MLB Fantasy News 2012

[HacheMan]

Wright Gone Wrong

The Mets are off to a surprising 4-1 start and currently sit alone atop the National League East standings. But not everything is rosy this morning in Queens.

X-rays taken Tuesday evening on the right pinkie finger of Mets third baseman David Wright revealed a small fracture. It’s not the type of injury that will require surgery, but Wright told reporters that he couldn’t even grip a bat on Tuesday. He has been fitted with a protective splint and is being labeled as “out indefinitely.”

The Mets are hoping a visit to the Hospital for Special Surgery on Wednesday will yield an exact recovery timetable.

Wright, 29, was off to a 7-for-12 start and appeared poised to re-emerge as a major power threat this season courtesy of the reconfigured walls at Citi Field. Maybe he’ll only miss a couple of weeks and be able pick up right where he left off. But it’s the Mets, and it’s Wright, and we can’t fight back the thoughts of doom and gloom.

If Wright is out for an extended period of time, the Mets will likely shift Daniel Murphy to third base and hand starting second base duties over to either Jordany Valdespin or Justin Turner. Phillips Signs Extension, Is Out 3-4 Days

Just eight days ago, the Reds signed first baseman Joey Votto to a massive 10-year, $225 million contract extension. It seemed like a wild commitment for such a small-market team, and it led most in the industry to assume that impending free agent Brandon Phillips would be allowed to walk at the end of this season.

Not so.

Phillips agreed to a six-year, $72.5 million extension of his own on Tuesday afternoon that will keep him in Cincinnati through the 2017 season. When you consider his age (he turns 31 years old in July) and the fact that much of his game is predicated on athleticism and speed, it seems like a risky deal. But the Reds have locked up two All-Stars in two weeks and can probably feel comfortable about remaining competitive in the National League Central for the next several years. Now if only the Queen City faithful would start showing up.

Phillips was off to a 4-for-15 start before tweaking his hamstring while running the bases during Monday’s loss to the Cardinals. The second baseman is expected to be out of the Reds’ lineup until the weekend.

Former Relievers Make Starting Debuts

On Tuesday night, former setup man Chris Sale made a spectacular debut in the White Sox starting rotation, throwing 6 2/3 innings of one-run, three-hit ball against the Indians. He struck out five batters, made it to 100 pitches without any noticeable fatigue and picked up his first win of the 2012 campaign.

But Sale isn’t the only guy making the big transition this summer.

In Texas, former closer Neftali Feliz fired seven innings of shutout ball against the Mariners, fanning four batters while surrendering only four hits. His velocity was down from where it was when he was locking down saves for the Rangers, but that’s to be expected and he still looked plenty dominant.

Things didn’t go quite as smoothly in Toronto, where Daniel Bard made his first career major league start for the Red Sox. He struck out six Blue Jays hitters and issued just one walk, but the 26-year-old former setup man yielded five earned runs on eight hits as Boston fell to 1-4 on the young season.

Nats’ Morse Suffers Significant Setback

The Nationals were hoping to have slugger Michael Morse in their starting lineup for Thursday’s home opener against the Reds. Unfortunately, that will not be happening.

Morse felt renewed discomfort in the area of his strained right lat Monday while making relay throws during a rehab game at Single-A Hagerstown. He pulled himself in the seventh inning and has now been shut down indefinitely.

The Nats are optimistic that Morse didn’t suffer a full-blown re-injury, but he’s likely to sit out for the next several days and could struggle to be cleared for major league action by the end of April. The 30-year-old first baseman and corner-outfielder batted .303/.360/.550 with 31 home runs and 95 RBI in 575 plate appearances last year. He is certainly going to be missed on Thursday afternoon in the nation's capital.

National League Quick Hits: Cardinals first baseman Lance Berkman is day-to-day with tightness in his left calf … Chipper Jones homered Tuesday in his first game since being activated from the disabled list … An MRI taken Tuesday on Dustin Moseley’s right shoulder revealed “extensive damage” … Justin Upton is day-to-day with a jammed left thumb … The Brewers have suspended long-term contract negotiations with right-handed starter Zack Greinke … Chris Carpenter is undergoing a round of tests on his shoulder back in St. Louis and could be cleared to begin a throwing program if enough progress is shown … Braves closer Craig Kimbrel picked up his first save of 2012 on Tuesday against the Astros … Ross Detwiler tossed five shutout innings against the Mets Tuesday in his regular-season debut … The Padres may call up Joe Wieland to make his major league debut on Saturday … Cardinals third baseman David Freese has already accumulated three homers and 10 RBI through the first six games of the season … Clayton Kershaw held the Pirates to a run and four hits in seven innings Tuesday … Reds reliever Nick Masset (shoulder) has not been cleared to begin a throwing program.

American League Quick Hits: A’s reliever Joey Devine needs a second Tommy John surgery … Carl Crawford was sent back to Boston to have his left elbow examined after complaining of mild soreness … Edwin Encarnacion homered and stole two bases Tuesday in the Blue Jays’ defeat of the Red Sox … Mariano Rivera recorded his first save of the season Tuesday in the Yankees’ extra-innings win over the Orioles … Rangers closer Joe Nathan picked up his second save of the 2012 campaign Tuesday with a scoreless ninth inning against the Mariners … Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts (concussion) has progressed to daily batting practice … David Murphy went 3-for-3 on Tuesday and is now batting .533 this year … Mike Aviles is day-to-day with a twisted left ankle … Blue Jays closer Sergio Santos will be absent from Thursday through Saturday due to the birth of his child … A’s left-hander Brett Anderson threw a bullpen session Tuesday for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery … Brendan Ryan was benched Tuesday because of an "accountability" issue … Jose Valverde picked up his first save Tuesday against the Rays as the Tigers improved to 4-0 … Luke Scott is day-to-day with a left hamstring pull … Making his 2012 debut, Matt Moore yielded two runs in 6 2/3 innings Tuesday against the Tigers.

 

[HacheMan]

Dastardly Debuts
Tier 1: Elite (5) (AKA: The "Juan Marichal one-hit the Giants with 12 strikeouts… at 19 years old" Tier.)


Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves
Jonathan Papelbon,Philadelphia Phillies
John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers
Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees

Apologies to Bob Feller, who struck out eight in three innings at seventeen years old, but Marichal's game actually counted in the standings. Feller's was an exhibition. Both had classic deliveries that would make for great additions to today's game, but Marichal threw a complete-game one-hitter in his debut. Doesn't get much better than that.

This is supposedly the last year we get to wonder when the magic will run out for Mariano Rivera. He gave us the courtesy of starting the season in that mode even. His velocity is down more than two miles per hour off last year's number, which was already a mile per hour lower than his career average, so there could be something there. On the other hand, these tiers are not all abut inherent talent. Job security matters, and there isn't a closer in the game that has the security of Mariano Rivera. He'll harness his control, get just under a strikeout per inning, and give good ratios by the end of the season. That seems like a lock even now.

Jonathan Papelbon gets a slight demerit for also losing a tick on his fastball, and also for not throwing his split-finger yet, at least according to some PITCH f/x classifications. It's probably nothing -- the Phillies haven't had many save opportunities for him yet, and you never know what a closer is doing in those non-save chances. Oh and remember that Tier 2: Rock Steady (5) (AKA: The "Babe Ruth gave up two runs in seven innings and went 0-for-2 at the plate at 19" Tier.)


Joel Hanrahan, Pittsburgh Pirates
J.J. Putz, Arizona Diamondbacks
Jordan Walden, Anaheim Angels
Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers
Heath Bell, Miami Marlins

Once again, you have the young debut. Once again, you have a successful pitching debut. This time though, the pitching wasn't dominant, and the player ended up being more well known for his hitting. It was still an interesting debut for the Babe. These pitchers are all great pitchers, but their best shine probably doesn't outsparkle Marichal on his first night.

There's little reason to move guys around in this tier. Well, we'll move Bell down because he blew a save and is down a tick on the radar gun. He wasn't getting many swinging strikes, and he's on a two-year decline in that category, so it's something worth watching. It does look like his home park is a nice one for pitchers, though, so he's still a top closer.

The top half of this tier all have the upside to better a strikeout per inning, with good control for the most part. Well, excellent control for the Hammer and J.J. Putz, but good enough for Walden, who's been better since he moved to the pen. Bell and Tier 3: OK options (6) (AKA: The "Huge J.R. Richard strikes out 15" Tier.


Jason Motte, St. Louis Cardinals
Brian Wilson, San Francisco Giants
Brandon League, Seattle Mariners

Sergio Santos, Toronto Blue Jays
Rafael Betancourt, Colorado Rockies
Huston Street, San Diego Padres

All six-foot eight-inches of J.R. Richard made quite the debut with the Astros, but the next big thing was not quite as huge as he was supposed to be. Well, he did have the strikeout punch, but he never quite found the health of the control that he needed to. In that same way, these closers all look good at first glance but have some question marks lurking.

We're going to have to move Sergio Santos back to his old tier. He's blown two saves in the early season, and he's walked four guys in three appearances, against one strikeout. His velocity is a little down, too, but if we give him a pass on that because of his age and it being the early season, then it's the control that's more worrisome. The former shortstop has thrown fewer than 150 innings in his entire Major League career, so we can't be sure that he's a four walks per nine guy. What if his control is worse? You can't sell him now, but watch his control most of all.

Brandon League won't ever strike out a full batter per inning, and closers usually give you extra strikeout punch. That's why Jason Motte and Tier 4: Question marks (9) (AKA: The "Satchel Paige strikes out two, allows four runs in two innings… at 48 years old" Tier.)

Sean Marshall, Cincinnati Reds
Frank Francisco, New York Mets
Joe Nathan, Texas Rangers
Jim Johnson, Baltimore Orioles
Brett Myers, Houston Astros
Grant Balfour, Oakland Athletics
Matt Capps, Minnesota Twins
Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs

Jonathan Broxton, Kansas City Royals

Javy Guerra, Los Angeles Dodgers

Actually, that's quite the debut for a 48 year old. And the wait was no fault of his own, as Paige was relegated to the Negro Leagues for most of his career. But his unique debut is a good fit for these closers, who may find ways to hold on to their roles in unique ways.

Sean Marshall -- for example -- is a lefty, and lefty closers are rare. But, ever since he's moved to the bullpen, Marshall has struck out batters at a great rate, shown above-average control, and paired it with a great ground-ball rate. He has the peripherals to succeed.

Joe Nathan moves down the list a little bit for giving up a game-losing home run to Alex Rios last week. He's a fly ball pitcher, though, so the big flys will happen from time to time. The better news is that he's picked up some velocity over last year, and if he can add another half-tick, he'll be right at his career norms. A healthy year will still mean all the saves he can handle and the occasional home run.

Don't let anyone tell you that closers on bad teams aren't useful. The Mets aren't probably a terrible team, but they'd be lucky to compete with the top teams in their division, and they gave Frank Francisco three straight save chances in their first three games. Brandon League Jr -- Jim Johnson -- has two saves. Brett Myers has a save and adds the ability to give you saves from your starter spot if you need him to. Grant Balfour has two saves already.

Carlos Marmol? We may have a problem. Three walks against no strikeouts. A blown save in which he didn't record an out. A team that already took him out of the closer's role last year. A team that wouldn't hesitate to trade him if he recovered trade value. The only thing missing is a clear heir apparent. Kerry Wood could take over the role if he wasn't busy blowing games himself. James Russell is a lefty with a bad platoon split. Rafael Dolis is a ground-ball guy without the strikeout punch of a closer (and an iffy walk rate to boot). Rodrigo Lopez? Rodrigo Lopez. Marmol has some leash.

Jonathan Broxton might be on his way up these tiers. In his save against the Angels last Sunday, he hit 98 on the gun and pumped sliders past Kendrys Morales. If his velocity is back, the swinging strikes should be here to stay, and the iffy walk rate will become much more palatable again. Greg Holland is a great pitcher and may close for the Royals in the future, but suddenly Broxton looks like Broxton again. Aaron Crow only got the save Tuesday night because rain shortened the game.

The closer he left behind in Los Angeles, me on twitter, he's been a little better since he moved to the pen full time. He lasted started a game in 2008. Since 2009, he's walked 58 batters in 115 1/3 innings for a 4.5 BB/9. That's not great, but it's better than walk rates before, which were routinely above five per nine. If Guerra can strike out a batter per inning, then he'll have a 2-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a decent ground-ball rate and could hold the job all year. Now, since he only had an average swinging strike rate and a 7.33 K/9 last year, that next part is no given, but we have to admit that there's a possibility that Guerra keeps this job all year.

Read more about the most volatile closer situations on the next page.
<!--RW-->Tier 5: Rollercoaster rides (6) (AKA: The "Alfredo Aceves' first attempt at closing for the Red Sox" Tier.)

Hector Santiago (first chair), Matt Thornton (second chair), Addison Reed (third chair), Chicago White Sox

Chris Perez (first chair), Vinnie Pestano (second chair), Cleveland Indians
Henry Rodriguez (fourth chair), Brad Lidge (second chair), Washington Nationals
Alfredo Aceves (first chair), Mark Melancon (second chair), Boston Red Sox
Fernando Rodney (first chair), Joel Peralta (second chair), Tampa Bay Rays

What a debut. The Red Sox see their vaunted closer head to the other league, and trade for two closers to replace him. Then both of them just straight implode in their debuts. Expect more implosions from this tier, which coincidentally, contains Alfredo Aceves.

Hector Santiago is not your typical lefty -- he has a screwball which moves in a way that can help him mitigate any platoon splits. The rookie might be fine if he wasn't surrounded by excellent other options. Addison Reed has blown by every level he's ever seen, Matt Thornton is an excellent lefty, and even Jesse Crain could hold the job down. They all throw pretty hard, too. Don't get too comfortable with Santiago.

Chris Perez may not be missing velocity -- the radar gun in Cleveland that day was down two MPH for everyone -- but that doesn't mean he's not a bad pitcher. He hasn't gotten swinging strikes at an average rate since he came to the American League. He hasn't shown average control, ever. He's an extreme fly ball pitcher. He's even a fastball/slider righty, which means that lefties love him (and lo and behold, his walk rate doubles against southpaw hitters). There's absolutely no underlying peripheral to like about Perez. You can't sell him, but try handcuffing him with Vinnie Pestano at least.

Let's give Henry Rodriguez and his triple-digit fastball velocity the nose over Brad Lidge the longer Drew Storen is out. Both are worth owning, but any time an old pitcher throws his slider 67% of the tie, you have to be worried. Not only does the pitch put more stress on the elbow, but it's just such a backwards way of pitching that it seems risky. Rodriguez is risky because of his poor control, but he does have three pitches and should be immune to platoon issues. He just needs to corral that ball!

Ah. The Boston Save Massacre. The general manager and the manager both insist that there will be no role changes because of the disastrous first week, but that doesn't mean that there won't be role change later. Aceves is a strange fit for the closer's role -- his best asset is his ability to swing between the rotation and the closer's role. Then again, perhaps focusing on the bullpen will help his stuff play up. His stuff needs some help, as he hasn't managed to garner swinging strikes at an average rate so far, and his control can only take him so far. Melancon has gotten the swinging strikes -- even this year -- and has paired it with average control and above-average ground ball rates so far. You might get laughed at for picking him up, but Melancon seems like just as much of a possibility at closer as Aceves.

Fernando Rodney has gotten two saves, but he only got an out each time. Injured


Andrew Bailey, Oakland Athletics
Kyle Farnsworth, Tampa Bay Rays
Drew Storen, Washington Nationals

That Bailey surgery sounds pretty intense. He could end up being out into August, meaning the Boston situation will continue on for most of the season. Kyle Farnsworth is only supposed to be out for six weeks, but a strain is a tear, so it's not like he's not hurt at all.

The Deposed


None… yet. The Steals Department

Rafael Furcal is disappearing off of waiver wires everywhere right now, and for good reason. He spent the first week looking healthy, peppering singles and doubles, and stealing two bags in his first five games. Of course, he got lucky on some of those -- half of his balls in play have landed for hits, and that rate is usually one-third. And Furcal has only managed 43 steals over the last three seasons combined, so he's not a great source of speed overall. But picking up steals can be an incremental thing. If he'll steal twice as many bags as Marco Scutaro, for example, that still nets you more than five steals in the final calculation. Without costing you too much anywhere else.

Jordan Schafer was quite the pick last week, let's see if we can keep the bar high in the deep league portion of the steals department. Ruben Tejada is owned in a league or two more than Schafer, but perhaps he can help your middle infield. He'll only steal about 20 or so -- he's no Jose Reyes -- but he's now atop the Mets batting order and still showing the patience he showed in the eight hole. That might stick even once Andres Torres returns from the disabled list, considering that Torres has on-base issues of his own. The problems in New York are many, but the lineup boasts a regular at every position projected to get on-base at a better than league-average rate. The Mets should score some runs -- the question is how many they prevent, or how healthy their thin rotation can be -- and Tejada will be a big part of that, at least in the short run.

 

[HacheMan]

Where is the line?

By Matthew Berry | ESPN.com

I love "Star Wars." I'm not alone, of course. One of the most successful movie franchises in history, "Star Wars: A New Hope" has grossed almost $800 million worldwide since being released in 1977 -- not accounting for inflation -- before you even start counting what it's made in rentals, Beta and VHS tapes, DVDs, Blu-Ray, downloads and all the merchandising. (Click here to see my personal favorite.) Like many others, I've lost track of how many times I've seen the movie. Tons. So recently, I was staying at home on a Friday night with the twins, letting Mrs. Roto enjoy a night out with her friends, and I happened upon it on cable. Obi-Wan was dueling Vader to allow Luke and Han to escape with Leia and I knew I was in the rest of the way.

So I tweeted to all in general … "What's the best quote from a Star Wars movie?"
Hundreds of responses came in and I retweeted a bunch of them but I decided the best one is, of course, "Luke, I am your father."
Of course, as soon as I tweeted that, the responses started flying back all pointing out that, while that's the way everyone remembers the quote, it's not actually the quote.

The correct quote is, (spoiler alert!) after Darth cuts Luke's hand off, he says, "I am your father."
I actually gasped out loud when I saw that scene for the first time (I was an easily surprised kid, apparently). But the point is, it's one of a number of famous movie lines that actually were never actually said.
Like, "Play it again, Sam" is never actually said in Casablanca. The closest Bogart comes to saying it is when he tells the piano player (named Sam), "You played it for her, you can play it for me … if she can stand it I can. Play it!"
"Beam me up, Scotty" was never actually said during the Star Trek TV show. "Just the facts, ma'am" was never said during the original TV show "Dragnet." The quote everyone uses from "The Wizard of Oz" is "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Toto" but what Dorothy actually said was "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." And that's just the few I found after upwards of two minutes of cruising famous misquotations sites. Which, admittedly, for me, is a lot of research.
In baseball, lots of people like to talk about "The Mendoza Line," which refers to Mario Mendoza, your prototypical all-glove, no-bat shortstop who played from 1974 to 1982. His lack of batting ability became a running joke, but while everyone considers the Mendoza line to be .200, Mario Mendoza actually has a career batting average of .215.
I bring up all of these issues of misperception because there are plenty about "The Wandy Line." It's a simple streaming pitchers philosophy for ESPN standard 10-team leagues which I named after Wandy Rodriguez, whom, at the time, I felt was right on the border between starting pitchers who must be rostered no matter what and guys you can cut and pick back up if the matchup is right, but otherwise not worry about losing. Now, of course, Wandy is well below the Wandy line, but just like Obi-Wan never said, "May the Force be with you" (he actually says "The Force will be with you … always"), I will keep the Wandy Line name because it sounds better than where the line actually stands, which is what we'll establish today.
If you read my preseason Draft Day Manifesto, you know I linked to this chart from our draft kit which showed the average stats you needed in each category to get X number of points, and how many points teams scored in each category, by finishing position, over the past three years. For example, it reveals that teams that finished first in home runs in a 10-team league averaged 310 home runs over the past three years, but that the average first-place team actually finished third (earning eight points) in home runs, which required an average of 280 home runs. That sort of thing.
The chart shows the data for all 10 standard rotisserie categories, but there's one it doesn't show. And it's probably the most important one of all.
At-bats.
Over the past three years, the typical ESPN 10-team standard rotisserie league-winning team has led its league in at-bats.
In addition, the hitting category winning teams score more points in than any other? Runs. Makes sense. As I wrote in my Draft Day Manifesto this year, runs scored is an underrated stat. We're more impressed by big homers and big RBI totals or big batting averages. But runs, while not flashy, are a product of good baseball. You get at-bats and you get on base? You're going to score some runs, along with helping in the other categories, because the more at-bats you get, the more likely you are to get a hit, drive in a run, crank one out of the park or swipe a base. And while you can get multiple RBIs or even multiple steals from one plate appearance, you can score only one run at a time. That is also true for home runs, of course, but not every batter is a home run hitter. But every batter is a potential run scorer. So by making sure you get as many at-bats as possible, you're giving yourself the most chances that something good is going to happen. And if you take an 0-for-5 that day? So be it. You know which category winning teams averaged the least points in the past three years? Batting average.
The pitching category that winning teams averaged the most points in? Strikeouts. Which also makes sense. More strikeouts generally means you are pitching well and you are pitching deeper in games, which gives you a better chance at wins. Plus more innings can more easily absorb those bad ERA and WHIP starts.
I'm not guaranteeing that if you win runs scored, strikeouts and accumulate the most at-bats that you will win your league, but I guarantee you'll be in the running to do so. And that's all we're shooting for in April.
And the key to doing just that? The Wandy Line.
The idea behind the Wandy Line is that it allows you to maximize at-bats and non-starter innings. In ESPN standard leagues, everyone has a 200-start limit. We'll talk about maximizing those 200 starts in a second, but since we all have the same limit, the place to gain an advantage is in every stat you can get without using up one of those 200 starts. There are no limits on how many at-bats you can accumulate or how many innings you can pitch.

For four out of every five games, your starting pitchers are not earning you anything. You are getting a zero from that roster slot. And considering you get only three bench slots in ESPN standard leagues, every spot is really, really valuable.
There are some pitchers that are so good, so elite, so consistent that they are worth burning that empty slot for four-day stretches. Those pitchers are considered Above the Wandy Line. There's a secret handshake and everyone gets a decoder ring.
Everyone else is expendable.
Ideally, every single day your starting lineup has an active hitter in all 13 spots, whatever starting pitchers you have actually starting that day are active, and the rest of your slots are occupied by a bunch of relievers -- either closers or high-upside setup guys who get strikeouts and pitch those high-leverage innings in which they can vulture a win (Aroldis Chapman has two already this season) or back into a save.
And how do we accomplish this? By getting rid of any starting pitcher that isn't above the Wandy Line or starting that day. Your three bench spots should be occupied only by ATWL pitchers who aren't starting, or hitters who aren't playing but you can't throw back.
As for the pitching slots, better to have a middle guy that at least has a chance to pitch and contribute. There will be days when those guys don't get in the game, but at least they have a shot. And on those days that they do, those additional strikeouts and quality innings will add up.
So on any given day, your active pitchers are one of three types of players:


• A pitcher who is actually starting that day with a good matchup. • A closer or a good middle reliever who ideally gets strikeouts.
• A starter who is above the Wandy Line but you couldn't bench because you needed those bench slots for hitters who aren't starting and needed to be replaced by pickups.


That's it. If he's a starter who is not above the Wandy Line and is not going today and there's someone on the waiver wire that you could put into your starting lineup that day, then kiss him goodbye. Doesn't always have to be a starter. In fact, with only 200 starts, it shouldn't be a starter a lot of the time. It should be an offensive player to fill a hole that day or a reliever.


Look, I'm writing this on Wednesday. So check out Tuesday's top performances as sorted by our ESPN game score. The 10 best starting pitching performances on that day were by, in order, Danny Duffy, Clayton Kershaw, Neftali Feliz, Ross Detwiler, Edinson Volquez, Trevor Cahill, Kyle Lohse, Kevin Correia, Blake Beavan and Kyle Drabek.
Outside the top 10 were guys like Matt Moore and Tommy Hanson. Of the top 10 pitchers, only Kershaw, Feliz and Lohse (after his Opening Day start) are owned in most leagues. The other seven are widely available. It's only one day and I'm not saying you should drop Moore to start Correia. But pick any day you want. The results are the same. Other than the elite guys, you have just as good a chance as getting a good start out of a guy you streamed in because of a good matchup as you do by starting a solid top-50 starting pitcher.
According to our stats chart, to get third place in ERA the past three years required a 3.46 ERA. To get third place in WHIP, you've needed a 1.22 WHIP. And to get third in strikeouts, you've need 1,343. Which, divided by 200, is 6.7. Which sounds good to me. Let's shoot for at least six strikeouts a game and anything we get from relief will be gravy.
Using those baselines -- 3.46 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and at least six strikeouts -- I looked at every start from last year in which pitchers went at least seven innings while getting at least six strikeouts but giving up two or fewer runs and eight or fewer baserunners. Guess how many pitchers managed to reach those three thresholds 10 times last season, regardless of whether they won?
Keep in mind there were 73 different pitchers who made at least 30 starts last year, so in general we are talking about how many got those numbers in one out of every three starts.
There were 22. That's it. And it's all the names you'd expect: Jered Weaver led the pack with 17, followed by Justin Verlander and Cliff Lee (16 each), James Shields, Kershaw and Dan Haren (15), Ricky Romero, Roy Halladay and Madison Bumgarner (14), Felix Hernandez, Cole Hamels and Yovani Gallardo (13). The only real surprises on the list, if you hadn't paid attention to last season, would be Gavin Floyd with 11 and Doug Fister and Cahill with 10 each.
The point is that it's fewer guys than you think that get those numbers very consistently. And so, it is with those marks (and our projections) in my mind -- a 3.46 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP and a K/9 of six or more (not the same as six per game, but good enough) -- and with team offense, home park, bullpen and career track record also thrown in there, that I present to you this year's Wandy Line.


These pitchers are above the line. They're the guys you should start no matter what and never drop.Halladay, Verlander, Kershaw, Lee, Hernandez, Tim Lincecum, Weaver, CC Sabathia, Haren, Price, Hamels, Jon Lester, Zack Greinke, Matt Cain, Gallardo, C.J. Wilson, Stephen Strasburg, Shields, Adam Wainwright, Ian Kennedy, Bumgarner, Moore, Hanson (while healthy), Josh Johnson (also while healthy) and Mat Latos. Just squeaking above the line are Daniel Hudson, Romero, Brandon Beachy, Matt Garza, Jordan Zimmermann, Josh Beckett and Shaun Marcum.
That's it. That's the list right now: 32 guys. So basically, in a 10-team mixed league, you should have three starting pitchers or so you never cut. Everyone else can be shown the revolving door.

Wheres … ?


So whenever you put out a list like this, be it a top-10, a top-100 or a top-1,000, someone will always ask, "But where's [insert name of omitted person/place/thing here]?" as if the exclusion were merely an oversight at best, or a grievous personal affront at worst. Anticipating certain names to be brought up in this manner, here is my answer.

Jeremy Hellickson: Got lucky last year. His fielding-independent stats showed that he should have fared worse, mostly due to a K/9 rate of 5.57. He's gotta show me that he can either repeat that performance without the K's, or that he can bring that strikeout rate in line with his minor league numbers. Until then, he's below the line.
Ubaldo Jimenez: Could get above, but last year's 1.40 WHIP and his ugly spring still weigh on my mind. Also, he's pitching for a bad team, and while I don't chase wins, I don't run away from them, either.
Yu Darvish: Under the line until proven otherwise. Don't know what we're dealing with yet.

Gio Gonzalez: Love Gio, but career WHIP of 1.42 and never been lower than 1.31, and it's not like he was pitching in a hitters' park.
Anibal Sanchez: Another pitcher whose WHIP is worse than you think.
Max Scherzer: Because there's just a few too many days like this.
Cory Luebke: Has a real chance to be above it by the end of the year, but we haven't seen him handle his new home park yet and it's not like he has a mile-long track record. Can't go there just yet, but I do love him and I have faith he'll finish the season above the line.
Chris Carpenter: Can't stay healthy. If you have someone else you need to use your DL slot for, show Carp the door.
Johnny Cueto: Declining K/9 rate and health concerns.
I know it'll seem weird sometime when you cut a "big-name" pitcher for some middle reliever, but trust me, in a 10-team mixed league, you'll be able to find the 100 or so starts you need to fill out the 100 or so you'll get from your three ATWL guys. Read our daily notes to find those pickups, maximize your at-bats and relief innings and concentrate on quantity over quality. It's elementary, my dear Watson. Words, incidentally, that were never actually spoken by Sherlock Holmes in any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books.

 

[HacheMan]

Tim's Trying Times

Wednesday was the tale of two elbows, and while the news was bad for one (Drew Storen) and worse for the other (Scott Baker), it wasn’t the worst (Tommy John) for either.

Again, the news for Storen — he’s sidelined indefinitely — was hardly glowing, but unlike Baker, he will pitch in 2012. Although the circumstantial evidence suggested Storen was headed for UCL replacement, he instead required "only" the removal of bone fragments during his Wednesday surgery.

According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Nats are optimistic he’ll take the mound before the All-Star break after being limited to two innings this spring. In the meantime, Washington will continue to go with a ninth-inning duo of Brad Lidge and Henry Rodriguez, and it’s unclear who — if either — will turn it into a one-man committee.

Rodriguez passes the eye test with flying colors (and has put up some pretty decent numbers to boot), but Lidge, of course, has far more ninth-inning experience, and we all know how much major league managers love ninth-inning experience.

That being said, the smart money remains on Rodriguez, who along with his 100-MPH fastball fanned two in a perfect ninth in a non-save situation against the Mets Wednesday. For now, though, Storen owners would be wise to hold onto both if possible.

Scott Baker

For the better part of two seasons, Baker seemed to be fighting a losing battle with his pitching elbow. On Wednesday, he finally admitted defeat.

Although Baker was able to make a combined 50 starts the past two years, he did so pitching through nearly constant elbow pain, and was limited to 24 frames after the All-Star break last season. His results — he’s turned in a 3.90 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 271/75 K/BB in 305 innings since Opening Day 2010 — never seemed to suffer, but the pain finally became too much to bear this spring, where he made zero appearances before he "just didn’t feel right" in a rehab outing last Thursday.

He’ll undergo surgery on his “flexor pronator tendon,” and has been ruled out for the remainder of 2012. The good news is that his MRI revealed no UCL damage, and barring setbacks, he should be full-go for spring 2013.

Where he will be pitching is up in the air, as the Twins are now all but certain to decline his $9.25 million team option. Baker’s injury opens up a permanent rotation spot for 23-year-old Australian Liam Hendriks, who’s been quite effective throughout his minor-league career, but was less so during four 2011 spot starts. He’ll make his first 2012 start Sunday at home against the Rangers. He’s worth a look in AL-only leagues.

Header for Hellickson

The news was better for Jeremy Hellickson Wednesday, but could have been far, far worse. Three days after coming within one pitch of shutting out the Yankees, Hellickson was minding his own business during batting practice when, somehow, he took a blow to the head. Details remain scarce, but Hellickson was throwing in the bullpen at the time, and taken to the hospital as a precaution.

He never lost consciousness, or even any blood for that matter, and remains on track to make his scheduled Saturday start against the Red Sox. That could change if he wakes up with a headache today, however. If you’re an owner, he’s certainly worth checking in on some time during the next 48 hours.

A Bad Three of a Kind

Three aces flopped for the second straight start Wednesday, but it wasn’t a winning hand. Josh Johnson got tagged for six runs on 11 hits in just 3 2/3 innings of Miami’s loss to the Phillies, while CC Sabathia got roughed up for four runs on eight hits in six frames against the Orioles.

Things were the most grim for Tim Lincecum, however, who got shelled to the tune of six runs on eight hits, two walks and four extra-base hits in just 2 1/3 innings of San Francisco’s blowout loss to the Rockies. It was the shortest outing of Lincecum’s career, and leaves him with a 12.90 ERA through his first 7 2/3 innings of work.

The silver lining for all three is that their issues appear mechanical, and not injury related. Lincecum, in particular, has gone through prolonged funks in the past only to emerge unscathed and dominant. His velocity was not an issue Wednesday. Johnson’s struggles are the most concerning since he’s coming off a year all but lost to shoulder woes, but for now, there’s no reason not to keep running your aces out there and expecting dominance. Things should turn around, and quickly.

Game Notes: Jason Heyward and Curtis Granderson both launched their first home runs. … J.D. Martinez roped his second, and is batting .364/.391/.682 through Houston’s first six games. … Peter Bourjos needed 14 seconds to round the bases on an inside-the-park job against the Twins. … Stephen Strasburg blew away the Mets. … Justin Verlander allowed just one hit on 81 pitches through eight scoreless innings Wednesday before being charged with four ninth-inning tallies in Detroit’s stunning 4-2 loss to the Rays. … The third time was the charm for Sergio Santos, who finally nailed down his first save. Although he’ll be away from the team today through Saturday for the birth of his child, his ninth-inning leash remains long in Toronto. … The same cannot be said for Jonathan Broxton in Kansas City, who hit two batters and issued two free passes in an ugly blown save Wednesday. Owners should have Greg Holland at the ready. … Kevin Millwood turned in a successful Mariners debut. He’s officially on the AL-only league radar. … Jesus Montero made his first start at catcher, going 1-for-3 with an RBI at the dish.

National League Short Hops: Giancarlo Stanton (knee) returned to the lineup, roping two hits off Roy Halladay. It was what he said before the game, however, that was most noteworthy. "There is no specific injury to it. It's something that I'm going to have to deal with. There are times I'm going to have to deal with that, and some stretches that I won't." Slightly ominous words, though exams haven’t revealed any structural damage. For now, sit tight, and don’t worry. … Troy Tulowitzki revealed he’s dealing with a right hip flexor injury, but won’t be sitting out. He went 2-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday’s rout of the Giants. … Buster Posey was sidelined with shingles. Yes, shingles. He’s expected to play today, though he could need regular rest until he’s back to full health. … Brandon Belt was benched for the second straight day. It could be another long year for the Giants’ top hitting prospect. … Stephen Drew (ankle) will take four at-bats in an extended spring game this afternoon, and will be allowed to “lightly jog” out of the box after making contact. He remains on track for a May return.

American League Short Hops: “New hope” that Victor Martinez (knee) could play this season surfaced. However, it remains a long-shot that he takes the field in 2012. … Mike Napoli sat out after getting hit by a pitch on the forehead Tuesday, but passed his concussion tests, and is tentatively expected to suit up this afternoon. … Johnny Damon hinted he’s on the verge of signing with the Indians. A deal could be finalized as soon as this morning. He’s worth scooping up in AL-only leagues.

 

[HacheMan]

Zack Attack
Welcome to small sample size theatre, where panic rules the day and one week of results are blown completely out of proportion.

Granted, it's only natural to want to get off to a hot start and perhaps find a potential breakout candidate on the waiver wire, but I always try to keep in mind that I drafted certain players for a reason. It's easy to get caught up in all the activity of the first few weeks of the season, as everybody is paying a lot of attention to their fantasy teams right now, but we have a long, long way to go. Feel free to tinker -- that's what this column is all about -- but do so within reason. And here's your yearly reminder to stay away from Willie Bloomquist.

On the subject of the long-term, we learned this week that Victor Martinez did not require ACL reconstruction of his left knee. He already had microfracture surgery in January, but his current timeline could allow him to resume baseball activities in August or September. We'll know for sure after he undergoes a follow-up MRI in July.

This is excellent news for the Tigers, as they may have another potent bat for a postseason run, but this might also be an ideal time to stash him on a DL-spot with the stretch run in mind. In AL-only leagues, at least. One major downside, though, is that he'll likely only be used at DH if he plays at all this season, which will take away his catcher eligibility going into 2013. So good news, bad news, really.

And on that note, let's move on to the good stuff.

MIXED LEAGUES

Lance Lynn RP/SP, Cardinals (Yahoo: 28 percent owned, ESPN: 5.8 percent)

Lynn didn't wait long to show why he makes for a sneaky sleeper in mixed leagues. The 24-year-old right-hander was excellent in his season debut Sunday against the Brewers, allowing one run over 6 2/3 innings while striking out eight and walking just one. He also averaged 93 mph on his fastball, so he didn't lose much velocity from where he was last season (93.2 mph), when he pitched primarily in relief. The common assumption is that Lynn will move back to the bullpen if or when Chris Carpenter is ready to return from nerve irritation in his shoulder, but I wouldn't be surprised if he ultimately makes the case for Jake Westbrook to lose his spot.

Fernando Rodney RP, Rays (Yahoo: 49 percent owned, ESPN: 20.8 percent)

Like many others out there, last week I assumed that Joel Peralta would get the bulk of the save opportunities with Kyle Farnsworth sidelined. Leave it to Rays manager Joe Maddon to throw us all for a loop. Rodney has enjoyed an incredible first week of the season, going 3-for-3 in save opportunities and notching a win. He was especially impressive on Wednesday afternoon against the Tigers, retiring Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and Jhonny Peralta in order. My guess is that he'll turn into a pumpkin before long, but it appears Maddon is riding the hot hand. So should fantasy owners.

Zack Cozart SS, Reds (Yahoo: 50 percent owned, ESPN: 35.6 percent)

He's probably already gone if you play in a competitive league, but Cozart has picked up right from where he left off before he undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery on his non-throwing elbow last August. The 26-year-old shortstop is hitting .455 (10-for-22) with one homer, two doubles, two triples and two RBI over his first six games this season and has hit safely in all of them. He was a .270 hitter over parts of five seasons in the minors, so obviously expect some correction, but the potential for double-digit homers and steals is very real. He could score a ton of runs hitting No. 2 in this lineup.

Erik Bedard SP, Pirates (Yahoo: 49 percent owned, ESPN: 17.5 percent)

It's pretty easy to joke about Bedard's lengthy injury history, but when he's on the mound, he's pretty darn effective. The veteran southpaw has allowed three runs in 12 innings (2.25 ERA) over his first two starts while striking out seven and walking two. The Pirates don't figure to put him in the win column all that often this season (see his current 0-2 record), but the move over to the National League should help him in ERA, WHIP and strikeouts. He's worth owning in all formats, at least until his inevitable stint on the disabled list.

Adam LaRoche 1B, Nationals (Yahoo: 26 percent owned, ESPN: 22 percent)

The Nationals are missing Mike Morse in a big way right now, but LaRoche has bounced back quite nicely from shoulder surgery by batting .333 (8-for-24) with two homers, one double and six RBI over his first six games. The 32-year-old is a .268 career hitter, so I'm not expecting this to continue, but he did average 25 homers and 87 RBI per season from 2005-2010. First base isn't nearly as deep as it has been in the past, so there's value here in deeper mixed leagues, especially if you can stick him at a CI (corner infielder) spot.

Chipper Jones 3B, Braves (Yahoo: 33 percent owned, ESPN: 46.4 percent)

This guy just won't go away. Jones was activated from the disabled list Tuesday, a little under three weeks after after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The 39-year-old homered in his first game back and has four hits in his first nine at-bats. Sure, it's impossible to count on him to stay healthy, but it's easy to forget that he batted .275/.344/.470 with 18 homers, 70 RBI and an .814 OPS in 126 games last year. That's perfectly palatable production at third base in mixed leagues. As long as you also have a backup plan in mind, that is.

Lorenzo Cain OF, Royals (Yahoo: 31 percent owned, ESPN: 23.4 percent)

Cain's monster spring training hasn't crossed over to the regular season thus far. The 25-year-old is hitting just .133 (2-for-15) over his first five games and was pulled out of Tuesday's game with a left groin strain. However, as a key piece of the Zack Greinke trade, he should have a pretty lengthy leash on the starting center field job. I doubt Cain will end up replicating the power numbers he had in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League last year, but he should swipe plenty of bases and won't hurt you in the batting average department. While he was recently dropped to seventh in the order, my guess is he'll be a fixture in the No. 2 spot before long. There are safer options to start in shallow mixed leagues, but Cain is still a must-own in leagues which start five outfielders.

Editor's note: Cain's groin injury is apparently not a day-to-day situation like it was initially reported, as the Royals placed him on the disabled list Thursday. He still makes for a worthwhile add if you have room on your DL, but Alejandro De Aza (Yahoo: 45 percent owned, ESPN: 9.7 percent) is a worthy alternative if you have an immediate need in your outfield. The White Sox have handed him the starting center field job after he batted .329/.400/.520 with four homers, 23 RBI, 29 runs scored and 29 stolen bases over 54 games last year. I'm not completely sold on the small sample of success (hello, .404 BABIP), but his speed gives him plenty of value.

Jose Altuve 2B, Astros (Yahoo: 21 percent owned, ESPN: 36.2 percent)

Was Altuve rushed to the big leagues last year? You bet. One look at his .294 on-base percentage is enough to tell you that. However, the 21-year-old still batted .276 and made contact 87.5 percent of the time. And he's only going to get better. For example, did you notice that he has already walked three times in 23 plate appearances this year after drawing only five walks in 234 plate appearances as a rookie? Progress, folks. Progress. I don't expect him to hit for a ton of power, but he has surprising pop for someone who checks in at 5-foot-5 and 170 pounds. Many will overlook him because he plays for a lousy team, but fantasy owners should use this situation to their advantage. His ability to hit for a high average and steal bases out of the No. 2 spot makes him a worthy target in the great majority of mixed formats.

Jon Niese SP, Mets (Yahoo: 30 percent owned, ESPN: 20 percent)

The Mets recently signed Niese to a five-year, $25.5 million contract extension with club options for 2017 and 2018. It won't be a terrible contract if he continues to pitch to his 4.40 career ERA, but the Mets are clearly hoping that he's ready to turn the corner. While the jury is still out on whether he's just been incredibly unlucky until this point or abnormally hittable, his 3.63 career xFIP and healthy peripherals (7.69 K/9, 3.03 BB/9 and 49.4 percent ground ball rate) provide plenty of reason for optimism. I'm not optimistic about his defense helping him out, but the potential for a breakout season is worth owning in 12-team mixed leagues.

Shopping at the five-and-dime:

(Players owned in less than 10 percent of Y! and ESPN.com leagues)

James McDonald SP, Pirates (Yahoo: 2 percent owned, ESPN: 0.5 percent)

Two Pirates' starting pitchers in the same week? Yeah, sorry about that. But McDonald's ownership levels simply shouldn't be this low. This often gets overlooked, but after getting knocked around to the tune of a 10.13 ERA over his first three starts last year, the 27-year-old right-hander posted a 3.49 ERA over his final 27 starts. Of course, ERA doesn't tell the whole story and his lofty walk rate (4.11 BB/9) led to a lot of early exits, but he averaged 7.47 K/9 on the year and began to make some progress with his control (64/29 K/BB ratio over 73 1/3 innings) after the All-Star break. He still has a lot to prove before making the leap to trusted fantasy hurler, but the gamble could pay off in deeper mixed formats.

Ruben Tejada SS/2B, Mets (Yahoo: 8 percent owned, ESPN: 4 percent)

I wasn't thrilled about Tejada's fantasy prospects going into the season because he was set to bat eighth, but Andres Torres' calf strain has thankfully pushed him into the leadoff spot. The 22-year-old is off to a solid start, hitting .333 (7-for-21) with four doubles and a 4/4 K/BB ratio, but the most impressive thing about him is his advanced plate discipline at such a young age. He posted a .360 on-base percentage last season to go along with a walk rate of 9.3 percent and a contact rate of 84.8 percent. Tejada doesn't have much power and isn't a burner like former shortstop Jose Reyes, but he should hit for a pretty decent average and score some runs hitting atop the Mets' lineup. That's good enough for him to be a consideration in 12-14 mixed leagues with a MI (middle infielder) spot.

Johnny Damon OF, Free Agent (Yahoo: 2 percent owned, ESPN: 0.5 percent)

The deal isn't done yet, but by all indications, Damon will be joining the Indians. The 38-year-old failed to find a home this offseason after batting .261/.326/.418 with 16 homers, 74 RBI, 19 stolen bases and a .743 OPS last season, but the Indians are hoping he can help their stalling offense. With Travis Hafner firmly entrenched in the DH spot, Damon will likely take starting left field duties from Shelley Duncan. While it could result in high comedy on defense, that shouldn't be a big concern for fantasy owners. Some wonder whether Damon changed his approach at the plate last season in his quest for 3,000 hits (he's currently 277 away), but he is still capable of reaching double digits in homers and steals. In deeper mixed leagues with five outfielders, why not pick him up? <!--RW-->

NL-ONLY

Kirk Nieuwenhuis OF, Mets (Yahoo: 1 percent owned, ESPN: 0.2 percent)

Most expected Nieuwenhuis would make his major league debut a couple of months from now, but the Mets were forced to bring him up a little early after Andres Torres aggravated a calf strain on Opening Day. The 24-year-old should get the majority of the playing time in center field, though Scott Hairston will draw at-bats against left-handed pitching. Nieuwenhuis was limited to just 53 games with Triple-A Buffalo last year due to a shoulder injury which resulted in surgery, but he has shown an intriguing combination of power and speed in the minors. While he strikes out too much to hit for a high batting average, he should help in multiple categories right away.

Ross Detwiler SP/RP, Nationals (Yahoo: 3 percent owned, ESPN: 0 percent)

The Nationals surprised many at the end of spring training by sending John Lannan to the minors and awarding Detwiler with the final spot in the starting rotation, but the 26-year-old southpaw validated the decision by striking out six over five shutout innings in his season debut Monday against the Mets. Truth be told, the 2007 first-round pick actually made a pretty good case for a rotation spot after posting a 3.21 ERA over 10 starts last year. He's not much of a secret anymore, though. Detwiler isn't going to pile up a ton of strikeouts, so keep expectations in check, but he has the command and arsenal to survive as back-end starter.

Justin Maxwell OF, Astros (Yahoo: 0 percent owned, ESPN: 0 percent)

Maxwell was designated for assignment by the Yankees last week, but it's really the best thing that could have happened to him, as he had no shot at finding any playing time with the big club. The rebuilding Astros snatched him up off waivers and he promptly delivered a pinch-hit two-run homer in his first at-bat with the club on Monday night. The 28-year-old has struggled to make contact in the big leagues, but his combination of power and speed remains enticing. He could find his way into the lineup against southpaws, so there's appeal here in daily leagues.

Joe Wieland SP, Padres (Yahoo: N/A, ESPN: 0 percent)

The Padres are a little short-handed in their rotation with Dustin Moseley and Tim Stauffer on the disabled list, so Wieland is expected to make his major league debut Saturday against the Dodgers. Wieland, who was acquired from the Rangers in the Mike Adams deal, had a ridiculous 1.97 ERA and 150/21 K/BB ratio over 155 2/3 innings in the minors last year. The 22-year-old right-hander sits in the low 90s with his fastball and his curveball and changeup are both average or better pitches, but his outstanding control is what makes him intriguing. Worse pitchers have enjoyed breakouts in PETCO Park, so I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes relevant as a spot-starter in mixed leagues as soon as this season.

AL-ONLY

Andy Dirks OF, Tigers (Yahoo: 1 percent owned, ESPN: 0.4 percent)

Dirks won a spot on the Opening Day roster and while he isn't an everyday player, he should be in the lineup pretty regularly as the designated hitter or left fielder against right-handed pitching. The 25-year-old was useful in part-time duty for the Tigers last year, batting .251 with seven homers, 28 RBI, five stolen bases and a .703 OPS over 78 games. It's not a major leap to say that he could reach double-digits in homers and steals this season, which actually makes him worth watching in deeper mixed formats, as well.

Vicente Padilla RP/SP, Red Sox (Yahoo: 1 percent owned, ESPN: 0.2 percent)

Padilla came to Red Sox camp in hopes of winning a rotation spot, but he currently finds himself in a swingman/middle relief role. The 34-year-old right-hander was impressive in relief of Clay Buchholz on Sunday against the Tigers, striking out out four over four scoreless innings. Who knows how long Padilla can stay healthy, but with many questions remaining about the back-end of the bullpen and the rotation, he's an interesting name to keep stashed away.

Liam Hendriks SP, Twins (Yahoo: 1 percent owned, ESPN: 0 percent)

We learned Wednesday that Scott Baker needs surgery to repair the flexor pronator tendon in his elbow and will miss the rest of the season. While it's a tough blow for the Twins, this officially opens the door for Hendriks, who had a 3.36 ERA and 111/21 K/BB ratio over 139 1/3 innings last year between Double-A New Britain and Triple-A Rochester. The 23-year-old Aussie doesn't have electric stuff, but throws plenty of strikes and has a varied arsenal at his disposal. Keep in mind that he recently dealt with food poisoning and is now scheduled to make his season debut Sunday against the Rangers, so it might make sense to leave him inactive initially.

Jonny Gomes OF, Athletics (Yahoo: 1 percent owned, ESPN: 0.1 percent)

Is Gomes a sexy name? Nope. We're talking about someone who batted .211/.336/.399 last year between the Reds and Nationals and owns a .242/.329/.452 career batting line. But as we saw with his homer off Bruce Chen on Wednesday, the one thing that he can do is mash left-handed pitching. The 31-year-old has an .872 career OPS against them. His playing time will likely be limited, but he's useful in leagues where you can make daily lineup changes.

 

[HacheMan]

Team-by-team closer breakdown

By Tristan H. Cockcroft | ESPN.com

In this wild, wild world of baseball bullpens, it's a comfort to fantasy owners to know there's a one-stop source for all your save-seeking needs.

Seasoned veterans of ESPN's fantasy game are probably familiar with our Closer Chart, but as we introduce newer players with this resource, vets can always use a refresher. The Closer Chart breaks down each major league team's bullpen in terms of a reliever's proximity to the closer role, giving you a sense of who is closing for a given team as well as who might be next in line should something happen to the incumbent. It is not intended to rank a team's relievers in order of fantasy value, although often these things wind up one and the same because of the importance of saves in fantasy valuation formulas.


The Closer Chart is updated as news dictates, so check back regularly. Sometimes, this can mean multiple times in a day.


To discuss the reliever labels in greater detail, "closer" is either that team's officially designated closer or the pitcher most likely to get the team's next save chance (the latter instance generally because the usual closer is injured). Co-closerships and committees are noted in this space where applicable.


"Next in line" is the pitcher most likely to take over if something happens to the closer or the one who might get any save chances on the closer's nights off. When we discuss handcuffing relievers, these are the candidates we're talking about.


"Stealth" is a dark-horse candidate for saves, for those digging deep. These pitchers typically don't pose an imminent threat to the closer's job security but might if given time. They're the types you might want to stash in singular (AL- or NL-only) leagues.


"Looming" is a pitcher who has his sights set on the closer role but whose current circumstances might prevent him from doing so. Generally speaking, these are usual closers who are injured or on bereavement leave. Other candidates include closer-worthy pitchers currently working out of the rotation, specialists (especially lefties) or top prospects in the minors.


But a simple chart, as the Closer Chart is, can't provide a complete window into a team's bullpen approach. For example, some teams have committee approaches, and some have preferred -- although not officially full-time -- closer options, and the backups to those might be more relevant than those on teams whose bullpens are more cut-and-dry. You couldn't treat the Chicago White Sox's bullpen like that of the New York Yankees, for instance.


In this first edition of "Relief Efforts" for the 2012 season, let's take a closer look at each team's bullpen pecking order, explaining some of the individual selections in the Closer Chart and highlighting some of the potential changes we might see during the season as well as some sleepers for saves.



TOP 75 RELIEF PITCHERS

Note: Tristan H. Cockcroft's top 75 relief pitchers are ranked for their expected performance from this point forward, not for statistics that have already been accrued. Prev Rank refers to Tristan's preseason reliever rankings, which were only 40 deep.
<table><thead><tr><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Rank </center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"> Player, Team </th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Prev
Rank </center></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Craig Kimbrel, Atl </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Mariano Rivera, NYY </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 2 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> John Axford, Mil </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 3 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jonathan Papelbon, Phi </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Brian Wilson, SF </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 6 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jose Valverde, Det </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 7 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> J.J. Putz, Ari </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 8 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Joel Hanrahan, Pit </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 9 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Heath Bell, Mia </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 10 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jason Motte, StL </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 11 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 11 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Rafael Betancourt, Col </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 15 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 12 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jordan Walden, LAA </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 14 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 13 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Huston Street, SD </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 18 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 14 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Brandon League, Sea </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 22 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 15 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Sergio Santos, Tor </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 23 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 16 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Javy Guerra, LAD </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 25 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 17 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Joe Nathan, Tex </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 19 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 18 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Sean Marshall, Cin </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 20 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 19 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Frank Francisco, NYM </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 26 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 20 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jim Johnson, Bal </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 30 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 21 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Grant Balfour, Oak </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 22 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Brett Myers, Hou </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 23 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Hector Santiago, CWS </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 24 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Chris Perez, Cle </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 28 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 25 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Aroldis Chapman, Cin </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 29 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 26 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Carlos Marmol, ChC </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 31 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 27 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Kenley Jansen, LAD </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 27 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 28 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Matt Capps, Min </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 33 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 29 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Tyler Clippard, Wsh </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 30 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jonny Venters, Atl </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 32 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 31 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Mike Adams, Tex </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 34 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 32 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> David Hernandez, Ari </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 35 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 33 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> David Robertson, NYY </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 34 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Kyle Farnsworth, TB </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 24 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 35 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Greg Holland, KC </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 37 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 36 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Fernando Rodney, TB </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 37 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Alfredo Aceves, Bos </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 38 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Brad Lidge, Wsh </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 39 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Mark Melancon, Bos </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 38 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 40 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jonathan Broxton, KC </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 41 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Vinnie Pestano, Cle </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 42 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Francisco Cordero, Tor </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 39 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 43 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Sergio Romo, SF </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 44 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Andrew Cashner, SD </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 45 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Francisco Rodriguez, Mil </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 46 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Addison Reed, CWS </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 40 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 47 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Scott Downs, LAA </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 48 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Joaquin Benoit, Det </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 49 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Drew Storen, Wsh </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 50 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Henry Rodriguez, Wsh </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 51 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Antonio Bastardo, Phi </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 52 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Kerry Wood, ChC </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 53 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Glen Perkins, Min </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 54 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Andrew Bailey, Bos </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 16 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 55 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Joel Peralta, TB </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 56 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Rex Brothers, Col </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 57 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Santiago Casilla, SF </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 58 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Rafael Soriano, NYY </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 59 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Edward Mujica, Mia </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 60 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Fernando Salas, StL </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 61 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Alexi Ogando, Tex </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 62 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Ernesto Frieri, SD </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 63 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Matt Lindstrom, Bal </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 64 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Brian Fuentes, Oak </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 65 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Rafael Dolis, ChC </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 66 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Matt Thornton, CWS </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 36 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 67 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jake McGee, TB </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 68 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Kris Medlen, Atl </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 69 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Ramon Ramirez, NYM </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 70 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Steve Cishek, Mia </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 71 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Eric O'Flaherty, Atl </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 72 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Chris Resop, Pit </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 73 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> David Carpenter, Hou </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 74 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Bryan Shaw, Ari </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 75 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Aaron Crow, KC </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr></tbody></table>




Arizona Diamondbacks



This is one of those cut-and-dry bullpens referred to above, with J.J. Putz the closer and David Hernandez his primary setup man and emergency fill-in, something necessary with a pitcher with Putz's injury history. But the primary takeaway from the season's first week is the No. 3 reliever in the pecking order: Bryan Shaw. Shaw notched a save on April 8 when neither Putz nor Hernandez was available -- both had previously worked on back-to-back days -- and he has emerged as a viable setup man thanks to a solid 2011 between the minors (16 saves, 2.58 ERA between Double- and Triple-A) and majors (2.54 ERA, 1.34 WHIP). Shaw might be irrelevant in fantasy leagues for now, but if either of the two men ahead of him gets hurt, he'd warrant NL-only consideration at least.


Atlanta Braves



Another cut-and-dry bullpen, with Craig Kimbrel the closer and Jonny Venters his setup man, but the two men behind them could yet be of service in NL-only leagues: Lights-out lefty Eric O'Flaherty and long man/swingman candidate Kris Medlen. Medlen might have been more intriguing as a fifth-starter candidate, but even as a reliever, he might quickly work himself into high-leverage, late-inning relief.


Baltimore Orioles



Despite questions about his velocity during spring training, Jim Johnson showed enough in brief Grapefruit League time to earn Buck Showalter's nod at closer, and so far, Johnson is 2-for-2 in save chances with 2 2/3 scoreless innings pitched. Johnson is firmer in the role than people give credit; it's effectively a three-man mishmash of potential fill-ins behind him with Luis Ayala, Kevin Gregg and Matt Lindstrom, those three listed alphabetically. Considering the Orioles' usage of the trio late in games that were close on the scoreboard, Lindstrom looks like the leader of the group, Ayala second, which is why a pitcher with as many career saves as Gregg has dropped to the "Looming" class.


Boston Red Sox



The Red Sox's bullpen has a 5.89 ERA and two blown saves thus far, both of those ranking them among the five worst teams in the majors, and neither current closer Alfredo Aceves nor his primary setup man, Mark Melancon, has established himself as a go-to guy in real life or fantasy. In Aceves' defense, at least manager Bobby Valentine is showing confidence in the rubber-armed right-hander, throwing him out there for what resulted a successful first save this past Monday after Aceves posted back-to-back bad outings in Detroit to open the season. But this might be a team that endures much shuffling of the names on the Closer Chart. Vicente Padilla has been the team's most effective reliever so far, Franklin Morales has pitched well and has a hint of past closing experience, and Daniel Bard could return to the bullpen if the rotation experiment fails. I stand by these projected saves totals for Red Sox relievers, at least today: Melancon 14, Andrew Bailey 12, Aceves 10, Bard 4, Padilla/Morales 3, someone not on the team 3.


I fully expect to change my mind several times. Maybe even by next week.


Chicago Cubs



Closer Carlos Marmol and primary setup man Kerry Wood have been awful so far: They've combined to blow two of three save chances, absorb two losses and register a 12.46 ERA, and in either case there's a legitimate question about their long-term value. With Marmol, it's his horrendous control, and with Wood, it's stamina. It's for that reason that a younger middle reliever like Rafael Dolis bears watching. In NL-only leagues, he already warrants stashing on your bench.


Chicago White Sox



For as mysterious as the White Sox were about their closer plans during the preseason, their bullpen attack couldn't have been clearer since the regular season began: Addison Reed has consistently pitched the seventh inning, Matt Thornton the eighth inning and Hector Santiago the ninth.


Wait, what?! Hector Santiago?! Believe it, as the left-hander with the 0.82 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and .184 batting average allowed during spring training emerged as Robin Ventura's go-to guy, even though he averaged 4.12 walks per nine innings while allowing more fly balls than ground balls during his minor league career. Santiago looks like a different pitcher today, however, perhaps thanks to what has been reported a splitter -- although our pitch-tracking tool classifies it as a changeup -- giving him a viable out pitch. Maybe he won't be a long-term success and hotshot prospect Reed, listed as "Stealth" if only because of his current role, will shift back two innings to take over later this summer. But Santiago is well worth having on a fantasy team today, and maybe he can keep this up for a while.


Cincinnati Reds



The Reds are one of only five teams to have not garnered a save chance thus far, so it's impossible to say definitively that Sean Marshall is their closer. He looks highly likely to be the closer, however, being that he has pitched the ninth in both of his two appearances to date, while Aroldis Chapman has now been called upon to throw multiple innings in two of his three outings. That hints that Chapman's value to the team is too great to lock him into a mere one-inning gig, although with his stuff and vastly improved command (two walks in 22 innings thus far, counting the spring), he'd be a sensation if given a chance to close. The rest of this bullpen, as a result, is somewhat irrelevant, surprising given the changes it has undergone recently.

Cleveland Indians



As with the Cubs, the Indians have questions at the back end of their bullpen, as closer Chris Perez might not even be the better choice than his primary setup man, Vinnie Pestano. Considering Pestano's lack of an out pitch against left-handed hitters, however, he might not be any more suited to close long-term. This could be a pingpong bullpen -- the role changing hands several times -- with a dreaded closer by committee hinted at during the rough spells. If you're looking for uber-deep fill-ins -- and none of these guys is even AL-only-worthy yet -- perhaps Tony Sipp, Nick Hagadone or even Jairo Asencio could factor in.


Colorado Rockies



This is less a closer-and-his-backup arrangement than it is the "closer of the now" and "closer of the future," Rafael Betancourt being the former, Rex Brothers the latter. The Rockies will sit back and wait for one of two things: Betancourt to falter as closer or Brothers to polish his command to the point he's ready to take over. But Matt Belisle does warrant a mention for his performance for the team the past few seasons in a setup capacity.


Detroit Tigers



One blown save, even on Opening Day, isn't going to change anything in Detroit: Jose Valverde is still the Tigers' closer, Joaquin Benoit his primary setup man. Octavio Dotel's experience at closer will be entirely irrelevant unless Valverde suffers some sort of unexpected, catastrophic long-term injury.


Houston Astros



If the Astros' decision to move Brett Myers to the bullpen did anything, it was to clear up what was shaping up as one of the ugly closer pictures in baseball. With Myers occupying the ninth inning, the only relevance to the Closer Chart pecking order is who might take over should the right-hander be traded midseason. But we've probably got three months' audition time for the setup men before his successor would be known, if so; the leading contenders are David Carpenter, Brandon Lyon and Fernando Rodriguez, probably in that order.


Kansas City Royals



You have to read the play-by-play of Wednesday's game to fully appreciate the experience that is Jonathan Broxton: error, walk, walk, hit by pitch, hit by pitch, game over. Broxton might have closer experience and a mid-90s fastball -- our pitch-tracking tool has him averaging 95.2 mph with the pitch this season, up from last year's 94.0 but still beneath either his 2009 (97.6) or 2010 (95.3) averages -- but his command is sorely lacking. He has two walks and two hit batsmen in 14 batters faced and has thrown only 42 percent of pitches in the strike zone; he managed 53, 50 and 47 numbers in that category in 2009, 2010 and 2011. It's for that reason that Broxton's primary setup man, Greg Holland, is an important name to know, as Holland possesses more polished skills and might yet lead the Royals in saves over the course of the full season. Aaron Crow and Tim Collins might factor into the mix if things get really messy.


Los Angeles Angels



Although the Angels also haven't generated a save chance, Jordan Walden remains their closer, with Scott Downs as his primary setup man. The interesting takeaway from this bullpen is that Jason Isringhausen, who has 300 career saves and at one point was the New York Mets' closer last season, made the team and has been getting seventh-inning work (granted, in losses). Hey, you never know.

Los Angeles Dodgers



It was the debate of the preseason: Do the Dodgers go with Javy Guerra, who did a fine job closing for the 2011 team, or Kenley Jansen, whose stuff is so outstanding you'd think of him as an automatic ninth-inning choice? Guerra won the battle without much argument and hasn't faltered since, and until he shows signs of struggles, he'll remain in the role with Jansen setting him up. Remember, the best arm in a bullpen doesn't have to close; see 1996 New York Yankees, 2001 Houston Astros, 2004 Anaheim Angels, 2007 Cleveland Indians …


Everyone else in this bullpen is pretty much irrelevant as saves are concerned.


Miami Marlins



Heath Bell was signed to close, and close he shall. But who is his primary setup man? It sure looks like Edward Mujica, who has pitched the eighth inning in all three of his appearances, earning two holds. Steve Cishek has been getting lower-leverage work, shaping up as third in the pecking order, while the Oviedo Formerly Known as Nunez, Juan Oviedo (Leo Nunez), remains in the Dominican Republic.


Milwaukee Brewers



Another cut-and-dry bullpen, with John Axford the closer and Francisco Rodriguez his primary setup man, even though Rodriguez has 219 more career saves than Axford. Nothing to see here beyond those two.


Minnesota Twins



One of the weakest bullpens in baseball. Matt Capps is the closer, but he might face a challenge to his throne from Glen Perkins, whose 2.34 ERA since the beginning of last season is more than a run and three-quarters lower than Capps' 4.12. The rest of this bullpen is a mishmash of relievers poorly suited to close; Jared Burton, Brian Duensing and Jeff Gray might pingpong between the "Stealth" and "Looming" categories all season, if only for a lack of viable alternatives.


New York Mets



The Mets signed the 2011 Toronto Blue Jays closers to serve as the same for them in 2012, and thus far, they've remained true to that plan: Frank Francisco is the closer, Jon Rauch as his primary setup man. Francisco is fine -- health is a more significant question than skill -- but Rauch might face competition for his role in time. Ramon Ramirez, Bobby Parnell and Miguel Batista could each figure into the late-inning mix, and if it happens before Francisco gets hurt, NL-only owners might find a sneaky value. This is a bullpen to track but not to act upon today.


New York Yankees



It's as cut-and-dry as they come: First-ballot Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera is the closer, David Robertson is his primary setup man, Rafael Soriano gets the seventh inning. Maybe Joba Chamberlain will join the mix in 2013, if he's healthy.

Oakland Athletics



Although Grant Balfour's spring -- 6.75 ERA, 1.95 WHIP, .346 batting average allowed in seven appearances -- made it a somewhat surprising decision, the right-hander was tabbed the closer at the Cactus League's conclusion, and he has thrived in his new role since. It was the right decision, considering his performance the past two seasons, and if he continues to perform at his current level, this might be a bullpen in which there is no debate. But let's debate the contenders for future shots in this role anyway: Brian Fuentes has the experience to build a case, Ryan Cook appears to be one of the team's more highly regarded relievers and Fautino De Los Santos probably remains the long-term future for the team.


Philadelphia Phillies



Jonathan Papelbon is paid to close, while Antonio Bastardo, thanks to his breakout 2011, is locked in as Papelbon's primary setup man. Perhaps Michael Stutes could put himself into consideration for the No. 2 role with a hot start to the season, and Justin De Fratus could be a long-term candidate to close. Neither of the latter two seems especially likely to sniff a save chance this season, though. After all, Chad Qualls remains firmly in their way.


Pittsburgh Pirates



It's closer Joel Hanrahan, then a lot of question marks. This is not the bullpen from which to handcuff; Chris Resop is a productive enough setup man, but he has an injury history that makes him a risky stash. Jason Grilli has sleeper potential working the seventh but more so as an ERA/WHIP helper in NL-only leagues.


St. Louis Cardinals



Just as he was during the 2011 postseason, Jason Motte has been fine as the Cardinals' unquestioned closer, his job security greater than most might give him credit. Primary setup man Fernando Salas is off to a rockier start, besides, though he remains the most likely fill-in if one is needed.


San Diego Padres



Huston Street is the closer, but the talk of the Padres' bullpen has been winter acquisition Andrew Cashner, who has all the makings of Street's eventual replacement. Cashner has averaged 98.5 mph with his fastball and has appeared in the eighth inning or later in all three of his games, not allowing a run in any. He's already shaping up as the next in line to Street, who in addition to being an injury risk is a midseason trade candidate, leaving Luke Gregerson and Ernesto Frieri to battle for the honor of seventh-inning reliever.


San Francisco Giants



Brian Wilson, for so long as he remains healthy, is the Giants' unquestioned closer. But who might fill in should the right-hander get hurt? Santiago Casilla and Sergio Romo have pitched the best thus far, albeit in limited action, while Jeremy Affeldt has struggled in his three appearances. It'll be quite a debate as to whether Casilla or Romo should get the gig in the event of a Wilson injury; I remain firm in my assessment that Casilla is a stronger choice, even if it's close. If there's any bullpen critical to track in the early weeks, this is it.


Seattle Mariners



While Brandon League faces no immediate challenge to his closership, the pecking order behind him in the Mariners' bullpen might be relevant in AL-only leagues if he gets hurt at some point. Tom Wilhelmsen appears to have grabbed the primary setup role, making four appearances with a 1.59 ERA already, with Steve Delabar looking like the primary seventh-inning option.

Tampa Bay Rays



As unbelievable as it sounds, Fernando Rodney -- yes, that Fernando Rodney -- appears to have stepped up as the Rays' fill-in closer, at least for the projected four to six weeks that Kyle Farnsworth (elbow) is expected to miss. Rodney has been a volatile finisher in his career, but he has faced eight batters so far this season, retired all eight and totaled three saves and one win in the process. The Rays seem to have a magical touch with relievers -- Farnsworth before Rodney another example of that -- so maybe there's something to this Rodney thing. Pick him up but brace for a potential implosion and prepare to shed him immediately in the event it happens.


As for who might fill in should it happen, Joel Peralta possesses the skills to close, and Jake McGee has been discussed as a future closer candidate. Peralta is the smartest choice, but then wasn't he in the first place when Farnsworth got hurt? That he's not closing today has me somewhat skeptical.


Texas Rangers



Although Joe Nathan was signed to close for the Rangers this season, he has struggled in two of his four appearances thus far and might go under the microscope in the near future. The team has plenty of viable alternatives: Mike Adams, one of the most effective relievers in baseball the past three seasons; Alexi Ogando, the former starter who has dominant short-relief stuff; and Koji Uehara, once briefly a Baltimore Orioles closer. Adams is the A-No. 1 choice to take over if Nathan continues to falter, and even in a setup capacity Adams has the skills to contribute in ERA/WHIP in mixed leagues.


Toronto Blue Jays



Sergio Santos might already have two blown saves in three tries, but credit the Blue Jays for remaining faithful with him, giving him a chance to close on Wednesday, an opportunity he successfully converted. Veteran Francisco Cordero, Santos' primary setup man, has considerable closer experience, so fantasy owners might expect Cordero to get a look should Santos continue to struggle. The situation bears watching, but clearly Santos has a lengthier leash than most expected; he might have to blow another 2-3 chances in the near future to face a challenge from Cordero. Still, it's smart to handcuff these two if you have the opportunity.


Washington Nationals



It is impossible to glean anything from the Nationals' first week of game action, because their save chances have been sporadic. From that angle, it's smart to assume that Brad Lidge and Henry Rodriguez remain in a co-closership, the hotter hand presumably taking over full-time sometime in the near future. Usual closer Drew Storen might miss the first half of the season, so either of these relievers warrants a pickup, even in mixed leagues.

 

[HacheMan]

Puma Caged

Lance Berkman tweaked his left calf while legging out a triple in Tuesday’s win over the Reds, and a subsequent MRI has revealed that he has a small muscle tear. A small tear is essentially a strain, and calf strains often send players to the disabled list. The Cardinals, though, are optimistic that Berkman can avoid the DL, hopefully returning by next Tuesday.

"There's not a huge tear in the muscle. They said they're looking at Tuesday, which I think is more than realistic," Berkman said in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The injury comes at a good time for the Cards in one sense, as they had an off day Thursday and will have another one Monday, so Puma could wind up missing just four games. But, it’s poor timing in that Allen Craig, who would have filled in for Berkman, is on the disabled list while working his way back from offseason knee surgery. Craig could begin a rehab assignment within the next week, but obviously he’d become a possible option at first base only if Berkman suffers a setback.

For the time being, Matt Carpenter will be the Cards’ primary first baseman. But, if Berkman’s injury should linger and Craig isn’t ready to return yet, prospect Matt Adams could become a possibility. The 2011 Texas League MVP is off to a big start at Triple-A Memphis, batting .346/.393/.769 with three homers going into Thursday’s games.



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Morse Shut Down



The Nationals had been hoping to get Michael Morse (lat) back in the lineup for Thursday’s home opener. As it turns out, they’ll be lucky to have him for their first home game in June.

Morse will be shut down for the next six weeks after feeling discomfort while making throws during a rehab game Monday. That means he won’t even pick up a ball or a bat until late May, and it will probably be at least a couple weeks after that until he’ll be ready to re-start a rehab assignment.

It’s an unfortunate bit of news for the Nationals and for Morse’s fantasy owners, but perhaps we should have seen this coming. Morse was able to avoid the disabled list last season during his breakout year, playing in easily a career-high 146 games. But, he’s been brittle in the past, particularly in his days with the Mariners. From 2004-2008, the 30-year-old played in 100+ games only once. His fragility is a major reason why Seattle finally cut him loose.

As for what the Nationals will do while Morse is out, they’ll continue to roll with the unintimidating trio of Mark DeRosa, Xavier Nady and Roger Bernadina in left field. It will be interesting, though, if Morse’s absence makes the Nats consider promoting Bryce Harper a bit earlier. Harper is off to a slow start at Triple-A Syracuse, batting just .261/.320/.391 with no homers going into Thursday’s action. And, Washington undoubtedly would like to avoid starting his service time clock too early. But, if their offense starts to scuffle, perhaps they’ll consider it.

Here’s Johnny!

He had to wait until the season was already a week old (or, two weeks if you count the Japan series), but it appears that Johnny Damon finally has a home.

Multiple reports are saying that the Indians have a deal in place with the veteran outfielder/DH, pending a physical. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that he'll make $1.25 million in guaranteed salary while his contract includes $1.4 million in potential performance bonuses. It’s an unusual deal, as the contract reportedly will contain an out clause that Damon can exercise on a specified date following Grady Sizemore's return from the disabled list. Sizemore could be back sometime in June, but that’s just an educated guess at this point.

Damon, who batted .261/.326/.418 with 16 home runs, 73 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 150 games last season for the Rays, would handle the left field job, pushing Shelley Duncan to the bench. He would give the team a bit of an upgrade defensively, as well as provide them with a more established hitter. We’re not so sure that he’s much better of an option than Duncan at this point, though he should be able to churn out some AL-only value.

National League Quick Hits: Stephen Drew participated in an extended spring training game Thursday, going 1-for-4 at the plate. It’s his first game action since undergoing ankle surgery last July, though he didn’t run the bases or play the field. Drew likely won’t be ready to return until May … The Mets have received good news on David Wright, as it appears he might not need a trip to the disabled list for a small fracture in his right pinkie. Wright will test out the finger before Friday’s game before a decision is made … Nationals third base prospect Anthony Rendon has been diagnosed with a partial fracture in his left ankle and likely will be sidelined for a couple months. Rendon has had ankle issues in the past, though they have involved his right ankle … Jed Lowrie (thumb) has been activated from the disabled list and will return to the lineup Friday. He’ll push Marwin Gonzalez into a utility role … Adam LaRoche has gotten off to an unexpectedly hot start this season, batting .345/.406/.586 with two homers and eight RBI. It’s surprising given that he’s usually a slow starter, is coming back from shoulder surgery and was limited in spring training by a foot ailment … Brad Lidge blew a save chance on Thursday, though the Nats were able to rally and win in extras. He and Henry Rodriguez have been sharing the closer role, but obviously Rodriguez could run with the gig if Lidge has any more hiccups … Brian Wilson turned his ankle while barely converting a save Thursday, but he’s expected to be OK … Tim Hudson allowed five runs over four innings Thursday in his second minor league rehab start with Class A Rome and remains on track to come off the disabled list in late April or early May …

American League Quick Hits: Jeremy Hellickson (head) will be able to make his scheduled start Saturday. The young right-hander was hit on the head by a ball during batting practice Wednesday, but he passed a variety of tests and has been cleared for action … Luke Scott hasn’t played since last weekend due to a hamstring injury. He could return to the lineup Friday, though, if batting practice on Thursday goes well … Lorenzo Cain has landed on the disabled list with a strained left groin. He had a huge spring, but his season has gotten off to a disappointing start, as he was batting just .133/.176/.133 at the time of the injury … Scott Downs left Thursday's game with a right ankle contusion after having his foot stepped on by Denard Span when he was trying to cover first base. He’ll undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the damage … Jerome Williams is over his hamstring injury and has been cleared to join the Angels' starting rotation Sunday against the Yankees. He pitched well at times for the Halos last year,
but we wouldn’t trust him for fantasy purposes … Rangers manager Ron Washington said Joe Nathan will remain the team’s closer despite picking up two losses and one blown save in the early going. Mike Adams picked up a save Thursday while Nathan was resting, though he gave up a run in the process … Both Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau homered Thursday, marking the first time they did so in the same game since July 6, 2010.

 

[HacheMan]

The Stars Come Out

Last week's roster of two-start pitchers was a bit light on stud starters, both on the AL and NL sides. That's hardly the case this week, as the list below is littered with names like Justin Verlander, Jered Weaver, CC Sabathia, Tim Lincecum, Roy Halladay and Going Twice…

American League

Strong Plays

Ricky Romero: TB (Niemann), @KC (Duffy)
James Shields: @BOS (Bard), MIN (Pavano)
CC Sabathia: MIN (Liriano), @BOS (Bard)
Jered Weaver: OAK (McCarthy), BAL (Arrieta)
Dan Haren: OAK (Ross), BAL (Hunter)
Justin Verlander: @KC (Duffy), TEX (Feliz)
Brandon McCarthy: @LAA (Weaver), CLE (Jimenez)
John Danks: BAL (Hunter), @SEA (Millwood)

Decent Plays

Colby Lewis: @BOS (Lester), @DET (Smyly)
Jeff Niemann: @TOR (Romero), MIN (Liriano)
Kevin Millwood: CLE (Tomlin), CWS (Danks)
Freddy Garcia: MIN (Pavano), @BOS (Doubtront)
Philip Humber: BAL (Arrieta), @SEA (Beavan)
Josh Tomlin: @SEA (Millwood), @OAK (Ross)
Daniel Bard: TB (Shields), NYY (Sabathia)
Jake Arrieta: @CWS (Humber), @LAA (Weaver)
Tommy Hunter: @CWS (Danks), @LAA (Haren)

At Your Own Risk

Tyson Ross: @LAA (Haren), CLE (Tomlin)
Carl Pavano: @NYY (Garcia), @TB (Shields)
Francisco Liriano: @NYY (Sabathia), @TB (Niemann)
Drew Smyly: @KC (Chen), TEX (Lewis)

National League

Strong Plays

Stephen Strasburg: HOU (Weiland), MIA (Sanchez)
Tim Lincecum: PHI (Halladay) @NYM (Gee)
Roy Halladay: @SF (Lincecum), @SD (Luebke)
Chad Billingsley: @MIL (Gallardo), @HOU (Rodriguez)
Yovani Gallardo: LAD (Billingsley), COL (Guthrie)
Wandy Rodriguez: @WAS (Gonzalez), LAD (Billingsley)
Tommy Hanson: NYM (Gee), @ARI (Saunders)
Gio Gonzalez: HOU (Rodriguez), MIA (Johnson)
Ryan Dempster: @MIA (Johnson), CIN (Cueto)

Decent Plays

Josh Johnson: CHC (Dempster), @WAS (Gonzalez)
Joe Saunders: PIT (Bedard), ATL (Hanson)
Ian Kennedy: PIT (Karstens), ATL (Delgado)
Kyle Lohse: CIN (Cueto), @PIT (Bedard)
Cory Luebke: @COL (Guthrie), PHI (Halladay)
Erik Bedard: @ARI (Saunders), STL (Lohse)
Joe Blanton: @SF (Bumgarner), @SD (Bass)
Dillon Gee: @ATL (Hanson), SF (Lincecum)
Jeremy Guthrie: SD (Luebke), @MIL (Gallardo)
Johnny Cueto: @STL (Lohse), @CHC (Dempster)
Randall Delgado: NYM (Santana), @ARI (Kennedy)

At Your Own Risk

Anthony Bass: @COL (Moyer), PHI (Blanton)
Streamer City

The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:

American League

Tuesday, 4/17: Jason Hammel @ CWS
Hammel took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in his season debut against the Twins. He won't fare as well against the AL East, but the White Sox could prove manageable.

Thursday, 4/19: Derek Lowe @ SEA
Lowe shut down the Blue Jays in his first turn, so he figures to fare well against the lesser Mariners.

National League

Tuesday, 4/17: Juan Nicasio vs. SD
Returning from a broken neck, Nicasio is a great story and he was excellent against the Astros earlier this week. Give him a look against the Padres.

Thursday, 4/19: Jeff Samardzija @ MIA
If he can keep the ball in the zone, Samardzija has the stuff to excel. So far so good in that department.

Friday, 4/20: Total Games

American League

6: BOS, CLE, KC, SEA, TEX, TOR
7: BAL, CWS, DET, LAA, MIN, NYY, OAK, TB,

National League

6: CHC, CIN, COL, LAD, MIA, MIL, NYM, PIT, SF, STL
7: ARI, ATL, HOU, PHI, SD, WAS

Lefty/Righty Breakdowns

American League

BAL: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
BOS: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CLE: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
CWS: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
DET: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
KC: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
LAA: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
MIN: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
NYY: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
OAK: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
SEA: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
TB: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
TEX: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
TOR: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP

National League

ARI: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
ATL: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CHC: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
CIN: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
COL: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
HOU: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
LAD: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
MIA: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
MIL: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
NYM: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
PHI: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
PIT: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
SD: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
SF: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
STL: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
WAS: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP

The Infirmary

You can get a full listing of injured players at Rotoworld's Injury Page but here's the latest on a few prominent players who have been out of action:

Doug Fister: Out until late April (ribs)
Lorenzo Cain: Out until late April (groin)
Mark Kotsay: Out until mid-April (calf)
Dustin Moseley: Out indefinitely (shoulder)
Drew Storen: Out indefinitely (elbow)

 

[HacheMan]

Veteran Value on the Mound
Big time veteran pitching performances and a potential major injury highlight this week’s Week That Was.



So, before we jump in to the analysis, allow me a bit of promotional time – I am thrilled to say that Rick Wolf and I will debut our new show on SiriusXM fantasy sports radio this Tuesday (April 17) from 8-11pm eastern time. Tune in for some fun, laughs and of course information, analysis and fantasy sports strategy that can help you navigate yet another twisting and turning baseball season.

Ok, now back to business . . . .


Josh Beckett: Josh Beckett recovered from a disastrous first outing against the Tigers to toss eight innings of one-run ball Friday. Beckett was efficient and effective. Yes, he struck out only one hitter, however, with only 5 hits and one walk allowed, I will take that any day. Many will still harp on the single K as a sign that Beckett is not what he was. Well, I don’t know about that but I do know that this veteran presents a huge buying opportunity. For some reason folks are just down on Josh. Take advantage now. Excluding the injury marred 2010 (not an arm injury), Beckett has posted no fewer than 172 K, walked no more than 52, had an ERA above 4 only once (4.03) and his highest WHIP was 1.19. The bottom line is simple. Beckett is still ace quality and despite being one of the best big game pitchers of this generation, he is underrated in most fantasy leagues. Buy.


Jake Peavy: Jake Peavy was really good yesterday, tossing 6 2/3 innings with eight k’s against the Tigers’ slugging lineup. So far, Peavy has a very solid 3.55 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. Just like Josh Beckett, Peavy remains an underrated, high upside AL pitcher. Remember, like Beckett, Peavy has been around a long time but is far from old. Like Beckett he is so talented that he made the bigs at the ripe young age of 19. While he carries more injury risk than Beckett, there are real reasons for my optimism. Last year Peavy was much better than the 4.94 ERA would indicate. He kept runners off base with a very respectable 1.268 WHIP and had a K/BB ratio of 4/1. Buy.


Joe Blanton: Sticking with veteran pitchers who did not get enough love in fantasy drafts, “Officer” : Hiroki Kuroda was brilliant yesterday, shutting out the Angels over eight innings to lead the Yankees to a home opening win. Kuroda, who has a 2.63 ERA thus far is another veteran who has been overlooked or at least undervalued in fantasy circles. Yes, Yankee Stadium is a tougher place to pitch than LA. Yes, he has to face the AL East rather than the NL West. However, he has an offense that will get him wins and a team that fields the ball very well – a key fact since Kuroda keeps the ball on the round. The consistent righty should win 15+ easily and could approach 20 if things fall right. Buy.


Jacoby Ellsbury: My goodness Jacoby Ellsbury is unlucky. In 2010, he ran into then teammate Adrian Beltre and basically missed the season. Yesterday, the reeling Sox lost Ellsbury for what looks like 6-8 weeks after he collided with Rays SS Reid Brignac. This is just one of those bad luck moments in real and fantasy baseball. The Sox can do little other than to play all of Ross, Sweeney and McDonald until Carl Crawford returns. None of those players is more than a 5^th OF type in anything other than the deepest league. That said, two roto side effects may occur that are currently going unstated. First, when Carl Crawford returns, he is likely to be slotted in his comfortable leadoff role (the role Ellsbury vacated). That could help him hit the ground running. If you can prospect on Crawford at a discount, do it. Second, there are good hitters out there the Sox could think about. Don’t be shocked if Derrick Lee or Ryan Raburn: On to the hitting front (or non-hitting front), Ryan Raburn continues to well . . . er . . . not hit. He went 0-3 Thursday to reduce his average to a lowly .105. Yuck. This is one of those situations in fantasy where fielding DOES count. If Raburn had a great glove, the Tigers would leave him at 2B and he would have a chance to hit his way out of a slump. However, they have a ton of offense without him and two 2B who are better fielders (Santiago and Inge). Bottom line – Raburn’s ABs are in grave danger. Act accordingly.


Ian Kennedy: Ian Kennedy IS that good. Coming off his 21 wins in 2011, Kennedy has continued to shine. Thursday, the DBack ace struck out nine in just six innings. Like Beckett and Peavy, Kennedy made the majors at a very young age. So, while he seems to have been around a long time, he is just 27 – an age where pitchers are not even fully at their peak. Add in the fact that he gets to face the Giants, Padres and Dodgers often and you get a pitcher who is undervalued. Buy with confidence if you can.


Matt Cain: Matt Cain was simply great yesterday, striking out 11 in a one-hit shutout. Oddly, the opposing pitcher had the only hit. Cain is constantly overshadowed by the Freak (Omar Infante: On the sell high front, Omar Infante continued his torrid April, going 2-4 with a double on Thursday. So far, Omar is hitting .367 with 3 dingers in just 30 AB. Yes, MI is thin and Omar has value. However, that value will never be as high as it is today. Will he hit .360? No. Will he continue to homer once every 10 AB? No. Over the last two years, he hit a dinger once every 70 AB. You get the point. These April stats are nice and he will be a serviceable fantasy MI but if you can sell high, sell high.


Matt Capps: Matt Capps got it done, but boy was it ugly. Thursday, Capps protected a three run ninth inning lead bye giving up only two runs in his one inning of work. Given his lowly K rate in 2011 and the emergence of Glenn Perkins, there are two likely scenarios. First, Capps loses the closer job before the summer solstice or two, he pitches better than expected and is traded into a set-up role before July ends. Either way, don’t expect a full year of saves here.


And last and but not least, Schultz says: “While walking through the Pai Gow poker and roulette tables of the Trump Taj this weekend I was struck by two things: there appear to be no discernible rules to Pai Gow poker (as well as an innumerable number of insensitive jokes to be made about it) and the list of previous results of the roulette wheel are about as useful as an early season box score. Before you think Schultz has gotten too deep into the open bar, let me channel my inner Desi Arnaz and do some splainin. The sucker move at any roulette table is to bet with a mindset that the previous rolls provide you with any useful information. All it tells you is what came before. Since the ball possesses no knowledge of what transpired before its recent departure from the croupier's hand, it has the same odds of red or black on each throw. The equivalent of that sucker move in rotisserie baseball is to look at the batting average of any player after the first week of the season and think it means anything significant for the other 25 weeks of the season. It is simply too little of a sample size to make any reasoned conclusions.

This is important to keep in mind when wondering whether your gambles on the likes of Mike Moustakas, Colby Rasmus or Jason Kipnis are going to pay off. Not only is there too little data to make an informed decision, it will also drive you into a deep and immediate depression. By that same token, don't break your arm patting yourself on the back for the Carlos Pena, Carlos Beltran or Final notes: Because it is my column, I get to rant and rave. So, here goes. I am watching the Yankees the other night (big shock) and what do I see? A rally is building in a tie game. Nick Swisher is on first and Robbie Cano at the plate. Robbie laces a double down the left field line. Endy Chavez (he of the great glove) races over and plays the ball in the corner. Now what happens? Yankee 3b coach Rob Thompson decides to risk sending Swisher (he of the known speed – not) rather than being happy to have second and third and no out with the cleanup hitter to follow in a tie game where a one run lead plus Robertson and Mariano is often a very good place to be. Nice work Rob. Swish gets gunned down, the rally gets killed and a game was almost lost. Major league 3B coaches who have little to do but follow simple rules should never, ever make that kind of mistake. Never.

 

[HacheMan]

Fantasy Forecaster: Week 2

By Tristan H. Cockcroft | ESPN.com

On tap: With the arrival of Week 2, we're back to seven-day scoring periods, and this is a busy one, with 14 of 30 teams scheduled to play every day and the other 16 each playing at least six of the seven days. Playoff contenders battling one another are a recurring theme: Texas Rangers at Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees at Red Sox and Rangers at Detroit Tigers grace the American League schedule, while Atlanta Braves at Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies at San Francisco Giants are some of the National League's intriguing matchups.


ESPN leagues: Week 2



Week 2 in ESPN leagues will have an early start time because of Patriots Day in Massachusetts, as the Red Sox will host the Tampa Bay Rays at 11:05 a.m. ET. Set your lineups early! These are the start times of the first games by day:



<style type="text/css">.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</style><table style="margin: 0px; width: 100%;"><thead><tr><th style="vertical-align: bottom;">Date</th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Time (ET)</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;">Teams</th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center> </center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;">Date</th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Time (ET)</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;">Teams</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Mon 4/16</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">11:05 a.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">BOS, TB</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Fri 4/20</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">2:20 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">CHC, CIN</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Tue 4/17</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7:05 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">HOU, MIN, NYY, WAS</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Sat 4/21</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1:05 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">CHC, CIN, DET, MIA, TEX, WAS</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Wed 4/18</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">12:10 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">ATL, NYM</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Sun 4/22</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1:05 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">DET, TEX</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Thu 4/19</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">12:40 p.m.</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">CHC, MIA</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> </td></tr></tbody></table>




Quick click by section, if you're seeking advice in a specific area:
Probable starting pitchers | Week 2 pitcher rankings | Pitching notes
Streamer's delight | Hitting ratings | Hitting notes



Projected starting pitchers




The chart below lists each of the 30 MLB teams' schedules and projected starting pitchers and provides a matchup rating for each day's starter. Pitchers scheduled to start at least twice this week are in gray/beige boxes.



<style type="text/css">.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</style><table style="margin: 0px; width: 100%;"><thead><tr><th style="width: 35px; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Team</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Mon
4/16</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Tue
4/17</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Wed
4/18</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Thu
4/19</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Fri
4/20</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Sat
4/21</center></th><th style="width: 14%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Sun
4/22</center></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CHW
Arrieta
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CHW
Chen
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@CHW
Hunter
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@CHW
Hammel
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@LAA
Matusz
(LHP)
P: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@LAA
Arrieta
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@LAA
Chen
(LHP)
P: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">TB
Bard
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TEX
Lester
(LHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TEX
Beckett
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">NYY
Buchholz
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">NYY
Doubront
(LHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">NYY
Bard
(RHP)
P: 5</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">BAL
Humber
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">BAL
Danks
(LHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">BAL
Peavy
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">BAL
Floyd
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SEA
Sale
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SEA
Humber
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SEA
Danks
(LHP)
P: 7</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SEA
Masterson
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SEA
Lowe
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SEA
Tomlin
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@OAK
Gomez
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@OAK
Jimenez
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@OAK
Masterson
(RHP)
P: 8</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@KC
Verlander
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@KC
Smyly
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@KC
Scherzer
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TEX
Wilk
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TEX
Porcello
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">TEX
Verlander
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">TEX
Smyly
(LHP)
P: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">DET
Duffy
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">DET
Chen
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">DET
Hochevar
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TOR
Sanchez
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TOR
Mendoza
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">TOR
Duffy
(LHP)
P: 5</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">OAK
Weaver
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">OAK
Haren
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">OAK
Santana
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">OAK
Wilson
(LHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">BAL
Williams
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">BAL
Weaver
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">BAL
Haren
(RHP)
P: 7</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@NYY
Pavano
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@NYY
Liriano
(LHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@NYY
Marquis
(RHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@NYY
Blackburn
(RHP)
P: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@TB
Hendriks
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TB
Pavano
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TB
Liriano
(LHP)
P: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">MIN
Garcia
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">MIN
Sabathia
(LHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">MIN
Kuroda
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">MIN
Hughes
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@BOS
Nova
(RHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@BOS
Garcia
(RHP)
P: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@BOS
Sabathia
(LHP)
P: 6</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@LAA
McCarthy
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@LAA
Ross
(RHP)
P: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@LAA
Colon
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@LAA
Milone
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CLE
Godfrey
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CLE
McCarthy
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CLE
Ross
(RHP)
P: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CLE
Millwood
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CLE
Vargas
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CLE
Hernandez
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CHW
Noesi
(RHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CHW
Beavan
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CHW
Millwood
(RHP)
P: 5</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@BOS
Shields
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@TOR
Niemann
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@TOR
Price
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@TOR
Hellickson
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">MIN
Moore
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">MIN
Shields
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">MIN
Niemann
(RHP)
P: 8</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@BOS
Lewis
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@BOS
Holland
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@DET
Harrison
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@DET
Darvish
(RHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@DET
Feliz
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@DET
Lewis
(RHP)
P: 6</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">TB
Romero
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TB
Morrow
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TB
Alvarez
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@KC
Drabek
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@KC
TBD

P: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@KC
Romero
(LHP)
P: 8</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">PIT
Saunders
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">PIT
Kennedy
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PIT
Hudson
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">ATL
Collmnter
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">ATL
Cahill
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">ATL
Saunders
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">ATL
Kennedy
(RHP)
P: 8</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">NYM
Hanson
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">NYM
Delgado
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">NYM
Jurrjens
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ARI
Minor
(LHP)
P: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ARI
Beachy
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@ARI
Hanson
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@ARI
Delgado
(RHP)
P: 5</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIA
Dempster
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIA
Garza
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIA
Samardzija
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CIN
Volstad
(RHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CIN
Maholm
(LHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CIN
Dempster
(RHP)
P: 7</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@STL
Cueto
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@STL
Latos
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@STL
Arroyo
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@CHC
Bailey
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@CHC
Leake
(RHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@CHC
Cueto
(RHP)
P: 7</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">SD
Guthrie
(RHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">SD
Moyer
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">SD
Nicasio
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIL
Chacin
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIL
Pomeranz
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIL
Guthrie
(RHP)
P: 2</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@WAS
Weiland
(RHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@WAS
W.Rdrguez
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@WAS
Harrell
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@WAS
Norris
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">LAD
Happ
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">LAD
Weiland
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">LAD
W.Rdrguez
(LHP)
P: 8</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@MIL
Billingsley
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIL
Capuano
(LHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIL
Harang
(RHP)
P: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@HOU
Lilly
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@HOU
Kershaw
(LHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@HOU
Billingsley
(RHP)
P: 8</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CHC
Johnson
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CHC
Buehrle
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CHC
Nolasco
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@WAS
Zambrano
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@WAS
Sanchez
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@WAS
Johnson
(RHP)
P: 8</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">LAD
Gallardo
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">LAD
Greinke
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">LAD
Wolf
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">COL
Marcum
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">COL
Narveson
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">COL
Gallardo
(RHP)
P: 5</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@ATL
Gee
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ATL
Santana
(LHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ATL
Dickey
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">SF
Niese
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">SF
Pelfrey
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">SF
Gee
(RHP)
P: 5</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SF
Halladay
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SF
Blanton
(RHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SF
Lee
(LHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SD
Worley
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SD
Hamels
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SD
Halladay
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@SD
Blanton
(RHP)
P: 6</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@ARI
Bedard
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ARI
Karstens
(RHP)
P: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ARI
McDonald
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">STL
Morton
(RHP)
P: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">STL
Correia
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">STL
Bedard
(LHP)
P: 8</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">CIN
Lohse
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CIN
Garcia
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CIN
Wainwright
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@PIT
Lynn
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@PIT
Westbrook
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@PIT
Lohse
(RHP)
P: 7</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@COL
Luebke
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@COL
Bass
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@COL
Richard
(LHP)
P: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PHI
Wieland
(RHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PHI
Volquez
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">PHI
Luebke
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">PHI
Bass
(RHP)
P: 9</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">PHI
Lincecum
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PHI
Bumgarner
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PHI
Cain
(RHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@NYM
Zito
(LHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@NYM
Vogelsong
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">@NYM
Lincecum
(RHP)
P: 8</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">HOU
Strasburg
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">HOU
Gonzalez
(LHP)
P: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">HOU
Zimmrmnn
(RHP)
P: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">HOU
Jackson
(RHP)
P: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">MIA
Detwiler
(LHP)
P: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">MIA
Strasburg
(RHP)
P: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">MIA
Gonzalez
(LHP)
P: 8</td></tr></tbody></table>P: The starting pitcher's matchup rating, which accounts for past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days), opponent and ballpark. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst.





Tristan's Week 2 pitcher rankings: Top 75




1. Roy Halladay (PHI) -- Mon-@SF (Lincecum), Sat-@SD (Luebke)
2. Justin Verlander (DET) -- Mon-@KC (Duffy), Sat-TEX (Feliz)
3. Jered Weaver (LAA) -- Mon-OAK (McCarthy), Sat-BAL (Arrieta)
4. Stephen Strasburg (WAS) -- Mon-HOU (Weiland), Sat-MIA (Sanchez)
5. Ian Kennedy (ARI) -- Tue-PIT (Karstens), Sun-ATL (Delgado)
6. Dan Haren (LAA) -- Tue-OAK (Ross), Sun-BAL (Chen)
7. Clayton Kershaw (LAD) -- Sat-@HOU (Weiland)
8. Ricky Romero (TOR) -- Tue-TB (Niemann), Sun-@KC (Duffy)
9. Felix Hernandez (SEA) -- Thu-CLE (Tomlin)
10. Cliff Lee (PHI) -- Wed-@SF (Cain)
11. CC Sabathia (NYY) -- Tue-MIN (Liriano), Sun-@BOS (Bard)
12. C.J. Wilson (LAA) -- Thu-OAK (Milone)
13. Zack Greinke (MIL) -- Wed-LAD (Capuano)
14. Gio Gonzalez (WAS) -- Tue-HOU (Rodriguez), Sun-MIA (Johnson)
15. Tim Lincecum (SF) -- Mon-PHI (Halladay), Sun-@NYM (Gee)
16. Jon Lester (BOS) -- Tue-TEX (Lewis)
17. Matt Garza (CHC) -- Wed-@MIA (Buehrle)
18. Cole Hamels (PHI) -- Fri-@SD (Volquez)
19. Tommy Hanson (ATL) -- Mon-NYM (Gee), Sat-@ARI (Saunders)
20. David Price (TB) -- Wed-@TOR (Morrow)
21. Daniel Hudson (ARI) -- Wed-PIT (McDonald)
22. Matt Cain (SF) -- Wed-PHI (Lee)
23. Yovani Gallardo (MIL) -- Tue-LAD (Billingsley), Sun-COL (Guthrie)
24. Madison Bumgarner (SF) -- Tue-PHI (Blanton)
25. Chad Billingsley (LAD) -- Tue-@MIL (Gallardo), Sun-@HOU (Rodriguez)
26. Jeremy Hellickson (TB) -- Thu-@TOR (Alvarez)
27. Jordan Zimmermann (WAS) -- Wed-HOU (Harrell)
28. Justin Masterson (CLE) -- Tue-@SEA (Millwood), Sun-@OAK (Ross)
29. Adam Wainwright (STL) -- Thu-CIN (Arroyo)
30. Matt Moore (TB) -- Fri-MIN (Hendriks)
31. Johnny Cueto (CIN) -- Tue-@STL (Lohse), Sun-@CHC (Dempster)
32. Chris Sale (CHW) -- Fri-@SEA (Noesi)
33. Brandon McCarthy (OAK) -- Mon-@LAA (Weaver), Sat-CLE (Jimenez)
34. Brandon Morrow (TOR) -- Wed-TB (Price)
35. James Shields (TB) -- Mon-@BOS (Bard), Sat-MIN (Pavano)
36. Anibal Sanchez (MIA) -- Sat-@WAS (Strasburg)
37. Josh Johnson (MIA) -- Tue-CHC (Dempster), Sun-@WAS (Gonzalez)
38. Neftali Feliz (TEX) -- Sat-@DET (Verlander)
39. Ubaldo Jimenez (CLE) -- Sat-@OAK (McCarthy)
40. Mat Latos (CIN) -- Wed-@STL (Garcia)
41. Colby Lewis (TEX) -- Tue-@BOS (Lester), Sun-@DET (Smyly)
42. Shaun Marcum (MIL) -- Fri-COL (Chacin)
43. Vance Worley (PHI) -- Thu-@SD (Wieland)
44. John Danks (CHW) -- Tue-BAL (Chen), Sun-@SEA (Millwood)
45. Jaime Garcia (STL) -- Wed-CIN (Latos)
46. Brandon Beachy (ATL) -- Fri-@ARI (Cahill)
47. Wandy Rodriguez (HOU) -- Tue-@WAS (Gonzalez), Sun-LAD (Billingsley)
48. Jonathon Niese (NYM) -- Fri-SF (Zito)
49. Trevor Cahill (ARI) -- Fri-ATL (Beachy)
50. Erik Bedard (PIT) -- Mon-@ARI (Saunders), Sun-STL (Lohse)
51. Johan Santana (NYM) -- Tue-@ATL (Delgado)
52. Cory Luebke (SD) -- Mon-@COL (Guthrie), Sat-PHI (Halladay)
53. Ricky Nolasco (MIA) -- Thu-CHC (Samardzija)
54. Ervin Santana (LAA) -- Wed-OAK (Colon)
55. Derek Holland (TEX) -- Wed-@BOS (Beckett)
56. Ryan Dempster (CHC) -- Tue-@MIA (Johnson), Sun-CIN (Cueto)
57. Jake Arrieta (BAL) -- Mon-@CHW (Humber), Sat-@LAA (Weaver)
58. Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) -- Wed-MIN (Marquis)
59. Yu Darvish (TEX) -- Fri-@DET (Porcello)
60. Kyle Lohse (STL) -- Tue-CIN (Cueto), Sun-@PIT (Bedard)
61. Phil Hughes (NYY) -- Thu-MIN (Blackburn)
62. Juan Nicasio (COL) -- Wed-SD (Richard)
63. Jeff Niemann (TB) -- Tue-@TOR (Romero), Sun-MIN (Liriano)
64. Josh Beckett (BOS) -- Wed-TEX (Holland)
65. Edinson Volquez (SD) -- Fri-PHI (Hamels)
66. Edwin Jackson (WAS) -- Thu-HOU (Norris)
67. Danny Duffy (KC) -- Mon-DET (Verlander), Sun-TOR (Romero)
68. Max Scherzer (DET) -- Wed-@KC (Hochevar)
69. Jeff Samardzija (CHC) -- Thu-@MIA (Nolasco)
70. Joe Blanton (PHI) -- Tue-@SF (Bumgarner), Sun-@SD (Bass)
71. Lance Lynn (STL) -- Fri-@PIT (Morton)
72. Philip Humber (CHW) -- Mon-BAL (Arrieta), Sat-@SEA (Beavan)
73. Dillon Gee (NYM) -- Mon-@ATL (Hanson), Sun-SF (Lincecum)
74. Jason Vargas (SEA) -- Wed-CLE (Lowe)
75. Ted Lilly (LAD) -- Fri-@HOU (Happ)



Two-start options for AL-/NL-only leagues:
Daniel Bard (BOS) -- Mon-TB (Shields), Sun-NYY (Sabathia)
Randall Delgado (ATL) -- Tue-NYM (Santana), Sun-@ARI (Kennedy)
Kevin Millwood (SEA) -- Tue-CLE (Masterson), Sun-CHW (Danks)
Joe Saunders (ARI) -- Mon-PIT (Bedard), Sat-ATL (Hanson)



No-thank-yous, among two-start pitchers:
Anthony Bass (SD) -- Tue-@COL (Moyer), Sun-PHI (Blanton)
Wei-Yin Chen (BAL) -- Tue-@CHW (Danks), Sun-@LAA (Haren)
Freddy Garcia (NYY) -- Mon-MIN (Pavano), Sat-@BOS (Doubront)
Jeremy Guthrie (COL) -- Mon-SD (Luebke), Sun-@MIL (Gallardo)
Francisco Liriano (MIN) -- Tue-@NYY (Sabathia), Sun-@TB (Niemann)
Carl Pavano (MIN) -- Mon-@NYY (Garcia), Sat-@TB (Shields)
Tyson Ross (OAK) -- Tue-@LAA (Haren), Sun-CLE (Masterson)
Drew Smyly (DET) -- Tue-@KC (Chen), Sun-TEX (Lewis)
Kyle Weiland (HOU) -- Mon-@WAS (Strasburg), Sat-LAD (Kershaw)



Pitching notes




• Baseball Challenge staff watch: Anytime the Washington Nationals (Price: 7.0) get to pitch Stephen Strasburg twice in a given week, their pitching staff will be a good value in Baseball Challenge, and in Week 2 they top my rankings for the game. Seven home games include four versus the light-hitting Houston Astros, who will be making their final stop in a two-city road trip, and three versus the Miami Marlins, a team off to a slow start offensively. Newly acquired Gio Gonzalez, the Nationals' other two-start pitcher, followed up a poor 2012 debut with seven shutout innings in the Nationals Park opener on April 12. Among my other recommended picks: Philadelphia Phillies (@SF-3, @SD-4), Los Angeles Angels (OAK-4, BAL-3), Arizona Diamondbacks (PIT-3, ATL-4). If only the Diamondbacks had rookie Trevor Bauer, rather than Josh Collmenter, in their rotation, they might have ranked higher.


• Though their weekend series at Boston's Fenway Park presents matchups challenges -- remember that the Red Sox will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the opening of their ballpark on April 20 -- the Yankees stand out in a significant way, pitching-wise, during their four-game, week-opening series versus the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium. In the past three seasons (2009-11), Yankees pitchers are 17-4 with 13 quality starts (61.9 percent), a 3.35 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 21 games versus the Twins. Phil Hughes, Wednesday's starter, limited the Twins to one run on two hits in 7 2/3 innings in their Aug. 19 meeting last year.


• Among the bargain-bin success stories of Week 1, who should remain in your lineups this week? Jeff Samardzija, who followed up a solid spring training finale with a brilliant 2012 regular season debut and whose improvement in terms of command (24 K's, one walk, counting the spring) bodes well as he faces a free-swinging Marlins team (48 K's, 10 walks as a team); Barry Zito, who might be facing a David Wright-less New York Mets team at Citi Field; and Lance Lynn, who has a 2.22 ERA in his past five starts (spring included) and will be facing a Pittsburgh Pirates team batting .199 through its first six games.



Streamer's delight




Among streaming starter -- something I define as a single-start option in daily leagues among pitchers owned in 25 percent of ESPN leagues or fewer -- options for Week 2, here are my picks by day:


Monday, April 16: Joe Saunders versus Pittsburgh Pirates
Tuesday, April 17: Kevin Millwood versus Cleveland Indians
Wednesday, April 18: Juan Nicasio versus San Diego Padres
Thursday, April 19: Phil Hughes versus Minnesota Twins
Friday, April 20: Jonathon Niese versus San Francisco Giants
Saturday, April 21: Philip Humber at Seattle Mariners
Sunday, April 22: Joe Blanton at San Diego Padres


Past picks
Thursday, April 5, Erik Bedard: QS, 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Friday, April 6, Jake Arrieta: W, QS, 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Saturday, April 7, Chris Capuano: 4 2/3 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 4 K
Sunday, April 8, Juan Nicasio: QS, 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Monday, April 9, Tommy Milone: W, QS, 8 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
Tuesday, April 10, Trevor Cahill: QS, 6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 6 BB, 5 K
Wednesday, April 11, Erik Bedard: 5 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Thursday, April 12, Chris Capuano: W, 5 1/3 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K



Week's total: 8 GS, 3 W (37.5%), 5 QS (62.5%), 50 IP, 34 H, 11 ER, 19 BB, 31 K, 1.98 ERA, 1.06 WHIP
Season total: 8 GS, 3 W (37.5%), 5 QS (62.5%), 50 IP, 34 H, 11 ER, 19 BB, 31 K, 1.98 ERA, 1.06 WHIP



Hitting ratings




The chart below lists each of the 30 teams' total number of scheduled games, home games and games versus right- and left-handed pitchers and provides a matchup rating for the week's games in terms of overall offense, offense for left- and right-handed hitters and base stealing. Matchup ratings for each individual game are listed under the corresponding date.



<style type="text/css">.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</style><table style="margin: 0px; width: 100%;"><thead><tr><th style="width: 35px; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Team</center></th><th style="width: 12%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Games</center></th><th style="width: 11%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Overall
Rating</center></th><th style="width: 11%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Mon
4/16</center></th><th style="width: 11%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Tue
4/17</center></th><th style="width: 11%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Wed
4/18</center></th><th style="width: 11%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Thu
4/19</center></th><th style="width: 11%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Fri
4/20</center></th><th style="width: 11%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Sat
4/21</center></th><th style="width: 11%; vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Sun
4/22</center></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">7 total
0 home
1 vs. L
6 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 5
L: 6
R: 4
S: 10</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@CHW
H: 5
L: 7
R: 3
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@CHW
H: 5
L: 8
R: 4
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@CHW
H: 4
L: 5
R: 3
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@CHW
H: 5
L: 6
R: 3
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@LAA
H: 5
L: 4
R: 6
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@LAA
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@LAA
H: 4
L: 5
R: 3
S: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">6 total
6 home
2 vs. L
4 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 7
L: 6
R: 7
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TB
H: 6
L: 5
R: 8
S: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TEX
H: 4
L: 7
R: 1
S: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TEX
H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">NYY
H: 7
L: 10
R: 4
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">NYY
H: 8
L: 6
R: 9
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">NYY
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">7 total
4 home
1 vs. L
6 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 8
L: 10
R: 6
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">BAL
H: 4
L: 6
R: 1
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">BAL
H: 7
L: 7
R: 7
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">BAL
H: 5
L: 9
R: 2
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">BAL
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SEA
H: 8
L: 8
R: 8
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SEA
H: 5
L: 9
R: 2
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SEA
H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">6 total
0 home
1 vs. L
5 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SEA
H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SEA
H: 3
L: 2
R: 3
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SEA
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@OAK
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@OAK
H: 3
L: 6
R: 1
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@OAK
H: 7
L: 5
R: 8
S: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">7 total
4 home
3 vs. L
4 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 7
L: 7
R: 7
S: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@KC
H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@KC
H: 5
L: 4
R: 6
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@KC
H: 7
L: 8
R: 5
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TEX
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TEX
H: 7
L: 9
R: 5
S: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TEX
H: 5
L: 6
R: 4
S: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TEX
H: 4
L: 7
R: 1
S: 2</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">6 total
6 home
2 vs. L
3 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">DET
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">DET
H: 7
L: 10
R: 5
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">DET
H: 7
L: 8
R: 6
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TOR
H: 7
L: 5
R: 9
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TOR
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TOR
H: 3
L: 8
R: 1
S: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">7 total
7 home
3 vs. L
4 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 8
L: 8
R: 7
S: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">OAK
H: 4
L: 7
R: 1
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">OAK
H: 9
L: 7
R: 10
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">OAK
H: 7
L: 10
R: 1
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">OAK
H: 4
L: 5
R: 3
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">BAL
H: 9
L: 4
R: 10
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">BAL
H: 3
L: 6
R: 1
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">BAL
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 1</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">7 total
0 home
2 vs. L
5 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@NYY
H: 7
L: 6
R: 9
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@NYY
H: 3
L: 1
R: 4
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@NYY
H: 4
L: 8
R: 1
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@NYY
H: 5
L: 9
R: 1
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@TB
H: 4
L: 6
R: 3
S: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@TB
H: 5
L: 4
R: 6
S: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@TB
H: 4
L: 6
R: 1
S: 2</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">7 total
4 home
2 vs. L
5 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 10
L: 9
R: 10
S: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">MIN
H: 7
L: 7
R: 7
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">MIN
H: 8
L: 1
R: 10
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">MIN
H: 7
L: 9
R: 5
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">MIN
H: 8
L: 9
R: 7
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@BOS
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@BOS
H: 8
L: 10
R: 5
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@BOS
H: 6
L: 7
R: 4
S: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">7 total
3 home
1 vs. L
6 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 3
L: 4
R: 3
S: 8</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@LAA
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@LAA
H: 4
L: 5
R: 3
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@LAA
H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@LAA
H: 1
L: 1
R: 2
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CLE
H: 5
L: 5
R: 6
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CLE
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CLE
H: 3
L: 7
R: 1
S: 3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">6 total
6 home
2 vs. L
4 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 4
L: 6
R: 3
S: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CLE
H: 3
L: 7
R: 1
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CLE
H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CLE
H: 7
L: 9
R: 4
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CHW
H: 3
L: 2
R: 3
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CHW
H: 4
L: 6
R: 3
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CHW
H: 5
L: 7
R: 4
S: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">7 total
3 home
2 vs. L
5 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 6
L: 5
R: 8
S: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@BOS
H: 4
L: 5
R: 3
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@TOR
H: 3
L: 8
R: 1
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@TOR
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@TOR
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">MIN
H: 6
L: 6
R: 5
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">MIN
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">MIN
H: 7
L: 1
R: 9
S: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">6 total
0 home
3 vs. L
3 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 4
L: 5
R: 4
S: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@BOS
H: 1
L: 1
R: 2
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@BOS
H: 7
L: 7
R: 6
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@DET
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@DET
H: 6
L: 8
R: 3
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@DET
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@DET
H: 7
L: 10
R: 5
S: 3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">6 total
3 home
3 vs. L
3 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 3
L: 2
R: 4
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TB
H: 5
L: 7
R: 3
S: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TB
H: 3
L: 1
R: 4
S: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">TB
H: 1
L: 3
R: 1
S: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@KC
H: 3
L: 1
R: 3
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@KC
H: 5
L: 2
R: 8
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@KC
H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">7 total
7 home
2 vs. L
5 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 8
L: 7
R: 8
S: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PIT
H: 3
L: 1
R: 4
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PIT
H: 8
L: 10
R: 6
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PIT
H: 7
L: 5
R: 7
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">ATL
H: 9
L: 10
R: 9
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">ATL
H: 4
L: 5
R: 3
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">ATL
H: 3
L: 4
R: 2
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">ATL
H: 6
L: 5
R: 7
S: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">7 total
3 home
2 vs. L
5 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 6
L: 5
R: 7
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">NYM
H: 7
L: 4
R: 8
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">NYM
H: 2
L: 1
R: 2
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">NYM
H: 4
L: 6
R: 3
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ARI
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ARI
H: 5
L: 7
R: 3
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ARI
H: 7
L: 3
R: 8
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ARI
H: 4
L: 4
R: 4
S: 1</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">6 total
3 home
1 vs. L
5 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 7
L: 6
R: 7
S: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIA
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIA
H: 7
L: 5
R: 7
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIA
H: 6
L: 6
R: 5
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CIN
H: 7
L: 6
R: 8
S: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CIN
H: 8
L: 9
R: 7
S: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CIN
H: 4
L: 5
R: 3
S: 2</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">6 total
0 home
2 vs. L
4 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 5
L: 6
R: 4
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@STL
H: 4
L: 6
R: 2
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@STL
H: 4
L: 6
R: 3
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@STL
H: 2
L: 3
R: 1
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@CHC
H: 8
L: 10
R: 7
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@CHC
H: 8
L: 1
R: 10
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@CHC
H: 4
L: 8
R: 1
S: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">6 total
3 home
3 vs. L
3 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 5
L: 2
R: 7
S: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">SD
H: 5
L: 5
R: 6
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">SD
H: 4
L: 2
R: 5
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">SD
H: 5
L: 1
R: 8
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIL
H: 3
L: 2
R: 5
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIL
H: 6
L: 2
R: 7
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIL
H: 5
L: 6
R: 4
S: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">7 total
3 home
3 vs. L
4 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 2
L: 4
R: 2
S: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@WAS
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@WAS
H: 3
L: 5
R: 2
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@WAS
H: 4
L: 5
R: 3
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@WAS
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">LAD
H: 4
L: 5
R: 3
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">LAD
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">LAD
H: 3
L: 3
R: 2
S: 3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">6 total
0 home
3 vs. L
3 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 6
L: 3
R: 7
S: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIL
H: 5
L: 6
R: 4
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIL
H: 2
L: 5
R: 1
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@MIL
H: 5
L: 2
R: 6
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@HOU
H: 7
L: 3
R: 8
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@HOU
H: 9
L: 5
R: 10
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@HOU
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">6 total
3 home
2 vs. L
4 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 1
L: 3
R: 1
S: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CHC
H: 4
L: 8
R: 1
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CHC
H: 2
L: 3
R: 2
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CHC
H: 3
L: 4
R: 2
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@WAS
H: 3
L: 1
R: 4
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@WAS
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@WAS
H: 3
L: 5
R: 2
S: 3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">6 total
6 home
2 vs. L
4 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 7
L: 7
R: 6
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">LAD
H: 3
L: 3
R: 2
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">LAD
H: 6
L: 2
R: 7
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">LAD
H: 9
L: 10
R: 9
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">COL
H: 4
L: 8
R: 1
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">COL
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">COL
H: 9
L: 10
R: 6
S: 1</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">6 total
3 home
1 vs. L
5 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 2
L: 3
R: 2
S: 7</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ATL
H: 2
L: 3
R: 1
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ATL
H: 5
L: 4
R: 6
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ATL
H: 5
L: 8
R: 3
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">SF
H: 3
L: 1
R: 4
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">SF
H: 3
L: 5
R: 2
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">SF
H: 3
L: 3
R: 2
S: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">7 total
0 home
2 vs. L
5 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 2
L: 1
R: 4
S: 9</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SF
H: 2
L: 3
R: 2
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SF
H: 4
L: 2
R: 5
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SF
H: 2
L: 1
R: 3
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SD
H: 4
L: 4
R: 4
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SD
H: 2
L: 1
R: 3
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SD
H: 3
L: 3
R: 3
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@SD
H: 1
L: 1
R: 2
S: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">6 total
3 home
1 vs. L
5 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ARI
H: 7
L: 3
R: 8
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ARI
H: 4
L: 4
R: 4
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@ARI
H: 3
L: 3
R: 4
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">STL
H: 2
L: 1
R: 3
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">STL
H: 5
L: 5
R: 4
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">STL
H: 4
L: 7
R: 2
S: 1</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">6 total
3 home
1 vs. L
5 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 4
L: 6
R: 2
S: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CIN
H: 3
L: 5
R: 2
S: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CIN
H: 2
L: 2
R: 1
S: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">CIN
H: 6
L: 10
R: 2
S: 2</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@PIT
H: 7
L: 10
R: 2
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@PIT
H: 5
L: 5
R: 5
S: 4</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@PIT
H: 2
L: 1
R: 3
S: 4</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">7 total
4 home
2 vs. L
5 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 7
L: 4
R: 9
S: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@COL
H: 10
L: 10
R: 7
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@COL
H: 8
L: 8
R: 8
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@COL
H: 6
L: 4
R: 7
S: 1</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PHI
H: 2
L: 1
R: 5
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PHI
H: 3
L: 1
R: 3
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PHI
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PHI
H: 5
L: 2
R: 7
S: 3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">6 total
3 home
2 vs. L
4 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 4
L: 2
R: 6
S: 5</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PHI
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PHI
H: 6
L: 3
R: 8
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">PHI
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@NYM
H: 5
L: 3
R: 5
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@NYM
H: 7
L: 7
R: 7
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">@NYM
H: 7
L: 4
R: 8
S: 3</td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">

</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">7 total
7 home
1 vs. L
6 vs. R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(239, 230, 186);" align="center">H: 7
L: 6
R: 6
S: 6</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">HOU
H: 9
L: 5
R: 10
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">HOU
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">HOU
H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">HOU
H: 5
L: 7
R: 4
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">MIA
H: 4
L: 7
R: 2
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">MIA
H: 4
L: 4
R: 4
S: 3</td><td style="vertical-align: top;" align="center">MIA
H: 3
L: 4
R: 1
S: 3</td></tr></tbody></table>Some of the data used to generate this chart is derived from Baseball Musings' Day-by-day database.

H: Hitters' matchup rating, which accounts for the opposing starting pitcher's past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days) as well as ballpark factors. L: Hitters' matchup rating accounting only for left-handed hitters. R: Hitters' matchup rating accounting for only right-handed hitters. S: Base stealing matchup rating, which accounts for the opponent's catchers' ability to gun down opposing base stealers. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst.





Hitting notes




• Though three games at pitching-friendly Safeco Field might appear poor matchups for hitters, keep in mind the Chicago White Sox will face three middling right-handers in them: Hector Noesi, Blake Beavan and Kevin Millwood. Adding the three right-handers the White Sox will face during the week-opening, four-game series versus the Baltimore Orioles, this can be considered a critical week for Adam Dunn, off to a slow start to 2012 following a brutal 2011. Dunn's most notable struggles come against left-handers; he has six career homers in 19 at-bats versus Millwood and homered in his only at-bat versus Noesi and he has two doubles and a homer in 13 at-bats versus Thursday starter Jason Hammel. Left-handed Alejandro De Aza, a .331/.387/.537 hitter versus right-handers during his White Sox career, is another attractive Week 2 option.


• Before you condemn Cameron Maybin -- among other San Diego Padres in deep NL-only leagues -- for their four-game, week-ending series versus the vaunted Philadelphia Phillies pitching staff, keep in mind that three games at Colorado's Coors Field to begin the week neutralize those matchups somewhat. Maybin was a .342/.359/.763 hitter in nine games at Coors last season, and he's a lifetime .316 hitter (6-for-19) versus Cole Hamels, his Friday opponent, and .438 (7-for-16) versus Joe Blanton, his Sunday opponent.


• Home games typically favor Arizona Diamondbacks hitters, and with seven at home, three versus the Pittsburgh Pirates and all in favorable weather conditions (Chase Field has a retractable roof), load up on their starters. The only one of their eight regulars besides Jason Kubel -- who has only six career games played at Chase yet one homer there already -- who has a sub-.750 lifetime OPS at Chase is Paul Goldschmidt. Aaron Hill has a surprisingly good track record there: He's a .275/.377/.505 hitter in 25 career games at Chase.

 

[HacheMan]

Top 12 for '12: Trout hot at Triple-A

By Kevin Goldstein | Baseball Prospectus


Welcome to the first edition of the Top 12 for '12, a carry-over from Jason Grey's Top 11 for '11 prospects update last year. Every Friday you'll get an update on the top 12 fantasy prospects (players currently in the minor leagues) for 2012.
These rankings are a bit different than other prospect rankings lists you'll see, as these are strictly for 2012 fantasy purposes only. So not only does talent and recent performance play a role in the rankings, potential paths to the big leagues also factor in. In addition, all young players in the minors are eligible, including those in "prospect purgatory," those who have exceeded rookie status but are still young and unproven commodities.

1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels


Last week's stats (at Triple-A Salt Lake): 14-for-36 (.389), HR, 4 RBIs, 3 SB
Path to the big leagues: The Angels signed Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson to win now, and Vernon Wells is a liability. Because of his contract, benching him would be a tough pill to swallow, but it could be necessary if the Angels are going to keep up with the Texas Rangers in the American League West.
What he can do: As the best all-around fantasy prospect in the game, Trout should hit for average and steal bases immediately, and while his power is still developing, he should hit a handful of home runs, as well.

2. Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals


Last week's stats (at Triple-A Syracuse): 6-for-27 (.222), 1 RBI, SB
Path to the big leagues: The Nationals remain coy regarding when Harper will arrive in the big leagues, but what is already a disastrous outfield situation for the Nats became even more so when it was announced that Michael Morse will be shut down at least six weeks after aggravating his back injury. Once Harper starts hitting, he'll get the call.
What he can do: The batting average could take a while, but the power should be immediate, and he has enough speed to steal a handful of bases, as well.

3. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies


Last week's stats (at Double-A Tulsa): 11-for-28 (.393), 4 2B, 0 HR, 5 RBIs
Path to the big leagues: The Rockies cleared Arenado's path to the big leagues by releasing Casey Blake this spring, and neither Chris Nelson nor Jordan Pacheco has done much to delay Arenado's timetable. He should be up soon.
What he can do: You can expect Arenado to hit for a decent average immediately, but the power could take a while even though he'll play half his games at homer-favorable Coors Field. Meanwhile, he's not a stolen base threat.

4. Trevor Bauer, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks


Last week's stats (at Double-A Mobile): 10&frac23; IP, 4 H, 0 R, 7 BB, 18 K's
Path to the big leagues: Josh Collmenter gave up six runs in three innings in his first start of the year, so we are officially on "Bauer watch." If Collmenter's struggles continue, Bauer could be up as early as May.
What he can do: Bauer should have no problems missing bats right away, and he's playing for a team that can score runs and get him wins. The only question is how many innings he'll throw, and he's hardly efficient, having averaged 105 pitches per six innings, even while dominating.

5. Travis Snider, OF, Toronto Blue Jays


Last week's stats (at Triple-A Las Vegas): 10-for-27 (.370), 3 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBIs
Path to the big leagues: The Blue Jays are getting almost no offensive production from their outfield, not even from Jose Bautista, and while Snider has teased Toronto before with his minor league production, he's coming off an impressive spring, and many scouts believe Eric Thames' 2011 numbers represent his peak.
What he can do: This is a tough one. Snider is a talented hitter with on-base skills and some power, but he has never put it together in the big leagues. He's best left to fantasy owners who are comfortable with risk, but there's the potential for a sizable payoff.

6. Garrett Richards, SP, Angels


Last week's stats (at Triple-A Salt Lake): 13&frac13; IP, 9 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 15 K's
Path to the big leagues: While Jerome Williams has been named the Angels' fifth starter, that might not last long the way Richards is pitching. He's throwing more strikes than ever and being more consistent with his secondary pitches.
What he can do: Richards should be a quality back-end starter immediately, and while he's unlikely to put up a low ERA, he should have a healthier strikeout rate than we saw during last year's big league stint.

7. Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B, Cleveland Indians


Last week's stats (at Triple-A Columbus): 10-for-32 (.313), 3 HR, 5 RBIs
Path to the big leagues: Jack Hannahan is hitting right now, but he's 32 years old and has a career batting line of .232/.317/.360, so it's not likely to last. A bad sign for Chisenhall: As good as he has been, he has drawn just one walk in 33 plate appearances, and the Indians sent him down to work on his plate discipline.
What he can do: Chisenhall is already a better player than Hannahan, but he's not going to come up until the Indians are convinced he can stay there for good, given last year's struggles.

8. Brian Dozier, IF, Minnesota Twins


Last week's stats (at Triple-A Rochester): 12-for-25 (.480), 3 2B, HR, 4 RBIs
Path to the big leagues: The Twins are a bad team, and their middle infield pairing of Alexi Casilla and Jamey Carroll has been especially brutal, going a combined 5-for-35 (.143) to begin the season. Dozier can play either position, and with the team going nowhere, the Twins should see what they have in Dozier.
What he can do: Dozier has never been seen as a top prospect because he's more of a grinder rather than someone with big tools, but he's a career .311 hitter in the minors, and while he offers little power, he's fast enough to steal a few bases.

9. Brad Hand, SP, Miami Marlins


Last week's stats (at Triple-A New Orleans): 11 IP, 8 H, 1 R (0 ER), 6 BB, 17 K's
Path to the big leagues: With the offseason additions of Mark Buehrle and Carlos Zambrano, Hand was forced back to Triple-A after making 12 big league starts last year. Now he's trying to force his way back into the rotation by showing the ability to strike out hitters. He needs an opening, but no team gets through a full season with just five starters.
What he can do: As a left-hander with two power pitches (low-90s fastball, above-average curve), Hand could have more success than he did last year. He just needs an opportunity.

10. James Paxton, SP, Seattle Mariners


Last week's stats (at Double-A Jackson): 10&frac13; IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 17 K's
Path to the big leagues: While the Mariners have had good starting pitching thus far, their rotation remains "Felix Hernandez and the rest of the guys." Their Double-A pitching trio of Paxton, Danny Hultzen and Taijuan Walker is the envy of baseball, and Paxton has taken the early lead among the three with a pair of dominant outings.
What he can do: A big, powerful left-hander who can throw 95 mph and back it up with a very good curveball, Paxton's success will depend on his command and control, which has been nearly flawless so far this year.

11. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago Cubs


Last week's stats (at Triple-A Iowa): 12-for-31 (.387), 3 HR, 10 RBIs, SB
Path to the big leagues: It's complicated. Bryan LaHair is the Cubs' first baseman for now, and he has looked just fine. A trade of Marlon Byrd would allow LaHair to move to the outfield, but his best outfield position is left field, and that's where a resurgent Alfonso Soriano plays. The Cubs reportedly want to get Rizzo in the lineup by the All-Star break, if not sooner, but right now it appears it'll take a complicated game of musical chairs for them to do that.
What he can do: Rizzo's struggles in the big leagues last year were well-documented, but he has shown an ability to hit for both average and power in the past, and he has been making adjustments to close the holes in his swing.

12. Casey Kelly, SP, San Diego Padres


Last week's stats (at Triple-A Tucson): 12 IP, 12 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 14 K's
Path to the big leagues: Kelly was the big prize coming over from Boston in the Adrian Gonzalez trade, and we saw signs this spring that he was beginning to harness his fine athleticism and stuff. In his most recent start with Tucson, he whiffed a career-high nine batters over six shutout innings, and while fellow starter Joe Wieland got the first call to San Diego, Kelly might not be far behind.
What he can do: Kelly has plenty of stuff, including a low-90s sinker and an outstanding curveball, and as you can tell from the numbers above, he's throwing plenty of strikes. Pitching in San Diego will help him keep runs off the board, but pitching for the Padres also means little run support.

Names for those in deep leagues


There is a remarkable amount of teenage pitching talent at Low A this year. For you ultra-deep leaguers, here are three players to look at:
Archie Bradley, SP, Diamondbacks: This 2011 first-rounder generated plenty of buzz in camp and has delivered two brilliant starts at Low A South Bend.
Dylan Bundy, SP, Orioles: In two outings, Bundy, the fourth overall pick last June, has gone 18 up and 18 down, with 12 strikeouts.
Jose Campos, SP, Yankees: The "other" guy in the Jesus Montero/Michael Pineda deal, this 19-year-old Venezuelan has fired 11 one-hit innings in two starts for Low A Charleston.

 

[HacheMan]

Early concerns about Stanton, Wilson

Eric Karabell

SweetSpot editor/writer David Schoenfield and I taped a video the other day about players off to slow starts, and we discussed our level of concern for Josh Johnson, Tim Lincecum, Vernon Wells and Kevin Youkilis, among others. It just so happens that in those cases, we didn't seem particularly worried about any of these veterans. For now, they seem healthy, and perhaps we just need to lower expectations some. The sample size is awfully small on their struggles. But certainly even one week into the season I can say there are some players fantasy owners should be watching closer than others.

Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, for example, is clearly not right. I watched him play in Philadelphia this week, and the lingering soreness in his left knee not only played the largest role in him sitting out Monday's game but seems to be affecting him at the plate, where he has one extra-base hit so far, and in the field, where he should be an above-average defender but dropped a fly ball Thursday. Stanton is hitting .240 with no walks; he seems jumpy at the plate, unable to drive the ball when he makes contact and certainly is less patient than normal. Last year Stanton earned 70 walks. However, if pitchers know he's hurting, they'll challenge him more. So far Stanton is seeing 3.2 pitches per plate appearance; last year he saw 3.96. It's not enough time to proclaim him as wild as Vladimir Guerrero, but still.
<offer>Stanton was a third-round pick on average in ESPN live drafts, so the news in Thursday's Palm Beach Post that there's apparently no end in sight to the knee pain is discouraging. "It's something that's obviously not going to get much better by playing every day," he said. "It's something that you have to kind of deal with, gauge the pain and deal with what you've got." Stanton missed much of spring training with the knee problem, which remains undiagnosed by doctors.
Well, that's all just awesome. Back in February I predicted Stanton would lead the National League in home runs. The ESPN Fantasy projection has him at 37 home runs, 101 RBIs and a .269 batting average. I'm not ready to abandon lofty expectations before tax day, but I have to admit if someone offered me Andrew McCutchen, whom I ranked about a half-round worse, I'd take it. I'd accept Texas Rangers infielders Ian Kinsler and Adrian Beltre, too. I wouldn't trade Stanton for Austin Jackson, though, or for David Freese and Barry Zito. Let's not get carried away. Another 30-home run season, even with never-ending knee pain, is reasonable, but be prepared for missed games, a lower-than-expected batting average and perhaps a DL stint.
Also from Thursday, I was able to see San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson struggle to his first save. It certainly wasn't of the attractive variety, as the bearded one -- at some point the facial hair has to be an impediment, no? -- loaded the bases at Coors Field on three hits (only one of them hit hard); induced a screaming line drive out by Todd Helton; walked the feared Tyler Colvin to force in a run; but retired Marco Scutaro to escape disaster. Wilson threw 32 pitches and after allowing a run Wednesday as well, I'd expect him to be deemed unavailable Friday and perhaps Saturday.
In addition, Wilson seemed to turn his ankle during the Colvin at-bat, necessitating a visit from manager Bruce Bochy and a follow-up warm-up pitch as well. Wilson's fastball velocity, in decline for years, fell under 90 mph after that. So, we've got the elbow, the ankle and velocity as concern here. Wilson's average fastball velocity was 96.5 in 2009, 95.7 in 2010, 94 last season and so far this season he's at 92.4. Similarly, the once-elite strikeout rate was merely very good in 2011. Relief pitchers have notoriously short shelf lives, and Wilson is 30 years old. I'd be concerned about him ever having a year like 2010 again. I think he can still compete and save plenty of games with numbers like last season, but I'd try to deal him now for a seemingly lesser closer (Javy Guerra, perhaps?) and a bat while name value is high.
There was interesting debate on Twitter immediately after Wilson saved Thursday's game about who would close if he were to miss time. Last season, six other Giants had saves; Santiago Casilla led the way with six, and I'd again call him next in line. Yes, Sergio Romo had better numbers, fanning 70 hitters against only five walks. As colleague Tristan H. Cockcroft noted Thursday in "Relief Efforts," I agree Casilla would be the proper handcuff.
Put simply, it is reasonable to expect Stanton and Wilson, among many others hurting, to remain productive for fantasy owners, but in a game that's often about value, reacting before a small problem becomes larger is often wise. Just when it looked like Michael Morse was a day away from returning to the Washington Nationals' lineup, his situation changed and it will be 4-6 weeks. Others with big names who I'll be watching closely over the next few weeks to see if perhaps expectations are just a bit too generous include Alex Rodriguez, Lance Berkman and Josh Beckett. But hey, it's early!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
</offer>

 

[HacheMan]

Bad News for The Beard

Giants closer Wilson is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery soon, and he admitted that his elbow has actually bothered him since 2010, telling CSNBayArea.com that he’s been pitching “on borrowed time.”



It’s an unfortunate bit of news for The Beard’s fantasy owners, but they should have known they were drafting a risk after Wilson dealt with elbow issues during the second half last season. So, who is likely to replace him in the ninth inning?

​

Bochy is telling the media that it will be a closer by committee situation, which obviously isn’t what fantasy owners want to hear. But, the smart money right now seems to be on

Also potentially in the mix will be Sergio Romo, Jeremy Affeldt and possibly Dan Otero. Romo has been one of the better setup men in the National League the last few years, possessing a phenomenal 5.51 K/BB ratio in his career. We think he’s the best choice for the role, but he hasn’t been very durable and the Giants might seek a steadier presence. Casilla should be your top target, but all are worthy of speculative adds, depending on the depth of your league.



Of course, it’s always possible the Giants could look for help outside the organization to fill the role. There’s been speculation that Brett Myers could be a fit, and Bob Nightengale of USA Today says the Astros are shopping him. San Fran could also target someone like Valentine said that cleanup hitter Youk is batting just .200/.265/.233 so far this season, but he’s been hitting the ball better the last few games, so the timing of the comments is a little strange. There’s a good chance that Valentine could do some damage control and downplay what he said and this will all blow over, but it could also fester into an uncomfortable situation between a manager and one of his best players.



Collmenter to Get the Call Again

​

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson has had to defend

Collmenter will get the ball again on Thursday night against the Braves despite the fact that he’s given up 11 runs -- 10 earned -- in seven innings covering his first two starts. The outings followed a horrible spring training where Collmenter posted a 9.95 ERA over six outings.



"He's done it in the past," Gibson said in the Arizona Republic. "We have confidence in him. He's had two starts. He didn't have a good spring. But we believe he can do that. He knows how to get guys out."

​

Collmenter probably deserves some more leash after what he did last year, but don’t forget that most scouts have always pegged him as a reliever or a back-end starter, at best. Even though Gibson has seemingly defended him at every turn, he’s smart enough to realize that last year’s first-round pick,

Trevor Bauer, is a much more dynamic option and is nearly big league ready. Bauer has allowed just one run over his first three starts for Double-A Mobile, giving up just eight hits over 15 2/3 innings while striking out 20. He’s a much better long-term bet than Collmenter.





National League Quick Hits: Heath Bell’s Marlins career hasn’t gotten off on the right foot. Bell is now 0-for-2 in save opportunities with the Fish after blowing one Saturday, when he allowed four runs in the top of the ninth to a feeble Astros lineup. He has a long leash given his track record and contract, but he can’t be trusted in fantasy right now … Ryan Vogelsong struck out seven in his first start of the season Sunday, holding the Pirates to two runs over 6 1/3 innings. He had been out with a back injury … Tyler Clippard is experiencing shoulder discomfort, but Nationals manager Davey Johnson says it’s no big deal. He’s probably right, at least for now. It’s certainly something to file away, though … Carlos Beltran had to leave Sunday’s game after being hit on the forearm with a pitch. The Cardinals seem confident he’ll be ready to play Tuesday, though, following Monday’s off day. Lance Berkman (calf) and David Freese (finger) could also be ready at that point … Jose Contreras was activated from the DL Sunday. He had been on a rehab assignment following elbow surgery … Skip Schumaker (oblique) began a rehab assignment Sunday, drawing a walk in three plate appearances for Triple-A Memphis. He could be ready to return in a week or so … American League Quick Hits: Kyle Drabek was a disaster last season, but he cracked the rotation in 2012 and is off to a tremendous start, holding a 1.42 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 10/4 K/BB ratio through his first 12 2/3 innings. There’s still certainly risk here, but don’t forget that he was considered one of the best pitching prospects in the game at this point last season … Carl Crawford (wrist) could be ready for an extended spring training game Tuesday. He’s still not expected back prior to May, though … Matt Moore has had control issues early on this season, walking nine through his first 13 frames. He dealt with similar issues early in his minor league career, but he appeared to correct them last season, and we’re still bullish on his long-term prognosis for 2012 … Andy Pettitte threw four shutout innings in his most recent minor league start. He’s still on track for an early May return … Justin Morneau could see some starts at first base soon. He’s been used exclusively at DH to this point due to ongoing concussion symptoms … Nick Blackburn left Saturday’s start in the sixth inning with right shoulder stiffness, but an MRI came back normal and he hasn't been ruled out for his next turn in the rotation … Michael Bowden was designated for assignment Sunday by the Red Sox. He was formally a pretty good prospect and is still just 25, so the odds of him getting claimed are probably pretty high.​

 

[HacheMan]

Calling All Closers

A couple of more big changes to the closer rankings this week. I'll get to those in a minute. First up are some notes:



- With Jacoby Ellsbury (shoulder) out for at least six weeks, the Red Sox will try to get by with an outfield of Cody Ross, Ryan Sweeney, Darnell McDonald and Jason Repko for now. Carl Crawford (wrist) should be back in early May to help out. Ross is a decent enough play in mixed leagues as an everyday outfielder, while McDonald is now a pretty good pickup in AL-only leagues. Also gaining value is - Johnny Damon didn't have a spring training, so he's likely to need a couple of weeks in the minors before joining the Indians as their left fielder. Contrary to the early reports, there's no opt-out clause in the deal, probably because the league frowned on the idea. When Grady Sizemore returns, it's possible the Indians could keep Damon in left field if he's outperforming Michael Brantley. However, it's enough of a defensive downgrade that Damon would have to play above his 2011 level to make it happen. Damon will be just a borderline starter in mixed leagues upon being activated.



- Kirk Gibson's stubbornness is likely playing a role in Josh Collmenter retaining his rotation spot after an awful spring and an 0-2 start that's left him with a 12.86 ERA. It looks like the Diamondbacks will turn to - Jordan Pacheco's surprise demotion in Colorado was due to his poor defense. He looked like the early favorite for playing time at third base after Casey Blake was released, but his glove wasn't up to the task. The Rockies are going with Chris Nelson at third at the moment, and he's a fine play in NL-only leagues. It'd be interesting to see them give Eric Young- The Rockies are also facing questions in center field, with Tyler Colvin's hot spring and - San Diego's Joe Wieland was rocked by the Dodgers in his major league debut, giving up three homers to the red-hot combo of Matt Kemp and - Kyle Drabek, on the other hand, was quite impressive matched up against Matusz. His changeup has improved, and since he throws 92-95 mph, he has greater margin for error with his fastball and curve than Matusz does. The curve, which once projected as a big-time strikeout pitch, still isn't enough of a weapon to make him a No. 2 starter for the Jays, but he looks like a pretty good play in AL-only leagues right now.



- B.J. Upton (back) is due to return during the second half of the week, pushing Ben Zobrist back to the infield. Zobrist has started all 10 Rays games in right field thus far, with - Mike Trout is hitting .435/.491/.552 for Triple-A Salt Lake and just scored from first on a groundball single in Sunday's game. Vernon Wells, meanwhile, is batting .229/.229/.429 through nine games for the Angels. I doubt we'll see a switch this month, but if the Angels continue to struggle -- and they're currently 3-6 -- they'll have to ignore the contracts and play their best players at some point.



- The Pirates chose to send down Matt Hague to make room for Charlie Morton on the roster over the weekend, but they can't possibly stick with Pedro Alvarez for much longer. He was handed a job despite a brutal spring, and he's started the season 1-for-19 with 12 strikeouts and no walks. He's also committed two errors in six games at third base. There's still hope for the future, but Alvarez is one of the handful of candidates for the worst player in the major leagues right now. He should have opened the season in Triple-A. I'm hardly a big I'm not planning to do this every week, but I'm feeling the need to re-rank the closers again this week after Drew Storen's surgery and Brian Wilson's upcoming procedure. Wilson, who was ranked 14th last week, is done for the year. Storen, who could make it back by the end of June in a best-case scenario, drops to No. 25.



1. Craig Kimbrel (Atl) - 1

2. Jonathan Papelbon (Phi) - 2

3. Mariano Rivera (NYY) - 3

4. Jason Motte (StL) - 5

5. John Axford (Mil) - 4

6. Joel Hanrahan (Pit) - 6

7. Jordan Walden (LAA) - 10

8. Heath Bell (Mia) - 7

9. Jose Valverde (Det) - 11

10. Sergio Santos (Tor) - 9

11. J.J. Putz (Ari) - 13

12. Brandon League (Sea) - 15

13. Sean Marshall (Cin) - 16

14. *Kenley Jansen (LAD) - 12

15. Huston Street (SD) - 18

16. Rafael Betancourt (Col) - 19

17. Joe Nathan (Tex) - 17

18. Carlos Marmol (ChC) - 22

19. Alfredo Aceves (Bos) - 21

20. Jim Johnson (Bal) - 24

21. *Addison Reed (CWS) - 20

22. Kyle Farnsworth (TB) - 23

23. Brett Myers (Hou) - 26

24. Frank Francisco (NYM) - 29

25. Javy Guerra (LAD) - 34

26. Drew Storen (Was) - 8

27. Matt Capps (Min) - 25

28. *Greg Holland (KC) - 28

29. *Aroldis Chapman (Cin) - 27

30. Grant Balfour (Oak) - 30

31. Chris Perez (Cle) - 33

32. Hector Santiago (CWS) - 35

33. *34. *35. Jonathan Broxton (KC) - 31

36. *Vinnie Pestano (Cle) - 32

37. *38. *39. *40. *Mike Adams (Tex) - 39



Asterisks are included next to relievers who aren't technically closers. Also, note that I'm only rankings for 5x5 leagues here; I'm not accounting for holds.



Addressing a few situations:



- Giants: Casilla and Romo are the new Giants relievers in the top 40. Manager Bruce Bochy intends to go with a committee for now, but it was Casilla whom he favored while Wilson was out last year. He's the one to grab in mixed leagues. I think Jeremy Affeldt is probably a better bet for saves than Romo, but Romo is so strong in ERA and WHIP that he gets the nod here. Another name to know is that of top relief prospect - Nationals: Davey Johnson opened the season by saying he'd have Lidge and Rodriguez alternate save chances -- literally alternate -- with Storen out, even though that really didn't make any sense. Lidge has gotten both save chances so far, but he blew Thursday's opportunity. Rodriguez probably would have gotten the call Saturday in a 4-1 game, but the Nationals opted to have Edwin Jackson finish up his own two-hitter instead. Johnson may continue to favor Lidge for the short-term, but Rodriguez is the one of the two capable of running away with the job. Still, neither ranks in the top 30 here since Storen should be back in 2-3 months.



- Dodgers: Guerra is certainly solidifying his hold on the closer's role with five saves and six scoreless innings to date. Jansen, on the other hand, blew his one save chance when Guerra needed a rest, though he did end up vulturing a win afterwards. I still like Jansen for the season, but I can't justify keeping Guerra out of the top 30 any longer.



- Marlins: Bell believes he's already fixed the mechanical flaw that's led to two ugly blown saves in two chances. I'm not particularly concerned about the rough start, though it's probably worth picking up - Astros: With rumors that the Astros are again trying to offload Myers, it should be noted that Wilton Lopez is probably next in line for the closer's role in Houston. - Indians: Perez pitched a couple of scoreless innings for saves last week, so the chances of a quick move to Pestano in the closer's role have diminished. Pestano still projects as the superior pitcher, but the Indians probably won't make the switch unless they have to.
http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/player.asp?sport=MLB&id=5905

 

[HacheMan]

Can you trust the Nationals' rotation?

Eric Karabell

Entering Monday, the Washington Nationals led baseball with a 1.99 ERA and their starting pitchers were performing even better, posting a 1.75 mark. Really, the Nationals? Right-hander Stephen Strasburg is clearly special and Jordan Zimmermann was good in 2011 but … well, it's 10 games. There are 152 to go. But SweetSpot blogger Dave Schoenfield and I were able to compare the Nationals' pitching staff favorably to that of the vaunted Philadelphia Phillies in our video Monday, so allow me to elaborate here.
Strasburg versus Roy Halladay doesn't seem a fair fight, at least not yet, since Strasburg is likely to be on an innings limit this season, but in a year or two the case will be easier to make. Strasburg's ERA after two starts is 0.69. It's going to go up into the 2s, but he's a contender for the ERA title. In 19 career starts over three seasons, his ERA is 2.31. My only question mark with Strasburg is durability, not ability.
<offer>I'd also have to take Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels over the excellent Zimmermann and other Nationals, but one of the points of the discussion was Washington's depth. A year ago the rotation delivered a 3.80 ERA, which is actually better than I had thought. John Lannan, unceremoniously demoted to Triple-A, had a 3.70 ERA. But half of the team's starts went to Livan Hernandez, Jason Marquis, Tom Gorzelanny, Chien-Ming Wang and Yunesky Maya. This year, that will not be the case.
The key Nationals for current fantasy value are not Strasburg and Zimmermann, but Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson. I was critical of Washington when it traded a boatload of talent to the Oakland Athletics for the left-handed Gonzalez, because I try to avoid walkers and Gonzalez was so dependent on his fabulous home numbers for value. The potential is there for the A's to win that trade easily (watch A.J. Cole and Derek Norris). Gonzalez looked terrific in his last outing and certainly seemed to be enjoying himself after his first big-league hit, but his current value is a bit bloated. I expect he'll flirt with 200 strikeouts, but the other numbers worry me a bit, especially the potential for command issues and many walks (he led the AL last year) despite his solid start to 2012.


Strasburg, Zimmermann and Gonzalez are owned in 100 percent of ESPN leagues, and they should be. Even when Gonzalez sees some ERA regression, the strikeouts make him worth it and you can live with a pitcher or two with a WHIP in the 1.35 range. So far, in a minuscule sample size, his strike percentage has been way up. That's a good sign.
I was noncommittal about the Jackson signing, mainly because he didn't seem, at least based on his past results, to be a major upgrade from what Lannan was providing. But Jackson has whiffed 15 in his first 14 innings, allowing only six hits. I feel as if we've seen enough over the past five seasons to know what he is, a durable sort who goes from team to team to team (seven so far) and has a 1.46 career WHIP. Yes, the Nationals should be praised for signing Jackson when they did and for a mere one season, but don't be surprised if his act gets old by September, Even last year, when Jackson made four postseason starts for the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals, they weren't great starts. In 13 regular-season outings for the Cardinals, he posted a 1.46 WHIP and below-average strikeout rate, which told us more than the misleading 3.58 ERA. This is not a future ace. He's owned in 79.3 percent of ESPN leagues, which seems awfully high to me since he's not a big strikeout guy.
As you might have guessed, I'd sell high on Jackson first, and to some degree Gonzalez. Jackson comes off a complete-game two-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds last week, striking out nine. Some analyze him as a major breakout candidate. It's possible, but I'll look back at 2011 and remain skeptical that big things are ahead.
Jackson ultimately did not replace Lannan; left-hander Ross Detwiler is the No. 5 starter and the former No. 1 pick (sixth in 2007) has permitted one earned run in his first two starts. Of course, he also allowed four unearned runs Sunday. Detwiler isn't worth owning in a 10-team standard mixed league. At some point he'll throw more pitches and go deeper into games, but this is also a guy with a career rate of 5.4 strikeouts per nine innings, and he walks people.
The Phillies appear to have some question marks with right-hander Vance Worley, an obvious regression candidate from his rookie season, and nobody knows what Joe Blanton can provide at this point. But I'd still take the Phillies' pitching over the Nationals'. Frankly, believing what I do about Jackson and Gonzalez going forward, it's not all that close.
</offer>

 

[HacheMan]

Jacoby Ellsbury replacement options

Eric Karabell

Think back to how a potential season-ending injury to Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury would have been viewed two years ago. Back then, he was mainly a stolen base guy, a Michael Bourn type with a bit more power, and when he missed nearly all of 2010 because of a serious rib injury, it certainly mattered in fantasy, but stolen bases are replaceable. That's not really the case with players that go 30-30 and get chosen in the first round of fantasy drafts.

Those who own Ellsbury these days, coming off his monster 2011 season in which he finished second on ESPN's Player Rater to Matt Kemp, are going to have a tougher time replacing him, after Ellsbury partially dislocated his right shoulder in an unfortunate collision Friday at second base. Ellsbury was breaking up a double play, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Reid Brignac fell on him, and the result is Cody Ross and Ryan Sweeney are going to be playing a whole lot of center field for the Red Sox.


<offer>For now, the Red Sox believe Ellsbury will miss approximately six to eight weeks, and after that, a decision will be made whether surgery is necessary. Hopefully Ellsbury, the No. 8 player chosen, on average, in ESPN live drafts, can return to game action by the start of June. If surgery is needed, it could end his season. Ellsbury played 18 games in 2010, 158 last year. It would be a bit unfair to call him brittle, since one major injury happened when teammate Adrian Beltre ran him over, and this time an opposing player fell on him. This is another fluke injury. He's already been placed on the 15-day disabled list, so fantasy owners can use the roster spot immediately and look elsewhere.</offer>When healthy, Ellsbury is an obvious difference-maker. It's premature to release him off your roster until word comes down that his season is actually over. It's certainly possible Ellsbury can still provide four excellent months of fantasy numbers, though I have to admit his immediate power potential worries me some even if his shoulder is healed. Still, we know he can steal bases, score runs and hit for a high batting average. Keep him owned.

As for how the Red Sox replace Ellsbury, we saw the likely scenario Saturday, when the team lit up the Rays for 13 runs. Ross was already playing regularly in left field and will shift to center field. While he's no Ellsbury, he has hit more than 20 home runs in a season twice, and it certainly wouldn't be a surprise if he accomplished this again. Ross won't help fantasy owners in the batting average category or steal many bases -- he has never reached double digits -- but his Saturday blast wasn't a fluke. Ross is owned in 8.4 percent of ESPN standard leagues -- down from 16.9 percent a week ago -- and while he's not a particularly strong fantasy replacement for Ellsbury, at least he'll hit some home runs.
Meanwhile, Boston's leadoff batter Saturday was shortstop Mike Aviles. Now 31, Aviles was a late bloomer who likely overachieved as a rookie and has struggled with injuries and consistency since. But if he can stick at the top of the lineup, he would see a boost in fantasy value thanks to the extra runs scored. Still, as with Ross, it's tough to call him a good 10-team mixed league pickup.I regard outfield as a deep fantasy position for this season, even knowing how many outfielders are needed to fill rosters (five per team, at least). Anyway, there's nobody like Ellsbury available in free agency for the power/speed combo, but here are 10 options I think should be more popular that are available in at least 50 percent of ESPN leagues:


Brennan Boesch, Tigers (owned in 47.6 percent): Suddenly and oddly on the most dropped list after struggling for one week, but he's still hitting second in a strong Detroit lineup.
Jordan Schafer, Astros (37.1): Well, he takes walks and he steals bases. He could swipe the 39 bases Ellsbury did last season, but he might not reach three home runs, let alone 30.
Dexter Fowler, Rockies (29.4): Perhaps this is the year his terrific speed turns into a lofty stolen base total. He's worth owning in 10-team formats.
Alejandro De Aza, White Sox (22.5): He's scoring runs, can steal a base and should remain Chicago's leadoff hitter. I like him more than Schafer.
Jon Jay, Cardinals (18.7): Looks safe in terms of batting average, but he's not likely to hit more than 10 home runs or steal more than 10 bases.
Denard Span, Twins (10.0): Stole a total of 49 bases in 2009 and 2010, but he doesn't hit for power.
Jose Tabata, Pirates (5.4): He's off to a terrible start, but he (and teammate Alex Presley) can run.
Bryan LaHair, Cubs (4.9): Playing first base but is outfield-eligible, and he's certainly hitting. Won't run at all, though. Seems a safer bet than rookie Yonder Alonso, who has the same eligibility.
Will Venable, Padres (1.7): Doesn't make a lot of contact but has delivered 24 home runs and 55 steals the past two seasons.Nolan Reimold, Orioles (0.3): More of a long shot, but he is off to a nice start while batting leadoff, and maybe he could steal double-digit bases.

 

[HacheMan]

Late-season reinforcements

By Brian McKitish | Special to ESPN.com

As we head into the final scoring period of the season, you will notice a big shakeup in the weekly Top 130. Since we have only a week and a half remaining, games played will be a major factor in determining player values. Neil Tardy does a great job of breaking down the weekly schedules in the Fantasy Forecaster column, but for your convenience, I have listed the games remaining for each team here as well.


Games remaining by team




5: Celtics, Mavericks, Lakers, Timberwolves, Nets, Trail Blazers, Kings, Raptors, Jazz
6: Hawks, Bulls, Nuggets, Pistons, Rockets, Pacers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Bucks, Hornets, Knicks, Thunder, Magic, Suns, Wizards
7: Bobcats, Cavaliers, Warriors, Heat, Sixers
8: Spurs


Games played won't be the only factor playing into the major shifts in the Top 130 this week. Injuries to big-name players such as Kevin Love, Dwight Howard, LaMarcus Aldridge and David Lee have opened the door for multiple fringe players to make a big impact over the final scoring period. Let's take a look at some unheralded players who should help down the stretch:
Greivis Vasquez, PG, New Orleans Hornets: Vasquez will be the starting point guard in New Orleans the rest of the way now that Jarrett Jack has been shut down for the remainder of the season. Vasquez is a gritty point guard who can be a highly effective assist man for fantasy leaguers. Averaging 12.2 points, 6.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 3-pointers in 20 starts for the Hornets, Vasquez is a must add in fantasy leagues.


Nate Robinson, PG, Golden State Warriors: Last week, I discussed Charles Jenkins, but it's been Robinson who's the more productive fantasy point guard in Golden State in recent action. Both Robinson and Jenkins will be inconsistent due to the time share, but Nate is putting up 17.4 points, 6.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 2.2 3-pointers in 26.6 minutes over his past five contests. Robinson should be owned by anyone in need of points, assists and 3-pointers despite his inconsistent tendencies, especially now that the Warriors will be looking for more offense in Lee's absence.


George Hill, PG/SG, Indiana Pacers: Hill has had low-end fantasy value during stretches this season, but he has stepped up nicely as Darren Collison nurses a groin injury. Averaging 15.8 points, 4.8 assists and 1.8 3-pointers in three starts for Collison, Hill will remain valuable for as long as Collison is out.


Donald Sloan, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers: Sloan isn't as popular a pickup as teammate Lester Hudson, but his spot in the Cavaliers rotation might be more secure. After exploding in three consecutive games last week, Hudson saw only 19 minutes of action Friday and again Saturday. The lack of minutes makes Hudson's fantasy value questionable going forward. Meanwhile, Sloan has averaged 6.5 assists in 31.8 minutes per game over his past six. He won't help you anywhere else, but he should be considered if you're in a tight race for assists this late in the season. Of course, neither Sloan nor Hudson will be used as much if Kyrie Irving returns.


Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, New Orleans Hornets: Aminu has quietly replaced the injured Trevor Ariza in the Hornets starting lineup, and while he hasn't done much offensively, he's been a quality option for his steals and blocks. Averaging 9.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2 steals and 1.4 blocks over his past five games, Aminu should be considered a sneaky pickup candidate for owners in deeper leagues that need a boost in steals and blocks.


Anthony Randolph, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves: We've probably all already been there, done that with Randolph at some point over the past three seasons, but here's a fun fact about the talented but extremely inconsistent 22-year old: In 21 career games played in the month of April, he averages 14.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. It seems that every year this kid gets an opportunity for extended minutes at the end of the season, and every year he produces at a high level when given ample playing time. So with Love out of action and the Wolves giving Randolph additional run, it's no surprise that Randolph hasn't disappointed, with 22 points, 8.7 boards and 3 blocks in 30.7 minutes per game over his past three contests. Considering that Love likely won't return to action the rest of the way, Randolph needs to be owned in all formats even if you don't believe in his long-term potential.


J.J. Hickson, PF, Portland Trail Blazers: Hickson hasn't been as effective as the Orlando Magic's Glen Davis, but he's a similar talent, averaging 13.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks over his past five games. With Aldridge out, Hickson is a must add despite the Blazers' poor schedule the rest of the way.


Spencer Hawes, C, Philadelphia Sixers: Hawes has bounced in and out of the Top 130 for most of the season thanks to various injuries, but he's looking like a much more attractive fantasy option now that's he healthy and with seven games on the docket in the final scoring period. Averaging 9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game over his past five contests, Hawes should be considered by anyone in need of blocks this late in the season.

The Top 130

Note: Brian McKitish's top 130 players are ranked for their fantasy value from this point forward in the 2011-12 NBA season. Previous rank is indicated in parentheses.1. LeBron James, SF, MIA (2)
2. Kevin Durant, SF, OKC (1)
3. Chris Paul, PG, LAC (3)
4. Dwyane Wade, SG, MIA (5)
5. Russell Westbrook, PG, OKC (6)
6. Josh Smith, PF/SF, ATL (7)
7. Carmelo Anthony, SF/PF, NY (27)
8. Deron Williams, PG, NJ (8)
9. Al Jefferson, C/PF, UTAH (9)
10. Paul Millsap, PF, UTAH (12)
11. Pau Gasol, PF/C, LAL (13)
12. Andrew Bynum, C, LAL (15)
13. DeMarcus Cousins, PF/C, SAC (10)
14. Dirk Nowitzki, PF, DAL (16)
15. Goran Dragic, PG, HOU (42)
16. Blake Griffin, PF, LAC (20)
17. Rudy Gay, SF, MEM (29)
18. Monta Ellis, PG/SG, GS (44)
19. Danny Granger, SF, IND (25)
20. Klay Thompson, SG, GS (43)
21. Brandon Jennings, PG, MIL (39)
22. Marcin Gortat, C, PHO (21)
23. John Wall, PG, WSH (23)
24. Serge Ibaka, C/PF, OKC (35)
25. Rajon Rondo, PG, BOS (22)
26. James Harden, SG, OKC (28)
27. Paul Pierce, SF/SG, BOS (24)
28. Ty Lawson, PG/SG, DEN (26)
29. Steve Nash, PG, PHO (33)
30. Greg Monroe, PF/C, DET (32)
31. Tony Parker, PG, SA (41)
32. Kevin Garnett, PF/C, BOS (30)
33. Derrick Rose, PG, CHI (18)
34. Roy Hibbert, C, IND (37)
35. Ersan Ilyasova, SF/PF, MIL (38)
36. Joe Johnson, SG/SF, ATL (36)
37. Joakim Noah, C/PF, CHI (45)
38. Jordan Crawford, SG, WSH (46)
39. Andre Iguodala, SF/SG, PHI (47)
40. Chris Bosh, PF/C, MIA (55)
41. Marcus Thornton, SG, SAC (103)
42. Kris Humphries, PF, NJ (48)
43. Mike Conley, PG, MEM (50)
44. Greivis Vasquez, PG, NO (NR)
45. Tim Duncan, PF/C, SA (66)
46. Carlos Boozer, PF, CHI (52)
47. Jose Juan Barea, PG, MIN (61)
48. Kevin Seraphin, PF/C, WSH (118)
49. Manu Ginobili, SG, SA (57)
50. Brandon Rush, SG, GS (113)
51. Ramon Sessions, PG, LAL (53)
52. Gordon Hayward, SG/SF, UTAH (71)
53. Danilo Gallinari, SF/PF, DEN (64)
54. Marc Gasol, C, MEM (19)
55. Eric Gordon, SG, NO (56)
56. Tyreke Evans, PG/SG/SF, SAC (49)
57. Wesley Matthews, SG/SF, POR (58)
58. Tyson Chandler, C, NY (59)
59. Raymond Felton, PG, POR (60)
60. Jason Terry, SG, DAL (65)
61. Arron Afflalo, SG, DEN (72)
62. Ryan Anderson, PF, ORL (101)
63. Jrue Holiday, PG, PHI (76)
64. Isaiah Thomas, PG, SAC (67)
65. Nikola Pekovic, C, MIN (69)
66. Jeff Teague, PG, ATL (70)
67. Drew Gooden, PF, MIL (73)
68. Channing Frye, PF/C, PHO (75)
69. Nate Robinson, PG/SG, GS (123)
70. Antawn Jamison, PF, CLE (78)
71. Luol Deng, SF, CHI (54)
72.Nene, C/PF, WSH (79)
73. Jamal Crawford, SG/PG, POR (NR)
74. Paul George, SF/SG, IND (62)
75. Kemba Walker, PG, CHA (68)
76. Luis Scola, PF, HOU (80)
77. Nicolas Batum, SF/SG, POR (40)
78. Chris Kaman, C, NO (81)
79. Elton Brand, PF, PHI (82)
80. Zach Randolph, PF, MEM (83)
81. Evan Turner, SG, PHI (85)
82. J.J. Hickson, PF/C, POR (NR)
83. DeMar DeRozan, SG/SF, TOR (84)
84. Jose Calderon, PG, TOR (51)
85. Lou Williams, PG/SG, PHI (92)
86. Anthony Randolph, PF, MIN (NR)
87. JaVale McGee, C, DEN (86)
88. Amare Stoudemire, C/PF, NY (98)
89. Rodney Stuckey, PG/SG, DET (87)
90. Kobe Bryant, SG, LAL (34)
91. Brandon Knight, PG/SG, DET (88)
92. Al Harrington, PF, DEN (89)
93. O.J. Mayo, SG, MEM (111)
94. Glen Davis, PF, ORL (NR)
95. Marcus Camby, C/PF, HOU (90)
96. Kyle Lowry, PG, HOU (91)
97. George Hill, PG/SG, IND (NR)
98. Randy Foye, SG/PG, LAC (93)
99. Jameer Nelson, PG, ORL (94)
100. Devin Harris, PG, UTAH (96)
101. David West, PF, IND (95)
102. Gerald Henderson, SG, CHA (97)
103. DeAndre Jordan, C, LAC (99)
104. Byron Mullens, C/PF, CHA (74)
105. Iman Shumpert, PG/SG, NY (100)
106. Dorell Wright, SF, GS (NR)
107. Mario Chalmers, PG, MIA (117)
108. Spencer Hawes, C, PHI (121)
109.Mike Dunleavy, SG/SF, MIL (102)
110. Jason Thompson, PF, SAC (104)
111. Thaddeus Young, SF/PF, PHI (122)
112. Gerald Green, SG/SF, NJ (NR)
113. Jared Dudley, SF/SG, PHO (105)
114. Kyrie Irving, PG, CLE (106)
115. Ray Allen, SG, BOS (77)
116. Gerald Wallace, SF/PF, NJ (31)
117. Alonzo Gee, SG/SF, CLE (108)
118. Kenneth Faried, PF, DEN (110)
119. Derrick Williams, PF, MIN (NR)
120. Andre Miller, PG, DEN (112)
121. Donald Sloan, PG, CLE (NR)
122. Michael Beasley, SF/PF, MIN (NR)
123. Caron Butler, SF, LAC (115)
124. Brandon Bass, PF, BOS (129)
125. Charles Jenkins, PG, GS (116)
126. Zaza Pachulia, C, ATL (119)
127. Tayshaun Prince, SF, DET (120)
128. Lester Hudson, SG, CLE (NR)
129. James Johnson, SF/PF, TOR (124)
130. J.R. Smith, SG/SF, NY (125)

 

[HacheMan]

What Gives With Lincecum?

Many fans were really looking forward to Monday's late-night matchup between Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum. I know I was. Unfortunately the air got taken out of the whole thing in the top of the first inning.

Though some poor outfield play didn't help matters, Lincecum allowed four runs on four hits and a walk before the Giants even had a chance to bat. He settled down from there, limiting the Phillies to one run over the next five innings, but the damage was already done.

All told, Lincecum gave up five runs over six innings while striking out six and walking one. The 27-year-old right-hander has now allowed a grand total of 16 runs over 13 2/3 innings this season, good enough (or bad enough, really) for a bloated 10.54 ERA. Lincecum didn't give up 16 earned runs last season until May 16. Worse yet, this is the first time in his career that he has allowed at least five runs in three straight starts in the same season. What gives?

We still need to see more before officially sounding the alarm bells, especially for a pitcher with such a long track record of success, but there are some obvious warning signs. Lincecum is showing diminished velocity on his fastball (he was right around 90 mph last night, down from 92.3 mph last season) and while velocity isn't everything, having some separation with his changeup is critical. He's also struggling with his location, leaving way too many pitches up in the zone.

Much was made about Lincecum scrapping the slider at the start of the season to avoid the risk of injury, but he actually mixed in quite a few in Monday's start and had a number of swings and misses. Desperation? Maybe. But if he isn't throwing as hard as he has in the past, having that fourth pitch could be enough to keep hitters honest and get him back on track. Things should get better, it's almost impossible for them not to, but I'm not exactly holding my breath for the return of the fantasy ace we have seen in the past.

Bobby V Gambles and Loses With Bard

Fenway Park was quite the scene Monday morning. Not only did the Red Sox have the early start time against the Rays because of the annual Patriots' Day game, but the ballclub was still reeling from some curious comments manager Bobby Valentine made about Kevin Youkilis. Unfortunately for the Red Sox, Bobby V's judgment wasn't much better on the field.

After getting knocked around for five runs on eight hits over five innings in his first start of the season last Tuesday, Daniel Bard allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings against the Rays. He could best be described as effectively wild, allowing only four hits and striking out seven, but also issuing seven walks and hitting a batter.

Bard was clearly out of gas after reaching the 100-pitch mark in the seventh. While he retired the first two batters he faced, he then loaded the bases by walking Sean Rodriguez, giving up a single to Desmond Jennings and walking Carlos Pena. Most expected Valentine to take him out of the game at that point, if not sooner, but Bard was left in and walked Evan Longoria to force in the only run of the ballgame.

While it wasn't the ending fantasy owners had in mind, there were some positives to take away. Bard averaged more than 93 mph on his fastball and his slider was absolutely filthy at times. He also got three swings and misses on his changeup (according to Brooks Baseball) compared to none in his season debut. There's obviously some risk attached for those in mixed leagues, especially with a tough assignment against the Yankees on tap for this weekend, but Monday's outing showed that it's way too soon for the Red Sox to abandon the reliever-to-starter experiment.

Big Deal For Mad-Bum

After inking Matt Cain to a long-term extension earlier this month, the Giants locked up another key piece of their starting rotation on Monday by signing Madison Bumgarner to a five-year extension with options for 2018 (club and vesting) and 2019 (club).

Assuming Bumgarner doesn't become a Super Two player this offseason, the deal will guarantee him $35 million and cover all of his arbitration seasons and his first year of free agency. The options are worth $12 million and could jump to $14 million if he places in the top-three in the Cy Young balloting at any point or $16 million if he takes home the hardware. If Bumgarner qualifies as a Super Two this winter, has the options exercised and maxes out on the escalator incentives, he would make $70.5 million over the life of the contract. Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com has the full details.

Of course, this is a small price to pay for Bumgarner's immense potential. The 22-year-old southpaw has a 3.12 ERA over his first 337 innings in the big leagues, averaging 7.8 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9. He won't turn 30 until the final option year, so if all breaks right, he will still have another big payday down the line. It's a win-win.

NL Quick Hits: Brian Wilson was diagnosed with a "moderate" sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow and could potentially avoid Tommy John surgery depending upon what is advised this week. Either way, he's headed for a lengthy absence … Carlos Gonzalez (strep throat) was out of the lineup for the third straight day Monday, but hopes to return Tuesday … Roy Halladay earned his third win of the season by limiting the Giants to two runs over eight innings Monday night while Stephen Strasburg improved to 2-0 by allowing two runs over six innings against the Astros … Ryan Howard (Achilles) saw another specialist Monday and it's not clear when he'll ramp up baseball activities … Cory Luebke tossed seven innings of one-run ball in a win over the Rockies on Monday … Astros' GM Jeff Luhnow said Monday that there's "nothing to" reports of Brett Myers being shopped … Jason Bay (finger) homered in his return to the lineup Monday … Henry Rodriguez earned his second save of the season Monday against the Astros … Freddy Sanchez will not begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday as scheduled after having a "minor setback" with his surgically-repaired shoulder … Chien-Ming Wang (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a simulated game Wednesday … Jorge De La Rosa (elbow) threw 60 pitches in a simulated game on Monday and is on track to join the Rockies' rotation in late May or June … Stephen Lombardozzi got the start in place of Danny Espinosa on Monday night and went 4-for-5 with two RBI … The Brewers are expected to activate Alex Gonzalez from the paternity leave list on Tuesday … Padres' pitching prospect Casey Kelly will travel to San Diego to have his sore right elbow examined …

AL Quick Hits: Justin Verlander tossed 131 pitches and allowed two runs in a complete-game win over the Royals on Monday night … Hector Santiago blew his first save Monday against the Orioles by giving up two solo homers in the top of the ninth … Justin Morneau started at first base for the first time this season on Monday and went 2-for-5 with a solo homer. He was also dropped to fifth in the order while Josh Willingham moved into the cleanup spot … Matt Wieters hit two homers (including a grand slam) and drove in five in an extra-inning win over the White Sox on Monday … James Shields tossed 8 1/3 shutout innings in a 1-0 win over the Red Sox on Monday while Fernando Rodney locked down his fourth save … B.J. Upton (back) is on track to come off the disabled list on Friday … After being criticized by manager Bobby Valentine in a radio interview on Sunday, Kevin Youkilis sat out Monday's game with a sore groin ... Erick Aybar is reportedly seeking at least five years and $50 million as part of a contract extension with the Angels … Kendrys Morales connected for a home run on Monday night against the A's, his first since infamously shattering his lower left leg on May 29, 2010 … Michael Pineda (shoulder) threw 26 pitches Monday in his first bullpen session since being placed on the disabled list … Doug Fister (costochondral strain) threw 10 fastballs off the mound Monday … Danny Duffy gave up three runs and struck out seven over 6 2/3 innings in a loss to the Tigers on Monday and is worth considering in most mixed leagues … Mitch Moreland underwent surgery Monday on an abscessed front tooth, but is expected to be in Tuesday's lineup … Glen Perkins has been shut down for a couple days due to inflammation in his forearm … Andy Pettitte will make his next minor league start Friday with High-A Tampa and could join the Yankees' rotation as soon as May 10 …

 

[HacheMan]

Cutter helping Greinke, Hellickson?

By Tristan H. Cockcroft | ESPN.com

For more than a decade and a half, Mariano Rivera and the cut fastball have been synonymous. Rivera's cutter is famous; he has thrown the second-most cutters of any pitcher since 2009 (Roy Halladay has thrown 13 more), despite throwing 9,009 total pitches fewer than the leading pitcher during that time, and has a .514 OPS allowed and .228 Weighted On Base Average with the pitch, both second-best among pitchers who have thrown at least 500 of them during that time.

But this column is not about Mariano Rivera. It is about his signature pitch: that almighty cutter.


The lure of the cutter is simple. It bores in on the hands of hitters who bat from the opposite side: left-handed hitters when thrown by a right-hander such as Rivera or right-handed hitters when thrown by a left-hander such as Cole Hamels. Hamels, incidentally, threw the 11th-most cutters of any pitcher in the majors in 2011 (519).


The cutter is the "in vogue" pitch of the moment.


The sample might be small -- we are, after all, only 6.2 percent of the way through the 2012 schedule -- but so far, cutter usage is up 1.5 percent across the majors from 2011. And while that number might be small, keep in mind that only 74 pitchers in the majors have even thrown a cutter this season, and the ones who have are typically outstanding when they do: Opposing hitters have combined to manage just .236/.291/.388 triple-slash rates and a .296 wOBA against cutters in 2012.


Returning to Hamels, and spinning it forward to this year's cutter-happy crew, his example might be most encouraging to Zack Greinke's owners. Greinke is one of two pitchers who, after throwing cutters less than 2.5 percent of the time in 2011, has thrown the pitch 15-plus percent more often in 2012. Might it be that Greinke, an extremely attractive preseason bargain candidate who dominated in regular-season start No. 1, merely struggled in start No. 2 as a direct result of adjustments to his arsenal? Consider that when Hamels introduced the pitch in 2010, he endured a somewhat shaky stretch initially:


Hamels' April 2010: 5 GS, 1 QS, 5.28 ERA, 1.47 WHIP
Hamels' May-September 2010: 28 GS, 20 QS, 2.68 ERA, 1.13 WHIP
Hamels' 2010 second half: 15 GS, 10 QS, 2.23 ERA, 1.00 WHIP

Yes, it's possible that matchups, the weather or even random chance was equally responsible for Hamels' April 2010 as the tweak to his arsenal. Be aware, however, that since July 2010, a span of nine full, completed months, Hamels' ERA has never been higher than 3.79 ERA and his WHIP higher than 1.11 in a single month, and he has a 2.65 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 52 games (51 starts) since July 1, 2010. The case can be made that Hamels has fully mastered the cutter since that date, and there's no question that he is a more productive fantasy pitcher now that he has.


Greinke's fantasy owners should also like this comparison:


Average fastball velocity: 92.5 mph in 2011, 92.9 in 2012
K/9 ratio: 10.54 in 2011, 10.13 in 2012
BB/9 ratio: 2.36 in 2011, 0.84 in 2012
Ground ball rate: 48.5 percent in 2011, 54.8 in 2012


Sure enough, just as he did last season, Greinke finds himself among the major league leaders in FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching score) and xFIP (Expected FIP); his 0.92 FIP is tops in the majors and his 1.57 xFIP second-best. Minuscule samples, yes, but they continue to underscore his potential as a true fantasy ace, and his owners need practice patience through what could be a few more "ordinary" starts as he works to master the cutter.


In the event Greinke's owners adopt the attitude that he is not the No. 11 starting pitcher they drafted on average in the preseason in ESPN Live Drafts -- something much more likely to happen if he's sporting, say, a 5.14 ERA on May 10 -- he'd be a brilliant trade target, even if he costs you a price equivalent to that No. 11 average draft position. And if you drafted him, be patient, as the long-term payoff will be immense.


The other pitcher who has thrown a cutter at least 15 percent more often in 2012 is Jeremy Hellickson, a pitcher who presents a curious contrast to sabermetric darling Greinke. No statistic puts the two in greater contrast than this: While Greinke's 2.56 xFIP led the majors last season, Hellickson's 4.72 was third-worst.


Following a forgettable, five-runs-in-five-innings performance at Boston's Fenway Park this past Saturday, Hellickson's fantasy owners might understandably be beginning to have doubts about the man they selected 26th on average among starting pitchers. As in 2011, the right-hander isn't striking out hitters and he's giving up a slew of fly balls (53.3 percent rate, seventh-highest in the majors), and he's throwing fewer strikes to boot.

Besides the obvious that Hellickson's first two matchups -- versus the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox -- were treacherous, how about the possibility that he, like Greinke or Hamels in 2010, is working through the adjustment of greater reliance on his cutter? He has already thrown 40 cutters in 217 pitches this season, or 18.4 percent; he threw three cutters total in all of 2011.


Hellickson's addition of a cutter can be regarded as a potential plus, being that he previously lacked a dominant pitch to use versus left-handed hitters. Lefties managed .230/.323/.403 triple-slash rates against him last season, representing a 141-point OPS differential compared to his .188/.246/.339 numbers against righties. Frankly, for a pitcher who won't rank among the league's leaders in strikeouts -- even accounting for the possibility that the disparity between his swing-and-miss rate and actual strikeout rate meant he was somewhat unlucky in the category last year -- any possible advantage Hellickson can bring to the table should be described as help. Look at it like this: Considering the "regression" chatter surrounding him, would you rather he have coasted on his 2011 skill set or make a specific attempt to improve his arsenal?


That's not to say that Hellickson is a trade target today. If he's truly in the midst of an adjustment period, for instance, his perceived value might have room to decrease in the coming weeks. In a shallow mixed league, for instance, he might be only two or three more mediocre outings from being cut loose, and in deeper AL-only leagues, he might be three to five so-so starts away from being a trade target.



TOP 100 STARTING PITCHERS

Note: Tristan H. Cockcroft's top 100 starting pitchers are ranked for their expected performance from this point forward, not for statistics that have already been accrued.
<table><thead><tr><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Rnk </center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"> Player, Team </th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center> Prev
Rnk </center></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Roy Halladay, Phi </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 2 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Justin Verlander, Det </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 2 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 3 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Clayton Kershaw, LAD </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 3 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Cliff Lee, Phi </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Cole Hamels, Phi </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 6 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jered Weaver, LAA </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 7 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 7 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Felix Hernandez, Sea </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 8 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Zack Greinke, Mil </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 8 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 9 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Dan Haren, LAA </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 9 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 10 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Matt Cain, SF </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 13 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 11 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> CC Sabathia, NYY </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 12 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 12 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> David Price, TB </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 10 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 13 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jon Lester, Bos </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 14 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 14 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> C.J. Wilson, LAA </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 15 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 15 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Stephen Strasburg, Wsh </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 19 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 16 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Tim Lincecum, SF </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 11 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 17 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Madison Bumgarner, SF </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 18 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 18 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> James Shields, TB </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 17 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 19 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Yovani Gallardo, Mil </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 16 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 20 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Matt Garza, ChC </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 21 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 21 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jordan Zimmermann, Wsh </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 24 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 22 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Ian Kennedy, Ari </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 23 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 23 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Daniel Hudson, Ari </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 20 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 24 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Ricky Romero, Tor </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 25 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 25 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Matt Moore, TB </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 22 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 26 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Gio Gonzalez, Wsh </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 30 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 27 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Yu Darvish, Tex </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 27 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 28 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Josh Beckett, Bos </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 28 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 29 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Mat Latos, Cin </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 26 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 30 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jeremy Hellickson, TB </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 29 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 31 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Brandon Beachy, Atl </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 36 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 32 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Anibal Sanchez, Mia </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 33 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 33 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Shaun Marcum, Mil </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 38 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 34 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Tommy Hanson, Atl </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 31 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 35 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Adam Wainwright, StL </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 32 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 36 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Max Scherzer, Det </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 35 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 37 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Cory Luebke, SD </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 39 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 38 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Brandon Morrow, Tor </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 41 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 39 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Ubaldo Jimenez, Cle </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 40 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 40 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Chris Sale, CWS </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 42 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 41 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Ervin Santana, LAA </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 34 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 42 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Josh Johnson, Mia </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 37 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 43 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Derek Holland, Tex </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 52 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 44 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Johnny Cueto, Cin </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 43 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 45 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> John Danks, CWS </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 46 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 46 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jaime Garcia, StL </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 45 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 47 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Justin Masterson, Cle </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 50 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 48 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Neftali Feliz, Tex </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 48 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 49 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Wandy Rodriguez, Hou </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 49 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 50 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Brandon McCarthy, Oak </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 47 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 51 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jonathon Niese, NYM </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 65 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 52 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Trevor Cahill, Ari </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 51 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 53 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Chad Billingsley, LAD </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 55 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 54 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Ricky Nolasco, Mia </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 58 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 55 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Vance Worley, Phi </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 53 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 56 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Tim Hudson, Atl </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 59 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 57 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Colby Lewis, Tex </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 61 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 58 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Mike Minor, Atl </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 70 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 59 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Edwin Jackson, Wsh </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 67 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 60 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Bud Norris, Hou </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 64 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 61 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Ted Lilly, LAD </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 79 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 62 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Hiroki Kuroda, NYY </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 56 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 63 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Ivan Nova, NYY </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 84 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 64 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Daniel Bard, Bos </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 57 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 65 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jhoulys Chacin, Col </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 44 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 66 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Erik Bedard, Pit </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 54 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 67 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Chris Carpenter, StL </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 60 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 68 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Gavin Floyd, CWS </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 68 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 69 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Ryan Vogelsong, SF </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 77 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 70 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jake Peavy, CWS </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 80 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 71 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Doug Fister, Det </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 74 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 72 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Ryan Dempster, ChC </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 72 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 73 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Johan Santana, NYM </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 90 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 74 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jair Jurrjens, Atl </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 66 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 75 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Clay Buchholz, Bos </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 62 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 76 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Michael Pineda, NYY </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 69 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 77 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Juan Nicasio, Col </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 75 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 78 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Carlos Zambrano, Mia </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 73 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 79 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jake Arrieta, Bal </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 87 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 80 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jeff Niemann, TB </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 82 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 81 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Luke Hochevar, KC </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 76 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 82 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Henderson Alvarez, Tor </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 86 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 83 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Phil Hughes, NYY </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 63 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 84 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Matt Harrison, Tex </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 83 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 85 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Bartolo Colon, Oak </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 81 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 86 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Kyle Lohse, StL </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 95 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 87 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Mike Leake, Cin </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 78 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 88 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> R.A. Dickey, NYM </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 85 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 89 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Danny Duffy, KC </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 99 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 90 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Randall Delgado, Atl </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 91 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Francisco Liriano, Min </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 71 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 92 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Kyle Drabek, Tor </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 93 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Lance Lynn, StL </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 94 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jeff Samardzija, ChC </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 95 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Dillon Gee, NYM </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 93 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 96 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Barry Zito, SF </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> NR </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 97 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jason Hammel, Bal </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 96 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 98 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Edinson Volquez, SD </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 92 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 99 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Mark Buehrle, Mia </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 94 </td></tr><tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 100 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Tommy Milone, Oak </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 98 </td></tr></tbody></table>




Streamer's delight



Among streaming starter options for the upcoming week (something I define as single-start options in daily leagues among pitchers owned in 25 percent of ESPN leagues or fewer), here are my picks by day:


Tuesday, April 17: Kevin Millwood versus Cleveland Indians
Wednesday, April 18: Juan Nicasio versus San Diego Padres
Thursday, April 19: Phil Hughes versus Minnesota Twins
Friday, April 20: Jonathon Niese versus San Francisco Giants
Saturday, April 21: Philip Humber at Seattle Mariners
Sunday, April 22: Joe Blanton at San Diego Padres
Monday, April 23: Jake Peavy at Oakland Athletics


Past picks
Tuesday, April 10, Trevor Cahill: QS, 6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 6 BB, 5 K
Wednesday, April 11, Erik Bedard: 5 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Thursday, April 12, Chris Capuano: W, 5 1/3 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Friday, April 13, Bartolo Colon: W, QS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Saturday, April 14, Carlos Zambrano: QS, 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 6 BB, 4 K
Sunday, April 15, Henderson Alvarez (pitched April 14): QS, 7 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Monday, April 16, Joe Saunders: W, QS, 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K


Week's total: 7 GS, 3 W (42.9%), 5 QS (71.4%), 43 1/3 IP, 35 H, 10 ER, 17 BB, 31 K, 2.08 ERA, 1.20 WHIP
Season total: 12 GS, 5 W (41.7%), 9 QS (75.0%), 77 IP, 53 H, 16 ER, 29 BB, 47 K, 1.87 ERA, 1.06 WHIP


Three up



Kyle Drabek, Toronto Blue Jays: It's a simple statement, yet the truth, to say that Drabek's most substantial improvement this year upon last is that he's actually throwing strikes. This is a pitcher who walked more hitters (55) than he struck out (51) a year ago, but through his first two starts he has 10 whiffs compared to four walks. But there's more: Drabek's improvements with both his two-seam fastball, a key contributor to his 50.0 percent ground ball rate so far, and changeup have made him a more complete pitcher. They decrease his chances at a significant platoon split and an untimely bad inning, so long as he continues to throw them for strikes. After a year as poor as Drabek's 2011, it's understandable if fantasy owners have since forgotten how much scouts liked him at the time of his big league debut: He was forecasted a potential future staff ace. Those skills remain present and make him well worth the investment as a back-of-your-staff option.


Jonathon Niese, New York Mets: It's only two starts' worth of data, sure, but in them Niese has demonstrated why statistics such as FIP can be so valuable when seeking fantasy bargain candidates. The left-hander's 1.04 differential between ERA (4.40) and FIP (3.36) last season was fifth-greatest among pitchers with at least 150 innings, and it was largely thanks to his 3.14 strikeouts-per-walk ratio and 53.6 percent ground ball rate, minimizing his risk of disastrous innings and underscoring his stat line as one possibly influenced by bad luck. Niese is at it again; he has increased his strikeout rate to 8.53 per nine and boosted his ground ball rate to 66.7 percent, and he even took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in his 2012 debut. He also did so against competitive Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies teams -- granted two that have struggled offensively thus far -- which is another plus. Win potential might be a problem for Mets starters, and that could be an obstacle as Niese aims for the top 40 fantasy starting pitchers, but on skills alone Niese might yet join that class … heck, he has an outside shot at the top 30.


Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants: As crazy as such a statement sounds, there might yet be something there with Zito this season. Pitchers who have endured the kind of career decline that he has, especially when they begin a certain year age 33, are so often written off. But the reason he warrants a closer look is that through two starts he looks like a pitcher who has made noticeable adjustments. He's throwing more strikes, his 0.56 walks-per-nine innings ratio a substantial improvement upon what had been a string of seven consecutive seasons in which his number was greater than 3.50. He's leaning considerably more on a slider, throwing it 37.4 percent of the time, up from 14.0 percent from 2009-11, and has limited opponents to a 2-for-24 performance with it thus far. Now, neither of those skills improvements represents the kind of seeds that should inspire a massive rebound campaign for Zito. After all, his slider isn't even swing-and-miss quality (17.1 miss percentage). But they do cement his status as a viable NL-only option and a matchups candidate, at the least, in mixed leagues.


Three down



Jhoulys Chacin, Colorado Rockies: Chacin's quest for a rebound season hasn't gone smoothly through his first two starts, and most disconcerting is that many of his trouble spots during his sophomore campaign remain uncorrected in this, Year 3. Our 30 Questions series raised those concerns: Chacin walks too many hitters, his 4.04 walks-per-nine innings ratio in 2011 ballooning to 9.00 so far this year (8 BB in 8 IP); his fastball still isn't swing-and-miss good, as opponents are hitting .308/.571/.538 against it so far after .273/.371/.453 in 2011; and while he's throwing his changeup more (21.4 percent of his pitches, up from 9.7 percent), there's an incredibly slim differential between it (84.8 mph on average) and his fastball (89.6 mph). All these things sum up to a pitcher who remains in his early-career adjustment period, as hinted was the case in 2011 the 30 Questions column, and it means Chacin's true fantasy breakthrough might be pushed back until later this season … if it happens at all in 2012.


Phil Hughes, New York Yankees: The concern for Hughes is not so much that a slow start means his career is potentially headed down the drain; it's that his rotation spot, at least for this season, might soon be in jeopardy if he doesn't straighten himself out. The Yankees, after all, will soon have Andy Pettitte in their starting five, and then likely Michael Pineda a couple weeks later, meaning two incumbents will presumably go once those two are ready. Hughes hasn't even made it to five innings in either of his first two starts, and while his fastball has a tad more velocity this year (91.9 mph on average) than last (91.2), that's still beneath the 92.4 mph he averaged as a breakthrough starter in 2010, and opponents' numbers against the pitch this season reflect it (.348/.375/.783 triple-slash rates). Hughes might not be many more starts away from a demotion, be it to the bullpen or the minors, and his ranking this week reflects that possibility.


Francisco Liriano, Minnesota Twins: Is he your poster boy for why you should never exaggerate spring statistics? Many were abuzz about Liriano after he managed a 2.33 ERA and 6.60 strikeouts-per-walk ratio in seven Grapefruit League starts, numbers reminiscent of his 2.70 and 6.00 in the spring of 2010, which he then followed up with a respectable 14 wins, 3.62 ERA and 1.26 WHIP during the regular season. The problem this time, however, is that since the games have begun to count he has looked every bit the headache to fantasy owners that he was in 2011. His fastball velocity is no better, averaging 91.0 mph after 91.7 in 2011; he has a 5.00 walks-per-nine ratio, after 5.02 in 2011, and his slider, once his best pitch, has been tattooed to the tune of .467/.500/.600 triple-slash rates, albeit in only 16 plate appearances that have ended with the pitch. Liriano's stuff, simply put, looks more like it did in 2011 than 2010, so brace yourself for continued unpredictability.


That said, remember that one time I put Liriano in "Three Down" in the early weeks of last season and he threw a no-hitter the evening the column was published. And he pitches on Tuesday night. Hmmm.


Of course, Liriano subsequently stunk. It was the right call.

 

[HacheMan]

Shine Wears Off Santana

Mets left-hander Johan Santana yielded only two hits over five scoreless innings in his 2012 regular season debut. Next time out, he allowed just one run and fanned eight batters, again tossing five impressive frames.

But that trend did not continue Tuesday night.

Santana was shelled for six runs -- five earned -- before being pulled with one out in the second inning of the Mets’ 9-3 loss to the Braves. It was the shortest start of the 33-year-old lefty's career, and the first time since 2003 that he failed to record a strikeout in a big league appearance.

It’s not overly surprising that Santana hit a road bump. After all, he missed the entire 2011 season and is still trying to recapture some of the lost strength in his surgically-repaired throwing shoulder.

Fantasy owners who rushed out to grab Santana after tracking the positive results in his first two starts may want to go matchup-to-matchup with him going forward.

Diamondbacks Suffer Center-Field Scare

D'Backs center fielder Chris Young was lifted in the fourth inning of Tuesday’s game against the Pirates after banging his right shoulder on the outfield wall following a fantastic leaping catch. He was guided off by a team trainer, and was seen clutching the shoulder throughout his walk from the left-center field warning track to the Arizona dugout.

The D’Backs announced after their 5-4 loss to Pittsburgh that Young had been diagnosed with a contusion, but that might not be end of it. Young is also going to be run through a precautionary MRI exam on Wednesday morning to determine whether he suffered any type of structural damage. A sprain, or strain, or some kind of dislocation would surely mean a trip to the 15-day disabled list.

Young is off to a roaring start this year, batting .410/.500/.897 with five home runs, two stolen bases and 13 RBI through the Snakes’ first 11 games. If the 28-year-old is out for a significant period of time, look for 2011 Gold Glove winner Indians Lose Their Shortstop Temporarily

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was placed on MLB’s bereavement list Tuesday and excused from the team indefinitely to attend his grandfather’s funeral back in Venezuela.

"He was pretty shaken up about it," manager Manny Acta told the Akron Beacon Journal on Tuesday afternoon. "It was his grandpa, an important person in his life. It started in Kansas City, that's when he got very sick. He’ll probably miss the rest of the trip.”

That “trip” runs through Sunday, meaning Cabrera might not return to action until next Tuesday.

The 26-year-old is batting .282/.333/.513 with two home runs and three RBI in eight games this season. Jason Donald is expected to fill in at shortstop in Cabrera’s absence.


Nationals League Quick Hits: At 49 years and 150 days, Jamie Moyer became the oldest pitcher in MLB history to win a game Tuesday when the Rockies beat the Padres … Justin Upton underwent an MRI on his jammed left thumb Tuesday … Giants manager Bruce Bochy has confirmed that Santiago Casilla will get the first shot at save opportunities with Brian Wilson (elbow) sidelined … Matt Carpenter picked up his 11th RBI of the season Tuesday in the Cardinals’ walkoff win over the Reds … Dodgers closer Javy Guerra blew his first save of the year Tuesday in a loss to the Brewers … Hanley Ramirez slugged his third home run of 2012 in Tuesday’s defeat of the Cubs … Cardinals right-hander Kyle Lohse tossed seven shutout innings Tuesday in a no-decision against the Reds … Andre Ethier has the National League lead in RBI with 17 … Pirates starter Jeff Karstens was pulled from his Tuesday outing against the Diamondbacks with right shoulder inflammation … Heath Bell finally recorded his first save of the season Tuesday after failing in his first two tries … Cardinals utilityman Skip Schumaker (oblique) is expected to be ready early next week … Brad Lidge notched his second save of the season Tuesday against the Astros and will continue to share the Nationals’ ninth-inning role with Henry Rodriguez … A.J. Burnett is expected to join the Pirates’ rotation after one more rehab start … Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche already has 13 RBI -- matching his highest career total in the month of April.

American League Quick Hits: Playing first base, Mike Napoli blasted two of the Rangers’ six home runs in Tuesday’s drubbing of the Red Sox … Twins lefty Francisco Liriano was rocked again Tuesday, allowing five runs on seven hits to the Yankees … Twins starter Scott Baker underwent an unscheduled Tommy John reconstructive elbow procedure Tuesday in New York and is unlikely to be recovered by the start of the 2013 season … Yoenis Cespedes tallied his second stolen base of the year in Tuesday’s defeat of the Angels … Miguel Cabrera went 2-for-4 with an RBI on Tuesday, snapping an 0-for-21 skid … Orioles closer Jim Johnson is a perfect 5-for-5 in save opportunities this season … Adam Lind went 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBI on Tuesday as the Blue Jays topped the Rays … The Red Sox have ruled out surgery on Jacoby Ellsbury’s subluxed right shoulder … Twins outfielder Josh Willingham launched his fifth home run of the season Tuesday … The Royals have pushed Luke Hochevar's next scheduled start from Wednesday to Friday to due to a mild foot bruise … Mitch Moreland is day-to-day after having oral surgery for an abscessed front tooth on Monday … Mark Teixeira is day-to-day with flu-like symptoms … Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford (wrist) got four at-bats Tuesday afternoon in an extending spring training game … Newly-signed outfielder Johnny Damon expects to join the Indians’ active roster in a week ... Nolan Reimold is batting .351/.368/.757 with four home runs and five RBI in nine games.