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0Fantasy baseball is a fickle beast. It will lure you in with chocolates and fine smelling perfume. Then leave you heartbroken, mad as hell and unable to watch regular baseball. Twelve after 20 is becoming the year of the Aflac for closers. It is just not safe to be a ninth inning pitcher. It’s like someone is hunting them down one by one, and systematically destroying everyone’s hopes at accumulating points in saves. Wait, is that a laser pointer on Huston Street? Watching guys that I usually opine about in my holds posts finally getting some burn in the limelight. It is a strong week for streaming low end two start pitchers. Lots of decent matchup type guys and some guys that are under the radar who should be rostered in most formats soon. So enjoy the week to come and have a very wobbly and not very up-right Cinco De Mayo. Here’s some two start starters for this week in fantasy baseball: (Please keep in mind that pitchers and matchups change.)
ONE START OPTIONS:
5/9
Anthony Bass @ Col – Moscoso
Ross Detwiler @ Pit – Bedard
Drew Smyly @ Sea – Vargas
5/10
Henderson Alvarez @ Min – Marquis
Derek Lowe @ Bos – Beckett
5/11
Kyle Drabek @ Min – Blackburn
James McDonald vs Hou – Norris
5/12
R.A. Dickey @ Mia – Nolasco
TWO START OPTIONS:
J.A. Happ (Mia vs Zambrano, @Pit vs Morton) After watching him pitch against the Mets, I said to myself, “Self, we should keep an eye on him for future starts.” For a deeper league with fringe options, the stale fish and the sinking pirate ship seem tantalizing to me.
Bronson Arroyo (@Mil vs Marcum, Was vs Jackson) Because of rain you get him twice this week, ain’t that special? Likes to use the method of one good/one bad start. His last one was bad, so there is your heads up.
Josh Tomlin (CHW vs Humber, @Bos vs Doubront) ERA says 5, but the other numbers say something different. And if numbers talk we have a bigger problem. Like what else talks to you? Lunch meat?
Duane Below (@Sea vs Millwood, @Oak vs Parker) I don’t wanna jinx him, but he is unscored upon this year. I bet someone a shiny new quarter that no longer exists by the fourth inning Monday. Still all things considered, it is Seattle and that is Millwood, so it could be an easy W.
Joe Saunders (STL vs Lynn, SF vs Zito) I don’t know how he is doing it either, so don’t ask. Luck is the best thing I can think of, LOB rate of 84% and a FIP in the high 2′s makes him look more realistic and not like the boogieman sleeping in my closet.
Marco Estrada (Cin vs Arroyo, CHC vs Volstad) I see his name and the CHiPs theme song jumps in my head. Now that we are on the same page enjoy the classic fade out to that song. Without the Ks, I’d wanna watch TJ Hooker instead.
A.J. Burnett ( Was vs Jackson, Hou vs Happ) A dozen of anything sounds delicious. Oh… they were earned runs. Yikes. Anything worth doing, A.J does it.
Barry Zito (@LAD vs Lilly, @Ari vs Saunders) His matchup looks like a retread meeting of guys over 30 who no longer throw hard. 7 walks last start as he was in a hurry to get to the Perfect Strangers reunion show. Big Cousin Larry fan.
Jarrod Parker (Tor vs Romero, Det vs Below) Good job, youngin’,, now go do it again and make yourself completely fantasy useful. While you’re at it, give me your sandwich….I said give me your sandwich!
Jonathan Sanchez (Bos vs Doubront, @CHW vs Danks) Filthy, dirty. I don’t know what his nickname is anymore, but it should start with “in” and end with “consistent.” Throws away too many pitches to go deep in a game and, for that reason, he is just poo.
Who do you recommend grabbing to replace Street?
@2 Cups 1 Braun, Cashner, with Brad Brach as a super sleeper.
Addison Reed
So…Im expecting to lose Luebke for the season with the way pitchers
have been falling. Who do ya believe who be a suitable replacement?
Available SPs are J McDonald, H Alvarez, I Nova, D Lowe, D Axelrod, D Gee?
I also have Chris Sale…you think he will stay as closer for year or am I looking at another injury in the near future…?
@JG_ism, Mostly maych-up guys. I would prolly shuffle between L McDonald and Alvarez. I would think so no reason to bounce him back and forth. Ventura is screwing this up because Reed has shown closer stuff and is just sitting there.
@Smokey, Thanks
Hopefully they decide soon on Luebke although it seems inevitable.
Probably going to roll with J-Mac. Its auction so Ill just trot him out on matchups…thanks again
@Smokey, I’m in the same position, dealing with Luebke (along with Street), was wondering how Bass and Arroyo stack up to that list if they’re available.
Of Smyly, Cahill and Nova, who do you like the most going forward?
@Giacomo, Smyly
is Dylan Axelrod worth a start tomorrow in Detroit?
@SpecialFNK, I’d sit. but if your desperate for counting stats I can see it.
Drabek @LAA today?
Thanks for the help!
@Roulduke, yes
I can only keep one of these depth guys going forward: Nicasio or Bass?
Is below actually starting this week?
@quimmy, He has been since bumped by Fister on Monday.
I’m pretty sure Fister is starting on Monday rather than Below.
What do you see for Minor for RoS?
I’m a Sandoval owner in my 12-team, 5×5 mixed league. Just got a trade offer:
My Marcum for his Reynolds and Minor
I’m in desperate need o f a 3B. Pull the trigger? FYI, my other pitchers are Bum, Gio, Garza, Peavy, Lynn, Volquez. Should I counter with Lynn? That seems better considering both Reynolds and Minor’s struggles.
Thanks.
@L-Boogie, Is Minor that much worse than Marcum honestly. I am not a pro-Reynolds guy as he seems to be a drag in other stats besides homer potential. As a good stop gap I think you could do worse as he will play everyday. Your pitching looks ok minus Marcum and adding Minor so you have my blessing.
need help: am offered gallardo, pujols and lucroy for j zimmerman, cuddyer, howard and wieters. should i accept?
@bret, Well Lucroy replaces Weiters and the difference there should theoretically be made up by the difference in Pujols to Howard. Gallardo>Zimm. I guess it all comes down to who replaces Cuddyer at your OF/Util/2b spot wherever you have him. Pujols is going to be Pujols eventually right. I would do it because Howard is a huge if and Pujols is a proven commodity.
Is it time to trust Peavy? I’m having a hard time getting over the last three season.
@tourinct, No way he keeps up the 8 inning a start thing, but you have to play the hot hand. Personally I would love to see him maintain this level as he is a great guy in real life.
Start Minor @ Colorado today?
@stumanji, Yea unless ur ahead in era and whip
I need to drop 1 to reactivate dempster:
Minor
Ubaldo
Masterson
Gavin Floyd
Edwin Jackson
Also would you drop a second one from those 5 for smily?
Points league
@alvaro, not minor because he’s been very unlucky with LOB%. Personally, I think Ubaldo is dead-pitcher-walking.
@billday, thanks, would you drop a second one for smily?
@alvaro, I would play other players to pitch Ubaldo. I do like Smiley and am starting to regret picking up Pomerance instead of Smiley.
@billday, hmm not sure I understand. I need to drop 1 (say ubaldo) to activate dempster and if I want smiley I need to drop yet another pitcher.
@alvaro, drop floyd for smyly
Need help with proposed trade:
I would get: A Gonzalez, Markakis, Aybar
I would give: Darvish, Hosmer, A Ramirez
14team 5X5 roto. My top pitchers are pitchers are MCain, Darvish, Gallardo, Wainwright, Colon, Bedard
Is this a good trade? Does it upgrade by offense reasonably?
@billday, i would pass
@Smokey, thanks.
@billday, i would stay put
@alvaro, thanks
I didn’t think AGon was enough of an upgrade of Hosmer. Wanted to make sure I wasn’t overvaluing Hosmer/Darvish
Thoughts on this trade:
Hanson and Ackley
for
Worley and Dee Gordon
@PunxsutawneyPhils, Hanson side for me
I have Nieuenhuis….should I drop for Belt? Just concerned Bochy won’t play him every day.
@Hunter, hold for now
Also, dropped Cordero for Cashner. Stupid move or good move? Cordero seemed to be very shaky.
@Hunter, Seems like a lateral move to me.
Im reading that Happ pitches sunday. Meaning hes a one start pitcher or did i miss something??? It would be great if he were a two starter!
@Prezii, Yea I write this on wednesday so its sometimes speculation on my part
latos vs nats or hudson vs cubs?
@Chris, I’ll say Huddy
Pls rank:
Capuano
Lilly
Niese
Holland
@EK, Cappy Holland Niese Lilly
Pls rank:
Billingsley
Cahill
Malone
Volquez
@EK, Cahill Milone Bills Volquez. Volquez at home is a different story and would put him second.
Any thoughts on this:
Give Phillips / Scherzer
Get Greinke
Thanks
14 team 6×6
@Horse, As long as you have a decent fill in for Phillips.
Best stream for tomorrow…jerome williams (tor), axelrod (@det), hughes (@kc), or hunter (@bos)?
Thanks
@Booya, Don’t really love any of them.
Is mark Reynolds getting hot enough to drop middlebrooks for?
@Ranger Danger, Depends on league, but Reynolds is streaky he could hit 5-6 Hr’s in a week and then be done for the month so it’s hit or miss with him.
Hello
need a couple of 2 starts, here’s who I can choose from: smyly, below, chen, bard jackson, liriano, parker, Bailey, Neimann, just to name a few. There’s a couple more I might try.
@RevClyburn, Smyly Jackson and Parker
Filthy’s nickname should start with “in,” and end with “continent”; would make more sense if he is just poo.
@royce!, Ha
Lincecum or one of these FA options?
Henderson Alvarez (good matchup next week too)
Jeff Samardzija
Chris Capuano
James McDonald
Jarrod Parker
Phillip Humber
Ross Detwiler
@El Hombre, Gotta stick with Timmah
Need help with proposed trades:
1st Trade:
I would get: A Texeira
I would give: J Bautista
2nd Trade:
I would get: A. Pujols & B Zobrist
I would give: J Bautista & M Bumgarner
14 team league with this categories:
R H 1B 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB K GIDP E AVG OPS IP W L CG SHO SV BB K HLD ERA WHIP NH PG QS
My roster is:
C – Wilson Ramos
1B – Howie Kendrick
2B – Eduardo Nunez
3B – Pedro Alvarez
SS – Zack Cozart
LF – Tony Campana
CF – Adam Jones
RF – Jay Bruce
Util – Jose Bautista
Util – Josh Hamilton
Bench – Adam Lind, Nelson Cruz, Kirk Nieuwenhuis
DL – Jason Bay
SP – Trevor Cahill
SP – Gio Gonzalez
SP – Anibal Sanchez
SP – Madison Bumgarner
SP – J.A. Happ
RP – Henry Rodriguez
RP – Santiago Casilla
RP – Kenley Jansen
Bench: RP Hector Santiago, SP Jarrod Parker
DL – Kyle Farnsworth
@Gil, No to option 1 and yes to 2
AROD and Aviles for kinsler and either Seager or Chris Johnson
Standard league
Which side u like best??
@Ryan, Arod
@Smokey, Definitely Kinsler – he is the best player in the deal and Aviles always has a white hot outburst before settling in to mediocrity. Rewind 25 games when we drafted and Kinsler was R2, A-Rod was about R5 and Aviles/Seager/Johnson were undrafted. Kinsler is on pace for another outstanding season – walking more than he strikes out, 25 HR, 20 steals, great AVG, tons of counting stats, going to be a top 15 pick in 2013.
My patience is about up with Minor… Drop him for J Garcia, Capuano, Drabek, Samardz or Hammel? It’s a 10 teamer with daily lineups, so would I just be better using it as a streaming spot?
@Sam, Well streaming any number of those guys would be a good move.
@Smokey, Don’t think Minor is worth a hard roster spot in a 10 team league. If it’s a daily, might as well stream until someone rises to the level of must start
rank: smyly, detwillier, lohse, minor, beachy, lynn, aeretta, saunders (they are a combination of some i have and some free agents standard 5 x 5 league). part 2 – start beachy tomorrow?
@crush, Lynn Beachy Smyly Detwiler Minor Saunders Arrieta. Yes
I think Fister is going Monday instead of Below
@Lubey, Yep.
BTW Estrada will only pitch once this week
Two questions:
Samardzkicakja (ATL, @MIL) or EJax (@PIT, @CIN)?
Samard or EJax ROTW?
Thanks!
@Black Beard, E jax
@Smokey, Ditto
I just picked up Saunders since Street went down but just realized I need to activate Fister. Should I drop Saunders, Worely, Detwiller, Capuano or Holland?
@Brian, Saunders – he gives you no Ks
I’m blessed w/ 6 OF for 5 slots. In the middle of the pack in all offensive categories – weakest in HR. Trying to decide who gets benched next week:
Pence
B.J. Upton
De Aza
Pagan
Choo
Harper
Choo has been the worst, but he has an 8 game week (although he will probably only play 7 games). De Aza has a 7 game week and everyone else has 6 games. Pagan is up against the toughest opposing pitchers, but he has been outstanding recently. I’m thinking it’s Pagan, Choo or Harper, but can’t decide. Thanks!
After Doc Halladay’s value shoots up following his mets and pads starts, I want to flip him for something sweet in a keeper league trade. Could you please rank the following returns?
a gonzalez
felix
kershaw
verlander
j up
hanley
mccutch
starlin/beachy
pujols
votto
ellsbury
Thanks, and man the pod is great, but wish it was more than once a week!
Sorry, left out Hamels
@Matt, I would work off of pre-season ranks – we’re only 25 games in. Still like Pujols, Votto and A-Gonz better than Halladay. If you have faith that your league will stick together for years to come I would also take Verlander or Kershaw over Halladay. Really, the only one on that list who has changed dramatically in value is Castro – he is looking very special.
Jarrod Parker has been pushed back to Wednesday.
Drabek dropped in my deep 12 team espn league; worth the waiver add? Anyone see anything indicating the Drabek wagon is going to fall apart??