Not a bad bunch of starters to choose from in Week 12 as we look to the final four days of the period. Remember, all these pitchers are owned in less than 50% of leagues, giving you a chance to snap them up to assist you in your fantasy baseball endeavors.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Gavin Floyd ATL @ WAS Jordan Zimmermann

Jeff Locke PIT vs CIN Homer Bailey

Floyd didn't exactly seal my nomination as a streaming option on Saturday, giving up four earned runs on seven hits (but no walks!) over 6.1 innings. Facing the Nationals isn't exactly an easy match up, but with the two teams facing off for first place in the NL East, you have to expect he will be giving it his best, which so far has been pretty good.

Locke has been throwing strikes, not giving up walks and getting a decent amount of whiffs in the three starts he's had since returning from Triple-A. Pitching at home, I like his chances to provide good strikeouts and decent peripherals, if not a win.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Christian Bergman COL vs MIL Marco Estrada

Jarred Cosart HOU @ TB David Price

Edwin Jackson CHC vs PIT Charlie Morton

Charlie Morton PIT @ CHC Edwin Jackson

Joe Saunders TEX @ LAA Hector Santiago

Brandon Workman BOS @ OAK Jesse Chavez

Big day for streaming options. Bergman has thrown two QS since joining the Colorado rotation, and while he does generate ground balls, his moderate fly ball tendencies make him somewhat riskier than others going Friday night, facing the NL Central leading Brewers at Coors Field.

Cosart has three consecutive QS, going 2-1 over that short stretch. Until he faced the Rays on Saturday, he had been generating nice K numbers, too. In a decidedly small sample, he is 2-0 against the Rays with a 1.80 ERA over 15 innings, for what that is worth.

Although he is inconsistent, Jackson is a good source of strikeouts, although if I had to choose between the SPs in the Pirate-Cub game, I would lean toward Morton. Morton has limited opponents to two or one earned run in five straight starts, and is working off three consecutive wins. He has also gone 22:6 K/BB over the last three starts comprising 19 innings. I would opt for Morton's consistency over the yo-yo stat lines Jackson puts up, although he does tend to alternate good and bad starts, so Saturday's loss in Philly may portend a pitchers' duel on Friday afternoon/evening.

Saunders has given up two earned runs in each of his last three starts, but don't expect much in the way of strikeouts. At best, he will give you six innings with little more to recommend him, but I do like his match up against Santiago, who has been uninspiring prior to last Tuesday's beauty against Oakland. Proceed with caution if you decide to employ Saunders in your lineup.

Workman has been very effective since joining the Red Sox rotation in May, and even more so since relying more on his curve to offset his fastball. Just beware that he could miss this start if he has to serve his one game suspension this week. If he pitches, look for a few Ks and decent peripherals, when he takes the mound in the pitcher-friendly Coliseum in Oakland.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Kevin Correia MIN vs CHW Andre Rienzo

Vidal Nuno NYY vs BAL Chris Tillman

Of these two options, I would prefer to use neither of the proffered starters. Both pitchers offer good control, but Corriea bounces up and down with the number of earned runs he allows too much to be a steady option. I like Nuno's downward trending peripherals more. Still, if you don't need to add a streaming option on Saturday, don't reach as it could bite you badly.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

John Danks CHW @ MIN Phil Hughes

Tyler Matzek COL vs MIL Kyle Lohse

Tommy Milone OAK vs BOS Jon Lester

Josh Tomlin CLE vs DET Max Scherzer

Winding up the week, we have some real nice options here. Danks has been superb since adjusting a mechanical flaw, and has been effective in limiting his usual problem, the long ball. Strikeout totals are just middling, but he is limiting the earned runs and pitching effectively.

Matzek hasn't seen a fast track to the majors, but he looked good once he arrived. I am holding off until we see whether his shutting down of the Braves in his first appearance was due to unfamiliarity with his stuff, but at least for one start, pitching at Coors was not a hindrance to his efficiency on the mound.

Milone gets Boston at home, which is in his favor as he is far more effective in the Coliseum. I am going more on his current hot streak here than his lack of success against Boston in a small two game sample size. He has six QS in his last seven starts, missing the seventh by just one out.

Facing Scherzer is not a prime match up for Tomlin, but any pitcher that limits walks and generates strikeouts is always going to have a chance to shine. You may wish to see how he fares earlier in the week against the Angels at home before trusting him on Sunday, seeing as how Boston roughed him up in his last appearance. Really, though, his ownership should have pushed him off this list before now.

Should you have questions regarding fantasy baseball, especially starting pitching, you can reach me at ia@fantasyalarm.com to continue the discussion.