Fantasy MLB Spot Starting: 04.30.11

Not a great night for pitchers around the majors last night, lots of blow outs and big innings.  For myself, I was too giddy being a Ben Zobrist owner to care much.  We have some good options heading into the weekend for all of you trying to win your head to head games.

For games on Saturday April 30th these selected pitchers might be had in your league (less than 50% owned in Yahoo! or ESPN) with percent owned Yahoo/ESPN, (team), and opponent:

John Lackey 45% / 32% (BOS) vs. SEA

Randy Wolf 39% / 60% (MIL) @ HOU

Tim Stauffer 35% / 3% (SD) @ LAD

Brandon Beachy 26% / 23% (ATL) vs. StL

Brian Duensing 20% / 10% (MIN) @ KC

Jonathan Niese 10% / 1% (NYM) @ PHL

Rick Porcello 4% / 3% (DET) @ CLE

My Pick: John Lackey vs. Mariners

Alternate: Randy Wolf @ Astros

Deep League Special: Rick Porcello

Lackey is among the hottest starters in the bigs right now as he looks to be the starter the Sox thought he was when they signed him.  His peripherals are not great in the early going as he’s somehow become a flyball pitcher this month.  He somehow seems to make it work – even last year he went 3-1 in the games in which he allowed 12 or more FBs.  Sometimes, folks, the stats don’t back up the results.  But I think Lackey is going to dominate the weak Mariners.

Wolf is also red hot, winning his last 3 decisions while racking up almost a K/9.  He faces the Astros the for the second straight start and his 8 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4K, 0 BB lines says he’ll fare just fine against them again.

Porcello is barely owned around fantasy baseball circles but he is a tremendous play against the Indians, a team he has never lost to (4-0) with a 2.28 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, .232 BAA.  In his last outing at Progressive Field in 2010 he pitched a good one,  8 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 6 K, 0 BB.

Results from Thursday 04.28.11:

Scott Baker: Start Pushed to Friday

Scott McClellan: W, 5.2 IP, 8H, 5 ER, 2 K, 2 BB… An ugly outing for McClellan in an ugly game (unless you like offense) but he did pick up the W.  The McClellan lovefest is coming to an end.

Chris Capuano: L, 5.2 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 2 K, 0 BB.  Capuano was pitching to contact, but the hits were falling in for the Nats.  I still thought he was a good play in deep or NL only leagues.

Season Results (my pick only):

70.1 IP, 5-3, 68 H, 33 ER, 56K, 19 BB, 4.22 ERA, 1.24 WHIP

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