Pablo Sandoval (3B – Giants) – Better late than never for Kung Fu Panda. Another HR on Saturday gives him 8 for the season. But more importantly, he has 2 in the last 3 games including 2 RBI, 3 BB, and 3 runs. He has hit safely in 8 of his last 10 games with four of those coming as multi-hit games. Sure, Sandoval has been a huge bust this season for fantasy owners. But with the Giants playing for keeps, perhaps Sandoval can find a little lightning in a bottle for the final six weeks of the season. He’s certainly showing signs of it.
Hong-Chih Kuo (RP – Dodgers) – Who had a chance to hop on the Hong-Chih Kuo bandwagon on Friday? After the Dodgers decided to give Jonathan Broxton a brief sabbatical from his closer role, Kuo delivered in his first opportunity, pitching a perfect 9th inning while recording 2 K’s and a save. It was his fourth of the season, but his first as the “official closer.” If you need help in the 9th, Kuo is your man. He’s probably long gone by now, but if you have the chance to grab him, he could help you with a few saves until the Dodgers decide they have confidence in Broxton again. One thing to keep in mind is that manager Joe Torre indicated he may shy away from using Kuo in back-to-back days because of Kuo’s shoulder injury in April.
Bud Norris (SP – Astros) – Norris had one of those “freak” starts on Saturday, posting 14 K’s in 7.0 IP. It was only his 2nd quality start in the last 7 starts as he allowed just 2 ER and 5 hits while allowing 1 BB. Norris has always had impressive strikeout numbers, averaging a K/I over 1.0 in the minors and now posting the same impressive rate in approximately 100 IP this year. Despite just the one walk on Saturday, the BB have been high with a 3.9 BB/9 this season, leading to a WHIP of 1.49 and an ERA of 5.42. That 5.42 is actually an improvement from the 6.84 posted at the end of June. Norris deserves a claim simply for the K’s, but it may come with inflated ERA/WHIP and rare “W” opportunities on a bad Astros team.
Madison Bumgarner (SP – Giants) – Four straight starts without a “W” for Bumgarner, but Saturday’s start was a quality one with a line of 7.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, and 2 K’s. The K’s have been few and far between, especially recently. His K/9 is just 6.25 for the season, but he has kept the BB rate low as well at 2.42, leaving to a K/BB of 2.59. He is 6-for-9 in quality starts dating back to July 1st. In fact, he has allowed 2 or fewer runs in half of all of his 10 starts this year.
Francisco Cordero (RP – Reds) – I don’t know how the Reds are going to get through the next 6 weeks with Francisco Cordero pitching this poorly. He has allowed 5 ER in the last 6.2 IP, walking 9 and striking out 7. Each outing with him has been shaky and while he hasn’t blown a save since early July and is 31-for-37 for the season, you have to wonder how long the Reds will put up with all of the walks. For now, he’s the guy and the Reds will stick with him until he really implodes.
