Some pitchers who could make the difference down the stretch highlight this week’s Week That Was.

Patrick Corbin:  Corbin was lights out Thursday going 8 and 2/3 innings of shutout ball allowing just 4 hits and one walk while mowing down 7.  Corbin’s 4.56 ERA on the year does not turn anyone on (or at least it should not) but over his last 13 starts, he has a very appetizing 3.24 ERA.  So, can we count on Corbin down the stretch?  I say yes.  Why?  Well, first, he has increased his velocity by almost a full mile per hour.  Second, his year-long ERA reflects some bad luck in the BABIP department (almost .360).  Third, the advanced metrics back up my faith – 49% ground ball rate, a swinging strike rate of almost 12% and a first pitch strike rate of over 64%.  Convinced?  You should be but if you are not fully convinced, at least go out and buy him for his upcoming start against a Met team that recently got swept by the Yankees.

Edwin Jackson:  Don’t look now but Edwin Jackson is dealing.  Thursday, the Nats’ hurler tossed 7 innings of one run ball on the way to a W.  Yes, I know he has been on a dozen MLB teams.  Yes, I know he has flamed out of some if not many of them.  However, the results are starting to really speak for themselves.  EJax has a 3.2 ERA in his last 8 starts.  Nice.  So, do we have faith this can last another 7 weeks?  Yes.  EJax has regained some velocity as he is averaging nearly 94 MPH on his fastball – a number almost 2 miles per hour above last year. Moreover, EJax has posted a solid ground ball rate of over 40% and a swinging strike rate of 10.5%.  He is very likely on your waiver wire.  He shouldn’t be after his performance Thursday.

Jon Gray: Gray tossed six innings of two run ball, striking out six to win Wednesday.  What makes this outing all the more impressive is that the ball was flying out of Coors Field as proven by the Rockies 17 run total.  Since getting obliterated by the Mets in mid-July, Gray has been much, much better.  He has also racked up the K’s as he is averaging over one strikeout per inning over his last 50 IP.  I like Gray to continue to produce fantasy value.  He is throwing gas (average fastball almost 96 mph), the .361 BABIP says the ERA for the year is quite inflated (indeed the fact that his FIP is over a run lower than his ERA further proves the point).  Oh, and Gray has a groundball rate over 50% – something that will prove very helpful at Coors.  Buy!

Carlos Rodon:  Rodon has quietly put up four quality starts in a row.  Wednesday, Rodon pitched 7 innings of 2 run ball against the red-hot Dodgers.  There is a world of talent here.  I can quote the stats but let’s take a break from that.  Watch Rodon pitch.  If you don’t think he is going to be a big-time fantasy pitcher in the future, well, you will be wrong.  I am buying and given his year-long 1.40 WHIP, you may well be able to steal him.  I will surely try.

Blake Snell:  Snell was lights out Sunday tossing 7 innings of shutout ball while allowing just 4 baserunners and mowing down 8.  It appears Blake has turned the corner.  The one-time king of walks (1 every other inning this year) has become far more stingy.  In this last six starts, Snell has issued just 9 BB while striking out 30.  With his 94 MPH fastball from the left side and a new-found control, Snell could well be the difference down the stretch.  Worth the risk.

And now, the moment you likely have not been waiting for -- Schultz says: “As we sit mired within the dog days of August, roto-owners atop the leader boards have to hope they are satisfied with the moves they made to keep them there while roto-owners at the bottom can start looking ahead to their fantasy football draft. Without a Billy Hamilton like game changer coming up in September when the rosters expand, outside of keeper leagues, there isn't much that can be done to re-jigger your roto-roster from the waiver wire. With that in mind, let's give lip service to three players that may have saved their roto-clubs by simply being the players their roto-owners thought they were.

With his shortstop eligibility, the conventional roto-wisdom had Manny Machado making 2017 the year he ascends to top of the roto-rankings. Funny thing about conventional roto-wisdom, it's usually wrong - dead wrong. The Orioles' once-and-future-superstar's .266, 26 HRs and 81 RBIs with 6 steals and 63 runs are surely nothing to scoff at; it's a sign of his potential that this isn't what his roto-owners bargaining for. If the past Week That Was is any indication, Machado seems headed to the type of strong finish that obscures a disappointing first half. With a .462, 5 HR, 13 RBIs week, there's much to be optimistic about.

Meanwhile, Jay Bruce has been thriving since leaving CitiField. In his first full week since coming to the American League, he's put up a .370 3 HR 10 RBI line with a stolen base to boot, giving every indication that he will make the most of his first run through the American League. It surely will not hurt Bruce to be hitting behind Jose Ramirez and Edwin Encarnacion. Even more so, should Michael Brantley return to upper third of the Tribe's lineup.

Finally, injuries have put a dour damper upon Josh Donaldson's 2017 season. Up until this week, the perennial roto-stud crawled to power numbers of 15 HRs and 43 RBIs. Ostensibly healthy, Donaldson's Week That Was of .435 5 HR 9 RBI has been typical of the Jays' slugger's August that has seen him put up a .351 9 HR 21 RBI line - the best monthly numbers in any category. Like Machado and Bruce, roto-owners didn't have the option of giving up on Donaldson, at least now, they get to reap some roto-rewards.

Schultz returns next week: same roto-time, same roto-channel.”

Response:  Love the alliteration of “dour damper”!