At the beginning of the season, it looked like former top prospect Carlos Carrasco was ticketed for a career as a back-of-the rotation starter, or perhaps a long reliever. However, after pitching very well out of the bullpen for much of the season, Carrasco rejoined the Indians' rotation on August 10. In eight starts since then, he's posted a 1.17 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP and 59 strikeouts against seven walks in 54 innings. Carrasco's Wednesday start - a two-hit shutout over the Astros, in which he struck out 12 batters - was his best one yet.
Here's an interesting FanGraphs article detailing some of the reasons for Carrasco's recent success. The 27-year-old Carrasco is owned in just 43.3 percent of FOXSports.com leagues, but he should be grabbed in all formats, and is firmly in the conversation for mixed-league rotation status in 2015.
Wednesday's studs & duds
Stud: Carrasco, obviously.
Stud: The still-surprising Steve Pearce hit two more home runs for the Orioles.
Stud: Justin Morneau homered and drove in six runs in the Rockies' 16-2 demolition of the Dodgers.
Dud: A's closer Sean Doolittle didn't just blow a save - he gave up five runs to the Rangers in the ninth inning. That'll hurt a playoff push.
News & notes
Blue Jays SP Marcus Stroman will appeal the six-game suspension received for throwing near the head of Orioles C Caleb Joseph on Monday. Not to doubt Stroman's sincerity, but I wonder if he'll start again over the weekend, drop the appeal and then pitch one more time the following weekend. Against the Orioles, of course.
It sounds like Twins' closer Glen Perkins might get shut down due to some arm issues. Look for Jared Burton to close while Perkins is out.
The Angels clinched the AL West title on Wednesday. Look for their players to get some rest over the next 10 days.
The Marlins have officially declared OF Giancarlo Stanton out for the rest of the season.
The Braves hope that SS Andrelton Simmons (foot) will be able to play this weekend; Simmons left Wednesday's game with the injury. In other Braves' news, OF Jason Heyward is day to day with a thumb injury, and C Evan Gattis (kidney stone) is aiming for a return on Friday.
Dodgers SS Hanley Ramirez (elbow strain) missed another game on Wednesday. He hopes to return tonight.
Michael Wacha will pitch again Saturday for the Cardinals, but figures to be capped somewhere around 70 pitches.
The Giants hope that OF Angel Pagan (back) will be in the lineup this weekend, but don't sound too optimistic about 1B/OF Michael Morse (oblique).
OF Carlos Beltran has left the team to deal with a family issue, and it's unclear when he'll return. It shouldn't be too long, though.
Mets OF Juan Lagares (elbow) might be done for the season.
Twins SS Eduardo Escobar is day to day with a jammed right shoulder.
Streaming starters
Derek Holland's latest strong outing raised our record to 98-57 for the season. Today's pick is San Diego's Robbie Erlin (0.3 percent owned) versus the god-awful Phillies, while Friday's selection is the always underappreciated Jose Quintana (30.5 percent owned) at Tampa.
See you back here tomorrow morning.
