These fantasy baseball starting pitcher rankings were pulled Friday morning. Please be aware the matchups are subject to change. The data is up to date as of Thursday night.
Top starters
|
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Opp. |
ERA |
K% |
BB% |
|
1 |
Adam Wainwright |
STL |
@NYM, PIT |
1.80 |
28.1% |
7.9% |
|
2 |
Yu Darvish |
TEX |
@OAK, @SEA |
0.82 |
27.1% |
4.7% |
|
3 |
Jose Fernandez |
MIA |
@ATL, @NYM |
2.66 |
34.0% |
6.2% |
|
4 |
Cliff Lee |
PHI |
@LAD, @ARI |
4.00 |
23.3% |
1.7% |
|
5 |
Chris Sale |
CWS |
@DET, TB |
2.31 |
27.9% |
6.7% |
|
6 |
Felix Hernandez |
SEA |
HOU, TEX |
1.91 |
35.5% |
2.7% |
|
7 |
Anibal Sanchez |
DET |
CWS, @MIN |
3.21 |
28.8% |
13.6% |
|
8 |
Cole Hamels |
PHI |
@LAD, @ARI |
3.60 |
22.3% |
5.5% |
|
9 |
James Shields |
KC |
@CLE, @BAL |
2.00 |
24.1% |
5.6% |
|
10 |
Justin Verlander |
DET |
CWS, @MIN |
2.08 |
17.7% |
8.8% |
|
11 |
Stephen Strasburg |
WSH |
SD |
6.00 |
33.3% |
9.1% |
|
12 |
David Price |
TB |
MIN |
4.38 |
25.2% |
2.7% |
|
13 |
Max Scherzer |
DET |
CWS |
2.70 |
32.1% |
6.4% |
|
14 |
Michael Wacha |
STL |
@NYM |
1.89 |
23.7% |
3.9% |
|
15 |
Jordan Zimmermann |
WSH |
SD |
5.26 |
27.9% |
6.6% |
|
16 |
Homer Bailey |
CIN |
@ATL |
8.18 |
24.3% |
7.1% |
|
17 |
Ervin Santana |
ATL |
CIN |
0.64 |
34.0% |
4.0% |
|
18 |
Yordano Ventura |
KC |
@BAL |
0.69 |
27.1% |
6.3% |
|
19 |
Chris Tillman |
BAL |
@TOR |
0.85 |
18.1% |
3.6% |
|
20 |
Gio Gonzalez |
WSH |
LAA |
3.50 |
22.4% |
9.2% |
|
21 |
Gerrit Cole |
PIT |
@STL |
4.74 |
19.5% |
8.5% |
|
22 |
Madison Bumgarner |
SF |
@COL |
3.48 |
26.5% |
8.2% |
Additional information: Cliff Lee’s peripherals are essentially the same as 2013, but batters are hitting .342 against him. The batting average should regress because his ground ball rate is 50 percent, seven percentage points higher than last year. If you believed in Homer Bailey on draft day, then you shouldn’t lose faith after his last outing. There is no way he is going to continue to have a 46.2 percent HR/FB rate. In Madison Bumgarner’s career (52.2 innings) he has a 4.27 ERA and 1.41 WHIP at Coors Field, but if you own him you have to start him.
Backend starters
|
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Opp. |
ERA |
K% |
BB% |
|
23 |
Masahiro Tanaka |
NYY |
@BOS, LAA |
2.05 |
33.7% |
2.4% |
|
24 |
Johnny Cueto |
CIN |
@PIT, @ATL |
1.50 |
30.7% |
7.0% |
|
25 |
Andrew Cashner |
SD |
@MIL, @WSH |
1.27 |
24.3% |
7.2% |
|
26 |
Julio Teheran |
ATL |
MIA, CIN |
1.93 |
11.8% |
5.5% |
|
27 |
Jon Lester |
BOS |
NYY, @TOR |
2.17 |
25.7% |
3.5% |
|
28 |
Hyun-Jin Ryu |
LAD |
PHI, COL |
1.93 |
22.3% |
8.0% |
|
29 |
Zack Greinke |
LAD |
PHI |
2.76 |
31.3% |
3.0% |
|
30 |
Alex Wood |
ATL |
MIA |
1.67 |
23.1% |
6.7% |
|
31 |
Scott Kazmir |
OAK |
@HOU |
1.40 |
26.0% |
5.5% |
|
32 |
Hiroki Kuroda |
NYY |
LAA |
3.85 |
18.4% |
5.3% |
|
33 |
Michael Pineda |
NYY |
@BOS |
1.00 |
22.1% |
4.4% |
|
34 |
Justin Masterson |
CLE |
KC |
5.88 |
20.3% |
12.2% |
|
35 |
Chris Archer |
TB |
@CWS |
4.50 |
21.5% |
6.3% |
|
36 |
Jeff Samardzija |
CHC |
ARI |
1.29 |
19.0% |
6.3% |
|
37 |
Corey Kluber |
CLE |
KC |
5.39 |
20.8% |
3.9% |
|
38 |
Matt Cain |
SF |
@COL |
4.00 |
17.3% |
6.7% |
|
39 |
Tony Cingrani |
CIN |
@PIT |
2.60 |
29.0% |
13.0% |
|
40 |
Sonny Gray |
OAK |
TEX |
0.95 |
24.1% |
8.9% |
|
41 |
A.J. Burnett |
PHI |
@LAD |
2.74 |
14.4% |
15.4% |
|
42 |
Jered Weaver |
LAA |
@WSH |
5.78 |
22.7% |
9.3% |
Additional information: Matt Cain has a career 4.16 ERA and 1.25 WHIP at Coors Field. Most people remember the six earned runs in six innings he gave up in his first outing at Coors last year, but he also went eight innings and only gave up one earned run in his second outing. I haven’t been a Hyun-Jin Ryu fan, but this week he faces one of the worst offenses in the majors at home. The Rangers offense is not the great offense of years past; Adrian Beltre is on the DL and Prince Fielder looks more and more like 2002 version of Mo Vaughn.
Spot starters
|
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Opp. |
ERA |
K% |
BB% |
|
43 |
Clay Buchholz |
BOS |
BAL, @TOR |
5.52 |
19.5% |
2.6% |
|
44 |
Danny Salazar |
CLE |
KC, @SF |
7.71 |
25.8% |
12.1% |
|
45 |
Francisco Liriano |
PIT |
CIN, @STL |
3.96 |
26.7% |
9.5% |
|
46 |
Tim Hudson |
SF |
CLE |
2.35 |
19.0% |
0.0% |
|
47 |
Drew Smyly |
DET |
CWS |
0.00 |
30.0% |
5.0% |
|
48 |
Jesse Chavez |
OAK |
@HOU |
1.35 |
28.6% |
2.6% |
|
49 |
Alfredo Simon |
CIN |
@PIT |
1.20 |
17.9% |
3.6% |
|
50 |
Dan Haren |
LAD |
PHI |
2.03 |
20.8% |
2.8% |
|
51 |
John Lackey |
BOS |
NYY |
3.85 |
22.7% |
4.0% |
|
52 |
C.J. Wilson |
LAA |
@NYY |
3.91 |
29.6% |
7.4% |
|
53 |
Matt Garza |
MIL |
CHC |
3.43 |
20.0% |
4.7% |
|
54 |
Zack Wheeler |
NYM |
MIA |
4.68 |
20.0% |
6.7% |
|
55 |
Jon Niese |
NYM |
STL |
3.46 |
18.0% |
4.0% |
|
56 |
Kyle Lohse |
MIL |
SD |
3.04 |
25.0% |
8.3% |
|
57 |
Lance Lynn |
STL |
@NYM |
4.00 |
27.8% |
5.1% |
|
58 |
Charlie Morton |
PIT |
CIN |
3.32 |
17.5% |
6.3% |
|
59 |
Dillon Gee |
NYM |
STL, MIA |
3.71 |
16.2% |
6.7% |
|
60 |
Garrett Richards |
LAA |
@WSH, @NYY |
2.84 |
23.7% |
13.2% |
|
61 |
Travis Wood |
CHC |
ARI, @MIL |
3.00 |
23.2% |
4.9% |
|
62 |
Jason Hammel |
CHC |
ARI, @MIL |
3.04 |
21.1% |
6.6% |
|
63 |
Zach McAllister |
CLE |
KC, @SF |
2.03 |
20.8% |
8.3% |
|
64 |
Mike Leake |
CIN |
@PIT, @ATL |
2.96 |
17.1% |
6.1% |
|
65 |
Scott Feldman |
HOU |
@SEA, OAK |
1.69 |
8.6% |
8.6% |
|
66 |
Wily Peralta |
MIL |
SD, CHC |
1.97 |
17.3% |
6.7% |
|
67 |
Martin Perez |
TEX |
@OAK |
2.70 |
16.2% |
8.1% |
|
68 |
Jason Vargas |
KC |
@CLE |
1.64 |
14.6% |
6.1% |
|
69 |
Shelby Miller |
STL |
PIT |
4.68 |
19.2% |
12.3% |
|
70 |
Robbie Erlin |
SD |
@WSH |
3.19 |
31.1% |
2.2% |
|
71 |
Tyler Skaggs |
LAA |
@WSH |
3.43 |
13.1% |
4.8% |
Additional information: Danny Salazar has not got off to the start fantasy owners would like, but his stuff is among the best in the majors, and he faces two of the worst offenses in the majors this week. Look for a bounce back. Shelby Miller still does not look right; I don’t know what it is, specifically, but he has no control of his fastball, and he’s constantly missing up in the zone with it. Once he posts a great box score, I would look to sell high. If you’re in a shallow league and looking to stream starters, I always go with guys with low walk rates because the odds of them blowing up are less likely. Both Robbie Erlin and Tyler Skaggs fit that mold.
Proceed with caution
|
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Opp. |
ERA |
K% |
BB% |
|
72 |
Marco Estrada |
MIL |
CHC |
3.05 |
21.7% |
8.7% |
|
73 |
Nathan Eovaldi |
MIA |
@ATL |
4.20 |
24.7% |
1.3% |
|
74 |
Brandon Morrow |
TOR |
BOS |
5.51 |
26.2% |
9.2% |
|
75 |
Jake Peavy |
BOS |
@TOR |
1.93 |
26.0% |
13.0% |
|
76 |
Yovani Gallardo |
MIL |
SD |
1.46 |
19.2% |
7.1% |
|
77 |
Miguel Gonzalez |
BAL |
@TOR, KC |
6.29 |
15.6% |
7.8% |
|
78 |
Jake Odorizzi |
TB |
MIN, @CWS |
5.63 |
16.9% |
9.9% |
|
79 |
R.A. Dickey |
TOR |
BAL, BOS |
6.26 |
17.3% |
14.4% |
|
80 |
Tommy Milone |
OAK |
TEX, @HOU |
4.09 |
15.1% |
3.8% |
|
81 |
Ivan Nova |
NYY |
LAA |
5.93 |
10.7% |
6.7% |
|
82 |
Rick Porcello |
DET |
@MIN |
4.15 |
16.0% |
4.0% |
|
83 |
Brandon McCarthy |
ARI |
@CHC, PHI |
7.11 |
14.4% |
5.4% |
|
84 |
Dan Straily |
OAK |
TEX, @HOU |
5.39 |
21.7% |
5.8% |
|
85 |
Drew Hutchison |
TOR |
BAL |
3.67 |
23.8% |
12.7% |
|
86 |
Jose Quintana |
CWS |
@DET |
2.37 |
23.1% |
9.0% |
|
87 |
Mark Buehrle |
TOR |
BOS |
0.86 |
19.5% |
2.4% |
Additional information: Normally, I would not recommend Nate Eovaldi because of his inability to get out left-handed batters, but the Braves are predominately right-handed hitters and Atlanta is a pitcher friendly ballpark. Dan Straily’s fastball velocity is two mph less than last year. He gets a lot of late movement, which makes it extremely difficult to hit. However, I have to imagine an 88-89 mph fastball can miss bats for only so long. R.A. Dickey has looked bad in three of four starts. I was a huge believer in Dickey entering drafts but I’ve begun to lose some faith. He’s struggled against teams that are patient at the plate and work deep into counts, waiting for Dickey to throw slower knuckle ball for a strike. If Ivan Nova has fastball command, he’s a top 40 starting pitcher. Identifying when he will have command is difficult to guess.
Avoid
|
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Opp. |
ERA |
K% |
BB% |
|
88 |
Brad Peacock |
HOU |
OAK |
7.42 |
22.4% |
16.3% |
|
89 |
Edinson Volquez |
PIT |
CIN, @STL |
1.71 |
15.9% |
4.9% |
|
90 |
Wei-Yin Chen |
BAL |
@BOS, KC |
4.76 |
15.8% |
2.6% |
|
91 |
Felix Doubront |
BOS |
NYY |
6.73 |
11.8% |
10.3% |
|
92 |
Robbie Ross |
TEX |
@SEA |
1.00 |
17.3% |
10.7% |
|
93 |
Colby Lewis |
TEX |
@SEA |
6.79 |
16.7% |
0.0% |
|
94 |
Brandon Mauer |
SEA |
Tex |
– |
– |
– |
|
95 |
Wade Miley |
ARI |
@CHC |
5.04 |
18.3% |
7.7% |
|
96 |
Hector Santiago |
LAA |
@NYY |
4.97 |
18.3% |
9.9% |
|
97 |
Kyle Gibson |
MIN |
@TB |
0.93 |
13.2% |
11.8% |
|
98 |
Ricky Nolasco |
MIN |
@TB |
5.50 |
11.3% |
8.8% |
|
99 |
Erasmo Ramirez |
SEA |
HOU |
7.50 |
14.3% |
9.5% |
|
100 |
Aaron Harang |
ATL |
MIA |
0.96 |
24.3% |
8.6% |
|
101 |
Juan Nicasio |
COL |
@LAD |
3.50 |
20.5% |
5.5% |
Additional information: Colby Lewis looked good in bursts before giving up four earned runs. Despite a very good statistical start to the season, I’m not buying Kyle Gibson. He doesn’t miss a lot of bats and walks too many guys (eight walks in 11 innings). He is going to regress fast. The word out of Mariners camp is Brandon Mauer will get the start on Sunday (4/20), and if he performs well, he could pitch stay in the rotation. Mauer was never regarded as a highly touted prospect, but he has the stuff to be a very good streaming option for two reasons: He misses a decent number of bats and Seattle’s home ballpark.
