We have reached the quarter pole of the fantasy season. We had our first manager ousting this week in K.C. The two biggest disappointments, team-wise have to be Seattle and Arizona. As we come up to week 7, it is the first week of interleague play, and the first week where all 30 teams play 7 games. Which is fantasy streaming gold in my eyes. It’s not really gold because if it were I would be wearing a miner’s hat and a UTEP t-shirt. Interleague play is a tough call to make for fantasy pitchers, they have to pretend to hit and the NL has the weakest DH guys. Well, let’s get into it; the week 7 fantasy baseball two start guys:
Brad Bergesen (KC vs. Davies) ( @ Was vs. Hernandez)
I was in on him preseason as a sleeper; he disappointed. 5 ER in last 3 starts, doesn’t K very many, which makes him especially unattractive. Gets 2 decent matchups as KC just isn’t very good and the Nats can swing the bats well every other day. O’s playing a lil’ better after dismal start. Good gamble in deep leagues.
Derek Holland (LAA vs. Kazmir) (CHC vs. Wells)
Everyone’s darling pickup of the week didn’t disappoint. Pitched a gem on Wed vs. Oak. Team scores a ton of runs and hitting against Kazmir can’t hurt. Easily could win both starts this week, though one is going to be an ERA bloater. Good K promise as some of his change of pace stuff is nasty.
Kris Medlen (NYM vs. Santana) (@ PIT vs. Duke)
Gets a couple more tries since Jair is still limping. Has shown flashes of breakout. 20/3 K/BB rate is awesome. Great latter week matchup. Could be a Holland type add after this week for most people. I like him for both starts. Good for a win and 10 K’s.
Chris Volstad (ARI vs. Jackson) (@CHW vs. Garcia)
Two great matchups for the big guy this week. Ed-Jax is looking like how he was back in Tampa’s bullpen 3 years ago and Garcia is on his last gasp. Volstad needs to stop walking people as he becomes a completely different pitcher when his rhythm is offset by the BB. Not a big K guy, should walk away from this week with positive add status in mixed leagues.
John Ely (Hou vs. Rodriguez) (Det vs. Porcello)
The guy invented the cotton gin and has decided to play baseball now, awesome. Pitched great last 2 starts, 17/3 K/BB rate is stellar for a rookie. Gets matchups against 2 pitchers who are in similar boats fantasy-wise, (not a very sturdy one at that). I am tempering expectations as he is due to implode and Detroit is murdering the ball offensively.
Clayton Richard (SF vs. Cain) (@ Sea vs. Rowland-Smith)
Has pitched just as good as Latos without the breakout game to put him on the map. Gets a home cooked start vs. the Giants which is good, gets a bad hitting team in Seattle which is better. Good for a win, 10 K’s and an ERA around 3.50 for the week. I’d take that all day.
Jamie Moyer (Pit vs. Duke) (Bos vs. Beckett)
Is just plain old school, wears the uniform like it, doesn’t use batting gloves. Has a “hit if you can” fastball and potent offense behind him. Not going to give you a lot of swing and misses, he could sneakily win 15. With an ERA in the mid 4’s, that’s pretty decent.
Jeremy Bonderman (Chw vs. Danks) (@LAD vs. Kuroda)
Minus one bad start (8ER in 4in), he has been effective. Isn’t who he used to be or who we thought he would be. Doesn’t have the K-rate of old and will walk his share. Has dual RP/SP eligibility, good for a gamble this week in a pinch if you believe in strength in numbers.
Gio Gonzalez (Sea vs. Rowland-Smith) (SF vs. Cain)
Every week he comes up in the questions as a must start for everyone. I don’t get it personally. He is way too hittable for my liking, throws about 100 pitches through 5 innings and, yeah, he gets you 6 K’s a game with a WHIP in the 1.40 range. Has a good first matchup that will prove everything I just said to be a farce.
