Tomlin, Peralta, Baker, Sanchez, Santana: DLWW
Josh Tomlin (Elbow – 33.5% owned) – Josh is schedule to start on September 24th. It will be the 26 year old’s first start since August 24th.
Josh’s season started out hot with an ERA of 2.74 and a record of 6-2 after 10 starts. His K/BB ratio of 3.4:1 was decent, but a 0.197 BABIP was driving his stats. In the next 16 starts, he went 6-5 with a 5.24 ERA, even though his K/BB ratio jumped to 5:1. The main reason his ERA jumped was that his BABIP was 0.288.
The game on the 24th looks to be a nice chance to sneak in a win since Tomlin is facing the Twins anemic offense. It will probably be his only start of the season unless he pitches the last game of the season on the 28th. The game is a time to spot start him for an owner in a tight Wins race or an owner plague by starters being shut down for the season.
Joel Peralta (17.8% owned) and Kyle Farnsworth (elbow – 72.5% owned) – Kyle has not closed, or even thrown in a game, since September 10th. He has been shut down with elbow discomfort. He plans on returning soon, but the exact date is not known. In the meantime, Joel Peralta has been getting the Save opportunities for the Rays (a save on Saturday and Sunday).
Joel has pitched decently this season with a 3.06 ERA and a 3.28:1 K/BB ratio. Unless an owner was in a Holds league (18 holds in 2011), there is little reason to own him until now. He could be the boost an owner needs to move up a spot or two in the Saves category. The Rays are still fighting for a playoff spot and with over half of their games against the Yankees, the games should be close with plenty of save opportunities.
Watch the headlines for news of Farnsworth returning to his closer role. Until then, enjoy the few saves that can be squeezed out of Peralta.
Scott Baker (Elbow – 19.0% owned) and Jonathan Sanchez (Ankle – 35.6% owned) – Both look to return this season, but will be limited to bullpen use only. Owners planning on starts from them will need to look else where.
Johan Santana (Shoulder – 8.6% owned) – He will not be coming back this season.
Jeff, one of the authors of the fantasy baseball guide,The Process, writes for RotoGraphs, The Hardball Times, Rotowire, Baseball America, and BaseballHQ. He has been nominated for two SABR Analytics Research Award for Contemporary Analysis and won it in 2013 in tandem with Bill Petti. He has won four FSWA Awards including on for his Mining the News series. He's won Tout Wars three times, LABR twice, and got his first NFBC Main Event win in 2021. Follow him on Twitter @jeffwzimmerman.
As long as you’re talking pitching, you should note that Joakim Soria is day-to-day with a tweaked hamstring. This isn’t widely known. Greg Holland will get the save opps if Soria is unavailable, and he had one over the weekend.