Seeing Stephen Strasburg listed among two-start pitchers has been an exciting occurrence for fantasy owners this year, but sadly we won't find his name again now that the phenom has been shut down by Washington.
Fortunately, the Nationals have a strong remaining group to fall back on. John Lannan has taken Strasburg's place in the rotation and he performed well in his return. He's listed as a streamer suggestion below. Gio Gonzalez, Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler have obviously been very good. And then there's Jordan Zimmermann, next week's two-start pitcher for the Nats.
Zimmermann's overall numbers this year are very good: 3.01 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 137/37 K/BB ratio in 176 2/3 innings. Yet, he's looked more human since the All-Star break, with a 3.66 ERA after finishing the first half with an incredible 2.61 mark. Only two of Zim's eight starts since the beginning of August have been quality. He's given up five homers in his last five starts, which is the same number he had allowed in 14 previous starts.
This isn't meant to diminish the right-hander, who remains an integral cog in Washington's rotation and a recommended option with home starts against the Dodgers and Brewers this week. But with Strasburg gone, the Nationals will need Zimmermann to once again find that next level.
Going Twice…
American League
Strong Plays
Ryan Dempster: @LAA (Santana), @SEA (Millwood)
Jeremy Hellickson: BOS (Doubront), TOR (Romero)
A.J. Griffin: @DET (Scherzer), @NYY (Pettitte)
Max Scherzer: OAK (Griffin), MIN (Walters)
Decent Plays
Alex Cobb: BOS (Cook), TOR (Morrow)
Andy Pettitte: TOR (Romero), OAK (Griffin)
Ervin Santana: TEX (Dempster), CWS (Floyd)
Miguel Gonzalez: @SEA (Noesi), @BOS (Doubront)
At Your Own Risk
Ricky Romero: @NYY (Pettitte), @TB (Hellickson)
P.J. Walters: @CLE (Gomez), @DET (Scherzer)
Luke Hochevar: CWS (Floyd), CLE (Gomez)
Gavin Floyd: @KC (Hochevar), @LAA (Santana)
Jeanmar Gomez: MIN (Walters), @KC (Hochevar)
Felix Doubront: @TB (Hellickson), BAL (Gonzalez)
Aaron Cook: @TB (Cobb), BAL (Tillman)
National League
Strong Plays
Jordan Zimmermann: LAD (Harang), MIL (Estrada)
Kyle Lohse: HOU (Lyles), @CHC (Wood)
Madison Bumgarner: COL (Chacin), SD (Kelly)
A.J. Burnett: MIL (Estrada), @HOU (Keuchel)
R.A. Dickey: PHI (Lee), MIA (Nolasco)
Cliff Lee: @NYM (Dickey), ATL (Hudson)
Marco Estrada: @PIT (Burnett), @WAS (Zimmermann)
Decent Plays
Tim Lincecum: COL (Francis), SD (Werner)
Kevin Correia: @CHC (Germano), @HOU (Gonzalez)
Aaron Harang: @WAS (Zimmermann), @CIN (Leake)
Jhoulys Chacin: @SF (Bumgarner), ARI (Corbin)
Travis Wood: CIN (Leake), STL (Lohse)
Tim Hudson: @MIA (LeBlanc), @PHI (Lee)
Ian Kennedy: SD (Volquez), @COL (Francis)
At Your Own Risk
Jeff Francis: @SF (Lincecum), ARI (Kennedy)
Mike Leake: @CHC (Wood), LAD (Harang)
Justin Germano: PIT (Correia), STL (Wainwright)
Seeing Stephen Strasburg listed among two-start pitchers has been an exciting occurrence for fantasy owners this year, but sadly we won't find his name again now that the phenom has been shut down by Washington.
Fortunately, the Nationals have a strong remaining group to fall back on. John Lannan has taken Strasburg's place in the rotation and he performed well in his return. He's listed as a streamer suggestion below. Gio Gonzalez, Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler have obviously been very good. And then there's Jordan Zimmermann, next week's two-start pitcher for the Nats.
Zimmermann's overall numbers this year are very good: 3.01 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 137/37 K/BB ratio in 176 2/3 innings. Yet, he's looked more human since the All-Star break, with a 3.66 ERA after finishing the first half with an incredible 2.61 mark. Only two of Zim's eight starts since the beginning of August have been quality. He's given up five homers in his last five starts, which is the same number he had allowed in 14 previous starts.
This isn't meant to diminish the right-hander, who remains an integral cog in Washington's rotation and a recommended option with home starts against the Dodgers and Brewers this week. But with Strasburg gone, the Nationals will need Zimmermann to once again find that next level.
Going Twice…
American League
Strong Plays
Ryan Dempster: @LAA (Santana), @SEA (Millwood)
Jeremy Hellickson: BOS (Doubront), TOR (Romero)
A.J. Griffin: @DET (Scherzer), @NYY (Pettitte)
Max Scherzer: OAK (Griffin), MIN (Walters)
Decent Plays
Alex Cobb: BOS (Cook), TOR (Morrow)
Andy Pettitte: TOR (Romero), OAK (Griffin)
Ervin Santana: TEX (Dempster), CWS (Floyd)
Miguel Gonzalez: @SEA (Noesi), @BOS (Doubront)
At Your Own Risk
Ricky Romero: @NYY (Pettitte), @TB (Hellickson)
P.J. Walters: @CLE (Gomez), @DET (Scherzer)
Luke Hochevar: CWS (Floyd), CLE (Gomez)
Gavin Floyd: @KC (Hochevar), @LAA (Santana)
Jeanmar Gomez: MIN (Walters), @KC (Hochevar)
Felix Doubront: @TB (Hellickson), BAL (Gonzalez)
Aaron Cook: @TB (Cobb), BAL (Tillman)
National League
Strong Plays
Jordan Zimmermann: LAD (Harang), MIL (Estrada)
Kyle Lohse: HOU (Lyles), @CHC (Wood)
Madison Bumgarner: COL (Chacin), SD (Kelly)
A.J. Burnett: MIL (Estrada), @HOU (Keuchel)
R.A. Dickey: PHI (Lee), MIA (Nolasco)
Cliff Lee: @NYM (Dickey), ATL (Hudson)
Marco Estrada: @PIT (Burnett), @WAS (Zimmermann)
Decent Plays
Tim Lincecum: COL (Francis), SD (Werner)
Kevin Correia: @CHC (Germano), @HOU (Gonzalez)
Aaron Harang: @WAS (Zimmermann), @CIN (Leake)
Jhoulys Chacin: @SF (Bumgarner), ARI (Corbin)
Travis Wood: CIN (Leake), STL (Lohse)
Tim Hudson: @MIA (LeBlanc), @PHI (Lee)
Ian Kennedy: SD (Volquez), @COL (Francis)
At Your Own Risk
Jeff Francis: @SF (Lincecum), ARI (Kennedy)
Mike Leake: @CHC (Wood), LAD (Harang)
Justin Germano: PIT (Correia), STL (Wainwright)
Streamer City
The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:
American League
Wednesday, 9/19: Joe Saunders @ SEA
Saunders has fared well in his past couple starts against good offenses, so he'll look to carry it forward against a bad one in Seattle.
Thursday, 9/20: Corey Kluber vs. MIN
Over his past five starts, the rookie has posted a 3.51 ERA and 23-to-6 K/BB ratio in 25 2/3 innings.
Friday, 9/21: Samuel Deduno @ DET
Deduno has turned in five quality starts in his past six outings and his control problems actually seem to be dissipating.
National League
Tuesday, 9/18: Tyler Cloyd @ NYM
The rookie has been impressive in early action for the Phillies, showing good strikeout stuff.
Wednesday, 9/19: John Lannan vs. LAD
Lannan has some big shoes to fill in the Nats rotation. He got off to a good start with five scoreless frames against the Mets this past week.
Thursday, 9/20: Tyler Skaggs vs. SD
The uber-talented 21-year-old should have no trouble overpowering San Diego's feeble lineup.
Total Games
American League
6: BAL, CLE, CWS, DET, KC, LAA, MIN, NYY, OAK, SEA, TEX, TOR
7: BOS, TB
National League
6: ARI, ATL, CIN, HOU, LAD, MIA, MIL, NYM, PHI, SD, STL, WAS
7: CHC, COL, PIT, SF
Lefty/Righty Breakdowns
American League
BAL: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
BOS: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CLE: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
CWS: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
DET: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
KC: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
LAA: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
MIN: 6 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
NYY: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
OAK: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
SEA: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
TB: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
TEX: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
TOR: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
National League
ARI: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
ATL: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CHC: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
CIN: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
COL: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
HOU: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
LAD: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
MIA: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
MIL: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
NYM: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
PHI: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
PIT: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
SD: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
SF: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
STL: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
WAS: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
The Infirmary
You can get a full listing of injured players at Rotoworld's Injury Page but here's the latest on a few prominent players who have been out of action:
Jason Hammel: Out indefinitely (knee)
Nick Markakis: Out for the season (thumb)
Ryan Raburn: Out until late September (thumb)
Adam Kennedy: Out for the season (groin)
Cole De Vries: Out for the season (ribs)
Lance Berkman: Out for the season (knee)
J.A. Happ: Out for the season (foot)