We've reached a point where James McDonald can no longer be ignored.
There's been a prolonged temptation to overlook the right-hander. After all, he pitches for a bad team and hadn't been able to pull everything together in three big-league seasons. Yet, here at age 27, McDonald appears to be turning the corner. Through nine starts, Pittsburgh's ace is 3-2 with 2.51 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 58/18 K/BB ratio in 57 1/3 innings.
He's been nothing short of dominant. That he's averaging over a strikeout per inning isn't entirely surprising – J-Mac has always had good stuff and averaged 9.7 K/9 in the minors – but his success this year stems largely from greatly improved control. After averaging 4.1 BB/9 in his previous MLB career, he's now averaging just 2.8.
Rather than cooling off after a hot start, McDonald only seems to keep heating up. In each of his past five turns, he has issued two or fewer walks and notched at least seven strikeouts, reaching double digits twice. He's holding opponents to a minuscule .198 batting average on the season and has allowed only two homers.
It stands to reason that McDonald will eventually come back to Earth, and any pitcher being supported by the Pirates offense will have a tough time finding wins, but he's looking like the real deal. Fantasy players are finally starting to take notice, as his ownership in ESPN leagues shot from 59 percent to 91 percent in the last week.
If you're in one of the few leagues where he's available, snatch him up. If you already own him, play him confidently this week for two starts against the Reds and Brewers.
Elsewhere: Carlos Zambrano finally had a bad outing. Is it the start of a regression or a small speed bump? He's got favorable match-ups against the Nats and Phillies this week, so we should quickly find out.
The AL two-start crop is pretty light in the upcoming week, highlighted by Justin Verlander and Jered Weaver. Take a hard look at Scott Diamond, the surprising Twins lefty who looks ahead to the A's and Indians, and Matt Moore who gets two starts at home.
Going Twice…
American League
Strong Plays
Justin Verlander: @BOS (Bard), NYY (Hughes)
Jered Weaver: NYY (Hughes), TEX (Harrison)
Matt Harrison: SEA (Millwood), @LAA (Weaver)
Chris Sale: @TB (Moore), SEA (Millwood)
Doug Fister: @BOS (Doubront), NYY (Kuroda)
Decent Plays
Matt Moore: CWS (Sale), BAL (Arrieta)
Kevin Millwood: @TEX (Harrison), @CWS (Sale)
Scott Diamond: OAK (Godfrey), @CLE (Tomlin)
Josh Tomlin: KC (Adcock), MIN (Diamond)
Felix Doubront: DET (Fister), @TOR (Drabek)
Jake Arrieta: @TOR (Hutchison), @TB (Moore)
Phil Hughes: @LAA (Weaver), @DET (Verlander)
At Your Own Risk
Drew Hutchison: BAL (Arrieta), BOS (Bard)
Nate Adcock: @CLE (Tomlin), OAK (Godfrey)
Daniel Bard: DET (Verlander), @TOR (Hutchison)
Graham Godfrey: @MIN (Diamond), @KC (Adcock)
National League
Strong Plays
Jordan ZImmermann: @MIA (Zambrano), ATL (Hanson)
Lance Lynn: @ATL (Hanson), @NYM (Niese)
James McDonald: CIN (Arroyo), @MIL (Parra)
Cole Hamels: @NYM (Niese), MIA (Zambrano)
Shaun Marcum: @LAD (Harang), PIT (Bedard)
Carlos Zambrano: WAS (Zimmermann), @PHI (Hamels)
Bronson Arroyo: @PIT (McDonald), @HOU (Rodriguez)
Tommy Hanson: STL (Lynn), @WAS (Zimmermann)
Trevor Cahill: @SF (Zito), @SD (Suppan)
Decent Plays
Jon Niese: PHI (Hamels), STL (Lynn)
Ted Lilly: MIL (Parra), @COL (Nicasio)
Aaron Harang: MIL (Marcum), @COL (Moyer)
J.A. Happ: @COL (Nicasio), CIN (Arroyo)
Juan Nicasio: HOU (Happ), LAD (Lilly)
Travis Wood: SD (Suppan), @SF (Zito)
Manny Parra: @LAD (Lilly), PIT (McDonald)
At Your Own Risk
Barry Zito: ARI (Cahill), CHC (Wood)
Jeff Suppan: @CHC (Wood), ARI (Cahill)
We've reached a point where James McDonald can no longer be ignored.
There's been a prolonged temptation to overlook the right-hander. After all, he pitches for a bad team and hadn't been able to pull everything together in three big-league seasons. Yet, here at age 27, McDonald appears to be turning the corner. Through nine starts, Pittsburgh's ace is 3-2 with 2.51 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 58/18 K/BB ratio in 57 1/3 innings.
He's been nothing short of dominant. That he's averaging over a strikeout per inning isn't entirely surprising – J-Mac has always had good stuff and averaged 9.7 K/9 in the minors – but his success this year stems largely from greatly improved control. After averaging 4.1 BB/9 in his previous MLB career, he's now averaging just 2.8.
Rather than cooling off after a hot start, McDonald only seems to keep heating up. In each of his past five turns, he has issued two or fewer walks and notched at least seven strikeouts, reaching double digits twice. He's holding opponents to a minuscule .198 batting average on the season and has allowed only two homers.
It stands to reason that McDonald will eventually come back to Earth, and any pitcher being supported by the Pirates offense will have a tough time finding wins, but he's looking like the real deal. Fantasy players are finally starting to take notice, as his ownership in ESPN leagues shot from 59 percent to 91 percent in the last week.
If you're in one of the few leagues where he's available, snatch him up. If you already own him, play him confidently this week for two starts against the Reds and Brewers.
Elsewhere: Carlos Zambrano finally had a bad outing. Is it the start of a regression or a small speed bump? He's got favorable match-ups against the Nats and Phillies this week, so we should quickly find out.
The AL two-start crop is pretty light in the upcoming week, highlighted by Justin Verlander and Jered Weaver. Take a hard look at Scott Diamond, the surprising Twins lefty who looks ahead to the A's and Indians, and Matt Moore who gets two starts at home.
Going Twice…
American League
Strong Plays
Justin Verlander: @BOS (Bard), NYY (Hughes)
Jered Weaver: NYY (Hughes), TEX (Harrison)
Matt Harrison: SEA (Millwood), @LAA (Weaver)
Chris Sale: @TB (Moore), SEA (Millwood)
Doug Fister: @BOS (Doubront), NYY (Kuroda)
Decent Plays
Matt Moore: CWS (Sale), BAL (Arrieta)
Kevin Millwood: @TEX (Harrison), @CWS (Sale)
Scott Diamond: OAK (Godfrey), @CLE (Tomlin)
Josh Tomlin: KC (Adcock), MIN (Diamond)
Felix Doubront: DET (Fister), @TOR (Drabek)
Jake Arrieta: @TOR (Hutchison), @TB (Moore)
Phil Hughes: @LAA (Weaver), @DET (Verlander)
At Your Own Risk
Drew Hutchison: BAL (Arrieta), BOS (Bard)
Nate Adcock: @CLE (Tomlin), OAK (Godfrey)
Daniel Bard: DET (Verlander), @TOR (Hutchison)
Graham Godfrey: @MIN (Diamond), @KC (Adcock)
National League
Strong Plays
Jordan ZImmermann: @MIA (Zambrano), ATL (Hanson)
Lance Lynn: @ATL (Hanson), @NYM (Niese)
James McDonald: CIN (Arroyo), @MIL (Parra)
Cole Hamels: @NYM (Niese), MIA (Zambrano)
Shaun Marcum: @LAD (Harang), PIT (Bedard)
Carlos Zambrano: WAS (Zimmermann), @PHI (Hamels)
Bronson Arroyo: @PIT (McDonald), @HOU (Rodriguez)
Tommy Hanson: STL (Lynn), @WAS (Zimmermann)
Trevor Cahill: @SF (Zito), @SD (Suppan)
Decent Plays
Jon Niese: PHI (Hamels), STL (Lynn)
Ted Lilly: MIL (Parra), @COL (Nicasio)
Aaron Harang: MIL (Marcum), @COL (Moyer)
J.A. Happ: @COL (Nicasio), CIN (Arroyo)
Juan Nicasio: HOU (Happ), LAD (Lilly)
Travis Wood: SD (Suppan), @SF (Zito)
Manny Parra: @LAD (Lilly), PIT (McDonald)
At Your Own Risk
Barry Zito: ARI (Cahill), CHC (Wood)
Jeff Suppan: @CHC (Wood), ARI (Cahill)
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, 5/29: Justin Masterson vs. KC
The hard-throwing sinker-baller hasn't been quite as effective this year as last, but he's picked up the pace lately with five quality starts in his last six turns.
Wednesday, 5/30: Alex Cobb vs. CWS
Recently recalled from Triple-A, the right-hander pitched well in a short stint for the Rays last year and has the talent to do so again this time around.
Saturday, 6/2: Felipe Paulino vs. OAK
Paulino carved up the Yankees in his last turn and has allowed zero runs in three of four starts. Give him a look against the A's.
National League
Wednesday, 5/30: Alex White vs. HOU
White's time with the Rockies thus far has been a mixed bag, but a solid K/BB ratio and a solid performance in his lone home outing are enough to merit consideration against the Astros.
Friday, 6/1: Wade Miley @ SD
The young southpaw has been excellent up to this point with a 5-1 record and 2.14 ERA.
Total Games
American League
6: BAL, CLE, CWS, KC, LAA, MIN, NYY, OAK, SEA, TB, TEX, TOR
7: BOS, DET
National League
6: ARI, ATL, CHC, CIN, MIA, NYM, PHI, PIT, SD, SF, STL, WAS
7: COL, HOU, LAD, MIL
Lefty/Righty Breakdowns
American League
BAL: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
BOS: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
CLE: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CWS: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
DET: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
KC: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
LAA: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
MIN: 6 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
NYY: 6 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
OAK: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
SEA: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
TB: 2 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
TEX: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
TOR: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
National League
ARI: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
ATL: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
CHC: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
CIN: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
COL: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
HOU: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
LAD: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
MIA: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
MIL: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
NYM: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
PHI: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
PIT: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
SD: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
SF: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
STL: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
WAS: 5 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:
Ryan Langerhans: Out until June (shoulder)
Vernon Wells: Out until mid-July (thumb)
Cody Ross: Out until mid-June (foot)
John Danks: Out until June (shoulder)
Austin Jackson: Out indefinitely (abdomen)
Chris Getz: Out until mid-June (ribs)
Mark Ellis: Out until July (leg)
Marco Estrada: Out until early June (quad)
Brandon McCarthy: Out until June (shoulder)
Lance Berkman: Out until August (knee)