Matthew Pouliot

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May Starting Pitcher Rankings

Monday, May 02, 2011


Welcome to the May rankings. Players are ranked based on how much value I believe they'll provide in 5x5 leagues over the rest of the season. Along with the position rankings, you'll find a fully updated top 250 list.

Click to see other May rankings:
Top 250 | SP | RP | OF | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | C | DH

Starting Pitchers

Falling off: Travis Wood (No. 66), Joe Saunders (No. 93), Carlos Carrasco (No. 96), Barry Zito (No. 105), Brett Cecil (No. 108), Mike Minor (No. 109), Chris Volstad (No. 115), Luke Hochevar (No. 118), Ivan Nova (No. 120)

  • The last three cuts from the list were Wood, Carrasco and Braves superprospect Julio Teheran. I have some faith in Wood's ability to turn it around, but it looks like he'll be bounced from the Cincinnati rotation with Cueto and Bailey returning. Teheran is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA and a 25/8 K/BB ratio in 30 innings for Trilpe-A Gwinnett, but barring an injury -- and Jurrjens is their only starter with durability concerns -- the Braves aren't likely to make room for him during the first half of the season.

  • Last year, Edwin Jackson had an awful month immediately after his 149-pitch no-hitter for the Diamondbacks. This year, he's had another pretty dreadful stretch that immediately followed a 120-pitch outing in his second start of the year. Obviously, 120 pitches isn't nearly the same as 149, but it is a very high count for April 7. I'm not sure it's cause and effect, but I do think he's going to turn it around soon.

  • Expectations are that the Twins will pull Liriano from the rotation in favor of Slowey if he doesn't turn in a decent outing against the White Sox. I think that's an overreaction, but he is 1-4 with a 9.13 ERA. His velocity is down, and he hasn't been able to get ahead in order to use his slider effectively. It'd be crazy to write him off, but I did drop him from No. 19 to No. 47 since it's entirely possible that he'll remain worthless for fantasy purposes for at least another month.

  • Pineda jumps from No. 107 to No. 65. Remember that even if he does keep this up, the Mariners will likely begin occasionally skipping him in the rotation come July and then shut him at least three weeks early in September.


    • Starting Pitcher Rankings

    RankStarting pitchersTeamApril
    1 Roy Halladay Phillies 1
    2 Felix Hernandez Mariners 2
    3 Tim Lincecum Giants 4
    4 Cliff Lee Phillies 3
    5 Jon Lester Red Sox 5
    6 Jered Weaver Angels 14
    7 CC Sabathia Yankees 7
    8 Tommy Hanson Braves 8
    9 Josh Johnson Marlins 11
    10 Cole Hamels Phillies 10
    11 Clayton Kershaw Dodgers 6
    12 Zack Greinke Brewers 15
    13 David Price Rays 9
    14 Justin Verlander Tigers 13
    15 Matt Cain Giants 14
    16 Dan Haren Angels 22
    17 Trevor Cahill Athletics 41
    18 Shaun Marcum Brewers 23
    19 Ubaldo Jimenez Rockies 16
    20 Josh Beckett Red Sox 36
    21 Mat Latos Padres 18
    22 Chris Carpenter Cardinals 21
    23 Roy Oswalt Phillies 20
    24 Max Scherzer Tigers 25
    25 Yovani Gallardo Brewers 17
    26 Ricky Nolasco Marlins 27
    27 Chad Billingsley Dodgers 26
    28 Brett Anderson Athletics 31
    29 Tim Hudson Braves 34
    30 Clay Buchholz Red Sox 24
    31 Matt Garza Cubs 35
    32 Jhoulys Chacin Rockies 48
    33 Gio Gonzalez Athletics 42
    34 James Shields Rays 50
    35 Ricky Romero Blue Jays 47
    36 Madison Bumgarner Giants 29
    37 Ted Lilly Dodgers 32
    38 John Danks White Sox 39
    39 Hiroki Kuroda Dodgers 45
    40 Wandy Rodriguez Astros 43
    41 Jonathan Sanchez Giants 51
    42 Jeremy Hellickson Rays 44
    43 Jaime Garcia Cardinals 61
    44 Gavin Floyd White Sox 56
    45 Jordan Zimmermann Nationals 33
    46 C.J. Wilson Rangers 53
    47 Francisco Liriano Twins 19
    48 Ian Kennedy Diamondbacks 57
    49 Brandon Morrow Blue Jays 58
    50 Scott Baker Twins 68
    51 Jorge De La Rosa Rockies 71
    52 Daniel Hudson Diamondbacks 30
    53 A.J. Burnett Yankees 59
    54 Edwin Jackson White Sox 37
    55 John Lackey Red Sox 55
    56 Colby Lewis Rangers 38
    57 R.A. Dickey Mets 49
    58 Brian Duensing Twins 75
    59 Carlos Zambrano Cubs 60
    60 Wade Davis Rays 62
    61 Derek Lowe Braves 64
    62 Jair Jurrjens Braves 87
    63 Clayton Richard Padres 63
    64 Brian Matusz Orioles 46
    65 Michael Pineda Mariners 107
    66 Alexi Ogando Rangers 84
    67 Anibal Sanchez Marlins 67
    68 Kyle Lohse Cardinals 119
    69 Brett Myers Astros 88
    70 Tim Stauffer Padres 92
    71 Edinson Volquez Reds 54
    72 Ervin Santana Angels 69
    73 Jake Peavy White Sox 79
    74 Joel Pineiro Angels 86
    75 Randy Wolf Brewers 98
    76 Bronson Arroyo Reds 80
    77 Aaron Harang Padres 100
    78 Johnny Cueto Reds 74
    79 Derek Holland Rangers 70
    80 Daisuke Matsuzaka Red Sox 94
    81 Justin Masterson Indians 104
    82 Ryan Dempster Cubs 40
    83 Carl Pavano Twins 85
    84 Kyle McClellan Cardinals 103
    85 Zach Britton Orioles 141
    86 Erik Bedard Mariners 90
    87 Dallas Braden Athletics 65
    88 Jason Hammel Rockies 102
    89 Phil Hughes Yankees 28
    90 Brandon Beachy Braves 125
    91 Brandon McCarthy Athletics 129
    92 Mark Buehrle White Sox 89
    93 Jeremy Guthrie Orioles 111
    94 Rick Porcello Tigers 77
    95 Jon Niese Mets 72
    96 Kyle Drabek Blue Jays 101
    97 Kevin Slowey Twins 78
    98 Johan Santana Mets 97
    99 Jake Westbrook Cardinals 76
    100 Bartolo Colon Yankees 171
    101 Jeff Niemann Rays 91
    102 Tom Gorzelanny Nationals 112
    103 Fausto Carmona Indians 106
    104 Jason Marquis Nationals 166
    105 Phil Coke Tigers 73
    106 Joe Blanton Phillies 83
    107 Dustin Moseley Padres 165
    108 Chris Young Mets 122
    109 Homer Bailey Reds 116
    110 Jon Garland Dodgers 114
    111 James McDonald Pirates 81
    112 Mike Leake Reds 110
    113 Javier Vazquez Marlins 52
    114 Charlie Morton Pirates 172
    115 Bud Norris Astros 117
    116 Alex White Indians 193
    117 Randy Wells Cubs 95
    118 Mike Pelfrey Mets 99
    119 Brad Penny Tigers 113
    120 J.A. Happ Astros 82


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    Matthew Pouliot is the Executive Editor of RotoWorld.com and has been doing the site's baseball projections for the last 10 years. Follow him on Twitter at matthewpouliot.
    Email :Matthew Pouliot

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