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Weekly leaguers, you’re here to read weekly league advice, of course.  But let’s begin this week by broadening our horizons with a little daily league chatter.  If you’ve been paying attention to JB throughout the season, you know that we’ve teamed up with DraftKings to offer exclusive Razzball contests all year long.  As JB mentioned on Wednesday, next week’s contest is our last of the year, and it’s a good one.  50 entries, $10-per, six get paid, and the winner pockets a few Benjamins.  If you haven’t given it a shot yet this year, I highly recommend you join our game next Friday.  It’s quite fun — you have my word on that.  More details to follow.  Now for the two-starters.

As always, probable pitchers are subject to change.  For a look at all fantasy baseball streamers, click that link.

MUST START

Clayton Kershaw (@COL, @SD); Adam Wainwright (@CIN, PIT); Madison Bumgarner (@SD, ARI); Homer Bailey (STL, LAD); Stephen Strasburg (@PHI, @MIA); Cole Hamels (@WAS, ATL); Mat Latos (STL, LAD); Chris Sale (@NYY, @BAL); Felix Hernandez (@KC, TB); Justin Masterson (BAL, NYM); Derek Holland (@OAK, @LAA); Hiroki Kuroda (CWS, BOS); Bartolo Colon (TEX, HOU)

  • A bunch of must start action this week should make for some entertaining H2H playoff match-ups.

FIRST TIER

Travis Wood (MIA, MIL); Wade Miley (TOR, @SF); Jon Lester (DET, @NYY); Danny Duffy (SEA, DET); Chris Tillman (@CLE, CWS); Chris Archer (@LAA, @SEA); Matt Moore (@LAA, @SEA); Doug Fister (@BOS, @KC)

  • Danny Duffy (8% owned in Y! leagues) has filthy, bat-missing stuff, and he brings the type of upside we’re looking for from tier one.  He’s grossly under-owned, and he could be the key to a playoff victory, so go get him while there’s still time.  And yeah, I realize he’s facing Detroit next weekend — Duffy 1-hit the Tigers through six frames two weeks ago… It’s probably going to be tough to get your hands on any of the other names here, but Acher, Wood, and Miley are each < 75% owned, so it’s probably worth peepin’ your waiver wire for them.

SECOND TIER

Tyler Thornburg (PIT, @CHC); Ian Kennedy (SF, COL); Charlie Morton (@MIL, @STL); Erasmo Ramirez (@KC, TB); Dan Straily (TEX, HOU); Jose Quintana (@NYY, @BAL); Bud Norris (@CLE, CWS); John Lackey (DET, @NYY)

  • Tyler Thornburg (1%) is replacing Tom Gorzelanny in the Brewers’ rotation.  Thornburg will start on Monday, putting him in line for two outings this week.  He’s pitched well enough to deserve a regular spot in that rotation, and I’m not shying away from him as a start… Ramirez (8%) is my guy, and he’s been showing signs of life in recent outings.  He’s probably a notch lower than this in most other 2-start circles, but I just can’t help myself when it comes to Erasmo… Two home starts out of Straily (10%) — one versus Houston — make him an intriguing streamer option… Others I’m comfortable streaming in week 23:  Charlie Morton (11%), Bud Norris (21%), and Jose Quintana (25%).

THIRD TIER

Paul Maholm (NYM, @PHI); Yusmeiro Petit (@SD, ARI); Brandon McCarthy (TOR, @SF); Todd Redmond (@ARI, @MIN); Andrew Albers (@HOU, TOR); Garrett Richards (TB, TEX); Bruce Chen (SEA, DET); Phil Hughes (CWS, BOS)

  • Tier three, as we know, is desperation station.  It’s playoff time, and maybe your staff didn’t line up too well for the upcoming week.  I can understand taking a chance on Redmond or Richards or Chen if times are tough, but these guys aren’t worth the blow-up risk if you’re already feeling okay about your lineup.

DON’T START

Daisuke Matsuzaka (@ATL, @CLE); Chad Bettis (LAD, @SD); Henderson Alvarez (@CHC, WAS); Paul Clemens (MIN, @OAK)

  • Just don’t.