Chris Carpenter, Fantasy Baseball Comeback After Tommy John

After several Cy Young Award type seasons Chris Carpenter went under the knife last July for Tommy John surgery. The timetable for recovery is about a year just to pitch again and roughly another year to round back into form. It’s clear that Carpenter won’t be back to full pitching form this season but he did throw 63 pitches Sunday in a minor league rehab start and felt fine. He walked 4 batters which is not the type of control you want to see in your fantasy baseball rotation but he did touch 92 MPH on the radar gun.

I don’t think Chris Carpenter is the savior of my fantasy baseball season but with playoffs starting in one of my leagues in a few weeks I’m eyeing him for some spot starts in late August and September. He threw a bullpen sessions this past Tuesday and felt fine and will get a better test on Friday at AAA. If you can stash a player I think he’s worth a gamble and be sure to monitor Carpenter’s progress closely. Those one or two weeks down the stretch where he gets 2 starts or faces the Nationals, Giants or Padres could be key in helping you win your fantasy baseball league.

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