Scott Baker - Fantasy News & Updates
Scott Baker - Fantasy News & Updates
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A quality yet unspectacular showing from Baker, who kept his record and ERA at 15-9 and 4.36, respectively, and boosted his innings total to 200, a career high. After getting roughed up throughout the second half, Baker quieted the critics by going 8-2 down the stretch, reestablishing himself as a solid second-tier starter.
Never mind Baker's rocky start. The finesse righty has gone 12-4 since July 12, posting a 3.45 ERA over that span. That includes a strong outing last time out against the Tigers, who managed just one unearned run over Baker's five innings of work. Baker heads into the game with a 15-9 record, a 4.36 ERA and a 160/46 K/BB ratio on the season.
It wasn't the most efficient outing for Baker, who needed 106 pitches to get through the five frames. Although his 4.36 ERA is nearly a full run higher than his mark from last season, Baker offset that with career highs in wins and strikeouts (160).
Baker broke a three-start winless streak despite giving up four earned runs for the second straight start. Still, he succeeded by pumping the strike zone for 19 first-pitch strikes of the 24 batters he faced. Consider him a fine starting option in all but the most shallow formats when he faces the Tigers at Comerica Park on Oct. 1.
Baker needed 101 pitches to get through the five innings and change, which resulted in his shortest effort in his last five tries. Still, this was the fifth outing in a row in which he surrendered three earned runs or fewer. Owners should continue to start him with confidence when he takes a stellar 147/41 K/BB ratio into his next start on Sept. 21 vs. the White Sox.
The loss snaps Baker's impressive seven-game winning streak which started all the way back on July 12. Despite the loss, the 27-year-old right-hander has turned in four consecutive quality starts and will take his 4.33 ERA to the Metrodome for a date with the Indians next.
Baker ran his record against the Tribe to a perfect 4-0 in this one, but he's pitched fairly well against everyone of late. He has now gone 11 decisions without taking a loss, and has 4-0 record and a 2.36 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings over his last five starts. He'll look to keep his run of success going when he faces the Blue Jays in Toronto on Sept. 10.
Baker's three-start winning streak was broken, but Baker kept his team in the game by holding a powerful Rangers offense to just a pair of extra-base hits. He hadn't served up a homer in three starts prior to Sunday's start, which included an outing at Texas on Aug. 19. Despite his recent success, owners have a reason to worry about Baker when he faces the Indians at Progress Field on Sept. 5. The righty has a 4.43 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP in 44 2/3 career innings at the ballpark.
If you were making a list of the AL's top second-half starters, it would be hard to leave off Baker. In eight starts since the All-Star break, the Twins anchor has gone 5-0 with a 2.61 ERA and a 43/9 K/BB ratio. He hasn’t lost since July 7. As long as he keeps the ball in sight, there is absolutely no reason to bench to bench Baker moving forward, even when he plays host to the hard-hitting Rangers next time out.
This was not Baker at his best, but it's to his credit that he was able to gut out a win despite obviously not having his A-stuff. He's won his last five decisions, and has mixed in some really terrific starts with a few of Wednesday's just-good-enough variety. His good fortune wouldn't matter as much in fantasy if he wasn't also a good pitcher -- and Baker's 120 strikeouts in 146 innings and 1.17 WHIP are proof that he is -- but owners have to love this four-leaf-clover routine. He'll make his next start on Aug. 24, at home against Baltimore.
It didn't take long for Baker to find his footing after getting socked for six runs over 4 1/3 innings his last time out against the Tigers. That unfortunate business aside, the young right-hander has been exceptional over the last month, going 4-1 with a dazzlingly low 1.02 ERA and a 29/6 K/BB ratio over his last five starts. Don't let his 4.54 ERA fool you and make sure you run him back out there when Baker next takes the hill on Aug. 19 against the Rangers.
Baker had allowed a combined four earned runs over his previous four starts, spanning 26 innings, so there is little reason for owners to panic over this one poor outing vs. a dangerous lineup. The Twins righty remains a solid starting option when he next toes the rubber Aug. 15 at home against the Indians.
This was the fifth straight outing in which Baker allowed two earned runs or fewer. The control artist has turned things around after a brutal first half, posting a 1.38 ERA and 24 strikeouts against six walks in four starts since the Midsummer Classic. Run the right-hander back out there when he faces Jarrod Washburn and the Tigers next time out.
This was an interesting outing for Baker, as he squared off with Mark Buehrle -- who went 5 2/3 perfect innings in a serious flirtation with back-to-back perfect games. Baker, however, didn’t allow the moment to consume him and did his job, limiting a dangerous White Sox lineup to just the one run to outlast Buehrle and his quest for the unthinkable. While his 4.86 ERA isn’t very appealing, Baker has allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine of his last 11 starts -- going 6-1 in that span -- and boasts an excellent 102/26 K/BB ratio. For that reason, owners should give him the nod when he takes the hill again Aug. 4 in Cleveland vs. an Indians lineup he dominated earlier this year.
This was a terrific effort, but not as out of the norm for Baker as his 5.10 ERA might suggest. Opponents are hitting only .255 against him, and Baker's 1.20 WHIP and 90 strikeouts in 108 1/3 innings offer solid support in those not-so-peripheral peripheral categories. He'll shoot for his ninth win when he takes the hill against the Angels in Anaheim on July 23.
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