Rich Harden (SP - Cubs) - Rich Harden had his worst outing since the all-star break, allowing 5 ER and 6 BB in 5.0 IP to the Astros. The loss evens his record at 8-8 for the year and raises his ERA to over 4.00 once again. Despite the rough outing, it has been a tale of two pitchers from the first half of the season and the second half. Prior to the break, Harden posted a 5.47 ERA, a 1.54 WHIP, and a K/9 of 10.1. Since the All-Star game, Harden has a 2.45 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and a K/9 of 11.3. Chalk up yesterday's outing to a bad day at the office and look forward to his second start of the week against the Mets on Saturday. His strikeout rate remains really strong and he has been healthy enough all season to rely on him as one of your main starters for the homestretch.
Jorge Cantu (3B - Marlins) - Jorge Cantu finally found a multi-hit game in that slumping bat, going 2-for-4 with a couple of runs against the Braves on Monday. He closes the month of August hitting just .231 with 2 HR, 12 RBI, and a OBP of .308. Not stellar number from Cantu who for the season is hitting .276 with 13 HR and a .337 OBP. His power numbers are way down relative to the rest of his career. Excluding 2007 due to injuries, Cantu entered 2009 averaging a HR for every 23.1 AB. This season, he's at 35.7 with a sub-.800 OPS. He got off to a hot start with 10 HR before the all-star break, but has been cold ever since, hitting just 3 HR in 147 AB in the last 2 months.
Joey Votto (1B - Reds) - Votto's August isn't anything to write home about and his 0-for-9 in yesterday's double-header was a tough way to start one of the final fantasy weeks of the year. That 0-fer makes him hitless in the last 3 games and ends his August average at .240. Despite the low average, he still posted a .361 OBP for August averaging a BB for every 7.0 plate appearances. Its been a pretty crazy year for Votto owners. Some slumping months and some stellar months mixed-in with anxiety and depression issues. One this is for sure: his 0.76 FPI, 18.3 AB/HR, and .921 OPS is a stellar fantasy mix and he will fly up draft boards in 2010.
Carlos Beltran (OF - Mets) - The Mets obviously have nothing to play for at this point in the season, but that's not keeping them from bringing Beltran back before the end of the year. Beltran will begin his rehab assignment with the Single-A Brooklyn Cyclones on Wednesday and if all goes as planned, could be back with the team as early as next fantasy week. I know, we've heard this story before. Beltran has been out since late June with a bone bruise, but with a rehab assignment scheduled, this looks to be for real. If we don't see any setbacks, Beltran could be a nice fantasy bump when he is needed most. It remains to be seen just how much the Mets will push Beltran in the final weeks of the year, but if he's in the Mets lineup, you have to assume a banged-up Beltran is as good as your #3 OF.
Jon Garland (SP - Dodgers) - Jon Garland was the other "big" name to make a move on Monday night, heading from the Diamondbacks to the Dodgers in time to be on the post-season roster. Garland's numbers weren't great this year with a 4.29 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 4.46 K/9 and an 8-11 record. Staying in the same division will obviously not have a huge effect on his numbers. But he does move from a 45h place team to the highest winning percentage team in the NL, which should put him in a better position to the earn the W. Just a slight up tick with this trade and a down arrow for Charlie Haeger who will now be bumped from the rotation to the bullpen.
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