Week 12 Streaming Starters: 2013 Fantasy Baseball
The art of the spot start is an important factor in fantasy baseball leagues.
Fantasy teams have their handful of set starters ready to go each week, but getting that extra quality start and strikeouts each week without hurting your ERA or WHIP can make a huge difference in both rotisserie leagues and head-to-head matchups.
There are a few factors that go into finding the right guy on the waiver wire to grab for the spot start. Owners obviously need to look at how that pitcher has been performing, but there are other things to look at as well. Matchups are key, as certain weak offenses usually yield solid fantasy starts from the opposing pitchers. Home and away games are also important as some pitchers do better in home games as opposed to away games. Also, there are obvious pitchers parks and some notorious hitters parks that factor into success.
We are now already 12 weeks into the fantasy baseball season and owners have certainly gotten into a groove and have a good idea what they need to do to maintain or improve their standing. Plenty of lesser name starters have been snatched up after hot starts while other starters that were drafted have found their way to the wire thanks to their struggles.
A few pitchers available in most leagues have quietly begun hot streaks and have favorable matchups. Scour your leagues wire for some of the following names that may be able to give you a solid spot start or two this week.
Rich Arleo is a fantasy sports expert with Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @Rarleo, ‘Like’ him on Facebook
1. Bud Norris, Houston Astros (Monday vs. CWS)
Norris is still owned in less than 10 percent of ESPN leagues but has pitched five straight quality starts and faces a bad Chicago White Sox lineup Monday.
2. Hector Santiago, Chicago White Sox
Santiago pitched well in his return to the rotation last week and has an easy matchup Sunday and will get you two starts this week.
3. Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians
Kluber shut down a big Texas offense and then shut out the Washington Nationals. He's worth adding in all formats.
4. Eric Stults, San Diego Padres (Wednesday vs. SF)
Stults has hurled four straight quality starts, allowing only five earned runs in 21 innings. He faces an injured and struggling San Francisco Giants squad Wednesday.
5. Jake Westbrook, St. Louis Cardinals (Wednesday vs. CHC)
He was decent last week in his first start since May 8 and now has a 2.05 ERA on the year. He gets the Chicago Cubs Wednesday and should be able to get you a quality start at the very least.
