Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Thursday 7/7/11

Wednesday's Starter Stats - Jason Vargas - 8.0 Innings Pitched - 6 Strikeouts - Loss - 2.25 ERA - 0.75 WHIP

Week 14 Starter Stats - 22 IP - 15 Strikeouts - 6.14 K/9 - 2 Wins in 3 Starts - 1.23 ERA - 0.77 WHIP

Cumulative Starter Stats - 569.2 IP - 401 Strikeouts - 6.34 K/9 - 37 Wins in 92 Starts - 3.41 ERA - 1.20 WHIP

Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

I picked the wrong starter yesterday.  Recommended Vargas with Guillermo Moscoso as an alternate, but had the two backwards in this particular pitchers' duel.  Moscoso pitched seven scoreless innings of just two hit ball on his way to a win.  Vargas wasn't no slouch himself, but he got hit up by Scott Sizemore on a solo shot and an RBI single, and that was his downfall on the day.  Still, short of picking up the win Vargas did deliver spendidly with an 8 inning complete game of low ERA and WHIP ball.  Can't complain about that.

A bunch of starters are under the line on Thursday, but most of them aren't very good.  Luckily there are a few gems available....

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Wednesday 7/6/11

Monday's Starter Stats - Vance Worley - 7.0 Innings Pitched - 6 Strikeouts - Win - 0.00 ERA - 0.57 WHIP
Tuesday's Starter Stats - Jeff Karstens - 7.0 Innings Pitched - 3 Strikeouts - Win - 1.29 ERA - 1.00 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Stats - 561.2 IP - 395 Strikeouts - 6.33 K/9 - 37 Wins in 91 Starts - 3.43 ERA - 1.21 WHIP
Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Late small post today because I fell asleep at my computer last night and never wrote this up.  Want to get it out as quick as possible so people do have a chance to see it and update their rosters before games start at 1:10.

Both Worley and Karstens have been great to start this Week 14.  14 Innings in the book already with just a solo home run keeping them from being scoreless.  Two wins in two starts also never hurt anyone.

Wednesday starter coming up....

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Saturday 7/2/11

Thursday's Starter Stats - Carlos Zambrano - 1.0 Innings Pitched - 1 Strikeout - No Decision- 9.00 ERA - 4.00 WHIP

Friday's Starter Stats - Jason Vargas - 9.0 Innings Pitched - 7 Strikeouts - Win - 0.00 ERA - 0.67 WHIP

Cumulative Starters' Stats - 518 Innings Pitched - 364 Strikeouts - 6.32 K/9 - 33 Wins in 85 Starts - 3.65 ERA - 1.24 WHIP

Starter Stats Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Sorry this post is so late, but better late then never.  Should still have an hour to get your moves in here on Saturday.

Thursday night didn't go well, with Carlos Zambrano lasting an inning before being removed with a back injury and placed on the disabled list.  As always, can't predict injuries here... So just forced to take the bad inning of stats and move on.

Luckily Friday night went amazing to make up for Thursday.  Jason Vargas went the distance for his third complete game shut out of the year.  I alluded to the possibility in yesterday's column, and I turned out to be right.  Doesn't get any better really.  Nine innings of shut out ball off the waiver wire is as good as it gets, especially with a solid seven strikeouts.

Onto Saturday's starters.  It's the weekend, so that means a pair of starter recommendations for you all...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Friday 7/1/11

Tuesday's Starter Stats - Freddy Garcia - 6.0 Innings Pitched - 1 Strikeout - Win - 3.00 ERA - 1.33 WHIP
Thursday's Starter Stats - Carlos Zambrano - Stats Not Available As Of Posting. Will Update.
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 508 Innings Pitched - 356 Strikeouts - 6.31 K/9 - 32 Wins in 83 Starts - 3.70 ERA - 1.24 WHIP
Starter Stats Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Apologies for the lack of a recommendation on Wednesday and the shorted recommendation for Thursday.  I was still recovering from my overnight work and was exhausted but couldn't sleep.  I seem to have straightened myself out now, so hopefully I'll be able to work uninterrupted moving forwards.

Freddy Garcia delivered six innings of average ERA and WHIP ball on the way to picking up a win.  Nothing to write home about, but still a quality outing from a spot started pitcher.  Yankee starters are always good for wins, so keep an eye on Phil Hughes when he comes back to the rotation.  If he returns to form he'll be ownable in basically all leagues.

Onto Friday's pickups.  We've reached July and you would think that the good pitchers would all be owned by now and yet there are still quality options available to us every day that are owned in less than 50% of leagues...

Spot Starters For 6/8/11 and 6/9/11

Too tired from adjusting to working overnights to pound out the full column, but didn't want to leave any loyal readers hanging any longer.  Will update the spreadsheet and everything at some future point, but just a pair of quick recommendations...

6/8/11 Starter - Jason Vargas - He is coming off a complete game shut out of the Rays and his matchup with the White Sox is the best of some bad draws for other good pitchers.

6/9/11 Starter - Aaron Harang - Harang has been good over his last four starts and draws a solid matchup here home against the Nationals.  He is unowned because of his past performances, but as a Padre now, it's going to be all gravy for Harang.

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Tuesday 5/24/11

Monday Starter's Stats - Jason Vargas - 4.2 Innings Pitched - 2 Strikeouts - No Decision - 9.64 ERA - 2.36 WHIP

Cumulative Starters' Stats - 400.2 Innings Pitched - 293 Strikeouts - 6.58 K/9 - 25 Wins in 64 Starts - 3.68 ERA - 1.21 WHIP

Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

I finally believed Vargas turned it around, and he went out on Monday an started week eight off in a horrible way.  He couldn't make it five innings, and had an absolutely horrible ERA and WHIP.  Vargas' biggest problem was he got blasted for two home runs in spacious Target Field.  He should be a solid starter for Seattle, but he's been inconsistent so far on the year.  It wasn't much better if you went with Bartolo Colon as an alternate it wasn't much better, as he let up six runs over six innings but at least helped you out with eight strikeouts.

I'm sorry about Vargas, but I can't do anything about Monday, just look on towards Tuesday.  A good starter with hopefully better results here Tuesday night...

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...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Saturday 4/23/11

Friday's Recommended Starter's Stats -  Tyson Ross  - 4.1 Innings Pitched - 0 Strikeouts - Loss - 6.24 ERA - 1.85 WHIP

Week 3 Starters' Stats - 32.1 Innings Pitched - 29 Strikeouts - 8.07 K/9- 1 Win in 5 Starts - 1.95 ERA - 0.99 WHIP

Cumulative Starters' Stats - 156.2 Innings Pitched - 126 Strikeouts - 7.24 K/9 - 11 Wins in 25 Starts - 3.27 ERA - 1.15 WHIP

Starter Spreadsheet Online Here

Due to a postponement in Minnesota, instead of my original choice for Friday, I'm defaulting to my second recommendation, Tyson Ross.  I warned that Ross was a risky second option yesterday, and it showed.  He pitched just 4.1 innings and let up four hits and four walks without giving a strikeout.  It would have been decent despite the strikeouts, but he was pulled with two men on base, and the reliever Jerry Blevins proceeded to walk the bases loaded, then walk a run home credited to Ross, and let up a two run single which one run of was credited to Ross, before they pulled Blevins.  Anyways, Ross had strikeout potential, but wasn't showing it as a starter on Friday night.  Still have fin numbers on the week though.  Because we are getting to the last two days of the weekly match-ups, I'm offering up a pair of spot starter recommendations for those attempting to catch up....

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Monday 4/18/11

Sunday's Recommended Starter's Stats - Jeff Francis - 6.1 Innings Pitched - 1 Strikeouts - Loss - 4.27 ERA - 0.95 WHIP

Week 2 Starter Stats - 50 Innings Pitched - 32 Strikeouts - 3 Wins in 8 Starts - 4.68 ERA - 1.18 WHIP - 5.76 K/9

Cumulative Starter Stats - 124.1 Innings Pitched - 97 Strikeouts - 10 Wins in 20 Starts - 3.62 ERA - 1.19 WHIP - 7.02 K/9

Starter Spreadsheet Online Here

One of my Sunday spot starters didn't make it, and the other one didn't do anything good for your team.  I'm just going to put week two behind me and point to the fact that my cumulative numbers are still pretty good despite a horrible week two.  Anyways, onto my starter recommendation for Monday on a free week three start....

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Wednesday 4/13/11

Tuesday's Recommended Starter - Jeff Francis - 7.0 Innings Pitched - 5 Strikeouts  - 3 Runs - No Decision - 3.86 ERA - 1.29 WHIP
Cumulative Recommended Starters' Stats Through Monday - 88.1 IP - 74 Strikeouts - 8 Wins in 14 Starts - 2.75 ERA - 1.09 WHIP - 7.54 K/9
Recommended Start Stats in Week 2 - 14 IP - 9 Strikeouts - 1 Wins in 2 Starts - 1.93 ERA - .86 WHIP - 5.79 K/9

Starter Spreadsheet Google Doc Here

Jeff Francis had a solid spot start Tuesday even though he didn't pick up the win.  Five strikeouts in seven innings is always nice from a free agend, and his ERA and WHIP weren't offensive in anyway.  If he had had more run support and gotten the win it would have been an all around fine start.  Wednesday's spot starter recommendation coming up....

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Friday 4/8/11

Thursday's Starter Stats - Edwin Jackson - 8.0 IP - 13 Strikeouts - Win - 1.13 ERA - 0.63 WHIP

Cumulative Stater Stats - 49 IP - 43 Strikeouts - 7.9 K/9 - 4 Wins in 8 Starts - 3.49 ERA - 1.18 WHIP
Starter Spreadsheet here

I told you Jackson was a no-brainer.  The Tampa lineup is just dreadful, and Jackson made them look silly.  His one earned run came in the eighth inning, late in a start for this early in the year.  The 13 Ks are one less than the last three guys I suggested combined.  All in all it was an amazing start for fantasy purposes.  As I wrote in my Week 1 Thoughts and Pickups column Thursday, Jackson is worth rostering in all leagues.  He has a decent match-up with the As next followed by another game against Tampa Bay.  But if you need help sooner for this week's matchup, I have another great starter for you after the jump...