Disclaimer: Apologies for the truncated, late post this week. I’m presently vacationing in rural northern Minnesota, where I’m playing in a baseball reunion with former big leaguer Kerry Taylor.

Here are this week’s recommendations:

Felix Doubront – 16.5% ESPN – v. TBR (.329 team wOBA), v. ARI (.311)

Doubront is presently working on a 13 game stretch — dating to mid-May — in which he hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any start. In that time frame, he carries an impressive 2.71 ERA, 7.7 K/9, and perhaps most importantly, 2.1 K/BB rate.

In that stretch, Doubront has faced Detroit, Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Seattle (who have hit well in July), and the Halos. In other words, he’s not stumping total schlubs. Read the rest of this entry »

Here are this week’s recommendations:

Ubaldo Jimenez – 13.2% ESPN/19% Y! – @SEA (.313 team wOBA), v. TEX (.322)

I still feel pretty good about my recommendations this week, but it’s certainly difficult to get a feel for who is starting Monday and Tuesday even now on Saturday with so many “undecideds” and even a blank spot in the upcoming schedule over at ESPN.com.

I keep telling myself I’ll never let Ubaldo hook me again, but here we are. A thoroughly mediocre, no longer hard-thrower with insane splits, Jimenez keeps his ownership levels at a spot where I still feel like I can pick my spots with him. The Mariners matchup is one that looks extremely accommodating; not only is Jimenez facing an average offense, but he has a 3.31 road ERA this year — compared to a 6.09 mark at home.

Certainly that makes the Rangers matchup pretty scary, but as has been said in this spot for the past 50-something weeks, sometimes it’s one matchup that has to tip the scales.

Kyle Gibson – 1.1% ESPN/4% Y! – @LAA (.328), @SEA (.313)

Gibson’s overall line isn’t pretty — 6.45-3.68-5.88 pitching slash — but outside of a blowup against the Yankees on July 4, the tall righty has been otherwise fairly decent. In fact, Gibson avenged the Independence Day blowout by beating the Yankees on the road in his last start of the first half, tossing five innings of one-run ball in a 10-4 Twins win.

What’s been a bit troubling with Gibson so far is the strikeouts — or lack thereof. In the second game versus the Yankees, Gibson fanned just one while walking four, and after starting his career with a 5-0 K/BB outing against the Royals, Gibson’s K/BB is an ugly 6/9. Gibson will certainly rely on command, but he should have enough raw stuff to at least come near a league-average strikeout rate, which combined with his good control, should mean he’ll soon show some improvement in both respects.

Also, he’s facing Joe Blanton on Monday. So that should help.

Tyler Skaggs – 0.6% ESPN/6% Y! – v. CHC (.309), v. SDP (.303)

Here’s a situation where I’m counting on ESPN’s probables, as Skaggs was optioned out to High-A Visalia prior to the All Star break to keep him on regular rest. With an option date of July 11, Skaggs should/would be eligible to come back up prior to Monday, when ESPN has him slated to start against the Cubs — and Matt Garza.

Skaggs has made five starts so far this season, and has fared rather well. He’s posted a strikeout rate above league-average (7.8 per 9), gotten a fair number of grounders (41.6%), and nothing in his profile looks too out of whack, except perhaps the 1.24 HR/9 mark. As a result, Skaggs’ 4.03 ERA falls about in line with what should be expected, and with a couple of matchups against below-average offenses in the upcoming week, the lefty looks like a good play in some very deep leagues. Get him while you can, because I think he’d be the preferred option over Randall Delgado in the near term.

Previous Results:

Week 1: 1-3, 30 IP, 3.00 ERA, 5.4 K/9, 2.3 K/BB, 1.13 WHIP (Kevin Slowey, Ubaldo Jimenez, Joe Saunders)
Week 2: 2-3, 25.1 IP, 5.69 ERA, 6.8 K/9, 2.4 K/BB, 1.74 WHIP (Joe Blanton, James McDonald, Eric Stults)
Week 3: 1-2, 32 IP, 3.66 ERA, 7.9 K/9, 3.1 K/BB, 1.22 WHIP (Wade Davis, Carlos Villanueva, Patrick Corbin)
Week 4: 2-1, 22 IP, 6.14 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 2.1 K/BB, 1.95 WHIP (Julio Teheran, Jason Hammel, Garrett Richards)
Week 5: 2-2, 30 IP, 3.60 ERA, 5.4 K/9, 1.6 K/BB, 1.23 WHIP (Scott Diamond, Nick Tepesch, Andrew Cashner)
Week 6: 2-3, 32.2 IP, 4.96 ERA, 5.5 K/9, 2.0 K/BB, 1.44 WHIP (Justin Grimm, Juan Nicasio, Hector Santiago)
Week 7: 1-0, 29 IP, 3.41 ERA, 6.8 K/9, 1.8 K/BB, 1.34 WHIP (Julio Teheran, Phil Hughes, Scott Kazmir)
Week 8: 1-0, 34.2 IP, 4.93 ERA, 7.0 K/9, 4.5 K/BB, 1.27 WHIP (Jhoulys Chacin, Kevin Slowey, Dan Straily)
Week 9: 3-1, 34 IP, 2.65 ERA, 7.4 K/9, 4.0 K/BB, 0.94 WHIP (John Danks, Andrew Cashner, Chris Tillman)
Week 10: 4-0, 35.2 IP, 2.27 ERA, 5.6 K/9, 3.7 K/BB, 1.12 WHIP (Tony Cingrani, Corey Kluber, John Lackey)
Week 11: 0-1, 27 IP, 5.67 ERA, 6.7 K/9, 2.2 K/BB, 1.41 WHIP (Dillon Gee, Dan Straily, Ubaldo Jimenez)
Week 12: 0-3, 33.2 IP, 4.81 ERA, 5.1 K/9, 1.7 K/BB, 1.49 WHIP (Esmil Rogers, Kevin Correia, Eric Stults)
Week 13: 1-2, 19 IP, 3.79 ERA, 2.4 K/9, 1.7 K/BB, 0.95 WHIP (Phil Hughes, Samuel Deduno, Roberto Hernandez)
Week 14: 2-3, 39.1 IP, 4.35 ERA, 5.7 K/9, 3.1 K/BB, 1.27 WHIP (Scott Feldman, Tyler Chatwood, Randall Delgado)

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Total: 22-24 (.478), 424.1 IP, 4.11 ERA, 6.2 K/9, 2.5 K/BB, 1.31 WHIP
League Averages (Starters): .497 win percentage, 4.09 ERA, 7.1 K/9, 2.5 K/BB, 1.30 WHIP

Here are this week’s recommendations, with ownership figures help from Twitter pal @eblack35:

Scott Feldman – 40.9% ESPN/45% Y! – v. TEX (.321 team wOBA), v. TOR (.318)

I like Feldman in just the way I used to like his now-teammate Jason Hammel. Oodles of grounders (50.7%) with just enough strikeouts (6.8 per 9) to have sneaky utility in a veritable plethora of leagues.

And while I don’t think the move from Chicago –> Baltimore will be quite as beneficial as Denver –> Baltimore was for Hammel — at least at first — I think he’s going to be a perfectly fine fantasy option starting on a team that’s starting to look pretty dang formidable both now and into the future under the direction of Buck Showalter. Read the rest of this entry »

Here are this week’s recommendations, with ownership figures help from Twitter pal Zach Swanson:

Phil Hughes – 16.1% ESPN/32% Yahoo! – @MIN (.311 team wOBA), v. BAL (.333)

Hughes hasn’t been all that great this year (4.82/4.40/4.43), but his peripherals are almost all identical to last year, when he was a +2.3 win pitcher with 16 wins, a 4.23 ERA, and solid strikeout rates. The penchant for home runs is a bit troubling (1.7 per 9 in ‘12/1.5 per 9 in ‘13), but the Twins don’t hit many. That may only be one half of this week’s matchups for Hughes, but it’s not a strong week for options here either. Read the rest of this entry »

Here are this week’s recommendations, with ownership figures help from @GabeEikum:

Eric Stults – 24.6% ESPN/33% Yahoo! – v. PHI (.305 team wOBA), @MIA (.271)

Hopefully this will be a better go-round for Stults than last time he was recommended, which was back in week two when he went 1-1 with a 5.54 ERA. But he most certainly has been better of late, allowing more than three earned runs only once in his last 10 starts, and allowing two or less in five straight and eight of his last 10. Read the rest of this entry »

Starting this week, we’ll put the results at the bottom of the post rather than the top. Also, if you have any other ideas, please submit them below for consideration.

Here are this week’s recommendations, with ownership figures help from @jakeallen47:

Ubaldo Jimenez – 12.6% ESPN/19% Yahoo! – v. KC (.299 team wOBA), v. MIN (.304)

It’s been very clear that there’s been two different Jimenez’ this season. The road Jimenez has been solid, with a 2.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and .673 OPS allowed. The home Jimenez has been an absolute disaster, with a 7.53 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, and .826 OPS allowed. Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s first start with results:

Week 1: 1-3, 30 IP, 3.00 ERA, 5.4 K/9, 2.3 K/BB, 1.13 WHIP (Kevin Slowey, Ubaldo Jimenez, Joe Saunders)
Week 2: 2-3, 25.1 IP, 5.69 ERA, 6.8 K/9, 2.4 K/BB, 1.74 WHIP (Joe Blanton, James McDonald, Eric Stults)
Week 3: 1-2, 32 IP, 3.66 ERA, 7.9 K/9, 3.1 K/BB, 1.22 WHIP (Wade Davis, Carlos Villanueva, Patrick Corbin)
Week 4: 2-1, 22 IP, 6.14 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 2.1 K/BB, 1.95 WHIP (Julio Teheran, Jason Hammel, Garrett Richards)
Week 5: 2-2, 30 IP, 3.60 ERA, 5.4 K/9, 1.6 K/BB, 1.23 WHIP (Scott Diamond, Nick Tepesch, Andrew Cashner)
Week 6: 2-3, 32.2 IP, 4.96 ERA, 5.5 K/9, 2.0 K/BB, 1.44 WHIP (Justin Grimm, Juan Nicasio, Hector Santiago)
Week 7: 1-0, 29 IP, 3.41 ERA, 6.8 K/9, 1.8 K/BB, 1.34 WHIP (Julio Teheran, Phil Hughes, Scott Kazmir)
Week 8: 1-0, 34.2 IP, 4.93 ERA, 7.0 K/9, 4.5 K/BB, 1.27 WHIP (Jhoulys Chacin, Kevin Slowey, Dan Straily)
Week 9*: 1-1, 20 IP, 3.15 ERA, 7.7 K/9, 3.4 K/BB, 1.15 WHIP (John Danks, Andrew Cashner, Chris Tillman)

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Total: 13-15 (.464), 255.2 IP, 4.26 ERA, 6.6 K/9, 2.4 K/BB, 1.37 WHIP
League Averages: .495 win percentage, 4.12 ERA, 7.3 K/9, 2.6 K/BB, 1.30 WHIP Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s first start with results:

Week 1: 1-3, 30 IP, 3.00 ERA, 5.4 K/9, 2.3 K/BB, 1.13 WHIP (Kevin Slowey, Ubaldo Jimenez, Joe Saunders)
Week 2: 2-3, 25.1 IP, 5.69 ERA, 6.8 K/9, 2.4 K/BB, 1.74 WHIP (Joe Blanton, James McDonald, Eric Stults)
Week 3: 1-2, 32 IP, 3.66 ERA, 7.9 K/9, 3.1 K/BB, 1.22 WHIP (Wade Davis, Carlos Villanueva, Patrick Corbin)
Week 4: 2-1, 22 IP, 6.14 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 2.1 K/BB, 1.95 WHIP (Julio Teheran, Jason Hammel, Garrett Richards)
Week 5: 2-2, 30 IP, 3.60 ERA, 5.4 K/9, 1.6 K/BB, 1.23 WHIP (Scott Diamond, Nick Tepesch, Andrew Cashner)
Week 6: 2-3, 32.2 IP, 4.96 ERA, 5.5 K/9, 2.0 K/BB, 1.44 WHIP (Justin Grimm, Juan Nicasio, Hector Santiago)
Week 7: 1-0, 29 IP, 3.41 ERA, 6.8 K/9, 1.8 K/BB, 1.34 WHIP (Julio Teheran, Phil Hughes, Scott Kazmir)
Week 8*: 1-0, 18.1 IP, 3.44 ERA, 6.9 K/9, 7.0 K/BB, 1.04 WHIP (Jhoulys Chacin, Kevin Slowey, Dan Straily)

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Total: 12-14, 219.1 IP, 4.19 ERA, 6.5 K/9, 2.3 K/BB, 1.38 WHIP

Slowly but surely we’ll get back to .500, and then after that start shooting for a sub-4.00 ERA or maybe a league-average strikeout rate. But until then, it’s been a pretty solid two weeks. Hopefully this week stands up. Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s first start with results:

Week 1: 1-3, 30 IP, 3.00 ERA, 5.4 K/9, 2.3 K/BB, 1.13 WHIP (Kevin Slowey, Ubaldo Jimenez, Joe Saunders)
Week 2: 2-3, 25.1 IP, 5.69 ERA, 6.8 K/9, 2.4 K/BB, 1.74 WHIP (Joe Blanton, James McDonald, Eric Stults)
Week 3: 1-2, 32 IP, 3.66 ERA, 7.9 K/9, 3.1 K/BB, 1.22 WHIP (Wade Davis, Carlos Villanueva, Patrick Corbin)
Week 4: 2-1, 22 IP, 6.14 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 2.1 K/BB, 1.95 WHIP (Julio Teheran, Jason Hammel, Garrett Richards)
Week 5: 2-2, 30 IP, 3.60 ERA, 5.4 K/9, 1.6 K/BB, 1.23 WHIP (Scott Diamond, Nick Tepesch, Andrew Cashner)
Week 6: 2-3, 32.2 IP, 4.96 ERA, 5.5 K/9, 2.0 K/BB, 1.44 WHIP (Justin Grimm, Juan Nicasio, Hector Santiago)
Week 7*: 1-0, 17.1 IP, 4.15 ERA, 5.7 K/9, 2.2 K/BB, 1.27 WHIP (Julio Teheran, Phil Hughes, Scott Kazmir)

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Total: 11-14, 189.1 IP, 4.37 ERA, 6.3 K/9, 2.2 K/BB, 1.40 WHIP

I’ll sum up this week so far in just three words: (redacted) Scott Kazmir! Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s first start with results:

Week 1: 1-3, 30 IP, 3.00 ERA, 5.4 K/9, 2.3 K/BB, 1.13 WHIP (Kevin Slowey, Ubaldo Jimenez, Joe Saunders)
Week 2: 2-3, 25.1 IP, 5.69 ERA, 6.8 K/9, 2.4 K/BB, 1.74 WHIP (Joe Blanton, James McDonald, Eric Stults)
Week 3: 1-2, 32 IP, 3.66 ERA, 7.9 K/9, 3.1 K/BB, 1.22 WHIP (Wade Davis, Carlos Villanueva, Patrick Corbin)
Week 4: 2-1, 22 IP, 6.14 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 2.1 K/BB, 1.95 WHIP (Julio Teheran, Jason Hammel, Garrett Richards)
Week 5: 2-2, 30 IP, 3.60 ERA, 5.4 K/9, 1.6 K/BB, 1.23 WHIP (Scott Diamond, Nick Tepesch, Andrew Cashner)
Week 6*: 0-2, 16.2 IP, 7.02 ERA, 5.9 K/9, 2.8 K/BB, 1.62 WHIP (Justin Grimm, Juan Nicasio, Hector Santiago)

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Total: 8-13, 156 IP, 4.56 ERA, 6.5 K/9, 2.3 K/BB, 1.44 WHIP

Let’s take a peek at some leaderboards. Basically, the pitchers I’ve recommended so far this season are a bizarre combination of Teheran, Stults, and Bartolo Colon.

So there’s that. Read the rest of this entry »