Matthew Pouliot

Strike Zone

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June Starter Rankings

Thursday, June 14, 2012


Welcome to the June starter rankings. Players are ranked based on how I believe they will perform in 5x5 leagues over the remainder of the season. Along with the position rankings, you'll soon 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 pitcher Rankings

Dropping off: Cory Luebke (37th), Daniel Bard (64th), Michael Pineda (65th), Scott Baker (70th), Juan Nicasio (77th), Tim Stauffer (81st), Luke Hochevar (84th), Jair Jurrjens (87th), Hector Noesi (93rd), Jeff Niemann (95th), Jeremy Guthrie (99th), Jonathan Sanchez (100th)

  • I wasn't quite sure what to do with Stephen Strasburg here. On merit, he'd rank third behind Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander. Those are the only two pitchers I'd take over him for the next several weeks anyway. Of course, there's still the innings limit to be dealt with. The best thing that could happen to the Nats would probably be for him to tweak an ankle or something and get sat down for a month. Better to do without him now than September and maybe October.

 

  • Tim Lincecum's velocity has been a little better over the last month, but it's come with even worse control. My feeling all year has been that he's working harder now to reach 90 mph with his fastball than he used to while throwing 92-93 mph and that it's cost him his command. I still think he can adapt and improve, but there's just no sign of a turnaround yet. Sunday's discouraging performance against the Rangers dropped him an extra five spots here.

 

  • Brandon Morrow would have come in at No. 25 before suffering a strained oblique Monday night. Since the early word suggests he could miss a month or more, he checks in at No. 42.

 

  • While it didn't stop him from giving up four runs in five innings, Daisuke Matsuzaka was rather impressive with both his fastball and slider Saturday in his return from Tommy John surgery. It was enough to make him worthy of a pickup in AL-only leagues and get him a spot at the bottom of the top 120 here. I certainly wasn't expecting to place him there a week ago.



Rank Starting Pitcher Team April
1 Clayton Kershaw Dodgers 2
2 Justin Verlander Tigers 4
3 Cliff Lee Phillies 3
4 Cole Hamels Phillies 5
5 David Price Rays 14
6 Zack Greinke Brewers 7
7 Felix Hernandez Mariners 6
8 Stephen Strasburg Nationals 12
9 Madison Bumgarner Giants 11
10 Jered Weaver Angels 8
11 Matt Cain Giants 15
12 CC Sabathia Yankees 10
13 Gio Gonzalez Nationals 31
14 Yovani Gallardo Brewers 18
15 C.J. Wilson Angels 24
16 Jon Lester Red Sox 19
17 Dan Haren Angels 16
18 Brandon Beachy Braves 22
19 Josh Johnson Marlins 23
20 Adam Wainwright Cardinals 13
21 R.A. Dickey Mets 45
22 Yu Darvish Rangers 17
23 James Shields Rays 21
24 Tommy Hanson Braves 34
25 Roy Halladay Phillies 1
26 Johan Santana Mets 72
27 Matt Moore Rays 26
28 Matt Garza Cubs 20
29 Jeremy Hellickson Rays 30
30 Clay Buchholz Red Sox 33
31 Jordan Zimmermann Nationals 32
32 Josh Beckett Red Sox 35
33 Edwin Jackson Nationals 42
34 Ian Kennedy Diamondbacks 27
35 Daniel Hudson Diamondbacks 25
36 Ricky Romero Blue Jays 29
37 Tim Lincecum Giants 9
38 Hiroki Kuroda Yankees 38
39 James McDonald Pirates 97
40 Mat Latos Reds 28
41 Johnny Cueto Reds 48
42 Brandon Morrow Blue Jays 43
43 A.J. Burnett Pirates 82
44 Shaun Marcum Brewers 36
45 Anibal Sanchez Marlins 44
46 Chris Sale White Sox 68
47 Colby Lewis Rangers 59
48 Tim Hudson Braves 53
49 Wandy Rodriguez Astros 52
50 Lance Lynn Cardinals 80
51 Mark Buehrle Marlins 54
52 Ryan Dempster Cubs 79
53 Brandon McCarthy Athletics 39
54 Max Scherzer Tigers 41
55 Roy Oswalt Rangers 75
56 Jake Peavy White Sox 89
57 Chad Billingsley Dodgers 76
58 Jon Niese Mets 83
59 Chris Capuano Dodgers 88
60 Ricky Nolasco Marlins 60
61 Matt Harrison Rangers 111
62 Mike Leake Reds 71
63 Erik Bedard Pirates 74
64 Chris Carpenter Cardinals 46
65 Derek Holland Rangers 47
66 Ryan Vogelsong Giants 129
67 John Danks White Sox 51
68 Jeff Samardzija Cubs 106
69 Phil Hughes Yankees 78
70 Justin Masterson Indians 63
71 Andy Pettitte Yankees 118
72 Jaime Garcia Cardinals 40
73 Bud Norris Astros 61
74 Homer Bailey Reds 73
75 Trevor Cahill Diamondbacks 67
76 Carlos Zambrano Marlins 92
77 Brian Matusz Orioles 85
78 Neftali Feliz Rangers 57
79 Doug Fister Tigers 69
80 Edinson Volquez Padres 86
81 Felix Doubront Red Sox 166
82 Wade Miley Diamondbacks 250
83 Francisco Liriano Twins 56
84 Ubaldo Jimenez Indians 66
85 Vance Worley Phillies 102
86 Jarrod Parker Athletics 125
87 Ted Lilly Dodgers 49
88 Bartolo Colon Athletics 90
89 Ivan Nova Yankees 91
90 Kyle Lohse Cardinals 109
91 Gavin Floyd White Sox 62
92 Jason Hammel Orioles 143
93 Felipe Paulino Royals 131
94 Clayton Richard Padres 114
95 Ervin Santana Angels 55
96 Derek Lowe Indians 98
97 Jason Vargas Mariners 105
98 Kris Medlen Braves 55 RP
99 Nathan Eovaldi Dodgers 170
100 Kevin Millwood Mariners 141
101 Mike Minor Braves 50
102 Anthony Bass Padres 132
103 Andrew Cashner Padres 51 RP
104 Tommy Milone Athletics 113
105 Wei-Yin Chen Orioles 107
106 Trevor Bauer Diamondbacks 123
107 Jerome Williams Angels 165
108 Drew Smyly Tigers 133
109 Bronson Arroyo Reds 112
110 Henderson Alvarez Blue Jays 101
111 Alex Cobb Rays 86 RP
112 Aaron Harang Dodgers 163
113 Daisuke Matsuzaka Red Sox 195
114 Jake Westbrook Cardinals 96
115 Joe Saunders Diamondbacks 127
116 Drew Hutchison Blue Jays 246
117 Alexi Ogando Rangers 94
118 Jhoulys Chacin Rockies 58
119 Dillon Gee Mets 144
120 J.A. Happ Astros 203


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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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