The App is Back! Don’t forget to download the NBC Sports EDGE app to receive real-time player news, mobile alerts and track your favorite players. Plus, now you can check out articles and player cards. Get it here!
The annual MLB Hall of Fame induction always brings about some debate from the media about current players who belong in Cooperstown. Regardless of whether Adam Wainwright gets an invite, what he’s done over a 17-year career, including 2021, should be celebrated.
The right-hander has had an improbable late-career push, now at age 40. Since last season, Wainwright has clearly been the Cardinals best and most consistent starting pitcher, going 20-10 with a 3.02 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 217 strikeouts in 250 innings over 38 starts.
Wainwright’s resurgence is so incredible when we consider his four seasons leading up to his recent success. From 2016-2019, Wainwright never had an ERA better than 4.19 and cumulatively had a mediocre 4.58 ERA and 3.1 BB/9. His control has improved markedly recently (2.1 BB/9), and he’s leaned on his bread-and-butter curveball even more than earlier in his career.
The result is a pitcher who should get some Cy Young votes at age 40, currently sporting a 2.98 ERA with 15 wins in 28 outings. Following the announcement that battery-mate Yadier Molina would be returning for 2022, Wainwright announced with his family that he would do the same. Whether that happens in a Cardinals uniform is still unsettled, but Wainwright has certainly earned a big payday next season.
Fantasy managers who didn’t question Wainwright’s rebound in the shortened 2020 season have been rewarded. His 360 ADP in NFBC leagues before the season made Wainwright one of the best values of 2021, building on an impressive career resume that should be celebrated in the Cardinals Hall of Fame, if not MLB’s Hall.[[ad:athena]]
-Wainwright isn’t MLB’s oldest starting pitcher, a title currently held by Mets lefty Rich Hill. The 41-year-old has had an up and down season between the Rays and Mets, but he’s come around in New York after a rough patch. He’s managed to pitch at least five innings in four consecutive starts, with a superb 2.45 ERA and 22/2 K/BB in 22 innings. New York has still been very conservative with the veteran, as he’s reached 90 pitches only once in nine starts with the team, but Hill is finishing the year strong after some brilliant pitching early in the year. He has a chance for a big two-start week at home vs. St. Louis and Philly.
-Among unlucky pitchers in 2021, few have a better claim that Eduardo Rodriguez. Returning from a lost 2020 season due to after-effects of COVID-19, the left-hander has a career-worst 5.15 ERA despite what’s actually a career-best 10.5 K/9 and 4.08 K/BB ratio. Rodriguez has almost missed bats on command, but his .358 BABIP is the worst in MLB by a wide margin. As you’d expect, all his ERA metrics show better performance that what we’ve actually seen including a 3.54 FIP and 3.64 SIERA. The pending free agent could be one of the offseason’s biggest bargains, as a result, but he still has a chance to finish his year on a high note with a two-start week against Seattle and Baltimore ahead.
-Speaking of unlucky pitchers, rookie Logan Gilbert can also make his case. The top prospect has shown some great flashes, including an ace-like 10.0 K/9 and 5.05 K/BB ratio, but he has a 5.10 ERA in 20 starts to show for it. A terrible three-game streak in late August killed Gilbert’s ERA, but he has managed to get out of his rut recently. He’s started September with back-to-back decent starts vs. the Astros, allowing only two runs in 9.1 innings. Next week’s two-start slate is an opportunity to keep that momentum going against Boston, followed by an easier matchup against the Royals.
Going Twice…
Note: Probable pitchers as of Friday, September 10, and are subject to change.
American League
Strong Plays
Gerrit Cole: MIN, CLE
Nathan Eovaldi: @SEA, BAL
Frankie Montas: @KC, @LAA
Nestor Cortes: @BAL, CLE
Decent Plays
Alek Manoah: TB, MIN
Jake Odorizzi: @TEX, ARI
Aaron Civale: @MIN, @NYY
Drew Rasmussen: @TOR, DET
Eduardo Rodriguez: @SEA, BAL
Logan Gilbert: BOS, @KC
A.J. Alexy: HOU, CHW
At Your Own Risk
John Gant: @NYY, @TOR
Wily Peralta: MIL, @TB
Packy Naughton: @CHW, OAK
National League
Strong Plays
Logan Webb: SD, ATL
Sandy Alcantara: @WAS, PIT
Yu Darvish: @SF, @STL
Wade Miley: @PIT, LAD
Adam Wainwright: @NYM, SD
Decent Plays
Clayton Kershaw: ARI, @CIN
Anthony DeSclafani: SD, ATL
Jon Gray: @ATL, @WAS
Kyle Gibson: CHC, @NYM
Rich Hill: STL, PHI
Touki Toussaint: COL, @SF
At Your Own Risk
Mitch Keller: CIN, @MIA
Merrill Kelly: @LAD, @HOU
Jake Arrieta: @SF, @STL
Adrian Sampson: @PHI, @MIL
Streamer City
The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:
American League
Thursday, September 16: Paul Blackburn @ KC
Blackburn gets yet another favorable matchup next week at KC, which has the worst OPS against right-handers in the AL. The groundball specialist struggled at Toronto last weekend but has been solid overall since replacing Chris Bassitt in the rotation.
Thursday, September 16: Luis Patino vs. DET
Patino is still having hiccups at age 21 in the majors, but he’s shown strong flashes recently with a 3.41 ERA over his last six starts. He will get a Tigers lineup with a sub.-.700 OPS against right-handers next week.
Saturday, September 18: Brady Singer vs. SEA
Singer shouldn’t be available on the wire in your league with the way he’s pitched recently, and if he is, you have the power to change that. Over his last four starts, he has a 1.46 ERA and 23/9 K/BB in 24.2 innings. He will see rematch vs. a weak M’s lineup that he pitched well against on August 29.
National League
Tuesday, September 14: Tony Gonsolin vs. ARI
Gonsolin returned from his second stint on the IL due to a shoulder injury on Thursday, throwing three innings at St. Louis. The talented right-hander should get a larger workload against the lowly Diamondbacks next week, who have a .680 vs. right-handers.
Wednesday, September 15: Vladimir Gutierrez @ PIT
The opportunities to utilize Gutierrez recently have been many with Cincinnati’s weak schedule, and he has another great matchup next week. The Pirates remain dead last in OPS against right-handers.
Saturday, September 18: Bryse Wilson @ MIA
A former top prospect with Atlanta, Wilson has been solid since joining the Pirates with a 4.35 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 31 innings. Miami hasn’t hit a lick against right-handers this season, with a .676 OPS, third worst in MLB.
Total Games
American League
6: BAL, BOS, CLE, CHW, DET, KC, LAA, OAK, SEA, TOR
7: HOU, MIN, NYY, TB, TEX
National League
5: MIL
6: ARI, ATL, CHC, CIN, COL, LAD, MIA, NYM, PHI, PIT, STL, WAS
7: SD, SF
The Infirmary
Here’s some injuries to prominent players from the last week, and other players to watch for in the coming week. You can get a full listing of injured players at NBCSports Edge’s Injury Page.
Jesus Aguilar: Placed on IL (knee)
JT Brubaker: Placed on IL (shoulder)
Tyler Clippard: Placed on IL (COVID-19)
Gerrit Cole: Day-to-day (hamstring)
Randy Dobnak: Placed on IL (finger)
Austin Gomber: Out for the season (back)
Matt Harvey: Placed on IL (elbow)
Eloy Jimenez: Day-to-day (knee)
Jonathan Loaisiga: Placed on IL (shoulder)
Matt Manning: Day-to-day (knee)
Shane McClanahan: Placed on IL (back)
Nick Pivetta: Placed on IL (COVID-19)
A.J. Pollock: Placed on IL (hamstring)
Hyun-Jin Ryu: Day-to-day (arm)
Chris Sale: Placed on IL (COVID-19)
Jameson Taillon: Placed on IL (ankle)
Justin Upton: Placed on IL (back)
Mike Yastrzemski: Day-to-day (ankle)
