Fantasy Baseball Free Agent Pool: Strikeout Kings

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

Jose Contreras, Chicago White Sox  

Contreras had a solid week collecting 16 K, while splitting his two decisions. His ERA was 3.52, his WHIP was 0.91, while his K/9 ratio was 9.4. On the year, he’s 3-7 with 46 K, 4.84 ERA, and 1.27 WHIP. He’s owned in 41 percent of Yahoo!, 4.6 percent of ESPN, and 25 percent of CBS leagues.

Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals

Zimmermann had 12 K, while going 1-0 with 2.08 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 8.3 K/9 ratio. On the year, he’s 3-3 with 75 K, 4.52 ERA, and 1.30 WHIP. He’s owned in 52 percent of Yahoo!, 11.4 percent of ESPN, and 55 percent of CBS leagues.

Kevin Correia, San Diego Padres

Correia is 2-0 in his last two starts with 16 K, 2.63 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, and 10.5 K/9 ratio. On the year he’s 5-5 with 70 K, 4.23 ERA, and 1.23 WHIP. He’s owned in 53 percent of Yahoo!, 9.2 percent of ESPN, and 48 percent of CBS leagues.

Chad Gaudin, San Diego Padres 

Gaudin is 2-1 in his last three starts with 28 K, 2.14 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, and 12 K/9 ratio. On the year, he’s 4-6 with 74 K, 4.97 ERA, and 1.39 WHIP. He’s owned in 22 percent of Yahoo!, 3.3 percent of ESPN, and 20 percent of CBS leagues.

Felipe Paulino, Houston Astros 

Paulino came off the DL to strikeout nine in seven innings to earn a victory. He posted a 1.29 ERA and 0.43 WHIP. He was consistently hitting 97 mph with his fastball. On the year, he’s 2-4 with 46 K, 5.51 ERA, and 1.54 WHIP. Paulino is owned in six percent of Yahoo!, 0.4 percent of ESPN, and five percent of CBS leagues.

Vin Mazzaro, Oakland Athletics

Mazzaro picked up eight strikeouts in five innings (14.4 K/9 ratio) in his last start. His ERA and WHIP were bloated at 5.40 and 1.80 respectively, but his yearly totals remain impressive. He’s 2-3 with 28 K, 2.95 ERA, and 1.17 WHIP. He’s owned in 53 percent of Yahoo!, 4.9 percent of ESPN, and 36 percent of CBS leagues.

Ronald Belisario, Los Angeles Dodgers

Belisario had seven strikeouts in five-and-two-thirds innings of scoreless relief (11.1 K/9). His WHIP was a mere 0.71. On the year, he’s 1-2 with 46 K, 10 holds, 1.89 ERA, and 1.09 WHIP in 47.67 innings. He’s owned in 14 percent of Yahoo!, 1.5 percent of ESPN, and three percent of CBS leagues.

Michael Wuertz, Oakland Athletics 

All seven outs Wuertz recorded last week came via strikeout. He didn't allow a run, while his WHIP was 1.12. On the year, he’s 4-1 with 41 K, two saves, eight holds, 2.72 ERA, and 0.96 WHIP in 36.3 innings. He’s owned in 22 percent of Yahoo!, 2.3 percent of ESPN, and seven percent of CBS leagues.

Originally published at LestersLegends.com.