This article is part of our Mound Musings series.
September is a month of many perspectives. Some teams are pushing hard for a playoff spot, some would seemingly have a berth assured so they just want to get healthy and fine tune. However, even the teams that have fallen out of contention have things to be looking at. It's scouting season for next year (for them and you). Rosters expand, some of the better young arms might make a few appearances, and some guys who suffered long-term injuries might be back. Rehab can be both physical and mental, and for a pitcher who has missed much of the season, getting back in the saddle before the year ends can make the winter a whole lot warmer. Let's see briefly who might be worth a look during the season's final month:
Alex Cobb (Rays) – Cobb hasn't thrown a pitch in a major league game since 2014, but that is scheduled to change Friday when he faces Toronto. His rehab work suggests there could be a good deal of rust to shake off before he can be fantasy relevant. Having allowed 31 hits and eight walks in just under 22 rehab innings, a date with the Blue Jays often volatile offense could be a good one to watch, but I think there's a decent chance he could get back in synch fairly soon and provide some quality innings the last couple of weeks of the regular season. He's missed nearly two years, and being able to garner some confidence in
September is a month of many perspectives. Some teams are pushing hard for a playoff spot, some would seemingly have a berth assured so they just want to get healthy and fine tune. However, even the teams that have fallen out of contention have things to be looking at. It's scouting season for next year (for them and you). Rosters expand, some of the better young arms might make a few appearances, and some guys who suffered long-term injuries might be back. Rehab can be both physical and mental, and for a pitcher who has missed much of the season, getting back in the saddle before the year ends can make the winter a whole lot warmer. Let's see briefly who might be worth a look during the season's final month:
Alex Cobb (Rays) – Cobb hasn't thrown a pitch in a major league game since 2014, but that is scheduled to change Friday when he faces Toronto. His rehab work suggests there could be a good deal of rust to shake off before he can be fantasy relevant. Having allowed 31 hits and eight walks in just under 22 rehab innings, a date with the Blue Jays often volatile offense could be a good one to watch, but I think there's a decent chance he could get back in synch fairly soon and provide some quality innings the last couple of weeks of the regular season. He's missed nearly two years, and being able to garner some confidence in his abilities prior to next spring could be a nice plus.
Alex Reyes (Cardinals) – Being a top-five resident on this year's Kids to Watch List (published every year at the end of the regular season) I thought we would only be able to watch Reyes working out of the Cardinals' bullpen. That all changed when both Michael Wacha and Mike Leake hit the disabled list, which opened a rotation spot for the flame-throwing 22-year-old. The team won't overtax their rising star, but his potential is no secret. The key here is the opportunity. Expected to pitch in middle relief, the chance to take a regular turn could make him fantasy relevant in September if they don't limit his workload too much. He walks a few too many, but he can be almost unhittable.
Derek Holland (Rangers) –Holland is actually back on the mound with the Rangers before September. The poster child for long-term injuries not involving Tommy John surgery, Holland didn't make his 2014 debut until September after missing most of the season with a knee injury, then went on the disabled list in March of 2015 with a shoulder strain. He came back at the end of the year but he wasn't all that sharp. This year has been more of the same – start and stop, but never getting in a groove. His lower strikeout rate and higher than tolerable WHIP have chased a lot of people away, but I don't think he has really been injury-free all season. Maybe we'll see late 2016?
Amir Garrett (Reds) – I was a little bit hesitant to include Garrett here because he has really struggled with command since moving up to Triple-A, but he could get a brief look in September just to measure his progress. I feel like he could have one of the highest ceilings in the Reds' system (he has issued too many walks but Triple-A hitters haven't really solved him). He already has 139 innings under his belt this season so they won't pile on many more innings if/when he comes up, but there's a possibility that he could be useful as a streaming option for a fantasy team looking for a short-term quick fix. Young lefties can lose their release point, but when he has it, Garrett stands out.
Tyler Skaggs (Angels) – I really wanted to give this spot to Garrett Richards who is making steady progress in his elbow rehab without Tommy John surgery. Unfortunately, he probably won't pitch for the Angels until next season. That said, the spot goes to young Skaggs who also offers some upside, albeit not as much as a fully healthy Richards. He's your stereotypical young southpaw. Skaggs has good stuff, but he sometimes has trouble repeating his motion. When he's got it all in synch, he's a handful for opposing hitters, but when he's not locating well, his pitch count soars and he can fall into that trap of throwing "get me over" pitches that end up costing him. I like the fact that he seems to be somewhat fearless, but he has to consistently back that up.
Rubby De La Rosa (Diamondbacks) – I took a flyer on him last spring based on his pretty crisp stuff. It appeared to be paying off before he went down with a sore elbow back in May. The key to that success was his finding a way to throw strikes. He can get hitters out when he gets ahead and keeps them guessing. He may not be back this season (Dr. James Andrews has been reviewing his elbow status, so Tommy John surgery hasn't been ruled out). The interesting angle here is role. The Diamondbacks are struggling to find a closer. They are reportedly considering a move to the bullpen for De La Rosa. He has closer tools. Hmmm, not such a wild idea.
Jordan Zimmermann (Tigers) – It's been a tale of two seasons for Zimmerman who sailed into June with an 8-2 record, a 1.15 WHIP, and a sparkling 2.58 ERA. While apparently trying to pitch through some nagging injuries, he struggled through June, came back (probably too soon) in early August to a thrashing, and then went back on the disabled list with a sorrowful 1.30 WHIP and an inflated 4.44 ERA. Reports are that he's now healthy and could be back in about a week. A healthy Zimmermann could be a huge asset to a fantasy team looking for quality innings.
Stephen Strasburg (Nationals) – You may be surprised to see Strasburg on this list (Clayton Kershaw was nearly included, too), but three August starts with a barking elbow darkened Strasburg's stat line pretty well. In just under 12 innings, he padded on 19 runs and saw his ERA skyrocket by nearly a full run (2.63 compared to 3.59). He'll be back next week looking to tune up for the post season. The Nationals feel the brief rest will have allowed his elbow to calm down, and it could spell domination.
Some Notable Rotation Ramblings:
- I considered including James Paxton to the above list, but he struggled in his first outing after coming off the disabled list. He reportedly tore a fingernail and the injury kept him from using his full arsenal of pitches. He can be tough if this doesn't impact his pitch selection. For the time being, watch but don't touch.
- Carlos Martinez torched the Brewers the other night, ringing up a career-high 13 strikeouts in a six inning performance that the bullpen promptly gave away. I have actually considered doing a whole column on tempering expectations after a pitcher handcuffs a particularly weak hitting opponent (like Milwaukee).
- Another guy I considered putting on the watch list left his last start with an injury. Oakland's Sean Manaea looks like he's getting it together, but with the A's out of the hunt, they aren't going to take unnecessary chances. He was diagnosed with a rhomboid strain. He's day to day so he could be back soon. Take a look.
- Jacob deGrom of the Mets had a start skipped after getting battered in back to back outings. The team insists it's not an injury but rather some flaws in his mechanics. Everything suggests that this is true, so some minor adjustments could fix things. The best idea is to watch his next start and see where he is.
- A pitcher I have always liked – Kansas City's Ian Kennedy – is proving you can be a strikeout pitcher without the major gas. He's averaging over two strikeouts per nine innings more than teammate Yordano Ventura despite his fastball being clocked four ticks slower. Location, location, location.
- I'm tempted to say the Pirates' Ray Searage can potentially turn any nondescript starter into a difference maker. The team picks up Ivan Nova at the deadline and all he has done is go 4-0 with 22 strikeouts and one (1) walk since coming on board. Can you say, "Arrrrgh, me hearties?"
Endgame Odyssey:
- There's nothing imminent to be sure, but the Mariners may have an evolving option should current closer, Edwin Diaz, need a fill-in. I watched Dan Altavilla the other day, and there was a lot to like. Diaz is the real deal, but that's another arm to monitor. I think Daniel Hudson may have once again arrived at the closer's ball in Arizona. Now he just needs to keep his glass slippers on and get the job done. Kelvin Herrera has done a respectable job closing in Kansas City, and Wade Davis is really better suited to a set-up role where they can more effectively dole out his innings. Might they leave things as they are now? The Angels are now doubtful Cam Bedrosian will return this season. That leaves Fernando Salas as first call for saves. He's not recommended, but alternatives are few and far between. The Padres used Kevin Quackenbush to finish out a game, but Brandon Maurer is probably not out of a job. He had thrown 38 pitches the night before. If Maurer struggles, just be aware of who's likely next in the food chain. The Nationals can't find anyone to take on Jonathan Papelbon, but at least they have stabilized their end game heading towards the playoffs with Mark Melancon. They may look at Trevor Rosenthal next year, but Seung Hwan Oh is trying to make sure they look at him for something other than closing duties.
