BABS looks at potential post-season pitching
by Patrick Cloghessy
We have arrived at Labor Day Weekend. The unofficial end of summer can be a bummer, but every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end. It’s goodbye endless nights and salty surf, hello crisp fall weather, pumpkin spice and pennant fever.
From now until the final day of September, teams will be putting pedal to metal in an effort to finish in playoff position. Pitching will go a long way in deciding who’s in and who’s out. Right now, as many as 14 teams are still in the hunt. BABS has her own opinion on which pitching staffs provide the biggest edge (BABS assets from August update):
American League Assets
Team Player ER K Sv
=========== ============= === === ===
Red Sox D. Price k
R. Porcello e
N. Eovaldi e
B. Johnson k
C. Sale (DL) E+ K+
E. Rodriguez (DL) e k
C. Kimbrel E+ K+ SV
M. Barnes E+ K+
Yankees L. Severino ER KK
M. Tanaka e KK
C. Sabathia
J. Happ e k
L. Lynn -ER
D. Betances E+ K+
D. Robertson ER K+
A. Chapman (DL) E+ K+ SV
Indians C. Kluber ER k
C. Carrasco ER KK
M. Clevinger e k
S. Bieber k -ER
A. Plutko -ER
T. Bauer (DL) E+ KK
C. Allen KK SV -ER
B. Hand E+ K+ SV
Astros J. Verlander E+ KK
G. Cole E+ K+
C. Morton E+ KK
D. Keuchel e
F. Valdez
R. Osuna ER k sv-
H. Rondon E+ KK sv-
L. McCullers (DL) e KK
A’s M. Fiers
T. Cahill ER k
E. Jackson e
B. Anderson (DL) -ER
S. Manaea (DL) e
B. Treinen E+ K+ SV
J. Familia E+ KK sv-
Mariners M. Leake -ER
W. LeBlanc
E. Ramirez -ER
F. Hernandez -ER
J. Paxton (DL) ER KK
M. Gonzalez (DL) e
E. Diaz E+ K+ SV
A. Colome e KK sv-
Within the last week, the Yankees have closed the gap on the Red Sox. Boston’s starting staff is dealing with injuries to Sale (E+,K+ – pictured) and Rodriguez (e,k). The Sox need those two to hurry back in order to wrap up this division before it gets any closer.
The Yankees’ rotation comes with fairly plentiful BABS assets, and even without Chapman the bullpen owns premium assets at almost every turn. Chad Green (ER,KK), Zach Britton (e,k) and Jonathan Holder (e,k) are not even listed here. If the offense gets healthy, the bullpen depth and solid SP could help this team make a run at Boston.
Cleveland is sitting pretty in the division. This is good as the back end of their rotation is bereft of BABS assets. The bullpen struggles are well documented, but Brad Hand (E+,K+,SV) has basically been lights out since his arrival. Trevor Bauer (E+,KK) says he will be back sooner than the doctors say. If that happens, the Indians will be well positioned for a deep playoff run.
Between the Astros’ BABS-tastic pitching staff and the (-ER) MASH units the A’s and M’s are trotting out there, Houston appears to have a significant edge. If Paxton (ER,KK) doesn’t return soon, Seattle appears destined to extend it’s MLB-worst postseason drought to a 17th year.
National League Assets
Team Player ER K Sv
=========== ============= === === ===
Braves J. Teheran k -ER
M. Foltynewicz ER KK
S. Newcomb e k
A. Sanchez ER k
K. Gausman -ER
AJ. Minter ER K+ sv-
D. Winkler ER KK
Phillies A. Nola E+ k
J. Arrieta e
N. Pivetta KK
V. Velasquez e KK
Z. Eflin e
S. Dominguez E+ K+ sv-
P. Neshek E+
Cubs K. Hendricks
J. Lester e
C. Hamels k -ER
J. Quintana -ER
A. Mills E+ K+ (2 innings)
M. Montgomery (DL)
P. Strop ER KK
B. Morrow (DL) E+ k SV
Cardinals M. Mikolas ER
J. Flaherty ER KK
J. Gant -ER
A. Gomber e
B. Norris E+ KK sv-
J. Hicks e
C. Martinez e k
Brewers C. Anderson
J. Chacin
J. Guerra e k
W. Miley ER
F. Peralta e K+
J. Hader E+ K+ sv-
J. Jeffress E+ KK
D-Backs Z. Greinke ER k
P. Corbin ER KK
C. Buchholz ER
Z. Godley KK
R. Ray KK -ER
B. Boxberger ER K+ SV
A. Bradley ER k
Rockies T. Anderson e k
J. Gray KK
K. Freeland e
A. Senzatela -ER
G. Marquez k
W. Davis KK SV -ER
A. Ottavino E+ K+
Dodgers C. Kershaw E+ KK
A. Wood e
H. Ryu E+ KK
W. Buehler ER k
R. Hill e k
K. Jansen E+ K+ SV
K. Maeda e KK
The Braves hold 12 BABS assets to the Phillies 11. We might be tempted to tilt the score in favor of Philadelphia given the negative marks against Julio Teheran (k,-ER) and Kevin Gausman (-ER). Gausman has been outstanding since arriving from Baltimore. The (-ER) stands a decent chance of disappearing in the next BABS update. This appears to be a dead heat. September should be fun in the NL East.
The NL Central contingent appears to an exercise in mediocrity. The Cubs’ absence of BABS assets belies their record. Hamels (k,-ER) is similar to Gausman. He has been a revelation since changing leagues. The Cardinals are stretched thin at starting pitcher, but Mikolas (ER) and Flaherty (ER,KK) are strong at the top. The Brewers are steady (read: average) in SP and offer a powerhouse bullpen. It’s hard to see a significant pitching advantage for any of these three teams.
Out west, BABS is handing out high marks. Zack Greinke (ER,k) and Patrick Corbin (ER,KK) lead a staff shown here totaling 12 BABS assets. The Dodgers have 14 ticks in the asset column, although 3 of those belong to Kenley Jansen (E+,K+,SV). He is a bit of a wild card at this point. Trailing behind are the Rockies. Tyler Anderson (e,k) and Jon Gray (KK) are joined by a charging German Marquez (k). Marquez’ last month: 10.4 k/9, 5.3 k/bb. Colorado will need him to continue if they hope to match the terrific staffs of Arizona and Los Angeles.
Close the coolers and wash the sand off your feet, the boys of summer are gone. Baseball drives on into autumn. We will be there for the pennant chase. So will BABS, with a fresh September update for the fantasy stretch run. Enjoy the ride.