAL
Price
(LHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">BAL
Shields
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">BAL
Moore
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">OAK
Holland
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">OAK
Darvish
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">OAK
Perez
(LHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">OAK
Harrison
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">LAA
Dempster
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">LAA
Holland
(LHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">LAA
Darvish
(RHP)
P: 10</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@OAK
Perez
(LHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@OAK
Harrison
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@OAK
Dempster
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@BAL-2
Romero
(LHP)
P: 4
Alvarez
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@BAL
Laffey
(LHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@BAL
Villnueva
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">NYY
Morrow
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">NYY
Jenkins
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">NYY
Romero
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">NYY
Alvarez
(RHP)
P: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">MIN
Laffey
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">MIN
Villnueva
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">MIN
Morrow
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@COL
Cahill
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SF
Skaggs
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SF
Miley
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SF
Corbin
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CHC
Kennedy
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CHC
Cahill
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CHC
Skaggs
(LHP)
P: 5</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">COL
Miley
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">COL
Corbin
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">COL
Kennedy
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">MIA
Maholm
(LHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">MIA
Medlen
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">MIA
Hanson
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">NYM
Minor
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">NYM
Hudson
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">NYM
Maholm
(LHP)
P: 6</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@PIT
Medlen
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@PIT
Hanson
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@PIT
Minor
(LHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@COL
Rusin
(LHP)
P: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@COL
Berken
(RHP)
P: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@COL
Volstad
(RHP)
P: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@ARI
Wood
(LHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ARI
Germano
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@ARI
Rusin
(LHP)
P: 1</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">HOU
Berken
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">HOU
Volstad
(RHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">HOU
Wood
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">MIL
Leake
(RHP)
P: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">MIL
Cueto
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">MIL
Arroyo
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@PIT
Latos
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@PIT
Bailey
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@PIT
Leake
(RHP)
P: 3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@STL
Cueto
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@STL
Arroyo
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@STL
Latos
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">ARI
Chatwood
(RHP)
P: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CHC
DeLaRosa
(LHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CHC
Pomeranz
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CHC
Chacin
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@LAD
Francis
(LHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@LAD
Chatwood
(RHP)
P: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@LAD
DeLaRosa
(LHP)
P: 6</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@ARI
Pomeranz
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@ARI
Chacin
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@ARI
Francis
(LHP)
P: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">STL
Abad
(LHP)
P: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">STL
Harrell
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">STL
Norris
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIL
Gonzalez
(RHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIL
Keuchel
(LHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIL
Lyles
(RHP)
P: 2</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CHC
Abad
(LHP)
P: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CHC
Harrell
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CHC
Norris
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SD
Beckett
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SD
Capuano
(LHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SD
Blanton
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">COL
Fife
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">COL
Harang
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">COL
Beckett
(RHP)
P: 6</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">SF
Capuano
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">SF
Blanton
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">SF
Fife
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@ATL
LeBlanc
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@ATL
Eovaldi
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@ATL
Johnson
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PHI
Turner
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PHI
Buehrle
(LHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PHI
Nolasco
(RHP)
P: 6</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">NYM
LeBlanc
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">NYM
Eovaldi
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">NYM
Johnson
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@WAS
Estrada
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CIN
Fiers
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CIN
Marcum
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CIN
Peralta
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">HOU
Gallardo
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">HOU
Estrada
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">HOU
Fiers
(RHP)
P: 7</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">SD
Marcum
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">SD
Peralta
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">SD
Gallardo
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">PIT
Mejia
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">PIT
Hefner
(RHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">PIT
Niese
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">PIT
Dickey
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@ATL
Young
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@ATL
Mejia
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@ATL
Hefner
(RHP)
P: 3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIA
Niese
(LHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIA
Dickey
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIA
Young
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">WAS
Hamels
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">WAS
Cloyd
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">WAS
Kendrick
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIA
Halladay
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIA
Lee
(LHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIA
Hamels
(LHP)
P: 9</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@WAS
Cloyd
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@WAS
Kendrick
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@WAS
Halladay
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@NYM
McPherson
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@NYM
W.Rdrguez
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@NYM
Locke
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@NYM
Correia
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CIN
Burnett
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CIN
McPherson
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CIN
W.Rdrguez
(LHP)
P: 7</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">ATL
Locke
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">ATL
Correia
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">ATL
Burnett
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@HOU
Lynn
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@HOU
Garcia
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@HOU
Carpenter
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">WAS
Wainwright
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">WAS
Lohse
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">WAS
Lynn
(RHP)
P: 7</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CIN
Garcia
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CIN
Carpenter
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CIN
Wainwright
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">LAD
Volquez
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">LAD
Richard
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">LAD
Kelly
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">SF
Werner
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">SF
Stults
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">SF
Volquez
(RHP)
P: 5</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIL
Richard
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIL
Kelly
(RHP)
P: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIL
Werner
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">ARI
Cain
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">ARI
Zito
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">ARI
Vogelsong
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SD
Bumgarner
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SD
Lincecum
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SD
Cain
(RHP)
P: 10</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@LAD
Zito
(LHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@LAD
Vogelsong
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@LAD
Bumgarner
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">MIL
Zimmrmnn
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@PHI
Lannan
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@PHI
Detwiler
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@PHI
Jackson
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@STL
Gonzalez
(LHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@STL
Zimmrmnn
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@STL
Lannan
(LHP)
P: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">PHI
Detwiler
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">PHI
Jackson
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">PHI
Gonzalez
(LHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr><thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead></table>P: The starting pitcher's matchup rating, which accounts for past history (three years' worth and the past 21 days), opponent and ballpark. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst.




Tristan's Week 24 pitcher rankings: Top 100



As all but 25 of the 154 pitchers scheduled to start this week will pitch twice, this week's rankings are extended from 75 to 100. No-thank-you two-start pitchers are generally those who miss this week's cutoff.


1. Matt Cain (SF) -- 9/25-ARI (Skaggs), 9/30-@SD (Volquez)
2. Justin Verlander (DET) -- 9/24-KC (Hochevar), 9/29-@MIN (Walters)
3. Kris Medlen (ATL) -- 9/26-MIA (Eovaldi), 10/1-@PIT (Locke)
4. Gio Gonzalez (WAS) -- 9/28-@STL (Wainwright), 10/3-PHI (Halladay)
5. Cole Hamels (PHI) -- 9/25-WAS (Lannan), 9/30-@MIA (Nolasco)
6. Zack Greinke (LAA) -- 9/26-SEA (Hernandez), 10/1-@SEA (Hernandez)
7. Chris Sale (CHW) -- 9/24-CLE (McAllister), 9/29-TB (Cobb)
8. Yovani Gallardo (MIL) -- 9/28-HOU (Gonzalez), 10/3-SD (Werner)
9. R.A. Dickey (NYM) -- 9/27-PIT (Correia), 10/2-@MIA (Eovaldi)
10. David Price (TB) -- 9/26-@BOS (Buchholz), 10/1-BAL (Saunders)
11. Josh Johnson (MIA) -- 9/27-@ATL (Hanson), 10/3-NYM (Young)
12. Roy Halladay (PHI) -- 9/28-@MIA (Turner), 10/3-@WAS (Gonzalez)
13. Yu Darvish (TEX) -- 9/25-OAK (Milone), 9/30-LAA (Wilson)
14. Adam Wainwright (STL) -- 9/28-WAS (Gonzalez), 10/3-CIN (Latos)
15. Mat Latos (CIN) -- 9/28-@PIT (Burnett), 10/3-@STL (Wainwright)
16. Felix Hernandez (SEA) -- 9/26-@LAA (Greinke), 10/1-LAA (Greinke)
17. Doug Fister (DET) -- 9/27-KC (Mendoza), 10/2-@KC (Guthrie)
18. Jake Peavy (CHW) -- 9/26-CLE (Masterson), 10/1-@CLE (Kluber)
19. CC Sabathia (NYY) -- 9/26-@MIN (Deduno), 10/1-BOS (Matsuzaka)
20. James Shields (TB) -- 9/27-@CHW (Quintana), 10/2-BAL (Gonzalez)
21. Ian Kennedy (ARI) -- 9/28-CHC (Wood), 10/3-COL (Francis)
22. Max Scherzer (DET) -- 9/28-@MIN (Diamond), 10/3-@KC (Mendoza)
23. Madison Bumgarner (SF) -- 9/28-@SD (Werner), 10/3-@LAD (Fife)
24. Mike Minor (ATL) -- 9/28-NYM (Young), 10/3-@PIT (Burnett)
25. Cliff Lee (PHI) -- 9/29-@MIA (Buehrle)
26. Derek Holland (TEX) -- 9/24-OAK (Straily), 9/29-LAA (Weaver)
27. Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) -- 9/28-@TOR (Jenkins), 10/3-BOS (Lester)
28. Marco Estrada (MIL) -- 9/24-@WAS (Zimmermann), 9/29-HOU (Keuchel)
29. Ervin Santana (LAA) -- 9/27-SEA (Iwakuma), 10/2-@SEA (Iwakuma)
30. C.J. Wilson (LAA) -- 9/25-SEA (Ramirez), 9/30-@TEX (Darvish)
31. Matt Harrison (TEX) -- 9/27-OAK (Blackley), 10/2-@OAK (Blackley)
32. Ryan Dempster (TEX) -- 9/28-LAA (Haren), 10/3-@OAK (Griffin)
33. Jordan Zimmermann (WAS) -- 9/24-MIL (Estrada), 9/29-@STL (Lohse)
34. Brandon Morrow (TOR) -- 9/27-NYY (Nova), 10/3-MIN (Diamond)
35. Wandy Rodriguez (PIT) -- 9/25-@NYM (Hefner), 9/30-CIN (Leake)
36. Clay Buchholz (BOS) -- 9/26-TB (Price), 10/2-@NYY (Nova)
37. Jeremy Hellickson (TB) -- 9/25-@BOS (Matsuzaka), 9/30-@CHW (Liriano)
38. Josh Beckett (LAD) -- 9/25-@SD (Volquez), 9/30-COL (De La Rosa)
39. Jered Weaver (LAA) -- 9/29-@TEX (Holland)
40. Anibal Sanchez (DET) -- 9/25-KC (Chen), 9/30-@MIN (Hendriks)
41. Jaime Garcia (STL) -- 9/25-@HOU (Harrell), 10/1-CIN (Cueto)
42. Jonathon Niese (NYM) -- 9/26-PIT (Locke), 10/1-@MIA (LeBlanc)
43. Tommy Hanson (ATL) -- 9/27-MIA (Johnson), 10/2-@PIT (Correia)
44. Matt Moore (TB) -- 9/28-@CHW (Floyd), 10/3-BAL (Tillman)
45. Trevor Cahill (ARI) -- 9/24-@COL (Chatwood), 9/29-CHC (Germano)
46. Lance Lynn (STL) -- 9/24-@HOU (Abad), 9/30-WAS (Lannan)
47. Dan Haren (LAA) -- 9/28-@TEX (Dempster), 10/3-@SEA (Beavan)
48. Jon Lester (BOS) -- 9/28-@BAL (Tillman), 10/3-@NYY (Kuroda)
49. A.J. Griffin (OAK) -- 9/28-SEA (Beavan), 10/3-TEX (Dempster)
50. Francisco Liriano (CHW) -- 9/25-CLE (Kluber), 9/30-TB (Hellickson)
51. Johnny Cueto (CIN) -- 9/26-MIL (Marcum), 10/1-@STL (Garcia)
52. Wily Peralta (MIL) -- 9/27-@CIN (Arroyo), 10/2-SD (Kelly)
53. Phil Hughes (NYY) -- 9/25-@MIN (Vasquez), 9/30-@TOR (Alvarez)
54. Ross Detwiler (WAS) -- 9/26-@PHI (Cloyd), 10/1-PHI (Cloyd)
55. Jarrod Parker (OAK) -- 9/26-@TEX (Perez), 10/1-TEX (Perez)
56. Travis Wood (CHC) -- 9/28-@ARI (Kennedy), 10/3-HOU (Norris)
57. A.J. Burnett (PIT) -- 9/28-CIN (Latos), 10/3-ATL (Minor)
58. Erasmo Ramirez (SEA) -- 9/25-@LAA (Wilson), 9/30-@OAK (Milone)
59. Kyle Lohse (STL) -- 9/29-WAS (Zimmermann)
60. Chris Carpenter (STL) -- 9/26-@HOU (Norris), 10/2-CIN (Arroyo)
61. Tim Lincecum (SF) -- 9/29-@SD (Stults)
62. Andy Pettitte (NYY) -- 9/24-@MIN (Hendriks), 9/29-@TOR (Romero)
63. Paul Maholm (ATL) -- 9/25-MIA (LeBlanc), 9/30-NYM (Hefner)
64. Tim Hudson (ATL) -- 9/29-NYM (Mejia)
65. Carlos Villanueva (TOR) -- 9/26-@BAL (Gonzalez), 10/2-MIN (Deduno)
66. Shaun Marcum (MIL) -- 9/26-@CIN (Cueto), 10/1-SD (Richard)
67. Ryan Vogelsong (SF) -- 9/27-ARI (Corbin), 10/2-@LAD (Blanton)
68. Edwin Jackson (WAS) -- 9/27-@PHI (Kendrick), 10/2-PHI (Kendrick)
69. Gavin Floyd (CHW) -- 9/28-TB (Moore), 10/3-@CLE (Jimenez)
70. Chris Capuano (LAD) -- 9/26-@SD (Richard), 10/1-SF (Zito)
71. Homer Bailey (CIN) -- 9/29-@PIT (McPherson)
72. Jose Quintana (CHW) -- 9/27-TB (Shields), 10/2-@CLE (Masterson)
73. Wade Miley (ARI) -- 9/26-@SF (Zito), 10/1-COL (Pomeranz)
74. Mike Fiers (MIL) -- 9/25-@CIN (Leake), 9/30-HOU (Lyles)
75. Lucas Harrell (HOU) -- 9/25-STL (Garcia), 10/2-@CHC (Volstad)
76. Kevin Correia (PIT) -- 9/27-@NYM (Dickey), 10/2-ATL (Hanson)
77. Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA) -- 9/27-@LAA (Santana), 10/2-LAA (Santana)
78. Bronson Arroyo (CIN) -- 9/27-MIL (Peralta), 10/2-@STL (Carpenter)
79. Edinson Volquez (SD) -- 9/25-LAD (Beckett), 9/30-SF (Cain)
80. Martin Perez (TEX) -- 9/26-OAK (Parker), 10/1-@OAK (Parker)
81. Tommy Milone (OAK) -- 9/25-@TEX (Darvish), 9/30-SEA (Ramirez)
82. Ivan Nova (NYY) -- 9/27-@TOR (Morrow), 10/2-BOS (Buchholz)
83. Jeremy Guthrie (KC) -- 9/26-@DET (Porcello), 10/2-DET (Fister)
84. Clayton Richard (SD) -- 9/26-LAD (Capuano), 10/1-@MIL (Marcum)
85. Ubaldo Jimenez (CLE) -- 9/28-KC (Smith), 10/3-CHW (Floyd)
86. Joe Saunders (BAL) -- 9/24-TOR, Gm. 2 (Alvarez), 10/1-@TB (Price)
87. Wei-Yin Chen (BAL) -- 9/24-TOR, Gm. 1 (Romero), 9/30-BOS (Doubront)
88. Kyle Kendrick (PHI) -- 9/27-WAS (Jackson), 10/2-@WAS (Jackson)
89. Nate Eovaldi (MIA) -- 9/26-@ATL (Medlen), 10/2-NYM (Dickey)
90. Jhoulys Chacin (COL) -- 9/27-CHC (Volstad), 10/2-@ARI (Corbin)
91. Bud Norris (HOU) -- 9/26-STL (Carpenter), 10/3-@CHC (Wood)
92. Jacob Turner (MIA) -- 9/28-PHI (Halladay)
93. Patrick Corbin (ARI) -- 9/27-@SF (Vogelsong), 10/2-COL (Chacin)
94. Miguel Gonzalez (BAL) -- 9/26-TOR (Villanueva), 10/2-@TB (Shields)
95. Barry Zito (SF) -- 9/26-ARI (Miley), 10/1-@LAD (Capuano)
96. Mark Buehrle (MIA) -- 9/29-PHI (Lee)
97. Chris Young (NYM) -- 9/28-@ATL (Minor), 10/3-@MIA (Johnson)
98. Eric Stults (SD) -- 9/29-SF (Lincecum)
99. Tyler Cloyd (PHI) -- 9/26-WAS (Detwiler), 10/1-@WAS (Detwiler)
100. Ricky Nolasco (MIA) -- 9/30-PHI (Hamels)


Pitching notes



• Ten games, including six at home against the Astros (3) and Padres (3), provide the Brewers not only the advantage they need in the NL wild-card race, but that also makes them my final Baseball Challenge pitching staff pick of 2012. Despite the July 27 trade of Zack Greinke, this team has 33 wins, 25 quality starts, a 3.91 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 8.69 strikeouts per nine innings in 51 games since that date. Gallardo has been key, with nine wins, nine quality starts, a 3.40 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 9.25 K's per nine in 13 second-half starts. But it's also the performances they've squeezed out of Marco Estrada, who has a 3.23 ERA in 13 second-half starts, and Wily Peralta, who has a 1.80 ERA in his first three big league starts, that have propelled them back into the race. Among other recommended BBC pitching staffs: Cardinals (@HOU-3, WAS-3, CIN-3), Tigers (KC-4, @MIN-3, @KC-3), Dodgers (@SD-3, COL-3, SF-3) and White Sox (CLE-3, TB-4, @CLE-3).


The following visiting pitchers are scheduled for starts at Colorado's Coors Field, No. 1 in runs scored on our Park Factor page and home to the Colorado Rockies, baseball's No. 1 team in terms of runs scored per game and OPS in home games:
• Trevor Cahill (Monday, Sept. 24): 2 career GS at Coors, 3.65 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 1 QS. Start in larger mixed and NL-only leagues.
• Chris Rusin (Tuesday, Sept. 25): Has never pitched at Coors. Sit. No-brainer.
• Jason Berken (Wednesday, Sept. 26): Has never pitched at Coors. Sit. Another no-brainer.
• Chris Volstad (Thursday, Sept. 27): 3 career G, 2 GS at Coors, 6.57 ERA, 1.70 WHIP. Sit. 3-for-3 in the no-brainer department.


The following visiting pitchers are scheduled for starts at San Diego's Petco Park, No. 25 in runs scored on our Park Factor page and home to the Padres, No. 24 in terms of runs scored per game and No. 25 in terms of OPS in home games:
• Josh Beckett (Tuesday, Sept. 25): 3-for-3 in QS at Petco, 3.05 ERA, 1.16 WHIP. Start. He has a 3.45 ERA in his five starts with the Dodgers.
• Chris Capuano (Wednesday, Sept. 26): 3 career GS at Petco, 5.29 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 2 QS. Start. Save for a rocky stretch in late August, he has been consistently reliable.
• Joe Blanton (Thursday, Sept. 27): 5 career GS at Petco, 3.90 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 4 QS. Start in larger mixed and NL-only leagues.
• Madison Bumgarner (Friday, Sept. 28): 6 career G, 5 GS at Petco, 3.06 ERA, 1.24 WHIP. Start. The Giants need to straighten him out before the playoffs, and this is the kind of matchup that can do it.
• Tim Lincecum (Saturday, Sept. 29): 10 career GS, 2.15 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 8 QS. Start. Petco has been as automatic a matchup as they come in Lincecum's career, and he has four straight quality starts to boot.
• Matt Cain (Sunday, Sept. 30): 15 career GS, 2.46 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 12 QS. Start. The Giants might yank him early to gear him up for a playoff start, but even five innings of a Petco matchup is worth your while.


The following visiting pitchers are scheduled for starts at Seattle's Safeco Field, No. 30 in runs scored on our Park Factor page and home to the Seattle Mariners, baseball's worst team in terms of runs scored per game and OPS in home games:
• Zack Greinke (Monday, Oct. 1): 6 career GS at Safeco, 2.86 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 4 QS. Start.• Ervin Santana (Tuesday, Oct. 2): 14 career GS at Safeco, 4.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 9 QS. Start. His career Safeco ERA is bloated because of his early-career home/road split; he has a 2.92 ERA in 11 GS there since 2008.
• Dan Haren (Wednesday, Oct. 3): 11 career GS at Safeco, 1.82 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 10 QS. Start. That's a track record that cannot be overlooked.


Delving into deeper detail about starting-pitching assignments that might be changed after the weekly lineup deadline, I see the following as worries, the pitchers either being moved, skipped or held to a limited pitch count:
• Jake Peavy (Monday, Oct. 1, @CLE)
• Max Scherzer (Wednesday, Oct. 3, @KC)
• CC Sabathia (Monday, Oct. 1, BOS)
• Hiroki Kuroda (Wednesday, Oct. 3, BOS)
• Ryan Dempster (Wednesday, Oct. 3, @OAK)
• Kris Medlen (Monday, Oct. 1, @PIT)
• Johnny Cueto (Monday, Oct. 1, @STL)
• Mat Latos (Wednesday, Oct. 3, @STL)
• Adam Wainwright (Wednesday, Oct. 3, CIN)
• Madison Bumgarner (Wednesday, Oct. 3, @LAD)
• Edwin Jackson (Tuesday, Oct. 2, PHI)
• Gio Gonzalez (Wednesday, Oct. 3, PHI)


Streamer's delight



Among streaming starters -- something I define as single-start options in daily leagues among pitchers owned in 25 percent of ESPN leagues or fewer -- for Week 24, here are my picks by day. At this critical stage of season, I'm picking two per day, listed in order of preference.


Monday, Sept. 24: Andy Pettitte at Minnesota Twins, Joe Saunders versus Toronto Blue Jays
Tuesday, Sept. 25: Erasmo Ramirez at Los Angeles Angels, Francisco Liriano versus Cleveland Indians
Wednesday, Sept. 26: Rick Porcello versus Kansas City Royals, Tyler Cloyd versus Washington Nationals
Thursday, Sept. 27: Jose Quintana versus Tampa Bay Rays, Jhoulys Chacin versus Chicago Cubs
Friday, Sept. 28: Jacob Turner versus Philadelphia Phillies, Travis Wood at Arizona Diamondbacks
Saturday, Sept. 29: Andy Pettitte at Toronto Blue Jays, Dan Straily versus Seattle Mariners
Sunday, Sept. 30: Francisco Liriano versus Tampa Bay Rays, Edinson Volquez versus San Francisco Giants
Monday, Oct. 1: Rick Porcello at Kansas City Royals, Jason Berken versus Houston Astros
Tuesday, Oct. 2: Jose Quintana at Cleveland Indians, Wily Peralta versus San Diego Padres
Wednesday, Oct. 3: Travis Wood versus Houston Astros, Chris Young at Miami Marlins


Past picks
Friday, Sept. 14: Andrew Cashner -- 3 2/3 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 0 BBs, 2 K's
Saturday, Sept. 15: Rick Porcello -- 4 2/3 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 3 BBs, 2 K's (pitched Sept. 16)
Sunday, Sept. 16: Miguel Gonzalez -- skipped
Monday, Sept. 17: Travis Wood -- 5 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 9 K's, Chris Tillman -- W, QS, 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BBs, 4 K's
Tuesday, Sept. 18: Tyler Cloyd -- W, QS, 8 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BBs, 6 K's (pitched Sept. 20), Gavin Floyd -- W, QS, 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's
Wednesday, Sept. 19: Trevor Cahill -- W, QS, 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BBs, 4 K's, Marco Estrada -- W, QS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K's
Thursday, Sept. 20: Joe Kelly -- skipped, Francisco Liriano -- 5 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's


Week's total: 9 GS, 5 W (55.6%), 5 QS (55.6%), 53 1/3 IP, 45 H, 20 ER, 13 BBs, 37 K's, 3.38 ERA, 1.09 WHIP
Season total: 158 GS, 70 W (44.3%), 82 QS (51.9%), 946 2/3 IP, 916 H, 407 ER, 305 BBs, 692 K's, 3.87 ERA, 1.29 WHIP


Hitting ratings



The chart below lists each of the 30 teams' total number of scheduled games, home games and games versus right- and left-handed pitchers and provides a matchup rating for the week's games in terms of overall offense, offense for left- and right-handed hitters and base stealing. Matchup ratings for each individual game are listed under the corresponding date.



<style type="text/css">.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</style><table style="margin: 0px; width: 100%;"><thead><tr><th style="width: 30px; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> </center></th><th style="width: 13%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Overall </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Mon
9/24 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Tue
9/25 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Wed
9/26 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Thu
9/27 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Fri
9/28 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Sat
9/29 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Sun
9/30 </center></th></tr></thead><thead><tr><th style="width: 30px; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Team </center></th><th style="width: 13%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Games </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Rating </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/1 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/2 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/3 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/4 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/5 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/6 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/7 </center></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
7 home
6 vs. L
4 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 7
L: 7
R: 7
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TOR-2
H: 6
L: 10
R: 4
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TOR
H: 8
L: 8
R: 8
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TOR
H: 5
L: 5
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BOS
H: 5
L: 2
R: 6
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BOS
H: 9
L: 10
R: 6
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BOS
H: 9
L: 6
R: 10
S: 9 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TB
H: 1
L: 1
R: 2
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TB
H: 3
L: 3
R: 4
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TB
H: 6
L: 1
R: 7
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 8 total
2 home
4 vs. L
4 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 3
L: 3
R: 4
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TB
H: 4
L: 6
R: 2
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TB
H: 2
L: 1
R: 3
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BAL
H: 7
L: 7
R: 7
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BAL
H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BAL
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 3 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @NYY
H: 3
L: 2
R: 4
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @NYY
H: 7
L: 6
R: 7
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @NYY
H: 4
L: 6
R: 2
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
7 home
1 vs. L
9 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 7
L: 7
R: 6
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CLE
H: 10
L: 9
R: 10
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CLE
H: 8
L: 8
R: 9
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CLE
H: 5
L: 9
R: 1
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TB
H: 4
L: 4
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TB
H: 7
L: 2
R: 8
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TB
H: 4
L: 7
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TB
H: 4
L: 6
R: 2
S: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CLE
H: 7
L: 7
R: 8
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CLE
H: 4
L: 8
R: 1
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CLE
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
6 home
4 vs. L
5 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 5
L: 5
R: 6
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHW
H: 1
L: 2
R: 1
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHW
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHW
H: 4
L: 3
R: 6
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> KC
H: 8
L: 10
R: 7
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> KC
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> KC
H: 9
L: 10
R: 6
S: 4 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHW
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHW
H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHW
H: 4
L: 6
R: 2
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
4 home
3 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 10
L: 10
R: 10
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> KC
H: 9
L: 10
R: 7
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> KC
H: 7
L: 8
R: 7
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> KC
H: 7
L: 8
R: 5
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> KC
H: 9
L: 10
R: 7
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIN
H: 9
L: 9
R: 9
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIN
H: 8
L: 8
R: 8
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIN
H: 9
L: 6
R: 10
S: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @KC
H: 7
L: 8
R: 7
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @KC
H: 6
L: 8
R: 5
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @KC
H: 9
L: 10
R: 7
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
3 home
1 vs. L
9 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @DET
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @DET
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @DET
H: 7
L: 10
R: 4
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @DET
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CLE
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CLE
H: 7
L: 9
R: 6
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CLE
H: 10
L: 8
R: 10
S: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> DET
H: 8
L: 10
R: 4
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> DET
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> DET
H: 4
L: 7
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
3 home
1 vs. L
8 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 2
L: 3
R: 2
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SEA
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SEA
H: 1
L: 2
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SEA
H: 6
L: 7
R: 4
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TEX
H: 5
L: 5
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TEX
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TEX
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SEA
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SEA
H: 5
L: 7
R: 4
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SEA
H: 7
L: 9
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
6 home
3 vs. L
6 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 3
L: 2
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYY
H: 3
L: 1
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYY
H: 6
L: 4
R: 8
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYY
H: 3
L: 2
R: 3
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> DET
H: 4
L: 7
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> DET
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> DET
H: 4
L: 2
R: 5
S: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TOR
H: 8
L: 8
R: 8
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TOR
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TOR
H: 4
L: 2
R: 7
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
3 home
2 vs. L
8 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 7
L: 7
R: 6
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIN
H: 9
L: 6
R: 10
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIN
H: 5
L: 8
R: 3
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIN
H: 5
L: 4
R: 6
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TOR
H: 4
L: 2
R: 7
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TOR
H: 6
L: 9
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TOR
H: 6
L: 10
R: 4
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TOR
H: 6
L: 9
R: 3
S: 4 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BOS
H: 9
L: 10
R: 4
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BOS
H: 3
L: 3
R: 2
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BOS
H: 5
L: 2
R: 5
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
6 home
6 vs. L
4 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 4
L: 3
R: 6
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TEX
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TEX
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TEX
H: 6
L: 5
R: 7
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TEX
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SEA
H: 7
L: 10
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SEA
H: 4
L: 1
R: 4
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SEA
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TEX
H: 5
L: 3
R: 6
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TEX
H: 4
L: 3
R: 4
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TEX
H: 4
L: 4
R: 3
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
3 home
2 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 2
L: 5
R: 1
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAA
H: 2
L: 1
R: 2
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAA
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAA
H: 5
L: 7
R: 2
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @OAK
H: 1
L: 1
R: 3
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @OAK
H: 7
L: 9
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @OAK
H: 8
L: 10
R: 7
S: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAA
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAA
H: 5
L: 7
R: 2
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAA
H: 3
L: 3
R: 4
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
3 home
4 vs. L
5 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BOS
H: 9
L: 10
R: 4
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BOS
H: 3
L: 3
R: 2
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHW
H: 6
L: 6
R: 7
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHW
H: 5
L: 7
R: 2
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHW
H: 1
L: 2
R: 1
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHW
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BAL
H: 6
L: 1
R: 8
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BAL
H: 5
L: 3
R: 6
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BAL
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
7 home
4 vs. L
6 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 4
L: 6
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> OAK
H: 8
L: 10
R: 7
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> OAK
H: 9
L: 10
R: 8
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> OAK
H: 3
L: 6
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> OAK
H: 5
L: 5
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAA
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAA
H: 1
L: 1
R: 3
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAA
H: 3
L: 1
R: 4
S: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @OAK
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @OAK
H: 3
L: 3
R: 3
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @OAK
H: 1
L: 1
R: 3
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 11 total
7 home
4 vs. L
6 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 8
L: 6
R: 10
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BAL-2
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BAL
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BAL
H: 5
L: 4
R: 7
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYY
H: 7
L: 7
R: 7
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYY
H: 4
L: 6
R: 3
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYY
H: 3
L: 1
R: 6
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYY
H: 6
L: 4
R: 8
S: 4 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIN
H: 6
L: 9
R: 4
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIN
H: 6
L: 5
R: 7
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIN
H: 10
L: 9
R: 10
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
6 home
5 vs. L
5 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 8
L: 5
R: 9
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @COL
H: 10
L: 10
R: 9
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SF
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SF
H: 6
L: 1
R: 8
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SF
H: 5
L: 5
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHC
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHC
H: 7
L: 7
R: 7
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHC
H: 10
L: 6
R: 10
S: 8 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> COL
H: 7
L: 1
R: 10
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> COL
H: 5
L: 7
R: 4
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> COL
H: 10
L: 6
R: 10
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
6 home
2 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 6
L: 7
R: 6
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIA
H: 7
L: 10
R: 5
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIA
H: 5
L: 8
R: 2
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIA
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYM
H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYM
H: 8
L: 6
R: 9
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYM
H: 9
L: 10
R: 7
S: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PIT
H: 8
L: 10
R: 6
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PIT
H: 5
L: 4
R: 6
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PIT
H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
3 home
4 vs. L
5 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 7
L: 6
R: 8
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @COL
H: 7
L: 2
R: 8
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @COL
H: 8
L: 2
R: 10
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @COL
H: 6
L: 7
R: 4
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ARI
H: 5
L: 5
R: 4
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ARI
H: 3
L: 3
R: 3
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ARI
H: 8
L: 4
R: 10
S: 1 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> HOU
H: 10
L: 9
R: 10
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> HOU
H: 5
L: 7
R: 4
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> HOU
H: 7
L: 9
R: 4
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
3 home
2 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 3
L: 2
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIL
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIL
H: 5
L: 5
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIL
H: 4
L: 4
R: 4
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PIT
H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PIT
H: 6
L: 4
R: 7
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PIT
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 9 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @STL
H: 3
L: 1
R: 4
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @STL
H: 2
L: 2
R: 3
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @STL
H: 3
L: 4
R: 2
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
4 home
3 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 8
L: 7
R: 9
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> ARI
H: 4
L: 4
R: 4
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHC
H: 10
L: 7
R: 10
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHC
H: 10
L: 10
R: 10
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHC
H: 10
L: 10
R: 8
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAD
H: 4
L: 4
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAD
H: 7
L: 8
R: 6
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAD
H: 4
L: 5
R: 4
S: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ARI
H: 6
L: 1
R: 9
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ARI
H: 7
L: 6
R: 7
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ARI
H: 5
L: 5
R: 4
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
3 home
2 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 5
L: 5
R: 4
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> STL
H: 4
L: 9
R: 1
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> STL
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> STL
H: 3
L: 3
R: 4
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIL
H: 3
L: 6
R: 1
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIL
H: 2
L: 3
R: 2
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIL
H: 5
L: 5
R: 6
S: 6 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHC
H: 9
L: 8
R: 9
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHC
H: 10
L: 10
R: 7
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHC
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
6 home
5 vs. L
4 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 7
L: 3
R: 8
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SD
H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SD
H: 4
L: 1
R: 6
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SD
H: 8
L: 8
R: 7
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> COL
H: 9
L: 4
R: 10
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> COL
H: 10
L: 10
R: 8
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> COL
H: 5
L: 1
R: 6
S: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SF
H: 6
L: 1
R: 8
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SF
H: 5
L: 5
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SF
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
6 home
4 vs. L
5 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 1
L: 3
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ATL
H: 6
L: 5
R: 7
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ATL
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ATL
H: 4
L: 6
R: 2
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PHI
H: 2
L: 5
R: 1
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PHI
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PHI
H: 2
L: 2
R: 2
S: 2 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYM
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYM
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYM
H: 6
L: 8
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
6 home
3 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 8
L: 8
R: 8
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @WAS
H: 5
L: 4
R: 6
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CIN
H: 9
L: 9
R: 9
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CIN
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CIN
H: 6
L: 10
R: 2
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> HOU
H: 6
L: 9
R: 4
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> HOU
H: 7
L: 4
R: 8
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> HOU
H: 8
L: 10
R: 5
S: 6 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SD
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SD
H: 9
L: 10
R: 9
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SD
H: 6
L: 4
R: 7
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
4 home
5 vs. L
5 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PIT
H: 6
L: 5
R: 7
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PIT
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PIT
H: 8
L: 10
R: 6
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PIT
H: 5
L: 4
R: 7
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ATL
H: 4
L: 7
R: 3
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ATL
H: 2
L: 3
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ATL
H: 6
L: 5
R: 7
S: 4 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIA
H: 7
L: 10
R: 5
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIA
H: 5
L: 8
R: 2
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIA
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
3 home
5 vs. L
4 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> WAS
H: 7
L: 3
R: 8
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> WAS
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> WAS
H: 7
L: 8
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIA
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIA
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIA
H: 6
L: 8
R: 4
S: 8 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @WAS
H: 3
L: 1
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @WAS
H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @WAS
H: 1
L: 2
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
6 home
2 vs. L
8 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 6
L: 6
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @NYM
H: 8
L: 6
R: 9
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @NYM
H: 9
L: 10
R: 7
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @NYM
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @NYM
H: 2
L: 3
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CIN
H: 2
L: 3
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CIN
H: 4
L: 3
R: 4
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CIN
H: 9
L: 9
R: 9
S: 2 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> ATL
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> ATL
H: 4
L: 6
R: 2
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> ATL
H: 5
L: 8
R: 4
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
6 home
3 vs. L
6 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 4
L: 6
R: 4
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @HOU
H: 10
L: 9
R: 10
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @HOU
H: 5
L: 7
R: 4
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @HOU
H: 6
L: 9
R: 4
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> WAS
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> WAS
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> WAS
H: 6
L: 3
R: 7
S: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CIN
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CIN
H: 5
L: 10
R: 1
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CIN
H: 2
L: 2
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
6 home
2 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 2
L: 1
R: 3
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAD
H: 4
L: 4
R: 3
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAD
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAD
H: 6
L: 6
R: 7
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SF
H: 3
L: 1
R: 4
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SF
H: 2
L: 2
R: 2
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SF
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 4 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIL
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIL
H: 3
L: 3
R: 3
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIL
H: 3
L: 6
R: 1
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
3 home
6 vs. L
3 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 6
L: 1
R: 8
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> ARI
H: 7
L: 3
R: 9
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> ARI
H: 6
L: 1
R: 9
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> ARI
H: 6
L: 5
R: 7
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SD
H: 4
L: 2
R: 5
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SD
H: 4
L: 2
R: 4
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SD
H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 9 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAD
H: 6
L: 1
R: 8
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAD
H: 7
L: 6
R: 8
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAD
H: 4
L: 4
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
4 home
1 vs. L
9 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 3
L: 7
R: 1
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIL
H: 2
L: 3
R: 2
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PHI
H: 2
L: 2
R: 2
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PHI
H: 5
L: 8
R: 3
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PHI
H: 6
L: 8
R: 4
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @STL
H: 3
L: 4
R: 2
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @STL
H: 3
L: 4
R: 2
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @STL
H: 3
L: 8
R: 1
S: 1 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PHI
H: 5
L: 8
R: 3
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PHI
H: 6
L: 8
R: 4
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PHI
H: 2
L: 5
R: 1
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead></table>Some of the data used to generate this chart is derived from Baseball Musings' Day-by-day database.

H: Hitters' matchup rating, which accounts for the opposing starting pitcher's past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days) as well as ballpark factors. L: Hitters' matchup rating accounting only for left-handed hitters. R: Hitters' matchup rating accounting for only right-handed hitters. S: Base stealing matchup rating, which accounts for the opponent's catchers' ability to gun down opposing base stealers. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst.




Hitting notes



• The White Sox have had the Indians' number this season, winning eight of 12 games, batting .291/.367/.463 and averaging 7.08 runs per game. That alone offsets any concern about the team's offense having to face the Rays' pitching staff for four games Sept. 27-30. Those games are at homer-friendly U.S. Cellular Field at least. Gordon Beckham is a potential gem off the wire, available in 79.7 percent of ESPN leagues, as he is a .319/.365/.447 hitter in 12 games against Indians pitching this season and .313/.421/.625 in 16 games in September. This is also a big week for Alejandro De Aza, being that he is left-handed, is a .289/.346/.420 hitter versus right-handers this season and is a .380/.466/.600 hitter in 12 games against the Indians in 2012.


• Shifting focus to the trailing Tigers, they have incredibly lost 22 of 36 meetings with the Royals and Twins combined this season, yet they sport .290/.349/.457 team rates in those contests, which conflict somewhat with their 3.53 runs per game in them. Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder have been carrying this team in recent weeks and have been largely the team's standouts in past meetings with these foes. Austin Jackson has as well. He is a .351/.412/.532 hitter in 19 games against the Royals and Twins. But the Tigers need more than Cabrera, Fielder and Jackson. Accounting for that generous rating above, fantasy owners might roll the dice on Andy Dirks, Omar Infante, Jhonny Peralta and Delmon Young. Young has six homers in 21 games against the Royals and Twins combined in 2012.


• The Brewers' offense has carried them at least as much as its pitching, and six home games against the Astros and Padres and three at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park against a team that has already clinched a playoff spot make an outstanding schedule for this wild-card-hungry squad. This is not merely the Ryan Braun show. Among lesser-known Brewers, Norichika Aoki (available in 14.7 percent of ESPN leagues) is a .352/.429/.634 hitter with 14 RBIs, 14 runs scored and seven stolen bases in 18 games in September, while Jean Segura (available in 99.3 percent of leagues) is a .385 hitter with 11 runs scored and two steals in 13 games this month. Rickie Weeks has also returned to form, batting .327/.400/.612 with seven homers, 16 RBIs, seven stolen bases and 22 runs scored in his past 23 contests.


The following hitters face injury questions heading into the season's final scoring period and are riskier options than usual as a result:
• Alex Avila (jaw)
• Asdrubal Cabrera (wrist)
• Zack Cozart (oblique)
• Carlos Gonzalez (hamstring)
• Josh Hamilton (sinus issues)
• Ryan Ludwick (groin)
• Carlos Quentin (knee)
• Giancarlo Stanton (oblique)
• Mark Teixeira (calf). He might return for the Sept. 27-30 series in Toronto, but expect sporadic starts even if he does.
• Neil Walker (back)

 

[HacheMan]

Kershaw Claws His Way Back
After throwing a successful bullpen session on Friday and receiving clearance from the Dodgers’ medical staff, Clayton Kershaw made his triumphant return to the rotation against the Reds on Sunday.


He’s been sidelined for the past two weeks due to a right hip impingement. At one point, it appeared that he may have been heading for season-ending surgery to repair the issue, but he was able to make tremendous progress over the past few days.


Making his first start since September 11, Kershaw looked a bit rusty in Sunday’s no-decision. He allowed one run on five hits over his five innings of work. He also issued five walks on the evening while striking out five, throwing only 52 of his 92 pitches for strikes.


With the Dodgers still clinging to their hope of sneaking into the postseason, they’ll certainly need their ace to deliver down the stretch. If he returns to pitching every fifth day, Kershaw will make two more starts before the end of the regular season. He’d pitch against the Rockies at home on Friday, then do battle against the Giants at home in the season finale on October 3.





Scherzer Struggles in Return


Max Scherzer struggled in his return to the Tigers’ rotation on Sunday, allowing three runs on six hits over his five innings in a losing effort against the Twins. He also walked four while striking out one in the game.


The worrying sign was that his velocity was still noticeably down, showing that his recent shoulder weakness is still a major issue. It will be interesting to see how the Tigers handle his situation moving forward. They’re a game behind the White Sox in their race for the AL Central Division title, and he’s been far and away their second best starter on the season.


As long as he can pitch through the pain and isn’t risking any further damage to his shoulder, he’ll take on the Twins in Minnesota next weekend. Even at less than 100%, he may be the best option that Tigers have.





Santana Shines in Victory Over Royals



Carlos Santana shined bright in Sunday’s victory over the Royals, going 3-for-6 with a pair of homers, three runs scored and five RBI.


His first blast was a two-run bomb, and the first career homer surrendered by Jake Odorizzi. He then added a three-run shot off Luis Coleman as part of the Tribe’s seven-run ninth inning.


He’s been on an absolute tear since the All-Star break, hitting .294 (70-for-238) with 13 homers and 45 RBI over 67 games. Also impressive is the 34/35 BB/K rate that he’s posted over that time frame. Still only 26-years-old, Santana certainly possesses the talent and the dynamic skill-set to become the best offensive catcher in all of baseball. He’ll be an extremely popular name on draft boards heading into the 2013 season.







National League Quick Hits: Dusty Baker has been released from the hospital, and is likely to resume his managerial duties against the Brewers on Tuesday… Michael Cuddyer has begun hitting in the batting cage, but is still a long shot to return this season… Yusmeiro Petit made a spot start against the Padres on Sunday, pushing Tim Lincecum back to Tuesday to give him an extra day of rest… Chris Johnson is expected to remain the Diamondbacks starting third baseman next season… Even with his recent struggles, Tommy Hanson will remain in the Braves rotation down the stretch… Yadier Molina sat out Sunday’s contest due to lower back spasms… The Mets are considering shutting down closer Frank Francisco for the remainder of the season after he had a setback with his right elbow on Saturday… Miguel Montero finally got a day of rest on Sunday after starting 20 consecutive games for the Diamondbacks… Carlos Beltran missed Sunday’s contest due to an illness, but is expected to return in a day or two… Justin Ruggiano is out indefinitely with a sprained right shoulder… Giancarlo Stanton missed his sixth consecutive game with an intercostal strain, but believes that he’s making progress… Craig Kimbrel notched his 39th save of the season in a win over the Phillies, and now owns a remarkable 1.08 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 106/14 K/BB ratio in 58 1/3 innings on the season… David Wright blasted his 19th homer in a victory over the Marlins… With a pair of runs scored on Sunday, Ryan Braun became the first player in Brewers’ history to reach 100 runs and RBI in four consecutive seasons… A.J. Burnett struck out 11 Astros en route to his 16th victory of the season… Alfonso Soriano smashed a solo homer, giving him 31 bombs and 105 RBI on the season… Jose Altuve was forced to leave Sunday’s game against the Pirates with groin tightness, and is considered day-to-day… Jason Motte recorded his NL-leading 40th save on Sunday, giving him five saves on the week… Matt Holliday confirmed that he’s been dealing with lower back tightness, but expects to continue playing through the injury… Huston Street earned his 22nd save in his first action since returning from the DL… Shane Victorino (wrist) is expected to return to the Dodger’s lineup on Tuesday… Hanley Ramirez was removed from Sunday’s game after fouling a pitch off his left foot… Adrian Gonzalez blasted a pair of homers in a victory over the Reds, giving him just three bombs in 27 games with the Dodgers.





American League Quick Hits: The Red Sox have talked internally about re-signing James Loney after this season, and he’s apparently “receptive to coming back”… Jacoby Ellsbury was a late scratch from the Red Sox lineup, missing his third consecutive start with an undisclosed injury… Salvador Perez missed his third consecutive game with two bruised hands, but fully expects to return to the lineup on Monday… Dylan Bundy made his long-anticipated MLB debut on Sunday, retiring both Red Sox hitters he faced… Felix Doubront racked up a career-high 11 strikeouts in a no-decision against the Orioles… Chad Jenkins allowed just one run on two hits over five innings of work in his first career start… Jake Odorizzi surrendered three runs in 5 1/3 innings in his MLB debut… Jose Valverde surrendered a run in the 10th inning, taking a difficult loss as the Tigers were swept by the Twins in Sunday’s doubleheader… Albert Pujols had three hits and two RBI on Sunday, reaching the 100 RBI plateau for the 11th time in his 12-year career… Grant Balfour recorded his 20th save as the Athletics topped the Yankees… Fernando Rodney notched his 44th save, and now owns an electrifying 0.64 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 69/14 K/BB ratios in what has become one of the greatest (and most unexpected) seasons by any reliever in major league history… The Angels turned to three separate relievers (Garrett Richards, Scott Downs and Ernesto Frieri) to each record an out in the ninth inning against the White Sox on Friday, making it so none of them earned a save in the process of protecting a 4-1 lead… Jared Weaver notched his 19th victory, twirling 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball as the Angels swept the White Sox in Anaheim.

 

[HacheMan]

Forecaster: Sept. 24-Oct. 3

By Tristan H. Cockcroft | ESPN.com

On tap: This is it, the final week of the 2012 fantasy baseball season. It's an extended "week" of 10 days ending Wednesday, Oct. 3, plus any necessary tiebreaker games. By "tiebreaker games," I mean additional games needed to settle playoff positioning, not the wild-card play-in games. For example: Should the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees tie for first place in the American League East while also sharing the same record with the Oakland Athletics for the two AL wild-card spots, the Orioles and Yankees would require a one-game playoff to decide their division, a game played Thursday, Oct. 4, that would count in ESPN leagues.

Expect the unexpected in the final week -- rotations in flux, rookies granted sporadic starts as 2013 auditions, injured players shut down for the year and playoff teams resting veterans. The rotations listed below are projections and are more subject to change in this than in any of the preceding 23 weeks. We'll keep you updated throughout the weekend, leading up to the Monday weekly deadline, but understand that, while almost every pitcher is tentatively scheduled for two starts, there are no guarantees with any assignments.


Motivation is a critical angle at this stage of season. Fantasy owners want players playing for something, and they generally want to avoid players whose playoff fates are already sealed. Through Saturday's games, the following teams had either already clinched or had at least a five-game lead on their opposition in their playoff races:


• Cincinnati Reds: Clinched National League Central divison title.
• Washington Nationals: Clinched playoff berth, held 5½-game lead in NL East (magic number 6).
• San Francisco Giants: Clinched NL West title.
• Atlanta Braves: Held six-game lead for first NL wild-card spot (magic number 5) and 8½ for second wild-card spot (magic number 3).


Conversely, the following teams remained within five games of a playoff spot, whether in the lead or trailing:


• Texas Rangers: 4-game lead in AL West.
• St. Louis Cardinals: 2½-game lead for second NL wild-card spot.
• Yankees: 1-game lead in AL East.
• Chicago White Sox: ½-game lead in AL Central.
• Detroit Tigers: Trail in AL Central race by ½ game and the AL wild-card race by 4½ games.
• Orioles: Trail in AL East race by 1 game, 2-game lead for first AL wild-card spot (magic number 10) and 4½ for second wild-card spot (magic number 7).
• Los Angeles Angels: Trail in AL wild-card race by 2½ games.
• Milwaukee Brewers: Trail in NL wild-card race by 2½ games.
• Los Angeles Dodgers: Trail in NL wild-card race by 3 games.
• Tampa Bay Rays: Trail in AL wild-card race by 3½ games.
• Oakland Athletics: Trail in AL West race by 4 games, have a 2½-game lead for the second wild-card spot.
• Philadelphia Phillies: Trail in NL wild-card race by 4 games.
• Arizona Diamondbacks: Trail in NL wild-card race by 4½ games.


The Pittsburgh Pirates were also 6½ games removed from a playoff spot. Add them to the above group and there are 14 teams that begin the week highly motivated.


The AL Central race is perhaps the most compelling this week, with the White Sox and Tigers avoiding each other in the final 10 days, fattening up on weaker divisional competition -- save, perhaps, a four-game White Sox home series versus the Rays. It's conceivable that the race will go down to the final Oct. 1-3 series for each team, and it could mean a lot of W's between the two squads. Both teams have rotation questions in need of answers before the playoffs begin: The White Sox need to determine who among Francisco Liriano, Gavin Floyd and Jose Quintana can be a viable playoff starter, while the Tigers need to hope that Max Scherzer's shoulder quickly heals.


Meanwhile, the NL's second wild-card race, and its two Central division contenders, will be under the microscope. Having just welcomed Chris Carpenter back to their rotation, the Cardinals head to Houston for three games before returning home for a pair of three-game series against the Nationals and Reds, teams that have already clinched playoff berths and might largely be playing B squads. The Brewers, meanwhile, play three in Cincinnati before returning home for a pair of soft, three-game matchups versus the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres. Their decision to move up Yovani Gallardo in their rotation last week pays off in fantasy, as he'll now get two starts this week instead of one.


ESPN leagues: Week 24



This is the second and final week of championship matchups in ESPN standard head-to-head leagues, and owners in our games need remember that those Thursday, Oct. 4, tiebreakers will count in the standings. That goes for all ESPN leagues, head-to-head and Rotisserie.


The Monday conclusion of the Brewers at Nationals four-game wraparound series creates an early lineup deadline for the week. That series finale begins at 1:05 p.m. ET. Here are the scheduled start times of the first games each day:



<style type="text/css">.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</style><table style="margin: 0px; width: 100%;"><thead><tr><th style="vertical-align: bottom;">Date</th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Time (ET)</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;">Teams</th><th style="width: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> </center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;">Date</th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Time (ET)</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;">Teams</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Mon 9/24</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1:05 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">MIL, WAS</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Sat 9/29</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1:07 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">NYY, TOR</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Tue 9/25</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">2:10 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">CHW, CLE</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Sun 9/30</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1:05 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">CLE, KC</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Wed 9/26</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1:10 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">MIN, NYY</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Mon 10/1</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7:05 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">ATL, BOS, CHW, CLE,
NYY, PHI, PIT, WAS</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Thu 9/27</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">12:35 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">CIN, MIL</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Tue 10/2</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7:05 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">ATL, BOS, CHW, CLE,
NYY, PHI, PIT, WAS</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Fri 9/28</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7:05 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">BAL, BOS, CIN, CLE,
KC, PIT</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Wed 10/3</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">12:35 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">ATL, PIT</td></tr></tbody></table>




Quick click by section, if you're seeking advice in a specific area:
Probable starting pitchers | Week 24 pitcher rankings | Pitching notes
Streamer's delight | Hitting ratings | Hitting notes


Projected starting pitchers



The chart below lists each of the 30 MLB teams' schedules and projected starting pitchers, providing a matchup rating for each day's starter. Pitchers scheduled to start at least twice this week are in gold/beige boxes.



<style type="text/css">.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</style><table style="margin: 0px; width: 100%;"><thead><tr><th style="width: 35px; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> </center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Mon
9/24 </center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Tue
9/25 </center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Wed
9/26 </center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Thu
9/27 </center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Fri
9/28 </center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Sat
9/29 </center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Sun
9/30 </center></th></tr></thead><thead><tr><th style="width: 35px; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Team </center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/1 </center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/2 </center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/3 </center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/4 </center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/5 </center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/6 </center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/7 </center></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> TOR-2
S.Johnson
(RHP)
P: 8
Chen
(LHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> TOR
Saunders
(LHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> TOR
Gonzalez
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> BOS
Tillman
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> BOS
S.Johnson
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> BOS
Chen
(LHP)
P: 6 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @TB
Saunders
(LHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @TB
Gonzalez
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @TB
Tillman
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> TB
Buchholz
(RHP)
P: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> TB
Lester
(LHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BAL
Cook
(RHP)
P: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BAL
Doubront
(LHP)
P: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BAL
Stewart
(RHP)
P: 1 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @NYY
Buchholz
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @NYY
Lester
(LHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @NYY
Matsuzaka
(RHP)
P: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CLE
Sale
(LHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CLE
Liriano
(LHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CLE
Peavy
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> TB
Quintana
(LHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> TB
Floyd
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> TB
Sale
(LHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> TB
Liriano
(LHP)
P: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @CLE
Peavy
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @CLE
Quintana
(LHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @CLE
Floyd
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @CHW
McAllister
(RHP)
P: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @CHW
Kluber
(RHP)
P: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @CHW
Masterson
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> KC
Jimenez
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> KC
Huff
(LHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> KC
McAllister
(RHP)
P: 2 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CHW
Kluber
(RHP)
P: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CHW
Masterson
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CHW
Jimenez
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> KC
Verlander
(RHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> KC
Sanchez
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> KC
Porcello
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> KC
Fister
(RHP)
P: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @MIN
Scherzer
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @MIN
Verlander
(RHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @MIN
Sanchez
(RHP)
P: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @KC
Porcello
(RHP)
P: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @KC
Fister
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @KC
Scherzer
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @DET
Hochevar
(RHP)
P: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @DET
Chen
(LHP)
P: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @DET
Guthrie
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @DET
Mendoza
(RHP)
P: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CLE
Smith
(LHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CLE
Odorizzi
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @CLE
Hochevar
(RHP)
P: 3 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> DET
Chen
(LHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> DET
Guthrie
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> DET
Mendoza
(RHP)
P: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> SEA
Greinke
(RHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> SEA
Wilson
(LHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> SEA
Haren
(RHP)
P: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @TEX
Weaver
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TEX
Santana
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @TEX
Greinke
(RHP)
P: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @SEA
Wilson
(LHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @SEA
Haren
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @SEA
Weaver
(RHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> NYY
Hendriks
(RHP)
P: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> NYY
Vasquez
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> NYY
Deduno
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> DET
Diamond
(LHP)
P: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> DET
Walters
(RHP)
P: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> DET
Hendriks
(RHP)
P: 2 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @TOR
Vasquez
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @TOR
Deduno
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @TOR
Diamond
(LHP)
P: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @MIN
Pettitte
(LHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @MIN
Hughes
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @MIN
Sabathia
(LHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @TOR
Nova
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @TOR
Kuroda
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @TOR
Pettitte
(LHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @TOR
Hughes
(RHP)
P: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> BOS
Sabathia
(LHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> BOS
Nova
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> BOS
Kuroda
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @TEX
Straily
(RHP)
P: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @TEX
Milone
(LHP)
P: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @TEX
Parker
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @TEX
Blackley
(LHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> SEA
Griffin
(RHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> SEA
Straily
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> SEA
Milone
(LHP)
P: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> TEX
Parker
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> TEX
Blackley
(LHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> TEX
Griffin
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @LAA
Ramirez
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @LAA
Hernandez
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @LAA
Iwakuma
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @OAK
Beavan
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @OAK
Vargas
(LHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @OAK
Ramirez
(RHP)
P: 9 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> LAA
Hernandez
(RHP)
P: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> LAA
Iwakuma
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> LAA
Beavan
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @BOS
Price
(LHP)
P: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BOS
Cobb
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @CHW
Shields
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @CHW
Moore
(LHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHW
Hellickson
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @CHW
Price
(LHP)
P: 8 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BAL
Archer
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> BAL
Shields
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> BAL
Moore
(LHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> OAK
Holland
(LHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> OAK
Darvish
(RHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> OAK
Perez
(LHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> OAK
Harrison
(LHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> LAA
Dempster
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> LAA
Holland
(LHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> LAA
Darvish
(RHP)
P: 10 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @OAK
Perez
(LHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @OAK
Harrison
(LHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @OAK
Dempster
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @BAL-2
Alvarez
(RHP)
P: 4
Romero
(LHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @BAL
Laffey
(LHP)
P: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @BAL
Villnueva
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> NYY
Morrow
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYY
Jenkins
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> NYY
Alvarez
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> NYY
Romero
(LHP)
P: 4 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> MIN
Laffey
(LHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> MIN
Villnueva
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> MIN
Morrow
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @COL
Cahill
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @SF
Skaggs
(LHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @SF
Miley
(LHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @SF
Corbin
(LHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CHC
Kennedy
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CHC
Cahill
(RHP)
P: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CHC
Skaggs
(LHP)
P: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> COL
Miley
(LHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> COL
Corbin
(LHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> COL
Kennedy
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> MIA
Medlen
(RHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> MIA
Maholm
(LHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> MIA
Hanson
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> NYM
Minor
(LHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYM
Hudson
(RHP)
P: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> NYM
Medlen
(RHP)
P: 10 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @PIT
Maholm
(LHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @PIT
Hanson
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @PIT
Minor
(LHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @COL
Rusin
(LHP)
P: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @COL
Berken
(RHP)
P: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @COL
Volstad
(RHP)
P: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @ARI
Wood
(LHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ARI
Germano
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @ARI
Rusin
(LHP)
P: 1 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> HOU
Berken
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> HOU
Volstad
(RHP)
P: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> HOU
Wood
(LHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> MIL
Leake
(RHP)
P: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> MIL
Cueto
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> MIL
Arroyo
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @PIT
Latos
(RHP)
P: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PIT
Bailey
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @PIT
Leake
(RHP)
P: 3 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @STL
Cueto
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @STL
Arroyo
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @STL
Latos
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> ARI
Chatwood
(RHP)
P: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CHC
DeLaRosa
(LHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CHC
Pomeranz
(LHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CHC
Chacin
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @LAD
Francis
(LHP)
P: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @LAD
Chatwood
(RHP)
P: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @LAD
DeLaRosa
(LHP)
P: 6 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @ARI
Pomeranz
(LHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @ARI
Chacin
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @ARI
Francis
(LHP)
P: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> STL
Abad
(LHP)
P: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> STL
Harrell
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> STL
Norris
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIL
Gonzalez
(RHP)
P: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIL
Keuchel
(LHP)
P: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIL
Lyles
(RHP)
P: 2 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @CHC
Abad
(LHP)
P: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @CHC
Harrell
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @CHC
Norris
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @SD
Beckett
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @SD
Capuano
(LHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @SD
Blanton
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> COL
Fife
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> COL
Harang
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> COL
Beckett
(RHP)
P: 6 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> SF
Capuano
(LHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> SF
Blanton
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> SF
Fife
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @ATL
Eovaldi
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @ATL
Johnson
(RHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @ATL
Turner
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> PHI
Buehrle
(LHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PHI
Nolasco
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> PHI
Eovaldi
(RHP)
P: 6 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> NYM
Johnson
(RHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> NYM
Turner
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> NYM
Buehrle
(LHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @WAS
Estrada
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @CIN
Fiers
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @CIN
Marcum
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @CIN
Peralta
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> HOU
Gallardo
(RHP)
P: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> HOU
Estrada
(RHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> HOU
Fiers
(RHP)
P: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> SD
Marcum
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> SD
Peralta
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> SD
Gallardo
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> PIT
Mejia
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> PIT
McHugh
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> PIT
Niese
(LHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> PIT
Dickey
(RHP)
P: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @ATL
Young
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @ATL
Mejia
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @ATL
McHugh
(RHP)
P: 3 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @MIA
Niese
(LHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @MIA
Dickey
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @MIA
Young
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> WAS
Hamels
(LHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> WAS
Kendrick
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> WAS
Cloyd
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @MIA
Halladay
(RHP)
P: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIA
Lee
(LHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @MIA
Hamels
(LHP)
P: 9 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @WAS
Kendrick
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @WAS
Cloyd
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @WAS
Halladay
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @NYM
McPherson
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @NYM
W.Rdrguez
(LHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @NYM
Locke
(LHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @NYM
Correia
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CIN
Burnett
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CIN
McPherson
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CIN
W.Rdrguez
(LHP)
P: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> ATL
Locke
(LHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> ATL
Correia
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> ATL
Burnett
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @HOU
Lynn
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @HOU
Garcia
(LHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @HOU
Carpenter
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> WAS
Wainwright
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> WAS
Lohse
(RHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> WAS
Lynn
(RHP)
P: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CIN
Garcia
(LHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CIN
Carpenter
(RHP)
P: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> CIN
Wainwright
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> LAD
Volquez
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> LAD
Richard
(LHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> LAD
Kelly
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> SF
Werner
(LHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SF
Stults
(LHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> SF
Volquez
(RHP)
P: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @MIL
Richard
(LHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @MIL
Kelly
(RHP)
P: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @MIL
Werner
(LHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> ARI
Lincecum
(RHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> ARI
Cain
(RHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> ARI
Zito
(LHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @SD
Vogelsong
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SD
Bumgarner
(LHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @SD
Lincecum
(RHP)
P: 8 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @LAD
Cain
(RHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @LAD
Zito
(LHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @LAD
Vogelsong
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> MIL
Zimmrmnn
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @PHI
Lannan
(LHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @PHI
Detwiler
(LHP)
P: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @PHI
Jackson
(RHP)
P: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @STL
Gonzalez
(LHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @STL
Zimmrmnn
(RHP)
P: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> @STL
Lannan
(LHP)
P: 4 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> PHI
Detwiler
(LHP)
P: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> PHI
Jackson
(RHP)
P: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center"> PHI
Gonzalez
(LHP)
P: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="8"></th></tr></thead></table>P: The starting pitcher's matchup rating, which accounts for past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days), opponent and ballpark. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst.




Tristan's Week 24 pitcher rankings: Top 100



As all but 24 of the 152 pitchers scheduled to start this week will pitch twice, this week's rankings are extended from 75 to 100. No-thank-you two-start pitchers are generally those who miss this week's cutoff.


1. Matt Cain (SF) -- 9/26-ARI (Miley), 10/1-@LAD (Capuano)
2. Justin Verlander (DET) -- 9/24-KC (Hochevar), 9/29-@MIN (Walters)
3. Kris Medlen (ATL) -- 9/25-MIA (Eovaldi), 9/30-NYM (McHugh)
4. Gio Gonzalez (WAS) -- 9/28-@STL (Wainwright), 10/3-PHI (Halladay)
5. Cole Hamels (PHI) -- 9/25-WAS (Lannan), 9/30-@MIA (Eovaldi)
6. Chris Sale (CHW) -- 9/24-CLE (McAllister), 9/29-TB (Hellickson)
7. Yovani Gallardo (MIL) -- 9/28-HOU (Gonzalez), 10/3-SD (Werner)
8. R.A. Dickey (NYM) -- 9/27-PIT (Correia), 10/2-@MIA (Turner)
9. Zack Greinke (LAA) -- 9/25-SEA (Ramirez), 9/30-@TEX (Darvish)
10. David Price (TB) -- 9/25-@BOS (Buchholz), 9/30-@CHW (Liriano)
11. Jered Weaver (LAA) -- 9/28-@TEX (Dempster), 10/3-@SEA (Beavan)
12. Josh Johnson (MIA) -- 9/26-@ATL (Maholm), 10/1-NYM (Niese)
13. Dan Haren (LAA) -- 9/27-SEA (Iwakuma), 10/2-@SEA (Iwakuma)
14. Roy Halladay (PHI) -- 9/28-@MIA (Buehrle), 10/3-@WAS (Gonzalez)
15. Yu Darvish (TEX) -- 9/25-OAK (Milone), 9/30-LAA (Greinke)
16. Adam Wainwright (STL) -- 9/28-WAS (Gonzalez), 10/3-CIN (Latos)
17. Mat Latos (CIN) -- 9/28-@PIT (Burnett), 10/3-@STL (Wainwright)
18. Felix Hernandez (SEA) -- 9/26-@LAA (Wilson), 10/1-LAA (Wilson)
19. Doug Fister (DET) -- 9/27-KC (Mendoza), 10/2-@KC (Guthrie)
20. Jake Peavy (CHW) -- 9/26-CLE (Masterson), 10/1-@CLE (Kluber)
21. CC Sabathia (NYY) -- 9/26-@MIN (Deduno), 10/1-BOS (Buchholz)
22. James Shields (TB) -- 9/27-@CHW (Quintana), 10/2-BAL (Gonzalez)
23. Tim Lincecum (SF) -- 9/25-ARI (Skaggs), 9/30-@SD (Volquez)
24. Ian Kennedy (ARI) -- 9/28-CHC (Wood), 10/3-COL (Francis)
25. Max Scherzer (DET) -- 9/28-@MIN (Diamond), 10/3-@KC (Mendoza)
26. Mike Minor (ATL) -- 9/28-NYM (Young), 10/3-@PIT (Burnett)
27. Cliff Lee (PHI) -- 9/29-@MIA (Nolasco)
28. Derek Holland (TEX) -- 9/24-OAK (Straily), 9/29-LAA (Santana)
29. Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) -- 9/28-@TOR (Jenkins), 10/3-BOS (Matsuzaka)
30. Marco Estrada (MIL) -- 9/24-@WAS (Zimmermann), 9/29-HOU (Keuchel)
31. C.J. Wilson (LAA) -- 9/26-SEA (Hernandez), 10/1-@SEA (Hernandez)
32. Matt Harrison (TEX) -- 9/27-OAK (Blackley), 10/2-@OAK (Blackley)
33. Ryan Dempster (TEX) -- 9/28-LAA (Weaver), 10/3-@OAK (Griffin)
34. Jordan Zimmermann (WAS) -- 9/24-MIL (Estrada), 9/29-@STL (Lohse)
35. Brandon Morrow (TOR) -- 9/27-NYY (Nova), 10/3-MIN (Diamond)
36. Wandy Rodriguez (PIT) -- 9/25-@NYM (McHugh), 9/30-CIN (Leake)
37. Clay Buchholz (BOS) -- 9/25-TB (Price), 10/1-@NYY (Sabathia)
38. Josh Beckett (LAD) -- 9/25-@SD (Volquez), 9/30-COL (De La Rosa)
39. Anibal Sanchez (DET) -- 9/25-KC (Chen), 9/30-@MIN (Hendriks)
40. Jaime Garcia (STL) -- 9/25-@HOU (Harrell), 10/1-CIN (Cueto)
41. Jonathon Niese (NYM) -- 9/26-PIT (Locke), 10/1-@MIA (Johnson)
42. Tommy Hanson (ATL) -- 9/27-MIA (Turner), 10/2-@PIT (Correia)
43. Trevor Cahill (ARI) -- 9/24-@COL (Chatwood), 9/29-CHC (Germano)
44. Lance Lynn (STL) -- 9/24-@HOU (Abad), 9/30-WAS (Lannan)
45. Matt Moore (TB) -- 9/28-@CHW (Floyd), 10/3-BAL (Tillman)
46. Jon Lester (BOS) -- 9/26-TB (Cobb), 10/2-@NYY (Nova)
47. A.J. Griffin (OAK) -- 9/28-SEA (Beavan), 10/3-TEX (Dempster)
48. Francisco Liriano (CHW) -- 9/25-CLE (Kluber), 9/30-TB (Price)
49. Johnny Cueto (CIN) -- 9/26-MIL (Marcum), 10/1-@STL (Garcia)
50. Jarrod Parker (OAK) -- 9/26-@TEX (Perez), 10/1-TEX (Perez)
51. Madison Bumgarner (SF) -- 9/29-@SD (Stults)
52. Phil Hughes (NYY) -- 9/25-@MIN (Vasquez), 9/30-@TOR (Romero)
53. Ross Detwiler (WAS) -- 9/26-@PHI (Kendrick), 10/1-PHI (Kendrick)
54. Travis Wood (CHC) -- 9/28-@ARI (Kennedy), 10/3-HOU (Norris)
55. A.J. Burnett (PIT) -- 9/28-CIN (Latos), 10/3-ATL (Minor)
56. Erasmo Ramirez (SEA) -- 9/25-@LAA (Greinke), 9/30-@OAK (Milone)
57. Kyle Lohse (STL) -- 9/29-WAS (Zimmermann)
58. Chris Carpenter (STL) -- 9/26-@HOU (Norris), 10/2-CIN (Arroyo)
59. Andy Pettitte (NYY) -- 9/24-@MIN (Hendriks), 9/29-@TOR (Alvarez)
60. Tim Hudson (ATL) -- 9/29-NYM (Mejia)
61. Wily Peralta (MIL) -- 9/27-@CIN (Arroyo), 10/2-SD (Kelly)
62. Carlos Villanueva (TOR) -- 9/26-@BAL (Gonzalez), 10/2-MIN (Deduno)
63. Shaun Marcum (MIL) -- 9/26-@CIN (Cueto), 10/1-SD (Richard)
64. Ryan Vogelsong (SF) -- 9/28-@SD (Werner), 10/3-@LAD (Fife)
65. Edwin Jackson (WAS) -- 9/27-@PHI (Cloyd), 10/2-PHI (Cloyd)
66. Jeremy Hellickson (TB) -- 9/29-@CHW (Sale)
67. Gavin Floyd (CHW) -- 9/28-TB (Moore), 10/3-@CLE (Jimenez)
68. Chris Capuano (LAD) -- 9/26-@SD (Richard), 10/1-SF (Cain)
69. Homer Bailey (CIN) -- 9/29-@PIT (McPherson)
70. Paul Maholm (ATL) -- 9/26-MIA (Johnson), 10/1-@PIT (Locke)
71. Jose Quintana (CHW) -- 9/27-TB (Shields), 10/2-@CLE (Masterson)
72. Wade Miley (ARI) -- 9/26-@SF (Cain), 10/1-COL (Pomeranz)
73. Mike Fiers (MIL) -- 9/25-@CIN (Leake), 9/30-HOU (Lyles)
74. Lucas Harrell (HOU) -- 9/25-STL (Garcia), 10/2-@CHC (Volstad)
75. Kevin Correia (PIT) -- 9/27-@NYM (Dickey), 10/2-ATL (Hanson)
76. Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA) -- 9/27-@LAA (Haren), 10/2-LAA (Haren)
77. Bronson Arroyo (CIN) -- 9/27-MIL (Peralta), 10/2-@STL (Carpenter)
78. Edinson Volquez (SD) -- 9/25-LAD (Beckett), 9/30-SF (Lincecum)
79. Jacob Turner (MIA) -- 9/27-@ATL (Hanson), 10/2-NYM (Dickey)
80. Martin Perez (TEX) -- 9/26-OAK (Parker), 10/1-@OAK (Parker)
81. Tommy Milone (OAK) -- 9/25-@TEX (Darvish), 9/30-SEA (Ramirez)
82. Mark Buehrle (MIA) -- 9/28-PHI (Halladay), 10/3-NYM (Young)
83. Ivan Nova (NYY) -- 9/27-@TOR (Morrow), 10/2-BOS (Lester)
84. Jeremy Guthrie (KC) -- 9/26-@DET (Porcello), 10/2-DET (Fister)
85. Ervin Santana (LAA) -- 9/29-@TEX (Holland)
86. Clayton Richard (SD) -- 9/26-LAD (Capuano), 10/1-@MIL (Marcum)
87. Ubaldo Jimenez (CLE) -- 9/28-KC (Smith), 10/3-CHW (Floyd)
88. Joe Saunders (BAL) -- 9/25-TOR (Laffey), 10/1-@TB (Archer)
89. Wei-Yin Chen (BAL) -- 9/24-TOR, Gm. 2 (Romero), 9/30-BOS (Stewart)
90. Kyle Kendrick (PHI) -- 9/26-WAS (Detwiler), 10/1-@WAS (Detwiler)
91. Nate Eovaldi (MIA) -- 9/25-@ATL (Medlen), 9/30-PHI (Hamels)
92. Jhoulys Chacin (COL) -- 9/27-CHC (Volstad), 10/2-@ARI (Corbin)
93. Bud Norris (HOU) -- 9/26-STL (Carpenter), 10/3-@CHC (Wood)
94. Patrick Corbin (ARI) -- 9/27-@SF (Zito), 10/2-COL (Chacin)
95. Miguel Gonzalez (BAL) -- 9/26-TOR (Villanueva), 10/2-@TB (Shields)
96. Barry Zito (SF) -- 9/27-ARI (Corbin), 10/2-@LAD (Blanton)
97. Chris Young (NYM) -- 9/28-@ATL (Minor), 10/3-@MIA (Buehrle)
98. Eric Stults (SD) -- 9/29-SF (Bumgarner)
99. Tyler Cloyd (PHI) -- 9/27-WAS (Jackson), 10/2-@WAS (Jackson)
100. Ricky Nolasco (MIA) -- 9/29-PHI (Lee)



Pitching notes



• Ten games, including six at home against the Astros (3) and Padres (3), provide the Brewers not only the advantage they need in the NL wild-card race, but that also makes them my final Baseball Challenge pitching staff pick of 2012. Despite the July 27 trade of Zack Greinke, this team has 33 wins, 25 quality starts, a 3.91 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 8.69 strikeouts per nine innings in 51 games since that date. Gallardo has been key, with nine wins, nine quality starts, a 3.40 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 9.25 K's per nine in 13 second-half starts. But it's also the performances they've squeezed out of Marco Estrada, who has a 3.23 ERA in 13 second-half starts, and Wily Peralta, who had a 1.80 ERA in his first three big league starts before getting hit hard on Saturday, that have propelled them back into the race. Among other recommended BBC pitching staffs: Cardinals (@HOU-3, WAS-3, CIN-3), Tigers (KC-4, @MIN-3, @KC-3), Dodgers (@SD-3, COL-3, SF-3) and White Sox (CLE-3, TB-4, @CLE-3).


The following visiting pitchers are scheduled for starts at Colorado's Coors Field, No. 1 in runs scored on our Park Factor page and home to the Colorado Rockies, baseball's No. 1 team in terms of runs scored per game and OPS in home games:
• Trevor Cahill (Monday, Sept. 24): 2 career GS at Coors, 3.65 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 1 QS. Start in larger mixed and NL-only leagues.
• Chris Rusin (Tuesday, Sept. 25): Has never pitched at Coors. Sit. No-brainer.
• Jason Berken (Wednesday, Sept. 26): Has never pitched at Coors. Sit. Another no-brainer.
• Chris Volstad (Thursday, Sept. 27): 3 career G, 2 GS at Coors, 6.57 ERA, 1.70 WHIP. Sit. 3-for-3 in the no-brainer department.


The following visiting pitchers are scheduled for starts at San Diego's Petco Park, No. 25 in runs scored on our Park Factor page and home to the Padres, No. 24 in terms of runs scored per game and No. 25 in terms of OPS in home games:
• Josh Beckett (Tuesday, Sept. 25): 3-for-3 in QS at Petco, 3.05 ERA, 1.16 WHIP. Start. He has a 3.45 ERA in his five starts with the Dodgers.
• Chris Capuano (Wednesday, Sept. 26): 3 career GS at Petco, 5.29 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 2 QS. Start. Save for a rocky stretch in late August, he has been consistently reliable.
• Joe Blanton (Thursday, Sept. 27): 5 career GS at Petco, 3.90 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 4 QS. Start in larger mixed and NL-only leagues.
• Ryan Vogelsong (Friday, Sept. 28): 3 career G, 2 GS at Petco, 20.25 ERA, 3.56 WHIP. Sit. Besides that track record at Petco, he has struggled mightily of late.
• Madison Bumgarner (Saturday, Sept. 29): 6 career G, 5 GS at Petco, 3.06 ERA, 1.24 WHIP. Start. The Giants need to straighten him out before the playoffs, and this is the kind of matchup that can do it.
• Tim Lincecum (Sunday, Sept. 30): 10 career GS, 2.15 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 8 QS. Start. Petco has been as automatic a matchup as they come in Lincecum's career, and he has four straight quality starts to boot.



The following visiting pitchers are scheduled for starts at Seattle's Safeco Field, No. 30 in runs scored on our Park Factor page and home to the Seattle Mariners, baseball's worst team in terms of runs scored per game and OPS in home games:
• C.J. Wilson (Monday, Oct. 1): 26 career G, 8 GS at Safeco, 3.12 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 6 QS. Sit. He's pitching too poorly of late to be trusted at such a critical time.
• Dan Haren (Tuesday, Oct. 2): 11 career GS at Safeco, 1.82 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 10 QS. Start. That's a track record that cannot be overlooked.
• Jered Weaver (Wednesday, Oct. 3): 12 career GS at Safeco, 4.40 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 5 QS. Start. Three of his past four games at Safeco resulted in quality starts, and he has three consecutive quality starts overall heading into the week.


Delving into deeper detail about starting-pitching assignments that might be changed after the weekly lineup deadline, I see the following as worries, the pitchers either being moved, skipped or held to a limited pitch count:
• Jake Peavy (Monday, Oct. 1, @CLE)
• Max Scherzer (Wednesday, Oct. 3, @KC)
• CC Sabathia (Monday, Oct. 1, BOS)
• Hiroki Kuroda (Wednesday, Oct. 3, BOS)
• Ryan Dempster (Wednesday, Oct. 3, @OAK)
• Johnny Cueto (Monday, Oct. 1, @STL)
• Mat Latos (Wednesday, Oct. 3, @STL)
• Adam Wainwright (Wednesday, Oct. 3, CIN)
• Edwin Jackson (Tuesday, Oct. 2, PHI)
• Gio Gonzalez (Wednesday, Oct. 3, PHI)


Streamer's delight



Among streaming starters -- something I define as single-start options in daily leagues among pitchers owned in 25 percent of ESPN leagues or fewer -- for Week 24, here are my picks by day. At this critical stage of season, I'm picking two per day, listed in order of preference.


Monday, Sept. 24: Andy Pettitte at Minnesota Twins, Marco Estrada at Washington Nationals
Tuesday, Sept. 25: Erasmo Ramirez at Los Angeles Angels, Francisco Liriano versus Cleveland Indians
Wednesday, Sept. 26: Rick Porcello versus Kansas City Royals, Martin Perez versus Oakland Athletics
Thursday, Sept. 27: Jose Quintana versus Tampa Bay Rays, Jhoulys Chacin versus Chicago Cubs
Friday, Sept. 28: Travis Wood at Arizona Diamondbacks, Will Smith at Cleveland Indians
Saturday, Sept. 29: Andy Pettitte at Toronto Blue Jays, Dan Straily versus Seattle Mariners
Sunday, Sept. 30: Francisco Liriano versus Tampa Bay Rays, Edinson Volquez versus San Francisco Giants
Monday, Oct. 1: Rick Porcello at Kansas City Royals, Jason Berken versus Houston Astros
Tuesday, Oct. 2: Jose Quintana at Cleveland Indians, Wily Peralta versus San Diego Padres
Wednesday, Oct. 3: Travis Wood versus Houston Astros, Chris Young at Miami Marlins


Past picks
Friday, Sept. 14: Andrew Cashner -- 3 2/3 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 0 BBs, 2 K's
Saturday, Sept. 15: Rick Porcello -- 4 2/3 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 3 BBs, 2 K's (pitched Sept. 16)
Sunday, Sept. 16: Miguel Gonzalez -- skipped
Monday, Sept. 17: Travis Wood -- 5 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 9 K's, Chris Tillman -- W, QS, 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BBs, 4 K's
Tuesday, Sept. 18: Tyler Cloyd -- W, QS, 8 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BBs, 6 K's (pitched Sept. 20), Gavin Floyd -- W, QS, 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's
Wednesday, Sept. 19: Trevor Cahill -- W, QS, 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BBs, 4 K's, Marco Estrada -- W, QS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K's
Thursday, Sept. 20: Joe Kelly -- skipped, Francisco Liriano -- 5 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's


Week's total: 9 GS, 5 W (55.6%), 5 QS (55.6%), 53 1/3 IP, 45 H, 20 ER, 13 BBs, 37 K's, 3.38 ERA, 1.09 WHIP
Season total: 158 GS, 70 W (44.3%), 82 QS (51.9%), 946 2/3 IP, 916 H, 407 ER, 305 BBs, 692 K's, 3.87 ERA, 1.29 WHIP


Hitting ratings



The chart below lists each of the 30 teams' total number of scheduled games, home games and games versus right- and left-handed pitchers and provides a matchup rating for the week's games in terms of overall offense, offense for left- and right-handed hitters and base stealing. Matchup ratings for each individual game are listed under the corresponding date.



<style type="text/css">.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</style><table style="margin: 0px; width: 100%;"><thead><tr><th style="width: 30px; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> </center></th><th style="width: 13%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Overall </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Mon
9/24 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Tue
9/25 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Wed
9/26 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Thu
9/27 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Fri
9/28 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Sat
9/29 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Sun
9/30 </center></th></tr></thead><thead><tr><th style="width: 30px; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Team </center></th><th style="width: 13%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Games </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Rating </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/1 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/2 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/3 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/4 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/5 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/6 </center></th><th style="width: 10%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 10/7 </center></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
7 home
4 vs. L
6 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 8
L: 8
R: 8
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TOR-2
H: 7
L: 9
R: 3
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TOR
H: 8
L: 8
R: 8
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TOR
H: 5
L: 5
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BOS
H: 9
L: 10
R: 6
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BOS
H: 9
L: 6
R: 10
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BOS
H: 10
L: 10
R: 10
S: 9 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TB
H: 4
L: 7
R: 1
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TB
H: 3
L: 3
R: 4
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TB
H: 6
L: 1
R: 7
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 8 total
2 home
3 vs. L
5 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 3
L: 2
R: 3
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TB
H: 2
L: 1
R: 3
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TB
H: 4
L: 7
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BAL
H: 7
L: 7
R: 7
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BAL
H: 3
L: 4
R: 3
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BAL
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 3 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @NYY
H: 3
L: 2
R: 4
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @NYY
H: 7
L: 6
R: 7
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @NYY
H: 4
L: 6
R: 2
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
7 home
2 vs. L
8 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 7
L: 7
R: 7
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CLE
H: 10
L: 9
R: 10
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CLE
H: 8
L: 8
R: 9
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CLE
H: 5
L: 9
R: 1
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TB
H: 4
L: 4
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TB
H: 7
L: 2
R: 8
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TB
H: 4
L: 6
R: 2
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TB
H: 2
L: 1
R: 3
S: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CLE
H: 7
L: 7
R: 8
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CLE
H: 4
L: 8
R: 1
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CLE
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
6 home
4 vs. L
5 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHW
H: 1
L: 2
R: 1
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHW
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHW
H: 4
L: 3
R: 6
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> KC
H: 8
L: 10
R: 7
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> KC
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> KC
H: 9
L: 10
R: 6
S: 4 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHW
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHW
H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHW
H: 4
L: 6
R: 2
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
4 home
3 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 10
L: 10
R: 10
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> KC
H: 9
L: 10
R: 7
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> KC
H: 7
L: 8
R: 7
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> KC
H: 7
L: 8
R: 5
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> KC
H: 9
L: 10
R: 7
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIN
H: 9
L: 9
R: 9
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIN
H: 8
L: 8
R: 8
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIN
H: 9
L: 6
R: 10
S: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @KC
H: 7
L: 8
R: 7
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @KC
H: 6
L: 8
R: 5
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @KC
H: 9
L: 10
R: 7
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
3 home
1 vs. L
9 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 6
L: 7
R: 4
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @DET
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @DET
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @DET
H: 7
L: 10
R: 4
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @DET
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CLE
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CLE
H: 7
L: 9
R: 6
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CLE
H: 10
L: 8
R: 10
S: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> DET
H: 8
L: 10
R: 4
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> DET
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> DET
H: 4
L: 7
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
3 home
1 vs. L
8 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 2
L: 3
R: 2
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SEA
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SEA
H: 1
L: 2
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SEA
H: 6
L: 7
R: 4
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TEX
H: 5
L: 5
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TEX
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TEX
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SEA
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SEA
H: 5
L: 7
R: 4
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SEA
H: 7
L: 9
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
6 home
3 vs. L
6 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 3
L: 1
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYY
H: 3
L: 1
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYY
H: 6
L: 4
R: 8
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYY
H: 3
L: 2
R: 3
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> DET
H: 4
L: 7
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> DET
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> DET
H: 4
L: 2
R: 5
S: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TOR
H: 8
L: 8
R: 8
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TOR
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TOR
H: 4
L: 2
R: 7
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
3 home
2 vs. L
8 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 7
L: 7
R: 6
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIN
H: 9
L: 6
R: 10
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIN
H: 5
L: 8
R: 3
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIN
H: 5
L: 4
R: 6
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TOR
H: 4
L: 2
R: 7
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TOR
H: 6
L: 9
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TOR
H: 6
L: 9
R: 3
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TOR
H: 6
L: 10
R: 4
S: 4 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BOS
H: 3
L: 3
R: 2
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BOS
H: 5
L: 2
R: 5
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BOS
H: 9
L: 10
R: 4
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
6 home
6 vs. L
4 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TEX
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TEX
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TEX
H: 6
L: 5
R: 7
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @TEX
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SEA
H: 7
L: 10
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SEA
H: 4
L: 1
R: 4
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SEA
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TEX
H: 5
L: 3
R: 6
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TEX
H: 4
L: 3
R: 4
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> TEX
H: 4
L: 4
R: 3
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
3 home
3 vs. L
6 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 1
L: 2
R: 2
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAA
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAA
H: 2
L: 1
R: 2
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAA
H: 3
L: 3
R: 4
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @OAK
H: 1
L: 1
R: 3
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @OAK
H: 7
L: 9
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @OAK
H: 8
L: 10
R: 7
S: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAA
H: 2
L: 1
R: 2
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAA
H: 3
L: 3
R: 4
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAA
H: 1
L: 1
R: 2
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
3 home
5 vs. L
4 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 4
L: 1
R: 6
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BOS
H: 3
L: 3
R: 2
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BOS
H: 5
L: 2
R: 5
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHW
H: 6
L: 6
R: 7
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHW
H: 5
L: 7
R: 2
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHW
H: 1
L: 2
R: 1
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHW
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BAL
H: 6
L: 1
R: 8
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BAL
H: 5
L: 3
R: 6
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> BAL
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
7 home
3 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 5
L: 7
R: 3
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> OAK
H: 8
L: 10
R: 7
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> OAK
H: 9
L: 10
R: 8
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> OAK
H: 3
L: 6
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> OAK
H: 5
L: 5
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAA
H: 1
L: 1
R: 3
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAA
H: 6
L: 8
R: 3
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAA
H: 3
L: 5
R: 1
S: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @OAK
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @OAK
H: 3
L: 3
R: 3
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @OAK
H: 1
L: 1
R: 3
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 11 total
7 home
4 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 8
L: 6
R: 10
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BAL-2
H: 3
L: 4
R: 3
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BAL
H: 6
L: 1
R: 9
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @BAL
H: 5
L: 4
R: 7
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYY
H: 7
L: 7
R: 7
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYY
H: 4
L: 6
R: 3
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYY
H: 3
L: 1
R: 6
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYY
H: 6
L: 4
R: 8
S: 4 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIN
H: 6
L: 9
R: 4
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIN
H: 6
L: 5
R: 7
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIN
H: 10
L: 9
R: 10
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
6 home
5 vs. L
5 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 8
L: 5
R: 9
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @COL
H: 10
L: 10
R: 9
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SF
H: 3
L: 3
R: 3
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SF
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SF
H: 6
L: 1
R: 8
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHC
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHC
H: 7
L: 7
R: 7
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHC
H: 10
L: 6
R: 10
S: 8 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> COL
H: 7
L: 1
R: 10
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> COL
H: 5
L: 7
R: 4
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> COL
H: 10
L: 6
R: 10
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
6 home
1 vs. L
8 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIA
H: 5
L: 8
R: 2
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIA
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIA
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYM
H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYM
H: 8
L: 6
R: 9
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYM
H: 8
L: 10
R: 7
S: 6 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PIT
H: 8
L: 10
R: 6
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PIT
H: 5
L: 4
R: 6
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PIT
H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
3 home
4 vs. L
5 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 7
L: 6
R: 8
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @COL
H: 7
L: 2
R: 8
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @COL
H: 8
L: 2
R: 10
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @COL
H: 6
L: 7
R: 4
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ARI
H: 5
L: 5
R: 4
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ARI
H: 3
L: 3
R: 3
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ARI
H: 8
L: 4
R: 10
S: 1 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> HOU
H: 10
L: 9
R: 10
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> HOU
H: 5
L: 7
R: 4
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> HOU
H: 7
L: 9
R: 4
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
3 home
2 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIL
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIL
H: 5
L: 5
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIL
H: 4
L: 4
R: 4
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PIT
H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PIT
H: 6
L: 4
R: 7
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PIT
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 9 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @STL
H: 3
L: 1
R: 4
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @STL
H: 2
L: 2
R: 3
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @STL
H: 3
L: 4
R: 2
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
4 home
3 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 8
L: 7
R: 9
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> ARI
H: 4
L: 4
R: 4
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHC
H: 10
L: 7
R: 10
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHC
H: 10
L: 10
R: 10
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CHC
H: 10
L: 10
R: 8
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAD
H: 4
L: 4
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAD
H: 7
L: 8
R: 6
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAD
H: 4
L: 5
R: 4
S: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ARI
H: 6
L: 1
R: 9
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ARI
H: 7
L: 6
R: 7
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ARI
H: 5
L: 5
R: 4
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
3 home
2 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 5
L: 5
R: 4
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> STL
H: 4
L: 9
R: 1
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> STL
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> STL
H: 3
L: 3
R: 4
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIL
H: 3
L: 6
R: 1
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIL
H: 2
L: 3
R: 2
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIL
H: 5
L: 5
R: 6
S: 6 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHC
H: 9
L: 8
R: 9
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHC
H: 10
L: 10
R: 7
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CHC
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
6 home
4 vs. L
5 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 7
L: 3
R: 8
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SD
H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SD
H: 4
L: 1
R: 6
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SD
H: 8
L: 8
R: 7
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> COL
H: 9
L: 4
R: 10
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> COL
H: 10
L: 10
R: 8
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> COL
H: 5
L: 1
R: 6
S: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SF
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SF
H: 6
L: 1
R: 8
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SF
H: 5
L: 5
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
6 home
4 vs. L
5 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 2
L: 3
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ATL
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ATL
H: 6
L: 5
R: 7
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ATL
H: 4
L: 6
R: 2
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PHI
H: 2
L: 5
R: 1
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PHI
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PHI
H: 2
L: 2
R: 2
S: 2 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYM
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYM
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> NYM
H: 6
L: 8
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
6 home
3 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 8
L: 8
R: 8
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @WAS
H: 5
L: 4
R: 6
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CIN
H: 9
L: 9
R: 9
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CIN
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @CIN
H: 6
L: 10
R: 2
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> HOU
H: 6
L: 9
R: 4
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> HOU
H: 7
L: 4
R: 8
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> HOU
H: 8
L: 10
R: 5
S: 6 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SD
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SD
H: 9
L: 10
R: 9
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SD
H: 6
L: 4
R: 7
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
4 home
4 vs. L
6 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PIT
H: 6
L: 5
R: 7
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PIT
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PIT
H: 8
L: 10
R: 6
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PIT
H: 5
L: 4
R: 7
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ATL
H: 4
L: 7
R: 3
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ATL
H: 2
L: 3
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @ATL
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 4 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIA
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIA
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIA
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
3 home
5 vs. L
4 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 5
L: 4
R: 4
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> WAS
H: 7
L: 3
R: 8
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> WAS
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> WAS
H: 7
L: 8
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIA
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIA
H: 6
L: 8
R: 4
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIA
H: 5
L: 8
R: 2
S: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @WAS
H: 3
L: 1
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @WAS
H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @WAS
H: 1
L: 2
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
6 home
3 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 6
L: 7
R: 6
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @NYM
H: 8
L: 6
R: 9
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @NYM
H: 8
L: 10
R: 7
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @NYM
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @NYM
H: 2
L: 3
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CIN
H: 2
L: 3
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CIN
H: 4
L: 3
R: 4
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CIN
H: 9
L: 9
R: 9
S: 2 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> ATL
H: 7
L: 5
R: 7
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> ATL
H: 4
L: 6
R: 2
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> ATL
H: 5
L: 8
R: 4
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
6 home
3 vs. L
6 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 5
L: 6
R: 4
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @HOU
H: 10
L: 9
R: 10
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @HOU
H: 5
L: 7
R: 4
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @HOU
H: 6
L: 9
R: 4
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> WAS
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> WAS
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> WAS
H: 6
L: 3
R: 7
S: 7 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CIN
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CIN
H: 5
L: 10
R: 1
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> CIN
H: 2
L: 2
R: 1
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
6 home
2 vs. L
7 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 3
L: 2
R: 4
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAD
H: 4
L: 4
R: 3
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAD
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> LAD
H: 6
L: 6
R: 7
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SF
H: 5
L: 5
R: 4
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SF
H: 3
L: 1
R: 4
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> SF
H: 2
L: 2
R: 2
S: 5 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIL
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIL
H: 3
L: 3
R: 3
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @MIL
H: 3
L: 6
R: 1
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 9 total
3 home
6 vs. L
3 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 6
L: 1
R: 8
S: 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> ARI
H: 7
L: 3
R: 9
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> ARI
H: 6
L: 1
R: 9
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> ARI
H: 6
L: 5
R: 7
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SD
H: 4
L: 2
R: 5
S: 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SD
H: 4
L: 2
R: 4
S: 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @SD
H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 9 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAD
H: 6
L: 1
R: 8
S: 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAD
H: 7
L: 6
R: 8
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @LAD
H: 4
L: 4
R: 5
S: 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" rowSpan="2" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> 10 total
4 home
1 vs. L
9 vs. R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" rowSpan="2" align="center"> H: 3
L: 7
R: 1
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> MIL
H: 2
L: 3
R: 2
S: 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PHI
H: 2
L: 2
R: 2
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PHI
H: 6
L: 8
R: 4
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @PHI
H: 5
L: 8
R: 3
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @STL
H: 3
L: 4
R: 2
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @STL
H: 3
L: 4
R: 2
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> @STL
H: 3
L: 8
R: 1
S: 1 </td></tr> <tr class="last"> <td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PHI
H: 6
L: 8
R: 4
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PHI
H: 5
L: 8
R: 3
S: 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> PHI
H: 2
L: 5
R: 1
S: 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td></tr> <thead><tr><th colSpan="10"></th></tr></thead></table>Some of the data used to generate this chart is derived from Baseball Musings' Day-by-day database.

H: Hitters' matchup rating, which accounts for the opposing starting pitcher's past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days) as well as ballpark factors. L: Hitters' matchup rating accounting only for left-handed hitters. R: Hitters' matchup rating accounting for only right-handed hitters. S: Base stealing matchup rating, which accounts for the opponent's catchers' ability to gun down opposing base stealers. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst.




Hitting notes



• The White Sox have had the Indians' number this season, winning eight of 12 games, batting .291/.367/.463 and averaging 7.08 runs per game. That alone offsets any concern about the team's offense having to face the Rays' pitching staff for four games Sept. 27-30. Those games are at homer-friendly U.S. Cellular Field at least. Gordon Beckham is a potential gem off the wire, available in 79.7 percent of ESPN leagues, as he is a .319/.365/.447 hitter in 12 games against Indians pitching this season and .313/.421/.625 in 16 games in September. This is also a big week for Alejandro De Aza, being that he is left-handed, is a .289/.346/.420 hitter versus right-handers this season and is a .380/.466/.600 hitter in 12 games against the Indians in 2012.


• Shifting focus to the trailing Tigers, they have incredibly lost 22 of 36 meetings with the Royals and Twins combined this season, yet they sport .290/.349/.457 team rates in those contests, which conflict somewhat with their 3.53 runs per game in them. Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder have been carrying this team in recent weeks and have been largely the team's standouts in past meetings with these foes. Austin Jackson has as well. He is a .351/.412/.532 hitter in 19 games against the Royals and Twins. But the Tigers need more than Cabrera, Fielder and Jackson. Accounting for that generous rating above, fantasy owners might roll the dice on Andy Dirks, Omar Infante, Jhonny Peralta and Delmon Young. Young has six homers in 21 games against the Royals and Twins combined in 2012.


• The Brewers' offense has carried them at least as much as its pitching, and six home games against the Astros and Padres and three at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park against a team that has already clinched a playoff spot make an outstanding schedule for this wild-card-hungry squad. This is not merely the Ryan Braun show. Among lesser-known Brewers, Norichika Aoki (available in 14.7 percent of ESPN leagues) is a .352/.429/.634 hitter with 14 RBIs, 14 runs scored and seven stolen bases in 18 games in September, while Jean Segura (available in 99.3 percent of leagues) is a .385 hitter with 11 runs scored and two steals in 13 games this month. Rickie Weeks has also returned to form, batting .327/.400/.612 with seven homers, 16 RBIs, seven stolen bases and 22 runs scored in his past 23 contests.


The following hitters face injury questions heading into the season's final scoring period and are riskier options than usual as a result:
• Alex Avila (jaw)
• Asdrubal Cabrera (wrist)
• Zack Cozart (oblique)
• Carlos Gonzalez (hamstring)
• Josh Hamilton (sinus issues)
• Ryan Ludwick (groin)
• Carlos Quentin (knee)
• Giancarlo Stanton (oblique)
• Mark Teixeira (calf). He might return for the Sept. 27-30 series in Toronto, but expect sporadic starts even if he does.
• Neil Walker (back)

 

[HacheMan]

Call it a Comeback

Adam Dunn was a laughingstock in Chicago last season. Now he’s the toast of the town.



“Big Donkey” certainly came up big for the White Sox Monday night, drilling a solo home run in the sixth inning and a two-out, 0-2 count, three-run homer in the eighth to lead the team to a comeback win over the Indians. The victory allowed the Sox to stay a game ahead of the Tigers for the lead in the AL Central.



Of course, coming up with big hits hasn’t been new to Dunn this year. After completely flopping last season in the first year of a four-year, $56 million deal, batting .159/.292/.277 with 11 longballs, Dunn has responded with a .210/.339/.489 line and 41 dingers this season. Even LL Cool J would call that a comeback.



Dunn has now registered six 40-homer seasons, though he has yet to ever lead the league in taters. He’s got a shot to do so this year, as he trails Josh Hamilton by two bombs and Miguel Cabrera by one. Dunn is also leading all of baseball in walks and strikeouts, as he could become the first player since Babe Ruth in 1927 to lead both leagues in the Three True Outcomes.



CarGo Could be Shut Down



Carlos Gonzalez has started just one game over the last week due to a strained left hamstring. He might not start another one.



The outfielder underwent an MRI Monday that showed inflammation behind his left knee, and although he still wants to return this season, he admits the hamstring will have to improve in a hurry.



“I don’t know if I will be able to play again. It’s a tough spot. I want to,” Gonzalez said in the Denver Post. “I don’t want to end like last year where I miss a bunch of games at the end. But it has to get better.”



The Rockies have just nine games remaining this season, and CarGo almost surely won’t be back before this weekend even in a best-case scenario. Those in head-to-head leagues fighting for a championship should feel free to cut him loose.



Storen the Preferred Ninth Inning Option



Drew Storen was supposed to be the Nationals’ closer by midseason. Although he was able to make it back from elbow surgery by then, Tyler Clippard had already developed a stranglehold on the ninth inning gig.



However, of late, Clippard’s grip has loosened, and Storen has swooped in and taken advantage. Clippard has been scored upon in four out of his last five appearances and has a 5.74 ERA in the second half. On the flip side, opponents have failed to dent the scoreboard the last 11 times Storen has toed the rubber, and he has a 12/0 K/BB ratio over 10 1/3 innings this month.



Manager Davey Johnson has taken notice, giving Storen some save chances this month. On Monday, he admitted that last year’s 40-save reliever is now his preferred option in the ninth. Johnson still plans on using Clippard in some save situations, though.



“The guy that goes out there is the closer that day,” Johnson said in the Washington Post. “How’s that?”



While we don’t doubt that Johnson still has confidence in Clippard, Storen has clearly been the better pitcher over the last couple months and has plenty of the closer experience that managers love. He’s the guy to own in DC for saves down the stretch.











National League Quick Hits: Dexter Fowler didn’t start a second straight game Monday due to tendinitis in his right wrist. He’s considered day-to-day, but given that he’s batting just .147 over his last nine games, it’s probably safe to cut him loose at this point ... Tyler Skaggs has been shut down by the Diamondbacks after accumulating 151 2/3 innings between the minors and the majors. Josh Collmenter takes his spot in the rotation ... Rafael Furcal (elbow) has officially been ruled out for the season. The Cardinals still think he can avoid surgery, though ... David Freese was removed early Monday due to an ankle injury he suffered in the batting cage before the game. He’s considered day-to-day ... Jose Altuve (groin) sat out Monday’s game, but the Astros hope he can return during the series against the Cardinals ... J.D. Martinez will undergo season-ending hamate bone surgery on his left hand. He got off to a great start this year but wound up batting just .241/.311/.375 with 11 homers ... Jordan Zimmermann tossed 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball Monday in a victory over the Brewers. After going through a rough stretch, he’s been terrific his last four times out ... Ike Davis slugged his 29^th and 30^th homers in Monday’s win over the Pirates. Though he’s batting just .227, Davis has given the Mets plenty of pop.



American League Quick Hits: Coco Crisp’s conjunctivitis is not getting better, and the A’s aren’t sure when he’ll be able to return to the lineup. He’s started just one game over the last week, and he had to leave that one early ... Jake Peavy’s scheduled start Wednesday could be pushed back as the White Sox try to ease his workload a bit. He’s already topped 200 innings this season for the first time since 2007. Hector Santiago would start in his place ... Josh Hamilton (ocular keratitis) returned to the lineup Monday and launched his league-leading 43^rd home run in a win over the A’s ... Adam Jones went 6-for-8 with a home run, two RBI and a stolen base in Monday’s doubleheader split with the Blue Jays. ... David Aardsma (elbow) is expected to be activated from the disabled list Tuesday. It’s been over two years since he’s pitched in a game, so the Yankees surely won’t use him in crucial situations or include him on the postseason roster ... Andy Pettitte tossed six shutout innings Monday and has now been unscored upon in 11 frames since returning from the disabled list ... Josh Willingham will undergo an MRI on his left shoulder Tuesday after he strained it while running into the left field fence Monday. He figures to miss at least a game or two even if the MRI comes back clean.​

 

[HacheMan]

Languishing Lincecum
Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum seemed to have fully turned the corner last week when he shut out the Rockies for 6 1/3 innings and earned his sixth straight quality start. But it was only a mirage.

Lincecum was torched for seven earned runs in just four innings Tuesday night against the Diamondbacks, falling to 10-15 on the year with a 5.15 ERA and 1.48 WHIP. He fanned three but walked four and surrendered a total of five hits as San Francisco wound up losing 7-2.

That ugly 5.15 ERA ranks dead last among pitchers who qualify for the ERA title and it’s by far the worst mark that Lincecum has posted at any stage of his career. He will carry major question marks into the postseason, and also into next spring. The Giants owe him a whopping $22 million salary in 2013. And while his strikeout rate remains spectacular, he’s sure to fall out of the first round in all mixed league fantasy drafts.



Darvish Down With Neck Stiffness

The Rangers scratched right-hander Yu Darvish from his scheduled Tuesday start against the A’s only a couple hours before first pitch because of neck stiffness. It’s not believed to be a serious issue, but the outing has not been rescheduled. Which means the 26-year-old Japanese import might only have one regular-season start left.

Scott Feldman took the mound in his place, throwing four innings of two-run ball in the Rangers’ extra-innings loss.

Darvish has posted a 3.90 ERA and 1.27 WHIP through his first 28 major league starts, fanning 214 batters in 184 2/3 innings. His lack of consistency has been a disappointment for the Rangers, who spent more than $111 million on his this offseason, but his astronomical strikeout numbers have kept him near ace status in fantasy leagues.



National League Quick Hits: The Giants are not expected to welcome Melky Cabrera back from his PED suspension for a potential NLCS or World Series run … Giancarlo Stanton (intercostal strain) is likely to return on Wednesday … Buster Posey tallied his 99th RBI in Tuesday night’s loss to the Diamondbacks … Rockies rookie catcher Wilin Rosario hit his 27th home run of the season in Tuesday’s rain-shortened win over the Cubs … Frank Francisco (elbow) was unable to play catch on Tuesday afternoon and is likely to be shut down for the remainder of the season … Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez has reached the 30-homer plateau … Freddie Freeman hit a walkoff two-run homer in Tuesday’s comeback win against the Marlins … David Wright slugged his 20th home run and climbed to 88 RBI in the Mets’ loss to the Pirates on Tuesday night … Reds ace Johnny Cueto limited the Brewers to two runs over seven innings Tuesday to collect his 19th win of the season … Michael Bourn (thumb) could return to the Braves’ lineup Wednesday … Jaime Garcia fanned five batters over seven scoreless innings Tuesday in the Cardinals’ defeat of the Astros … Todd Helton (hip) intends to return for the 2013 season … Ryan Ludwick is still day-to-day with a minor groin strain … Cardinals center fielder Jon Jay stole his 19th base of the season on Tuesday in Houston … Kris Medlen struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter Tuesday in a no-decision against the Marlins … Mets outfielder Jason Bay is day-to-day with a stiff back … Darin Ruf went deep for the first time in his major league career Tuesday as the Phillies bested the Nationals … David Freese (ankle) is not expected to return to action until Friday … Jack Wilson has retired from baseball after a 12-year career.

American League Quick Hits: Rays ace David Price racked up 13 strikeouts in a complete-game victory over the Red Sox on Tuesday night at Fenway Park … Glen Perkins earned his 15th save of the season as the Twins topped the Yankees on Tuesday … Nick Markakis is scheduled to have the screws removed from his surgically-repaired thumb next week … Tigers slugger Prince Fielder collected his 104th RBI of the season Tuesday in a win over the Royals … Josh Willingham will likely be sidelined until Friday with a sore left shoulder … Anibal Sanchez pitched his first shutout of the 2012 season Tuesday night against the Royals … Jacoby Ellsbury (shoulder) could return to Boston’s starting lineup on Wednesday … The Yankees activated Brett Gardner from the disabled list Tuesday but plan to use him merely as a pinch-runner and defensive sub down the stretch … Yan Gomes tallied a pair of hits and drove in a run Tuesday in the Blue Jays’ defeat of Orioles … Rays catcher Jose Molina is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with a right quadriceps strain … Coco Crisp (eye) hit in a batting cage Tuesday and could return to the A’s starting lineup on Wednesday … Zack Greinke racked up a season-high 13 strikeouts Tuesday as the Angels beat the Mariners … Russ Canzler homered for a second straight day in the Indians’ defeat of the White Sox on Tuesday … Orioles left-hander Randy Wolf is scheduled to visit with Dr. Lewis Yocum later this week for an examination of his sore pitching elbow … The White Sox pushed Jake Peavy’s next start back to Thursday … David Ortiz reportedly wants a multi-year deal from the Red Sox … Angels closer Ernesto Frieri is up to 21 saves.

 

[HacheMan]

Looking Back to Look Forward Today's Saves and Steals will look a little different. It's time to look back on the year and see where your Saves and Steals correspondent hit the mark, and where he whiffed. Before we look to next year with a keeper ranking, it's time to look back and learn.

I'll update the rankings to reflect the final few days of play, and I'll talk about the most interesting bullpens for those of you still chasing the save -- but I'll spend most of my words talking about wether or not I had the players ranked correctly, and what we can gleam from these successes and failures. We'll name the tiers in honor of spectacular prognoses (both correct and incorrect), and we'll see how much I helped or hurt you in your search for saves.

Tier 1: Elite (4) (AKA: The ""After the fight I'm gonna build myself a pretty home and use him as a bearskin rug. Liston even smells like a bear. I'm gonna give him to the local zoo after I whup him," - Muhammad Ali, before beating Sonny Liston." Tier.)

Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds
Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves
Joe Nathan, Texas Rangers
Jason Motte, St. Louis Cardinals

Whoo boy. What a trash talker. I probably didn't come close to having any prediction like this one in this tier, though. Okay, I put Craig Kimbrel in the tier from day one. Whoo-hoo. Gone are Mariano Rivera, Jonathan Papelbon and Joel Hanrahan, who all patrolled this tier at one time or another. Jason Motte was Rock Steady all year, and he finally put up a double-digit strikeout rate in his first full season as closer. I don't think anyone is mad at me about Jason Motte. I liked Joe Nathan, although maybe it took me a little bit to recognize his excellence -- I was skeptical about his age and arm, and that's a healthy skepticism.

Mo was felled by bad luck, although you could say that age was a good enough reason to worry a little, maybe. Papelbon put up elite stats, but his team failed to give him the opportunities -- and we once again learn the lesson that teams (and their bullpens and scoring punch) are important, and also hard to predict. The Phillies were supposed to be better than this, after all.

Hanrahan? Well, it's not too bad a whiff, since he has an ERA under three and an above-average strikeout rate, but his old walk rate came back to bite him in the butt. Let's call this the John Axford lesson (with the Carlos Marmol corollary) -- bad control in a player's history could easily come back to plague a closer. Great stuff can reduce a walk rate -- swing at a pitch outside the zone and miss and you've turned a ball into a strike -- but it's worth mentioning that Craig Kimbrel had bad walk rates in the minor leagues, and even in his rookie season. Just saying…

And my highest profile whiff. Aroldis Chapman. What a beast. First, I liked Ryan Madson, but that didn't last long. Then, I liked Sean Marshall -- a source I had told me that Chapman didn't like warming up on consecutive days, and I fell for the great rates that Marshall had. When Dusty Baker mentioned the warmup thing, I was sure Chapman wasn't going to the closer. Maybe I fell in love with a piece of knowledge and ignored the obvious and inevitable excellence of Aroldis Chapman. (Who's back in charge again, so you can drop Jonathan Broxton.)

Verdict: One big whiff, but otherwise mostly made solid contact.

Tier 2: Rock Steady (6) (AKA: The ""We’re going to win Sunday. I guarantee it," - Joe Namath before winning Super Bowl III." Tier.)

Jonathan Papelbon, Philadelphia Phillies
Rafael Soriano, New York Yankees
Fernando Rodney, Tampa Bay Rays
Joel Hanrahan, Pittsburgh Pirates
Tyler Clippard, Washington Nationals

Jim Johnson, Baltimore Orioles

What a classic prediction that people will never forget.

Perhaps some of you will never forget my rankings of Fernando Rodney and Jim Johnson. I won't apologize for Johnson -- he'll be one of a handful of closers that ever had more saves than strikeouts, and that hurts his value, and the Baltimore Orioles are likely just another one-year over-achieving wonder like the 2007 Arizona Diamondbacks. And Rodney? He's probably the biggest pitching surprise of the year, reliever edition. Multiple times in his career, Fernando Rodney has walked double-digit batters in a month. He only walked 14 this entire year. The Rays moved him on the rubber, and probably Rodney should have moved up in these rankings a little sooner. But dude had never once had a walk rate below the league average, and this year he halved the league number. What do we learn? Surprises happen, and not all of them are Ryan Cook flash in the pans, especially if the peripherals look fine.

Here's what I said about Henry Rodriguez in April:

Henry Rodriguez has not improved his control. The baby fireballer has always had gas (he averages 98+ on his fastball), but he's never been able to place the ball exactly where he wants to. This year, he has six walks in his eight and a third innings, and that's pretty bad. It's also pretty much right in line with his career rates. So he's a bit of a time bomb.
​

Unfortunately, I listened to the manager when he said that Tyler Clippard was needed in his setup role. This is now two cases (Chapman) where I listened to the manager a little much. We have to be a step ahead of these guys.

David Robertson, I fell for hard. He has such great rates. I don't believe in the mythical 'closer mentality,' but it's been shown in the past that previous saves are well-correlated with future saves. Who knows why -- could just be the manager is more comfortable with the guy with experience in there -- but this should have been a red flag for me.

Verdict: Not great. I should have loved some of these guys quicker. In my defense, players mostly return to their career means, and there are some pretty singular stories in this tier.

Tier 3: OK options (8) (AKA: The ""We want the ball and we're going to score," - Matt Hasselbeck, before not scoring." Tier.)

Rafael Betancourt, Colorado Rockies
Greg Holland, Kansas City Royals
Tom Wilhelmsen, Seattle Mariners
Chris Perez, Cleveland Indians
Casey Janssen, Toronto Blue Jays
Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers
J.J. Putz, Arizona Diamondbacks

Huston Street, San Diego Padres

Ironically, we get to the erroneous prediction right when we get to my wheelhouse. I was all over Tom Wilhelmsen in the spring after seeing him in Spring Training. I loved Greg Holland the minute Joakim Soria went down, and before his manager said a word. I told you all that Rafael Betancourt would not be traded, because his contract was too nice. I loved Kenley Jansen, then again everyone did. (Except his manager right now, who is still throwing Brandon League out there for some reason. Expect that to change soon.)

I said J.J. Putz would be great but would get hurt at some point and allow David Hernandez to close. I called him a "50-inning closer" at some point, and he's got 51 1/3 innings right now. Rinse and repeat for Huston Street, who is finally back but won't manage 50 innings, let alone 40, this season.

If I'm going to admit my failures, I might as well admit that I aced this tier.

Except Chris Perez. After three years of declining whiffs, bad control, and terrible ground-ball rates, I was ready to call it the Vinnie Pestano era. I might just be a year early -- after Perez's statements to the media down the stretch, the trade rumors will be blowing this offseason -- but it is worth noticing that Perez had better strikeout rates in the National League, and had shown this ability before. If a closer shows something he'd seemingly lost, he's worth a little extra love. Maybe. I still won't draft him next year, not where he's likely to go.

Verdict: Nailed it, with one (ranking) caveat.

Tier 4: Question marks (8) (AKA: The ""Everything that can be invented has been invented." - Charles H. Duell, an official at the US patent office, 1899. " Tier.)

Addison Reed, Chicago White Sox
Andrew Bailey, Red Sox
Steve Cishek, Miami Marlins
John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers
Grant Balfour, Oakland Athletics
Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers
Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs
Wilton Lopez, Houston Astros

Glad we didn't stop inventing things in 1899!

The top of this tier is full of players that I may have liked too much. I thought Addison Reed's strikeout and walk rates from the minors would translate better to the majors -- and they still might, but not this season. I thought maybe Andrew Bailey would come back quicker, the Red Sox would be better, and he'd have more of an impact this year. He might still be good next year, if he can stay in one piece. I thought John Axford would have a great season with all those strikeouts and even with more walks. The walks kind of sunk him, to return to our first rule (watch the walks). Ditto Ryan Cook and Grant Balfour.

In my defense, I hated Jose Valverde from day one. I said that Carlos Marmol would 'do it ugly' all year because there was nobody else in that pen. I said you should get Steve Cishek and Wilton Lopez before they were closers, too. And even though Reed and Axford might not be as good as I thought they'd be -- they did keep their roles for the good part of the season.

Verdict: Mostly right, with a dash of overblown expectations.

Read more about the most volatile closer situations on the next page.
<!--RW-->
Tier 5: Rollercoaster rides (4) (AKA: The ""There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." - Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC), maker of big business mainframe computers, arguing against the PC in 1977. " Tier.)

Sergio Romo (first chair), Javier Lopez (second chair), Javier Lopez (third chair), San Francisco Giants

Ernesto Frieri (first chair), Scott Downs (second chair), Los Angeles Angels

Jon Rauch (first chair), Bobby Parnell (second chair), New York Mets
Glen Perkins (first chair), Jared Burton (second chair), Minnesota Twins

How I'd do my job without a computer is beyond me. I'm pretty much addicted to the internet.

There are some misses here. I thought Santiago Casilla would be a fine closer. Turns out a couple of back-to-back-to-backs, coupled with a blister problem, were enough to sink him. Too bad. He's still got nice rates, but no saves. The two-headed monster of Sergio Romo and Wilton Lopez have been great to the Giants but not super to fantasy owners.

We'll drop Ernesto Frieri to this tier, but you shouldn't drop him, and if he's out there, pick him up. This was supposedly a committee, but the team never turned to anyone but Frieri. I love the deception on his fastball, and was out in front on him as soon as the Angels got him, but it's also obvious that his walk rate doesn't make him the surest of bets, or the best keeper closer. But fun to watch!

The Mets? They disappointed a Mets fan some this year, even with middling expectations. But even though I thought Frank Francisco would keep the job through the year, I knew he'd go on the DL (he averages about 50 innings a year), and that he'd blow some saves (he has a homer problem). Still don't know why the Mets just don't hand Captain Fastball Bobby Parnell the job, but Jon Rauch has been fine, and has the experience.

The Twins have just been awful, and I thought Matt Capps wouldn't last through the year and wouldn't be a closer for even half the year. It gives me no pleasure to have been right here.

Verdict: About as right as one can be once a bullpen goes FUBAR.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Injured

Sergio Santos (shoulder), Toronto Blue Jays
Frank Francisco (elbow), New York Mets

Everyone's finally off the DL except for sad young Sergio Santos. Frank Francisco joins as a late addition, and at least one network had him out for all of 2013, too, before retracting their tweet. But New York sources say no surgery is planned and he's probably fine for next year. He's shut down for this year either way.

The Deposed

Jordan Walden, Los Angeles Angels
Hector Santiago, Chicago White Sox
Brian Fuentes, St. Louis Cardinals
Javy Guerra, Los Angeles Dodgers
Sean Marshall, Cincinnati Reds
Henry Rodriguez, Washington Nationals
Brandon League, Seattle Mariners
Rafael Dolis, Chicago Cubs
Ryan Cook, Oakland Athletics.
Santiago Casilla, San Francisco Giants
Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds

I liked Jordan Walden, Sean Marshall, Santiago Casilla and Ryan Cook at different points this season. I hated Hector Santiago, Brian Fuentes, Javy Guerra, Brandon League, Rafael Dolis, and Jonathan Broxton from the first moment they were in the mix for saves. That tilts the scale in my direction.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Steals Department

Streaming for steals is a tough deal, but just watch the Pittsburgh box scores, or see which teams Norichika Aoki has stolen bases against (four each against Pittsburg and Houston, both season-highs, and both teams are bad against the stolen base), and you'll see some value in it. We've tried many different angles in the Steals Department -- from straight up playing-time pickups early in the season, to statistical projections for the second half, to streaming in the final weeks -- and hopefully they've helped.

For those of you still in it, Pittsburgh gets the Reds this weekend, which is tricky because the Reds have clinched, and you don't know who will play every day. Drew Stubbs is a little gimpy, too. Xavier Paul is playing a lot and has some speed, but he's a deep league guy. You could take a shot on Zack Cozart, but he's not an obvious threat on the 'paths. Washington gets St. Louis, which is full of slower, older guys, and Minnesota gets Detroit, which is full of slower, older guys. But the Rangers get the Angels and there is some opportunity there. Erick Aybar is on some waiver wires, and hitting well recently. Howie Kendrick may not have power, and only has decent wheels, but he's a good shallow-league pickup. Maybe Torii Hunter will grab his tenth bag. Deeper leagues have Maicer Izturis to think about, but good luck knowing when he's going to play. Cleveland is bad against the run and gets the White Sox, who are rife with stolen-base talent. Alejandro De Aza is available in many leagues, Alexei Ramirez too. Deeper leaguers can try to guess a Dewayne Wise start, or hope that Gordon Beckham decides to run again (he does have two stolen bases in the last week). Good luck!

 

[HacheMan]

2012 best rookie class ever?

Harper, Trout lead a historic class but 2013 could be even better

By Jason Churchill | ESPN Insider

The 2012 rookie class has shaped up as an historic crop, and perhaps it will be viewed for decades as the best of all time. Led by Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout, the runaway favorite to win the American League MVP, the class has surpassed the production of recent great classes and is poised to make history.



Using the best measure of production and overall value a player gives to his team -- wins above replacement (WAR), as formulated by Baseball-Reference.com -- a glance through more than a century of Major League Baseball tells us the current collection of rookies might already be the best.


"It's a special year, it really is," said one front-office executive. "You wish they were all on your team, but it's incredible to sit back and watch how well these young kids are performing. I've never seen anything like it."


There's a good chance nobody has, until now.
<offer>

There might have been years when rookie classes ultimately produced more All-Stars, more award winners and more Hall of Fame players -- though we'll have to allow this year's harvest the time to perform through their careers before knowing for sure -- but no other class has done more than the class of 2012, though a handful are noteworthy.
<!-- begin inline 1 -->Bumper crop

The following 2012 rookies have posted 2.0 WAR or better
<table><thead><tr><th>Player</th><th>Pos.</th><th>Team</th><th>WAR</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td>Mike Trout</td><td>OF</td><td>Los Angeles Angels</td><td>10.4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Bryce Harper</td><td>OF</td><td>Washington Nationals</td><td>4.0</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Jarrod Parker</td><td>RHP</td><td>Oakland Athletics</td><td>3.8</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Yu Darvish</td><td>RHP</td><td>Texas Rangers</td><td>3.5</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Wade Miley</td><td>LHP</td><td>Arizona Diamondbacks</td><td>3.4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Norichika Aoki</td><td>OF</td><td>Milwaukee Brewers</td><td>3.3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Zack Cozart</td><td>SS</td><td>Cincinnati Reds</td><td>2.6</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Yoenis Cespedes</td><td>OF</td><td>Oakland Athletics</td><td>2.6</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Lucas Harrell</td><td>RHP</td><td>Houston Astros</td><td>2.5</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Jose Quintana</td><td>LHP</td><td>Chicago White Sox</td><td>2.5</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Ryan Cook</td><td>RHP</td><td>Oakland Athletics</td><td>2.4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Andrelton Simmons</td><td>SS</td><td>Atlanta Braves</td><td>2.4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Wei-Yin Chen</td><td>LHP</td><td>Baltimore Orioles</td><td>2.4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Nate Jones</td><td>RHP</td><td>Chicago White Sox</td><td>2.3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>A.J. Griffin</td><td>RHP</td><td>Oakland Athletics</td><td>2.3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Miguel Gonzalez</td><td>LHP</td><td>Baltimore Orioles</td><td>2.3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Kelvin Herrera</td><td>RHP</td><td>Kansas City Royals</td><td>2.2</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Mike Fiers</td><td>RHP</td><td>Milwauke Brewers</td><td>2.0</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Scott Diamond</td><td>LHP</td><td>Minnesota Twins</td><td>2.0</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Yasmani Grandal</td><td>C</td><td>San Diego Padres</td><td>2.0</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>David Phelps</td><td>RHP</td><td>New York Yankees</td><td>2.0</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Robbie Ross</td><td>LHP</td><td>Texas Rangers</td><td>2.0</td></tr></tbody></table>

<!-- end inline 1 -->In 1939, Ted Williams posted a 6.6 WAR and six other rookies ended the year at least one win above replacement; three surpassed 3.0 WAR. The class of 1951 produced both Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, but Mantle didn't have a great rookie year and Gil McDougal was actually the best rookie in baseball that season. Both seasons' rookies pale in comparison to the rookies of 1901, 1904, 1928 and 1977. In '77, three American League rookies posted WAR totals of 5.0 or more (Mitchell Page, Dave Rozema and Bump Wills), but Eddie Murray won the AL ROY with a 2.9 WAR, thanks to 27 home runs. Andre Dawson's 3.7 WAR was good enough to earn him the National League award.


In 2001, Albert Pujols and Ichiro Suzuki led the rookie charge that also included Roy Oswalt and CC Sabathia, but the class is top-heavy without a lot of rookie value throughout either league. Three of the best rookie classes of all time have occurred in the last six years; 2006, 2008 and 2010.


The 2006 campaign produced players such as Hanley Ramirez (NL ROY), Ryan Zimmerman, Justin Verlander (AL ROY), Josh Johnson, Prince Fielder, Ian Kinsler and Jered Weaver, while Joey Votto, Evan Longoria and Jacoby Ellsbury highlight 2008. Geovany Soto, however, won the National League Rookie of the Year Award that season with a 3.1 WAR.


The biggest competition for 2012 might come from 2010 when Jason Heyward, Buster Posey (NL ROY), Jaime Garcia, Austin Jackson and Neftali Feliz (AL ROY) burst onto the scene. That season, 16 pitchers and 16 position players tallied a WAR of 1.0 or better -- bettered only by this year's class, which has produced 43 players who have posted at least a 1.0 (with a week's worth of games remaining on the schedule). Furthermore, 18 rookies in the 2012 class carry a 2.0 WAR or better through Tuesday's games.


"It's remarkable," one AL general manager said. "So many elite arms, so much promise at the plate, all in one season's worth of rooks. I think that tells us which direction the game is headed."


Clubs have undoubtedly targeted young talent and have protected such players in recent seasons, avoiding prospects-for-veteran trades a little more than in past decades and approaching the draft as an opportunity.

"It's about building a long-term foundation," the GM added. "We're all trying to do that. This isn't going to stop here. It's going to continue."


Do you think he might be implying that this year's crop of rookies will be surpassed in the near future? Perhaps, and a glance toward next season suggests the celebration of 2012's rookie class might not last long.


"You know, it's not crazy to think that," one club's pro scouting director said. "One tour around the minors and it's clear there's more elite talent on the way. I'm not sure I'd bet on two marquee talents like we're seeing this year [Trout, Bryce Harper]. But as a whole there could be just as many impact players [in 2013]."

Next year's big-league season might see the emergence of another extraordinary compilation of rookies. Out will go the former -- Trout, Harper, Yoenis Cespedes, Yu Darvish, Andrelton Simmons and Jarrod Parker -- followed by a class potentially led by Baltimore Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy and Texas Rangers shortstop Jurickson Profar.


Other possible rookie sensations include Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole, Kansas City Royals outfielder Wil Myers, Arizona Diamondbacks southpaw Tyler Skaggs, St. Louis Cardinals future ace Shelby Miller and Detroit Tigers infielder/outfielder Nick Castellanos, among many others.


Whether they're up to the task of running down their elder brethren, we'll have to wait and see, but they'll bring a similar level of potential impact into the spring.


"There's never been a time when so much star ability has been racing through [the minors]," said the GM, who has more than a quarter-century experience in baseball. "Not as long as I've been doing this."
</offer>

 

[HacheMan]

Projecting '12 phenoms for '13

A look at how this year's promising call-ups will fare in their first full seasons

By Dan Szymborski | Baseball Think Factory

A little more than a year ago, an outfielder named Mike Trout made his debut for the Los Angeles Angels, just a month before his 20th birthday. Stardom wasn't instantaneous, as Trout posted a .220/.281/.390 line in 2011, but the Millville Meteor has gone on to wreak a terrible vengeance on the AL pitchers that got him out the first time around, hitting .329/.396/.562, with 27 homers and 45 steals in 49 attempts his season.


Despite starting in the minors this year, Trout clinched the AL Rookie of the Year award back in June or so and is on target to be the first rookie to lead the league in baseball-reference's WAR (wins above replacement) since Russ Ford in 1910. If he doesn't win the AL MVP, there should probably be a congressional investigation.


But we all know that Mike Trout's great. The question going into 2013 is, who's next? Which recent call-ups, getting their first, brief taste in the majors, are most likely to terrorize the majors on their second bite? For this look, I'm focusing on the most prominent names that debuted since the All-Star break.



I've ranked the players by their preliminary projected 2013 ZiPS projected WAR, assuming they got a full serving of the majors next season. Based on team needs, many assuredly won't, but some have a clear path to the majors and some will play so well that they'll force their parent club's hand. It may take another 100 years before another player has a first full season as good as Trout's, but at least one of the players below is likely to break out and make an instant run at an All-Star appearance next summer. Note that the rankings are for 2013 only -- being low on the list can simply be due to a player being farther behind in the developmental cycle.

Jurickson Profar, SS
2013 ZiPS Projection: .262/.330/.410, 13 HR, 14 SB, 3.1 WAR


You're not really surprised to see Profar at the top of the list, I'm sure. Profar, like Trout before him, is an amazingly complete player for a teenager, without any glaring weaknesses in his game. He won't get 10 WAR, but that mean projection isn't that far from an All-Star season and Profar has another big step forward in him at some point in the next few years. ZiPS is confident that he'll be a yearly 5-win guy in his prime, and I'm not going to argue with the computer here.
<offer>The big question is how he gets his playing time with Elvis Andrus already at shortstop in Texas. Having two excellent shortstops is a nice problem to have and it'll be interesting to see how the Rangers work it out in the end. Moving Ian Kinsler to the outfield to open up second base for Profar may not be the most efficient use of his skills, but the offense managed to absorb a DH in Michael Young struggling to keep his OPS at a level that would cost a shortstop a job in the majors.

Manny Machado, SS
2013 ZiPS Projection: .257/.310/.400, 14 HR, 11 SB, 2.4 WAR


Being the second-best shortstop on a list isn't so bad when No. 1 is Profar. And like Profar, Machado has a shortstop ahead of him on the depth chart. However, J.J. Hardy is not the same kind of obstacle that Andrus is, and it the O's are smart they will prioritize giving Machado the first chance, especially given that the infield isn't exactly overflowing with talent otherwise. It's one thing to have Machado fill in at third this year so as not to disrupt the team's success this season, but Machado as a franchise shortstop is important to the future of the O's.

Matt Harvey, RHP
2013 ZiPS Projection: 11-8, 3.66 ERA, 8.4 K/9, 2.3 WAR


Harvey's been solid since being called up by the Mets, putting up a 2.92 ERA, and his 3.17 FIP suggests that ERA is not an illusion. It was believed his breaking stuff would give him problems in the majors as it doesn't have the sharp break, but so far, so good. He's likely the safest of the cup-of-coffee starters in the short term and will start next season in the Mets' rotation unless a comet hits the earth or something.

Starling Marte, OF
2013 ZiPS Projection: .272/.319/.441, 16 HR, 22 SB, 2.2 WAR


Marte has perhaps the easiest route to a guaranteed job of anyone on the list, as he already has one. Marte was probably overrated as a prospect a couple of years ago, but as newer-fangled prospects have made their names, Marte's been pushed into the background a little. ZiPS comes out with lots of solid names with roughly similar profiles to Marte, such as Adam Jones, Rondell White, Roberto Kelly, and Reggie Sanders. Even a lot of the more disappointing comps -- such as Juan Encarnacion -- were legitimate major leaguers for awhile.

Brett Jackson, CF
2013 ZiPS Projection: .232/.316/.408, 17 HR, 22 SB, 2.0 WAR


Like scouts, ZiPS has been seriously fretting about Jackson's increasing problems making contact as he's advanced through the majors and only translated the minor league portion of his 2012 at .217/.284/.387. He's got enough tools to be a useful major leaguer in 2013, but he'll also challenge 200 strikeouts playing full-time in the majors. Luckily the Cubs are in a position to be patient and see if he can be better than Drew Stubbs, as GM Theo Epstein is unlikely to try to find Joey Gathright's phone number in a panic or something.

Mike Olt, 3B
2013 ZiPS Projection: .239/.323/.436, 20 HR, 3 SB, 2.0 WAR


Arlington's a good place for Olt as a hitter and will help his homer totals, but it's going to be very hard for him to crack the Rangers' lineup in the next year. He's developed into a better defensive third baseman than many believed he would, but he's not pushing Adrian Beltre out of the door anytime soon. Olt would still benefit from some regular playing time in Triple-A and I think he's still possible trade bait.

Dan Straily, RHP
2013 ZiPS Projection: 11-9, 4.10 ERA, 6.5 K/9, 1.9 WAR


Straily's projection this year looks a lot like what ZiPS had for Tommy Milone coming into the season, that of a league-average, fairly safe young starter, but without the upside of some of the other prospects. Straily wasn't generally on anyone's radar coming into 2012, but after striking out 190 in 152 innings in the minors this year, he made the jump from the California League to a starter in a major league pennant race in less than a calendar year. Straily's probably most valuable in a big park as his stuff is by no means overpowering, and he's allowing a lot more fly balls in the majors so far than he typically did in the minors.

Tyler Skaggs, LHP
2013 ZiPS Projection: 9-7, 4.11 ERA, 8.0 K/9, 1.8 WAR


Skaggs is still very reliant on his curve, despite a fastball solidly in the 90s. He's just 21, though, and you have to like his odds to make the Angels look back a little regretfully on the Dan Haren trade, even if they got solid value from Haren for the first year and a half.

Jean Segura, SS
2013 ZiPS Projection: .262/.306/.379, 8 HR, 24 SB, 1.9 WAR


Segura will still struggle at times in the majors -- he wasn't so great in the Double-A Texas League that you'd expect him to be able to skip Triple-A without some rough spots. But after two years of seeing a lot of Yuniesky Betancourt, Cesar Izturis, and Cody Ransom, Segura's practically Honus Wagner.

Anthony Gose, CF
2013 ZiPS Projection: 234/305/341, 8 HR, 49 SB, 1.4 WAR


Gose actually showed a little bit of contact improvement in the minors this year, but it hasn't carried over to his time in the majors. Until he shows 2011's home run power, he remains an incredibly raw -- but incredibly fast -- player who is going to take more time to develop, if ever. I'd love to see him race Billy Hamilton.

Adeiny Hechavarria, SS
2013 ZiPS Projection: .245/.279/.346, 8 HR, 10 SB, 1.3 WAR


Hechavarria is a legitimately excellent defensive shortstop, but he still has a ways to go into developing into a solid hitter at the position. His .312/.363/.424 line for Triple-A Las Vegas is his best as a professional, but one has to take into consideration that he was playing in one of the best hitter's parks in pro baseball, so there's a lot of air in those numbers.

Trevor Rosenthal, RHP
2013 ZiPS Projection: 10-9. 4.16 ERA, 7.5 K/9, 1.3 WAR


Shelby Miller, RHP
2013 ZiPS Projection: 10-10, 4.28 ERA, 8.8 K/9, 1.2 WAR


I didn't intentionally put these two back-to-back; it just came out that way. With Jake Westbrook's mutual option being converted to a 2013 guarantee with a 2014 option, a move that I'm not crazy about, the Cardinals already have 4/5 of a rotation signed for next year in Westbrook, Jaime Garcia, Chris Carpenter, and Adam Wainwright, and that's assuming they do in fact let Kyle Lohse walk, as seems probable right now. That leaves Rosenthal, Miller, and Lance Lynn fighting for one rotation spot. My money is on either Rosenthal or Miller being traded in the offseason.

Casey Kelly, RHP
2013 ZiPS Projection: 5-6, 4.12 ERA, 7.1 K/9, 0.9 WAR


Kelly defied the odds this year (so far) by being that rare pitcher who misses months with elbow surgery and doesn't require a visit from the ulnar collateral ligament fairy. You'd like to see Kelly get more time at Triple-A, but with the Padres churning through starting pitchers behind Clayton Richard and Edinson Volquez at an alarming rate, you can't blame them for calling him up. Plus, it was hard to ignore Kelly's 39/3 K/BB ratio in 37 minor league innings.

Dylan Bundy, RHP
2013 ZiPS Projection: 6-7, 4.71 ERA, 7.0 K/9, 0.7 WAR


Bundy -- who was called up on Tuesday morning -- is the top pitching prospect in baseball, and we're including him here because he is now in the majors, even if he hasn't played yet.


Despite the hype, it's important to temper your expectations a little if we're talking about how he'd fare in the majors in 2013, a difficult task, after watching him demolish the minors for most of the year (2.08 ERA across three levels at the age of 19). Historically, very young pitching phenoms straight from high school, have had more time in the minors than Bundy has, and with a few exceptions, generally pitched at higher levels as well. Bundy would be coming to a park in Camden Yards that will do him no favors in a division that will do no favors
</offer>

 

[HacheMan]

Early 2013 starter rankings

By Tristan H. Cockcroft | ESPN.com

Three years makes it clear: It's a pitchers' era.

OK, OK, so perhaps that's stretching it. After all, the league's ERA is currently 4.02, only a hair beneath the 4.08 number across all of Major League Baseball since 1970. So let's amend that statement: This is actually a neutral era, but it's fine to embellish by applying a "pitchers' era" label if you add the caveat that it's comparative to the "hitters' era" from 1998 to 2004, when the MLB mark was 4.49.


There's a reason I point this out: Fantasy owners tend to cling to such widely circulated labels, and you can be sure you've heard some mention of a "Year of the Pitcher" at some point within these past three seasons. Most likely, you've already made strategic adjustments to compensate for the game's recent slant toward pitching.


But here's the scary reality about 2012: While pitching rates as a whole remained largely unchanged -- a 6 percent rise in league-wide strikeout rates the only non-negligible shift -- it was the relievers who improved. Starting pitchers, as a whole, actually regressed in performance. Take a look:



<style type="text/css">.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</style><table style="margin: 0px; width: 100%;"><thead><tr><th style="vertical-align: bottom;">Year</th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>ERA</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>FIP</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>WHIP</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>QS%</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>IP/GS</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>K/BB</center></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;">2011</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.06</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.05</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.32</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">53.5</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">6.03</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">2.37</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;">2012</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.21</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.23</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.32</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">51.4</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">5.91</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">2.51</td></tr></tbody></table>




Perhaps this won't come as a surprise, not in this era of relief specialization, pitch counts and innings caps. Those quality start and innings-per-start stats are telling; and they further strengthen the case that wins are a weak measure of pitching ability. After all, that 5.91 innings-per-start average is drawing precariously close to the five-inning minimum for a win required by the rulebook.


Certainly it changes the way we should look at starters entering 2013, though. An "ace" is still an ace, and comparing preseason ADP to Player Rater rankings, four of the top 10 not only have remained within that group, but have also finished within five spots of their ADP, while 12 of the top 21 in ADP rank within the top 20. Comparatively, only six of the top 20 hitters in terms of ADP rank among the Player Rater top 20. And that's merely a surface-level glance at the rationale behind targeting an ace in the draft, rather than waiting as you might have done a few short seasons ago.


In this final 2012 edition of "60 Feet, 6 Inches," let's give you that head start on your 2013 draft preparations. Today's edition provides preliminary starting pitcher rankings for next season and next season alone. Player value encompasses standard ESPN rules: Rotisserie 5x5 scoring and traditional rosters minus the second catcher.


In addition, however, let's make some early predictions on 2013 trends, following the same categorical breakdown as last week's "Hit Parade":



TOP 75 STARTING PITCHERS FOR 2013

<table><thead><tr><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Rnk </center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"> Player, Team </th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center> 2012
Player
Rater </center></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Felix Hernandez, Sea </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 8 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Justin Verlander, Det </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 2 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> David Price, TB </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 3 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Stephen Strasburg, Wsh </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 15 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Clayton Kershaw, LAD </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Madison Bumgarner, SF </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 14 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Matt Cain, SF </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 7 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Cliff Lee, Phi </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 23 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Gio Gonzalez, Wsh </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Cole Hamels, Phi </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 10 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 11 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Zack Greinke, LAA </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 17 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 12 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jered Weaver, LAA </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 6 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 13 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Johnny Cueto, Cin </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 11 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 14 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> R.A. Dickey, NYM </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 15 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Adam Wainwright, StL </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 40 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 16 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> CC Sabathia, NYY </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 22 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 17 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Mat Latos, Cin </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 27 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 18 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Roy Halladay, Phi </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 69 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 19 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Matt Moore, TB </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 70 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 20 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Chris Sale, CWS </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 9 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 21 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jordan Zimmermann, Wsh </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 19 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 22 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Yovani Gallardo, Mil </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 28 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 23 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> James Shields, TB </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 18 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 24 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Yu Darvish, Tex </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 30 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 25 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Max Scherzer, Det </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 24 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 26 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Kris Medlen, Atl </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 13 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 27 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Lance Lynn, StL </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 32 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 28 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Josh Johnson, Mia </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 64 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 29 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Dan Haren, LAA </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 75 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 30 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Hiroki Kuroda, NYY </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 16 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 31 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Brett Anderson, Oak </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 121 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 32 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jake Peavy, CWS </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 20 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 33 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Doug Fister, Det </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 45 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 34 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Tim Lincecum, SF </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 145 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 35 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Wade Miley, Ari </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 21 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 36 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jon Lester, Bos </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 134 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 37 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Ian Kennedy, Ari </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 49 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 38 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Edwin Jackson, Wsh </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 39 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 39 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Derek Holland, Tex </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 61 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 40 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Brandon Morrow, Tor </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 62 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 41 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jarrod Parker, Oak </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 47 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 42 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Tim Hudson, Atl </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 37 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 43 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Ryan Dempster, Tex </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 25 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 44 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jeff Samardzija, ChC </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 43 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 45 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jaime Garcia, StL </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 126 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 46 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jonathon Niese, NYM </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 31 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 47 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Mike Minor, Atl </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 56 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 48 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> A.J. Burnett, Pit </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 26 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 49 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Matt Harrison, Tex </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 29 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 50 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> C.J. Wilson, LAA </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 53 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 51 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jeremy Hellickson, TB </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 52 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 52 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Phil Hughes, NYY </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 34 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 53 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Anibal Sanchez, Det </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 59 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 54 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Tommy Hanson, Atl </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 107 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 55 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Matt Garza, ChC </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 95 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 56 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> James McDonald, Pit </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 60 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 57 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Ryan Vogelsong, SF </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 36 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 58 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Trevor Cahill, Ari </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 58 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 59 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Clay Buchholz, Bos </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 76 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 60 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Josh Beckett, LAD </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 133 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 61 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Matt Harvey, NYM </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 101 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 62 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Shaun Marcum, Mil </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 99 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 63 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Brandon McCarthy, Oak </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 79 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 64 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Wei-Yin Chen, Bal </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 57 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 65 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Marco Estrada, Mil </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 74 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 66 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Tommy Milone, Oak </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 46 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 67 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Kyle Lohse, StL </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 12 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 68 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Ivan Nova, NYY </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 132 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 69 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Homer Bailey, Cin </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 54 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 70 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Chris Capuano, LAD </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 33 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 71 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Hisashi Iwakuma, Sea </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 80 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 72 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jason Vargas, Sea </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 35 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 73 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Wandy Rodriguez, Pit </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 50 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 74 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Bud Norris, Hou </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 163 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 75 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> A.J. Griffin, Oak </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 72 </td></tr></tbody></table>




Who's No. 1



The definition of a true fantasy ace is changing, the gap between the No. 1 and next several starting pitchers narrowing. This season's current No. 1 starter, R.A. Dickey, is only one spot and 0.42 Player Rater "points" higher than the No. 2 starter, Justin Verlander, and four spots and 0.88 higher than the No. 3 starter, David Price. (For games through Sept. 26.) It's for that reason that any No. 1 pick needs be taken with a grain of salt; I'd make the case that any of the five highest-ranked pitchers on my list were legitimate candidates, effectively serving as Nos. 1, 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D.


Pressed to pick, give me Felix Hernandez. I know, I know, his "win potential" trails that of a Justin Verlander, David Price or Clayton Kershaw. But what, exactly, is this fabled win potential? The statistics above show the ever-decreasing extent to which a starter hangs in the game long enough to even qualify, not to mention this season, more than any other in recent memory, has challenged us to define exactly what constitutes a winning team. The Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics, for instance, are likely to win 90-plus games apiece, and the Washington Nationals are certain to set a franchise record, perhaps even challenging for the Washington, D.C., record of 99 wins, set by the Washington Senators (now Minnesota Twins) of 1933.


Heck, for another example, take our preseason projections: Of the seven pitchers we projected for 17 or more wins, three have no more than 10 wins apiece and pitch for vastly disappointing teams (Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee of the Philadelphia Phillies and Jon Lester of the Boston Red Sox).


This far ahead of draft day, why wouldn't you pick the most skilled pitcher, regardless of win potential? "King Felix," in the past five seasons combined, has the third-best ERA (2.88), ninth-best FIP (3.18) and 15th-best WHIP (1.17) among pitchers with at least 500 innings pitched, as well as the most quality starts (120), second most innings (1,143&frac13 and fourth most strikeouts (1,053). Oh, and by the way, he has the 11th most wins (68) during that time, despite pitching for the team that won the third fewest games (346, .431 winning percentage).


Early buzz



Every winter has its share of buzz-worthy fantasy names, players most likely to spend the offseason riding the hype machine en route to their soaring up the 2013 preseason rankings. That's not to say they aren't deserving; it's merely to say that you'll hear plenty of chatter about the following five pitchers between now and March:


Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals: As if you haven't heard enough about him already. Fantasy owners might complain about his 159&frac13;-inning cap, or the fact he didn't pitch a game after Sept. 7, getting shut down with 24 games remaining on the Nationals' schedule. But if the goal was to keep Strasburg healthy for the long haul -- meaning the year-over-year, certain-keep in keeper leagues -- then the team's decision should at least inspire greater confidence in his durability entering 2013. Since Strasburg's innings cap almost perfectly matched teammate Jordan Zimmermann's 161&frac13; in 2011, his first full season following Tommy John surgery, let's use Zimmermann's follow-up as a barometer again: Zimmermann has pitched 189&frac13; innings, is on pace for 199&frac13; and 33 starts, and has a lower ERA (2.90) than he did in 2011 (3.18). Why, therefore, can't Strasburg throw 200 innings in 2013, with comparable per-inning production to his 2012? Look at Clayton Kershaw's No. 5-ranked stat line, and tell me you doubt that Strasburg can manage those kinds of numbers next year.


David Price, Tampa Bay Rays: Thanks to an active 16-start hot streak during which he has 15 quality starts, a 2.14 ERA and 0.97 WHIP, Price has probably put himself in the lead for American League Cy Young honors, an award that tends to kick-start the hype machine. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2007 draft, Price has steadily improved in each big league season -- his WHIP has declined each year since 2009 and even if you call his 2011 a "down" year, credit him for handling aptly an increased workload of 34 starts and 224&frac13; innings -- and he's 27, in the prime of his career. Heck, that he's a member of the AL East might be the only viable argument against his candidacy for the top spot.


Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds: A dark horse contender for National League Cy Young honors, Cueto is sure to be hyped during the voting season, particularly if he wins the one additional game he needs for 20. His candidacy for the award is legitimate -- R.A. Dickey's absurdly good year is his biggest obstacle -- and that Cueto has won 10 of 14 starts with a 2.79 ERA and 1.07 WHIP at home is testament to how well he has pitched in spite of his hitter-friendly home ballpark. He's a workload concern no longer, setting personal bests with 32 starts and 210 innings, and his 3.42 strikeout-to-walk ratio is the highest of his career. Yes, Cueto is a legitimate top-10 starter candidate.


Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox: He's the one pitcher on this list who legitimately scares me. I loved Sale in the preseason, but a key trait I loved about him is no longer true: Now you know who he is. And when I examine Sale's accomplishments in 2012, a few other concerns stand out: The 117&frac23;-inning bump -- plus any possible postseason frames he works -- the "human" 3.66 ERA and 1.36 homers-per-nine ratio since the All-Star break, and the 81.0 left-on-base percentage that's third highest among ERA qualifiers. Sale's praises will be sung all winter. I think he's going to take a hit as a result of the increased work, and I won't be riding shotgun on the bandwagon when it happens.


Kris Medlen, Atlanta Braves: He has nine quality starts and a 1.04 ERA in 11 starts since rejoining the Braves' rotation and his Braves have won 22 straight games he's started; how can Medlen not be hyped this winter? His has been one of the most successful first-full-year-back-from-Tommy John-surgery stories in baseball history, and he has flashed impeccable command -- odd for a pitcher fresh off that surgery -- in the process (5.27 K-to-walk ratio). The Braves have also preserved Medlen's arm nicely, working him back initially in relief before restoring him to their rotation, meaning what was a 132-inning season might be closer to 180-190 in 2013. His ratios will regress. But if "regression" means a 3.00 ERA, I've underranked him.


Hot stove impact

This winter's free-agent market took a hit during the season's first half, when current top-10 Player Rater starters Matt Cain (7th) and Cole Hamels (10th) agreed to long-term extensions. However, even with those two jewels off the market, this winter's at least remains a healthier free-agent class than last winter's class. The oft-mentioned third member of the "trio of free-agent aces," Zack Greinke, remains unsigned, and three other impending free agents changed teams, as Greinke did, in trade-deadline rental moves: Ryan Dempster, Francisco Liriano and Anibal Sanchez.


Greinke struggled initially upon his return to the American League, only one of his first five Los Angeles Angels appearances a quality start, his ERA 6.19 during that light portion of his schedule. Thankfully for his 2013 fantasy prospects, he has rebounded with six quality starts in his past seven games, during which time he has a 1.62 ERA and 0.94 WHIP despite facing a more challenging stretch of the schedule. Greinke's turnaround might have the Angels thinking extension/winter re-signing, and curiously, they're probably going to be put in a position of deciding to keep two out of three between him ($13.5 million earned in 2012, free-agent price unclear), Dan Haren ($15.5 million option for 2013, $3.5 million buyout) and Ervin Santana ($13 million option for 2013, $1 million buyout). That's a significant situation to watch, because of the pitching-friendly nature of Angel Stadium: It ranks 27th in runs scored and 25th in home runs on our Park Factor page this season, and it finished in the top 10 in the majors in either category in both 2010 and 2011.


Among other free agents whose values might be impacted by winter moves:


Kyle Lohse: There might not be a pitcher whose value stands to change more than Lohse's, because after turning in a career-year performance while earning $11.875 million, he's almost certain to seek a hefty, multiyear extension that might price him out of the St. Louis Cardinals' range. Why that matters is that Lohse has gained a comfort level by spending five seasons calling Busch Stadium his home; his 3.37 ERA in 72 career starts there is almost a run and a half lower than it is everywhere else (4.76 ERA in 282 games, 258 starts). How many other places can he reasonably go without risk at a substantial hit to his ratios? Perhaps Atlanta or Los Angeles, but that might be it.


Anibal Sanchez: Just as Greinke did, Sanchez, struggled initially upon his move to the American League, his ERA 7.97 in his first four starts for the Detroit Tigers. Sanchez has turned it around since; he has a 2.25 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in his past seven starts. The problem, however, is that his issues in new circumstances paint him as a pitcher who requires adjustment periods in challenging situations. To that point, he also struggled to recover from shoulder issues in 2008-09. Sanchez's familiarity with Detroit, coupled with his pitching in the AL's weakest-hitting of the three divisions, might be the one thing assuring a comfort level with his 2013 fantasy owners.


Ryan Dempster: This makes it 3-for-3 in the "pitchers who struggled to adapt to the AL" race, as Dempster followed a similar route to that of Greinke or Sanchez. But Dempster's problems, unlike those of the other two, followed a predictable matchups pattern. He surrendered a 6.35 ERA in four starts as a member of the Texas Rangers facing these matchups: @TOR, NYY, TOR, @LAA. He also had a 2.76 ERA in seven starts for them facing these matchups: CLE, @MIN, @KC, CLE, @CLE, OAK, KC. Predictable matchups types are generally welcomed in all but the shallowest of mixed leagues, but from an overall-value angle, Dempster's appeal would be lesser as a member of the AL than the NL. Simply put, he'd face a higher volume of challenging matchups if he stayed put than if he returned to the Senior Circuit.


Two of last winter's free agents signed successful one-year deals, Hiroki Kuroda with the New York Yankees and Edwin Jackson with the Washington Nationals, and perhaps their examples might convince more teams to go the short-term route (wherever possible). Oddly enough, both pitchers might now re-sign and stay put, and their performances in the heat of pennant races should diminish any fear of a hit to their value even if they change teams. In Kuroda's case, he showed he could thrive in the hitting-rich AL, specifically the East. New York, New York: If you can make it there …


From a serious angle, could the "contract year" chatter most apply to one-year deals for prove-it-to-me starters? The 2011-12 free-agent class also had success stories in single-season deals for Bartolo Colon, Hisashi Iwakuma and Paul Maholm (though he has an option). Might it be that this winter's one-year-deal signees will be comparable bargain bets? We might see pitchers like Francisco Liriano, Shaun Marcum and Brandon McCarthy fall into that group, coming off disappointing years.

On the trade front, the New York Mets might conceivably trade R.A. Dickey, who has an affordable $5 million option for 2013 but is eligible for free agency in a year. Don't rush to assume a change in ballparks will adversely impact Dickey; knuckleballs are most influenced by the weather, not the dimensions of one's ballpark, and his 2.81 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in road games should settle your nerves. No. 1-ranked Felix Hernandez might make the rumor-mill rounds for another winter, but my bet is that the Seattle Mariners would lock him up with another extension rather than trade him.


Risky option years: Among the class of prospective free agents that would first need their teams to decline options, besides the aforementioned Haren and Santana, the Chicago White Sox have already said that they'll pay the $4 million to decline Jake Peavy's $22 million option for 2013. The Atlanta Braves might also free up Tim Hudson ($9 million option, $1 million buyout) and/or Paul Maholm ($6.5 million option), a situation well worth tracking what with Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado waiting in the wings for rotation spots.


Unranked value picks



Extending the rankings 75 starting pitchers deep greatly reduces the amount of "sleeper" candidates, but among the pitchers who missed the cut, here are a few whom I'll be closely examining all winter as possible bargains:


Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals: Should Kyle Lohse leave St. Louis -- and I'm betting today that he will -- Miller is his most logical replacement. Perhaps his 4.74 ERA in 27 starts for Triple-A Memphis, or reports that his velocity was down early in the year, is off-putting. Remember, though, that Miller's ERA was accrued in one of the minors' most hitting-rich leagues, and his velocity did return by midseason, resulting in a 2.88 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 10.62 K's-per-nine innings ratio in his final 10 starts for Memphis. Miller's curveball is already a lethal weapon, and I'd argue he should be in the Cardinals' opening-day rotation, even if today there's no guarantee of a spot.


Trevor Bauer, Arizona Diamondbacks: Few things suppress a youngster's draft-day price more than a brief, disastrous first taste of the big leagues; ask Anthony Rizzo's drafting owners who paid effectively nothing for his services this spring. Bauer's star hardly faded as a result of what, after all, was only a four-start stint in the desert; he had a 2.89 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9.88 K's-per-nine ratio in six starts after being returned to Triple-A Reno. He has some control issues to work out, and that might require further minor league seasoning to begin 2013, but he's a pitcher I want to see back in the bigs sooner than later, and want in my top 75. Bauer's ceiling is high; he's still someone to build around in a keeper league.


Michael Pineda, New York Yankees: Utterly forgotten following a season lost to shoulder surgery, Pineda might be an afterthought today, with six months to go until most of our drafts. The Yankees have been tight-lipped about his rehabilitation, but let's face it, he's still very much a part of their future, being 23 years old (24 in January) and specifically acquired to address the team's long- as much as short-term needs. Pineda will come cheap in the spring, barring glowing health reports between now and then, being that he'll have to earn a rotation spot during spring training. But let's not forget that this is a pitcher who, at 22 in 2011, struck out more than a batter per inning. You could do a lot worse with the No. 8 or 9 starter on your roster.


Alex Cobb, Tampa Bay Rays: He's constantly overshadowed because he has never been hailed one of the team's top prospects … and they've had a lot of great ones break through in the past half-decade, including David Price, Matt Moore and Jeremy Hellickson. Cobb might not even be promised a rotation spot; the Rays should have Jeff Niemann back and Chris Archer might be ready to join the starting five come March. Still, Cobb deserves to start somewhere, even if not in Tampa Bay. He's a ground ball pitcher (58.4 percent rate) with good command (2.69 K-to-walk ratio), a combination that minimizes his per-start risk. In AL-only leagues, he's a good late-round target.

 

[HacheMan]

Orioles Power Onward
Oh My! Orioles Blast Seven Homers in Rout of Jays



Desperately needing a victory to keep pace with the Yankees who also won on Wednesday, the Orioles matched a franchise record by blasting seven home runs in a 12-2 rout over the Blue Jays. The victory keeps them just 1 ½ games back of the Yankees in the AL East, while maintaining a slim lead for the Wild Card.


Nate McLouth got the offensive explosion started with a solo blast off Carlos Villanueva in the first inning. The ageless wonder Jim Thome followed suit in the fifth inning, launching his eighth home run of the season and 612th of his Hall-of-Fame career. They certainly weren’t done yet though, as Manny Machado belted his own solo shot in the fifth, and Chris Davis connected on a three-run bomb to chase Villanueva from the game.


Mark Reynolds got in on the action in the sixth, smashing a two-run shot off Joel Carreno in the sixth inning, his 23rd of the year. Chris Davis tacked on yet another, this time of the two-run variety off Chad Beck in the seventh, increasing his career-best to 28.


The night wasn’t complete yet though, as 20-year-old phenom Manny Machado joined Davis in the multi-homer club, smashing a David Carpenter fastball over the wall in left field. It’s looking increasingly likely that the upstart Orioles will deliver the team’s first playoff berth since the 1997 season.





Rodney Racks Up Another Save



Fernando Rodney continued his dream season on Wednesday, racking up his 45th save in a victory over the Red Sox, second only to Jim Johnson in MLB. The 35-year-old right-hander who inked a one-year, $2 Million dollar contract in the offseason is enjoying one of the most phenomenal (and surprising) season’s of any reliever in the history of the league.


If you recall correctly, Rodney didn’t even begin the season as the Rays’ closer. He was signed to work in a set-up role for Kyle Farnsworth, who strained his elbow near the end of spring training. Rodney was handed the job on an interim basis and never looked back.


He has now converted 45 of his 47 save chances on the season while compiling an unthinkable 0.63 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 71/15 K/BB ratio over 71 1/3 innings of work. A man who had walked over 4 ½ batters per nine innings over his nine-year MLB career has issued a grand total of 15 on the season. Simply mind-boggling.


While some detractors will always argue that the Cy Young award should always be awarded to a starting pitcher, Rodney will certainly deserve legitimate consideration. In fact, he may end up battling it out with teammate David Price to see who ends up walking away with the postseason hardware. No AL closer has won the award since Dennis Eckersley in 1992, while Eric Gagne infamously grabbed the award in the National League after the 2003 campaign.





White Sox’ Slide Continues



After leading the American League Central for the vast majority of the 2012 season, the White Sox officially handed the top spot in the division over to the Tigers on Wednesday after dropping a 6-4 decision to the visiting Indians.


They held a somewhat comfortable three-game lead in the division late last week, but have played just brutal baseball down the home stretch. They’re now 1-6 over their last seven contests and will need to stop the slide immediately or there will be no postseason baseball in Chicago.


They’ll head into the final week of the regular season trailing the Tigers by one full game. The schedule doesn’t do them any favors either, as they’ll take on the hard-charging Rays for four games at home before finishing with a three-game set against the Indians in Cleveland. White Sox skipper Robin Ventura has done a nice job overall in his first season at the helm, but will likely shoulder much of the blame for their epic collapse if they are unable to pull it out in the end.







National League Quick Hits: The Giants officially announced that Melky Cabrera will not be a part of the team’s postseason roster… Giancarlo Stanton missed his ninth straight game due to a strained intercostal muscle, but remains hopeful of returning to the lineup on Thursday… Michael Bourn missed his fourth consecutive start with a jammed thumb, and remains day-to-day… Marlins outfielder Justin Ruggiano has been shut down for the remainder of the season with a sprained right shoulder… Chad Billingsley has been able to play catch on back-to-back days, and could avoid Tommy John surgery… Tim Lincecum could have his next start pushed back as the Giants attempt to line up their postseason rotation… Jeurys Familia will make his first Major League start on Monday, taking the place of Collin McHugh in the Mets’ rotation… Matt Kemp homered and drove home four in a victory over the Padres… Martin Prado homered and plated two as the Braves topped the Marlins… John Lannan improved to 4-0, allowing just two runs over 5 1/3 innings against the Phillies… Bryce Harper homered, tripled, stole a base and drove home three in a victory over the Phillies. He’s now hitting .262/.332/.459 with 20 homers, 56 RBI and 17 steals in an impressive rookie campaign… Chris Carpenter looked sharp in his second start, allowing just two runs on four hits over six innings in a losing effort against the Astros… Craig Kimbrel fanned four hitters in just one inning of work, notching his 40th save of the season… Bud Norris struck out seven over 7 1/3 scoreless innings in a victory over the Cardinals… Matt Cain fanned six over seven scoreless innings as the Giants blanked the Diamondbacks.





American League Quick Hits: Bartolo Colon continues to throw and hopes to return to the Athletics when his 50-game suspension is over, however the A’s are unlikely to give him a postseason roster spot… Jacoby Ellsbury missed his sixth straight game with an apparent lat injury, but expects to return to the lineup on Thursday… Coco Crisp missed another game due to conjunctivitis and continues to have vision problems… Yu Darvish is tentatively set to start on Sunday afternoon against the Angels… Randy Wolf has been diagnosed with a torn UCL in his left elbow and will likely require a second Tommy John surgery… Ubaldo Jimenez has been shut down for the rest of the season due to a sprained ankle, finishing with an extremely disappointing 9-17 record, 5.55 ERA and 1.61 WHIP… Brett Anderson was able to play catch on Thursday and remains hopeful he’ll be able to return for the postseason… CC Sabathia delivered a strong performance, pitching eight innings of two-run ball with 10 strikeouts in a victory over the Twins… With two doubles on Wednesday, Alex Gordon now has a league-leading 51 on the season, and trails Hal McRae’s franchise record by just three… Austin Jackson belted his 16th homer of the season as the Tigers topped the Royals to reclaim the lead in the AL Central… Alex Cobb pitched five innings of one-run ball as the Rays won their seventh consecutive game… Martin Perez was hammered in a loss to the Athletics, allowing five runs on six hits in just 2/3 of an inning… Torii Hunter delivered a clutch walk-off single, leading the Angels to a critical come-from-behind victory over the Mariners to keep their dim playoff hopes alive.

 

[HacheMan]

Smoak and Mirrors? Welcome to the 26th and final edition of Waiver Wired for the 2012 season. It has been an absolute pleasure to put this column together each and every week for the third straight year. One of the best parts of this gig is corresponding with everyone through Twitter and email, so be sure to keep in touch during the winter. After all, baseball doesn't really have an "offseason" and there is always something fantasy-relevant to talk about.

Best of luck if you are still fighting to win your league. Below you'll find a few last-minute recommendations to consider. After you give those a once-over, be sure to check out my annual Waiver Wired awards on the second page.

MIXED LEAGUES

Yonder Alonso 1B/OF, Padres (Yahoo: 22 percent owned, ESPN: 25.5 percent)

Alonso may never be a feared power bat, especially calling PETCO Park home, but he has really hit his stride over the past few months. The 25-year-old is batting .290/.357/.433 with six homers, 37 RBI and a .789 OPS in 65 games since the All-Star break. He hasn't batted lower than .280 in any of the past three months. If you are in a head-to-head league and need to stay afloat in batting average for the final few days of the season, Alonso is one of the safer widely-available names.

Stephen Drew SS, Athletics (Yahoo: 19 percent owned, ESPN: 18 percent)

Look who is finally coming around. Drew is red-hot right now, hitting .464 (13-for-28) over his last six games and .360 (18-for-50) over his last 11. While he batted just .193 in 40 games with the Diamondbacks after returning from ankle surgery, he has a .270 batting average to go along with four homers, five doubles, 14 RBI and a .733 OPS in 32 games since being traded to the A's. The 29-year-old has a lengthy track record of being a producing when healthy, so he makes for a fine addition if you need a shortstop or a MI (middle infielder).

David Murphy OF, Rangers (Yahoo: 30 percent owned, ESPN: 43.4 percent)

Murphy doesn't get much national attention, but he has done enough this season to be owned in the great majority of fantasy leagues. Buoyed by his increased production against left-handed pitching, the 31-year-old outfielder has a career-best .308 batting average to go along with 14 homers, 58 RBI, 10 stolen bases and a career-best .866 OPS. Only 13 players (with at least 200 plate appearances) have bested his .325 batting average since the All-Star break. He has played nearly everyday over the past two months, so there shouldn't be any hesitation to trust him at this point.

Shopping at the five-and-dime:

(Players owned in less than 10 percent of Y! and ESPN.com leagues)

Jon Rauch RP, Mets (Yahoo: 3 percent owned, ESPN: 4.5 percent)

When I first heard about Frank Francisco's elbow troubles last week, I assumed that Bobby Parnell would get the nod to replace him in the closer role. My bad on that. Rauch got the save on Saturday (though he was pretty shaky doing so) and appears to be the preferred option for Mets manager Terry Collins. Must be that "previous closer experience" thing. The 33-year-old right-hander has actually had a pretty nice season, compiling a 3.23 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 39/10 K/BB ratio over 55 2/3 innings, so he's a fine pickup for anyone on the lookout for saves.

Jean Segura 2B/SS, Brewers (Yahoo: 3 percent owned, ESPN: 3.7 percent)

Segura got off to a bit of a slow start after being called up by the Brewers in early August, but the 22-year-old shortstop is batting .345 (20-for-58) with two doubles, two triples, six RBI and an impressive 11/7 K/BB ratio in 18 games this month. He hasn't shown much pop thus far, but he has swiped six bases in seven attempts. Give him a look if you need some speed or an upgrade of the MI (middle infielder) spot.

Justin Smoak 1B, Mariners (Yahoo: 9 percent owned, ESPN: 4.9 percent)

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Well, Smoak has fooled us multiple times and might be doing it again. The former top prospect is absolutely scorching at the plate right now, hitting .459 (17-for-37) with five home runs, three doubles, eight RBI and a 1.470 OPS over his last 10 games. This is the same guy who owns a .222/.304/.377 batting line in the big leagues and was demoted to the minors in July, so there is obvious reason for skepticism here, but go ahead and ride the hot hand for now.

Suitable streamers:

Andy Pettitte SP, Yankees (Yahoo: 32 percent owned, ESPN: 41.1 percent) -Saturday at Blue Jays

Pettitte should already be owned in any fantasy league worth its salt, but there's a chance he could still be available in shallow formats. Be sure to change that. The 40-year-old southpaw has tossed 11 scoreless innings over his first two starts since returning from a fractured left ankle and owns a fantastic 2.71 ERA and 65/18 K/BB ratio over 11 starts overall this year. The Blue Jays have been one of the weakest hitting teams in the league over the past couple of months, so Pettitte is a strong play this weekend as he gears up for the postseason.

Dan Straily SP, Athletics (Yahoo: 9 percent owned, ESPN: 9.7 percent) - Saturday vs. Mariners

Straily was mighty impressive in his most recent start on Monday, holding the Rangers to just two runs (one earned) over 6 2/3 innings while walking a pair and tying a career-high with eight strikeouts. The 23-year-old right-hander has allowed nine home runs over his first 35 innings in the big leagues, so his fly ball tendencies could spell trouble in certain environments, but a start against the Mariners at the spacious O.co Coliseum is too favorable to pass up.

Jake Odorizzi RP/SP, Royals (Yahoo: 3 percent owned, ESPN: 0.7 percent) - Saturday at Indians

Odorizzi made his major league debut against the Indians last Sunday and gave up just two singles over five scoreless innings before being touched up for three runs on four hits in the sixth. Not too bad, all things considered. The 22-year-old right-hander had a 3.03 ERA and 135/50 K/BB ratio in 145 innings this season between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha and is already looking like a favorite to win a rotation spot during spring training next year. Trusting Odorizzi will be a category decision for many, but another start against the Indians is pretty enticing.

Erasmo Ramirez SP, Mariners (Yahoo: 4 percent owned, ESPN: 0.7 percent) - Sunday at Athletics

Ramirez was touched up for five runs (three earned) over six innings Tuesday in a loss to the Angels, but there's still a lot to like here. The 22-year-old right-hander owns a very impressive 3.42 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 42/8 K/BB ratio over 52 2/3 innings with the Mariners this season and has shown surprising velocity (92.8 mph average fastball) for someone who checks in at just 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds. Stream him now and look for him on plenty of sleeper lists next spring.

Bud Norris SP, Astros (Yahoo: 30 percent owned, ESPN: 24.6 percent) - Wednesday at Cubs

Norris struck out seven over 7 1/3 scoreless innings Wednesday night against the Cardinals for his first win since May 21. If only he could face the Cardinals every time out, right? This has been a bitterly disappointing season for the 27-year-old right-hander, even though his swinging strike rate and secondary numbers are pretty much in line with what we saw last year. The main difference is he has allowed a few more homers while seeing his velocity dip slightly. He has a strong chance to finish his season on a high note next week against the Cubs and makes for a decent bounceback candidate next year.

Travis Wood SP, Cubs (Yahoo: 14 percent owned, ESPN: 11.7 percent) - Wednesday vs. Astros

Yes, I'm recommending both pitchers for the season finale next Wednesday. We're talking about two of the worst teams in the majors, so why the heck not? Wood has a 3.36 ERA and 59/16 K/BB ratio in 67 innings over his last 11 starts and has allowed three earned runs or less in 10 of them. And while the southpaw has the reputation of a fly ball pitcher, he hasn't allowed a home run since August 28. He's a solid streaming option against the light-hitting Astros next week and could even be worth a look against the Diamondbacks on Friday if you're feeling bold enough. <!--RW-->

NL ONLY

Darin Ruf 1B/OF, Phillies (Yahoo: 0 percent owned, ESPN: 0.1 percent)

I wasn't sure Ruf would get much playing time when he was called up from the minors earlier this month, but the Phillies are giving him a look in left field now that they are essentially out of the playoff race. The 26-year-old is a little old to be considered a prospect, but he led the minor leagues with 38 home runs this year while playing with Double-A Reading. I'm highly skeptical about his chances of sticking in the majors, but perhaps he runs into a couple over the final days of the regular season.

AL ONLY

Chad Jenkins RP, Blue Jays (Yahoo: 0 percent owned, ESPN: 0 percent)

Jenkins was solid in his first major league start Sunday against the Rays, allowing one run (a solo homer) on two hits over five innings while striking out four and walking just one. The 24-year-old right-hander doesn't blow batters away, but has good control (2.2 BB/9) and induces his fair share of grounders with his sinker/slider combo. While he has a dangerous matchup against the Yankees on Saturday, he's relevant if you are trying to keep up in certain categories.

****************************

The 2012 Waiver Wired Awards:

This is my third year of handing out superlatives for Waiver Wired excellence. You'll notice that I have titled each award after an obscure Met from my formative years. I'm not sure where I got that idea from exactly, but the tradition continues this year.

As usual, I did whiff on a few guys this year, though some of that was a matter of timing. Kyle Lohse was a popular pickup after he dominated the Marlins in the first game of the season and never saw his ownership dip below the 50 percent mark. Mike Trout and Bryce Harper were both called up on a Saturday and were universally owned before I got a chance to mention them here. And so, while Trout has been the most valuable player in fantasy this year, he will not be mentioned below. Sigh.

The Phil Lombardi Award (best waiver wire catcher)

There were plenty of good finds at the catcher position at certain points this year, including Jonathan Lucroy, Ryan Doumit, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, A.J. Ellis, Salvador Perez and Yasmani Grandal, but Wilin Rosario is the runaway winner here. The rookie backstop is tied with A.J. Pierzynski for the MLB lead among catchers with 27 homers and also ranks eighth with 70 RBI, sixth with an .855 OPS and is tied for fifth with 66 runs scored. His recent hot-hitting is likely responsible for many fantasy titles. I still think he strikes out too much to hit for a high batting average, but he should be an easy top-10 catcher next year.

The Roberto Petagine Award (best waiver wire first baseman)

After being limited to just 43 games last season due to shoulder surgery, Adam LaRoche has bounced back in a big way this year by batting .268 with 32 home runs, 98 RBI and an .844 OPS. He ranks fourth among first base-eligible players in homers and eighth in RBI. Guys like Justin Morneau, Anthony Rizzo, Ike Davis, Garrett Jones and Tyler Colvin have also come in handy at certain times this year, but LaRoche was an easy choice.

The Jason Hardtke Award (best waiver wire second baseman)

One of only a couple of bright spots for the last-place Astros this year, Jose Altuve is first among fantasy second basemen with 33 stolen bases, fifth (tied) with 164 hits and 13th with 79 runs scored. While his production has dropped pretty sharply since the All-Star break, I'm optimistic he'll be a top-10 second baseman next year if he's fully healthy and the Astros add a bat or two to drive him in. Versatile options like Kyle Seager, Danny Espinosa and Jeff Keppinger also had pretty good value from the second base spot this year.

The Al Pedrique Award (best waiver wire shortstop)

Ian Desmond was the breakthrough star at the shortstop position this season from a fantasy perspective, but he was already over my 50 percent threshold when the season started. With that in mind, we'll go with Alcides Escobar. He's hitting .291 with four homers, 50 RBI, 32 stolen bases and 67 runs scored this season. Meanwhile, the universally-owned Elvis Andrus is hitting .288 with three homers, 60 RBI, 20 stolen bases and 81 runs scored. I'm a bit skeptical whether Escobar will be able to maintain his lofty BABIP next year, but he'll likely still come at a bargain rate in comparison to Andrus. I would be remiss if I didn't mention Erick Aybar here also, as he has been outstanding after getting off to a slow start this season.

The Junior Noboa Award (best waiver wire third baseman)

We finally got our long-awaited breakout from Chase Headley this year, but I didn't mention him in Waiver Wired since he was owned in over 50 percent of ESPN.com leagues from the start. Instead, we'll look toward Pedro Alvarez, who has bounced back from a disappointing sophomore campaign to slug 30 homers and drive in 88 runs this season. He'll probably always be a batting average risk, but his pop should put him in the range of the top 12-14 options at hot corner next year. Guys like Kyle Seager, Todd Frazier and Chipper Jones were also some pretty nice finds this season.

The Wayne Housie Award (best waiver wire outfielder)

Again, no Mike Trout here. Or Bryce Harper, for that matter. But that's OK, because we still have Allen Craig to talk about. While he was probably best utilized at second base in fantasy leagues, his .306 batting average, 22 homers, 89 RBI and .886 OPS played just fine in the outfield. Keep in mind that he'll lose his second base eligibility next year since he didn't play a game at the position this season, so fantasy owners will have to plug him in at either first base or the outfield.

Some other notables in the outfield this year include Josh Reddick (29 home runs, 79 RBI, 11 stolen bases, 80 runs scored), Norichika Aoki (.289 batting average, 60 extra-base hits, 28 stolen bases, 76 runs scored), Dexter Fowler (career-highs with a .300 batting average, 13 homers, 53 RBI and an .863 OPS), Alejandro De Aza (.43 extra-base hits, 26 stolen bases and 80 runs scored) and Carlos Gomez (career-highs with 16 homers, 35 stolen bases and a .743 OPS).

The Brett Hinchcliffe Award (best waiver wire starting pitcher)

R.A. Dickey was widely available on the waiver wire after he was knocked around for eight runs over 4 1/3 innings against the Braves on April 18, but he has simply been the best pitcher in baseball since. The knuckleballer has a National League-best 2.66 ERA to go along with 19 wins and a ridiculous 209/52 K/BB ratio over 220 innings this season. From the waiver wire to the Cy Young Award? It's possible.

The rest of my waiver wire starting rotation includes Kris Medlen (1.64 ERA in 132 innings, including a 1.04 ERA in 11 starts), A.J. Burnett (flourishing in the National League with a 3.53 ERA, 16 wins and a 172/59 K/BB ratio over 188 2/3 innings), Wade Miley (Rookie of the Year candidate with 16 wins and a 3.32 ERA) and Matt Harrison (17 wins and a 3.17 ERA).

The Edwin Almonte Award (best waiver wire relief pitcher)

Let's not doubt the Rays ever again, OK? Fernando Rodney has come out of nowhere to completely dominate, compiling a microscopic 0.63 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 71/15 K/BB ratio over 71 1/3 innings while going 45-for-47 in save opportunities. He has only allowed five earned runs all season long and will likely get some down-ballot Cy Young votes.