Senior year of high school, I cheated on my final exam in religion class. Never got caught. Three others involved in the cheating scandal were brought to justice — they failed the test, failed the class, and had to retake the course the following semester. Did I feel guilty about my actions? F*#k no I didn’t. I aced the test and got a B+ in the class. It was the best grade I ever earned in religion. My parents were thrilled! Ever since, I’ve held a sort of admiration for those who cheat and get away with it… even for some who didn’t quite get away with it. I respect he who is ballsy enough to cruise down life’s low road, while the rest of the chumps fight traffic on the high road. I’m halfway kidding, of course, but there are moments when the opportunity to cheat presents itself, and you’d be crazy to pass it up. Take, for instance, just a couple weeks ago, when Jeff Samardzija didn’t immediately cease pitching while his throwing hand bled onto the baseball, perhaps doctoring the ball. Well done, Jeff. And as for this Clay Buchholz situation, the evidence against him isn’t quite definitive, and it seems extremely doubtful that any real fallout is to come. More power to the guy if he was indeed doctoring the ball — the umps didn’t notice, and neither did the Blue Jays. He goes twice next week, by the way. The rest of week six’s two-starters are below.
As always, probable pitchers are subject to change. For a look at all fantasy baseball streamers, click that link.
MUST START
Cliff Lee (@SF, @ARI); Madison Bumgarner (PHI, ATL); Hiroki Kuroda (@COL, @KC); Clay Buchholz (MIN, TOR); James Shields (CWS, NYY)
FIRST TIER
Kris Medlen (@CIN, @SF); Tommy Milone (@CLE, @SEA); C.J. Wilson (@HOU, @CWS); Ryan Dempster (MIN, TOR); Wei-Yin Chen (KC, @MIN); Nick Tepesch (@CHC, @HOU); Andrew Cashner (MIA, @TB); Paul Maholm (@CIN, @SF); Trevor Cahill (@LAD, PHI); Tim Lincecum (PHI, ATL); Kyle Kendrick (@SF, @ARI); Jake Peavy (@KC, LAA)
- Plenty of availability from tier one this week, starting with Nick Tepesch (9% owned in Y! leagues). The Rangers’ rookie hasn’t been wonderful this season, but he gets two glorious match-ups, and I certainly like his odds at snagging two W’s. Beyond him, your best bets at plucking from waivers are as follows: Andrew Cashner (26%), Wei-Yin Chen (39%), Kyle Kendrick (41%), Tommy Milone (54%), and in shallower leagues you might even be able to snag Trevor Cahill (65%). The rest of this group is already owned, more than likely. Everyone here is a very strong option in a shallow week for two-starters.
SECOND TIER
Jeremy Hellickson (TOR, SD); Scott Diamond (@BOS, BAL); Zach McAllister (OAK, @DET); Jeremy Hefner (CWS, PIT); Josh Beckett (ARI, MIA); Bronson Arroyo (ATL, MIL)
- Jeremy Hefner (1% owned in Y! leagues) has been solid over his past two starts, posting a 12/3 K/BB through 15 frames, while allowing only 3 runs. He gets two turns at Citi Field next week, and he’s a good streamer option. Zach McAllister (6%) is proving himself to be a reliable option, but beware of his opponents next week — Oakland and Detroit are two of the best offenses in baseball this season. And for as long as he’s hot, I’m also good with rolling Scott Diamond (4%) out there for a two-start week.
THIRD TIER
Jarrod Parker (@CLE, @SEA); Roberto Hernandez (TOR, SD); Mark Buehrle (@TB, @BOS); Erik Bedard (LAA, TEX); Ubaldo Jimenez (OAK, @DET); Jorge De La Rosa (NYY, @STL); Scott Feldman (TEX, @WAS); J.A. Happ (@TB, @BOS)
- Here’s where we need to use a bit more caution with our two-start browsing. Parker would surely be a don’t start if it weren’t for two favorable opponents — I’d still avoid him outside of AL-only, though. There’s some upside here with Scott Feldman, who’s coming off of an outstanding outing against the Padres, but I’m not ready to jump on board with him just yet. J.A. Happ is also an intriguing option with a bit of upside, but shaky command has me looking elsewhere.
DON’T START
Vance Worley (@BOS, BAL); Luis Mendoza (@BAL, NYY); Wade LeBlanc (@SD, @LAD)
- Definitely skip these three.
