2017 Fantasy Baseball Week 23 Pitching Planner: Sixth Man of the Year

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We all know how important the 'sixth man' can be for an NBA team. The role has developed drastically over the years with certain players just flat out playing better coming off the bench. Many NBA players in today's game have made a name for themselves (not to mention a boatload of cash) as a sixth man like Jamaal Crawford and Lou Williams. Others have elevated themselves even further like James Harden. Hell, they even have a Sixth Man of the Year award!

In baseball, we have a similar 'sixth man' in regards to starting rotations. They have not been as common, largely because most teams can barely field five serviceable pitchers. However, there are some cases where they can be useful in reality, especially late in a season when playoff seeding is just about determined.

For fantasy purposes, this isn't always the best thing, right? If a team decides to employ a sixth starter in a staff, then it provides less quantity for each of the pitchers. The quality may be better given the extra day of rest between starts, but it's a case-by-case thing.

I bring this up because I have seen several teams either start or threaten to start using a six man rotation. These teams include the Dodgers, Indians, Orioles, Astros, and Cubs. Besides the Orioles, all of those teams are almost a lock to make the playoffs. Therefore, the general theme is that these teams have the luxury of having a six man rotation to rest their starters for the postseason.

On the other hand, I'm fully expecting some bottom feeders to start monitoring the innings of their young guns and a six man rotation can certainly help. Teams like the Phillies, Padres, Athletics, and Braves could stand to call up a few prospects to see what they have and prolong the innings of their other guys.

Below, I hope to touch on members of six man rotations and how it affects them the rest of the way! Furthermore, with starters getting added into rotations, perhaps your 'Sixth Man of the Fantasy Playoffs' is out there floating on waivers and I want to help you find him.

2017 Fantasy Baseball Week 23 Pitching Planner

Auto-Start

The Auto-Start tier strictly includes pitchers that should be started every week regardless of league size and matchup.

Player	Team	Opp1	Opp2
Chris Sale	Red Sox	TB
Clayton Kershaw	Dodgers	COL
Corey Kluber	Indians	BAL
Max Scherzer	Nationals	@MIA

Promoted

• Welcome back to the mound and the auto-start tier Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer. Not much to say here, you don't have to give these guys a 'wait and see' approach like you do with other pitchers returning from injury. Start away!

Relegated

• No one was relegated this week. Probably because I obliterated this tier last week!

Auto-Stream

This tier consists of pitchers who don't quite reach the trust level of the Auto-Starts. However, due to matchup or recent performance, they are capable of having elite level production in a given week.

Player	Team	Opp1	Opp2
Stephen Strasburg	Nationals	PHI
Alex Wood	Dodgers	COL
Zack Godley	Diamondbacks	SD
Jacob deGrom	Mets	PHI	CIN
Carlos Carrasco	Indians	@CWS
Jeff Samardzija	Giants	@CWS
Zack Greinke	Dodgers	@LAD
Dallas Keuchel	Astros	@SEA	@OAK
Luis Severino	Yankees	@TEX
Chris Archer	Rays	@BOS
Jimmy Nelson	Brewers	@CIN
Madison Bumgarner	Giants	@COL
Aaron Nola	Phillies	@WSH

Notables

• Also making his way back to the mound, Alex Wood is returning sooner than most thought he would. Hopefully, this six man rotation that the Dodgers are running keeps him healthy throughout the rest of the season.
• Another oft-injured player who could benefit from the six man rotation, Carlos Carrasco gets a juicy start on the road against a horrendous White Sox offense. He has been sporadic with his outings lately, but this start is foolproof.

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• I have this strange feeling that I haven't talked about Chris Archer repping this tier for awhile. He hasn't had the strongest season ratio-wise, but my goodness those strikeout numbers are bonkers. His 23.2 K-BB% puts him fifth among qualified starters, only trailing the four guys in the top tier.
• Aaron Nola bounced back against the Braves after a couple of rough starts. If he puts together a solid September, he will see if 2018 draft stock rise tremendously and, honestly, I will be willing to pay it.

Dream Stream

The Dream Stream group more closely reflects the pitchers that you might find on the waiver wire depending on league size.

Player	Team	Opp1	Opp2
Luke Weaver	Cardinals	PIT
Rich Hill	Dodgers	ARI	COL
Carlos Martinez	Cardinals	@SD	PIT
Brad Peacock	Astros	@SEA
Yu Darvish	Rangers	COL
Luis Castillo	Reds	MIL
Patrick Corbin	Diamondbacks	SD
Robbie Ray	Diamondbacks	@LAD	SD
Kenta Maeda	Dodgers	ARI
Michael Wacha	Cardinals	@SD	PIT
Jon Lester	Cubs	MIL
Hyun-Jin Ryu	Dodgers	ARI
Charlie Morton	Astros	@OAK
Gio Gonzalez	Nationals	@MIA	PHI
Jake Arrieta	Cubs	@PIT	MIL
Drew Pomeranz	Red Sox	TB
Masahiro Tanaka	Yankees	@TEX
Sonny Gray	Yankees	@BAL
Marcus Stroman	Blue Jays	DET
Gerrit Cole	Pirates	CHC
Jose Berrios	Twins	@TB	@KC
Mike Clevinger	Indians	@CWS
Trevor Bauer	Indians	@CWS	BAL
Chase Anderson	Brewers	@CIN	@CHC
Edwin Jackson	Nationals	PHI
Lance Lynn	Cardinals	@SD
Michael Fulmer	Tigers	KC	@TOR
Kyle Hendricks	Cubs	@PIT
Jose Quintana	Cubs	@PIT	MIL
Dinelson Lamet	Padres	STL
Eduardo Rodriguez	Red Sox	TOR
Ervin Santana	Twins	@KC
Dan Straily	Marlins	WSH
Tyler Skaggs	Angels	@OAK
Jon Gray	Rockies	@LAD
Rick Porcello	Red Sox	TOR	TB
Buck Farmer	Tigers	KC
Tanner Roark	Nationals	@MIA	PHI
Ryan Merritt	Indians	@CWS
Sean Manaea	Athletics	LAA
Jameson Taillon	Pirates	CHC
Justin Verlander	Tigers	KC
Collin McHugh	Astros	@SEA
Dylan Bundy	Orioles	NYY
CC Sabathia	Yankees	@BAL
J.A. Happ	Blue Jays	@BOS	DET

Notables

• The final rotation piece returning for the Dodgers is Yu Darvish. Can you believe the Dodgers are winning all of these games despite these injuries? They should cruise to 110 wins and possibly break the Mariners record if guys like Darvish come back healthy.
• All trade season, every expert out there said the Astros needed to deal for a starting pitcher. Why? Because Charlie Morton is not a sexy enough name for them. Take Sonny Gray for example - Morton has been as good or better than him in about as many innings. So, Houston was supposed to give up three prospects for him? Give me a break.
• Jose Berrios is going to be a very interesting name to follow in 2018 ADP. He has been fairly inconsistent this season, posting an amazing and terrible start in almost perfectly alternating fashion. I'm still bullish on his talent turning him into an Archer-type and I certainly wouldn't sit him this week.

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• Here's your weekly reminder that Michael Fulmer scares the crap out of me. Why are the Tigers not shutting him down again? I don't feel comfortable at all starting him this week.
• The Cubs will temporarily run a six man rotation with Jon Lester returning from the DL. Mike Montgomery will likely see one more start on Sunday, which gives the rest of the staff an extra day off. Anyone else hoping they move John Lackey to the bullpen instead?
• All I want to do before the season ends is find a funny phrase for Buck Farmer. Is that so hard to ask? Like, can we 'buck' the trend of just being lazy with puns? The Tigers called him up a second time from the 'farm' team and I like him as a spot streamer this week.

Buyer Beware

These pitchers are better left on your bench for the week if not the waiver wire. Guys closer to the top could be on the brink of being promoted in the right matchup or with a continued hot streak. If a player is not listed in any tiers, that should be the cue to drop the said player.

Player	Team	Opp1	Opp2
German Marquez	Rockies	SF	@LAD
Andrew Heaney	Angels	@SEA
Jakob Junis	Royals	@DET	MIN
Matt Andriese	Rays	@BOS
Josh Tomlin	Indians	BAL
Rafael Montero	Mets	PHI	CIN
Parker Bridwell	Angels	@OAK
Ivan Nova	Pirates	CHC	@STL
Trevor Williams	Pirates	@STL
Mike Leake	Mariners	LAA
Jaime Garcia	Yankees	@BAL	@TEX
Marco Estrada	Blue Jays	@BOS
Mike Fiers	Astros	@OAK
Chad Bettis	Rockies	SF	@LAD
Brandon Woodruff	Brewers	@CHC
Andrew Albers	Mariners	LAA
Kendall Graveman	Athletics	LAA
Chris Stratton	Giants	@COL
R.A. Dickey	Braves	TEX	MIA
Joe Biagini	Blue Jays	@BOS
Taijuan Walker	Diamondbacks	@LAD
Jhoulys Chacin	Padres	@ARI
Sean Newcomb	Braves	TEX
Alex Cobb	Rays	MIN	@BOS
Clayton Richard	Padres	STL
John Lackey	Cubs	@PIT
Jason Hammel	Royals	@DET
Kyle Freeland	Rockies	SF
Blake Snell	Rays	MIN
Doug Fister	Red Sox	TOR
Lucas Giolito	White Sox	CLE
Carlos Rodon	White Sox	CLE
Seth Lugo	Mets	CIN
Zach Davies	Brewers	@CIN
Chad Kuhl	Pirates	CHC	@STL
Julio Teheran	Braves	TEX	MIA
Luis Perdomo	Padres	STL	@ARI
Jose Urena	Marlins	@ATL
Ricky Nolasco	Angels	@OAK	@SEA
Mark Leiter Jr.	Phillies	@NYM	@WSH
Matt Moore	Giants	@CWS
Ty Blach	Giants	@COL	@CWS
Jason Vargas	Royals	@DET	MIN
Cole Hamels	Rangers	@ATL
Kevin Gausman	Orioles	@CLE
Jerad Eickhoff	Phillies	@NYM	@WSH
Mike Foltynewicz	Braves	MIA
Troy Scribner	Angels	@SEA
Adam Conley	Marlins	WSH	@ATL
Lucas Sims	Braves	MIA
Ben Lively	Phillies	@NYM
Jeremy Hellickson	Orioles	NYY
Ian Kennedy	Royals	MIN
Jake Odorizzi	Rays	MIN
Matt Garza	Brewers	@CHC
Ariel Miranda	Mariners	HOU
Miguel Gonzalez	White Sox	CLE	SF
Antonio Senzatela	Rockies	@LAD
Erasmo Ramirez	Mariners	HOU	LAA
Daniel Gossett	Athletics	HOU
Jharel Cotton	Athletics	HOU

Notables

• In a bit of shocking news, Mike Leake was traded to Seattle in exchange for some international pool money and a low-end prospect. It's sneakily important to look at the empty slot in the Cardinals rotation. If Jack Flaherty, a guy I have seen perform well in person, gets a chance to show off his skills, he could be an important pickup for a fantasy playoff rotation as an SP6 or SP7.
• Joe Biagini gets another crack at starting with the Blue Jays likely not to make the playoffs. He's a good name to monitor, but don't go sprinting to the free agent pool to acquire him.

• Has Blake Snell turned a corner? Many pundits believe so, but what is the cause of this revival? The main thing I have seen in the stats is a different approach to his offspeed pitches. He's throwing that nasty changeup much more often and the curveball way less. The Tampa coaching staff is obviously countering the data and it's pretty cool to watch. In the meantime, Snell will produce well in average to elite matchups so if you want to risk it against Minnesota then go for it!
• If you are in a daily lineup league, I don't mind Mark Leiter Jr. against the Mets. I obviously wouldn't prefer it, but he would move closer to the top of this list if he didn't have that second start against Washington.
• It's been an epic fall to normalcy for Jason Vargas in Kansas City. With a 7.18 ERA and 6.22 FIP over his last six starts, he is finally regressing towards what his FIP and xFIP have been pointing out all season long. With a start at Detroit and then at home against Minnesota, I believe he will continue this horrid run.

Arms Amending

This table will be updated each week to show which pitchers are on the mend. The mid-tier pitcher that gets injured is always the guy who goes unnoticed on waiver wires, so use this to your advantage.

Player	Team	Injury	Anticipated Return
Adalberto Mejia	Twins	Biceps strain	Soon!
Brent Suter	Brewers	Strained rotator cuff	Soon!
Daniel Norris	Tigers	Strained groin	Soon!
Wei-Yen Chen	Marlins	Arm/shoulder fatigue	Soon!
James Paxton	Mariners	Strained pectoral muscle	Early September
Brandon McCarthy	Dodgers	Blister	Early September
Jon Lester	Cubs	Strained lat	Early September
Johnny Cueto	Giants	Blister	Early September
Felix Hernandez	Mariners	Shoulder bursitis	Early September
Lance McCullers	Astros	Back discomfort	Early September
Garrett Richards	Angels	Cutaneous nerve in biceps	Mid September
Reynaldo Lopez	White Sox	Pulled back	Mid September
Noah Syndergaard	Mets	Strained lat	Mid September
Anthony DeScalafani	Reds	Strained elbow	Mid September
Jacob Faria	Rays	Strained ab muscle	Mid September
Trevor Cahill	Royals	Shoulder impingement	Mid September
Danny Salazar	Indians	Elbow inflammation	Mid September
Alex Meyer	Angels	Shoulder inflammation	Mid September
David Price	Red Sox	Elbow injury	Mid September
Adam Wainwright	Cardinals	Elbow impingement	Mid September
Aaron Sanchez	Blue Jays	Blister	Unlikely
JC Ramirez	Angels	Strained elbow	Unlikely
Danny Duffy	Royals	Elbow impingement	Unlikely

Notables

• Royals ace Danny Duffy added insult to an elbow injury this week by topping it with a DUI. I'd be surprised if he pitched again this season and the elbow may not be the limiting factor in that decision.

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• Here's my weekly Astros post in this section! With Lance McCullers on the mend, this means one of two things. One - the Astros could go with a six man rotation considering their substantial lead in the AL West. Two - they could decide to bump out either Mike Fiers or, a pitching planner favorite, Brad Peacock. Please make the right decision, Houston front office, I'm begging you!

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