Fantasy Baseball Free-Agent Pool: 2011 Strikeout Kings, Vol. 8

Following are some reasonably available players to assist you in the strikeouts category. Realize that some of these players will come with high ERAs & WHIPs—if a pitcher has low numbers in those categories and a good K total, he's already spoken for.

Rich Harden, Oakland A’s: Harden is 3-2 in seven starts with a 4.07 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in 42 innings (9.64 K/9). Rich is owned in 12 percent of Yahoo! leagues and 10.9 percent of ESPN leagues. His next start is on Sunday against Texas, so you may want to hold off on throwing him into your lineup. Of course, if you’re in a weekly league where you are already out of the ERA and WHIP category for the week and need strikeouts, Harden can be used.

John Danks, Chicago White Sox: Danks had 28 strikeouts in his past 25.2 innings (9.95 K/9), while going 1-1 with a 3.20 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. On the year he’s just 4-9, but he has a 4.00 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP and 93 strikeouts in 119.1 innings (7.01 K/9). August has been rough, but Danks was untouchable in June and July. His next start is Sunday against Kansas City. John is owned in 53 percent of Yahoo! leagues and 60.4 percent of ESPN leagues.

Luke Hochevar, Kansas City Royals: Hochevar had 20 strikeouts in his past 21.1 innings (8.44 K/9), while going 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. He’s won his past four decisions to improve to 8-8 with a 4.79 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. He hadn’t been a strikeout pitcher up to this stretch, but you can ride him while he’s hot. His next start is on Saturday against the White Sox. Luke is owned in less than 10 percent of fantasy leagues. 

Cory Luebke, San Diego Padres: Luebke had 18 strikeouts in 20.1 innings (7.97 K/9) in his last three starts, while going 1-2 with a 4.43 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. On the year he’s 4-6 with a 3.06 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP and 91 strikeouts in 88.1 innings (9.27 K/9). Cory is owned in about 35 percent of fantasy leagues.

Jake Peavy, Chicago White Sox: Peavy had 21 strikeouts in 27 innings (7 K/9), while going 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. On the year he’s 5-5 with a 4.63 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP and 63 strikeouts in 81.2 innings (6.94 K/9).

Also check out:

• Is Alejandro De Aza Worth Owning?
• Hiroki Kuroda: Proof That Wins Aren’t Everything
• Can Josh Willingham Finish Strong?
• Fantasy Baseball Free Agent Pool – 2011 Run Scorers Vol. 8
• Can Doug Fister Produce For Detroit?