The user?s guide to two-start pitchers, Week 22

admin

Administrator
clappyv.jpg


September is the silly season for fantasy baseball. Rosters expand, for one thing, and a handful of non-contending clubs will turn the final month into community auditions. I'm sure some of the listings below will be altered or negated before the games are played. Let's be careful out there.

American League


Ernie Pantusso
CC Sabathia -- at TB, at BAL
Matt Harrison -- at KC, at TB
Jason Vargas -- vs. BOS, vs. OAK

The case for Vargas is a simple one: he's Greg Maddux at home (2.63 ERA, 0.99 WHIP), and Mike Maddux on the road (4.84/1.32). Ah, Safeco, what would we do without you? It's also a good time to be drawing the Red Sox, a team that's dead in the water.

Sammy Malone
Yu Darvish -- at KC, at TB
Tommy Milone
-- vs. LAA, at SEA
James Shields -- vs. NYY, vs. TEX
Clay Buchholz -- at SEA, vs. TOR

All those injuries have caught up to the Blue Jays, and with that we have to recalibrate what the matchup means. Toronto has just 168 runs in the second half of the year, ranking 26th in the majors. The Jays had the third-best offense in the first half (430 runs).

Eddie LeBec
C.J. Wilson -- at OAK, vs. DET
Zach Britton -- at TOR, vs. NYY
Anibal Sanchez -- vs. CLE, at LAA
J.A. Happ -- vs. BAL, at BOS

Wilson eked out a low-end quality start against Boston, not that we should throw a parade. He's still carrying that 6.56 ERA and 1.66 WHIP for the second half, with too many walks and homers. You want to hop on the train, go right ahead. The A's are no joke — they rank second in the majors in post-break scoring.

Cliff Clavin
Freddy Garcia -- at TB, at BAL
Bruce Chen -- vs. TEX, at CHW
Corey Kluber -- at DET, vs. MIN
Joe Saunders -- at TOR, vs. NYY

If you can't see what's wrong with these guys, you are the sucker.

roscoed.jpg


National League


Velvet Underground
Johnny Cueto -- vs. PHI, vs. HOU
Clayton Kershaw -- vs. SD, at SF
Kris Medlen -- vs. COL, at NYM

It sounds like the Dodgers will skip the fifth starter, taking advantage of the off day, and let Kershaw pick up a key start against division-leading San Francisco. Wise move.

Digital Underground
Edwin Jackson -- vs. CHC, vs. MIA
Jeff Samardzija -- at WAS, at PIT
Ross Detwiler
-- vs. CHC, vs. MIA
Patrick Corbin -- at SF, at SD

Any time Detwiler faces a lefty batter, it's a gift to the house: they're slashing just .153/.246/.254 against him. The home/road splits are somewhat odd; he's posted a much better ERA in Washington (2.74 against 4.01), but the WHIPs don't match up (1.22 home, 1.10 away). Nonetheless, you have to love his two matchups this week.



Notes from the Underground
Mike Fiers -- at MIA, at STL
Shaun Marcum
-- at MIA, at STL
Tommy Hanson
-- vs. COL, at NYM
Jeff Locke -- vs. HOU, vs. CHC
Andrew Werner -- at LAD, vs. ARI
Ricky Nolasco -- vs. MIL, at WAS
Jacob Turner -- vs. MIL, at WAS
Joe Kelly -- vs. NYM, vs. MIL

Locke certainly earned his promotion, pitting together a steady year at Triple-A Indianapolis: 10-5 record, 2.48 ERA, 8.3 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9. He keeps the ball in the park as well — just nine homers allowed.

Six Feet Under
Barry Zito -- vs. ARI, vs. LAD
Tyler Cloyd -- at CIN, vs. COL
Drew Pomeranz -- at ATL, at PHI
Tyler Chatwood -- at ATL, at PHI
Chris Rusin -- at WAS, at PIT

The Yahoo! Fantasy Minute, featuring Andy Behrens
 
Top