Travis Blackley- OAK- Hot- Blackley threw 3 scoreless innings of emergency relief after Brandon McCarthy was hit in the head with a liner. If MCcarthy can't make his next scheduled start, Blackley would be a prime candidate to sub for him. As a starter this year, Blackley has posted a 3.97 ERA and 1.14 WHIP.
Ubaldo Jimenez- CLE- FYI- Jimenez actually turned in a decent outing on the road yesterday. Coming in with a 7.34 ERA away from Cleveland, he allowed 4 runs on 6 hits and a walk while striking out 3 over 7.1 IP. He didn't get a quality start due to giving up a pair of runs each in his first and last innings in which he pitched. However, the low walk total and consistency between those innings indicates that a lot of Jimenez's problems on the road this year may be due to his .343 road BABIP. Jimenez could have a decent comeback in 2013.
Doug Fister- DET- Hot- Fister had his control back yesterday, walking just one batter in his 7 innings of work. In his previous two starts, sandwiched around some time off due to a groin strain, he had walked 7 in 8.2 IP. That was uncharacteristically wild for Fister so yesterday's outing was a very positive sign that he might be healthy down the stretch.
Rajai Davis- TOR- Hot- Davis went 2-for-4 with 3 RBI and his first homer since July 30th. At that point he had already exceeded his career best of 5 homers in a season and looked like he was going to blow it away. Even with the power drought since then and a fading batting average, Davis has collected more runs, RBI and steals than he did in 2011, albeit with more playing time. With 40 steals, Davis has significant fantasy value even with his average at .245. He does have a BABIP of .291, below his career mark of .315 which is more what you would expect from someone with his speed. If he can regain the power he showed earlier this season and gets more normal luck next season, Davis can help in multiple categories.
Russell Martin- NYY- Hot- Regression to the mean may finally be kicking in for Martin. His BABIP was up to .211 before he went 2-for-4 with a homer and 3 RBI yesterday. It pulled Martin's average above the Mendoza line to .202 and gives him 15 homers on the season. He is 4-for-13 in September and there is still plenty of room for more positive regression.
Follow me on Twitter all season - @fantisticspaul
There are over 100 player news blurbs posted in the member area each morning. Members can read the rest of today's player news by clicking here. Not a member? Join today.
