Let me begin by saying that each of my H2H teams has been officially eliminated, and being so, I’ve decided to submit the most spiteful two-start post of all time. Ok, fine, I didn’t go that far. But I sure as shizz wanted to. Anyway. It’s the last week of the season, and anyone still reading this post is surely making a championship push, so good for you, and good luck this week. I want to thank everyone for reading along this season. I hope these weekly posts did more good than harm throughout the year. I’ll be digging into MiLB previews before long, and those posts will continue throughout the offseason. But this wraps up our two-start coverage until next spring. Now, go win some championships.
As always, probable pitchers are subject to change. For a look at all fantasy baseball streamers, click that link.
MUST START
Matt Cain (LAD, SD); Adam Wainwright (WAS, CHC); Mike Minor (MIL, PHI); Yu Darvish (HOU, LAA); Matt Moore (@NYY, @TOR); Justin Verlander (@MIN, @MIA)
- Â Start ’em if you got ’em.
FIRST TIER
Hyun-Jin Ryu (@SF, COL); Johnny Cueto (NYM, PIT); Chris Tillman (TOR, BOS); Derek Holland (HOU, LAA);Â Chris Archer (BAL, @TOR);Â A.J. Griffin (@LAA, @SEA)
- Given the savvy nature of Razzball readers, I’m assuming that both Chris Archer (58% owned in Y! leagues) and A.J. Griffin (65%) are already rostered in your leagues. But perhaps you only stumbled upon the site accidentally while searching something vulgar, which led you to a Tehol post, which then led you to our homepage, and now you’re reading this. If that’s the case, then maybe you can snag Archer or Griffin off waivers. The others from tier one are surely owned already.
SECOND TIER
Tanner Roark (@STL, @ARI); Marco Estrada (@ATL, @NYM); Brandon McCarthy (@SD, WAS); Charlie Morton (@CHC, @CIN); Wade Miley (@SD, WAS); Garrett Richards (OAK, @TEX); Yordano Ventura (@SEA, @CWS); Bruce Chen (@SEA, @CWS); Jose Quintana (TOR, KC)
- Yordano Ventura (0%) has some of the filthiest stuff imaginable. He looked impressive in his debut, aside from some location sloppiness, but if you’re looking for upside this week, Ventura is as good as it gets here in tier two. For a little more background on the 22-year-old, check out my Yordano Ventura fantasy. Tanner Roark (24%) is producing like a first tier talent, but without elite-level stuff, I have to think his success will expire before long. Still, feel free to ride him for as long as he stays hot. Others I’m good with streaming this week: Garret Richards (5%), Charlie Morton (15%), Bruce Chen (17%), and Brandon McCarthy (22%), Marco Estrada (41%), and Wade Miley (51%).
THIRD TIER
Roy Halladay (@MIA, @ATL); Alex Wood (MIL, PHI); Eric Stults (ARI, @SF); Nathan Eovaldi (PHI, DET); Phil Hughes (TB, @HOU); J.A. Happ (@CWS, TB); Wei-Yin Chen (@TB, BOS); Jason Vargas (OAK, @TEX);Â Todd Redmond (@BAL, TB); Mike Pelfrey (DET, CLE)
- This is the bottom rung this week — I have no one in the don’t start tier, and I’ll get to that in a second. As always, I advise against using any of these arms during a crucial week — and week 26 is as crucial as it gets. But if you’re desperate for counting stats, there’s help to be had right here. Eric Stults and Alex Wood are my first choices from this tier if you’re really scrounging for help.
DON’T START
- I’m labeling no don’t starts this week because in a championship situation, you shouldn’t be limiting your possibilities. Now, don’t that that the wrong way — I’m not saying you should use a guy like Mike Pelfrey, but if you’re just a few W’s and a handful a K’s away from taking home the cash, there’s ample reason to at least consider the possibility of plugging a guy like him in there.
Thanks for the posts during the year, it’s been very helpful.
@Curt: Thanks for reading!
In my championship weekend!
Only two days left and Im up 7-0 but very close in almost every category so I need to keep my foot on the pedal. Need you help with two line up choices.
Ramos @ Koehler (Koehler has nuetral splits, Ramos 0-2 against Koehler this season; Ramos hitting well past week)
or
Gattis @ Wood (Gattis hits lefties slightly better but has never faced Wood; Wood has pretty nuetral splits, Gattis has struggled a bit this week)
Swisher v Clemens (Swisher hitting lhp better than rhp, 0-3 against Clemens this season, Clemens has pretty nuetral splits)
or
Adams @ Gallardo (Adams hits rhp slightly better, never faced Gallardo, ERA at home about 1 run higher)
Thanks Scott!
@bossmanjunior: Adams
Do you feel comfortable starting Burch Smith at home against the Dodgers assuming they rest most of the regulars again?
@bossmanjunior: Risky play, but we’ve seen the upside… Still, I might avoid given your close match-up.
I love Chens matchups, but I would hate myself forever if I pick him up trying to get 1 extra W and he gets rocked, and I lose my entire season because I trusted The Bruce Chen. Where can I find opposing teams stats versus handedness?
Thanks Scott. These have been hugely helpful.
Who do you sit between Estrada, Quintana and Richards?
More importantly! My league allows an offseason DL stash and I have it whittled down to three (old) men and a baby. Can you offer an opinion on this? Available are Huddy, Carpenter and Santana, as well as Cubs prospect Vizcaino. I’m only interested in the last if they’re planning to develop him as a starter. If he’s a late-innings guy then no thanks. Who do you stash and how come?
Thanks.
@D. Jackson: I sit Estrada. For your stash, I’m thinking Vizcaino. I do suspect he’ll ultimately be a late innings guy, but that’s not a sure-thing. Just like his upside better than the others…
what do you think about Parker today against the Twins? Thanks for the advice guys!!
@GR: Start Parker. The reason he was so bad last time out was that he was feverishly ill. Good rebound matchup.
@Nate: He’s in! Thanks for the advice!
@GR: Start
I thought Roark has a start vs Miami this week?? Am I right or wrong about that?!
@Mike: He starts Monday vs. STL
@Scott Evans: @Scott Evans: Thanks for the help this year!
@Mike: the opposite of MIA marlins.
Swap Mujica for Grilli if you need saves?
Ones been bad lately, the other’s competitor’s been bad lately (Melancon).
@TheNewGuy: I’d stick w/ Mujica for ROS
Hello,
Would you start tomorrow:
Ogando vs Royals
Kelly vs Milwakee
Peralta vs St. Louis
Petit vs Yankees
Thanks!!
@Chris: Kelly & Petit… Kelly is first choice.
Pettite vs. SF tomrw or Porcello vs. CWS today?
@kyle: Porcello has dominated the CHW, and SF is batting now with Pence and Sandoval. I’ll go with Porcello. Check the numbers.
@kyle: Porcello
Does Salazar get two starts against min and cws? Where would he rank on the list? Thanks.
@Boomer19: Tuesday is his last start, unfortunately. He’d be tier 1 if he got another turn.
The following pitchers are available. Leaning towards Kazmir and his 2 favorable matchups. Who would you pick up?
Kazmir – HOU, @ MIN
Cueto – @ NYM, PIT
Cashner – LAD (vs Greinke, who i own), @ SF
G Richards – OAK, @ TEX
@Frank: I think Cueto is the safest play.
I need to pick the best 9 options out of the following pitchers:
Archer, Chris (P) TB BAL, @TOR
Bailey, Homer (P) CIN PIT
Cashner, Andrew (P) SD @SF
Estrada, Marco (P) MIL @ATL, @NYM
Gonzalez, Gio (P) WAS @STL
Gray, Sonny (P) OAK @SEA
Hamels, Cole (P) PHI @MIA
Jimenez, Ubaldo (P) CLE CHW
Porcello, Rick (P) DET @MIA
Hernandez, Felix (P) SEA OAK
Miley, Wade (P) ARI @SD, WAS
Chen, Bruce (P) KC @ SEA, @ CHW
The stats I am trying to improve in the last week are WINS, ERA and WHIP. Who Sits?
@Gareth: Not Estrada, Cashner, or Bailey
I am within 3 pitching wins of gaining a possible 4 pts in my roto league. I can also snag a point or two in Ks so looking to go with some 2 start pitchers to mix in and move my closers to the bench. Here is what I am looking at.
Greinke, A. Sanchez, Bumgarner, Miley (x2), W. Chen (x2), Leake
I am looking at picking up Quintana (x2), and McCarthy (x2) and slotting Jansen in with my last pitching spot because I don’t want to drop anyone else off of my roster for keeper reasons.
Ventura and Richards are also both available. I guess I should be picking 3 of the 5 between McCarthy, W. Chen, Quintna, Richards, & Ventura. Thoughts?
@Fenst: Ventura, Richards, Quintana
Scott,
In my previous question, I needed a catcher to pick between Ramos and Gattis also. Thanks.
@bossmanjunior: Ramos
@bossmanjunior: Sorry, bossman. Ramos would be my play…
Thanks for your help all year. The 2 start stuff has been invaluable. But now I am down to 2 days. Depending on today’s results I may need to pick up someone off WW to help me in me for my last day in the championship tomorrow. Assume the hitters and pitcher below are all in the starting lineup.
Pick 1 hitter to pick up if I need RBI’s:
Lawrie RHB @BOS Doubront LHP
Y. Gomes RHB vHOU Bedard LHP
Carp LHB vTOR Dickey RHP
Drew LHB vTOR Dickey RHP
Reddick LHB vMIN DeVries RHP
Joyce LHB vBAL Feldman RHP
Pick 1 pitcher if I need K’s w/o killing rates:
Haren vMIA
Doubront vTOR
Pettitte vSF
Arroyo vPIT
Torres @PHI
Jackson vATL
@Jack: I like Carp v Dickey & Pettitte v SF
What’s the ETA on Buxton? I got 1 week left and a 200 pt lead and I want to pick up and Stash Buxton. I figure I’d rather hold onto a good Of prospect (maybe springer) instead of carrying over Josh Hammy or Granderson. Thanks.
@Oz: Buxton is probably late 2014, early 2015.
@Oz: I’d be shocked if we see him before June 2015.
Thanks for the 2x starting posts this year Scott!! Great reads…
@Just Lou: Thanks, Lou!
Is there a reason why it takes so long for you to reply to questions on your post? The other razzball guys respond pretty quickly.
@gareth: people have stuff to do dude, all in good time.
@gareth: lol guy, I reply when I’m able. I work. I golf. I drink. I bang your sister. Razzball is a hobby. I don’t generally respond on the go unless it’s to say something urgent… Don’t comment on my posts if that upsets you.
@Scott Evans: I wasn’t being meam. It was just an honest question.
I was going to ask jaywrong my question about pitching. But for some reason there is no link for comments on his article.
@gareth: Looks like Jay lucked out, then.
@Scott Evans: you didn’t even answer my question. And you were rude after I made a perfectly innocent remark about the time it takes for you to answer.
Im not suprised that Grey gets a steady 3 – 400 hits on his articles and you are lucky to ever scratch 50.
Douche.
@gareth: I didn’t answer your question because I don’t like your cat. Get better cat avatar & maybe I’ll reconsider.
@Scott Evans: I won’t “bother” you again.
@gareth: dude, thumb likely answered your question the same as scott would have; thus the no response. You shouldn’t be surprised about his answer when he works for free. I am not trying to be an ass here.
Shallow limited moves league (20/yr, I have 3 left), I can use a move on either Tillman or Archer. Who’s more likely to get both starts and not take losses in them?
@Steve Stevenson: I like Archer’s match-ups better… haven’t heard anything on either being shut down…
Do I go with either Quintana or Morton over AJ Burnett?
@Alex: earlier he had it ventura/richards/quintana. no mention of morton but i’d think any of those 3 are better, def for K’s.
@Alex: Depends on what if you’re chasing counting stats or ratios — I’d probably keep Burnett in your lineup if possible.
Curse you Scott I just posted this but you didnt answer it right away and now I am just enraged! (insert extreme sarcasm)
Awesome work you guys do, thanks for even taking the time to answer any comments. How you feeling about Jason Heyward for this last week? Is it going to be a game on, game off type deal or will he play most days once Monday hits? No use in holding a PTP (part time player) when I could use MI help more.
Damnit you still havent answered me!
@future11: HA! I didn’t realize that people’s fantasy baseball questions were so damn time sensitive. This isn’t like air traffic control work we’re doing here…
Anyway, my guess is Heyward gets a couple more days off before year’s end. He’ll play most days leading up to the playoffs, but the Braves will give him rest when they can.
Gareth is a creep.
!!!
You like cahill over any of these this week?
iwakuma
burnett
quintana
morton
gracias
@Dave: I don’t.
Who do I go with: Quintana, Estrada, Morton, or Roark??
@Brennan: I rank em Quintana, Morton, Estrada, Roark — not much deviation from top to bottom in that group, though.
Sorry for the obvious, but just want to clarify that Fister is not a 2 start pitcher? So safe to drop him after his start on Tuesday?
@Jack: No two-sart for Fister.
I don’t see a second start for Cueto anymore. Just FYI. I guess I’ll run McCarthy out there and hope for the best. Good luck in the final week gang.
You too!
@Boomer19: Thanks Boomer. Good luck!
Thank you so much for this, guys–it has made a huge difference for me in the last three weeks.
@Blue: Thanks for reading, Blue!
With word the Sabathia out for the year – do you expect Kuroda to pitch twice this week? If so, can you rank:
Kuroda, McCarthy, Stults & Ventura?
@Moe: He could, but I’ve seen nothing firm on that. I’d rank Kuroda, Ventura, McCarthy, Stults
I need help picking 4, I’m behind in K’s & W’s going into Week 2 of the finals:
Kershaw vsCOL
Homer B vsPIT
Ubaldo vsCHW, @MIN (last game of year-clinched?)
AJ Griffin @LAA, maybe @SEA (last game of year-clinched?)
M Estrada @ATL, @NYM
Latos vsPIT
J Quintana vsTOR, vsKC
W Miley vsWAS, @SD
Thanks
@Matt: Kershaw, Ubaldo, Griffin, Estrada — pound the two-starters considering you’re chasing counting stats.
Been asking around so wanna hear your take on this too man.
I got Kipnis in a keeper above. Well at the time I traded E5 for him and both are great keepers.
Now I’ve got a very sour taste in my mouth from what Kipnis has given me the 2nd half, so I don’t want to act impulsively, but I can’t ignore his great 1st half. Im tempted to offer the trade reverse in the offseason to get EE back, wanna see if you think it’s worth doing.
Who would you rather have: EE signed through 2014 at $8, or Kipnis able to be signed this offseason for 1 year ($9), 2 yrs ($12) or 3 yrs ($14)? Flexibility with Kipnis, better price and player for 1 year with E5, tough one isn’t it!