Matthew Pouliot

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June Starter Rankings

Tuesday, June 07, 2011


Welcome to the June 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 June rankings:
Top 250 | SP | RP | OF | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | C | DH

Starting pitchers

Falling off: Falling off: Jorge De La Rosa (No. 51), Daisuke Matsuzaka (No. 80), Dallas Braden (No. 87), Kevin Slowey (No. 97), Joe Blanton (No. 106), Chris Young (No. 108), Jon Garland (No. 110), Mike Leake (No. 112), Alex White (No. 116)

  • I expect complaints about the placement of Pineda, but while these are the "June rankings," I'm really thinking about four months, not just this one. My guess is that Pineda will be shut down in September, and given that he's never undertaken this kind of workload before, he might fade before then. There aren't more than 15 starters I'd rather own for the next month, but for the year, I'm still skeptical. Similar thoughts go into the ranking of someone like Bedard. He's a top-30 starter right now, but given his injury history, I can't rank him that high.

  • Danks simply pitched in hard luck early on, but now he's given up 21 earned runs over 23 1/3 innings in his last four starts, taking his ERA up to 5.25. Fortunately, the White Sox haven't overreacted to his 0-8 record and tried shifting him to the pen. His peripherals aren't as strong as usual, so I did choose to drop him 20 spots this month. He's a nice trade target in AL-only leagues, though.

  • Peavy was set to move up to the 50-55 range before suffering the strained groin that's expected to put him on the disabled list.

  • Collmenter is the high newcomer at No. 74. I don't see how his current success will last, given that he's a two-pitch pitcher with an 85-88 mph fastball, but now I'm beginning to think he'll remain useful in mixed leagues for another month as hitters struggle to figure him out.

  • I nearly included the Astros' Jordan Lyles, even though he's set to be sent down after one more start. It should be a temporary demotion for the team's No. 1 prospect. Also getting consideration for a spot at the bottom was the Mets' Dillon Gee.


    • RankStarting PitcherTeam2011May
    1 Roy Halladay Phillies 1 1
    2 Felix Hernandez Mariners 2 2
    3 Tim Lincecum Giants 4 3
    4 Cole Hamels Phillies 10 10
    5 Jered Weaver Angels 14 6
    6 Cliff Lee Phillies 3 4
    7 Jon Lester Red Sox 5 5
    8 CC Sabathia Yankees 7 7
    9 Tommy Hanson Braves 8 8
    10 Clayton Kershaw Dodgers 6 11
    11 David Price Rays 9 13
    12 Justin Verlander Tigers 13 14
    13 Zack Greinke Brewers 15 12
    14 Shaun Marcum Brewers 23 18
    15 Josh Beckett Red Sox 36 20
    16 Matt Cain Giants 14 15
    17 Dan Haren Angels 22 16
    18 Yovani Gallardo Brewers 17 25
    19 Madison Bumgarner Giants 29 36
    20 Mat Latos Padres 18 21
    21 C.J. Wilson Rangers 53 46
    22 Josh Johnson Marlins 11 9
    23 Ubaldo Jimenez Rockies 16 19
    24 Trevor Cahill Athletics 41 17
    25 Chris Carpenter Cardinals 21 22
    26 Jeremy Hellickson Rays 44 42
    27 Chad Billingsley Dodgers 26 27
    28 Ricky Nolasco Marlins 27 26
    29 Roy Oswalt Phillies 20 23
    30 Tim Hudson Braves 34 29
    31 Jhoulys Chacin Rockies 48 32
    32 James Shields Rays 50 34
    33 Ricky Romero Blue Jays 47 35
    34 Gio Gonzalez Athletics 42 33
    35 Jair Jurrjens Braves 87 62
    36 Matt Garza Cubs 35 31
    37 Clay Buchholz Red Sox 24 30
    38 Daniel Hudson Diamondbacks 30 52
    39 Max Scherzer Tigers 25 24
    40 Brett Anderson Athletics 31 28
    41 Jaime Garcia Cardinals 61 43
    42 Ian Kennedy Diamondbacks 57 48
    43 Colby Lewis Rangers 38 56
    44 Jordan Zimmermann Nationals 33 45
    45 Hiroki Kuroda Dodgers 45 39
    46 Anibal Sanchez Marlins 67 67
    47 Ted Lilly Dodgers 32 37
    48 Jonathan Sanchez Giants 51 41
    49 Gavin Floyd White Sox 56 44
    50 Michael Pineda Mariners 107 65
    51 Alexi Ogando Rangers 84 66
    52 Brian Matusz Orioles 46 64
    53 Wandy Rodriguez Astros 43 40
    54 A.J. Burnett Yankees 59 53
    55 Edwin Jackson White Sox 37 54
    56 Erik Bedard Mariners 90 86
    57 Carlos Zambrano Cubs 60 59
    58 Charlie Morton Pirates 172 114
    59 John Danks White Sox 39 38
    60 Kyle Lohse Cardinals 119 68
    61 Brandon Morrow Blue Jays 58 49
    62 R.A. Dickey Mets 49 57
    63 Scott Baker Twins 68 50
    64 Johnny Cueto Reds 74 78
    65 Ryan Dempster Cubs 40 82
    66 Ervin Santana Angels 69 72
    67 Jake Peavy White Sox 79 73
    68 Derek Lowe Braves 64 61
    69 Bartolo Colon Yankees 171 100
    70 Joel Pineiro Angels 86 74
    71 Aaron Harang Padres 100 77
    72 Brian Duensing Twins 75 58
    73 Tim Stauffer Padres 92 70
    74 Josh Collmenter Diamondbacks 257 NR
    75 Edinson Volquez Reds 54 71
    76 Clayton Richard Padres 63 63
    77 Jason Hammel Rockies 102 88
    78 Zach Britton Orioles 141 85
    79 Jon Niese Mets 72 95
    80 Rick Porcello Tigers 77 94
    81 Phil Hughes Yankees 28 89
    82 Jason Vargas Mariners 121 NR
    83 Francisco Liriano Twins 19 47
    84 Derek Holland Rangers 70 79
    85 Justin Masterson Indians 104 81
    86 Mark Buehrle White Sox 89 92
    87 Brett Myers Astros 88 69
    88 Kyle McClellan Cardinals 103 84
    89 Bronson Arroyo Reds 80 76
    90 Randy Wolf Brewers 98 75
    91 Johan Santana Mets 97 98
    92 Jeremy Guthrie Orioles 111 93
    93 Wade Davis Rays 62 60
    94 Dustin Moseley Padres 165 107
    95 Jake Westbrook Cardinals 76 99
    96 Carl Pavano Twins 85 83
    97 Ryan Vogelsong Giants NR NR
    98 John Lackey Red Sox 55 55
    99 Danny Duffy Royals 199 NR
    100 Brandon Beachy Braves 125 90
    101 Doug Fister Mariners 127 NR
    102 Bud Norris Astros 117 115
    103 Homer Bailey Reds 116 109
    104 Javier Vazquez Marlins 52 113
    105 Brad Penny Tigers 113 119
    106 James McDonald Pirates 81 111
    107 Jeff Niemann Rays 91 101
    108 Brandon McCarthy Athletics 129 91
    109 Josh Tomlin Indians 229 NR
    110 J.A. Happ Astros 82 120
    111 Kyle Drabek Blue Jays 101 96
    112 Philip Humber White Sox 248 NR
    113 Mike Pelfrey Mets 99 118
    114 Jason Marquis Nationals 166 104
    115 Tom Gorzelanny Nationals 112 102
    116 Randy Wells Cubs 95 117
    117 Nick Blackburn Twins 150 NR
    118 Phil Coke Tigers 73 105
    119 Fausto Carmona Indians 106 103
    120 Travis Wood Reds 66 NR


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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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