Fantasy owners who drafted Francisco Liriano this year with hopes of a rebound have been gravely disappointed. After dominating in spring training, the perplexing southpaw was atrocious in the early going, earning himself a demotion to the bullpen by early May.
The problem, as it was last year when he went 9-10 with a 5.09 ERA, has been a lack of control. Over his first six starts Liriano issued 19 walks (against 21 strikeouts) in 26 2/3 innings. Many owners abandoned ship.
He wasn't exactly stellar during a short stint in the bullpen and his return to the rotation was based more on necessity than merit, but Liriano has been exquisite in two turns since assuming starting duties once again, allowing just one run on seven hits over 12 innings while striking out 17 and walking only three.
So, can Liriano once again be trusted? I'm not ready to go there yet. His successful outings came against Oakland and Kansas City, two of the worst offenses in baseball. After his maddeningly ineffective performances over the first two months, he'll need to keep it going against better lineups in order to regain his status as a reliable fantasy option.
In the upcoming week, he'll face the Phillies and Brewers, both at home*. Those aren't exactly powerhouse offenses, but they're a notch above the Royals and A's, so it should be a suitable challenge. I've got him listed as a "Decent Play," but considering the dearth of two-start options this week – with every team in baseball playing only six games – owners may be inclined to give him a shot.
(*UPDATE: It appears that since the Twins sent down Cole DeVries they plan to keep Liriano on regular rest and have him pitch Sunday rather than Tuesday, meaning he will NOT be a two-start pitcher this week. Nick Blackburn will pitch twice for the Twins instead and is not a recommended play. Liriano does merit consideration as a streamer for his Friday start against the Brewers. Thanks to reader Dan for the heads-up.)
Going Twice…
American League
Strong Plays
Brandon Morrow: WAS (Jackson), PHI (Kendrick)
Colby Lewis: ARI (Kennedy), HOU (Norris)
Felix Hernandez: SD (Richard), SF (Bumgarner)
Josh Beckett: @MIA (Johnson), @CHC (Maholm)
Decent Plays
Alex Cobb: NYM (Young), MIA (Johnson)
Bartolo Colon: @COL (Guthrie), SD (Richard)
Garrett Richards: @LAD (Capuano), ARI (Kennedy)
Max Scherzer: @CHC (Maholm), COL (Guthrie)
Jose Quintana: @STL (Wainwright), @LAD (Capuano)
Wei-Yin Chen: @PIT (Burnett), @ATL (Delgado)
At Your Own Risk
Ivan Nova: @ATL (Delgado), @WAS (Jackson)
Jeanmar Gomez: @CIN (Cueto), PIT (Burnett)
Nick Blackburn: PHI (Kendrick), MIL (Greinke)
National League
Strong Plays
Adam Wainwright: CWS (Quintana), KC
Madison Bumgarner: HOU (Norris), @SEA (Hernandez)
Zack Greinke: @KC, @MIN (Liriano)
Josh Johnson: BOS (Beckett), @TB (Cobb)
Chris Capuano: LAA (Richards), CWS (Quintana)
Johnny Cueto: CLE (Gomez), @NYM (Yong)
Decent Plays
Edwin Jackson: @TOR (Morrow), NYY (Nova)
Clayton Richard: @SEA (Hernandez), @OAK (Colon)
Chris Young: @TB (Cobb), CIN (Cueto)
Bud Norris: @SF (Bumgarner), @TEX (Lewis)
Randall Delgado: NYY (Nova), BAL (Chen)
Ian Kennedy: @TEX (Lewis), @LAA (Richards)
At Your Own Risk
Kyle Kendrick: @MIN (Liriano), @TOR (Morrow)
Jeremy Guthrie: OAK (Colon), @DET (Scherzer)
Paul Maholm: DET (Scherzer), BOS (Beckett)
Fantasy owners who drafted Francisco Liriano this year with hopes of a rebound have been gravely disappointed. After dominating in spring training, the perplexing southpaw was atrocious in the early going, earning himself a demotion to the bullpen by early May.
The problem, as it was last year when he went 9-10 with a 5.09 ERA, has been a lack of control. Over his first six starts Liriano issued 19 walks (against 21 strikeouts) in 26 2/3 innings. Many owners abandoned ship.
He wasn't exactly stellar during a short stint in the bullpen and his return to the rotation was based more on necessity than merit, but Liriano has been exquisite in two turns since assuming starting duties once again, allowing just one run on seven hits over 12 innings while striking out 17 and walking only three.
So, can Liriano once again be trusted? I'm not ready to go there yet. His successful outings came against Oakland and Kansas City, two of the worst offenses in baseball. After his maddeningly ineffective performances over the first two months, he'll need to keep it going against better lineups in order to regain his status as a reliable fantasy option.
In the upcoming week, he'll face the Phillies and Brewers, both at home*. Those aren't exactly powerhouse offenses, but they're a notch above the Royals and A's, so it should be a suitable challenge. I've got him listed as a "Decent Play," but considering the dearth of two-start options this week – with every team in baseball playing only six games – owners may be inclined to give him a shot.
(*UPDATE: It appears that since the Twins sent down Cole DeVries they plan to keep Liriano on regular rest and have him pitch Sunday rather than Tuesday, meaning he will NOT be a two-start pitcher this week. Nick Blackburn will pitch twice for the Twins instead and is not a recommended play. Liriano does merit consideration as a streamer for his Friday start against the Brewers. Thanks to reader Dan for the heads-up.)
Going Twice…
American League
Strong Plays
Brandon Morrow: WAS (Jackson), PHI (Kendrick)
Colby Lewis: ARI (Kennedy), HOU (Norris)
Felix Hernandez: SD (Richard), SF (Bumgarner)
Josh Beckett: @MIA (Johnson), @CHC (Maholm)
Decent Plays
Alex Cobb: NYM (Young), MIA (Johnson)
Bartolo Colon: @COL (Guthrie), SD (Richard)
Garrett Richards: @LAD (Capuano), ARI (Kennedy)
Max Scherzer: @CHC (Maholm), COL (Guthrie)
Jose Quintana: @STL (Wainwright), @LAD (Capuano)
Wei-Yin Chen: @PIT (Burnett), @ATL (Delgado)
At Your Own Risk
Ivan Nova: @ATL (Delgado), @WAS (Jackson)
Jeanmar Gomez: @CIN (Cueto), PIT (Burnett)
Nick Blackburn: PHI (Kendrick), MIL (Greinke)
National League
Strong Plays
Adam Wainwright: CWS (Quintana), KC
Madison Bumgarner: HOU (Norris), @SEA (Hernandez)
Zack Greinke: @KC, @MIN (Liriano)
Josh Johnson: BOS (Beckett), @TB (Cobb)
Chris Capuano: LAA (Richards), CWS (Quintana)
Johnny Cueto: CLE (Gomez), @NYM (Yong)
Decent Plays
Edwin Jackson: @TOR (Morrow), NYY (Nova)
Clayton Richard: @SEA (Hernandez), @OAK (Colon)
Chris Young: @TB (Cobb), CIN (Cueto)
Bud Norris: @SF (Bumgarner), @TEX (Lewis)
Randall Delgado: NYY (Nova), BAL (Chen)
Ian Kennedy: @TEX (Lewis), @LAA (Richards)
At Your Own Risk
Kyle Kendrick: @MIN (Liriano), @TOR (Morrow)
Jeremy Guthrie: OAK (Colon), @DET (Scherzer)
Paul Maholm: DET (Scherzer), BOS (Beckett)
Streamer City
The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:
American League
Wednesday, 6/13: Brian Matusz vs. PIT
Matusz has rattled off four straight quality starts and was dominant against the Rays in his most recent outing.
Wednesday, 6/13: Hector Noesi vs. SD
He was knocked around in his most recent start but Noesi owns a 3.62 ERA at Safeco so a home start against one of the league's worst offenses could be just what the doctor ordered.
Friday, 6/15: Scott Diamond vs. MIL
The young lefty has been too good to ignore, especially at home where he's 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA and 0.98 WHIP.
National League
Wednesday, 6/13: J.A. Happ @ SF
The lefty is rocking a 23/6 K/BB ratio in 19 1/3 innings over his past three starts.
Thursday, 6/14: Alex White vs. OAK
White has pitched better at home than on the road and should be able to handle Oakland's weak lineup.
Friday, 6/15: Michael Fiers @ MIN
The rookie has shown some strikeout proficiency in his first couple starts. He should fare well in Target Field.
Total Games
American League
6: BAL, BOS, CLE, CWS, DET, KC, LAA, MIN, NYY, OAK, SEA, TB, TEX, TOR
National League
6: ARI, ATL, CHC, CIN, COL, HOU, LAD, MIA, MIL, NYM, PHI, PIT, SD, SF, STL, WAS
Lefty/Righty Breakdowns
American League
BAL: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
BOS: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CLE: 6 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
CWS: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
DET: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
KC: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
LAA: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
MIN: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
NYY: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
OAK: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
SEA: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
TB: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
TEX: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
TOR: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
National League
ARI: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
ATL: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CHC: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CIN: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
COL: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
HOU: 4 vs. RHP, 2 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: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
PIT: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
SD: 5 vs. RHP, 1 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 (http://www.rotoworld.com/teams/injuries/mlb/all/) but here's the latest on a few prominent players who have been out of action:
Nick Markakis: Out until late June (wrist)
Juan Nicasio: Out indefinitely (knee)
Alex Avila: Out until late June (hamstring)
Carl Pavano: Out indefinitely (shoulder)
Eric Stults: Out until July (back)
Jaime Garcia: Out indefinitely (elbow)
Derek Holland: Out until late June (shoulder)