Fantasy MLB Spot Starting: 08.03.11

Welcome back to Spot Starting.  Slim pickings as usual for Thursday so we reach a bit deeper.

For games on Thursday August 4th  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:

Erik Bedard 48% / 47% (BOS) vs. CLE

Philip Humber 45% / 25% (CWS) vs. NYY

Zach Britton 14% / 19% (BAL) @ KC

James McDonald 12% / 5% (PIT) vs. ChC

Brett Cecil 10% / 4% (TOR) @ TB

Ivan Nova 5% / 3% (NYY) @ CWS

Fantasy MLB Spot Starting: 07.27.11

Welcome back to Spot Starting.  Looks like I was wrong to be worried about Zito (his start was moved up a day, Phillies touched him up good.  But that’s what it is to be a true Philadelphia fan, never cocky and always ready for the other shoe to drop.

For games on Wednesday July 28th 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:

Matt Harrison 48% / 60% (TEX) vs. MIN

Kevin Correia 45% / 41% (PIT) @ ATL

Derek Lowe 44% / 28% (ATL) vs. PIT

Homer Bailey 17% / 8% (CIN) vs. NYM

Carlos Villanueva 13% / 4% (TOR) vs. BAL

Chris Capuano 13% / 5% (NYM) @ CIN

Fantasy MLB Spot Starting: 07.01.11

Welcome back to Spot Starting, can you believe it’s July – the baseball season is already half over!  It’s going so quickly.  Look out for my Casual Sabermetrician update on Starting Pitchers at the mid way point.  And now for spot starts to kick off your July 4th weekend…

For games on Saturday July 2nd 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:

Bartolo Colon 41% / 29% (NYY) @ NYM

Kyle McClellan 32% / 17% (StL) @ TB

Jake Arrieta 27% / 14% (BAL) @ ATL

Carl Pavano 26% / 10% (MIN) vs. MIL

Derek Holland 25% / 12% (TEX) vs. FLA

Homer Bailey 21% / 11% (CIN) vs. CLE

Chris Narveson 15% / 10% (MIL) @ MIN

Carlos Villanueva 14% / 6% (TOR) @ PHL

Joe Saunders 3% / 2% (ARI) @ OAK

2011 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Gems: National League

Cameron Maybin, OF San Diego Padres (22% owned in Yahoo, 27.8% in ESPN)

Current Stat Line: .280 AVG / 23 R / 5 HR / 13 RBI / 6 SB

I have already mentioned Maybin here but his ownership increased by only 4% in Yahoo leagues. If you extrapolate his current numbers to 600 AB you get, .280 AVG / 97 R / 21 HR / 55 RBI / 25 SB. He has been batting .714 with 2HR in the past 3 games so make the add.

Projection:.276 AVG / 82 R / 16 HR / 69 RBI / 20 SB

2011 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Gems: American League

This week on Waiver Wire Gems – American League:

Bartolo Colon, SP New York Yankees (28% owned in Yahoo, 26% ESPN)

Current Stat Line: 2 W / 1 L / 33 K / 3.86 ERA / 1.23 WHIP

Ok. His last start was rough, but when I read about his stem cell procedure on his shoulder and elbow it made me think of the six million dollar man. So how could I in good conscience pull Steve Austin off of the list???!! In all honesty, shoot for Carmona as one of my readers previously suggested.

Projection: 12 W/ 8 L / 155 K / 3.95 ERA / 1.30 WHIP

Fantasy MLB Spot Starting: 05.12.11

Welcome back to Spot Starting.  Small slate of games on Thursday as per usual, so we need to dig deep, let’s see what we can find out there.  Many are day games, so set your rosters early then enjoy some afternoon baseball at work, what could be better?

For games on Thursday May 12th 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:

Jordan Zimmermann 48% / 49% (WAS) @ ATL

Jon Garland 10% / 6% (LAD) @ PIT

Ivan Nova 8% / 5% (NYY) vs. KC

Charlie Morton 6% / 4% (PIT) vs. LAD

Jason Vargas 3% / 0.3% (SEA) @ BAL

Fantasy MLB Spot Starting: 05.10.11

Welcome to another week of Spot Starting.  Let me tell you, from experience – the difference between winning and losing your head to head match could be a Sunday Spot Start off the waiver wire.  Yesterday, if I had followed my own advice and picked up Fausto Carmona or better yet, Anibal Sanchez I would have avoided a painful loss.  I was protecting my  WHIP and hoping it would hold up instead of padding my Ks and going for another W.  It backfired and my opponent Chris beat me.  Sometimes you gotta gamble.  By the way, please read Chris’ weekly Minor League Recap, it’s always epic.

For games on Tuesday May 10th 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:

Kyle Drabek 38% / 23% (TOR) vs. BOS

Kevin Correia 34% / 36% (PIT) vs LAD

Clayton Richard 24% / 3% (SD) @ MIL

Homer Bailey 13% / 5% (CIN) @ HOU

Freddy Garcia 11% / 9% (NYY) vs. KC

Mike Pelfrey 6% / 1% (NYM) @ COL

Jake Arrieta 5% / 5% (BAL) vs. SEA

Rick Porcello 5% / 3% (DET)@ MIN

Fantasy MLB Spot Starting: 05.05.11

Welcome back to Spot Starting, due to being under the weather we were away for a few extra days, so let’s get right back to finding some waiver wire spot start gems.

For games on Thursday May 5th 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:

Brandon Beachy 35% / 46% (ATL) vs. MIL

Bruce Chen 12% / 11% (KC) vs. BAL

Homer Bailey 7% / 0.2% (CIN) vs. HOU

Rick Porcello 5% / 4% (DET) vs. NYY

Joel Pineiro 5% / 10% (LAA) @ BOS

Jason Hammel 3% / 3% (COL) @ ARI

My Pick: Brandon Beachy vs. Brewers

Alternate: Rick Porcello vs. Yankees

Deep League Special: Jason Hammel @ D Backs

Beachy is the pretty clear choice here.  He has 3 straight quality starts including 19Ks in 19 IP.  His excellent K/BB rate has led him to have a sparkling 0.99 WHIP the first month of the season.  His last start against the Brewers was his first of the season and he pitched well enough to win but got a ND with a 6 I, 4 H, 1 ER, 7 K, 1 BB line.

National League Centeral Previews: Reds

Today’s Focus: Cincinnati Reds

2010 Record 91-71, 1st Place NL Central. Lost to Phillies in NLDS

The same Cincinnati Reds that brought you the NL Central Championship last year are back with no major changes to its core of talented players.  The pitching staff is anchored by the 1-2-3 punch Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto, and Edison Volquez.  Former 1st round pick, Homer Bailey, finally showed some consistency last year and will get a chance to win one of the final spots in the rotation this spring.  The bullpen took a hit with Arthur Rhodes departure, but hard throwing uber prospect Aroldis Chapman will likely take his take his spot, and could wind up as the team’s closer