Fantasy Baseball Week 14 Winners, Losers, and Waiver-Wire Wonders

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By Derek of The Sportmeisters

Another week of baseball in the books means another winners, losers, and waiver-wire wonders column from the fantasy guru. Looks like players decided to step it up as we approach the All-Star Break, as we had 12 complete games this week! You will see a few of them on this list.

Keep in mind, the stats I show are the players stats for the week, not on the season. Let’s go!

Winners

SP – Brett Anderson – Oakland Athletics – 13 IP, 1 W, 1 CG, 12 K, 3 BB, 5 HA, 0 ER

Anderson was on a roll until he had to exit Sunday’s game with lower back stiffness. He hadn’t allowed a run in 13 innings and allowed only one in 18 1/3. He had 12 strikeouts to just three walks last week and hopefully he isn’t hurt too badly and will make his next start. If he continues to pitch this well, he looks to be a nice start and a possible waiver-wire wonder.

SP – Bronson Arroyo – Cincinnati Reds – 9 IP, 1 W, 1 CG, 5 K, 0 BB, 4 HA, 0 ER

Talk about a turn around. Arroyo had been 0-3 in his last three starts, allowing 29 hits and 16 runs in 14 innings. However, he threw a four hit shutout against the Mets on Friday. This doesn’t make him a must start, but watch and see if he pitches like this consistently. If he does you can start him, but until then keep him stashed.

SP – Josh Beckett – Boston Red Sox – 15.7 IP, 2 W, 1 CG, 11 K, 1 BB, 9 HA, 2 ER

Beckett has been back to his "ace" self, winning five of his last seven starts. He has dropped his season ERA to 3.35 and pitched a complete game shutout on Sunday vs. Kansas City. Beckett is a must start fantasy Ace.

SP – Dan Haren – Arizona Diamondbacks – 9 IP, 1 W, 1 CG, 10 K, 1 BB, 4 HA, 0 ER

Here is another fantasy ace who pitched a complete game shutout last week. He has won his past three starts, only allowing two runs in 22 innings. Not much more to be said, except "start him at all times."

SP – Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers – 12 IP, 2 W, 11 K, 7 BB, 5 HA, 1 ER

Kershaw won both his starts last week and has won four of his last six starts. He has only allowed one run in his last 17 innings and looks to be finally living up to his potential. He is 7-5 on the year and should start next week, so go ahead and deploy him.

SP – Jeff Niemann – Tampa Bay Rays – 9 IP, 1 W, 1 CG, 6 K, 3 BB, 7 HA, 0 ER

Where does Tampa come up with these guys? The rookie pitcher is 4-0 in his last seven starts and 8-4 on the year with a 3.73 ERA. He also pitched a complete game shutout this past week and should be someone to think about if you need a pitcher in the second half, as he is available. Can you say Waiver-Wire Wonder?

SP – Joel Pineiro – St. Louis Cardinals – 9 IP, 1 W, 1 CG, 5 K, 0 BB, 3 HA, 1 ER

Pineiro pitched a complete game last week and only allowed three hits and one run. He has been hot and cold this year as he was 1-4 in his previous six starts. He is 7-9 with a 3.20 ERA on the season. He is a decent fantasy start, but won’t have a start again until week 16.

SP – Wandy Rodriguez – Houston Astros – 9 IP, 1 W, 1 CG, 11 K, 1 BB, 5 HA, 0 ER

Yet another complete game shutout from this past week. Rodriguez is 8-6 on the year and 3-0 in his last four starts. He has been a good fantasy start at times this year and it looks like this is one of those times. Start him while he’s hot.

SP – Jonathan Sanchez – San Francisco Giants – 9 IP, 1 W, 1 CG, 11 K, 0 BB, 0 HA, 0 ER

Obviously, he was going to be on this list. Sanchez threw the first no-hitter this year and was arguably the most unlikely guy to do so. He was buried in the bullpen and got the start due to Randy Johnson going on the DL. He took full advantage, but at 3-8, I still wouldn’t consider him fantasy-relevant until he puts together a few consecutive quality starts.

RP – Rafael Soriano – Atlanta Braves – 4 IP, 4 SV, 8 K, 0 BB, 2 HA, 0 ER

Soriano was on fire last week. He collected four saves and struck out eight batters. Soriano isn’t the full time closer on the Braves, but he appears to be getting the nod more and more over Mike Gonzalez. He is a must start right now and if he is available, go ahead and grab him.

SP – Craig Stammen – Washington Nationals – 16 IP, 1 W, 1 CG, 1 L, 5 K, 2 BB, 14 HA, 3 ER

A Washington Nationals player is on my winners list? When you pitch a complete game after pitching seven innings and only allowing three runs in those two games, you make the list. Stammen has pitched well, but I wouldn’t start him just yet. Wait for a few more quality outings and then maybe.

SP – Chris Volstad – Florida Marlins – 9 IP, 1 W, 1 CG, 6 K, 0 BB, 5 HA, 0 ER

Another complete game shutout. Volstad dominated the Giants on Wednesday, only allowing five hits and didn’t walk a batter. However, he has been off and on this year, only winning two of his last seven starts. He is 6-8 on the year and has a 4.44 ERA. Keep him reserved until he puts together a few good outings, but definitely consider him as a possible keeper.

SP – Justin Verlander – Detroit Tigers – 13 IP, 2 W, 19 K, 3 BB, 12 HA, 3 ER

Anyone think he’s a bust now? Verlander won his ninth and 10^th games last week and is 10-4 on the year with 149 strikeouts. He is a must start fantasy ace.

SP – Adam Wainwright – St. Louis Cardinals – 16.3 IP, 2 W, 14 K, 5 BB, 14 HA, 2 ER

Wainwright has been on a roll lately, winning his last two starts and pitching nine innings in an extra inning game on July 1, only allowing one run in that game. He is 10-5 on the year and is a must start fantasy pitcher who could win 20 games.

SP – Jarrod Washburn – Seattle Mariners – 16 IP, 2 W, 1 CG, 6 K, 2 BB, 5 HA, 1 ER

Here’s a guy who has been great at times this year, but has also been bad at other times. He was good last week, winning both games, one being a complete game shutout. He is 6-6 on the year and has an ERA under three. He is a good start while he’s hot, but watch out for that cold streak.

SP – Jered Weaver – Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim – 13 IP, 2 W, 18 K, 3 BB, 11 HA, 6 ER

Weaver wasn’t great last week, but he was good enough to win both starts. He allowed six runs in 13 innings, but also struck out 18. He has been a fantasy ace this year, going 10-3 with a 3.22 ERA and 104 strikeouts. Continue to start him every week.

OF – Ryan Ludwick – St. Louis Cardinals – .482 BA, 13 H, 6 R, 4 Doubles, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K

Finally! It looks like Ludwick has returned to form. He had 13 hits in 27 at-bats last week and eight of them were for extra bases. Not to mention he knocked in 15 runs. Keep him active in all formats, especially while he is hot and hitting behind Albert Pujols.

OF – Jayson Werth – Philadelphia Phillies – .292 BA, 7 H, 6 R, 2 Doubles, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 7 BB, 9 K, 1 SB

Werth has been a solid fantasy player all season and last week was no different. He hit four home runs and drove in 11 runs. He is hitting .263 on the year with 20 home runs, 56 RBI, and 12 stolen bases. He could have a 25-25 year and should be active in all formats.

OF – Manny Ramirez – Los Angeles Dodgers – .455 BA, 10 H, 7 R, 2 Doubles, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 4 BB, 4 K

Anyone think steroids have to do with this? I don’t! Manny has returned with a vengeance, getting hits in 10 of his 22 at-bats and driving in eight last week. He has resumed the hitting that may make him a future Hall Of Famer and obviously should be active in all formats.

SS – Jimmy Rollins – Philadelphia Phillies – .370 BA, 10 H, 8 R, 3 Doubles, 2 RBI, 7 BB, 5 K, 5 SB

It looks like that rest did Rollins some good. He has come back from his benching to raise his average from .211 to .229 and has six stolen bases, five of them last week. He looks to be back on track and is an elite fantasy shortstop, so he should be active in all formats.

1B – Paul Konerko – Chicago White Sox – .391 BA, 9 H, 5 R, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K

Comeback Player of the Year Candidate here. Konerko continues to hit the ball well this year and is now hitting .302 on the season. He drove in 10 runs last week, upping his total to 60. He is proving that last year was a fluke and should be active while he’s hot.

1B/3B – Pablo Sandoval – San Francisco Giants – .333 BA, 9 H, 4 R, 1 Double, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 SB

Kung Fu Panda continues to drive in runs. He now has 55 RBI to go with his 15 home runs and .333 batting average. He is on pace for 28 home runs and over 100 RBI, so keep him active while he is hitting bombs.

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