Nathan Eovaldi (SP-BOS) - Eovaldi put up 10 punchouts in just five innings Monday against a Baltimore team that has already locked up the 2019 #1 overall pick and is essentially just waiting for the season to be over. Opponent aside, Eovaldi may get one more start this weekend, but either way, it's been a successful return from injury considering he has a 3.88 ERA and solid 97:20 K:BB in 109 innings. Over his last four outings, Eovaldi has a 1.50 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 18 innings. He's averaging over 97 mph on his fastball, and though he's always been a hard thrower, he's somehow managed just a 6.7 K/9 for his career, limiting his overall fantasy upside. Eovaldi is set to become a free agent after the season, so his ultimate 2019 fantasy value will depend in part on where he lands.
Lance McCullers (P-HOU) - McCullers was activated from the DL on Monday from a forearm strain. He hasn't pitched since August 4 when he tossed four shutout innings against the Dodgers. In the three starts prior, McCullers had allowed 14 runs in 13.1 innings with a 15:10 K:BB, so perhaps he had been hurting for awhile. McCullers had a nice seven-start run between April 17 and May 20 in which he posted a 1.80 ERA, but otherwise, the consistency just hasn't been there. While he once looked like a potential #1 or #2 starter, McCullers has averaged just 19 starts over the last three seasons due to a variety of arm injuries. Don't be shocked to see him as a full-time reliever in 2019, where he could ultimately close given his 94+ mph fastball that could play up 2-3 mph as a reliever. He's all but certain to work out of the bullpen for the Astros this week.
Dylan Bundy (SP-BAL) - Bundy showed up to Fenway Park on Monday, but that was basically his biggest accomplishment on the night. He lasted just three innings, allowing four runs on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts. After back-to-back QS's prior to this one, Bundy regressed again and has now allowed 42 runs in 44.2 innings over his last nine starts, an 8.46 ERA. That leaves Bundy with a discouraging 5.49 ERA and 1.42 WHIP on the season, though his 177:53 K:BB in 165.2 innings is at least encouraging and probably enough to leave him as a favorite for a 2019 rotation spot. Bundy entered Monday's action allowing a .315 BA to LH hitters, so combined with a fastball that's dropped from 92.2 mph to 91.6 mph year-over-year, and it's been a year of regression. Bundy has shown enough flashes to offer hope for the future, but does anyone really expect a SP to flourish in Baltimore anymore?
Justin Smoak (1B-TOR) - It's been a tough year for Smoak, who went 1-for-4 with a run Monday and is now hitting .244/.353/.442 coming off a breakout .270/.355/.529 season in 2017. Most notably is the ISO drop from .259 to .198, and though the 25 homers and 77 RBI are nice, Smoak hit third on Monday, batting behind guys with OBPs of .294 and .309. The Jays at least get to add Vlad Guerrero Jr. next year, but the Jays have a bunch of low OBP guys while a team like the Rays saw their first five hitters Monday carrying a .356 OBP or greater. Smoak will return as the Toronto 1B next year, but hopefully he'll get some more support.
Dylan Covey (SP-CHW) - Covey isn't an elite future talent at 27, but he's shaping up to be a possible back-end of the rotation guy over the next few years. Sure, the 5.06 ERA and 1.50 WHIP are troubling, but after six shutout innings Monday against the Indians, Covey has now tossed 12 scoreless over his last two starts with a 12:4 K:BB. He's averaging a solid 94.2 mph with his fastball, but the relative lack of command and control (4.0 BB/9) has limited his K/9 to 6.8 and drove an overall lack of consistency. He'll get one more start and looks to be a strong contender for a 2019 rotation slot despite the ERA.
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