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Posted at 11:30 AM EST. 

7:10 PM EST. Earlier this year, we likened Ian Kennedy to a scoop of vanilla ice cream: dependable (30+ starts each of the last seven years), but underwhelming (just one sub-3.50 ERA in that span). This year it’s much of the same with 18 games started and a 4.61 ERA over 98 innings. Any chance we'll see a new flavour in the second half? Time will tell but at least there's hope. Kennedy’s skills over the last 12 months profile him as a legit sub-4 ERA guy: 9.4 K’s/9, 2.9 BB’s/9 and a 3.88 xERA. His good command has come with solid underlying support (11% swing and miss rate and 63% first-pitch strike rate), so he's worth using in doses, especially in spacious parks. Current Tigers are batting just .248 off Kennedy in 129 combined AB’s.

Coming off a 2016 where his ERA approached 6.00, Anibal Sanchez needed a strong start to 2017 to make a positive impression. But with a 9.00 ERA in his first 11 relief appearances, it wasn’t a good impression. Sanchez spent some time in the minors before coming back in mid-June and he’s looked better (4.11 ERA in 35 IP) in six starts since he rejoined the rotation but don’t look for any miraculous turnaround. Sanchez has improved his control but a big first-pitch strike rate decline could spell trouble. Despite dwindling velocity, Sanchez keeps swinging strikes and K-rate around league average but he’s been getting teed up by right-handed hitters. With the Tigers in rebuild mode, there’s an opportunity for Sanchez to eat some innings over the rest of the year. His 5.95 ERA should improve but that doesn’t mean you want him doing it on your bankroll. At 33 with his $16 million option in 2018 likely to be declined, Sanchez will struggle to find a job in 2018 because he’s just not very good anymore, thus making him a prime fade target the rest of the way when favored.

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