Robbie Ray (P-ARI): Robbie Ray lost after allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks with five strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings vs. the Orioles. With the Orioles struggling against lefties and Ray thriving on the Road, the matchup had upside potential, but Ray was done in by the two things that have hampered him all season: control and the longball. He is one of only 10 pitchers to have eclipsed 200 strikeouts in 2016, however, and his 3.34 xFIP suggests that with normalized ratios, Ray has elite upside. With a matchup on tap at Washington, Ray should be started in all leagues outside of situations where ratio protection is paramount.
Dan Straily (P-CIN): Dan Straily won after allowing one run on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings vs. the Brewers. While the surface numbers for the season look solid--155:71 K:BB ratio, a 3.74 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP--Straily's peripherals tell a different story. He has allowed a .237 BABIP despite a 33 percent hard hit rate while stranding 80 percent of runners. The 13 percentage-point jump in his first-pitch strike percentage has made him more effective, but outside of standard points leagues and deeper ROTO leagues, Straily looks like a trap play.
Sean Rodriguez (INF/OF-PIT): Sean Rodriguez turned in a rare hitless game, going 0-for-3 with a walk as the Pirates fell to the Nats. Rodriguez has quietly enjoyed a legitimate breakout in his age-31 season, hitting 18 homers with a .264 AVG while posting vastly improved walk and hard hit rates. The Pirates are giving him looks every day across the diamond, which will give him multi-positional eligibility possessed by view others in 2017. His offseason landing spot and subsequent role will be crucial to his draft day value, but he once had prospect pedigree and should not be forgotten should he find full-time ABs.
Hunter Renfroe (OF-SD): Hunter Renfroe went 2-for-4 with a double, a homer and two runs scored to help the Padres defeat the Giants. The 2013 first round pick hit 77 homers in 438 MiLB games, showing power than should translate to the Majors. He also demonstrated contact and plate discipline issues that MLB pitchers will likely expose. He has the goods to adjust and should be started in all formats where power is needed down the stretch, but be careful about paying for 30-homers just yet. There will be growing pains.
A.J. Cole (P-WAS): FanDuel tournament players can look to A.J. Cole ($5900) for his matchup against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Cole has posted a 24 percent strikeout rate and has allowed a 25 percent hard hit rate across 32 2/3 innings and has looked more confortable on the road. He'll be facing a Pittsburgh team that's 19th in total offense against righties in a park that's 13th on overall Park Factors for 2016. The fact that many National regulars will likely sit may scare off tournament players, which could create a great opportunity in large fields.
