LestersLegends.com

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Pittsburgh’s James McDonald has had moments where he was a viable fantasy baseball pitching option, but with just 20 career wins he’s not high on my radars.
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This year he has been outstanding, holding the opposition to three or fewer runs in all six of his starts en route to a 2-1 record with a 2.70 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts in 36-2/3 innings. He has really dialed things up in the strikeout department, racking up 25 in his past three starts.
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Last year McDonald was 1-2 in both April and September with 7.66 and 4.95 ERAs respectively. In those middle months though, James was outstanding posting a 7-5 record with a 3.42 ERA.
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Part of the reason for McDonald’s success this year has been his effectiveness on the road. Last year he posted a 3.19 home ERA and a 5.42 mark on the road. This year, he’s still been much better at home (1.86 ERA), but he has been just as impressive fixing his road ERA (3.63).
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McDonald has been particularly effective against right-handed hitting this year, allowing the opposition to hit just .169 with a .524 OPS. He’s been tough on lefties too though. They are hitting just .250 with a .606 OPS.
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McDonald is owned in a little over ten percent of fantasy leagues. Not a lot of love for a pitcher that’s having his success. Sure, he’s on the Pirates so wins could be hard to come by, but his early success is hard to ignore, especially in streamer circumstances.
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Speaking of which, his next start is Friday against the Astros in Houston. That’s certainly a favorable match-up that you most likely don’t want to miss.
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Also check out:

• Can Edwin Encarnacion Continue to Swing a Hot Bat?
• Fantasy Feast Closer Report – 5/12/12
• Are You High on Smyly?
• Are You Rockin’ Reddick?
• Should You Go Bass Fishing?

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Erik Bedard vs. Washington Nationals
Bedard is 2-4 despite a 2.65 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 34.0 innings. He does have a 1.41 WHIP, but he has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his six starts. He’s really stepped it up, picking up 20 Ks in his past two starts. He’s 0-2 at home, but is sporting a 1.93 ERA at PNC Park.
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Season Totals:  15-10,  208-2/3 IP, 166 Ks, 3.32 ERA (77 earned runs), 1.12 WHIP (165 hits, 69 walks)

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We knew the power potential was there. After all, he has hit 38 home runs over the past two seasons in just 230 games. At that rate he would hit 27 home runs in a 162-game season. Pretty solid number for a player with third base eligibility.
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He was not without his warts though. Sure, he improved his batting average to .272 last year, which was the first time he cracked the .252 mark since 2007, but he barely drove in any runs.
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Encarnacion had 55 RBI last year and 51 in 2010. Those are pretty small RBI totals for a guy that hit 17 and 21 HRs respectively. At least he scored runs at a solid clip last year (70) as opposed to 2010 when he managed just 47 runs despite those 21 HRs.
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So far this year he’s firing on all cylinders. Edwin is hitting .279 with 17 runs, nine home runs, 25 RBI, and four stolen bases in 29 games.
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If you extrapolate his early start he’d finish hitting .279 with 95 runs, 50 home runs, 140 RBI, and 22 stolen bases. While I don’t think he’ll come close to the home run, RBI, or stolen base totals, a .275-95-35-110-10 line would not be out of the question.
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He’ll have to hit better on the road to continue his breakout season. He’s hitting just .190 with a .520 OPS away from the Rogers Centre. Sure he’s killing it at home (.377, 1.366 OPS), but he’ll only play half his games there.
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Edwin is in the midst of a nasty slump where he has just two hits in 21 May at bats, including going 0 for 14 in his past four games. He’s part of a powerful lineup and has the green light to swing for the fences. If you own him, keep riding the wave.
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Also check out:

• Fantasy Feast Closer Report – 5/12/12
• Are You High on Smyly?
• Are You Rockin’ Reddick?
• Should You Go Bass Fishing?
• Fantasy Baseball SB Help:  Tony Campana

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By Brandon Berg
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Hector Santiago is out as the closer for the White Sox. Chris Sale is being moved back to the ‘pen to help keep his elbow healthy. Sale is a moot point fantasy-wise, the only way you could get him is by trading for him, but I don’t advise that. Drop Santiago.
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Andrew Cashner gave up three earned in .2 innings last night, but should still be the Padres’ closer while Huston Street is out. I wouldn’t bother with Cashner in standard leagues, given that he plays for
the Padres and isn’t a solid option, but in deeper leagues, he’s worth a look for the short term if you’re desperate.
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With Kyle Farnsworth moved to the 60 day DL, he won’t be eligible to return until June 5 th. Fernando Rodney is pitching lights out and I’m not sure he’ll have to relinquish his closer role when Farnsworth returns. Obviously hold on to Rodney over the next month and we’ll revisit him when Farnsworth starts throwing again.
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David Robertson has pitched exceptionally well over the past couple years and appears to be in line to split save opportunities with Rafael Soriano. Many believe Robertson will run away with the job, which could happen, but I’m having a hard time believing that the Yankees are going to keep Soriano in more of a setup role after they handed him a 3 year, 35 million dollar deal last year. Honestly, take your pick and hope for the best if you’re in a deep league, but neither should really be owned until we figure out who has the upper hand.
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Keep Scott Downs on your roster for now, but with LaTroy Hawkins getting placed on the DL and Walden pitching a scoreless eighth inning a couple nights ago, his job is far from secure. If Walden can string together some decent innings, he should regain the closer role before too long.
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Grant Balfour is starting to play well again and should stave off Brian Fuentes for the closer duties in Oakland. Hang onto him.
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I suppose you could say Rafael Dolis is the closer for the Chicago Cubs, but there really is no sure guy to get the chances on any given night. Don’t bother with Dolis… yet.
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With Heath Bell demoted to a non-closer role, Edward Mujica got the save chances for the Marlins the last couple times, but Steve Cishek should see the opportunities from here on out. Go ahead and give
him a look.
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Check out the Fantasy Feast at 11:30 Eastern.

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Edwin Jackson @ Pittsburgh Pirates
Jackson is 1-1 with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. He has alternated between good and bad starts. If the trend continues, he’d be due. He’s pitching on the road where his ERA is 2.31 (4.50 at home). He was 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA against the Pirates last year. He’s 4-0 against them lifetime with a 3.13 ERA.
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Season Totals:  15-10,  201-2/3 IP, 161 Ks, 3.35 ERA (75 earned runs), 1.14 WHIP (162 hits, 68 walks)

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Carlos Zambrano @ Houston Astros
OK, I’ll bite. The Big Z is 0-2 despite a 2.53 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. He has had four quality starts in a row. He has beat the Astros already this year (1.50 ERA) and went 2-0 against the with a 3.66 ERA last year. Lifetime he’s 16-8 against them with a 2.69 ERA, including 9-4 (3.57) at Minute Maid Park.
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Season Totals:  14-10,  191-2/3 IP, 152 Ks, 3.52 ERA (75 earned runs), 1.18 WHIP (159 hits, 67 walks)

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Here’s a breakdown of the two-start pitchers for the week of May 7th-13th.
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Five Stars
Roy Halladay: NYM (Niese), SD (Volquez)
Justin Verlander: @SEA (Millwood), @OAK (Parker)
Jered Weaver: @MIN (Liriano), @TEX (Harrison)
Ricky Romero: @OAK (Parker), @MIN (Hendriks)
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Four Stars
Yovani Gallardo: CIN (Arroyo), CHC (Samardzija)
Matt Harrison: @BAL (Arrieta), LAA (Weaver)
Neftali Feliz: @BAL (Matusz), LAA (Williams)
Joe Saunders: STL (Lynn), SF (Zito)
James Shields: @NYY (Nova), @BAL (Arrieta)
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Three Stars
Doug Fister: @SEA (Beavan), @OAK (Milone)
Tommy Hanson: @CHC (Samardzija), @STL (Lynn)
J.A. Happ: MIA (Zambrano), @PIT (Burnett)
Edwin Jackson: @PIT (Burnett), @CIN (Arroyo)
Lance Lynn: @ARI (Saunders), ATL (Hanson)
Edinson Volquez: COL (Pomeranz), @PHI (Halladay)
Carlos Zambrano: @HOU (Happ), NYM (Niese)
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Two Stars
Felix Doubront: @KC (Sanchez), CLE (Tomlin)
Philip Humber: @CLE (Tomlin), KC (Sanchez)
Ted Lilly: SF (Zito), COL (Pomeranz)
Jonathon Niese: @PHI (Halladay), @MIA (Zambrano)
Ivan Nova: TB (Shields), SEA (Beavan)
Barry Zito: @LAD (Lilly), @ARI (Saunders)
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One Star
Jake Arrieta: TEX (Harrison), TB (Shields)
Bronson Arroyo: @MIL (Gallardo), WAS (Jackson)
Daniel Bard: @KC (Duffy), CLE (Masterson)
Blake Beavan: DET (Fister), @NYY (Nova)
A.J. Burnett: WAS (Jackson), HOU (Happ)
Liam Hendriks: LAA (Haren), TOR (Romero)
Francisco Liriano: LAA (Weaver) TOR (Hutchison)
Justin Masterson: CWS (Danks), @BOS (Bard)
Brian Matusz: TEX (Feliz), TB (Moore)
Jarrod Parker: TOR (Romero), DET (Verlander)
Drew Pomeranz: @SD (Volquez), @LAD (Lilly)
Jeff Samardzija: ATL (Hanson), @MIL (Gallardo)
Jonathan Sanchez: BOS (Doubront), @CWS (Humber)
Josh Tomlin: CWS (Humber), @BOS (Doubront)
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Also check out:

• Are You High on Smyly?
• Are You Rockin’ Reddick?
• Should You Go Bass Fishing?
• Fantasy Baseball SB Help:  Tony Campana
• Is Jon Jay on His Way?