Roto Robbery

Don't look now (well, actually, DO look now), but the fantasy playoffs are just around the bend. Instead of kicking yourself for not making that juicy trade before the deadline, why not focus on what hidden finds are lying dormant on the waiver wire? This edition's focus: Starting Pitching. Whether you prefer assembling a rotation and sticking with it or streaming your way along with the hot hand, here are a few starting pitchers for consideration:



Fausto Carmona

In 5 starts during the month of August, Fausto Carmona has posted a 2.63 era, walking 13 and striking out 18 over 29 innings. While his WHIP remains higher than desired and he has only 1 win to show for his efforts this month, he has surrended 3 runs or fewer each time out, and his latest outing vs. Seattle should inspire confidence: 7IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K. His percent ownership has crept up to 25% in Yahoo! Plus leagues, and the Indians' September schedule features home games vs. the Royals, the Twins, and the Orioles. If you are looking for someone to eat innings, this could be your guy.



Joe Saunders

Joe Saunders has a higher percent ownership than Carmona (circa 46% in Yahoo! Plus Leagues), but his early-August stint on the DL caused many owners to cut bait. The 2008 All-Star struggled most of the season before succumbing to injury, but now back and feeling good, Saunders' season-long woes are increasingly being attributed to the tight shoulder that sidelined him for several weeks. Mike Scioscia was impressed with the fluidity of his rehab work, and Saunders did not disappoint in his first start back on Wednesday, pitching 5 innings of 2-run ball with 6 strikeouts and garnering the W. Saunders was brilliant last September: Over 5 starts the lefty earned 3 wins, pitching to the tune of a 2.14 ERA with a strikeout to walk ration of 24:6 across 33.2 frames. With the Angels offense cranking on all cylinders, consider Saunders a strong play for wins and a respectable line to boot.



Charlie Haeger

While it is uncertain just for how long the knuckleballer will serve as a starter, Charlie Haeger has shown an ability to keep the Dodgers in the game. In 2 starts, Haeger is 1-1, taming the Cardinals and Cubs for the most part. His line thus far: 14 IP, 8 H, 4 BB, 3 ER, and 9 K. Pitching in spacious Dodger Stadium doesn't hurt, nor does facing many of these hitters for the first time, as a knuckler can have a distinct advantage in this way. Take a flier on him, particularly as a streamer candidate, but don't go dropping anyone too respectable for him, as his magic could run dry if Torre decides to shake things up in September.

As the fantasy baseball playoffs quickly approach, owners desperate for offensive production may be feeling buyer's remorse for not dealing their Johan Santana for a Ryan Howard. Likewise, owners fueled by the hot early-summer production of players like Luke Scott and Justin Upton are finding that slumps and injuries have sapped their lineups of much needed vitality.

Fear not: with every change in season comes a new crop of waiver-wire, free-agent targets. Consider Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Travis Snider, a 21-year-old with power to spare. Despite a sluggish start to the season with Toronto, Snider showcased his talents over 48 games with Triple-A Vegas, hitting at a .337 clip with 14 home runs, 40 RBIs and a .431 on-base percentage. Though he will rack up his share of strikeouts and chip in an 0-fer more often than one would like, he is a cheap source of power who is likely floating around in free-agent wires and worth a flier in most mixed league formats.

Perhaps coming not as cheaply but just as much a high-reward gamble is Texas first baseman Chris Davis, who rejoined the Rangers on Tuesday for the first time since July 5th after a lengthy demotion. Despite sporting 15 homers over 77 games, Davis returns to the big leagues to improve upon his .202 average and 114 strikeouts in 258 at-bats. Davis has hit .327 since his demotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City and he has cut down his strikeout rate to 39 strikeouts in 165 at-bats during his hiatus. He credits a retooled, opened-up stance for his improved fortune and hopes to help the Rangers in the stretch run, while Hank Blalock will most likely be relegated to part-time duties. With his change in batting setup and determination to improve upon his contact rate, Davis is a good option for 1B/3B power and production, especially after sporting a .285 average over 80 games last year for the Rangers while hammering out 23 doubles, 17 home runs, and 55 RBIs during that span.

A third attractive option is perhaps the worst-kept secret at this point in fantasy leagues, and only a recent fluke injury involving a steak knife can be credited for spooking some owners enough to drop him into your lap. Yes folks, Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez may not be a master of cutlery, but the talented outfielder has hit at a .287 clip with 32 runs, 10 doubles, 3 triples, 8 home runs, 19 RBIs, 17 BBs and 8 SBs over 167 at-bats. He is day-to-day with a hand puncture that required a single stitch, and it is a shame he suffered the injury in the midst of a torrid streak. Nonetheless, impatient owners who dropped him have everything to lose and you everything to gain. As long as he gets his hits, he will get playing time and owners everywhere will be glad to have him atop that Rockies lineup.

Lastly, more on a production front than a raw home run front, consider Hideki Matsui and Carlos Guillen. These guys were owned in the majority of fantasy leagues three years ago but injuries have made them less attractive options. Be that as it may, Guillen is 1B/3B/OF eligible in most formats and has rocked to the tune of 5 home runs and 16 RBIs over the last month, chipping in 12 BB's during that span. The Tigers have had tough luck with the bats and are overdue to hit the ball "where they ain't," and as the entire team heats up around him, Carlos will stand to improve on these numbers.

As for Matsui, his Fenway performance over the weekend likely has him snatched up in more leagues now than was previously the case, but he still sits at about 50 percent ownership in Yahoo! leagues and seems to have surmounted his knee woes for the time being. Look for him to have several 0-fers in a given week, but make up for it with an occasional walk or RBI and then a few monster games that justify the name "Godzilla." He is batting nearly 30 points higher against RHP if platooning him is of interest, although he has crushed Texas pitching this season to-date (3 homers and 7 RBIs over 5 games) and may be a strong play no matter who is on the mound.