Fantasy Baseball: September Call Ups-Pitchers

Yesterday, I wrote about some hitting prospects who could get called up in September and who could help fantasy teams as well. Today, I have the pitching prospects who could help fantasy teams in September.

Aroldis Chapman, CIN-the Reds called up Chapman on Tuesday and put him in their bullpen. The way he has pitched out of the bullpen this year leads one to believe the Reds could use him as a closer as early as 2011, but more likely in 2012. In 30 innings as a reliever, Chapman has struck out 49, walked 12, with a 4-1 record and 2.40 ERA, and batters have a .156 BA against him.

Jordan Lyles, HOU-I would be surprised to see the Astros call up their 19 year old pitching prospect this year, but he certainly deserves the chance. All he has done this year is go a combined 7-10 with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.376 WHIP. He has struck out 130 and walked 45 in just under 150 innings pitched. He has struggled a bit in his 4 AAA starts, but that was expected.

Michael Pineda, SEA-the Mariners have already announced that they are shutting down Pineda for the rest of the season, but Pineda deserves mention here. In 25 starts in AA and AAA, Pineda is 11-4 with a 3.36 ERA and 1.112 WHIP. He has struck out 154 and walked 34 in 139.1 innings.

Craig Kimbrel, ATL-the Braves closer of the future will be called back up on September 7^th. There is a good chance Kimbrel will be closing in 2011, but some believe current setup man Johnny Venters will be the closer. Kimbrel was up with the Braves earlier this season, pitching 9.1 innings, striking out 17 and walking 11. But, in AAA, he has saved 22 games, striking out 78 and walking 34 in 52.2 innings.

Zach Britton, BAL-Britton has pitched well at two levels in 2010 going 10-7 with a 2.69 ERA AND A 1.249 WHIP, with 115 strikeouts and 49 walks in 147.1 innings. Britton should get several starts in the Orioles rotation in September, and there should be no limits on innings pitched with Britton, as he threw 140 innings in 2009.

Jenrry Mejia, NYM-the Mets have already announced that Mejia will be called up to start on Saturday. In his start at AAA Buffalo on Monday night, Mejia went 8 innings, giving up 5 hits, one run and struck out 9. Working out of the Mets bullpen earlier in the year, Mejia struck out 17 and walked 15 in 27.2 innings pitched. He was then sent down to the minors to get stretched out to start, and now has his chance to impress this weekend.

Jeremy Jeffress, MIL-ESPN's Keith Law mentioned on Twitter this evening that the Brewers plan to call up Jeffress on Wednesday. Jeffress has worked out the bullpen all season, and has dominated, striking out 43 and walking 12 in 32.1 innings pitched. He could get some looks as the Brewers closer of the future, so it bears watching how they use him later in the month.