Fantasy notes for April 30

Starting pitcher rankings for April 30

						2012 Statistics			2012 Spring Training
Rk	Team	Name	T	Opp	QR	W-L	ERA	WHIP	W-L	ERA	WHIP
1		C.J. Wilson	L	MIN	10	2-2	2.42	1.08	3-0	1.33	0.79
2		Felix Hernandez	R	@TB	9	2-1	2.48	1.02	3-2	3.68	0.86
3		Vance Worley	R	CHC	7	2-1	2.16	1.24	1-3	4.50	1.45
4		Jeremy Hellickson	R	SEA	9	3-0	2.84	1.30	0-2	9.00	1.90
5		Yu Darvish	R	@TOR	6	3-0	2.42	1.58	1-0	3.60	1.33
6		Mike Minor	L	PIT	5	2-1	3.42	0.99	0-1	2.25	1.17
7		Hiroki Kuroda	R	BAL	6	1-3	4.38	1.46	2-1	2.92	1.09
8		Clay Buchholz	R	OAK	7	2-1	8.87	1.93	2-2	5.23	1.02
9		Randy Wolf	L	@SD	7	1-2	7.17	1.78	3-1	4.45	1.42
10		R.A. Dickey	R	@HOU	7	3-1	4.44	1.36	1-1	3.63	0.92
11		Patrick Corbin	L	@MIA	3	--	--	--	1-1	3.00	1.00
12		Mark Buehrle	L	ARI	4	1-3	2.63	1.06	1-1	6.62	1.58
13		James McDonald	R	@ATL	6	0-1	2.78	1.01	0-2	8.31	1.48
14		Tommy Milone	L	@BOS	7	3-1	2.00	0.85	1-1	4.97	0.95
15		Bud Norris	R	NYM	4	1-1	5.84	1.50	3-2	4.00	1.17
16		Duane Below	L	KC	5	2-0	0.00	0.58	1-0	5.17	1.85
17		Kyle Drabek	R	TEX	1	2-1	2.25	1.29	2-0	3.72	1.40
18		Juan Nicasio	R	LAD	3	1-0	4.76	1.46	2-0	3.90	1.52
19		Jason Hammel	R	@NYY	3	3-0	1.73	1.00	0-0	3.18	1.18
20		Luke Hochevar	R	@DET	2	2-1	4.98	1.29	3-1	2.84	1.21
21		Aaron Harang	R	@COL	1	1-1	5.16	1.63	1-1	2.63	1.29
22		Joe Wieland	R	MIL	3	0-3	4.76	1.29	0-2	5.89	1.36
23		Chris Volstad	R	@PHI	3	0-3	6.14	1.27	1-0	4.30	1.16
24		Nick Blackburn	R	@LAA	2	0-2	7.53	1.67	0-1	2.12	0.88

Some of the data used to generate this chart is derived from Baseball Musings' Day-by-day database.

Rk.: The author's ranking of that pitcher for that day only. T: Pitcher throws left-handed or right-handed. Opp: The pitcher's opponent for the day. QR: "Quality Rating," or the starting pitcher's matchup rating -- separate from the author's ranking -- which accounts for past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days), opponent and ballpark. OPS is the primary statistic used in the calculation. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst. So, for example, a 10 is a must-start rating, while a 1 should be avoided (if possible); a 1-2 is poor, 3-4 is fair, 5-6 is average, 7-8 is very good and 9-10 is excellent. W-L: Pitcher's win-loss record. ERA: Pitcher's earned run average. WHIP: Pitcher's average number of walks plus hits surrendered per inning.

Rankings notes

This installment of Daily Notes is all about the southpaws. Seven left-handers will take the hill on Monday, and the majority of these hurlers are still on your waiver wire. The exceptions are C.J. Wilson and Mike Minor, who are both no-brainer fantasy plays no matter who the opponent is. Here is a breakdown of the remaining five lefties:

I knew Randy Wolf was a great play against the Astros last week, throwing six strong innings, allowing just two runs and getting the victory. Now he has a matchup that is just as favorable on Monday pitching in Petco Park. His career numbers at this pitchers' haven don't knock your socks off (5-7, 3.84 ERA, 1.36 WHIP), but the Padres' lineup is just abysmal. San Diego is batting .191 with a .306 slugging percentage in 14 home games this year, and enters Sunday with just 2.6 runs per game and a pitiful two home runs in its past nine contests. The Padres are slugging .277 versus lefties in 2012, tallying just one tater in 240 plate appearances. Start Wolf in all fantasy formats on Monday.

The Arizona Diamondbacks send 22-year-old lefty Patrick Corbin to the mound Monday afternoon to face the Miami Marlins. The former second-round draft pick has dominated at Double-A Mobile this year, going 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in four starts, fanning 25 batters in 27 innings. The Marlins have been absolutely baffled by left-handers all year to the tune of .173 BA/.214 OBP/.318 SLG in 173 at-bats. For NL-only formats, go ahead and pick Corbin up, as the Diamondbacks won't likely use Josh Collmenter as a starter again this season.

Corbin's mound opponent is Mark Buehrle, who has now thrown four quality starts in four tries, yet is owned in just 43 percent of ESPN.com fantasy leagues. The Diamondbacks have never seen Buehrle up close, and like the Marlins, have also struggled to generate offense against southpaws this year (.214 BA/.284 OBP/.313 SLG). Heading into Sunday's action, the D-backs scored just 35 runs with a .238 BA in their past 10 games, scoring two runs or fewer in six of these 10 contests. That's all the more reason to grab Buehrle now while you still can, and start him with confidence on Monday.

I continue to scratch my head over why is there still such little ESPN.com fantasy interest in Tommy Milone (8.2 percent ownership). I told you to pick him up last week, and the few who listened were rewarded with an absolute gem of a start against the Chicago White Sox: 8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K's. He probably won't repeat this feat against the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park, where they have posted an .898 OPS over eight home games, but the Sox have put up enough stinkers this year (three runs or fewer in nine of 20 games) where you can justify playing Milone in deeper leagues. At the very least, pick him up and let him ride the pine on Monday.

Duane Below will make his first start of the 2012 season and should remain in the Detroit Tigers' rotation until Doug Fister returns from the DL. The 26-year-old southpaw has been nearly perfect in relief this season, twirling 12 shutout innings (all at home) with nine strikeouts and zero walks. Below has made only two starts in his career (9⅔ IP, 7 R, 5 ER), so he's a bit of a risk. However, the 6-14 Kansas City Royals provide a strong win opportunity here, especially since they are 16-29 (.356 win percentage) versus left-handed starters since the beginning of last season.