It was another great day around the league, so let’s take a look at all the stories from yesterday’s games:
- Clayton Kershaw continued to absolutely dominate, walking into a tough situation (pitching in Milwaukee). He tossed 8.0 shutout innings allowing 5 H and 0 BB, striking out 6. He is now 7-1 over his past 8 starts, allowing 9 ER over 61.0 IP. On the season he is 15-5 with a 2.60 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 199 K. Considering he entered the day with a .275 BABIP and 75.9% strand rate, is there really any concern? He has gotten better and better, as he continues to refine his control (2.36 BB/9 entering the day) and has now entrenched himself as one of the premier pitchers in the game. Is he the #1 pitcher heading into 2012? That’s going to be a very interesting debate.
- Has there been many pitchers who have had less luck than Tim Lincecum this season? He has a 2.53 ERA and 1.15 WHIP, though is just 11-10 on the season. It speaks volumes about the Giants offense, doesn’t it? Last night he allowed 1 ER on 5 H and 2 BB, striking out 7, over 7.0 IP but took the loss. That’s because Mike Minor was lights out, tossing 6.0 shutout innings allowing 4 H and 1 BB, striking out 9. With Tommy Hanson out for at least another week (which we’ll touch on in the Injury Report), it appears that Minor is going to stick around for a little while longer. His next start would come against the Cubs (who he allowed 3 ER in 5.2 IP in his last outing).
- While a lengthy rain delay played a role in Ian Kennedy’s exit after three innings, it is not like ht was pitching particularly well. He allowed 3 ER on 5 H and 2 BB, striking out 4, in his 3.0 innings of work. I wouldn’t read too much into his outing, as he had won his previous seven starts while going at least 6.0 IP and allowing no more than 3 ER.
- Paul Goldschmidt went 2-3 with 1 HR, 1 RBI and 1 R, his second consecutive game with a home run. It’s a great sign that he’s starting to come around, though he continues to strikeout at an alarming rate (21 K in 47 IP). That is going to make it difficult for him to hit for a tremendous average, despite what he’s done thus far, but the power is very much for real. If it is long balls you crave, he is well worth owning.
- The Reds juggled their lineup yesterday, moving Brandon Phillips (3-4, 1 RBI) back up to the leadoff spot and Jay Bruce (0-4) hitting cleanup. It didn’t work last night, in part due to another strong start from Jordan Zimmermann (5.2 IP, 0 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 1 K, W). Time will tell if it is a permanent move or not, but with the Reds lack of a true leadoff hitter it would make sense. The affect for fantasy owners will be that Phillips will become a major source of runs, losing significant RBI potential. While his value remains high, if you were hoping for RBI out of him you could end up disappointed.
- I feel like a broken record when it comes to Justin Masterson, but it bears repeating. He has emerged as not only a must use option in all formats for 2011, but a pitcher whose metrics suggest he has finally come into his own. He went 6.0 innings last night, allowing 2 ER on 7 H and 3 BB, striking out 2, in defeating the Chicago White Sox and improving to 10-7 with a 2.71 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. He probably deserves more wins then he’s gotten thus far, but there’s not much you can do about that. He has shown off his good control (2.50 BB/9) and groundball ability (55.4%). To think that his luck metrics are realistic (.292 BABIP and 74.7% strand rate) and that he has more upside in the strikeout department (6.71 K/9) what exactly is there not to like? The real question is, how highly do we rank him heading into 2012?
- With Kevin Youkilis hitting the DL (more to come in the Injury Report later this morning), the Red Sox went with Jed Lowrie (1-4, 1 R) hitting second and Dustin Pedroia (3-4, 3 RBI, 1 SB) hitting fourth. For Pedroia owners it is good news, but has Carl Crawford really fallen that far that they won’t consider him for the #2 spot? He went 1-4 with 2 SB yesterday, breaking an 0-12 slump. Considering he is 5-35 in his last 10 games, I guess it makes sense. While it’s easy to call him a bust, there’s a lot of time left on his contract and I wouldn’t write him off quite yet.
- The Twins’ injury situation has gotten so bad that Joe Mauer (1-3, 1 RBI) was out in right field for last night’s game. With Justin Morneau (0-4) healthy, the Twins do need to find other ways to get Mauer out from behind the plate and remaining in their lineup. With Delmon Young dealt to Detroit and Denard Span back on the DL (as well as a few other injuries mixed it) it does appear like the outfield is an option. However, how much fantasy value would he really have as a full-time outfielder? Obviously that’s not a move the team is going to make any time soon, but he has no power and no speed. Yes, it’s great that he can hit for a good average and drive in runs, but we have to realize how much of his value stems solely on being a catcher.
- Colby Lewis tossed 7.0 shutout innings, allowing 4 H and 2 BB, striking out 7, to outduel Jered Weaver (7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 5 K) and seemingly be on his way to a victory. Unfortunately Mike Adams was unable to record an out in the ninth inning. With Neftali Feliz having pitched the previous two days (and four out of five), it was Adams who got the save opportunity and quickly allowed 2 ER on 2 H (including a home run to Mark Trumbo) to blow the save and take the loss. With Feliz having tossed 5.1 consecutive shutout innings, this performance will end any rumblings of him potentially losing his job.
- A few hot Blue Jays’ hitters were way too much for Trevor Cahill to handle, as his poor stretch continues. Colby Rasmus (3-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R) and Brett Lawrie (2-3, 1 RBI, 1 R) helped to lead to way as Cahill allowed 7 ER on 9 H and 2 BB, striking out 2, over 5.1 innings. It’s actually the third time in his past six starts where Cahill has allowed at least 7 ER. Overall his metrics are believable (.293 BABIP, 71.3% strand rate), so maybe his current 4.17 ERA is not so unbelievable. It goes to show you how big of an influence his .236 BABIP played in 2010 (2.97 ERA).
- Just when it appeared that Emilio Bonifacio was teeing things back up (7-18 with 1 R and 2 SB over his previous five games), he went 0-4 last night. That’s not the biggest issue, but the really surprising is that the leadoff man has just 1 R in his past 9 games and 5 R scored in August. Considering he brings no HR/RBI potential, he needs to be scoring runs to go along with stealing bases to hold value. It should come back around so don’t panic, but it is something that needs to be monitored.
