Fantasy Baseball Rankings 2012: 3 Starting Pitchers You Can't Live Without

Having a few star pitchers leading the rotation of your fantasy baseball team is a recipe for success whether your league uses a rotisserie or points style scoring system.

While it's smart to draft a star pitcher like Roy Halladay with your first or second-round pick, finding reliable starters in the later rounds that you can depend on to be consistent throughout the season is key for building a successful team.

Let's look at three starters you cannot live without.

James Shields, Tampa Bay Rays

James Shields is one of the more underrated pitches in baseball and is about as reliable as they come. Shields was one of the leaders in quality starts last season, while also striking out 225 batters.

His 2.85 ERA was remarkable and he's also a lock to pitch at least five innings in just about any start. I wouldn't expect Shields to have the same type of season he did last year, but he remains a great player to select in the later rounds of your fantasy draft.

Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox

Don't be alarmed by Jon Lester's disappointing season last year for the Boston Red Sox, or the issues of the team's entire staff that became a major problem during their September collapse.

Lester will once again be close to 200 strikeouts and have an ERA between 3.00 and 3.50. Lester is also a lock for at least 15 wins and has the potential to reach 20 if he gets enough run support.

Lester is a consistent starter who will pitch a lot of innings and help you in many state categories for your fantasy team.

Zack Greinke, Milwaukee Brewers

Playing in a National League Central Division with some weak lineups, Milwaukee Brewers star Zack Greinke will have a bounce back season after injuries damaged his debut year with the team.

Greinke will be a lock for 15 wins and a solid ERA if he's healthy throughout the season. If he could achieve a 16-6 record with 201 strikeouts last season despite battling injuries, expect Greinke to return to his Cy Young form of 2009 when healthy this year.