James Shields - Shields managed a QS Wednesday against the Mariners, just his second in the last 5 starts, with a 6 2/3 IP, 2 ER outing in which he walked 4 and fanned 7. Shields is generating swinging strikes at a rate far above the rest of his career, but an elevated walk rate and an abysmal road ERA of 5.50 have hurt him more than the K increase has helped. He's also down about a full mph with his fastball velocity this year, something that might have a bit to do with the 2nd highest hard contact rate of his career this season. I still expect Shields to improve upon his current performance for the remainder of the year, and the K's definitely keep him a must-own, but he's far more of a pitcher to pick your spots with this year than I think anyone anticipated.
Brett Anderson - I am loving Brett Anderson right now, as after another 7 IP, 1 ER outing on Wednesday he's managed a QS in 4 straight and 8 of his last 9. Even with the 17 K's in the last two outings he's not likely to become a premier bat-misser, but with a GB rate near 70% he doesn't need to be. He's looking like a slightly lesser version of Dallas Keuchel, keeping in mind that Keuchel has been extremely fortunate with his BABIP this year. I see no reason that Anderson can't finish the year as a top-60 SP at the very least, which makes him a pretty clear starter in most formats.
Justin Turner - We now have roughly 480 ABs over which Turner has hit .330 with 34 2B, 2 3B, and 18 HR to go along with 80 RBI. At this point, I think it's simply time to admit that we were all, and I do mean all, horribly, irretrievably wrong about this guy. He hits line drives at well over a 25% clip, his avg HR distance of 410 feet marks well with average to above average power, and he makes contact at an 85% rate. Yes, it's unusual for guys to "figure it out" at age 29-30, but this stretch is getting a bit too prolonged to call it a fluke. Let's add in the fact that his soft contact rate is below 10%, he's finally hitting the ball in the air more, and he may very well be able to play every position but catcher in your league depending on eligibility requirements....he's become a must-own player.
Robbie Ray - Ray was fair on Wednesday against the Dodgers, going 6 innings and allowing 7 hits and 4 runs with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. Ray is a flyball guy in a tough park for that and has posted a crazy-low BABIP of .252 so far this year, but enough of the negatives. In every measure that matters, Ray has improved significantly this year: velocity (up over 2 mph), swinging strike% (up 1.7%), walk rate (down 1.2), and chase rate (up 4.8%). These are major moves, and they have elevated Ray from JAG to a lefty that I am starting to feel comfortable with when he's away from AZ. I still don't trust him against any offense outside of the bottom 10 at home, but I'd say half of the time he's looking like a viable option at this point.
Scooter Gennett - Gennett picked up 3 RBIs Wednesday on two doubles and a triple, and he's now gone 9-25 with 5 XBH (including 2 HR and just 1 K) in the past week. I'm a firm believer in Gennett's ability to be a starter in almost all formats at a weak position like 2B, but his pre-June performance wasn't helping my credibility at all. The .239 BABIP on a LD rate over 22% was an issue to be sure, but since he's hitting a cool .300 with an ISO over .250 since returning from the minors, I think it's safe to say that we're already heading back in the right direction. He should be owned and started in most formats.
