Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Monday 7/25/11

Sunday Starter One's Stats - Bartolo Colon - 7.0 Innings Pitched - 4 Strikeouts - Win - 2.57 ERA - 1.29 WHIP
Sunday Starter Two's Stats - Rick Porcello - 6.0 Innings Pitched - 4 Strikeouts - Win - 3.00 ERA - 1.17 WHIP
ESPN "Week 15" Final Starters' Stats - 44.1 Innings Pitched - 33 Strikeouts - 6.70 K/9 - 5 Wins in 7 Starts - 3.86 ERA - 1.22 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 627 Innings Pitched - 446 Strikeouts - 6.40 K/9 - 42 Wins in 100 Starts - 3.43 ERA - 1.20 WHIP
Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Pair of starts on Sunday and a pair of solid wins.  They were essentially the same start, just Colon went an inning further into his game than Porcello.  Boh guys picked up a win and four strikeouts while letting up just two runs.  It was as advertised here on Sunday, as both guys were picked for their win chances and delivered.

Monday starts a new week here and hopefully a new streak will continue here.  I may seem like a homer here, but the schedule says what the schedule says...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Sunday 7/24/11

Friday's Starter's Stats - Phil Hughes - 4.1 Innings Pitched - 3 Strikeouts - Loss - 14.55 ERA -3.00 WHIP
"Week 15" Starters' Stats - 31.1 Innings Pitched - 25 Strikeouts - 7.18 K/9 - 3 Wins in 5 Starts - 4.31 ERA - 1.21 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 614 Innings Pitched - 438 Strikeouts - 6.42 K/9 - 40 Wins in 98 Starts - 3.44 ERA - 1.20 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

A second total dud in the row made me just duck and hide from picking starters on Saturday.  Trusting Javy and Phil on back to back days was a bad idea in retrospect.  Luckily it's still not that bad of a week in ERA and WHIP considering those last two horrible starts.

Sunday we have a pair of starters coming in who probably aren't going to make the ERA and WHIP much better, but will rack up some strikeouts and have the best shots at the wins you need on Sundays...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Sunday 6/12/11

Still working overnights but will be off them and returning to a normal schedule soon.  A week or two.  Until then it's going to be short posts like this.  Sorry.  Anywho, Sunday's spot starter is a good one.

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Thursday 6/2/11

Wednesday's Recommended Starter - Rick Porcello - 6.2 Innings Pitched - 4 Strikeouts - Win - 2.70 ERA - 1.35 WHIP

Cumulative Starters' Stats - 460.1 Innings Pitched - 330 Strikeouts - 6.45 K/9 - 28 Wins in 73 Starts - 3.56 ERA - 1.22 WHIP

Cumulative Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Porcello picked right back up where he left off before the Red Sox beat him up, delivering 6.2 innings of strong ERA and WHIP and picking up a win.  The strikeout numbers weren't great, but they were solid enough.  Strikeouts in general have been harder to come by than they were at the beginning of the year, as most of the strong strikeout pitchers have been rostered at this stage of the year.  The ERA and WHIP have been solid for a while, so going to look to pick up extra strikeouts going forward.

If you went with alternate recommendation Brian Matusz off the DL on Wednesday, you didn't pick up a win, but you had even better ERA and WHIP.  Matusz should be good to go from here on out and is worth rostering in mixed leagues.  If you went with Chris Capuano in your deep league, you would have had a strong start if they didn't leave him in to start the seventh inning.  When they did, Capuano let up five straight singles, and all of them made it across home plate, ruining an otherwise awesome start.

As always, looking to do better today than I did yesterday.  Recommendations are, as always, available in more than 50% of leagues.  Travel Thursday recommendations coming up...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Wednesday 6/1/11

Tuesday's Recommended Starter - Mike Minor - 6.0 Innings Pitched - 4 Strikeouts - Loss - 4.50 ERA - 1.83 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 453.2 Innings Pitched - 326 Strikeouts - 6.47 K/9 - 27 Wins in 72 Starts - 3.57 ERA - 1.22 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

With no starter offered on Memorial Day, we started off the week with a disappointment out of Mike Minor.  It wasn't an awful blowup your stats start, but it wasn't good either.  He was left in the start the seventh inning and walked a man on before being pulled from the game. That batter made it home and turned a 3.00 ERA day into a 4.50 ERA and a no decision into a loss.  Luckily, it wasn't embarrassing and we can make up for it easily the rest of the week. Freddy Garcia is still playing as i write this on Tuesday night, but has cruised through four innings so far against the As.  He should deliver for deep league players.

Before I move on, just a programming note for the week.  It's my birthday on Friday and I'm working out the details on a promotion in my actual job, so the other daily pickup column is going to be taking the week off.  I'm going to miss a second day of this column later in the week (likely the Saturday edition), but will at least provide you with my recommendations either here or via twitter.

Wednesday's recommendation coming up right now...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Saturday 5/28/11

Friday Starter's Stats - Scott Baker - 7.0 Innings Pitched - 6 Strikeouts - No Decision - 0.00 ERA - 0.83 WHIP
Week Eight Starters' Stats - 31.2 Innings Pitched - 19 Strikeouts - 5.40 K/9 - 1 Win in 5 Starts - 1.71 ERA - 1.11 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 4.27.2 Innings Pitched - 310 Strikeouts - 6.52 K/9 - 26 Wins in 67 Starts - 3.47 ERA - 1.19 WHIP
Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

On a great roll right now with four straight great starts, including three of four scoreless.  Baker was one of those scoreless starts today, striking out six over seven without letting up a run.  He would have picked up the win too, as he exited with a five run lead after seven, but three relievers each let up two runs a pop over the eighth and ninth innings and the Twins ended up losing the game.  Wins are crazy. If you went with my alternate recommendation, Rick Porcello, you ended up getting beat up by the super hot Boston offense.  Tyler Chatwood didn't take advantage of his matchup with the Twins either, for those in deep leagues.  Hopefully, you got Baker in and added the seven scoreless to your numbers.

Saturday means it's the weekend, and that means two starters for those of you trying to catch up in your head to head matchups.  Hopefully can keep up the sparkling ERA and WHIP.  Saturday's guys coming up...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Friday 5/27/11

Thursday Starter's Stats - Ryan Vogelsong - 8.0 Innings Pitched - 3 Strikeouts - Loss - 1.13 ERA - 1.13 WHIP

Week Eight Starter Stats - 24.2 Innings Pitched - 13 Strikeouts - 4.74 K/9 - 1 Win in 3 Starts - 2.19 ERA - 1.18 WHIP

Cumulative Starters' Stats - 420.2 Innings Pitched - 304 Strikeouts - 6.50 K/9 - 26 Wins in 66 Starts - 3.53 ERA - 1.20 WHIP

Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Vogelsong makes three straight days of very good starts.  Kyle McClellan and Erik Bedard each went six innings with no earned runs over the last two days, and Vogelsong went eight innings here on Thursday and let up just one earned run.  The strikeout numbers haven't been there this week, but the ERA and WHIP have been great, and sometimes you have to be careful with the spot starters to avoid getting beat up chasing strikeouts.  The deep league players WHIP didn't get hurt too bad by Dickey's 2.2 scoreless innings before he left the game with a heel injury covering first base, but it wasn't a great use of a start for those in start limit leagues.

Friday's recommendations coming up right here...

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 Sunday 5/22/11

Saturday Spot Starter One's Stats - Clayton Richard - 5.0 Innings Pitched - 2 Strikeouts - Loss - 5.40 ERA - 1.60 WHIP
Saturday Spot Starter Two's Stats - Mark Buehrle - 7.0 Innings Pitched - 1 Strikeout - Win - 2.57 ERA - 1.00 WHIP
Week Seven Starters' Stats - 39.1 Innings Pitched - 15 Strikeouts - 3.43 K/9 - 1 Win in 6 Starts - 2.75 ERA - 1.12 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 382.1 Innings Pitched - 281 Strikeouts - 6.61 K/9 - 23 Wins in 61 Starts - 3.72 ERA - 1.22 WHIP
Starter Stats Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

One good and one bad start combine for an average day here Saturday.  Clayton Richard got beat up by Seattle in a surprise of a start.  It wasn't long enough or bad enough to kill your ERA or WHIP, but there weren't enough strikeouts  to make up for it.  Luckily, Buehrle gave a solid start with basically exactly what you've come to expect from him.  You can't bank on him for strikeouts, but his ERA and WHIP are passable on the year and good against certain matchups and he picks up a decent amount of Wins with the White Sox.  Not enough strikeouts to own him regularly, but hes always good in matchups.

Week Seven has been a slow strikeout week, but we've been churning along the ERA and WHIP.  Have a pair of guys going with more strikeout potential on Sunday coming up...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Wednesday 5/18/11

Tuesday's Recommended Starter's Stats - Rick Porcello - Rained Out
Cumulative Starter's Stats - 350 Innings Pitched - 268 Strikeouts - 6.89 K/9 - 22 Wins in 56 Starts - 3.83 ERA - 1.23 WHIP
Starters' Stats Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Porcello got rained out Tuesday night, and I didn't offer up an alternative on an otherwise poor night for starter choices.  Sorry about that, but I didn't trust anyone else.  Wednesday we have a good starter and a solid alternate, so if you need two, feel free to take both and expect good results.  Wednesday's gem candidate coming up...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Tuesday 5/17/11

Monday's Recommended Starter's Stats - Joel Pineiro - 7.0 Innings Pitched - 2 Strikeouts - No Decision - 3.86 ERA - 1.29 WHIP

Cumulative Starter's Stats - 350 Innings Pitched - 268 Strikeouts - 6.89 K/9 - 22 Wins in 56 Starts - 3.83 ERA - 1.23 WHIP

Starters' Stats Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Pineiro wasn't great, but in the end he didn't hurt anything.  The ERA and WHIP are both passable numbers, and two strikeouts are better than none.  He was in position to pick up a win when he left the game, but Jordan Walden and Fernando Rodney blew the game for him.  If you went with Homer Bailey, you picked up a win but with worse ERA and WHIP.  It was the better start, and it looks like you can trust Homer going forward.  The deep league players who went with John Lannan got a solid ERA performance, but a bad WHIP and missed out on picking up the win.  It was a pretty average start to the week overall, hopefully can pick it up with some better choices here on Tuesday...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Tuesday 5/10/11

Monday's Recommended Starter Stats - Travis Wood - 6.2 Innings Pitched - 6 Strikeouts - Win - 0.00 ERA - 1.05 WHIP

Cumulative Starters' Stats - 295 Innings Pitched - 233 Strikeouts - 7.11 K/9 - 18 Wins in 48 Starts - 3.63 ERA - 1.18 WHIP

I told you my gut said to start Wood over Santana.  Both have been unlucky to start the season, but Wood has been unlucky to an extreme and is really a better fantasy pitcher option than Santana anyways.  Starting off the week with six strikeouts and a clean ERA in a win is always good for your team.  For the deeper league players, it wasn't super pretty, but Jeff Karstens was definitely a decent starter given the dearth of option.  Tuesday's starter coming up...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Wednesday 4/20/11

Tuesday's Recommended Starter's Stats - Brandon Beachy - 6.0 Innings Pitched - 7 Strikeouts - Win - 0.00 ERA - 0.67 WHIP
Week 3 Starters' Stats - 14.0 Innings Pitched - 17 Strikeouts - 10.93 K/9- 1 Win in 2 Starts - 0.00 ERA - 0.57 WHIP

Cumulative Starters' Stats - 138.1 Innings Pitched - 114 Strikeouts - 7.42 K/9 - 11 Wins in 22 Starts - 3.25 ERA - 1.13 WHIP

Starter Spreadsheet Online Here

Week Three is off to a great start so far.  First Carlos Zambrano came through huge on Monday, and now Brandon Beachy does the job today.  I didn't expect him to be this good, but he does have the stuff to strike guys out like this on a regular basis, and to be nearly unhittable when he's on like he was tonight   14 innings of no run ball with more than a strikeout per inning is more than you can really ask for from spot starters, but hopefully I can keep the streak going on Wednesday...

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

Sunday's Starter's Stats - Zachary Britton - 6.0 IP - 6 Strike Outs - 1 Win - 1.50 ERA - 1.00 WHIP

Cumulative Starter Recommendation Stats - 23.2 IP - 16 Strike Outs - 3 Wins - 3.04 ERA - 1.18 WHIP

As you can see, Zach Britton worked out wonderfully as a spot start yesterday and through four days worth of recommendations the total stats are very workable. Obviously could use a few more strike outs, but that total is being brought down by Mark Buehrle's 0 strike outs the other day. Going to be looking to grab more strikeouts in the future but not going to sacrifice ERA and WHIP in order to do it. Find out my recommendation for today right after you click through the jump...