There’s some solid options available if you need starting pitching help in fantasy baseball for Sunday, May 19. One option is Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jeff Locke who here delivers a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday is closing time in most weekly formats meaning it’s time for fantasy baseball owners to make their last moves to get the wins they need. If you need starting pitching help to get you there, here are some widely available scheduled starters for Sunday that you can plug-and-play for Sunday:

Possible Pickups

Jeff Locke-Pittsburgh Pirates: (8.3% owned) Locke and the Pirates host the Astros Sunday in what is oddly an interleague game between former division-rivals. Locke has been locked in lately allowing three earned runs or less in five starts in a row with four quality starts during that time. He had one of his less successful outings his last time out allowing three runs in six innings to the Brewers in a no-decision. His numbers have been very solid all year and he comes in with a 3.15 ERA and a 3-1 record. Houston is a favorable matchup, and Locke is atop our list because of it.

Jonathan Pettibone-Philadelphia Phillies: (2.0%) Pettibone hasn’t given up more than three earned runs in any of his five starts with the Phils this year and has started 3-0 with a 3.41 ERA. He doesn’t pile up strikeouts (just 17 in 29 innings), but has cooled off the Indians and Giants in his last two starts. Sunday he faces the Reds who are also swinging well as of late. He’s at home but it’s not an awesome matchup which is why he’s just behind Locke, but still a solid option for Sunday.

May 13, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher A.J. Griffin (64) delivers a pitch against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

A.J. Griffin-Oakland Athletics: (27.5%) Griffin has recovered from a couple bad outings to run off three quality starts. He was impressive as he shut down the Rangers in his last start allowing just one run on six hits in seven innings while striking out eight and issuing zero free passes. He improved to 4-3 with the win and dropped his ERA down to 3.48. His 1.16 WHIP is an indicator he’s keeping people off the bases which should bode well as he starts Sunday against the Royals. He’ll be opposed by Luis Mendoza (1-2, 6.00ERA) which should give him a chance to get a win if he can turn in another quality outing.

John Gast-St. Louis Cardinals: (2.9%) Gast was impressive in his first Major League outing going five shutout innings before giving up four runs in the sixth. The final line wasn’t great, but he definitely showed his potential and gets another look on Sunday. He’ll face former-Cardinal Kyle Lohse and the Brewers. Lohse has already lost to St. Louis twice this year and hasn’t won a start in his last four outings as his ERA has climbed to 3.49. Gast should get a chance to move to 2-0 if he can successfully avoid the big inning that cost him last time out.

May 17, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Andrew Cashner (34) prior to the game against the Washington Nationals at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Cashner-San Diego Padres: (7.4%) Cashner is a bit risky as he faced the Nats on Sunday, but he’s been excellent in his last two starts allowing just one earned run total in 14 2/3 innings. The hard-throwing righty gets the start at pitcher-friendly Petco which is always a plus, but he’s been erratic at times this season, so proceed with a bit of caution.

Past Performance

Here’s how my picks have done the last week:

If you need fantasy baseball help from the waiver wire, check out Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Hector Santiago  and these other options scheduled to start Saturday. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Normally having Justin Verlander as the anchor of your pitching staff is a great thing in fantasy baseball, but not so much this week. If Verlander or other struggling starters have caused your numbers to head the wrong direction, there is still time to get things turned around before the end of the week. On Saturday, May 18 there is a full slate of 15 games across the Majors throughout the afternoon and evening meaning 30 different starters will take the mound. Here’s the options available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues that I like the most for Saturday:

Possible Pickups

Hector Santiago-Chicago White Sox: (11.3%) Santiago and the Sox are in Anaheim to take on the Angels. The White Sox lineup hasn’t been great but they’ll be facing Joe Blanton who comes in 0-7 with a 6.46 ERA. If they are ever going to get Santiago run support this would seem to be the start. Since joining the rotation, Santiago has made three starts with 20 strikeouts in 18 innings and a 2.00 ERA to go with a 2.15 BAA and a  WHIP of 1.05. While the Angels lineup is potentially dangerous they’ve underwhelmed so far so aren’t a clear stay-away for Santiago.

May 12, 2013; Washington, D.C., USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Scott Feldman (46) pitches in the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Scott Feldman-Chicago Cubs: (25.2%) Feldman hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs since his first start of the season and has allowed just three total in his last three starts spanning 22 innings in which he’s picked up 21 strikeouts. His ERA is all the way down to 2.53 while he has a 1.15 WHIP. Feldman gets the Mets on Saturday afternoon who are second-to-last in the league in batting average and have slipped back to the bottom 10 in runs scored as well. Feldman is a solid grab, but a win is always an uncertainty with the Cubs bullpen and lineup involved. Just ask any Cubs fan and they’ll tell you all the things that could (and probably will) go wrong… just don’t mention goats and guys with walkmans.

Zach McAllister-Cleveland Indians: (16.9%) McAllister gets the start for the Sons of Francona as they host the Mariners who rank in the bottom five in the league in runs scored and batting average as they come to Cleveland. McAllister will hope to get his fourth win of the season and his third in his last four starts. He’s been extremely consistent allowing no more than three earned runs in any start this seasonand reaching the sixth inning in all but one of his seven starts. He enters Saturday’s start with a 2.68 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He should be able to put together another quality start, possibly get a win, and help your averages. His strikeouts numbers typically aren’t exceptional, but he’s still worth a look.

May 12, 2013; Phoenix AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon McCarthy (32) against Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon McCarthy-Arizona Diamondbacks: (18.4%) McCarthy finally looked to have snapped out of his early-season funk his last time out holding the Phillies scoreless for eight innings before the bullpen blew the win for him. In his eight scoreless, he allowed seven hits and didn’t walk anyone while striking out five. He couldn’t have a better matchup to continue that success as he and the Snakes are in Miami to face the light-hitting Marlins. He still has a 5.63 ERA and a WHIP over 1.5 so proceed with caution, but he’s in a great matchup so proceed if your team needs the help.

Jair Jurrjens-Baltimore Orioles: (0.0%) My long-shot pick of the day meaning he’s under 1.0% owned and won’t count against my overall numbers is Jurrjens who gets the call for the Baltimore Orioles Saturday against the visiting Rays. He’s very high-risk since it’s been a while since his MLB success, but in deep leagues it is worth knowing he’ll make his first start of the season.

Past Performance

We have a slightly new format and layout for our results table today. I’ve added in a Quality Start line (min 6 IP and max 3 ER) as well as a team column. The format allows for more flexibility and lets me highlight things as needed. I’ve also reversed it so that the newest results are on top. As always, the totals are at the bottom and the picks identified in posts as long-shots are not included whether successful or not. All pitchers selected were under 50% owned when the post naming them as possible pickups was written.

Here’s how our last week’s picks have done: