I hope you all dig the new format of the rankings. Please note the data are season totals as of May 17, 2013.
*Latest Notes: Jake Odorizzi is projected to start on Monday against the Blue Jays. I rank him 86th overall.
Top Starters
|
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Opp. |
ERA |
K% |
BB% |
|
1 |
Clayton Kershaw |
LAD |
Mon @MIL, Sun STL |
1.40 |
27.7% |
7.0% |
|
2 |
Shelby Miller |
STL |
Mon @SD, Sun @LAD |
1.40 |
29.1% |
6.1% |
|
3 |
Yu Darvish |
TEX |
Tue OAK |
2.97 |
36.3% |
8.0% |
|
4 |
Hisashi Iwakuma |
SEA |
Mon @CLE, Sun TEX |
1.84 |
25.1% |
3.7% |
|
5 |
Max Scherzer |
DET |
Tue @CLE, Sun MIN |
3.98 |
32.5% |
5.7% |
|
6 |
Jon Lester |
BOS |
Mon @CWS, Sat CLE |
2.71 |
20.9% |
6.3% |
|
7 |
Matt Harvey |
NYM |
Wed CIN |
1.55 |
29.2% |
6.0% |
|
8 |
Jake Peavy |
CWS |
Sat MIA |
2.95 |
28.7% |
4.5% |
|
9 |
Adam Wainwright |
STL |
Tue @SD |
2.50 |
24.9% |
2.0% |
|
10 |
Justin Verlander |
DET |
Wed @CLE |
3.17 |
26.4% |
8.8% |
|
11 |
Felix Hernandez |
SEA |
Sat TEX |
1.53 |
26.0% |
4.1% |
|
12 |
A.J. Burnett |
PIT |
Fri @MIL |
2.73 |
31.6% |
8.3% |
|
13 |
Cole Hamels |
PHI |
Mon @MIA, Sun @WSH |
4.60 |
19.5% |
10.0% |
|
14 |
Cliff Lee |
PHI |
Wed @MIA |
2.83 |
19.6% |
4.3% |
|
15 |
James Shields |
KC |
Wed @HOU |
2.45 |
24.3% |
5.9% |
|
16 |
Stephen Strasburg |
WSH |
Tue @SF |
2.83 |
23.3% |
7.6% |
|
17 |
Madison Bumgarner |
SF |
Wed WSH |
3.09 |
24.9% |
6.4% |
|
18 |
Matt Moore |
TB |
Sat NYY |
2.44 |
25.8% |
12.6% |
|
19 |
Jeff Samardzija |
CHC |
Wed @PIT |
3.49 |
27.2% |
8.9% |
|
20 |
Chris Sale |
CWS |
Wed BOS |
2.53 |
24.7% |
6.1% |
|
21 |
Lance Lynn |
STL |
Fri @LAD |
2.88 |
26.5% |
10.3% |
|
22 |
Clay Buchholz |
BOS |
Wed @CWS |
1.78 |
27.1% |
9.4% |
|
23 |
Johnny Cueto |
CIN |
Mon @NYM, Sun CHC |
2.60 |
26.1% |
8.7% |
|
24 |
Jordan Zimmermann |
WSH |
Fri PHI |
1.69 |
17.3% |
4.0% |
|
25 |
Mat Latos |
CIN |
Wed @NYM |
2.91 |
21.3% |
6.3% |
|
26 |
Zack Greinke |
LAD |
Tue @MIL |
1.62 |
22.2% |
1.6% |
|
27 |
CC Sabathia |
NYY |
Sat @TB |
3.19 |
21.6% |
6.0% |
|
28 |
Homer Bailey |
CIN |
Sat CHC |
3.51 |
24.9% |
6.7% |
Additional Information: Johnny Cueto is expected to come off the DL on Monday. He’s made two rehab starts (eight innings) and has allowed zero walks. A couple of days ago I wrote about Cole Hamels struggles were due not having command of his pitches. A start against the Marlins is too good to pass up. If he continues to struggle in Miami I’m going to start to panic. The Yankees are ranked 26th in OPS against left handed pitching, Matt Moore is a prime candidate for his eighth win.
Backend Starters
|
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Opp. |
ERA |
K% |
BB% |
|
29 |
Hiroki Kuroda |
NYY |
Wed @BAL |
1.99 |
17.0% |
6.1% |
|
30 |
Derek Holland |
TEX |
Sat @SEA |
2.93 |
21.9% |
5.0% |
|
31 |
Anibal Sanchez |
DET |
Fri MIN |
2.05 |
31.3% |
5.7% |
|
32 |
Alex Cobb |
TB |
Tue @TOR |
2.89 |
23.9% |
5.5% |
|
33 |
Doug Fister |
DET |
Sat MIN |
3.06 |
18.5% |
3.7% |
|
34 |
Mike Minor |
ATL |
Sat @NYM |
2.75 |
20.9% |
5.0% |
|
35 |
Ervin Santana |
KC |
Th LAA |
2.80 |
20.0% |
3.1% |
|
36 |
Gio Gonzalez |
WSH |
Wed @SF |
4.00 |
23.9% |
11.0% |
|
37 |
Matt Cain |
SF |
Tue WSH |
5.44 |
20.6% |
7.1% |
|
38 |
Andrew Cashner |
SD |
Sat @ARI |
2.84 |
17.5% |
10.4% |
|
39 |
R.A. Dickey |
TOR |
Fri BAL |
4.83 |
20.9% |
10.4% |
|
40 |
Kyle Lohse |
MIL |
Sat PIT |
3.49 |
16.3% |
4.9% |
Additional Information: Gio Gonzalez, in his last three starts has a 1.83 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, six walks and 16 strikeouts in 19.2 innings. Now he gets to pitch in the friendly confines of San Francisco. As a starter this year Andrew Cashner has a 2.19 ERA, 1.18 WHIP with nine walks and only 13 strikeouts. If he becomes more aggressive with his plus-plus fastball (he only throws it 51 percent of the time) he would have more strikeouts and could be a top 15 starting pitcher. R.A. Dickey’s knuckleball, in his last start, looked the best it has all year.
Spot Starters
|
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Opp. |
ERA |
K% |
BB% |
|
41 |
Dan Haren |
WSH |
Sat PHI |
4.77 |
15.6% |
3.0% |
|
42 |
Jose Fernandez |
MIA |
Tue PHI |
3.48 |
24.3% |
9.4% |
|
43 |
Tommy Milone |
OAK |
Fri @HOU |
3.71 |
21.1% |
4.2% |
|
44 |
Paul Maholm |
ATL |
Wed MIN |
3.83 |
19.1% |
8.3% |
|
45 |
Jeremy Guthrie |
KC |
Mon @HOU, Sat LAA |
2.82 |
13.5% |
7.6% |
|
46 |
Patrick Corbin |
ARI |
Mon @COL, Sun SD |
1.52 |
19.5% |
8.1% |
|
47 |
Matt Garza |
CHC |
Tue @PIT, Sun @CIN |
– |
– |
– |
|
48 |
Wade Davis |
KC |
Tue @HOU, Sun LAA |
5.97 |
15.8% |
9.5% |
|
49 |
Wandy Rodriguez |
PIT |
Tue CHC, Sun @MIL |
3.25 |
17.8% |
5.0% |
|
50 |
C.J. Wilson |
LAA |
Wed SEA |
3.72 |
20.1% |
12.0% |
|
51 |
A.J. Griffin |
OAK |
Sat @HOU |
3.48 |
18.4% |
6.1% |
|
52 |
Brandon Morrow |
TOR |
Th BAL |
4.69 |
19.1% |
9.6% |
|
53 |
Brandon McCarthy |
ARI |
Fri SD |
5.63 |
14.9% |
2.8% |
|
54 |
Ryan Dempster |
BOS |
Th CLE |
3.75 |
31.1% |
9.7% |
|
55 |
Yovani Gallardo |
MIL |
Mon LAD, Sun PIT |
4.50 |
15.8% |
8.8% |
|
56 |
Kris Medlen |
ATL |
Fri @NYM |
3.44 |
14.8% |
8.5% |
|
57 |
David Phelps |
NYY |
Fri @TB |
4.33 |
25.2% |
9.9% |
|
58 |
Hector Santiago |
CWS |
Fri MIA |
2.23 |
23.5% |
6.1% |
|
59 |
Chris Tillman |
BAL |
Fri @TOR |
3.40 |
18.7% |
10.1% |
|
60 |
John Lackey |
BOS |
Fri CLE |
4.04 |
22.7% |
6.7% |
|
61 |
Kyle Kendrick |
PHI |
Fri @WSH |
2.47 |
17.6% |
4.5% |
|
62 |
Wade Miley |
ARI |
Sat SD |
3.75 |
17.2% |
9.3% |
|
63 |
Julio Teheran |
ATL |
Mon MIN, Sun @NYM |
4.58 |
14.3% |
4.4% |
|
64 |
Bartolo Colon |
OAK |
Mon @TEX, Sun @HOU |
4.57 |
14.3% |
1.1% |
|
65 |
Phil Hughes |
NYY |
Mon @BAL, Sun @TB |
5.88 |
20.1% |
6.0% |
|
66 |
Hyun-Jin Ryu |
LAD |
Wed @MIL |
3.42 |
24.2% |
8.7% |
Additional Information: Over his last four starts Dan Haren has quietly a 3.00 ERA, 0.93 WHIP with only two walks in 27 innings. If he’s available in your league go get him. C.J. Wilson is walking 12 percent of the batters, the most in his career since 2008. It’s looking more and more like 2011 is his career outlier and a blend of 2012 and 2010 is more indicative of his talent level. If Bartolo Colon wasn’t pitching against the Astros he would be somewhere in the mid-80s. In his last four starts he has a 7.17 ERA and batters are hitting .314 against him. Beware of Hyun-Jin Ryu at Milwaukee. The Brewers have the second highest OPS in the league against left handers. David Phelps pitched another great game today (May 18) and he’s available in 40 percent of NFBC leagues. On Monday his ownership should be in 90s. After watching Madison Bumgarner and Matt Cain get lit up in Colorado, I’m not starting any pitcher in Colorado. Patrick Corbin has an awful matchup in Colorado and a great matchup against the Padres. If you own him, I’d try to sit him.
Proceed With Caution
|
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Opp. |
ERA |
K% |
BB% |
|
67 |
Justin Grimm |
TEX |
Fri @SEA |
4.27 |
22.4% |
8.6% |
|
68 |
Ross Detwiler |
WSH |
Sun PHI |
2.76 |
11.7% |
5.1% |
|
69 |
Justin Masterson |
CLE |
Fri @BOS |
3.14 |
23.2% |
9.3% |
|
70 |
Andy Pettitte |
NYY |
Tue @BAL |
3.83 |
18.8% |
7.2% |
|
71 |
Ricky Nolasco |
MIA |
Sat @CWS |
4.39 |
17.4% |
5.8% |
|
72 |
Mike Leake |
CIN |
Tue @NYM |
3.73 |
16.1% |
6.2% |
|
73 |
Kevin Slowey |
MIA |
Wed PHI |
3.44 |
17.1% |
5.5% |
|
74 |
Bronson Arroyo |
CIN |
Fri CHC |
3.76 |
14.0% |
3.7% |
|
75 |
Tyler Chatwood |
COL |
Sat @SF |
3.00 |
16.0% |
6.0% |
|
76 |
Tim Hudson |
ATL |
Tue MIN |
5.12 |
18.1% |
7.0% |
|
77 |
Zach McAllister |
CLE |
Th @BOS |
2.68 |
17.8% |
7.0% |
|
78 |
Jose Quintana |
CWS |
Tue BOS |
3.97 |
17.8% |
6.8% |
|
79 |
Nick Tepesch |
TEX |
Wed OAK |
3.98 |
16.8% |
7.0% |
|
80 |
Kevin Correia |
MIN |
Mon @ATL, Sat @DET |
3.35 |
10.1% |
3.7% |
|
81 |
Scott Feldman |
CHC |
Fri @CIN |
2.53 |
18.2% |
9.4% |
|
82 |
Travis Wood |
CHC |
Sat @CIN |
2.03 |
17.7% |
8.4% |
Additional Information: Ross Detwiler may miss his start with an oblique strain so monitor his situation closely. If he misses his start Zach Duke may be called upon in his stead. Don’t let the 2.03 from Travis Wood fool you. If you start him, you will be sorry. I’m not buying Zach McAllister at all. Other than Detroit and maybe Boston, he hasn’t faced a good offense yet. If you’re looking for a starter that will not crush your ratios then Bronson Arroyo is a relatively safe starter this week.
Avoid
|
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Opp. |
ERA |
K% |
BB% |
|
83 |
Scott Kazmir |
CLE |
Mon SEA, Sat @BOS |
5.34 |
25.0% |
7.1% |
|
84 |
Jarrod Parker |
OAK |
Wed @TEX |
6.04 |
15.9% |
10.9% |
|
85 |
Edwin Jackson |
CHC |
Th @PIT |
5.76 |
20.1% |
9.2% |
|
86 |
Corey Kluber |
CLE |
Tue DET, Sun @BOS |
5.41 |
20.7% |
5.0% |
|
87 |
Marco Estrada |
MIL |
Fri PIT |
5.32 |
22.3% |
6.6% |
|
88 |
Tim Lincecum |
SF |
Fri COL |
4.07 |
24.8% |
11.0% |
|
89 |
Jonathan Pettibone |
PHI |
Sat @WSH |
3.41 |
13.9% |
6.6% |
|
90 |
Roberto Hernandez |
TB |
Fri NYY |
4.43 |
22.3% |
7.1% |
|
91 |
Juan Nicasio |
COL |
Fri @SF |
5.14 |
15.2% |
9.6% |
|
92 |
Jaime Garcia |
STL |
Wed @SD |
3.58 |
18.4% |
6.4% |
|
93 |
Tyler Cloyd |
PHI |
Tue @MIA |
2.86 |
17.4% |
13.0% |
|
94 |
Brandon Maurer |
SEA |
Wed @LAA |
5.75 |
16.1% |
8.0% |
|
95 |
Alexander Torres |
TB |
Mon @TOR, Sun NYY |
0.00 |
0.0% |
0.0% |
|
96 |
Francisco Liriano |
PIT |
Wed CHC |
1.64 |
32.0% |
10.0% |
|
97 |
Jordan Lyles |
HOU |
Wed KC |
6.63 |
18.5% |
8.7% |
|
98 |
Ubaldo Jimenez |
CLE |
Wed DET |
5.31 |
26.2% |
11.3% |
|
99 |
Felix Doubront |
BOS |
Tue @CWS, Sun CLE |
6.03 |
23.7% |
12.4% |
|
100 |
Chris Capuano |
LAD |
Fri STL |
6.60 |
18.3% |
8.5% |
|
101 |
Bud Norris |
HOU |
Sat OAK |
4.32 |
15.1% |
8.3% |
Additional Information: Jarrod Parker pitched his best game last night against the Royals. Do you think the trend continues in Texas? I don’t. After giving up five earned runs in two innings today (May 18) is it possible Roberto Hernandez’s days in the Rays rotation are over? With Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi wasting away in triple-a I have to believe so. Last year Juan Nicasio had 2.81 ERA abd 1.29 WHIP in four road games. If you’re looking at pitchers this low on the list you will take any positive trend you can find. Corey Kluber is not as bad as the 5.41 ERA would indicate, but two weeks ago he faced Detroit and he gave up eight earned runs in 4.2 innings.
