Start: September 22nd vs. Philadelphia Phillies
ESPN ownership: 19 percent
If you're looking for a no-fuss, high-floor play, I'm afraid I can't help you. But you risk junkies out there, here is your man.
R.A. Dickey appeared reborn this summer, submitting a 3.18 ERA and seven quality starts across June and July, before inevitably falling prey to regression with a miserable 5.51-ERA run since the start of August. The one bright spot during the dog days for the veteran knuckler was an eight-inning, nine-strikeout turn against the Phillies on August 30th -- the third time in three tries this season that Dickey has sat down eight or more Phils.
What are the chances that he can make it four for four? Well, there's a reason why Dickey has looked like his old Cy Young self when toeing the rubber against the Phillies this season. Indeed, the hit-or-miss Atlanta Braves knuckler seems tailor made to terrorize Philadelphia, one of the more reach-prone offenses in the majors in the second half and a hard-contract underachiever overall despite the best efforts of their phenom first baseman.
If Dickey can wiggle his way through the tough spots in the Philadelphia order, he's in a nice spot to return sneaky value for desperate streamers in Week 25.