“Winning isn't everything. Winning is the only thing.” — Henry Russell “Red” Sanders
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably made it into the fantasy baseball playoffs by beating most of your opponents over the past 22 tough weeks.
Congratulations! This is a big accomplishment, but your work isn't done yet. In fact, it's just beginning. Don't lose sight of your goal! So if you have a hot player available on waivers, but a player on the bench who is just chilling, throw away that burden and get a player who can help you win.
Bowden Francis may be one of them.
Francis has split his time between Toronto's starting and relief roles this season. In 14 relief appearances, he was 3-1 with a 4.39 ERA, 6.4 strikeouts per nine innings, a 1.425 WHIP and a .276 hits allowed. In nine starts, the 28-year-old Francis was 5-2 with a 3.29 ERA, a 0.769 WHIP, 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings and a .164 hits allowed. Overall, he had a 3.66 ERA, a 0.992 WHIP, 24% hits allowed, a 10.3% strikeout rate and a .203 hits allowed.
On the surface, he looks like just another pitcher, but his performance since the All-Star break has been particularly notable — impressive enough to make him the top addition in ESPN leagues this week.
In his last seven appearances (six starts), Francis is 5-1 with a 1.58 ERA, 41-5 with a walk-on-strikeout rate, 11 percent strikeout rate and a .120 batting average against, and in his last four appearances he is a winner with a 0.62 ERA, 0.31 WHIP, 32-3 with a walk-on-strikeout rate, 12 percent strikeout rate and a .065 batting average against.
Francis pitched a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Angels on Aug. 24 and into the sixth inning on Thursday. Not only have he pitched seven or more innings in each of his past four starts, total 6 hits.
To say he was enthusiastic would be an understatement.
Since July 29, Francis has the second-best ERA, fourth-best walk rate (1.13 per nine innings) and 11th-best strikeout rate (29.3%). The 28-year-old also has the highest WHIP (0.53) and is second in both strikeout rate and opponents batting average (.119).
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that this situation can't continue forever, but Francis has opponents who could give him an advantage in the final month.
Francis' next start will be against the Phillies, before potentially facing the Mets (fourth in strikeouts in the second half of the season), Rangers (.230 team batting average since the break) or Rays (.214 team batting average since the Midsummer Classic, sixth in strikeouts). He could also end the season facing the Marlins, who are 11th in strikeouts since the All-Star Game.
Francis has no innings limit, has been dominating so far with increased split usage (his other pitches aren't bad either), and is available in 60 percent of ESPN leagues. Get to the promised land with this hot pitch!
Here are some other pitchers who could help the team in the final month of the season:
Entering Sunday's game against the Phillies, Braves rookie Spencer Schwellenbach (52.1%) was 2-2 with a 2.98 ERA in his past seven starts. He struck out 12.97 batters per nine innings, second-best in the major leagues from July 21 through Thursday, and held opponents to a .208 batting average. His 17.5% strikeout rate was second only to Blake Snell in that span.
Ryne Nelson (21.8%) is undefeated since June 26 and is 4-0 in his last 11 games (10 starts) with a 2.77 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 24.9% strikeout rate and a .221 batting average. Nine of those games saw him allow three or fewer earned runs.
Before taking the mound on Sunday against the horror show known as the White Sox, Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (57.4%) had allowed three runs or fewer in 13 of his past 14 starts. He was 7-2 with a 2.93 ERA, 89 strikeouts, a .185 batting average and a 12% strikeout rate. (The two big losses during that span were the 10 home runs he allowed and the 27 walks he walked.)
Tampa Bay's Jeffrey Springs (11.7%) has not pitched more than five innings as a starter since returning from the disabled list and has only one win, but he has struck out 28% of the batters he faces. In his last five starts, the left-hander is 1-2 with a 3.47 ERA, a 30-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 14% strikeout rate. In his last four starts, he has a 2.45 ERA, 27 strikeouts and a 15% strikeout rate, including a 21.7% strikeout rate against the Orioles on Aug. 11 and a 17.7% strikeout rate against the Mariners on Tuesday.
Big hit
Catcher Miguel Amaya, Cubs
In the 14 games played through Friday, he was hitting .396 with three home runs, 17 RBI and an OPS of 1.108. Since July 12, he has hit .352 with an OPS of .991 in 30 games.
Nestor Cortez SP, Yankees
He is on a three-game winning streak with a 0.44 ERA, .145 batting average and an 18-2 strikeout/walk ratio.
Connor Norby, 2B/OF, Marlins
He entered Friday's game on a 10-game hitting streak with a .350 batting average, two home runs, four RBIs, 13 runs scored, two stolen bases and a 1.072 OPS.
Ryan Walker RP, Giants
In his past 12 appearances, he has struck out 47.2% of batters he has faced, holding them to a .143 batting average, while allowing zero earned runs in that span and converting four of his four save opportunities.
A big miss
Jackson Holliday, 2B/SS, Orioles
After going 4-for-5 against Boston on August 16, he was 4-for-38 (.105) over his next 12 games with no home runs, 4 RBI, 14 strikeouts and a .302 OPS.
Kyle Schwarber, outfielder, Phillies
He had not hit a home run since Aug. 14 and was 9-for-57 (.158) with 23 strikeouts and a .472 OPS in 65 at-bats through Friday.
Jameson Taillon SP, Cubs
He has given up 24 runs in his last 33 innings (6.55 ERA), eight home runs and a .290 batting average in his last six starts.
Francisco Alvarez C, Mets
The 22-year-old had 17 hits in 108 at-bats (.157 batting average) with two home runs, seven RBIs, 35 strikeouts and a .443 OPS in his past 34 games, but his batting average has dropped from .301 on July 10 to .237 entering Friday.
Check your swing
— Former Mets prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong entered the weekend batting .233 this season, but in his last 12 games he has gone 15-for-39 (.385) with three home runs, 10 RBIs, 12 runs scored and three stolen bases (all in one game) for a 1.156 OPS. He is available in nearly 90 percent of ESPN leagues.
— Tyler Stephenson (45.4% appearance rate) entered Friday's game on a 13-game hitting streak and had 20 hits in 51 at-bats (.392 batting average) with three home runs, 10 RBIs, 13 runs scored and a 1.123 OPS.
— Corbin Carroll, the 2023 National League Rookie of the Year, although it can't make up for a disappointing sophomore season. He's had at least one hit in 29 of the first 36 games since the All-Star break. He's batting .260 with 12 homers, 28 RBIs, 36 runs, 3 stolen bases and a .964 OPS during that span. He also had an eight-game hitting streak going into the weekend. That's impressive, but still not great for a top-five draft pick.
— The struggles have only gotten worse for West Islip native Logan O'Hoppe, who entered Friday batting .088 (6-for-68) with 32 strikeouts and a .298 OPS in his last 19 games. He had one hit and 11 strikeouts in his last 23 at-bats.
Brandon Fudd He is 4-1 in his last six starts with a 34-5 strikeout ratio and has allowed 26 runs (24 earned) in his last 34¹/₃ innings (6.29 ERA). Opponents are batting .309 with five home runs and a .835 OPS.
This week's team name
I can see London, I can see Thailand and France
