We have reached the middle of September. For those of us in head to head leagues, this is playoff time if your league 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 | |
Corey Kluber CLE | 9/16/2014 | 9/21/2014 |
| @ HOU | @ MIN |
| Collin McHugh HOU | Trevor May MIN |
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 |
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 |
As 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 |
9/15/2014 | 9/20/2014 | |
| vs. PHI | vs. SF |
| Jerome Williams PHI | |
Jarred Cosart MIA | 9/15/2014 | 9/20/2014 |
| @ NYM | vs. WAS |
| Jacob deGrom NYM | |
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 |
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 |
| 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 |
9/15/2014 | 9/20/2014 | |
| vs. LAD | vs. ARI |
| 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 | |
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 four 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 of 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 |
| 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 |
9/15/2014 | 9/20/2014 | |
| @ COL | @ CHC |
| Jacob Turner CHC | |
Chris Capuano NYY | 9/15/2014 | 9/20/2014 |
| @ TB | vs. TOR |
| Mark Buehrle TOR | |
Jerome Williams PHI | 9/15/2014 | 9/20/2014 |
| @ SD | @ OAK |
| 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 the 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.