Smell that cooking in the distance? Yep, that’s October baseball just right around the corner. Eight teams are still mathematically eligible for the playoffs, as of the start of play on September 23, and each team still feels that it has a chance to make the postseason.

We’ve seen a lot happen this season, from the emergence of the Rays to the Mets changing managers and collapsing once again when the calendar changed to September. The Angels are kings of the AL West again, while the Cubs repeat as champions in the NL Central. Read more »

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brett Myers is back in a big league uniform after making four starts at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Double-A Reading. He’s a perfect buy-low candidate because in many fantasy leagues, there is no price; he’s a free agent. By capturing his form in his last two seasons as a starter, Myers could provide a nice second-half boost.
 
Before struggling to start the 2007 season and eventually ending up in the bullpen, Myers had two excellent seasons in the Phillies’ rotation. Between 2005-06, Myers went 25-15 with a 3.81 ERA and 397 strikeouts in 413.1 innings. Read more »

Take a deep breath. For the first time since March, there’s no baseball to obsessively watch and no fantasy lineup to maintain. As much as major league players need a physical break from the grind of their daily schedules, we could use a mental break from our own daily grind.

Now, there’s a difference between taking a break and a leave of absence. Little news develops during the All-Star break, but there is still work to be done. This is a good time to reflect on where your pitching staff stands in relation to an innings or starts limit and figure out what needs to be done the rest of the way. Read more »