Shelby Miller-Cardinals-SP
Shelby Miller went 6 innings and gave up 1 ER on 5 hits, 0 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Miller has a 3.75 ERA over 172.2 innings with 115 strikeouts. Miller has been up and down this year. He has taken some serious steps back in 2014. His strikeout rate has dropped from 8.78 K/9 (2013) to a measly 5.94 K/9 this year. He has also seen his BB/9 increase to 3.83 from 2.96. Miller just does not have same stuff he did a year ago. His swinging strike rate has hit a career low 6.9%, which means he simply doesn't miss a whole lot of bats. You can find better options than Miller at this point.
Devin Mesoraco-Reds-C
Devin Mesoraco was 1-3 with a RBI and a walk in the win against the Brewers. Mesoraco is slashing .282/23/74. Mesoraco has enjoyed a fine breakout season in 2014. With the full time catching gig in check, Mesoraco has taken off with the bat. The biggest difference for Mesoraco has been an increase in FB% from 33%-43%. This has allowed Mesoraco to reach a career high in homeruns (23). Mesoraco will be one of the top catchers drafted next year, but it will be interesting to see if he can repeat his breakout season.
Tyson Ross-Padres-SP
Tyson Ross went 3 innings and gave up 4 ER on 5 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Ross has a 2.81 ERA over 195.1 innings with 195 strikeouts. Ross does not get the attention that he deserves for year that he has had in 2014. Ross was money down the stretch for the Padres in 2013 and he has continued that success into 2014. People will point to the fact that he pitches half of his games at Petco Park, but Ross has been no slouch on the road. He owns a 2.72 xFIP at home and a 3.54 xFIP away from Petco. Ross also owns a very nice 24% K-rate and some will point to his low BABIP of .224, but it is almost identical to what he posted a year ago. Ross will continue to be an ace who comes at a significant discount, but that could change next year, as people realize how good he really is.
Doug Fister-Nationals-SP
Doug Fister went 6 innings and gave up 2 ER on 5 hits, 1 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Fister has a 2.55 ERA over 148.1 innings with 88 strikeouts. Fister has been all that Nationals could have asked for, in coming over from Detroit. Fister is a much better real-life pitcher, than a fantasy stud. Fister doesn't walk batters (1.33 BB/9) and has a healthy GB rate (48.8% GB), but doesn't strikeout a ton of batters (5.37 K/9). This limits his fantasy value and prevents him from moving up into the elite SP tier.
Matt Kemp-Dodgers-OF
Matt Kemp was 3-4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI in the win against the Giants. Kemp is slashing .284/19/75 with 8 SB. Kemp has bounced back from two off-season surgeries to have a decent 2014 season. Kemp has flashed his potential at times, but simply is not the same player he once was. He no longer runs like he did and his power has returned to a more realistic level compared to 2011. Kemp has made mechanical changes to his swing since the All-Star break and it has added 16ft. to his average batted ball distance. With all that being said, Kemp is still very valuable based upon his contributions across the board. He just is not the top 5 player we thought he was going to be. *Kemp did leave the game in the sixth after fouling a ball off his foot.
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