Fantasy Baseball Free Agent Pool: Strikeout Kings

Here are some reasonably available players to assist you in the Strikeouts category.  Realize that some of these will come with high ERA's and WHIP, because if a pitcher has low numbers in those categories and a good K total, they’re already spoken for.

Jorge de la Rosa

Jorge struck out 11 batters last week, but turned in an awful 3-2/3 Innings, 7 Run disaster.  The game prior he gave up 1 Run in 7 Innings with 10 Ks.  Everyone is entitled to a stinker.  On the year he’s 0-4 with 46 Ks, a 4.27 ERA (that was 3.16 before his terrible outing) and a 1.29 WHIP.  He’s owned in just 18 percent of Yahoo!, 12.8 percent of ESPN, and 46 percent of CBS leagues.

Paul Maholm, Pittsburg Pirates

Maholm struck out 11 as well last week.  He was robbed out of two victories as he gave up 1 Run and in 13 Innings (0.69 ERA) with a 1.00 WHIP.  His K/9 ratio was 7.6 and his K/BB ratio was 2.75.  On the year he’s 3-1 with 32 Ks, a 3.30 ERA, and a 1.26 WHIP.  He’s owned in 50 percent of Yahoo!, 37.5 percent of ESPN, and 73 percent of CBS leagues.

Phil Hughes, New York Yankees

The one-time prodigy struck out 11 last week with nearly identical lines:

May 20 vs. BAL:  5 IP, 3 Runs, 6 Hits, 2 HR's, 1 Walk, 9 Ks
May 15 vs. MIN:  5 IP, 3 Runs, 6 Hits, 2 HR's, 4 Walk, 2 Ks

His K/9 ratio was 9.9 and his K/BB ratio was 2.2.  On the year he’s 2-2 with 19 Ks, a 7.06 ERA, and a 1.94 WHIP.  He’s owned in 17 percent of Yahoo!, 8.8 percent of ESPN, and 46 percent of CBS leagues.  I wouldn’t take a shot on him though, the way the ball is leaving Yankee Stadium.

Matt Harrison, Texas Rangers

Harrison struck out 10 batters last week going 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.  His K/9 ratio was 6.43 and his K/BB ratio was 5.0.  On the year he’s 4-3 with 27 Ks, a 4.71 ERA, and a 1.45 WHIP.  He’s owned in 12 percent of Yahoo!, 9.7 percent of ESPN, and 42 percent of CBS leagues.  If you’re mainly looking for Ks from him, he’s only worthy in two-start weeks. 

Jonathan Sanchez, San Francisco Giants

Sanchez recorded 10 Ks with a 4.63 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP.  His K/9 is 7.7 and his K/BB ratio is 1.67.  On the year he’s 1-4 with 37 Ks, a 4.74 ERA, and 1.58 WHIP.  He’s owned in 32 percent of Yahoo!, 4.8 percent of ESPN, and 45 percent of CBS leagues.

Dave Bush, Milwaukee Brewers

Bush struck out 9 last week going 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP.  His K/9 ratio was 6.23 and his K/BB ratio was 4.5.  On the year he’s 3-0 with 38 Ks, a 3.74 ERA, and a 1.08 WHIP.  He’s owned in 23 percent of Yahoo!, 12.2 percent of ESPN, and 66 percent of CBS leagues.

Originally published at LestersLegends.com.