Wednesday, August 5, 2015

NFL Fantasy Tips
Danny B

Fantasy: Quarterback Primer

by Justin Boone yesterday at 5:01am

Joel Auerbach / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Fantasy Position Primers

Quarterbacks
Running Backs (Wednesday)
Wide Receivers (Thursday)
Tight Ends (Friday)

Quarterbacks

Thanks to mock drafts and MFL10s, the fantasy football season is beginning earlier and earlier every year. However, the start of training camp still feels like fantasy football's unofficial kickoff as owners get serious about their research and start making clear decisions on players to target.
When it comes to your roster, no decision is as important as your quarterback and every fantasy owner needs a plan for how to approach finding their QB1 in the draft.
Not to spoil anything for you, but the quarterback position is one of the deepest in fantasy, so try not to get lost out there. If you're looking for something more definitive, you can view our complete quarterback rankings here.

Two of a Kind

Andrew Luck, Colts - After throwing 23 touchdown passes in each of his first two seasons, Luck joined the fantasy elite with 4,761 yards and 40 scores in 2014. Heading into his fourth year, Luck's potential is limitless, especially after the additions of veterans Andre Johnson and Frank Gore, as well as rookie wideout Phillip Dorsett. Luck should be the top quarterback off the board in drafts.
Aaron Rodgers, Packers - When he's not spending time in the background of girlfriend Olivia Munn's videos, Rodgers is crushing the souls of defenses around the league. In his last three full seasons, he's thrown for over 4,200 yards with 38 touchdowns or more. If not for Luck, Rodgers would sit alone at the top of the quarterback class.

Adrenaline Rush

Russell Wilson, Seahawks - Wilson's 3,475 passing yards and 20 touchdowns were pedestrian in 2014, but his 849 rushing yards and six scores on the ground catapulted him into the top three fantasy quarterbacks. Jimmy Graham's arrival should not only give Wilson the No. 1 receiving target he lacked, but could also give him more space to run, as defenses key on Graham and Marshawn Lynch.
Cam Newton, Panthers - Newton finished outside of the top 15 last season, but averaged 17 fantasy points per game and would have ended the year as a QB1 had he played a full 16-game schedule. Staying healthy will be the key for Newton's fantasy outlook in 2015, a task that will be challenging playing behind a suspect offensive line.

Acting Their Age

Peyton Manning, Broncos - A healthy Manning averaged 323 yards and three touchdowns per game through Week 11 last season, which had him on pace for over 5,100 yards and 48 touchdowns. Unfortunately, a late season decline, possibly due to injuries, cast doubts around the once infallible Manning. The 39-year-old will have to deal with a new system and changes on his offensive line, but he remains one of the best in the game.
Drew Brees, Saints - While he still has the ability to produce high-end QB1 numbers, Brees will need to do so with a fairly unproven cast. The Saints are also set up to run the ball more in 2015, thanks to a beefed up offensive line and a strong stable of backs. The 36-year-old is still a steady fantasy option, but he's not worth chasing in the fifth round at such a deep position.

Surrounded by Weapons

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers - Big Ben did a significant portion of his work last year in a two-game stretch where he threw for an improbable 862 yards and 12 touchdowns. Though it's not likely to happen again, it's a sign of how potent the Steelers offense can be. Playing behind a solid offensive line, with an explosive crop of receivers, and arguably the most dangerous back in the NFL, Roethlisberger is oozing fantasy upside.
Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins - Tannehill received an influx of supporting talent on offense, including Jordan Cameron, Kenny Stills and rookie DeVante Parker. Playing in his second season under offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, the 27-year-old is poised to match and improve upon his top-10 finish in 2014.
Matthew Stafford, Lions - The Lions are a different offense when Calvin Johnson is 100 percent healthy. With Megatron and Golden Tate at full strength, sophomore Eric Ebron hopefully offering something from the tight end position, and rookie running back Ameer Abdullah providing a spark in the backfield, Stafford could have sneaky value this season.

Playing It Safe

Tony Romo, Cowboys - The Cowboys' rushing attack powered the offense last season, helping free up Romo, who threw 34 touchdowns, his highest total since 2007. The offensive line remains one of the best in the game, but the departure of DeMarco Murray may force the Cowboys to turn to the air more in 2015.
Matt Ryan, Falcons - Ryan has long been one of the most reliable fantasy quarterbacks, but he's never finished higher than seventh at his position. Julio Jones is an exceptional talent, but outside of a declining Roddy White there isn't much else to get excited about in the Falcons' receiving corps. Ryan is a high-floor, low-ceiling option in the mid-rounds.
Eli Manning, Giants - Odell Beckham Jr. provided the defibrillator jolt that brought Eli Manning's fantasy career back to life. If Beckham picks up where he left off and Victor Cruz is able to return to form after a season-ending injury, Manning could be one of the best values available on draft day.
Philip Rivers, Chargers - Much like Peyton Manning, Rivers was having an excellent fantasy season before injuries slowed him down. Antonio Gates will be sidelined for the first four weeks due to suspension, but the additions of veteran receiver Stevie Johnson and first-round running back Melvin Gordon should energize the offense and help Rivers stay in the low-end QB1 conversation.

Risk vs. Reward

Sam Bradford, Eagles - After being cleared for training camp, Bradford is expected to be under center for the Eagles' first preseason game, and will start in Week 1, barring a setback. The former No. 1 overall pick has all the tools to be successful in Chip Kelly's inexhaustible offense and his clean bill of health will surely be noticed by fantasy owners. For those who decide to wait on quarterback, Bradford is the kind of high-risk swing that could win a league.
Carson Palmer, Cardinals - The 35-year-old is making an impressive recovery from an ACL tear in November and is on track to start the season behind the Cardinals new and improved offensive line. Palmer was posting QB1 numbers before the injury, though it took place during one of the easier stretches of Arizona's schedule. Armed with a trio of quality receivers and a pair of above average pass-catching backs, Palmer is worth a gamble in the later rounds.
Tom Brady, Patriots - Brady's true value will be decided when the verdict comes down on his suspension appeal. If he misses time, fantasy owners will need to decide if it's worth carrying a second quarterback through the first few weeks of the season, when roster spots are better used on breakout waiver-wire stars.

Stuck in the Middle

Joe Flacco, Ravens - When Marc Trestman arrived in Baltimore, it seemed like he might be the catalyst to bump Flacco into the QB1 conversation. Unfortunately, Trestman doesn't plan on forcing his pass-heavy attack on the Ravens. Baltimore's offensive line is so talented that the team may not need to air it out in order to win games, which leaves Flacco as a middle-of-the-pack fantasy option once again.
Jay Cutler, Bears - It's normally not a great sign when your team attempts and fails to trade you in the offseason. That's the situation Cutler finds himself in, entering the year with an unstable hold on the starting job in Chicago. The Bears have the weapons to produce big-time numbers, but if Cutler's new coaching staff doesn't trust him, should fantasy owners?
Colin Kaepernick, 49ers - It wasn't long ago that Kaepernick was believed to be the next big thing at the quarterback position. However, he's been unable to take the next step and his stock has hit an all-time low heading into 2015. Torrey Smith and Reggie Bush will provide fresh blood to a 49ers offense that is in desperate need of rescue. Hopefully it's enough to reinvigorate Kaepernick's fantasy prospects.

Predicatable Behavior

Alex Smith, Chiefs - The Chiefs' wide receivers not catching a single touchdown in 2014 seems like a bad joke. Clearly the team's front office didn't find it funny, since they signed Jeremy Maclin in free agency. Maclin's presence, combined with the potential breakout of tight end Travis Kelce, makes Smith a more interesting QB2 than he's been in past years.
Andy Dalton, Bengals - Dalton is the epitome of fantasy frustration. One week, he'll throw three touchdown passes and lead your team to victory. The next, he'll toss three unexplainable interceptions and singlehandedly bury your roster. Dalton may not be the most physically gifted quarterback, but with A.J. Green, Marvin Jones and Tyler Eifert entering the season healthy, there will be no more excuses.

Second Time's the Charm

Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings - It's tough to tell exactly when the public fell in love with Bridgewater, but it may have happened late last season when he put up four multi-touchdown games in his last six outings, including two 300-yard efforts. Bridgewater's improved play coincided with Charles Johnson's emergence, and now more help is on the way as Mike Wallace, Kyle Rudolph and Adrian Peterson have joined the party in Minnesota. Fantasy owners should, too.
Derek Carr, Raiders - It's tough to determine whether Carr has the makings of a capable pro quarterback after an up-and-down first season. Amari Cooper gives the Raiders a legitimate top receiver, Michael Crabtree has been impressing early in camp, and the Raiders will surely spend time in comeback mode. It's still difficult to get excited about Carr as anything more than a streaming option.
Blake Bortles, Jaguars - What happened to the Blake Bortles from last year's preseason? The confident passer with good field vision was nowhere to be found when he got his chance during the regular season. To help Bortles' development, the Jaguars upgraded their the offensive line in free agency and the draft. Now they need their franchise quarterback to start playing like one.

The New Class

Jameis Winston, Buccaneers - Winston is doing all the right things since being drafted, and he is set up to succeed early on as a fantasy quarterback if that continues. Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson form one of the best receiving duos in the league and the Buccaneers' schedule is filled with matchups against vulnerable secondaries. If you're drafting a backup, Winston is an ideal late-round choice, with extremely high upside.
Marcus Mariota, Titans - Mariota's performance in practice so far has been nothing short of immaculate, according to almost every report coming out of camp. The second overall pick doesn't have as much talent around him as Winston, but he can make up for it with his rushing ability. If you are picking between the two rookies, Winston has more fantasy promise in 2015.

Forgotten, But Not Gone

Robert Griffin, Redskins - Someday we will look back and tell our grandchildren about RG3's magical rookie season. Hopefully that's not the only memory we have of his career. The odds of Jay Gruden and Griffin III both being in Washington next year will dwindle with each passing loss.
Geno Smith, Jets - In his third season, Smith has everything he needs to succeed and yet few people seem to have faith that he will come through. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has built in a safety net by acquiring his old pal Ryan Fitzpatrick. There are no guarantees Smith finishes the year as the starter.
Nick Foles, Rams - The Rams' quarterback play during the 2014 season was about as bad as you will ever see in the NFL. Foles doesn't need to do much to top that in St. Louis and with Brian Quick and Kenny Britt on the outside, there's even a chance for the Rams' passing game to outperform expectations.

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Sunday, August 2, 2015

UFC News
Posted by Danny B

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- It's not a good idea to give Ronda Rousey some extra motivation.
Hurt by comments about her family and moved by the death of a close friend and idol, Rousey got off to a quick start and knocked out home-crowd favorite Bethe Correia only 34 seconds into the first round at UFC 190 on Saturday night.
Rousey defended her bantamweight title by throwing a rapid sequence of punches at the Brazilian's head, landing a combination of right and left strikes that sent her opponent face-first into the ground and disappointed the local fans packing the HSBC Arena.
WATCH: Highlights of Rousey's 34-second demolition of Correia
It was yet another impressive performance by Rousey, who improved to 12-0 in her incredible MMA career.
She has been crushing her opponents inside the octagon, but this victory seemed special.
Rousey came into the fight upset with Correia after the Brazilian made a comment apparently referencing to Rousey's father's suicide. Rousey said Correia crossed the line, so she would try to embarrass her in front of her fans.
"I hope that nobody really brings up my family anymore when it comes to fights," she said. "I hope this is the last time."
Before the fight, Correia had said she didn't know about what happened to Rousey's father and never intended to attack her personally.
Rousey also was extra motivated after the death of Hall of Fame wrestler Roddy Piper, who was one her greatest idols and inspired her to take the "Rowdy" nickname. She had said she would be fighting for him.
"We've lost a really close friend, `Rowdy' Roddy Piper, who gave me his permission to use his name as a fighter, so I hope he and my dad had a good time watching this today," Rousey said.
The UFC's biggest star, Rousey arrived in Rio as the overwhelming favorite against Correia (9-1) after winning her previous three title defenses in a combined 96 seconds. She needed only 14 seconds to beat Cat Zingano at UFC 184 earlier this year.
"It kind of went how I expected it," Rousey said. "I planned to instead of trying to force a clinch, overwhelm her (by) striking first so that she would want to clinch first, and that's exactly what happened."
Rousey, who has been redefining the sport, has won 11 of her fights in the first round while being taken to the third round once. She has finished most of her opponents with her signature armbar, but this time it was her striking force that made the difference.
"I guess she can't really say anything about my hands anymore," Rousey said of Correia.
Rousey's next opponent will likely be fellow American Miesha Tate.
In the second-to-last fight on the main card on Saturday, Mauricio Rua topped Rogerio Nogueira with a unanimous decision in a fight between veteran Brazilian light heavyweight fighters. It was a rematch of a fight between the two in 2005, when Rua won a contest that lasted 38 minutes.
"I knew he was going to be well prepared, but I won, I got the victory," Rua said.
In other fights Saturday, top-ranked strawweight fighter Claudia Gadelha of Brazil defeated Mexican-born Jessica Aguilar with a unanimous decision after three rounds; heavyweight Antonio Silva of Brazil beat Soa Palelei of Australia with a second-round knockout; Stefan Struve of the Netherlands beat Brazil's Minotauro Nogueira with a unanimous decision.

UFC 190: Ronda Rousey vs. Bethe Correia

Friday, July 31, 2015

Odds To Win AL East
By Danny B

New York Yankees	1-7	In Progress
Tampa Bay Rays	1-1	In Progress
Toronto Blue Jays	5-1	In Progress
Baltimore Orioles	10-1	In Progress

Boston Red Sox	60-1	In Progress

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Odds To Win NBA Title
By Danny B

Cleveland Cavaliers	5-2	In Progress
San Antonio Spurs	19-5	In Progress
Golden State Warriors	13-2	In Progress
Oklahoma City Thunder	17-2	In Progress
Los Angeles Clippers	12-1	In Progress
Houston Rockets	22-1	In Progress
Chicago Bulls	22-1	In Progress
Memphis Grizzlies	30-1	In Progress
Miami Heat	40-1	In Progress
New Orleans Pelicans	45-1	In Progress
Atlanta Hawks	45-1	In Progress
Washington Wizards	55-1	In Progress
Indiana Pacers	60-1	In Progress
Milwaukee Bucks	60-1	In Progress
Toronto Raptors	75-1	In Progress
Dallas Mavericks	120-1	In Progress
Phoenix Suns	125-1	In Progress
Boston Celtics	125-1	In Progress
Utah Jazz	150-1	In Progress
Detroit Pistons	200-1	In Progress
New York Knicks	200-1	In Progress
Portland Blazers	200-1	In Progress
Los Angeles Lakers	200-1	In Progress
Denver Nuggets	250-1	In Progress
Minnesota T-Wolves	250-1	In Progress
Brooklyn Nets	250-1	In Progress
Orlando Magic	300-1	In Progress
Sacramento Kings	300-1	In Progress
Charlotte Hornets	350-1	In Progress
Philadelphia 76ers	350-1	In Progress

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Odds To Win NL Central
By Danny B

St Louis Cardinals	1-12	In Progress
Pittsburgh Pirates	9-2	In Progress
Chicago Cubs	25-1	In Progress
Milwaukee Brewers	1000-1	In Progress
Cincinnati Reds	1000-1	In Progress

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

MLB Power Numbers
Posted by Danny B

MLB Power Rankings - July 27: Surging Yankees grab No. 5 spot; Giants return to top 10

by Jonah Birenbaum Jul 27, 10:49 AM

Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

1. St. Louis Cardinals

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
63-35	63-35	2 (+1)

Matt Holliday's return has diverted everyone's attention away from the ongoing woes of Matt Carpenter, who's hitting .165/.283/.253 in July. Relegated earlier this month to the No. 7 spot in the lineup, Carpenter is a driving force behind the club's 83 wRC+ this month - the fifth-worst mark in the National League. The Cardinals still continue to win in spite of this, of course.

2. Kansas City Royals

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
59-38	57-40	5 (+3)

Dayton Moore's desire to take advantage of his club's competitive window manifested Sunday when he shipped three young left-handers to Cincinnati for Johnny Cueto, an impending free agent and a true ace who will - for the next few months - serve as the leader of a rotation that has been among the worst in the American League this season.

3. Pittsburgh Pirates

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
57-41	55-43	1 (-2)

Wait, you really thought an injury to Jordy Mercer would derail the Pirates' season? Since taking over as Pittsburgh's everyday shortstop last week, Jung Ho Kang is hitting .423/.464/.577 with four doubles in seven games.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
56-44	57-43	3 (-1)

Among the three Dodgers pitchers with two starts since the All-Star break, Zack Greinke owns the worst ERA of the bunch at 1.20. Impressive as that seems, the Dodgers have needed sublime pitching performances to compensate for their scuffling offense, which has scored just three runs or fewer in six of 10 games since the second half began.

5. New York Yankees

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
55-42	52-45	7 (+2)

Propelled offensively by baseball's most impressive near-quadragenarian, the Yankees are 7-2 since the All-Star break while Alex Rodriguez - he of the 151 OPS+ this season - became just the ninth player in history age 39 or older to record a three-homer game Saturday in Minnesota.

6. Los Angeles Angels

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
55-43	56-42	8 (+2)

Mike Trout is tied for the MLB lead with five homers since the All-Star break after blasting a pair Sunday afternoon. The Angels, meanwhile, rank second in the AL with a 122 wRC+ over that span.

7. Houston Astros

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
55-45	58-42	6 (-1)

Scott Kazmir sure looked comfortable back in his Astros debut Friday, hurling seven shutout innings for his new team. Thrust into a rotation anchored by Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers Jr., the veteran left-hander dramatically improves the depth of a starting corps that already ranks fifth in the majors in WAR since the beginning of July.

8. Washington Nationals

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
52-45	52-45	4 (-4)

Eager to assign blame for Washington's offensive woes? Look no further than Michael Taylor and Wilson Ramos, who have combined for an 1.030 OPS during the last four weeks. No, like, that's the sum. Like, individually, Taylor has an OPS of .589 and Ramos has an OPS of .441 over the last 30 days.

9. San Francisco Giants

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
54-44	55-43	11 (+2)

Five straight wins? Three of the last five World Series championships? Maybe that's because they can take an unspectacular specimen like Matt Duffy, inject him with some of Buster Posey's sweat, and produce an everyday third baseman who's been better offensively this season (130 wRC+) than Matt Carpenter, Kyle Seager, and Evan Longoria.

10. Chicago Cubs

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
51-46	49-48	9 (-1)

Recalled after the All-Star break to replace Miguel Montero, rookie Kyle Schwarber became the 23rd player since 2000 to record a multi-homer game within his first 11 MLB contests Tuesday, putting on a show at Great American Ball Park in his native Ohio. Isn't it nice to see the Cubs finally getting some production from a high-profile prospect?

11. Minnesota Twins

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
52-46	50-48	10 (-1)

With six losses in their last eight games, the Twins are finally starting to perform like a team still giving regular at-bats to Kurt Suzuki (61 wRC+) and Danny Santana (45 wRC+) and handing starts to Kyle Gibson and Tommy Milone.

12. New York Mets

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
51-48	49-50	12 (-)

Terry Collins took the blame for some questionable bullpen management in Wednesday's loss to the Nationals, but it certainly isn't his fault that nobody on his team can hit, right? The Mets rank fourth-last in the NL in OPS over the last 30 days, though Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson may constitute slight upgrades to the 25-man roster.

13. Toronto Blue Jays

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
50-50	59-41	14 (+1)

A superlative offense is cool and all, but the Blue Jays are still 10-21 in one-run games following Sunday's extra-innings defeat in Seattle and have managed more bullpen meltdowns since the All-Star break than all but two AL teams.

14. Baltimore Orioles

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
48-49	53-44	13 (-1)

If Dan Duquette was sincere when he said the Orioles will be buyers at the deadline, he ought to direct his efforts toward improving a rotation that owns an ugly 4.54 FIP over the last 30 days amid recent skids from Ubaldo Jimenez and Miguel Gonzalez.

15. Detroit Tigers

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
48-50	47-51	15 (-)

His clubhouse addled by trade rumors, manager Brad Ausmus reiterated hours before the Tigers dropped below .500 on Tuesday that he doesn't "subscribe to the theory that we're out of it." Similarly, his starters don't "subscribe to the theory that we have to be effective," as Detroit's rotation owns the second-worst ERA in baseball (5.58) while averaging 1.31 homers per nine innings this month.

16. Tampa Bay Rays

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
49-51	47-53	16 (-)

Turns out a lineup that includes names like Curt Casali and Jake Elmore on a regular basis may not be so good, after all. Currently 7 1/2 games back of the division lead, the Rays own a 7-14 record this month and haven't scored more than four runs in a game since July 8.

17. Texas Rangers

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
47-50	46-51	18 (+1)

The desire to land Cole Hamels has to have intensified in the Rangers' clubhouse of late, as the team's rotation owns a disastrous 5.69 ERA with a 1.59 WHIP over the last two weeks, managing the third-worst walk rate (8.6 percent) in the AL throughout that span.

18. Chicago White Sox

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
46-50	41-55	22 (+4)

After months of futility, Chicago's offense is starting to click at the least opportune time - the White Sox own a 101 wRC+ since the All-Star break and have won four straight games - creating more confusion for general manager Rick Hahn as the trade deadline looms.

19. Arizona Diamondbacks

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
46-51	49-49	17 (-2)

After watching Rubby De La Rosa (0.60 ERA) and Patrick Corbin (2.25 ERA) enjoy such success to open the second half, Diamondbacks chief baseball officer Tonny La Russa barely managed to resist the temptation to ask Randy Johnson to join the club for the stretch run at Sunday's HOF induction ceremony.

20. San Diego Padres

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
47-52	43-56	23 (+3)

Justin Upton- an impending free agent and likely trade candidate_ pleased the scouts in attendance by sending one over the fence Sunday against Miami, but the 27-year-old outfielder is still hitting just .136/.200/.237 with 17 strikeouts dating back to June 28.

21. Atlanta Braves

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
46-52	44-54	19 (-2)

Freddie Freeman returned from the disabled list Saturday after missing more than five weeks with a wrist injury, going hitless as a pinch-hitter before finishing 1-for-3 with a walk the following afternoon. Though he was expected to need more recovery time, Freeman figured it'd be less painful to return to game action Sunday than listen to John Smoltz's interminable HOF speech.

22. Cleveland Indians

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
45-52	44-53	20 (-2)

It's tough to cobble together a second-half surge when you can't, you know, hit. Over the last week, the Indians have managed a brutal .639 OPS with a 24.3 percent strikeout rate, dropping five of six games throughout that span.

23. Seattle Mariners

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
46-53	44-55	24 (+1)

Despite their efforts to contend this season, the Mariners ought to cut their losses and trade Hisashi Iwakuma before Friday. Though he missed more than two months earlier this season, the 34-year-old owns a 1.74 ERA over his last three starts and remains one of the more attractive rentals available on the trade market when considering both talent and acquisition cost.

24. Boston Red Sox

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
44-55	43-56	21 (-3)

There's a delicious irony to the fact that one of the finest pitchers in Red Sox history was inducted to the Hall of Fame on Sunday with his former club's current rotation in total disarray. Of the eight pitchers to make a start for Boston in the last 30 days, three possess an ERA below 5.19 throughout that span.

25. Oakland Athletics

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
44-56	54-46	25 (-)

GM Billy Beane essentially admitted after trading Scott Kazmir that "the future is probably more important than the present" - a principle he intimated months ago when he traded Josh Donaldson to Toronto for Brett Lawrie and a package of non-elite prospects.

26. Cincinnati Reds

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
43-53	43-53	26 (-)

A combined 18 years of team control over a trio of young left-handers - one of whom has reached the majors and another that sits comfortably in the mid-90s - isn't a bad haul for two months of Johnny Cueto. Now it just remains to be seen what the Reds do with Marlon Byrd/Jay Bruce/Aroldis Chapman.

27. Colorado Rockies

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
42-54	42-54	27 (-)

Here's the exhaustive list of Rockies starters with an ERA below 4.50 since the All-Star break:

28. Milwaukee Brewers

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
43-56	45-54	29 (+1)

Losers in four of their last five games, the Brewers might have a better shot at retaining some respectability if trade candidates Adam Lind, Gerardo Parra, Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Gomez, and Jean Segura didn't bring their cell phones out onto the field with them.

29. Miami Marlins

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
41-58	46-53	28 (-1)

Since the All-Star break, the Marlins have been limited to three runs or fewer in seven of their 10 games while tallying as many home runs as Mike Trout over that span.

30. Philadelphia Phillies

RECORD	PYTHAG RECORD	PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
37-63	35-65	30 (-)

Determined to get out of Philadelphia by any means necessary, Jonathan Papelbon decided last week to start celebrating walk-off victories by physically assaulting his teammates. His tactic pales in comparison to Cole Hamels' exit strategy, though, as the left-hander tossed a 129-pitch no-hitter Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.