Some familiar names highlight free agent profiles this week, with Wandy Rodriguez and Kevin Slowey still available in most leagues and offering solid production. These are all guys available in at least 50 percent of ESPN.com leagues, and we try to give the best variety possible within those confines.

There are veterans Tim Wakefield and Pedro Martinez, who come recommended for very different reasons. And there are several young talents - Manny Parra, Kevin Slowey and Scott Baker - who are putting it together for contending teams. Wakefield and Andy Sonnanstine come with less upside but a little more reliability pitching in front of the Red Sox and Rays.

Francisco Liriano will be a staple to our recommendations so long as he is still dominating Triple-A hitters. His arrival in Minneapolis is imminent as the Twins are an injury or losing streak away from shaking up their steady rotation. Another lefty, San Francisco’s Barry Zito, doesn’t get a seal of approval just yet, but is pitching well enough to at least be on your radar.

The full list (stats of July 6 games):

Wandy Rodriguez, Houston Astros
Status: Still one of the best matchup-based spot starters in fantasy
Key Stats: Is 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA in 7 home starts
What to Watch For: Any starts at home vs. a light-hitting offense
Other Notes: Comes off worst home start of the year (5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 4 BBs vs. LAD), which shouldn’t be cause for major concern

Pedro Martinez, New York Mets
Status: Pitching poorly, but capable of turning it around at any time
Key Stats: Has 2 quality starts in 6 outings since return from DL … opponents are batting .325 against him, including a .370 mark by lefties
What to Watch For: Glimour of hope, better command and efficiency with his pitches
Other Notes: Best case scenario is for Martinez to revert to 2006 form, when he had a 4.48 ERA but struck out 137 in 132.2 innings … still capable of posting an outstanding K rate

Manny Parra, Milwaukee Brewers
Status: Is 7-0 in his last 9 starts
Key Stats: Has walked 49 batters in 92.2 innings … has a 1.52 WHIP
What to Watch For: Continued effectiveness and continued luck … he must be dominant to make up for hefty walks totals
Other Notes: Presents a dilemma with his control, but is always good for a spot start as the Brewers keep backing him with run support … Milwaukee has scored 5 or more runs in each of his last 9 starts

Kevin Slowey, Minnesota Twins
Status: Keeping his WHIP (1.04) in check with gleaming control numbers
Key Stats: 4-0 in his last 5 starts … has a respectable 3.78 ERA for the season … had a 30:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in June
What to Watch For: Ability to minimize damage … given .241 opponents BA and low walks totals, season numbers should be better
Other Notes: Is a legitimate talent that has arrived at 24 years of age … still hasn’t reached his ceiling

Francisco Liriano, Minnesota Twins
Status: Continuing to put things together at Triple-A Rochester
Key Stats: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 7 Ks, 1 BB in his last start
What to Watch For: Any status change to members of current Twins rotation - Nick Blackburn, Kevin Slowey, Glen Perkins or Scott Baker … Perkins is the weakest link in the rotation and the most likely to be demoted or sent to the bullpen to make room for Liriano
Other Notes: Rest assured that when Liriano is in top form, Minnesota will be unable to resist calling him up … Liriano is getting sharper and sharper, which will prompt a move

Andy Sonnanstine, Tampa Bay Rays
Status: Doing plenty to rack up wins for baseball’s best team
Key Stats: Is 4-0 with a 2.88 ERA in his last 6 starts … hasn’t allowed a home run since May 21, a span of 38 innings … has issued 2 or fewer walks in all 18 of his starts
What to Watch For: Duplication of June success, especially when it comes to hittability … opponents hit .346 in May … has a .292 opponents BA for the season
Other Notes: Isn’t perfect, but represents a good spot start opportunity every time he takes the ball … competes and keeps the Rays in games … at 25 years old, there is still room to improve

Tim Wakefield, Boston Red Sox
Status: Still baffling hitters with game’s best knuckleball
Key Stats: Has a .224 opponents batting average … has a 2.24 ERA over his last 8 starts, but is just 2-3 over that stretch
What to Watch For: Lower walk totals (46 in 115.1 IP) and better run support
Other Notes: Has quietly lowered his season ERA to 3.75 and his WHIP to 1.22 … isn’t the sexiest choice on the waiver wire, but is steady and reliable … also posts respectable strikeout numbers (6.09 Ks per 9)

Scott Baker, Minnesota Twins
Status: On a 3-start winning streak
Key Stats: Has a 3-2 record and 3.25 ERA since returning from the DL (groin) June 5
What to Watch For: Ability to win tight games … each of his last 6 starts have been decided by 2 runs or less
Other Notes: Combines excellent control with strikeout potential, upside and consistency … is one of several strikethrowing Twins hurlers … has recorded a quality start in 5 straight outings

Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants
Status: Taking baby steps back to respectability
Key Stats: 7 IP, 2 ER, 10 Ks, 1 BB in his last start … is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in his last 3 starts
What to Watch For: Better control … has 60 strikeouts and 54 walks in 92.2 innings this season
Other Notes: Tough to predict what he will do from start to start … one walk in his last start and zero walks in a June 30 start are encouraging signs … must keep making progress on that front to even warrant a spot start

Edwin Jackson, Tampa Bay Rays
Status: Inconsistent with flashes of dominance
Key Stats: Has a .228 opponents BA at home, .291 opponents BA at home … splits are puzzling as he has allowed 8 HRs at home and 2 HRs on the road; has 35:29 K-to-walk ratio at home, 27:16 on the road
What to Watch For: Less enigmatic behavior; quality matchups at home against lighter hitting lineups
Other Notes: A crapshoot every time he’s in your fantasy lineup … will make you look like a genius or a fool … still warrants spot start attention when the Rays face less explosive offenses, a la the Kansas City Royals, who he beat with 8 innings and 1 earned run in his last start

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryDiamond.com. He can be contacted at dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.