It Kenn’ be done
Hot hurlers to help make up ground
UNLESS you’re 35 games behind the first-place team in your league, there is still time to make up ground. This is the beginning of the final push. The final countdown, if you will. In fact you should be listening to Europe’s “The Final Countdown” as you read this article, it’ll fire you up and prevent you from focusing on your upcoming fantasy football draft. (Just make sure you don’t watch t he Geico commercial on YouTube, that woman dancing in the break room is too distracting.) There is still time to make up ground, and pitching will help make that happen. Ian Kennedy was 8-9 with a 3.58 ERA, 1.146 WHIP and 145 strikeouts entering his start for the Royals on Friday night against the Red Sox’s topranked offense. His numbers are nothing to write home about, but over his past five starts he has looked like the ace who finished fourth in the 2011 Cy Young race. He was 2-0 with a 0.79 ERA, 28 strikeouts and a .185 opponent average, an encouraging sign even before having to face Boston. And despite his 4.80 FIP and 4.54 xFIP, indicating he has gotten lucky this season, Roto Files believes Kennedy’s recent success will continue. Kennedy has always been a better second-half pitcher, going 44-26 with a 3.40 ERA after the All-Star break versus 39-51 with a 4.32 ERA in the f irst half. His best months have always been August (19-12, 3.36 ERA, 1.290 WHIP) and September. Kennedy has struck out 8.7 per nine innings in 36 career September appearances, and owns the best winning percentage (14-8, .636), lowest ERA (3.13) and lowest WHIP (1.192) of any month during his career. He also has favorable matchups in five of his six starts during the final month against the Yankees, Twins (twice), Athletics and White Sox.
If history continues to repeat itself, Kennedy should be a reliable asset for your rotation the rest of the way. Here’s a look at some other hot pitchers who can make a difference in the final weeks: James Paxton is striking out a careerhigh 8.1 per nine innings and walking a career-low 2.0 per nine. He took a no-decision and lasted just five innings in his return from the disabled list Thursday, but is 2-1 with a 2.16 ERA and .205 opponent average in his last five starts. He’s on a team chasing a wild-card spot, has a 2.94 FIP (indicating he’s been unlucky with his 3.63 ERA) and remains available in 65 percent or more of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
Matt Moore lost three of his first four starts with the Giants, going 0-3 with a 4.70 ERA, 1.200 WHIP and an ugly 22:17 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He came within one out of pitching a no-hitter Thursday, lowering his opponents’ average against him to .165 since arriving in San Fran. If he can get his control in check (he’s walking a career-high 5.7 per nine with the Giants), he can make a big difference.
After going 0-4 with a 5.27 ERA in seven starts from June 3-July 31, Carlos Rodon has turned things around this month for the White Sox. In four starts, the 23-year-old is 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA, a 20:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has not allowed a homer (he allowed 17 in his first 17 starts). He’s available in more than 70 percent of ESPN leagues.
If you’re in need of a boost in strikeouts, you can look in Robbie Ray’s direction. Not only is the Diamondbacks lefty striking out a career-high 11.2 per nine innings, but he’s also 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA and .205 opponent average over his past four starts. He has struck out 81 over his last 58 2/3 innings.