Closing Time: Matt Shoemaker fits in

For the majority of the season, Matt Shoemaker has been an occasional streamer, a matchup play. Perhaps he's finally ready to shed that tag.

Road starts have been a tricky assignment for Shoemaker this year, but he's coming around of late. He was a one-hit wonder at Fenway Park on Thursday night (7.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K), on the heels of a useful victory at Texas. Have a peek at the scouting video. The Shoe now carries a 3.56 ERA and 1.12 WHIP, with almost a strikeout per inning. He's also around the plate, just 19 free passes.

Okay, beating the Rangers and Red Sox doesn't mean a lot this year, no matter where you do it. But Shoemaker also has the advantage of playing on one of the best teams (and highest-scoring teams) in the majors, and in a pitcher-friendly park at that. His fly-ball bias plays well in Anaheim (2.72 ERA), and he's won 10 of his 15 starts overall. This late in the season, we should be trusting these snappy ratios.

The Eastern Michigan University product qualifies as a surprise; he wasn't on anyone's prospect radar before the year. He'll turn 28 next month, and he had just five MLB innings on his ledger into 2014. Shoemaker's extended run at Triple-A reveals a 5.38 ERA, but part of that is life in the Pacific Coast League. Scoring position in the PCL is the batter's box.

Shoemaker is owned in a modest 38 percent of Yahoo leagues, so there's still time to get in on the story. He'll be home for his next two assignments, hosting the Marlins and Athletics.

from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1l0MCcq