Fantasy Baseball Closer Pickup And Drop Ideas For Monday 5/23/11

Two Mondays Ago's Recommendation - Drop Aubrey Huff and Pickup Eric Hosmer

Huff has hit just one home run since I recommended dropping him two weeks ago, while Eric Hosmer has already hit three homers with a better average in his short major league career.  Hosmer is going to continue to be a strong hitter and is worth making a trade to pick up now that he's owned in almost every league.  Huff continues to be worth dropping for a guy like Mark Trumbo or Freddie Freeman.

Last Monday's Recommendation - Drop Jed Lowrie and Pickup J.J. Hardy

This recommendation looks bad right now, but thats only because Hardy is mired in the midst of a slump. Hardy has hit safely just once since I offered him as a pickup, so hasn't accumulated any counting stats for you either.  I would still make the move right now.  Lowrie's playing time still can't be banked on, and when Hardy starts hitting again, he'll produce better than Lowrie does anyways.

This Monday we are going to take a look at a pair of relief pitchers.  One is a closer on the way out of a job, while the other might be picking one up, and is worth a roster spot in anything but shallow ten team mixed leagues even if he doesn't.

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Monday 5/23/11

Sunday Starter One's Stats - Rick Porcello - 8.0 Innings Pitched - 3 Strikeouts - Win - 0.00 ERA - 0.38 WHIP
Sunday Starter Two's Stats - Edwin Jackson - 5.2 Innings Pitched - 7 Strikeouts - Win - 1.59 ERA - 1.23 WHIP
Week Seven Final Stats - 53.0 Innings Pitched - 25 Strikeouts - 4.25 K/9 - 3 Wins in 8 Starts - 2.21 ERA - 1.02 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 396 Innings Pitched - 291 Strikeouts - 6.61 K/9 - 25 Wins in 63 Starts - 3.61 ERA - 1.20 WHIP
Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

At the end of a strong week seven, Porcello and Jackson were the Sunday cherry on top.  Porcello started a little earlier and turned in eight great innings of one hit ball.  You'd love more strikeouts, but there is no way to complain about eight innings of spotless ERA and near spotless WHIP and a win.  Porcello needs to be owned in more leagues than he is owned in right now.  Pick him up if you have the roster spot or need the pitcher. Jackson also went out there and turned in a very acceptable start. His ERA and WHIP weren't as great, but were still sparkling and he gave you seven strikeouts.

Week seven delivered great ERA and WHIP numbers with a decent number of wins even though the strikeouts weren't there.   However, I'm not going to change anything with my selection process.  The ERA and WHIP have been there, and just got unlucky with decent strikeout pitchers not picking up strikeouts.  Monday's spot starter is coming up...