Fantasy Baseball Free Agent Pool: 2011 Strikeout Kings, Vol. 5

Some reasonably available players to assist you in the strikeouts category.  Realize that some of these will come with high ERAs and WHIPs because if a pitcher has low numbers in those categories and a good K total, they’re already spoken for.

Scott Baker, Minnesota Twins

Baker is 3-0 in his past three starts with 22 strikeouts in 24 innings (8.2 K/9), a 1.50 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP. On the year, he’s 5-4 with a 3.24 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP and 88 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings (8.6 K/9).

Baker is owned in a little over half of fantasy leagues, a number that will quickly change if he keeps pitching the way he has been. His next start is Friday against Milwaukee.

Ryan Dempster, Chicago Cubs

After resembling a dumpster early on, Dempster has come around. He’s 1-1 in his past three starts with a 1.96 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP and 21 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings (10.3 K/9).

He’s still just 5-6 with a 5.46 ERA, a 1.48 WHIP and 88 strikeouts in 92 1/3 innings (8.6 K/9) on the year, but he’s headed in the right direction. Dempster is owned in 68 percent of Yahoo! and 43.8 percent of ESPN leagues. His next start is Friday against Kansas City.

Tim Stauffer, San Diego Padres

Stauffer is 1-1 in his past three starts with a 0.41 ERA, a 0.86 WHIP and 18 strikeouts in 22 innings (7.4 K/9). He won’t get put up a gaudy strikeout total, but he has had at least five strikeouts in eight of his past 11 starts.

On the year, he’s 2-5 with a 3.13 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 92 innings (7.1 K/9). Stauffer is owned in 41 percent of Yahoo! and 14.6 percent of ESPN leagues. His next start is Friday against Atlanta.

Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati Reds

Volquez is 1-1 in his past three starts with a 3.50 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP and 18 strikeouts in 18 innings (9 K/9). On the year, he’s 4-3 with a 5.61 ERA, a 1.61 WHIP and 71 strikeouts in 69 innings (9.3 K/9).

Volquez is owned in 39 percent of Yahoo! and 32.9 percent of ESPN leagues. His next start is Friday against Baltimore.

Chris Narveson, Milwaukee Brewers

Narveson is 2-1 in his past three starts with a 3.60 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 20 innings (7.7 K/9). On the year, he’s 4-5 with a 4.55 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP and 76 strikeouts in 85 innings (8.0 K/9).

Narveson is owned in 14 percent of Yahoo! and 9.6 percent of ESPN leagues. His next start is Sunday against Minnesota.

John Danks, Chicago White Sox

After losing his first eight decisions, Danks is 3-0 in his past three starts with a 1.23 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 22 innings (7.0 K/9). On the year, he’s 3-8 with a 4.29 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP and 63 strikeouts in 92 1/3 innings (6.1 K/9).

Danks is owned in a little over half of all fantasy leagues. His next start is Saturday against Washington.

Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians

Carrasco is 3-0 in his past three starts with a 0.42 ERA, a 0.78 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 21-2/3 innings (7.1 K/9). On the year, he’s 7-3 with a 3.87 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP and 49 strikeouts in 79 innings (5.6 K/9).

Carrasco is owned in about a quarter of fantasy leagues. His next start comes Friday against San Francisco.

High Strikeout Middle Relievers (Stats based on past 15 days.)

• Fernando Rodriguez, HOU: 8 2/3 IP, 14 Ks, 5.19 ERA, 1.38 WHIP
• Ramon Ramirez, SF: 6 1/3 IP, 11 Ks, 1.42 ERA, 0.95 WHIP
• Tyler Clippard, WAS: 7 IP, 11 Ks, 1.29 ERA, 0.86 WHIP
• Cory Luebke, SD: 9 2/3 IP, 11 Ks, 1.86 ERA, 0.72 WHIP
• Bobby Parnell, NYM: 6 IP, 9 Ks, 1.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP
• David Robertson, NYY: 6 IP, 9 Ks, 1.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP
• Jeremy Affeldt, SF: 6 1/3 IP, 9 Ks, 1.42 ERA, 0.95 WHIP
• Joel Peralta, TB: 7 IP, 9 Ks, 1.29 ERA, 1.00 WHIP
• Hisanori Takahashi, LAA: 8 2/3 IP, 9 Ks, 1.04 ERA, 0.46 WHIP

Also check out:

• Is Nick Swisher Safe to Use Again?
• The Cutter: Why Dominance Is Shifting from Plate to Mound
• The Need For Speed
• Is A.J. Burnett Due for a Crash?
• Can Nick Markakis Turn His Season Around?