Fantasy Baseball Starters to add for Saturday, July 21

Not only is the baseball schedule for Saturday full and every team in action, but there’s even an extra game as the Braves and Nationals play two in a day-night double-header. With 32 scheduled starters, there’s no excuse for not making the move necessary to win your week. Here’s five quick looks at pitchers available in more than half of ESPN leagues that can offer a boost to your squad:

The Picks

Zach McAllister – Cle: (5.3%) McAllister and the Tribe are at home hosting the Orioles. McAlliester is undefeated in five starts at home with a 3.03 ERA. Overall, he’s 4-1 with a 3.17 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He’s also solid, though not spectacular, for strikeouts with 46 in 48.1 innings. The Orioles will counter with Chris Tillman who looked great his first time out and horrible his last time out. The Indians are solid offensively at home and I think Zach can bring you the W and a quality start.

Scott Diamond – Min: (44.8%) Despite struggling a bit his last time out, he enters Saturday’s game in Kansas City with a 8-3 record, a 2.96 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He doesn’t give you strikeouts, but has eight quality starts in his last 10. He faced the Royals June 30 and held them to two runs on six hits in eight innings. Diamond’s strength is his control meaning there’s little chance he’ll get shelled, but he probably won’t strikeout out over five either.

Jason Vargas – Sea: (37.6%) In three of his last four starts Vargas has allowed two earned runs or fewer. He’s 9-7 on the year and his 4.09 ERA includes a couple shellings he took earlier this season. This turn in the rotation, the Mariners are in Tampa for the weekend where the Rays will send Alex Cobb to oppose Vargas. Cobb has been shaky and the Mariners lineup is showing a little life so I think Vargas can get the win and add another solid start in his 21st start of the season.

Jeff Francis – Col: (0.3%) The Rockies starters are always interesting studies due to their home/road splits. Francis got pounded his first start at Coors, but has lowered his ERA from 21.60 after that start to a almost respectable 4.76. He’ll start for Colorado on Saturday in much more pitcher-friendly confies at Petco Park. Francis has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last six starts. Just be aware that he won’t go deep into the game since he’s part of the experimental four-man rotation in Denver.

Aaron Cook – Bos: (0.5%) Cook won’t give you strikeouts–he has two in 29 innings this season. However, he’s worth a look if you need some innings and maybe a W. Cook will be at home in Fenway where he has been especially good since returning from the DL. In his four starts since his June 24th return he’s allowed a total of five earned runs in 27 innings. His 3.34 ERA is pretty solid, but is even better when you consider it was 20.25 after his first start in May. Cook and the Sox welcome the Blue Jays in an AL East showdown.

The Payoff

Here’s our results from the second-half. We got off to a very rough start as you can see, but things have improved thanks to Jose Quintana, Lucas Harrell, and Paul Maholm yesterday. The W-L is still ugly, so hopefully we can pick that up Friday and with the picks above.