Robinson Cano (2B-NYM) - One of my shallower leagues is a 10-team mixed league with friends, and out of curiosity after seeing what Cano did Tuesday, I did in fact confirm that Cano was a free agent in that league. I have Keston Hiura in that league, but I did go ahead and add Cano because he also qualifies at first base. Yeah, adding him yesterday would have been nice, as Cano hit a career-high three home runs Tuesday, going 4-for-4 with three runs and five RBI to improve from .243/.288/.377 to .254/.298/.418. Not bad adding 41 points of slugging in one night this late in the year. Cano has been red hot since the break, going 13-for-38 with five homers and a pair of doubles in four games after homering just four times in 65 games before the break. He obviously should be owned in all formats now.
Dallas Keuchel (SP-ATL) - Boy, how many teams are kicking themselves for not signing Keuchel to a mere one-year prorated deal? In a no-decision Tuesday, Keuchel held the Royals to two runs over six innings while striking out a season-high 12 while lowering his ERA to 3.50. Keuchel entered the game with an 88 mph average fastball, which is a full 1.3 mph off last year's mark, but does it really matter at these speeds? Plus, I'd imagine the number to trend up a bit as he settles in. Keuchel is a perfect fit for this young rotation and I think he'll continue to get better in his first taste of NL hitters.
Caleb Smith (SP-MIA) - Smith was dominant Tuesday, holding the White Sox to one run on two hits over seven innings to improve to 6-4 with a 3.30 ERA. He walked two and struck out nine, and now has a solid 110:30 K:BB in 90 innings. Smith has been pretty consistent all year, holding hitters to a .193 BA. Home runs have been an issue, but he's now allowed just one long ball in his last three games. Smith has seen his velocity drop a bit the past couple years, but he has one of the best sliders in the league, and though his change grades below average, it's flashed plus potential at times. Smith is already 27 with just 34 big league starts under his belt, but the Marlins look to have found a good one.
Zach Davies (SP-MIL) - Think the Brewers need starting pitching at the deadline? To be fair, Davies has been solid this year, but the Reds touched hi for seven runs (six earned) on nine hits over four innings Tuesday, though he did post a 7:1 K:BB. Davies' ERA sits at an excellent 3.17, though he entered the game 8-2 with a 2.67 ERA, so this game left a mark. His FIP coming into the game however was 4.29, so some regression was expected, and with a 1.9 BB/K prior to Tuesday, he hasn't exactly been dominant. Speaking of lack of dominance, the seven K's aside, Davies entered the game with a poor 5.6 K/9 due in large part to his upper-80s fastball. A big league pitcher with a 2.79 ERA over his first 20 starts isn't terrible, but just realize he's not that good and you won't be too disappointed.
Chris Archer (SP-PIT) - Archer dropped to 3-7 Tuesday, allowing four runs in six innings against the Cardinals. Archer did post a 6:2 K:BB and throwing 63 of 97 pitches for strikes isn't bad, but a 5.40 ERA speaks for itself. We can think of a lot of bad trades throughout the years (Pedro Martinez anyone?), but the Rays receiving Austin Meadows, Tyler Glasnow, AND Shane Baz for Archer may go down as one of the worst ever. Archer entered the game with a quality 10.5 K/9, but these tell a different story - 4.5 BB/9, 2.2 HR/9. His 35.6% GB% has taken a big step back, his 22.2% HR/FB rate is nearly double league average, and while his 94 mph avg FB and 12.9% swinging strike rate are both in line with his prime years, just watch him pitch. The location isn't there at all. That speaks to his command and control, and those aren't easy to fix. I wouldn't touch him in 12-team mixed leagues.
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