Pitching Report: Fantasy Baseball Two Start Pitchers for Week 21

Couldn't be a two start pitcher even if he wanted to...

Fantasy baseball has not been kind to me for the month of August, so forgive me if my analysis of this week’s two start pitchers doesn’t have the same vim and vigor it usually carries.  It’s not that the work or that the statistical research isn’t there;  it’s just that the injuries and poor performances from my hitters this month have saddened me to the point where just getting out of bed each day is a struggle.  In fact, I’m writing this from my laptop as I remain under the covers attempting to hide from things like “Ricky Nolasco has a torn meniscus.”  Sadly, it’s not working.  So with that, I’m just get right to the list, tell you who I like and who I don’t like and just be on my way.

News & Notes

::sigh::  Well, I suppose we can start with how I did last week…

     Even without knowing how Scott Baker does in tonight’s matchup against the Angels, I’d say pretty damn good.  Wish I had either Shaun Marcum or Jonathon Niese on any of my rosters this week, but sadly, I did not.  But hopefully you had better luck with your free agent waiver wire than I did and had atleast one, if not both, of them.  They turned out to be spectacular sleeper picks this week with killer ratios and solid strikeout totals.  Johan Santana wasn’t too bad of a pick as the Start of the Week, though.  A lack of run support all week cost him a pair of wins, but those 16 Ks had to be helpfulNot to put any kind of a disclaimer on my choices, but this week has a lot of tough matchups.

     As for this week, and I don’t want to put any kind of a disclaimer on my selections, but there are some seriously tough matchups, even for some of the top hurlers out there that have a pair of starts this week.  Maybe that’s why I’m taking the safe route and going with Josh Johnson as my Start of the Week.  Let’s face it.  The kid is having a phenomenal season, despite a recent 5 game winless streak.  His ratios are still top shelf, he doesn’t walk a lot of guys and he averages almost a strikeout per inning.  With favorable matchups this week against the Mets (7-1, 2.55) and the Astros (4-2, 2.64), he’s pretty much a no-brainer. 

     And while my sleeper picks aren’t necessarily no-brainers, they look real nice based on the upcoming matchups.  Sure, Gio Gonzalez loses the strike zone at times and tends to walk a few more batters per game than we’d like, but you can’t argue with the numbers he’s got against his opponents this week.  As a starter, he’s 3-0 with a 1.16 ERA against the Indians, a team going nowhere this season, and he’s got a career 2-1 record with a 1.69 ERA against Texas.  I see him challenging the Tribe right from the start which could bode well for his numbers, but I see him back to his corner-nibbling ways in Texas for fear of the long ball.  He should still be a solid two start pick this week.

     Ross Ohlendorf could be a bit of a stretch as my super-sleeper, but that’s what super-sleepers are all about — taking a big risk for a potentially high reward.  I’ve actually been a long time fan of Ohlendorf’s back when he was in the Yankees farm system, and always thought he had solid potential, but watched him struggle with inconsistency over the last few seasons.  But if you’re looking for him on an upswing, then there’s no better time than this week.  He, along with the rest of the Pirates, may struggle to find a win or two, but Ohlendorf matches up surprisingly well against both the Cardinals (1-2, 2.77) and the Brewers (2-2, 3.00).  He’s not blowing anyone away with his stuff, but if you want someone to eat some innings this week and not kill your ratios, then Ohlendorf looks like a decent pick this week.

     And finally, there’s my Bust of the Week.  Congratulations Hiroki Kuroda.  I give it to you.  The summer’s been fairly kind to you with maybe just one bad start in your last 7, but all good things must come to an end.  Not only are the rest of the Dodgers floundering, but you don’t have very good success against either team you’re facing this week.  You’ve got a career ERA of 7.55 against the Brewers and a 6.55 mark against the Rockies.  Not to mention, both starts are on the road in parks that have made you look like a little leaguer in the past.  My call is to sit him this week, unless of course you’ve got stats to burn and like living on the edge.

     That’s all I’ve got for you today as I wallow in my fantasy baseball depression.  Hopefully this week will mark a turnaround for my squads again and…

…I’ll see you all in the money this year!

Tagged as: bust of the week, fantasy baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, free agent waiver wire, free agents, Gio Gonzalez, Hiroki Kuroda, Johan Santana, Jonathon Niese, Josh Johnson, Pitching Report, Ricky Nolasco, Ross Ohlendorf, Scott Baker, Shaun Marcum, sleeper of the week, sleepers, start of the week, starting pitchers, two start pitchers, two start pitchers for week 21, waiver wire