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Blue Jays SP Marcus Stroman continued his impressive comeback from knee surgery, throwing seven scoreless innings in Wednesday's win over the Yankees. Stroman has won all three of his starts, and while he isn't striking out many batters (10 in 19 innings), he has a 1.89 ERA.
Stroman tore the ACL in his left knee during spring training and was thought to be done for the season, but he rehabbed quickly and is making an impact on the Jays' postseason hopes. He projects to make two more starts (@BAL, @TAM), though the second next weekend could be in jeopardy if the Jays clinch the division early. At 29.1 percent ownership on FOXSports.com, Stroman is as good a free starter as you're likely to get. For 2016, let's call him a top-30 starter for now, and revisit rankings later.
In other news ...
With closer Zach Britton day-to-day due to a lat strain, Darren O'Day got the Orioles' save on Wednesday. According to MASNSports.com, "Britton could become available again this weekend in Boston, but there's also the chance that he's held out of games until the Blue Jays series that begins on Monday." Grab O'Day if you're hunting for saves.
In other closer news, Neftali Feliz got the first post-Rondon save for the Tigers. Feliz is owned in 13.2 percent of FOXSports.com leagues, but still might share opportunities with Alex Wilson.
Braves 1B Freddie Freeman was supposed to sit on Wednesday due to a sore wrist, but he came off the bench to hit a two-run double and a three-run homer. I guess he's OK now.
Twins RP Glen Perkins was used in another non-save situation on Wednesday, and might remain in that role with Kevin Jepsen closing.
Need a free-agent hitter? Bet you didn't know that A's 3B Danny Valencia (11.8 percent owned) is batting .291 with 16 homers in 309 at bats. Valencia has 1B/OF eligibility, too.
A pair of 3:10 p.m. ET starts (D-backs-Dodgers, Pirates-Rockies) are on today's schedule. Set your lineups accordingly ... and your DVRs, since Clayton Kershaw is pitching.
Miami's Adam Conley was pretty good as Wednesday's streaming starter, beginning the game with four scoreless innings and striking out eight batters in six frames. Let's target the Phillies again today with Jarred Cosart (2.2 percent owned), who has allowed three runs in 15 2/3 innings over his last three starts. Maybe Cosart has been a little lucky, but again, the Phillies have been TERRIBLE lately.
DFS advice (based on 50/50 games, night games only, salaries from DraftKings): If you throw out a Coors Field start, Madison Bumgarner ($12,200) has been excellent over the last month ... Cosart doesn't strike out enough batters for reliable DFS value, so let's try Boston's Wade Miley ($7,300) at SP2. Miley has averaged 23.7 DK points over his last three starts ... Whether or not you start Miley - but moreso if you don't - red-hot Rays OF Brandon Guyer ($2,900) has averaged 13.5 DK points over his last four games, and hits lefties well ... Small-sample BvP alert: Indians C Yan Gomes ($3,300) is 5-for-9 with two homers against Kyle Gibson ... The surging Robinson Cano ($3,600) looks like a solid play vs. Johnny Cueto ... So does Mariners SS Ketel Marte ($3,400, 68 DK points in his last five games). Cueto had a decent start last time out, but preceded it with five bad ones ... Consider stacking your Nationals vs. Orioles SP Tyler Wilson, who has struck out just eight batters in 29 innings.
See you back here Monday morning.
