Jon Gray (SP, COL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ team leagues

OWNED IN: 41% of Fleaflicker leagues

ANALYSIS: Not many people believed that Jon Gray could put such a great season together, especially considering his home ballpark is Coors Field. He has had three straight mediocre starts and averaged just 4.0 innings per outing, a 13.50 ERA, and a 2.33 WHIP. However, only two HR and four walks were given up, as opposed to 22 hits in that time span. So while his starts weren't good, his August BABIP of .400 suggests some bad luck. In five July starts Gray averaged a solid 6.67 innings per outing, a 1.89 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and 8.4 K/9; while also making a 5.0 IP, zero ER, two hits, two walks, and six strikeout performance to start August. Most importantly, after allowing 3.18 BB/9 through April and May and allowing 1.3 HR/9 all the way through June, Gray walked just 2.66 batters per 9 IP in 64.1 combined innings in June and July and allowed just 0.54 HR/9 in July. The 24-year old knows how to get whiffs. Now that he can limit HR and has improved command, he should be a good bet for the season's remainder regardless of his recent bad stretch.