The Rays are expected to promote 24-year-old left-hander Jake McGee to augment their bullpen down the stretch. Jake was killer as a reliever after his promotion to AAA (1 start in 11 appearances) posting an 0.52 ERA over 17.1 IP striking out 27 against just 3 BBs. Opponents hit just .155 despite a fairly neutral .291 BHIP%. McGee is a big-time power lefty who appears to be all the way back after TJS in 2008. He has top-end velocity and nasty breaking stuff and should eventually return to his development as a starter, but he is capable of getting some outs for the Rays down the stretch, especially as a situational lefty. If he becomes newly eligible in your league and your rosters are deep enough to wait for him (remember the Rays are overstocked with starters), Jake is a worthwhile claim. Just stuff him in your pocket and wait for your investment to mature.
C.C. Sabathia was outstanding against the Rays last night giving the Yankees 8 shutout IP, allowing just 2 hits and 2 walks while fanning 9 in 119 dominant pitches. C.C.’s Jekyll and Hyde routine continues. In this start, his start two starts ago, and his start 4 starts ago, Sabathia hasn’t allowed an earned run in 22 IP. In the two starts sandwiched by those three starts he’s allowed 10 runs in 13.1 IP. I have no idea why these things happen. You have to bet against that streak in his next start. He just pitched too well last night to do anything else.
Jon Lester joined some pretty elite names in Red Sox history as he beat the Mariners with a strong performance last night. Lester won his 17th, going 8 innings allowing just 1 run on 3 hits and 3 walks. He also fanned 12 which put him over 200 strikeouts for the second year in a row. Only 4 other pitchers in Red Sox history have accomplished the feat before, Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, Cy Young, and Smokey Joe Wood. Lester is now 3rd in the AL in strikeouts with 208, 8th in ERA at 3.17 and tied for 3rd in OBA at .220. He clearly has surpassed Josh Beckett as the ace of the Red Sox staff, and is among the AL’s elite starters.
Luke Hochevar suffered the loss against the A’s on Monday but pitched fairly well allowing 2 runs in 5 IP on just 2 hits while walking 3. Luke fanned 2 as he continues to recover from elbow problems that cost him nearly 3 months of the season. Interestingly Luke’s velocity has been up this year (93.7 mph average vs. 91.7 career) and the rest of his indictors are right in line with his career norms despite his physical problems. His 4.81 ERA is a bit bloated by an unfavorable LOB% and what you get in Luke is pretty much a league-average pitcher in terms of ERA which can be useful, in context. The problem is that we have to see a full season of that level and we haven’t yet. At this point he has to earn our attention.
