This is it… Championship Week. If you are reading this because you are playing for a title, congratulations! I hope everyone on our Prospects Live fantasy team has been able to help get you to this point. If you are just here to get a sense of where things stand before the MLB playoffs kick off, this is the place to be.
Many top arms returned from the IL this past week, resulting in some MAJOR shakeups to our top 100. Without further ado… lets get into it.
Note: Any player put on the IL this week has been removed from the rankings, as they likely will not be able to contribute either this week, or next week if you have a team playing in the finals of your league.
STARTER REPORT
Jacob deGrom- New York Mets (#2)
With the Mets’ loss on Sunday to the Braves, they are pretty much as good as done when it comes to October contention. What does this mean for deGrom? Well, the likely answer is that he will put everything he can into these last two starts on Monday and Saturday. deGrom is coming off of a hamstring tweak - no one likes to end the year feeling injured. While he is a must start regardless, this could be a massive final week for Jacob deGrom.
Sonny Gray- Cincinnati Reds (#11)
Welcome back to the Top 100 Sonny Gray. Activated from the IL over the weekend, Gray’s return is coming at a crucial point for the Reds, who are in the thick of the Wild Card chase and in desperate need of wins. Gray will have two starters this week, Tuesday against Milwaukee, and Sunday in the season finale against the Twins. While these are not easy assignments by any means, the Reds need big outings, and as a fantasy owner, you should expect Gray to perform. The only question mark I have on Gray going into the week is whether or not he will be on a pitch count in his first start back; back injuries are not easy to come back from, and the Reds are in a tough spot with his management- they need to win games but cannot afford to have him get hurt in the event that they make it into the October fray.
Dylan Bundy- Los Angeles Angels (#16)
Bundy is heading into the final week of the year as the clear ace of a very disappointing Angels team. As mentioned prior with deGrom, this is a final opportunity for Bundy to one end his season on a high note, but to also cement his claim as the ace of the Angels’ staff. Bundy has two starts this week, Monday against Texas, and Saturday against the Dodgers. While the Dodgers draw may look daunting, they will likely be resting players for the postseason- this may be a massive week for Bundy.
Luis Castillo- Cincinnati Reds (#19)
Two Reds in one feature? You got that right. Castillo has turned it on completely down the stretch, and is a major reason why the Reds are still chasing a postseason spot with a week to go. Castillo has given up only one run in 16 innings over his last two starts, striking out 16 and walking four in the process. He is expected to start twice this week. Monday in a critical game with Wild Card implications against the Brewers, and then on Saturday against Minnesota. Given how he has been throwing he is a surefire start for fantasy teams, and could be the X Factor for the Reds in this final playoff push.
Zack Wheeler- Philadelphia Phillies (#20)
Wheeler’s return could not have come at a better time for the Phillies. Trailing the Marlins by one game for second in the East, and holding onto the seventh seed in the NL, they need wins, and quality starts badly. Wheeler went 7.1 innings in his return from his pants zipper debacle, giving up three earned. He has two starts this week, taking on Washington on Monday, and a likely resting Tampa Bay on Saturday. It's make or break for the Phillies, and they need their big money man to step up.
Marco Gonzales- Seattle Mariners (#29)
Gonzales has been one of the most underrated starters on Major League Baseball this year. Heading into the final week of the year, Gonzales is sitting on a 6-2 record, with a 0.90 WHIP in nine starts. The left hander goes two more times this week, and will look to finish strong on Monday against the Astros, and Saturday in Oakland. He is another guy looking to cement his status as the ace of his staff, and is a must play for Championship Week.