Rangers' Cole Hamels: Strikes out eight Reds en route to eighth win

Hamels (8-1) whiffed eight Reds over six innings of one-run ball Wednesday, allowing just five hits and two walks in a 6-4 win.

Analysis:

The bullpen made this game closer than it needed to be, but Hamels gave them more than leeway to work with by way of his fifth straight quality start. He may not be quite as dominant as the good old days -- his 1.40 HR/9 and 3.44 BB/9 are both easily career worsts -- but the 32-year-old lefty has given fantasy owners precious little to complain about. That said, he's never had peripherals this ugly (4.57 FIP) before, so the baseball gods may send some painful regression Hamels' way soon. He'll head to New York for a road start against the Yankees on Tuesday.