R.A. Dickey has allowed 20 hits and 10 runs in 10 innings since I recommended him in last week's column, and Patrick Corbin lasted just two innings in his most recent start. At least Jimmy Nelson kept things from being a complete disaster on the buy side with a solid showing.

The sell suggestions were much better. Jake Odorizzi turned in two quality starts, but Anibal Sanchez imploded yet again before landing on the disabled list and Felix Hernandez appears to have had his prodigious talent stolen by aliens. Oh, and two of the three pitchers who were endorsed as buys in Week 19 have since thrown no-hitters.

We'll ignore the fact that the other one was demoted to the minors, because who wants to dwell on the negatives?

Starting Pitcher Buys for Week 21

Ian Kennedy, San Diego Padres

Kennedy was a horror show through the first two months, allowing a whopping 12 homers in just 39 innings. After a disastrous showing against the Pirates on May 28, he was sitting on a 7.15 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. Since then, those marks have clocked in at 2.63 and 1.16, with a 3.58 K/BB. The long ball remains an issue for Kennedy, but he's at least keeping it to one per start these days. The veteran's only available on the wire in about a third of Yahoo leagues, but he's pitching well enough that that figure should be even lower.

Kris Medlen, Kansas City Royals

After acquitting himself well in a few relief appearances in his return from Tommy John surgery, Medlen passed another big test on Monday. He allowed three runs in six innings, striking out six and walking none in his first start in nearly two years. Medlen was dynamite down the stretch in 2012 and a useful fantasy starter the following season, so there's a track record here. His command has looked good and he's got a great defensive team behind him in a pitcher-friendly park. He's not likely to work too deep into games going forward, but the innings he does give you figure to be of good quality.

Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles

Gausman's had a bit of trouble keeping the ball in the yard, but has turned in a serviceable 3.57 ERA in the last month anyway. Where he can help you is in the other pitching ratios, with a 0.99 WHIP and a 6.17 K/BB over that same span. He's notched five quality starts in his last six turns as the O's try to hang around in the crowded AL wild-card chase. Gausman takes the ball on Friday night to open a three-game set with the current leaders of that race, the Rangers.

Starting Pitcher Sells for Week 21

Jeff Samardzija, Chicago White Sox

Two months ago, I touted Shark as a buy-low candidate. In his next two starts, he dominated possibly the two best lineups in baseball, the Orioles and Jays. Since then, however, the wheels have completely fallen off. The White Sox somewhat surprisingly held onto him, and it's safe to say they're regretting that decision. Samardzija has lost all five of his August starts, posting a 9.00 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, and allowing seven homers in just 28 innings. And those numbers include an excellent effort against the Angels last week! As great as he was last season, Samardzija simply can't be trusted right now.

Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres

While pitcher wins are obviously a team-dependent statistic subject to wild fluctuation and a deeply flawed metric by which to evaluate an individual player, many fantasy leagues do still count them. Wade Davis has six more wins than Cashner over the past two seasons. Another baker's dozen of relievers have equaled or bettered Cashner's 10 victories in that time. And unlike last year, he's not helping you in other areas. His strikeout rate continues to be underwhelming for a guy with his stuff, and his ratios are both on the wrong side of league average. Cashner will be 29 in a few weeks, and the next time he pitches more than 180 innings will be the first. Might be time to stop dreaming on the guy.

Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins

After returning from suspension, Santana pitched great in three of his first four starts, posting a 2.60 ERA and striking out three batters for every walk issued. Since then, he's been a tire fire, posting an 8.46 ERA and 1.66 WHIP. Weirdly, his only quality start in that time came against Toronto, and even in that game he allowed two homers and walked three while striking out only two. The Twins have faded badly since the break, and while that was inevitable, Santana's struggles haven't helped matters. He's still owned in about a third of Yahoo leagues, for some reason.

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