Scott Kazmir, Jamie Moyer could have good games
Starting pitcher rankings for Monday, April 13 (* all stats listed are from 2008)
| Name | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Jon Lester | L | 16-6 | 3.21 | 1.27 | 6.50 | .688 | @ | .686 | 77.5% |
| 2 |  | Chad Billingsley | R | 16-10 | 3.14 | 1.34 | 9.01 | .687 |  | .703 | 81.2% |
| 3 |  | Yovani Gallardo | R | 0-0 | 1.88 | 1.25 | 7.50 | .723 |  | .729 | 79.4% |
| 4 |  | Kevin Slowey | R | 12-11 | 3.99 | 1.15 | 6.90 | .728 |  | .731 | 83.0% |
| 5 |  | Scott Kazmir | L | 12-8 | 3.49 | 1.27 | 9.81 | .727 |  | .769 | 81.8% |
| 6 |  | Zack Greinke | R | 13-10 | 3.47 | 1.28 | 8.14 | .715 |  | .763 | 78.1% |
| 7 | | Edinson Volquez | R | 17-6 | 3.21 | 1.33 | 9.46 | .681 | @ | .757 | 78.3% |
| 8 | | Chien-Ming Wang | R | 8-2 | 4.07 | 1.32 | 5.12 | .654 | @ | .762 | 77.9% |
| 9 |  | Ted Lilly | L | 17-9 | 4.09 | 1.23 | 8.09 | .734 |  | .751 | 78.2% |
| 10 |  | Jamie Moyer | L | 16-7 | 3.71 | 1.33 | 5.64 | .731 | @ | .696 | 80.1% |
| 11 | | Randy Johnson | L | 11-10 | 3.91 | 1.24 | 8.46 | .728 | @ | .732 | 81.3% |
| 12 | | Ubaldo Jimenez | R | 12-12 | 3.99 | 1.43 | 7.79 | .691 | @ | .797 | 78.8% |
| 13 |  | Mike Pelfrey | R | 13-11 | 3.72 | 1.36 | 4.93 | .734 |  | .707 | 77.4% |
| 14 | | Jesse Litsch | R | 13-9 | 3.58 | 1.23 | 5.06 | .721 | @ | .748 | 82.6% |
| 15 | | Fausto Carmona | R | 8-7 | 5.44 | 1.62 | 4.33 | .759 | @ | .717 | 82.1% |
| 16 |  | Gavin Floyd | R | 17-8 | 3.84 | 1.26 | 6.32 | .738 | @ | .784 | 80.9% |
| 17 |  | Zach Duke | L | 5-14 | 4.82 | 1.50 | 4.23 | .812 |  | .737 | 80.7% |
| 18 | | Zach Miner | R | 8-5 | 4.27 | 1.39 | 4.73 | .743 | | .780 | 81.7% |
| 19 |  | Todd Wellemeyer | R | 13-9 | 3.71 | 1.25 | 6.29 | .724 | @ | .742 | 76.2% |
| 20 | | Doug Davis | L | 6-8 | 4.32 | 1.53 | 6.90 | .775 | | .783 | 82.5% |
| 21 |  | Vicente Padilla | R | 14-8 | 4.74 | 1.46 | 6.68 | .798 |  | .762 | 82.2% |
| 22 | | Brian Moehler | R | 11-8 | 4.56 | 1.35 | 4.92 | .772 | @ | .723 | 81.5% |
| 23 | | Walter Silva | R | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | @ | .761 | 81.7% |
| 24 | | Koji Uehara | R | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | @ | .816 | 78.9% |
| 25 | | Daniel Cabrera | R | 8-10 | 5.25 | 1.61 | 4.75 | .826 | | .770 | 79.7% |
| 26 | | Dallas Braden | L | 5-4 | 4.14 | 1.42 | 5.15 | .771 | | .805 | 80.9% |
Rk.: the author's ranking of that pitcher for that day only. T: pitcher throws left-handed or right-handed. Record: pitcher's win-loss record. ERA: pitcher's earned run average. WHIP: pitcher's average number of walks plus hits surrendered per inning. K/9: pitcher's average number of strikeouts per nine innings. OPSA: pitcher's on-base plus slugging percentage surrendered to opponents. OPS: pitcher's opponent's composite team on-base plus slugging percentage. CT%: pitcher's opponent's success rate putting the ball in play (versus striking out).
Selected notes: Although Scott Kazmir has split eight decisions against the Yankees in his career, he has pitched effectively in 12 games (11 starts) against them, registering a 2.51 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 9.53 strikeouts-per-nine-innings ratio. If there's any problem with his matchup, it's that his opponent is Chien-Ming Wang, who is 5-2 with a 3.74 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in eight career starts at Tropicana Field. But Wang looked shaky in his 2009 regular-season debut and Kazmir has a 3.10 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 61 career home games, so the left-hander is the stronger fantasy choice. … Jesse Litsch is 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in four career starts against the Twins and warrants at least AL-only consideration in what should be a fairly low-scoring affair. … Hot as the Tigers have been offensively thus far, they have had problems in the past versus Gavin Floyd, who is 2-0 with a 2.62 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in four career starts at Comerica Park. … In two starts at Nationals Park in 2008, Jamie Moyer was a perfect 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. With the Nationals off to a miserable start -- they're 0-6 through a week's action -- Moyer is a standout fantasy choice. … In addition to the fact that Brian Moehler was pummeled in his first start of 2009 (1 2/3 IP, 8 H, 7 ER), keep in mind that he had a 11.57 ERA and 1.86 WHIP in two starts at PNC Park. He's a must-sit. … Fausto Carmona might have a 6.27 ERA and 2.09 WHIP in four career games (three starts) at Kauffman Stadium, but barring your having one of the pitchers ranked higher on the list, I'd take a chance on the sinkerballer in deeper leagues. … Ubaldo Jimenez was lights-out in his first start of 2009, and if you scroll back to his 2008 game logs, of his nine road starts that came after July 1, six were quality starts, a decent rate. The Cubs present a more challenging matchup for him, but don't have any great fear in using him.
Hitters' count:
• Jermaine Dye, OF, White Sox: With five hits (two home runs) in 12 at-bats, Dye has tattooed Zach Miner to the tune of a .417 average and a 1.083 slugging percentage.
• Brandon Inge, 3B, Tigers: Five of Inge's seven hits this season have already gone for extra-base hits (four homers), and although he is a modest 3-for-12 against Gavin Floyd, one was a home run and two were doubles.
• Nate McLouth, OF, Pirates: Two of his three hits have been home runs, and he was 6-for-9 with three doubles against Brian Moehler last season.
• Kosuke Fukudome, OF, Cubs: Hitting .409 with two home runs, Fukudome is off to a quick start, just as he did last season. He also enjoys hitting in Wrigley Field: His .292 average at home was 67 points higher than it was on the road.
• David DeJesus, OF, Royals: Although he is only 4-for-23 to begin the season, he has seen some tough pitchers, mostly left-handers. He's also comfortable against Fausto Carmona: He's 7-for-22 with three walks, two doubles and one home run.
• Raul Ibanez, OF, Phillies: He's 9-for-26 with two home runs and five doubles off Daniel Cabrera.
• Travis Hafner, DH, Indians: Zack Greinke can get hit hard by lefty batters. Lefties compiled a slugging percentage against Greinke that was .150 points better than righties', and Hafner has beaten Greinke for eight hits in 23 at-bats (.348), including one homer.
Pitchers' count:
• Jim Thome, 1B, White Sox: has only one hit -- a single -- in 11 at-bats against Tigers hurler Zach Miner.
• Lance Berkman, 1B, Astros: He doesn't have a problem hitting Duke per se (six hits in 20 at-bats and five walks), but he has trouble getting lift on his sinker. A double is his lone extra-base hit.
• Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, Nationals: One of the many batters befuddled by Jamie Moyer, he has four hits in 21 at-bats versus the crafty lefty, and even that was just a single.
• Andre Ethier, OF, LAD: So far in his career, Ethier hasn't hit southpaws for much power (five home runs in 326 at-bats), and Randy Johnson is still brutal against left-handed batters (.202 average against for the past three seasons).
• Johnny Damon, OF, NYY: Never much against lefties, Damon has hit .200 off Scott Kazmir with little power in 30 at-bats.
• Jack Cust, OF, OAK: hits worse in all respects when facing left-handed pitching and particularly has trouble against Jon Lester (0-for-8).
• Brandon Moss, OF, Pirates: Opposing pitcher Brian Moehler has allowed lefties to tee off on him to the tune of a .902 OPS in the past three seasons, granting Moss a favorable matchup.
• Austin Kearns, OF, Nationals: Kearns has only three hits in 18 at-bats so far, but he has five walks. Plus, two of the hits -- one a home run -- went for extra bases. Against Moyer in particular, Kearns is 5-for-14 in his career.
• Ryan Church, OF, Mets: hits appreciably better against right-handers and when playing in Shea Stadium. Plus, 31-year-old rookie starter Walter Silva won't be protected by Petco Park in this start.
• Luke Scott, OF, Orioles: has underrated power against right-handers, with 43 of his 52 career home runs occurring against righties, and most lefties hit Vicente Padilla hard (.903 OPS allowed).
• Mark Teahen, OF, KC: He turns into a decent hitter (.278) against right-handers and gets to face Fausto Carmona, against whom he has hit .429 (9-for-21).
Injury list: Out
• No notes
Injury list: Day-to-day
• Ronnie Belliard, 2B, Nationals (back)
• Milton Bradley, OF, Cubs (groin)
• Chris Getz, 2B, White Sox (triceps)
• Alex Gordon, 3B, Royals (hip; probable)
• Carlos Guillen, 1B/3B, Tigers (Achilles)
• Willie Harris, OF, Nationals (oblique)
• Geovany Soto, C, Cubs (shoulder)
• Mark Teixeira, 1B, Yankees (wrist)
• B.J. Upton, OF, Rays (shoulder/hand; expected to be activated from 15-day DL)
• Yankees-Rays, Reds-Brewers, Blue Jays-Twins and Cardinals-Diamondbacks are the weatherproof games for the day.
• In the Midwest, Detroit, Chicago and Kansas City likely will experience rain, with the Rockies-Cubs matchup facing the highest likelihood of showers (60 percent). You can expect occasional showers in the White Sox-Tigers afternoon game (30 percent), while the skies may settle in time for Indians-Royals to reach a conclusion (20-40 percent).
• Late-afternoon showers may affect the Astros-Pirates tilt, but it shouldn't be more serious than a few delays if necessary.
Tristan H. Cockcroft is a fantasy baseball analyst for ESPN.com and a two-time champion of the League of Alternative Baseball Reality (LABR) experts league. You can e-mail him here. Adam Madison is a fantasy baseball analyst for ESPN.com.
