“Winning is not everything, it is the only thing.” — Henry Russell “Red” Sanders
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve outlasted most of your opponents over the past 22 grueling weeks to advance to the fantasy baseball playoffs.
Congratulations! This is an accomplishment, but your work is not done. In fact, it is just beginning. Keep your eyes on the prize! That means if there is a healthy player available on the waiver list and you have a cold player on your bench, drop the dead weight and make sure you get the player who can help you win.
Bowden Francis could be one of those players.
Francis spent part of the season juggling between Toronto’s rotation and bullpen. In 14 relief appearances, he went 3-1 with a 4.39 ERA, 6.4 strikeouts per nine, a 1.425 WHIP and a .276 ERA. In nine starts, the 28-year-old is 5-2 with a 3.29 ERA, a .769 WHIP, 9.7 strikeouts per nine and a .164 ERA. Overall, he is 8-3 with a 3.66 ERA, a .992 WHIP, a 24% strikeout rate, a 10.3% strikeout rate and a .203 ERA.
On the surface, he seems like just another pitcher. But what he’s done since the All-Star break is particularly remarkable, impressive enough to make him the most-added player in ESPN leagues this week.
Over his last seven appearances (six starts), Francis is 5-1 with a 1.58 ERA, 41-5 walk rate, 11 percent strikeout rate and .120 ERA. Better yet, he has won his last four starts while maintaining a 0.62 ERA, 0.31 WHIP, 32-3 walk rate, 12 percent strikeout rate and .065 ERA.
Francis went no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Angels on Aug. 24 and then went no-hitter into the sixth inning on Thursday. Not only has he gone at least seven innings in each of his last four starts, he’s also allowed a total of six hits.
To say it was hot would be an understatement.
Since July 29, Francis has the second-best earned run average, fourth-lowest walk rate (1.13 per nine) and 11th-best strikeout rate (29.3 percent). The 28-year-old also has the best WHIP (0.53), as well as the second-best walk rate and opponents’ average (.119).
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this streak isn’t going to last forever, but Francis has some potential matchups that could work in his favor over the final month.
After facing the Phillies in his next start, Francis could face the Mets (fourth-most strikeouts in the second half of the season), Rangers (hitting .230 as a team since the break) and Rays (hitting .214 since the Midsummer Classic with the sixth-most strikeouts). He could finish the season against the Marlins, who have the 11th-most strikeouts since the All-Star Game.
Francis has no innings restrictions, he’s increased his splitter usage to dominant results so far (his other pitches aren’t too shabby either), and he’s available in 60 percent of ESPN leagues. Ride the hot hand to the promised land!
Here are some other weapons that could help your team during the final month of the season:
Heading into Sunday’s game against the Phillies, Braves rookie Spencer Schwellenbach (52.1 percent) was 2-2 with a 2.98 ERA over his last seven starts. He had 12.97 strikeouts per nine innings, the second-best average in the major leagues from July 21 through Thursday, and held opponents to a .208 batting average. He also had a 17.5 percent success rate, second only to Blake Snell over that span.
Ryne Nelson (21.8 percent) hasn’t lost since June 26, going 4-0 with a 2.77 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 24.9 percent strikeout rate and .221 ERA in his last 11 appearances (10 starts). He’s allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine of those outings.
Before taking the mound Sunday against the White Sox, Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (57.4 percent) had allowed three earned runs or fewer in 13 of his last 14 starts. He was 7-2 with a 2.93 ERA, 89 strikeouts, a .185 opponents’ ERA and a 12 percent walk-off percentage. (Two blemishes: He allowed 10 homers and 27 walks during that stretch.)
Although Tampa Bay’s Jeffrey Springs (11.7%) hasn’t lasted more than five innings in any start since coming off the injured list and has just one win, he’s struck out 28% of the batters he faces. The left-hander is 1-2 with a 3.47 ERA, 30-8 strikeout-walk rate and 14% strikeout rate in his last five starts. He’s posted a 2.45 ERA with 27 strikeouts and a 15% strikeout rate in his last four starts, including a 21.7% strikeout rate against the Orioles on Aug. 11 and a 17.7% strikeout rate against the Mariners on Tuesday.
Great successes
Miguel Amaya C, Cubs
He was hitting .396 with three homers, 17 RBIs and a 1.108 OPS in 14 games before Friday. He was hitting .352 with a .991 OPS in 30 games since July 12.
Nestor Cortes SP, Yankees
Won three straight decisions while maintaining a 0.44 ERA, .145 opponents’ average and an 18-2 strikeout/walk rate.
Connor Norby, 2B/OF, Marlins
He entered Friday with a 10-game hitting streak, batting .350 with two homers, four RBIs, 13 runs, two stolen bases and a 1.072 OPS.
Ryan Walker, Prolific Player, Giants
He has struck out 47.2 percent of the batters he has faced while holding opponents to a .143 batting average over his last 12 appearances. He has not allowed an earned run in that span and has gone 4-for-4 in save chances.
Big puffs
Jackson Holliday 2B/SS, Orioles
After going 4-for-5 on Aug. 16 against Boston, he went 4-for-38 (.105) with no home runs, four RBIs, 14 strikeouts and a .302 OPS over his next 12 games.
Kyle Schwarber, outfielder, Phillies
He hadn’t hit a home run since Aug. 14 and had 9 hits in 57 at-bats (.158) with 23 strikeouts and a .472 OPS over his last 65 plate appearances before Friday.
Jameson Taillon, SP, Cubs
He has allowed 24 earned runs in his previous 33 innings (6.55 ERA), eight home runs and a .290 opponents’ average in his last six starts.
Francisco Alvarez, C, Mets
The 22-year-old saw his average drop from .301 on July 10 to .237 heading into Friday after hitting 17 in 108 at-bats (.157) with two homers, seven RBIs, 35 strikeouts and a .443 OPS in his last 34 games.
Check the swings
— Despite entering the weekend with a .233 batting average for the season, former Mets prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong has 15 hits in 39 at-bats (.385) with three homers, 10 RBIs, 12 runs scored, three stolen bases (all in the same game) and a 1.156 OPS in his previous 12 games. He’s available in nearly 90 percent of ESPN leagues.
— Tyler Stephenson (45.4 percent of his field goal) had a 13-game hitting streak entering Friday’s action, going 20-for-51 (.392) with three homers, 10 RBIs, 13 runs and a 1.123 OPS.
— While it won’t make up for a disappointing sophomore campaign, 2023 National League Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll He has at least one hit in 29 of his first 36 games since the All-Star break. He’s hitting .260 with 12 homers, 28 RBIs, 36 runs, three stolen bases and a .964 OPS during that stretch. He also entered the weekend with an eight-game hitting streak. That’s a respectable streak, but it’s still not a great one for a top-five draft pick.
— The struggles have gotten worse for West Islip native Logan O’Hoppe, who entered Friday batting .088 (6-for-68) with 32 strikeouts and a .298 OPS over his last 19 games. He has one hit in his last 23 plate appearances while striking out 11.
— Although Brandon Pfaadt He is 4-1 in his last six starts with a 34-5 strikeout-walk rate, allowing 26 runs (24 earned) in his last 34 ¹/₃ innings (6.29 ERA). Opponents are hitting .309 against him with five home runs and an .835 OPS.
Team of the week name
I see London, I see Ty France
New York Post
