Starting pitching is a key to winning in fantasy baseball. If you have a strong rotation of quality pitchers you are going to go far in the league, and probably deep into the playoffs. The game of starting pitching in fantasy baseball can be tricky, though, because each week you are only getting two starts out of your pitcher, and possibly only one. That's why in fantasy baseball it’s not always smart to look for the most dominating pitcher in the league, but look at the matchups, number of starts and the type of pitcher the player is. In the top five pitchers of week 21 there are a few that you’d expect to be there, and a few surprises that you might not expect.
Clayton Kershaw & Zack Greinke - Los Angeles Dodgers
Unless you have been living under a rock you should have expected the Dodgers top two pitchers to be on this list. That is not surprising at all when you look at how many games the Dodgers have been winning lately. What is surprising is just how dominant these two have been over the last week. They have struck out a combined 24 batters, won all four decisions, all while giving up only one earned run in 31.1 innings pitched. With a one-two like that it makes it easy on the Dodgers hitters to just focus on defense because they know as long as they play defense one run could win the game.
Francisco Liriano - Pittsburgh Pirates
Liriano has his second start of the week tonight at San Francisco, and if it is anything like his other start this week, you should tune in. Against San Diego on Saturday Liriano did what he has been doing all season, dominated. He pitched seven shutout innings while striking out 13 batters and only allowing six base runners. He made the Padres looks like the bottom dweller they have been this season.
Homer Bailey - Cincinnati Reds
Bailey, of two no hitters in the last two seasons, has been up and down all season long, but this week he’s been great in his two starts. He’s the fourth ranked pitcher in standard Yahoo formats thanks to one win and one no decision while striking out 13 batters, and maintaining an ERA of 2.57. Those stats may not jump off of the page, but his start against the Brewers is what really makes Bailey’s week fantastic. Against the Brew Crew he took charge and made the team look silly to the tune of 8 strikeouts, only three hits and only one earned run on a solo home run to Khristopher Davis (not THAT Chris Davis). It may not be another no hitter, but if you owned Bailey this week you had one of the best.
Jon Niese - New York Mets
If you’re saying “who?” you are probably not alone. It is hard for Niese to stand out when he is overshadowed by young studs Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler, but in the last week Niese is not only the best Met starting pitcher, but the fifth best overall. In his two starts last week he faced the Padres and the Braves, and gave up one run in each game earning one win and one no decision, but most importantly, 18 strikeouts in only 13 innings. So while you may not know who Niese is now, you should probably learn, because he could be a huge piece to add for the playoff run if he continues on the roll he’s on now, and he is currently only owned in 38 percent of Yahoo leagues.