There are now less than two weeks left in the MLB season. Who should we trust? Who should we avoid? Let’s take a look at yesterday’s games to try and help us decide:
- Chris Carpenter made his long awaited (and unexpected) 2012 debut, allowing 2 ER on 5 H and 1 BB, striking out 2, over 5.0 innings against the Cubs. Was it a successful outing? Yes, but you have to take the opponent into account as well. It is impossible to predict what he could produce over the final week and a half of the season and is hard to trust. He only went 77 pitches yesterday and, depending on how far the Cardinals push him, could have a hard time generating W.
- Does anyone have faith in Tommy Hanson at this point? He allowed 5 ER on 4 H and 3 BB, striking out 5, over 5.1 innings. His biggest problem was the long ball, allowing 3 HR. He had been pitching better of late, but over his past 10 starts he has gone past 5.2 innings just 1 time. That helps to explain why he has just 2 W and is now winless in his past 7 starts. You would think, pitching for a winner, he would be in good shape. However, unable to work deep into games, that’s just not the case. Keep that in mind before depending on him at this point.
- Tyler Clippard imploded, allowing 3 R (2 earned) on 3 H over 0.2 innings to blow the save for the Nationals. It’s the third time in four games that he has allowed at least 1 ER and fifth in his past 8 outings. Are the Nationals going to make a change? It’s highly doubtful, though if you are desperate for saves why not grab Drew Storen just in case?
- CC Sabathia pitched like an ace (8.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 11 K), but Rafael Soriano blew the save (1 ER on 1 H and 2 BB, striking out 1, over 1.0 IP). It happens, but fantasy owners can take away a positive feeling for Sabathia righting the ship. Did anyone have a doubt?
- Matt Wieters continued his red hot September, going 2-4 with 3 RBI and 1 R. He now has 5 HR and 17 RBI over 60 AB (not to mention that he is hitting .333 with 14 R) in September. While he has not lived up to expectations, there is no questioning that he is one of the hottest hitters in the game right now and is trying to carry the Orioles in their division title chase. He did hit 7 HR last September, so could he be Mr. September?
- It was another solid day for Ike Davis, going 2-4 with 1 HR, 2 RBI and 2 R. He now has 16 HR and 34 RBI since the All-Star Break. In fact, since June 1 he has 23 HR and has quickly made fantasy owners forget about his awful start to the year. Would anyone have guessed in April or May, when there was talk of sending him to the minors, that he could finish with 30+ HR and an average close to .230? It doesn’t sound like much, but we can definitely take away that the slow start was the aberration. He’ll be a nice buy on draft day in 2013.
- The Rays scored 12 R, yet Desmond Jennings, B.J. Upton, Ben Zobrist & Evan Longoria combined for 1 RBI. Really?!?! Carlos Pena went 2-5 with 2 RBI and 1 R, giving him 6 RBI in his past 3 games. Could he finally be getting hot? If you are desperate for some power and RBI, it’s certainly worth rolling the dice on.
- Jeff Locke got off to a slow start for the Pirates allowing 3 R in the first inning (Jed Lowrie hit a three run home run, finishing going 1-3 with 1 HR, 3 RBI and 2 R). Locke, however, settled down and ended up going 5.0 strong innings allowing 3 ER on 3 H and 3 BB, striking out 8. While he is far from a must use option, Locke has shown an ability to generate Ks (23 in 24.2 IP) to go along with good control (1.82 BB/9) and a solid groundball rate (49.3%). He could be a great sleeper for 2013, so make sure you keep a close watch on him the rest of the way.
- Most of the Diamondbacks lineup had fun in Colorado, including Justin Upton (2-4, 3 R, 2 SB), Miguel Montero (3-5, 3 RBI, 3 R) and Chris Johnson (3-6, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R). It is Adam Eaton who deserves the most attention, however. He went 2-5 with 1 HR, 2 RBI and 2 R, as he continues to thrive this season. He is now hitting .273 with 2 HR, 4 RBI, 13 R and 2 SB in 55 AB (after hitting .375 with 7 HR and 44 SB over 528 AB in the minors). The Diamondbacks face some interesting questions this offseason, but you have to wonder if they will find a way to free up a spot for Eaton to play and leadoff for them. Time will tell, but he has proven that he is worth using over the final few days of the season.
- Lonnie Chisenhall is getting his opportunity to play every day at 3B for the Indians, but he isn’t making the most of it. He went 0-4 yesterday and is now hitting .242 with 11 K over 33 AB in his past 10 games. This is his chance to earn the job in 2013, but at this point it is tough to imagine.
- Ervin Santana allowed 1 ER on 2 H and 1 BB, striking out 11, over 7.0 innings. That’s two 10+ strikeout games in his past three outings. He also has allowed 2 ER or less in each of his past four starts and is 5-2 with a 3.08 ERA in his past 10. In other words, he has finally turned things around. Don’t shy away from him at this point.
- Considered one of the top pitching prospects, Martin Perez didn’t fare so well against the Mariners last night. He lasted just 4.0 innings allowing 3 ER on 6 H and 2 BB, striking out 3. Is he a pitcher to keep an eye on? Absolutely. Is he a pitcher I would trust for 2012? Not a chance.
- Pablo Sandoval stayed red hot, going 3-3 with 1 HR, 2 RBI and 1 R last night. He now has 4 HR and 9 RBI over his past three games. For those who waited patiently, it is finally paying dividends.
