We have reached the middle of September. For those of us in head to head leagues, this is playoff time if your leagueMax Scherzer Detroit Tigers uses that format. Now is the time to put the pedal to metal and drive through all obstacles to reach the ultimate destination, your league championship. This is not the time to hitch your wagon to a horse that is running on vapors. Enough maxims, let's look to see who is available this week to provide a couple of starts to help push you over the top.

Start 'em If You Own 'em

Starting Pitcher

First Start/Opponent

Second Start/Opponent

Max Scherzer  DET

9/15/2014

9/21/2014

 

@ MIN

@ KC

 

TBA

James Shields  KC

Corey Kluber  CLE

9/16/2014

9/21/2014

 

@ HOU

@ MIN

 

Collin McHugh  HOU

Trevor May  MIN

Stephen Strasburg  WAS

9/15/2014

9/20/2014

 

@ ATL

@ MIA

 

Ervin Santana  ATL

Jarred Cosart  MIA

Jeff Samardzija  OAK

9/16/2014

9/21/2014

 

vs. TEX

vs. PHI

 

Nick Tepesch  TEX

A.J. Burnett  PHI

James Shields  KC

9/15/2014

9/21/2014

 

vs. CHW

vs. DET

 

John Danks  CHW

Max Scherzer  DET

Matt Shoemaker  LAA

9/15/2014

9/20/2014

 

vs. SEA

vs. TEX

 

Roenis Elias  SEA

Colby Lewis    TEX

Jacob deGrom  NYM

9/15/2014

9/21/2014

 

vs. MIA

@ ATL

 

Jarred Cosart  MIA

Ervin Santana  ATL

Corey Kluber Cleveland IndiansAs I write in one version or another every week, these pitchers are those that I would start without question, no matter who they are facing or which stadium they are pitching in. Kluber, deGrom and even Shoemaker have burst onto the scene this season, and will be drafted early in 2015. If you have a chance to secure their services next season in your keeper or dynasty leagues, what are you waiting for? Go grab them now, this article will be here when you get back. That should be a great match up in Kansas City next Sunday the 21st when Scherzer faces Shields, and one I will make a point to watch.

Maybe Yes, Maybe No

Starting Pitcher

First Start/Opponent

Second Start/Opponent

Dan Haren  LAD

9/16/2014

9/21/2014

 

@ COL

@ CHC

 

Tyler Matzek  COL

Travis Wood  CHC

John Lackey  STL

9/16/2014

9/21/2014

 

vs. MIL

vs. CIN

 

Wily Peralta  MIL

Alfredo Simon  CIN

Andrew Cashner  SD

9/15/2014

9/20/2014

 

vs. PHI

vs. SF

 

Jerome Williams  PHI

Yusmeiro Petit  SF

Jarred Cosart  MIA

9/15/2014

9/20/2014

 

@ NYM

vs. WAS

 

Jacob deGrom  NYM

Stephen Strasburg  WAS

Roenis Elias  SEA

9/15/2014

9/20/2014

 

@ LAA

@ HOU

 

Matt Shoemaker  LAA

Dallas Keuchel  HOU

Brad Peacock  HOU

9/15/2014

9/21/2014

 

vs. CLE

vs. SEA

 

TBA

Hisashi Iwakuma  SEA

Drew Hutchison  TOR

9/16/2014

9/21/2014

 

@ BAL

@ NYY

 

TBA

Michael Pineda  NYY

Ryan Vogelsong  SF

9/15/2014

9/21/2014

 

@ ARI

@ SD

 

Wade Miley  ARI

Ian Kennedy  SD

Tyler Matzek  COL

9/16/2014

9/21/2014

 

vs. LAD

vs. ARI

 

Dan Haren  LAD

Wade Miley  ARI

Michael Pineda  NYY

9/16/2014

9/21/2014

 

@ TB

vs. TOR

 

Alex Cobb  TB

Drew Hutchison  TOR

Mark Buehrle  TOR

9/15/2014

9/20/2014

 

@ BAL

@ NYY

 

Wei-Yin Chen  BAL

Chris Capuano  NYY

Wade Miley  ARI

9/15/2014

9/21/2014

 

vs. SF

@ COL

 

Ryan Vogelsong  SF

Tyler Matzek  COL

Vance Worley  PIT

9/16/2014

9/21/2014

 

vs. BOS

vs. MIL

 

Anthony Ranaudo  BOS

Wily Peralta  MIL

Nathan Eovaldi  MIA

9/16/2014

9/21/2014

 

@ NYM

vs. WAS

 

Bartolo Colon  NYM

Tanner Roark  WAS

Christian Bergman  COL

9/15/2014

9/20/2014

 

vs. LAD

vs. ARI

 

Roberto Hernandez  LAD

Trevor Cahill  ARI

Tanner Roark  WAS

9/16/2014

9/21/2014

 

@ ATL

@ MIA

 

Aaron Harang  ATL

Nathan Eovaldi  MIA

Alfredo Simon  CIN

9/15/2014

9/21/2014

 

@ CHC

@ STL

 

Travis Wood  CHC

John Lackey  STL

Ian Kennedy  SD

9/16/2014

9/21/2014

 

vs. PHI

vs. SF

 

A.J. Burnett  PHI

Ryan Vogelsong  SF

Jake Odorizzi  TB

9/15/2014

9/21/2014

 

vs. NYY

vs. CHW

 

Chris Capuano  NYY

Hector Noesi  CHW

Travis Wood  CHC

9/15/2014

9/21/2014

 

vs. CIN

vs. LAD

 

Alfredo Simon  CIN

Dan Haren  LAD

Wily Peralta  MIL

9/16/2014

9/21/2014

 

@ STL

@ PIT

 

John Lackey  STL

Vance Worley  PIT

The first sub-tier in the middle group opens with Haren and concludes with Matzek. Haren has been hot of late, with fourAndrew Cashner San Diego Padres consecutive QS where he has yielded only two earned runs. His control has been excellent, and he has good match ups this week, although it would be better were he not pitching on the road against the Rockies. Lackey had a strange outing against the Reds, getting ejected in the third inning after disapproving a ball call by the home plate umpire. His prior start was not good, either, but prior to that he was superb. I see this as an aberration, and not a sign of collapse. Cashner has returned to his low strikeout ways, although he continues to exhibit great control and has been extremely effective since returning to the Padre rotation in late August. His two starts this period are at home, and Petco can be very friendly for starting pitchers who don't give up long balls. Cosart has tossed six straight QS, and has picked up four victories in those starts. He has also been picking up more whiffs, making him very usable. He also has a good early week start against the Mets. Elias concerns me, as his innings are sure to be limited. So long as he pitches five or six innings and limits opponents to two or less earned runs, though, it is difficult not to run him out there for the excellent stats he provides consistently. Peacock is another SP that is not pitching deep into games, but he is giving you nearly a strikeout per inning. Generally he shows good control, and holds up his end by not allowing more than two earned runs in his last four starts. He doesn't have the best match ups this period, but his work has been too good to ignore. Hutchison has racked up 32 Ks over his past 25.1 IP, which comprise a four QS streak. You have to like a strikeout pitcher that limits runs and has good control. Pitching on the road hasn't been an issue for him, so his match ups don't overly concern me this period. Vogelsong was roughed up in his first September start at Colorado, but bounced back for a no-decision against Arizona where he returned to his stingy ways with regard to allowing earned runs. The Ks are inconsistent, but I like his chances against the Diamondbacks and Padres this week. Matzek wraps up this sub-tier, and coming off six consecutive QS makes him a decent option, with some strikeout potential tossed in for good measure. His control is spotty, though, so you might want to avoid him in his first start against the Dodgers.

Pineda starts off the next sub-tier, that ends with Bergman. Pineda was banged around by the Rays in his last appearance, but had been looking like the superb arm that the Yankees traded for in 2011. The strikeouts aren't amazing, but the control is superb, having yielded only one walk in his last six starts over 37.2 innings. Buehrle has tossed a couple Roenis Elias Seattle Marinersof QS after being just so-so for most of August. He has been up and down all season now, and perhaps this is another run up the positive side of the mountain for him.He has been much better on the road this season, so the match ups don't bother me. Miley had a rough outing in San Francisco, lasting only two innings, but has been twirling QS in his previous five starts. It is not the best thing that he faces the Giants in his first start this week, or that he goes to Colorado for his second start. Tread carefully if you decide to use him. Worley is nothing spectacular, but he gives you some strikeouts and has been limiting the earned runs lately. His matchups push him down the list this far. Eovaldi bounces between useful and awful, but he is generally a decent source for Ks. Facing the Mets to open the week is a decent match up, but I might sit him vs the Nationals next weekend. Bergman in three of his four starts has limited opponents to two or fewer earned runs. He has potential as a SP, if he can harness his control and start to miss more bats. He is a real desperation start against the Diamondbacks next weekend.

The final sub-tier begins with Roark and winds up with Peralta. Roark seems to be running out of gas as the season winds down, but he still is a decent source of Ks, and his control is as superb as it has been all season. It is the number of hits he is giving up that concerns me most. I do like his match ups this week, though. Simon has upped his innings pitched recently, but I am concerned with the increase in walks. I would use him against the Cubs, but would look for other options this coming weekend in St. Louis. Kennedy can still toss a beauty of a game, but too often, he is just...average. Pitching both his two starts at home should help, but if you need more than just mediocre performance from your SP. Odorzizi has put up two horrible starts in his past four appearances, giving up eight and six earned runs. Sandwiched between those games were 14 innings of four hit pitching, so he is wildly inconsistent when you need strong performances. I would avoid him at this point, but keep him in mind for your 2015 drafts as he is a talent. Wood was beat up in his last start by Pittsburgh, and he has been up and down since mid August. His strikeouts have disappeared recently, so I am no longer willing to use him. Peralta winds up the middle tier, and while his last start was a one earned run beauty, his three prior outings, all losses, were less impressive. If all you want is Ks, though, he is a decent source for that stat category.

Not On My Roster

Starting Pitcher

First Start/Opponent

Second Start/Opponent

Cory Rasmus  LAA

9/16/2014

9/21/2014

 

vs. SEA

vs. TEX

 

Hisashi Iwakuma  SEA

Nick Tepesch  TEX

A.J. Burnett  PHI

9/16/2014

9/21/2014

 

@ SD

@ OAK

 

Ian Kennedy  SD

Jeff Samardzija  OAK

Ervin Santana  ATL

9/15/2014

9/21/2014

 

vs. WAS

vs. NYM

 

Stephen Strasburg  WAS

Jacob deGrom  NYM

Hisashi Iwakuma  SEA

9/16/2014

9/21/2014

 

@ LAA

@ HOU

 

Cory Rasmus  LAA

Brad Peacock  HOU

Nick Tepesch  TEX

9/16/2014

9/21/2014

 

@ OAK

@ LAA

 

Jeff Samardzija  OAK

Cory Rasmus  LAA

Roberto Hernandez  LAD

9/15/2014

9/20/2014

 

@ COL

@ CHC

 

Christian Bergman  COL

Jacob Turner  CHC

Chris Capuano  NYY

9/15/2014

9/20/2014

 

@ TB

vs. TOR

 

Jake Odorizzi  TB

Mark Buehrle  TOR

Jerome Williams  PHI

9/15/2014

9/20/2014

 

@ SD

@ OAK

 

Andrew Cashner  SD

Jon Lester  OAK

This is not the time to take risks if you don't have to, so I would suggest you avoid each of these SPs that made it into theHisashi Iwakuma Seattle Mariners bottom tier this week. I realize it seems crazy to put Iwakuma here, but take a look at his last four outings and tell me those numbers inspire you with confidence. Truth be told, many of these pitchers would normally be included at the bottom of the middle tier, but not at the end of the season. Now is time to avoid unnecessary chances with your pitching, and you can do better. I would suggest looking to the top half of the middle tier where the risk is minimized.

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