After an exhausting week of every team playing everyday, we come to only a handful. Weekly leagues take note that in week 8, 3 teams: Detroit, Seattle and Texas only play 5 games. The week of Memorial Day is also tough for fantasy in New Jersey, because we have to find WIFI friendly hotels at The Jersey Shore. I’m bringing my laptop to Jenkinson’s since I have a reservation for a bar stool for one. Baseball is approaching the time where teams that are out of it are saying, “Sorry, fans, but our good players won’t be here and you will have to watch scrubs.” Houston, KC and Cleveland are the early names that jump out to me as being sellers long before the All-Star Break. Okay, have at the list of week 8 two start hurlers for fantasy baseball:
Anibal Sanchez (Atl vs. Kawakami) (Phi vs. Moyer)
Storms into fantasy on his elephants. Hasn’t allowed more than 2 ER in 6 starts. Gets his fair share of K’s to offset the BBs he kills you with. Could be more than a weekly add now. First start looks like a no-brainer, second might be a headache wrapped in a 5 ER sandwich.
Felipe Paulino (@Mil vs. Wolf) (@ Cin vs. Leake)
It’s definitely a small offering when F-Paul is fantasy relevant. I’m hoping, not counting on, that he pitches like he did vs. SD in early May, but would take something in between. Going forward he’ll be in rotation since they’re going to need guys in Houston to pitch. Could be a win and 12K pitcher this week.
Kenshin Kawakami (@ Fla vs. Sanchez) (Pit vs. Maholm)
Has pitched better and deserves to be better than his 0-6 record. Doesn’t give huge depth and his peripherals are garbage. So why you ask is he in the article? Easy… If Paulino is, Kawakami is. That and he plays Pittsburgh, which makes bad pitchers look okay after a few drinks.
Tom Gorzellanny (LAD vs. Kershaw) (StL vs. Garcia)
Has a chance to be skipped this week. Has been sneaky good to date with an ERA in the 3’s. Add to that that he has SP/RP eligibility and he is good enough for me. Gotta hope that C-Saw throws 110 pitches by the 5th, and Garcia doesn’t have the atom ball working. Quality add this week if uninjured.
Jeremy Guthrie (Oak vs. Braden) (@Tor vs. Cecil)
Has been sneaky effective for the anemic O’s. Era under 4, WHIP hovering at 1.08. Seven starts of under 3 ER allowed. Looks effective until bullpen craps the bed for him. Could have trouble against Toronto and the HR ball.
Ian Kennedy (@ Col vs. Jimenez) (@SF vs. Lincecum)
Yeah, I know he’s facing 2 of the best SPs in baseball. Just pitched great vs. the Giants, don’t think it happens again. Will be more effective vs. the Rockies. Hard to predict a win in either start, but the ERA and WHIP can help.
Brett Cecil (@ Ana vs. Saunders) ( Bal vs. Guthrie)
Someone has to be the beneficiary of all those HRs that the Blue Jays are hitting. 2 starts with that offense is worth the risk. Won’t absolutely kill you in ERA and WHIP, and will give a 3/1 K/BB rate. My low end fantasy grab of the week.
Paul Maholm (@ Cin vs. Leake) (@ Atl vs. Kawakami)
The proverbial ace of the eye-patched warriors of the Allegheny. Gives depth for a dismal team, bullpen has been a huge surprise. Pittsburgh should be in both of these games. He’s your potential 4.50 ERA pitcher, no K’s and walks too many for fantasy relevance on a normal basis. Good low end option in a shortened week.
Jamie Moyer (@Nym vs. Dickey) (@ Fla vs. Sanchez)
I think I write that he pitches twice every week. Hard luck loser vs. Cubbies last week. Staggering 30/9 K/BB walk rate to date. Has gone 6+ IP in every start. I don’t know what else to say… Stats speak for themselves at AARP, I also still love the high stirrups.
