Starting Pitchers: September 13th

There’s just a week or two left in the fantasy playoffs, so here’s a short update on two starting rotation spots involving a current phenom and a former on…

Kyle Drabek | Blue Jays | 2% owned

I’ll have more on Drabek tomorrow, but that doesn’t mean you should wait to grab the 22-year-old righthander out of the free agent pool. The Blue Jays have confirmed that they will call up their top prospect and give him his first big league start on Wednesday against the Orioles (in Baltimore). His next start after that comes at home against the oh-so-lowly Mariners. Gimme gimme gimme.

Jeff Francis | Rockies | 4%

Francis’ return from the disabled list comes at a good time for the Rockies, who just lost Aaron Cook for the rest of the season with a broken leg. Francis has never been a great fantasy option because of middling strikeout rates (6.15 K/9 career, 5.73 this year), his scary home park (although his career home FIP/ERA is better than on the road), and the fact that he’s just generally underwhelming. However, the Rockies are absolutely on fire and there’s definitely potential to steal some wins here (at the expense of ERA and WHIP). You might have just enough time to grab Francis for tonight’s start against the Padres, but if not, he still goes again the Dodgers later in the week.

Quick Notes: The Yankees expect Andy Pettitte back this coming Sunday against the Orioles, hopefully not too late for your team … Justin Masterson will finish the season in the bullpen.

Ownership rates are based on Yahoo! leagues.