Lance Lynn (SP-STL): The Reds roughed up Lynn, blasting three homers and scoring 4 runs across 5 innings to serve him his 10th loss of the season. He allowed 7 hits and 4 walks, although he did strike out 6. Since a scorching first two months, Lynn has cooled off considerably and endured some rough outings such as this one. Thankfully for fantasy owners, his next start is scheduled for Wednesday at home against the Brewers, so he is a recommended option for next week. Keep in mind, however, that for the week of September 16th he is slated to be at the Rockies as part of a two-start week.
Adam Eaton (OF-ARI): Eaton went 2 for 5 with a run scored. The effort pushed his season line to .273/.343/.410. Eaton's EYE sits at .40, but his minor league track record of .80 suggests that improvement is in order once he gets more reps at the MLB level. I look for him to finish 2013 with a bang, and if he stays healthy in 2014, he could easily hit 8-10 homers, steal 35-40 bases, while hitting for a solid average atop the Diamondbacks lineup. If you can scoop him up at a discount, I'd pounce.
Jose Fernandez (SP-MIA): Fernandez will make what is likely his penultimate start later today against Dan Haren and the Nats. He is scheduled to get the Braves at home in his final start of the season, one that has been sensational in every sense of the word. He has posted a 173:53 K:BB ratio and a 2.33 ERA/3.01 xFIP through his first 158 and 2/3 innings, and most impressively, has been a better pitcher overall in the 2nd half. Owners should be making plans to be without him for the week of September 16th. They are also advised to speak with a friend or a grief counselor.
Tony Cingrani (SP-CIN): Cingrani (back) picked up his 7th win after allowing 2 earned runs across 5 and 1/3 innings in his return to the rotation. The lefty struck out 7 and allowed 4 hits and 3 walks. While his 2.80 ERA/3.46 xFIP portends regression, his elite 29% K-rate makes him a must-start down the stretch. Heading into 2014, however, I fear Cingrani may be overrated. He hasn't shown much progress in mixing in a consistently effective secondary offering to pair with his elite fastball, and his extreme flyball tendency could spell trouble down the road. If he can find a way to address these concerns, the upside is there for him to be special, but be careful for paying too much too soon.
Starling Marte (OF-PIT): According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Marte (hand) is still unable to swing the bat with both hands and is progressing slower than expected. The most optimistic scenarios have him playing in simulated games towards the end of next week, with a late-September return to the lineup. If you have the bench/DL space, I'd keep him, as very few players posses 15 homer/40-steal skills and he could fill the stat sheet up in a hurry. However, if you are in need of the space, this news makes him droppable in most yearly formats.
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