Ricky Nolasco:
Nolasco continues to get victimized by a horrible Strand Rate. He allowed just 5 base-runners on Friday night over 7 innings, but 3 of them found their way across home plate on a 3 run HR by Jeff Francouer. As expected by the horrible Strand Rate Nolasco’s splits with men on vs. bases empty is significant (.936 OPS vs. .634 OPS). Considering last season Nolasco’s was actually better with men on, and virtually little difference (.632 OPS vs. .720 OPS), my guess is this year’s low Strand Rate is a statistical anomaly and Nolasco will be a terrific candidate for improvement in his ERA next season.
Martin Prado:
Prado’s gotten red-hot again here at the end of September as he picked up his 3rd consecutive multi-hit game and his 6th in his recent 8 game hitting streak. He even flashed some pop on Friday night knocking out his 11th HR of the season and picking up another 2B. Prado’s made enough of a case for a starting position next season, but of particular concern is Prado’s deteriorating EYE here in the 2nd half. After posting a magnificent 1.11 EYE in the first half, Prado’s posted a miserable .29 EYE here in the 2nd half. Having never been an everyday player, I wonder if some scouting reports have gotten around Prado or if he’s just wearing down. Regardless the deteriorating EYE would take away Prado’s greatest skill, his batting average capabilities. Owners looking at Prado as a potential MI sleeper option next season in the mold of Placido Polanco, may want to keep an eye on his “EYE” down the stretch.
Jon Garland:
Garland was really good again on Friday night not allowing an ER over his 6 innings of work, but the Dodgers defense didn’t help him out as a couple errors in the first 3 innings led to 3 unearned runs. He walked just one and allowed 6 hits, while striking out 6, lowering his Dodgers ERA to 1.91. Garland’s been little more than a matchups option throughout his career and since coming over to LAD has feasted on some favorable matchups (ARZ, ARZ, PIT, SF, PIT). For those scoring at home those are the offenses ranked 19th, 28th, and 30th in OPS this season, and Garland’s on pace to get the 27th ranked offense in his final start of the season next week against the Padres.
Kevin Correia:
There might not be a hotter pitcher in baseball right now than Kevin Correia. He tossed his 5th consecutive quality start and picked up his 3rd win with a shutout of the Diamondbacks on Friday night. The peripherals continue to be tremendous as he struck out 7 and walked just 1, giving him 29 K’s and just 6 BB’s in 36 September innings (1.25 ERA, 0.89 WHIP). He’ll get the Diamondbacks again next week but this time at home and looks like an automatic start in all formats. He’s striking out more batters this season, walking fewer, and generating more ground balls. An improvement across the board in his peripherals is one heck of a way to drive improvement in production. He’s a lock for the Padres rotation next year and will be a decent late round sleeper pitching in friendly PETCO Park in the NL West division which is loaded with favorable matchups and parks to pitch in.
Chase Headley:
I’ve been waiting for 2+ years for Chase Headley to put some semblance of his minor league numbers to work at the major league level and we appear to finally be seeing it here in the 2nd half of 2009. Headley’s hit .302/.376/.444 here in the 2nd half with a 0.60 EYE and a 12.5% BB Rate. This is the type of production we saw from Headley in the minors while he compiled a .301/.399/.500 line in 4 minor league seasons. Headley’s quickly rising on my list of potential sleepers for 2010.
