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 f𓂃act 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 the 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 top-ranked 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 a🎀fter the All-Star break versus 39-51 with a 4.32 ERA in the first 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 inning in 36 caree♉r 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 f♏avorable matchups in five of his six starts during 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 career-high 8.1 per nine innings and walking a career-low 2.0 per nine.ཧ He took a no-decision and lasted just five innings in his return from the disabled list on 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 on 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 ꦏcareer-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, C🅠arlos 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 lo🧸ok 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 la🍷st 58 ²/₃ innings.
* Ervin Santana may be on the Twins, the second worst team in 😼baseball with the second worst team ERA (5.00), but that is no reflection on the man on t🐭he mound. Over his last 11 starts, the 33-year-old righty is 5-3 with a 1.79 ERA, .202 opponent average, 60 strikeouts and a .526 opponent OPS. He has allowed three or more runs just one time in that span, and walked just 13 over his last 75 1/3 innings. He is available in 45 percent or more of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
* Jeremy Hellickson hasn’t lost since July 15, going 4-0 with a 2.35 ERA, a 29:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio and .221 opponent average over his last six starts. The Phillies righty has favorable matchups against the Mets and Braves in his next two starts, and is 🦹available in 50 percent or more of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
* Keep an eye on Tyson Ross’ rehab because he could be making his long-awaited return to the Padres’ rota👍tion soon, and he’s available in more than 70 percent of ESPN leagues and 40 percent at Yahoo.
Big hits
Khris Davis, OF, Athletics
Despite striking out 🔯16 times in his past 12 games before Friday night, the 28-year-old was 16-for-47 (.340) with six homers, 12 RBIs, 13 runs scored and a 1.243 OPS in that span.
Russell Martin, C, Blue Jays
Has at least one RBI in eight of hi🔜🤡s past 10 games while hitting .410 with six homers, 14 RBIs, nine runs scored, a .923 slugging percentage and 1.388 OPS.
Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies
He h🃏as been on fire this month, raising his average from .278 to .286 while going 26-for-81 (.321) with eight homers, 29 RBIs, 21 runs scored and 14 walks.
Matt Boyd, SP, Tigers
The 25-year-ꦦold is 5-0 with a 2.38 ERA, .205 opponen𒁏t average and 43 strikeouts over his past nine appearances (eight starts).
Big whiffs
Ian Kinsler, 2B, Tigers
After going hitting .327 with t𝕴wo homers, six RBIs and a .920 OPS in his first 12 gamꦯes this month, he is 2-for-33 (.061) with no homers, two RBIs and a .296 OPS in his last nine games before Friday.
Josh Reddick, OF, Dodgers
In his first 20 games with the Dodgers, he was 10-for-70 (.143) with no homers, noඣ RBIs, 12 strikeouts, a .211 OBP, .157 slugging percentage and .368 OPS.
Tyker Skaggs, SP, Angels
Has had big problems in his four starts this month, allowing 19 runs on 29 hits and three homers while goingꦚ 0-3 with a .9.68 ERA and .377 opﷺponent average.
Wilson Ramos, C, Nationals
His average has dropped from .331 to .312 after going 4-for-35 (.114) with no homers, one RBI and🐓 a .305 OPS in his last eight games before Friday.
Quick hits
Boston’s Rick Porcello (the 94th ranked pitcher entering the season, according to FantasyPros.com) has suffered just one loss in his past 18 starts, going 11-1 with a 3.12 ERA in that span. Kansas City’s Danny Duffy (ranked 108th) last suffered a loss on June 6, going 10♕-0 with a 2.35 ERA and a .209 opponent batting average ꦉover his past 14 starts. Porcello had an average draft position of 302.0, while Duffy was at 351.3. Talk about bargains!
Not only has Hector Santiago allowed seven homers in his four starts (19 innings) with the Twins, but he has allowed 24 run♎s and 32 hits. He is 0-4 with a 10.89 ERA with Minnesota and opponents are hittinဣg .372 against him.
Gary Sanchez has 10 homers in his first 22 career games (87 plate appearances). By comparison, it took Alex🐎 Rodriguez 65 games (243 plate appearances) to hit nine homers this seas🌳on.
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