If the last week of the baseball season is the final leg, we’re in the toe portion of the fantasy baseball season. In roto, you’re throwing everyone you need to if you’re behind in your starts/innings limit. For instance, yesterday I started eight guys in one league. Were they all gems? Aw, heck no. If you have starts/innings to spare and you need the Ks/Wins, you have to throw people you wouldn’t normally throw. Last week’s borderline starters post netted a 3.50 ERA, 46 Ks, 6 Wins in 72 innings. Yeah, that’s pretty good. Maybe I won’t draft any starters next year and just stream. Anyway, here’s some borderline starters I might gamble on depending on your situation this week in fantasy baseball:
Monday, September 28th
Rick Porcello – There’s no one I really like on Monday. Porcello’s the only one I can even think I’d take a chance on and it would have to be a very deep league.
Tuesday, September 29th
Brian Duensing – In 14 2/3 innings, he has a .61 vs. the Tigers. Coincidentally, that’s who he’s facing on Tuesday.
Trevor Cahill – Has been very strong vs. the West and, in particular, the Mariners.
Jonathan Sanchez – Last week I pointed that he was going to face the Diamondbacks and he’d strike out a lot of them. He did both. This week, more of the same.
Wednesday, September 30th
Bronson Arroyo – I probably should’ve mentioned this three weeks ago, but I’ve been judging “borderline” by ESPN ownership numbers. 30% owned and under gets the pitcher listed. Bronson Arroyo really shouldn’t be owned in only 28.7% of leagues.
Vicente Padilla – Last week I said I’d never recommend him again. Well, he’s in Petco and I lied.
Thursday, October 1st
Tom Gorzelanny – He falls into the Porcello category of guys I wouldn’t start outside of very deep leagues. Really is only listed because it’s a short schedule day.
Paul Maholm – He’s also in the Gorzelanny and Porcello category. Deep leagues only.
Brett Anderson – Also in the Gorzelanny/Porcello/Maholm category.
Friday, October 2nd
Randy Wells – He’s been real iffy lately, but this is a decent start to take a risk on him.
Clayton Richard – HodgePadre.
Saturday, October 3rd
Ryan Rowland-Smith – His last start vs. the Blue Jays wasn’t a thing of beauty but two of those runs he gave up were courtesy of The Pitcher Laureate, Miguel Batista. (BTW, in that article, Batista compares himself to Brian Benben from Dream On. And not because he often finds himself in comedic situations that also provide their fair share of T & A.)
Kevin Correia – He actually has been very solid even away from Petco, but enough of that now, he’s home vs. the Giants.
Sunday, October 4th
Homer Bailey – Nothing like ending the season and relying on Homer Bailey.
Chris Narveson – This is an iffy recommendation. If the Cardinals bench their A lineup (Holliday and Pujols) on the final day, I’d start Narveson. So, game time decision.
Edward Mujica – If the Padres are home, I’m more than likely buying.
Jonathan Sanchez – Only thing better than pitching at Petco is getting to face the Padres.
