As the story goes, Daniel Mengden entered the Lion’s Den Friday night with a 6.59 ERA through 17 career major league starts, and somehow left the game with his first career complete game shut out allowing just two hits and striking out seven retiring the last 11 batters in the row for his first win of the year. He looked dominant at times allowing only two base runners in the outing with Philadelphia not being able to manage any hard contact off the young right hander, who’s got a funky handle-bar mustache and an even funkier looking windup/delivery. This was by far the best start of the 24-year old’s young career, and just his second scoreless start in the majors. He added his first career hit as well and scored a run to help his cause. Whata night for the youngster! After struggling with a 6.50 ERA, and 1.61 WHIP through 14 starts last year, and two subpar outings in May/June of this year, Mengden has returned to the rotation in September and now put up back-to-back quality starts including a six inning two earned run performance against the fearsome Astros line up last week. Mengden may not be the safest fantasy option out there on waivers, but the A’s seem to be playing the role of spoiler late in the year and he remains a pitcher available in most leagues. I’d take a flier on Mengden, bible readers know how Daniel fared against the lions, let’s hope he can keep it going as he heads to the Tigers den next week in Detroit.
Here’s what else I saw in fantasy baseball Friday night:
Jason Vargas – 5.0 IP, 5 hits, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 16th win. Stop the presses! Fire off the smoke signals! Someone finally beat the Injians! America’s team win streak ends at 22 in a row! Doesn’t it kind of make sense that America’s team would be the Indians? No? Yes? Doesn’t matter. Their reign of terror is over and we can all go home now. Andrew Jackson would be so proud.
Trevor Bauer – 5.1 IP, 9 hits, 4 ER, BB, 6 K. After reeling off nine wins in a row, Big Trev took his first loss since July 16. Not a bad run for the lefty strikeout machine, but now that this silly streak is over, time to get back to doing what he does best, his true passion: piloting drones.
Mike Minor – 1.0 IP, hit, 3 K, SV (1). The Injians threatened a comeback in this one with a base hit to lead off the ninth but Mike Minor shut them down most impressively striking out the side. Could Minor could be the new closer in Kansas City for the next two weeks? My Scientologist’s Mark Super VII Quantum E-Meter says–actually it doesn’t really work that way, I might grab Minor if I need saves, however. I’d be careful grabbing minors anywhere else though!
Brandon Moss – 1-for-4, HR (22). Grey told you to BUY and he hit a home run! That’s how this fantasy advice stuff works! At least, that’s how it’s supposed to work.
Jose Ramirez – 1-for-4, HR (27). Hitting .450 with 7 homers and 13 RBI over the past two weeks. Did I mention the Indians have been winning a lot? Did I mention he might be a big reason why? No, I didn’t, did I? I feel like no one ever mentions this guy and he’s slashing .314/.367/.576 with 98 runs, 27 homers, 75 RBI, and 15 steals. We are witnessing the emergence of a perennial first rounder people. It’s new and it’s powerful and it’s all VERY EXCITING!
Boog Powell – 2-for-4. As per usual, the Oakland Athletics remain a reliable source of late season fantasy acquisitions. Thank you Brad Pitt–err, I mean, Billy Beane.
Matt Olson – 1-for-4, HR (19), 2 RBI. His eighth dinger in the past two weeks, he’s batting .319 with 14 RBI in that stretch (11 in his past 17 games). This home run was especially especial because it was a 483 foot SHOT. Why did I feel the need to capitalize shot? I think it’s obvious. He would have been the lede but Grey just told you to BUY him here. He’s gotta be the hottest bat available on the wire right now. Better question: will he be this year’s Ryon Healy or last year’s Josh Donaldson. I guess that depends if he gets traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Kris Bryant – 3-for-4, HR (27), 2 RBI. THE POWER OF KRIS COMPELS ME! THE POWER OF KRIS COMPELS ME!
Alex Wood – 6.0 IP, 3 hits, BB, 8 K, 15th win. His first quality start in almost two weeks. FINALLY. Nats be damned! Everything was working for Wood last night. The fastball was working. The curveball was working. Rihanna was work work work work working. Oh hey Rihanna, speaking of hard wood, Alex has a 2.69 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 144/37 K/BB which should makes Wood owners hard as oak.
Yasiel Puig – 2-for-4, HR (26). Justin Turner and Corey Seager also homered. Aaaaaand the Dodgers are winning again. How many bandwagon fans would you say they lost over the past two weeks? Or all they all stuck in traffic? Zing! The best part about the end of season post is I can recycle the same jokes I’ve been using all year. It’s called, “phoning it in.” And when in doubt I can just make a joke about how lazy I am. It’s funny cuz it’s true!
Luis Severino – 8.0 IP, 3 hits, 2 ER, BB, 7 K, 13th win. Luis Luis! Oh noooo! Me gotta go, aye-yi-yi-yiiii! Severino has been on fire in September and the Yankees’ young Ace need him to be as three times flames emoji as he is right now. When the entire city of New York is counting on you to slay and you stay on point cause you’re nice like that! He’s rocking a 2.93 ERA and 218/49 K/BB in 29 starts, and I’m so happy I own him this year because there’s no chance I get him next year.
Avisail Garcia -2-for-4. Avi’s hitting .418 over the past two weeks with 4 homers and 15 RBI. How a player batting .340 with 17 homers is just 70% owned is just mind baffling to me. Almost as wrong as the word mind baffling. That just means we can draft him next year. In fact, let’s everyone make it a point to own Avisail Garcia next year, I think we’ll be mind-bafflingly pleased with the result.
Anibal Sanchez – 6.0 IP, 6 hits, ER, BB, 11 K. His best start of the season. He and his 7+ ERA. He gets Oakland next week. Pick him up if you hate yourself!
Shane Greene – 1.1 IP, 1 hit, K, W. He was a BUY and he saves games! Sometimes gets wins! For real, so maybe pick him up if you need those things! I don’t know!
Yoan Moncada – 1-for-4, HR (6). Mmmm. Yes. Has now homered in back-to-back games. Maybe don’t end the year on fire so I have a chance of getting you next year?
Zack Cozart – 2-for-5, 2 HR (22), 2 RBI. Cozy’s slashing .302/.391/.558 with 22 homers and 60 RBI and in a contract year no less! GET DAT MONEY! Any guesses as to which team overpays him? I bet it’s a bad one!
Joey Votto – 2-for-3, HR (35). Scott Schebler also hit his 27th home run. JoVo is two bombs away from his career high, which he hit during his MVP season. It’s really too bad the pitching was so trash for the Reds this year because this offense was kind of lit.
James Paxton – 1.1 IP, 4 hits, 3 ER, 2 BB. When your Ace returns for your fantasy playoffs only to let you know right away he can’t help you win.
Charlie Morton – 6.0 IP, 5 hits, ER, BB, 7 K, 12th win. When we talk about pitchers taking a “step forward,” especially this late in his career, Morton’s season has been a fantasy owner’s dream. His K/9 jumped from 6.70 with Pittsburgh to 10.32 this year with Houston. Sweet sassy molassy! Mmm. Look at all those delicious Ks.
Josh Donaldson – 3-for-5, HR (26). He’s waking up just in time to see my team’s where I own him come in last place.
Brian Dozier – 2-for-4, HR (31). Dozier is hitting under .200 in the past two weeks with five home runs! Seems legit. Don’t sleep!
Eric Thames – 2-for-2, HR (31). Brewers used eight pitchers and scored 10 runs including 4 home runs and a grand slam from Neil Walker. Remember when this guy was the hottest power hitter in the league in April/May? Me neither.
Nolan Arenado – 2-for-3, HR (34). Batting .316 with three homers in the past week, carrying the Rox to the playoffs. How good is the NL West this year, you guys!? I mean, come on!
Wil Myers – 1-for-4, HR (28). Besides the Padres obv, lol.
Blake Parker – 2.0 IP, 3 K, SV (6). All signs point to Parker being your Angels closer, if it weren’t for the manager being a Sciosciapath I’d say grab him immediately, but he’s still looks like the favorite for save chances.
Delino DeShields – 2-for-4, 2 runs. He was a BUY. Last time I swear!
C.J. Cron – 1-for-4, HR (15). Speaking of the Sciosciapath, can you imagine what Cron’s numbers would look like if he actually played every day? I’d say–strong. He’s hitting .260 with 3 homers and 11 RBI in the past week and could be a good source of pop for your team in the stretch if Manager Mike finally decides its a good idea to keep playing him.
Chris Sale – 5.2 IP, 6 hits, 4 ER, 3 BB, 9 K. Sigh. I’m embarassed I ever compared you to Pedro Martinez.
Kevin Kiermaier – 2-for-6, HR (14), SB (14). Yeah, the slam & legs is nice and good but in a 15 inning slog Kiermaier may have made what could have been two of the best catches of the season here and here. Yeah, I know. When you’re upstaging Jackie Bradley in center field, you’re probably purdy good at catching beisbols.
Mitch Moreland – 3-for-7, HR (19), 2 RBI. Another 15 inning gem for all the faithful pe–zzzzzzzzzzzz. Oh hey! How about some fun quick hit highlights: yesterday’s game was 6 hours long played before roughly 16K fans. There were 21 pitchers used. The Sawx struck out 24 and left 40 men on base. Pedroia was 0-for-9. Brandon Workman got the blown save and the win. It was quite a memorable game to forget. The Red Sox have played 55 innings of extra inning baseball this year. They are 13-3 with a 1.32 ERA and .259 BA in extras. That’s almost eight extra baseball games, people! It’s free/bonus beisbol but still. How is this fair?! I blame New York.
Robbie Ray – 7.0 IP, 6 hits, ER, 10 K, 14th win. When pitchers return from concussion it’s always a bit unclear what you’re going to get but Ray has won five straight since returning with a 55/6 K/BB rate. Uhh, maybe he should get concussed more often or nah? I have to tip my 59/50 wide-billed hat (that is resting ever so gently on the top of my head, slanted just slightly upward and to the left) to razzball on this one. Robbie Ray was without a doubt my best draft pick of the season. I own him everywhere, cause Razzball. So as always, thank you, Razzball. You guys are da best. Good job everyone! Especially me.
Thanks for reading! Questions? Problems? Complaints to management? Advice, small gifts or large bribes? Please leave it in the comments below. Join us next Saturday for another Friday recap as fantasy baseball continues next week, all week long!
