Wouldn’t say this is crunch time as much as this is “Your nuts are in a cracker and the season’s closing in and squeezing tight so you better just throw any pitchers that are available because you need stats — stat!” time. The line for last week was 80 IP, 4.05 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 50 Ks and 3 wins. Not a great line, but if you throw out Lannan and Francis because you had better sense than me and didn’t start them. The line comes down to 3.42 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. To recap, these aren’t guys I’d drop anyone worthwhile to get, these starters are meant for streaming purposes and all of their ownership in ESPN is under 50%. These streamers are in no particular order. Also, in the final month of the season, managers juggle their lineups more, so there’s no guarantee all of these guys are listed on the right day. Anyway, here’s some borderline starters for this week in fantasy baseball:
Friday, September 16th
Philip Humber – It’s really slim pickins on Friday for under 50% owned starters. I’m not a huge fan of Humber but compared to some of the other schmohawks, well, here he is.
Jeff Locke – On Friday, Locke goes against the Smoke Monster in chess and the Dodgers’ weak offense.
Saturday, September 17th
Jeanmar Gomez – Gets the Twins, has only given up 3 earned in the last 17 and a third innings and when you say his first name it causes phlegm.
Rick Porcello – Don’t trust Porcello at all but he goes to a -co stadium and faces the A’s.
Chris Volstad – In his last three starts, 17 1/3 IP and 3.12 ERA. Here he takes on the Nats and Strasburg’s three to five innings of work.
Sunday, September 18th
Joe Saunders – In 22 innings vs. the Padres, he has a 2.05 ERA and a .190 BAA. Kill me now for recommending Saunders.
Matt Harrison – 1.84 ERA vs. the Mariners, though I’m not sure there’s any pitchers with a 2+ ERA vs. the M’s. Maybe Liriano or Danks. Schmohawks.
Brad Lincoln – Gave a pretty yawnstipating start last time out, but here I am going back to the well like Baby Jessica.
Monday, September 19th
David Huff – I never said the names on this list were gonna be pretty. There’s only a few teams I could see starting Huff against: the Mariners and the Mariners minor league affiliates.
Mike Minor – He just dismantled the Marlins (with a four walk performance in 5 2/3 innings — technicalities!).
Tuesday, September 20th
Jason Vargas – Choices aren’t Grade A when I’m taking on a Mariners starter, but it was between him and To Be Announced. And I don’t like To Be Announced’s matchup.
Edwin Jackson – Highest compliment I can give any guys on this list is when I think one should be owned in more than 50% of leagues. Jackson’s one of those guys.
Derek Holland – Last three starts (when this was written), 1.77 ERA and 21 Ks in 20 1/3 IP.
Wednesday, September 21st
Dana Eveland – He/she gets the Giants in Chavez Ravine. Giants have a .236 average vs. lefties, which is only slightly worse than what they’re batting against righties. As for the lack of other options today, they were kinda Plouffey. I almost put down Brett Cecil, but he’s all over the map and not in the good traveling circus kind of way.
