The matchups and statistical data were pulled Friday morning. Please be aware the matchups are subject to change. You can find the original post at TTFB.
Top Starters
|
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Opp. |
ERA |
K% |
BB% |
|
1 |
LAD |
@STL, TB |
1.87 |
25.1% |
5.5% |
|
|
2 |
STL |
LAD, CHC |
2.61 |
22.8% |
2.9% |
|
|
3 |
ATL |
@WSH, MIA |
2.75 |
23.6% |
4.9% |
|
|
4 |
WSH |
ATL, PHI |
3.04 |
25.4% |
7.8% |
|
|
5 |
CWS |
NYY, MIN |
2.92 |
27.0% |
5.4% |
|
|
6 |
KC |
MIN, BOS |
3.08 |
20.0% |
7.3% |
|
|
7 |
DET |
@CLE, @NYY |
2.59 |
26.3% |
7.7% |
|
|
8 |
TEX |
@LAA |
2.66 |
33.4% |
8.4% |
|
|
9 |
NYM |
COL |
2.21 |
29.8% |
5.0% |
|
|
10 |
SEA |
TOR |
2.30 |
26.3% |
4.6% |
|
|
11 |
PHI |
@WSH |
3.05 |
23.1% |
3.9% |
|
|
12 |
DET |
@CLE |
3.01 |
29.8% |
5.6% |
|
|
13 |
TB |
@LAD |
3.57 |
20.5% |
3.7% |
|
|
14 |
LAA |
@CLE |
2.84 |
20.3% |
6.1% |
|
|
15 |
MIA |
@PIT |
2.71 |
25.9% |
8.8% |
|
|
16 |
TEX |
@HOU |
2.95 |
20.9% |
6.6% |
|
|
17 |
SF |
MIL |
2.76 |
24.5% |
7.1% |
Additional Information: Since June 24, Jered Weaver has the second lowest ERA in the majors (1.31) with a 23.2 percent strikeout rate and a 5.4 percent walk rate. If Yu Darvish did not go on the DL, he would currently be on pace for 300+ strikeouts. Clayton Kershaw is most likely to be the number-one pitcher entering the 2014 season, but Darvish will be a close second. Since coming off the DL, David Price has a 1.68 ERA and a 0.70 WHIP. Most importantly his fastball is averaging 94 mph and has topped out at 96.8 mph.
Backend Starters
|
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Opp. |
ERA |
K% |
BB% |
|
18 |
DET |
@CLE, @NYY |
3.88 |
22.3% |
9.0% |
|
|
19 |
BOS |
@HOU, @KC |
3.23 |
21.7% |
5.0% |
|
|
20 |
SEA |
TOR, MIL |
2.76 |
22.5% |
4.1% |
|
|
21 |
STL |
LAD, CHC |
3.10 |
17.2% |
8.4% |
|
|
22 |
NYY |
@CWS |
2.38 |
17.9% |
4.9% |
|
|
23 |
STL |
LAD |
2.79 |
26.4% |
6.8% |
|
|
24 |
CIN |
OAK |
3.56 |
24.7% |
5.5% |
|
|
25 |
TEX |
@HOU |
3.18 |
22.0% |
6.8% |
|
|
26 |
BOS |
@KC |
4.28 |
23.5% |
5.2% |
|
|
27 |
WSH |
ATL |
3.19 |
18.4% |
4.1% |
|
|
28 |
OAK |
@CIN |
2.50 |
13.3% |
3.6% |
|
|
29 |
ATL |
@WSH |
3.02 |
21.5% |
5.1% |
|
|
30 |
DET |
@CLE |
3.67 |
18.3% |
4.2% |
|
|
31 |
PHI |
CHC |
3.87 |
21.5% |
6.4% |
|
|
32 |
CIN |
OAK |
3.37 |
24.0% |
7.3% |
|
|
33 |
ATL |
@WSH |
3.74 |
17.2% |
6.2% |
|
|
34 |
ARI |
TB |
3.67 |
17.8% |
8.3% |
|
|
35 |
CHC |
@STL |
3.75 |
24.1% |
8.9% |
|
|
36 |
LAD |
@STL |
3.14 |
19.8% |
7.9% |
|
|
37 |
LAD |
TB |
3.43 |
18.9% |
7.2% |
|
|
38 |
TB |
@ARI |
2.39 |
17.3% |
9.2% |
|
|
39 |
LAA |
@CLE |
3.48 |
21.6% |
9.1% |
Additional Information: Since joining the rotation, Joe Kelly has 3.10 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 17.2 percent strikeout rate and 8.4 walk rate. Only averaging 5.2 innings per start limits his ability to earn wins, but he’s a great option to enhance your ratios. Chris Archer has been nothing less of amazing in his last six starts: 1.29 ERA, 0.76 WHIP with a 16 percent strikeout rate and 6.4 percent walk rate. Of the six starts, four came against the Yankees, Twins and the Astros twice. Archer has a great matchup against the Diamondbacks, but expectations should be tempered. Assuming Tigers plan to start the newly acquired Jose Iglesias starts at shortstop when Ric Porcello and Doug Fister start, their individual rankings increase at least five spots moving forward. Wade Miley in his last seven starts: 1.74 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 53 percent ground ball rate; this could be a return to his 2012 form.
Spot Starters
|
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Opp. |
ERA |
K% |
BB% |
|
40 |
SF |
MIL, BAL |
4.57 |
22.0% |
8.0% |
|
|
41 |
WSH |
ATL |
3.57 |
24.7% |
9.6% |
|
|
42 |
NYY |
@CWS |
4.65 |
20.4% |
5.6% |
|
|
43 |
DET |
@NYY |
4.49 |
18.1% |
5.2% |
|
|
44 |
BAL |
@SF |
3.89 |
17.0% |
6.1% |
|
|
45 |
NYM |
@ARI |
4.13 |
17.5% |
6.5% |
|
|
46 |
PIT |
MIA |
3.55 |
16.6% |
5.4% |
|
|
47 |
MIL |
@SEA |
3.22 |
16.3% |
4.1% |
|
|
48 |
STL |
CHC |
3.87 |
22.8% |
8.8% |
|
|
49 |
ARI |
NYM |
2.25 |
21.6% |
6.3% |
|
|
50 |
BOS |
@HOU, @KC |
4.54 |
20.8% |
10.8% |
|
|
51 |
CIN |
SD |
2.90 |
28.9% |
9.6% |
|
|
52 |
CWS |
NYY, MIN |
3.62 |
19.0% |
7.1% |
|
|
53 |
ARI |
NYM |
2.85 |
17.4% |
4.6% |
|
|
54 |
BAL |
@SF |
2.87 |
15.2% |
6.0% |
|
|
55 |
ATL |
MIA |
3.51 |
27.9% |
8.1% |
|
|
56 |
ATL |
MIA |
17.03 |
25.0% |
5.0% |
|
|
57 |
BAL |
@SF |
3.62 |
19.8% |
9.0% |
|
|
58 |
NYM |
COL |
3.54 |
18.3% |
11.7% |
|
|
59 |
TEX |
@LAA |
3.05 |
16.9% |
8.8% |
|
|
60 |
CWS |
NYY |
3.33 |
24.4% |
11.2% |
|
|
61 |
KC |
BOS |
3.04 |
19.9% |
5.4% |
|
|
62 |
CLE |
DET, LAA |
3.77 |
23.3% |
5.3% |
|
|
63 |
SF |
MIL, BAL |
2.64 |
20.7% |
8.7% |
|
|
64 |
NYM |
@ARI |
3.03 |
20.4% |
3.6% |
|
|
65 |
CHC |
@PHI |
2.79 |
17.5% |
8.1% |
|
|
66 |
COL |
@NYM, PIT |
3.15 |
16.6% |
7.7% |
|
|
67 |
ARI |
NYM |
4.99 |
13.4% |
3.4% |
Additional Information: Matt Cain in his last three starts has a 1.80 ERA, 1.15 WHIP with a 22 percent strikeout rate and 8.5 walk rate. If you’re a Cain owner, you have to start him, especially in a two-start week at home. The Chicago White Sox have the second lowest OPS in the majors against left handed pitching, making CC Sabathia a great start option. Dillon Gee in his past 11 starts: 2.65 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Despite the great aggregated numbers, in three of those starts, he gave up four or more earned runs. Before putting Gee in your starting lineup, be aware he’s pitching in the band box known as Chase Field. If you’re looking for a win, Chris Tillman has an excellent opportunity against the struggling San Francisco Giants. As of Friday morning, the Giants have a lower winning percentage than the New York Mets. If you held on to Brandon Beachy all year, you’re starting him this week despite one poor outing.
Proceed With Caution
|
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Opp. |
ERA |
K% |
BB% |
|
68 |
CLE |
DET, LAA |
3.33 |
25.0% |
9.0% |
|
|
69 |
BOS |
@HOU |
4.27 |
20.2% |
8.0% |
|
|
70 |
PIT |
@COL |
2.86 |
26.1% |
9.3% |
|
|
71 |
OAK |
@TOR |
4.07 |
16.0% |
9.0% |
|
|
72 |
CIN |
SD |
3.26 |
13.5% |
4.5% |
|
|
73 |
SD |
@CIN |
3.88 |
16.8% |
7.8% |
|
|
74 |
LAD |
@STL, TB |
3.78 |
19.1% |
6.0% |
|
|
75 |
CIN |
SD |
2.59 |
14.9% |
5.8% |
|
|
76 |
NYM |
@ARI |
4.21 |
18.2% |
6.7% |
|
|
77 |
MIA |
@ATL |
2.65 |
16.9% |
8.6% |
|
|
78 |
BAL |
@SD |
3.89 |
17.4% |
8.0% |
|
|
79 |
BAL |
@SD |
3.88 |
17.3% |
7.6% |
|
|
80 |
SD |
BAL |
3.55 |
15.1% |
4.8% |
|
|
81 |
PIT |
@COL |
2.16 |
25.6% |
9.5% |
|
|
82 |
CHC |
@PHI, @STL |
4.65 |
19.1% |
7.5% |
|
|
83 |
MIL |
@SF, @SEA |
2.22 |
16.8% |
7.9% |
|
|
84 |
MIL |
@SF, @SEA |
4.57 |
14.6% |
9.0% |
|
|
85 |
NYY |
@CWS, DET |
4.28 |
15.8% |
5.7% |
Additional Information: The Houston Astros are 17th in the majors in OPS against left-handed pitching, so Jon Lester owners shouldn’t automatically pencil in Lester in their starting lineup. Odds are if you’re a Francisco Liriano owner, you’ve received ace-level productivity for the year. All year, I’ve underrated Liriano and I’m doing so again with a start in Colorado. Despite eight consecutive starts allowing two earned runs or less, Jeremy Hefner has allowed 16 runs in his last 11.2 innings. Hefner has suffered from bad luck, specifically a 23.5 percent HR/FB rate and .390 BABIP. If you’re looking for a streaming option and can stomach risk, Hefner is a solid option. Edwin Jackson in his last five starts: 1.83 ERA and 0.87 WHIP and has only walked six batters in 34.1 innings. If Jackson was only starting against the Phillies, he would be in the low 60s, but a start at St. Louis worries me.
Avoid
|
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Opp. |
ERA |
K% |
BB% |
|
86 |
BOS |
@KC |
3.77 |
21.1% |
10.1% |
|
|
87 |
TB |
@LAD |
4.71 |
17.6% |
5.2% |
|
|
88 |
SEA |
MIL |
7.73 |
18.2% |
10.4% |
|
|
89 |
COL |
@NYM |
3.54 |
14.6% |
7.1% |
|
|
90 |
MIA |
@PIT, @ATL |
2.61 |
11.2% |
6.6% |
|
|
91 |
PIT |
MIA, @COL |
2.36 |
18.3% |
11.3% |
|
|
92 |
TB |
@ARI, @LAD |
4.60 |
19.4% |
6.1% |
|
|
93 |
TOR |
@SEA, OAK |
4.66 |
17.7% |
8.1% |
|
|
94 |
NYY |
DET |
3.41 |
23.5% |
7.8% |
|
|
95 |
CWS |
MIN-2 |
4.57 |
16.3% |
3.8% |
|
|
96 |
MIN |
@KC |
3.18 |
13.2% |
8.8% |
|
|
97 |
OAK |
@CIN |
4.41 |
19.1% |
7.4% |
|
|
98 |
OAK |
@TOR |
3.90 |
19.3% |
5.4% |
|
|
99 |
TOR |
OAK |
4.27 |
15.6% |
5.9% |
|
|
100 |
MIL |
@SF |
2.83 |
23.4% |
9.4% |
|
|
101 |
MIL |
@SF |
3.56 |
12.4% |
5.1% |
Additional Information: Roberto Hernandez is an enigma. A typical start usually consists of five brilliant innings and one blow-up inning. With Matt Moore going on the DL, gives Hernandez another 2-3 starts before he’s pushed into the bullpen. One of those starts is in the pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium, which provides an opportunity for a great start. Since coming off the DL, Ivan Nova has a 2.49 ERA, 1.06 WHIP with a 23 percent strikeout rate (in six starts), but the fear of a blow-up start is too high. Despite the poor results, I’m still a believer in Erasmo Ramirez. Even though his walk rate is double what it was last year, I’m putting more emphasis in the 2012 numbers than 2013 numbers.
