Jordan Schafer - As David mentioned, Jordan Schafer did make his anticipated Astro debut yesterday, going 0-4 before being lifted for a pinch-hitter. Schafer is likely to be the starting CF the rest of the way for Houston, and it is indeed possible that our judgment of Schafer has been colored a bit because of a number of issues. Schafer had 74 XBH as a 20 year old at two levels of A-ball back in 2007, and he was well on his way to tearing up AA in 2008 when a somewhat controversial suspension for HGH use was levied. Schafer has never talked much about the suspension aside from denying that he took any performance enhancing substances, but the unfortunate fact is that he's done just this side of nothing since then from a performance standpoint....although the cynic in me would say that a 2009 wrist injury could be the real culprit here. Schafer also hasn't been able to put together 200 AB's in one place since 2008, adding another footnote to his performance record. He clearly had power at one point, and he clearly has speed....contact has always been an issue for him whether there's been power present or not, and I think that will be the primary issue going forward. There is always a tendency to write guys like Schafer off after they've scuffled for a few seasons, but at just 24 years of age, there is still upside potential here....particularly in a bandbox like Houston. I certainly wouldn't go so far as to recommend him for a starting OF slot in any format, but for keeper leaguers he is an interesting guy to try and stash away for 2012.
Jason Motte - Motte came on to get the last two outs after Fernando Salas blew his second save in a row last night, and with knee-jerk Tony at the helm of the Cards, two games might be enough to get Motte involved in the next save opportunity. Motte hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 20 innings, a stretch of solid performances that has been buoyed by tremendous improvements in both BB rate and GB rate. He is absolutely a solid "closer-in-waiting" behind Salas right now.
Jair Jurrjens - Jurrjens did post his first quality start of the month yesterday, scattering 13 baserunners over 6 1/3 to pick up win number 13. Jurrjens also struck out one for the third consecutive start, dropping his K/9 to 5.36 for the year. Aside from the control improvement this year, we're dealing with a pitcher suffering from a substantial velocity drop, a K/9 that has gone from slightly below average to well below average, and an extremely fortuitous BABIP and strand rate. Jurrjens has had enough of a track record of success pitching with mediocre peripherals that I know better than to forecast doom, but I'd be very surprised if he performed at better than a mid-rotational level going forward, and the risk of collapse for a pitcher like this is significantly greater than it may appear at first blush.
J.D. Martinez - Martinez is 8-14 with 3 doubles and a homer in his past three games, and I'll reiterate my positive stance on him despite a lack of a prospect pedigree. Martinez just turned 24, and he has a career minor league line of 342/407/551. He has little speed and his contact rate is going to be an issue, but that performance record is too much to ignore. Martinez remains rather underrated, and I'd certainly be willing to give him a shot in most formats.
Nathan Eovaldi - Nate Eovaldi allowed his first homer in his fourth MLB start last night, but once again he managed to make it through five innings allowing only one run despite suspect peripherals. Eovaldi's stuff is not in question, but his control and his ability to consistently miss bats at higher levels are. For me, he remains an intriguing option down the stretch mostly due to the combination of friendly environs and solid raw stuff, but I'd likely limit his usage to deeper formats as a spot starter at this point....fully admitting that there's substantial risk (both upside and downside) here.
