Diamondbacks' Robbie Ray: Falls to Nationals in final start

Ray (8-15) gave up five runs on five hits and four walks while striking out three over 4.2 innings in a loss to the Nationals on Thursday.

Analysis:

After posting a 2.70 ERA and 38:9 K:BB in August, Ray seemed to wear down a bit over the season's final month. He allowed 26 runs on 32 hits (including six homers) in 29.1 September innings, dropping three of four decisions. Walks were once again a problem throughout 2016 but Ray missed bats at a great clip (28.6 percent strikeout rate), with the peripherals suggesting he was significantly better than the surface numbers would indicate -- coming into Thursday's outing he ranked fourth among all qualifiers in xFIP. He will have appeal in the middle-to-late rounds of mixed-league drafts next spring.