2011 Fantasy Baseball Week 15 Sit Em, Start Em: Two-Start Pitchers
Zimmerman is one of the league’s most underrated fantasy players. Losing an All-Star bid to teammate Tyler Clippard will hopefully fuel the fire for Jordan. This week Zimmerman has two favorable matchups that would earn him two-start worthy.
First up for Zimmerman is the Houston Astros. One of the worst teams in all of baseball right now is Houston. Although Astro hitters are a respectable 4-11 against Zimmerman, his last start against the team was his rookie season and Zimmerman is much improved since then.
His second start is against the Dodgers. Everyone knows the year Matt Kemp is having, but besides him and Andre Either the Dodger bats are silent. In his career against the Dodgers, Zimmerman has held the boys in blue to a .214 batting average. As long as he avoids trouble with Kemp and Either he should have a solid week.
Jeremy Hellickson – Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays rookie sensation Jeremy Hellickson has a tough task this week but that’s why he is considered a top contender for AL rookie of the Year honors.
In his first scheduled start of the week Hellickson is to toe the slab against the division rival Yankees. Hellickson will get some relief in the fact that he does not have to face A-Rod but the Yankee lineup is as dangerous as they come. This year Hellickson has a home ERA of 2.80 and has held Yankee batter to a BAA of .250. If he is given some run support, Hellickson has a good chance of a victory.
In his second start of the season the youngster gets the Kansas City Royals. There are no real numbers to back up my suggestion as Hellickson has only faced the Royals in one inning of scoreless relief. My hunch however is a well thrown ballgame by the young right hander.
Derek Lowe – Atlanta Braves
When asked what pitchers make 15 million dollars a year Derek Lowe’s name isn’t on the tip of my tongue. The fact of the matter is in an offseason where the Yankees spent a quarter of a billion dollars on free agents, the Braves needed a starter and ended up overpaying for Lowe. This season Lowe has a home ERA of 5.04 and a road ERA of 3.82 however this week I suggest sitting him during his two road starts.
His first start of the week comes at Coors Field where Lowe’s numbers are awful. In 10 starts in Colorado, Lowe has compiled only 55.1 innings and has an ERA of 5.53. In those 10 starts Lowe has also given up 7 home runs and a robust 1.68 WHIP. The high altitude may have negative effects on his sinker which he needs down to be successful.
In his second scheduled start of the season Lowe will be facing the Reds in Cincinnati. At The Great American Ballpark, Lowe has a career 4.50 ERA in 18 innings. In those 18 innings he has also given up 3 long balls. Unless what you are looking for is a “quality start” letting Lowe start for your fantasy team will do more harm than good.
Scott Baker – Minnesota Twins
This is more of an injury concern than anything else. Like I would with any player fresh off the DL, I would sit Baker his first start since leaving a game with elbow problems. The fact that it is an elbow injury only magnifies the significance of this injury. Baker is having the type of season the Twins envisioned him having when he first got to the show and now that he is living up to his potential look for the Twins to be overly cautious with the right hander limiting his pitch count and innings.
(July 3, 2011 – Photo by Ned Dishman/Getty Images North America)
Written by JJ Omar exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com
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