MLB Fantasy 2011: 8 Everyday Arms Who May Still Be Available in Your League

With the 2011 MLB season in full-swing, you may be realizing that there are some holes on your fantasy baseball pitching staff. 

By now, your attentive co-workers and college buddies have gobbled up all the reliable starters and every last closer—so what now?  How does an owner sift through the dozens of middle-relief candidates to remain competitive on all pitching statistics? 

While teams tend to publicize their starting rotation and closer of choice, they often do not designate a guy-who-pitches-the-seventh-when-we-are-ahead. 

So a starting point would be to identify the bullpen members most frequently called into action.  These workhorses can make 80 or more appearances in a season, meaning that there is about a one in two chance that they will be summoned for duty on any given day.  

It is likely that most of the high profile set-up men have already found homes in your league.   After Joba Chamberlain, Daniel Bard and Jonny Venters, who’s left?  Here are eight solid pick-ups that the vultures may have left behind. 

Tyler Clippard (Washington): Clippard emerged as the Nationals go-to option, out of the bullpen in 2010, his second full season in the majors.  The 26-year-old right-hander led the team with 78 appearances, posting a solid 3.07 ERA and earning an incredible 11 victories. 

Clippard started 2011 right where he left off: In 11 games and 14-plus innings, he has recorded six holds and 17 strikeouts with a 1.26 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. 

Sean Marshall (Chicago Cubs): Like Clippard, Marshall became the Cubs No. 1 relief choice in 2010, appearing in 80 games with a 2.65 ERA.  A former starter, the 6’7” southpaw continues to be manager Mike Quade’s favorite, having already appeared in 11 games in extremely efficient fashion (0.90 ERA, 1.10 WHIP).  Marshall has developed into a punch-out specialist as well, fanning 10 batters in 10 innings thus far, after delivering a K/9 ratio of 10.8 in 2010. 

Aaron Crow (Kansas City): Crow is seeing his first major-league action this year and has been absolutely lights-out.  The 24-year-old rookie has appeared in nine games with the Royals and has yet to give up an earned run in 11.2 innings of work, striking out 12 along the way.  His WHIP currently stands at 0.94, and he is tied for second on the team in wins, with two victories out of the bullpen. 

Ramon Ramirez (San Francisco): Ramirez has established himself as a reliable late-inning hurler, appearing in 69 games or more in each of the last three seasons and posting an ERA under 3.00 during this stretch.  He was particularly valuable during the Giants' championship run in 2010, throwing at a 0.67 ERA clip in 25 games following his trade from Boston. 

Ramirez has already made 11 appearances in 2011, striking out nine through 11.2 innings, with very strong ERA and WHIP numbers.  He has also chipped in with one win and one save out of the San Francisco pen. 

Mark Melancon (Houston): Melancon has been the most frequent worker through the young 2011 season, leading the majors with 13 appearances out of the Houston bullpen.  Despite early struggles as a Yankee, the young right-hander seems to have found his comfort zone after landing in Houston, as a part of the Lance Berkman trade.  He has been a bright spot (1.54 ERA, 1.29 WHIP) on what has been a gloomy Astros staff.  He currently leads the team in wins with two and should continue to see plenty of action. 

Vinnie Pestano (Cleveland): Pestano is a little-known righty who is quietly contributing as a part of a very good Indians bullpen.  In what is his first full season at the major-league level, Pestano has been called into duty nine times, recording a 1.13 ERA and 0.88 WHIP during this span.  He also shows early signs of strikeout prowess, fanning 11 batters in his first eight innings of work. 

Mike Adams (San Diego): Although he is over-shadowed by teammates Heath Bell and Luke Gregerson, Adams is quickly becoming an elite relief pitcher in the NL.  Adams made 70 appearances in 2010 with a minuscule 1.73 ERA and over a strikeout per inning pitched.  How has he done so far this year?  More of the same: 0.75 ERA, 0.17 WHIP, and 11 K through 12 games. 

Logan Ondrusek (Cincinnati): Ondrusek has been dominant through his first 12 outings in 2011, following a solid rookie season.  The 6’8” Texas native currently leads the Reds in appearances and has surrendered only one earned run through 13-plus innings of effort.  Ondrusek is also tops among Cincinnati relievers in strikeouts (13) and wins (two).