Parker Bridwell (SP, LAA) - Bridwell notched his fifth quality start in seven tries in the Angels rotation, giving up two runs over seven innings with a walk and three strikeouts. His 3.09 ERA looks great and his 2.31 BB/9 does too, but a quick look at his peripherals puts a wet blanket on his outlook. A 91.1% strand rate is nearly 20% above average and is a mark that only elite relievers can even dream of sustaining. He also has a well below-average 5.79 K/9, and in fact induced just five whiffs in this start over 78 pitches. His success is also astounding given his 39% hard contact rate coming into the game, which of course bodes poorly for his future endeavors. His FIP sits at 5.27, more than two full runs above his ERA, and you can expect to see results closer to that moving forward than what he's posted up to this point.
Dylan Bundy (SP, BAL) - Bundy's struggles continued as he gave up seven runs over 5.1 innings against the Astros. He walked three and struck out four as his ERA rose to 4.53 over 119.1 innings. His slider got 16% whiffs in this game and continues to be a very good pitch for him, but his overall effectiveness has really dipped as the season has rolled along. His ERA has risen every month since his stellar 1.65 mark over 32.2 April innings, and he's failed to log a quality start in five of his last seven starts. He's actually had some BABIP fortune so far as well, with a .270 mark that is aided by an extreme fly ball tendency. He gave up two home runs in this start and on the season he has a 1.58 HR/9, but it wouldn't be a shock to see him give up a few more home runs down the stretch as he'll be pitching a lot of games in hitters parks in the AL East. His FIP and xFIP are both over five and he no longer gives you even league average strikeouts, making him a safe drop in shallow mixed leagues.
Tyler Clippard (RP, ChW) - Clippard wasn't tagged with the loss despite giving up the final hit that would seal the loss for Chicago. Clippard has now given up two runs over two appearances while retiring just one batter since joining the White Sox. He was tabbed the closer once coming aboard from the Yankees, most likely to try to pump up his trade value so the Sox could flip him again, but his ERA on the year is 5.15 and there are no signs of him turning things around any time soon. It should only be a matter of time before Rick Renteria pulls the plug on Clippard in the ninth, which should open up an opportunity for Anthony Swarzak to close (assuming he isn't traded). Swarzak came on early in relief, spelling starter Derek Holland in the fifth inning, but has been the best (remaining) part of the Sox bullpen this year. He has 50 strikeouts and 12 walks over 47 innings with a 2.30 ERA that would actually be beneficial to roster for fantasy purposes, unlike Clippard. Those in the hunt for saves should give Swarzak a look.
Lance McCullers Jr (SP, HOU) - McCullers had another rough day at the office, giving up six runs on nine hits over 4.2 innings. He only walked two but also recorded just three strikeouts, which is atypical for him. His K/9 is still very strong at 10.19, and his curveball got 19% whiffs, which is right in line with what his results have been all year. His walks are still very manageable at 2.86 BB/9, but given his 56% first pitch strike rate and 43.5 zone%, that number could tick up. An elite ground ball rate of 63% should be netting better than a .323 BABIP, especially given his impressive 24% hard contact rate. His FIP and xFIP are both under three, well below his 3.67 ERA, so this might be a good opportunity to buy low as McCullers has been in this rough patch for nearly a month now.
Jose Leclerc (RP, TEX) - Leclerc got the latest save for the Rangers, walking two and striking out two for his second save of the year. The back end of the Rangers pen has been tumultuous since the demotion of Matt Bush, but recently it's been Alex Claudio who had finished the Rangers previous four wins. Claudio was unavailable in this one due to a workload of 3.1 innings over the last two games, and rather than Kela it was Leclerc that got the fill-in work. Kela pitched the eighth inning with a lead the previous night, so it seems like we may finally be getting some definition, although it's not what we were hoping for in the fantasy realm. Claudio is a plus-command groundballer with an ugly 5.71 K/9, an even more extreme profile than the likes of Sam Dyson and Jeremy Jeffress that we've seen recently in Texas. It's an unattractive profile with very little role stability for the time being, but "saves is saves" as they say, so those in the perpetual hunt need to own Alex Claudio and hope that his 71% ground ball rate can help keep his ERA around 2.42, where it sits now, to offset the lack of strikeouts.
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