Huston Street- SD- Hot- Like the Maytag repairman, the life of a closer on a victory-challenged team can be a lonely one. Street got his second save of the season last night and has performed well whenever called upon. He has struck out 9 batters in 7 IP and only allowed 3 hits and walked 1. If nothing else he is making himself a tempting trade target for a contender. Street value would go up on a team with a need for a closer and the ability to generate more save situations.
Chipper Jones- ATL- Old Player- Impending retirement seems to agree with Chipper. With an average of .278 despite a BABIP of .233, Jones is poised to benefit from regression to the mean. His Batting EYE has been a phenomenal 1.25, giving him a solid OBP of .357 even while battling bad luck. Jones' 3 homers in 36 ABs and ISO of .278 are nothing to sneeze at. Jones' final season is shaping up as one with fantasy value.
Edwin Jackson- WAS- Hot- Jackson has been inconsistent this season, alternating non-quality starts with quality ones in his first 4 outings. Last night was the turn for a good start and he did it, throwing 6.2 scoreless IP, allowing 6 hits and walking 3 while striking out 6. The walks are part of the inconsistency, as that was a season high following on a start where he walked no one in 5 IP. Jackson's strikeout ability has stayed steady, though, as he has averaged at least a K per inning in each start until falling just a hair below that last night. His 9.12 K/9 is a big jump from the 6.67 he posted last year and higher than he has ever finished a season. Jackson's current 3.16 ERA also contains a luck component, as his BABIP is .265. He will be helped the rest of the season by having home games at Nationals park, but he looks like a sell high candidate right now.
Edinson Volquez- SD- FYI- Volquez has started 4 games at home and one on the road. The road game wasn't a quality start. All but one of the home games have been and in the one that wasn't he allowed 2 earned runs on 3 hits and 4 walks in 5 IP while striking out 7. Volquez has struck out 27 batters in 25 home IP and 2 in 5 IP away from Petco. The numbers are early, but it looks like Volquez might be well suited to pitch in his friendly home environment.
San Diego- SD- Idea- Jeff Moorad and his refusal to radically alter the dimensions of Petco Park are gone as CEO as of last month and interim CEO Tom Garfinkel says that the park is "too extreme." As a result, the Padres are almost certain to shift the balance back towards hitters next season. Garfinkel says that he still wants Petco to be a pitchers' park, but not to the extent it is now. For those of you who are in keeper leagues, keep this in mind when you are dealing. San Diego pitchers won't have the same kind of bonus and their hitters won't have as many dead periods at home.
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