MLB Fantasy Baseball: Updated 2011 Top 25 Starting Pitcher Rankings

Here’s an early look at the 2011 starting pitcher rankings.

 

1. Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies

Led the Majors in wins (21), ranked third in WHIP (1.04), fourth in ERA (2.44) and tied for fifth in strikeouts (219). He’s the complete package.

 

2. Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants

Lincecum was 16-10 with a 3.43 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 231 Ks. That was during an off year. He was untouchable in the playoffs.

 

3. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners

He was a beast last year, leading the league in ERA (2.27), while ranking second in Ks (232) and fifth in WHIP (1.06). His only downside was the lack of wins (13), a problem that could easily resurface in 2011. It’s not a worrisome enough of a problem to keep him out of the top three.

 

4. Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox

Lester continued to perform at a high level, setting a career-high in wins (19) and WHIP (1.20) while matching his career high with 225 Ks. His solid 3.25 ERA rounded out his dominance, which should continue with an even better offense backing him.

 

5. CC Sabathia, New York Yankees

The wins will be there, as he’s averaged 20 the past two years for New York. He has had identical 197-K seasons as well, which is not elite, but solid. A low 3.00 ERA and a sub-1.20 WHIP round out his excellence.

 

6. Cliff Lee, Philadelphia Phillies

I still can’t believe Lee joined the Phillies to form one of the best rotations in recent memory. He shouldn’t have a problem increasing that win total, especially since he won’t be facing as many aces. He should post a microscopic WHIP and a low ERA. He doesn’t strike out a ton of batters, which is the only thing that keeps him from ranking higher. 

 

7. Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers

Verlander followed up his 19-9, 3.45 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 269-K season with a 18-9, 3.37, 1.16, 219 one. Aside from a blip in 2008, he’s been one of the best in the game since 2006. 

 

8. Ubaldo Jimenez, Colorado Rockies

Jimenez had one of the most dominating first halves in history. He finished 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 214 Ks. He has filthy stuff and is a tireless worker. 

 

9. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

Kershaw was brilliant in 2010, going 13-10 with a 2.91 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP and 212 Ks. I believe this season he’ll add more wins to the outstanding peripheral numbers. 

 

10. Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

It’s possible the best three pitchers in the American League last season (King Felix: 13, Lee: 12 and Weaver: 13) combined for just 38 wins. Weaver led the bigs in Ks (233), posted the sixth-best WHIP (1.07) and the 16th-best ERA (3.01). 

 

11. Josh Johnson, Florida Marlins

Johnson posted the second-lowest ERA (2.30) in the league last season while sporting an 11-6 record, 1.11 WHIP and 186 strikeouts in 183.2 innings.

 

12. Zack Greinke, Milwaukee Brewers

I think a change of scenery will do Greinke good, as he’ll actually have some run support. He stayed in a small market, which is probably good for his psyche. I don’t think he’ll bounce back to his Cy Young numbers, but he could certainly be a Top-10 fantasy pitcher.

 

13. Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox

Buchholz went 17-7 with a 2.33 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP in 2010. He only had 120 Ks in 173.2 innings. If he can improve that total, he also has Top-10 potential. 

 

14. Matt Latos, San Diego Padres

In 2010, Latos went 14-10 with a 2.92 ERA (13th in the league), a 1.08 WHIP (tied for 7th) and 189 Ks (19th).

 

15. Francisco Liriano, Minnesota Twins

Liriano successfully bounced back last season, posting a 14-10 record with a 3.62 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP and 201 Ks in 191.2 innings. He was 8-3 with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in the second half.

 

16. Dan Haren, Los Angeles Angels

Haren’s overall numbers were somewhat disappointing (12-12, 3.91 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 216 Ks), but he was rock solid after joining the Angeles, going 5-4 with a 2.87 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 75 Ks in 94 innings. He’s topped 200 strikeouts the past three seasons and he has a 3.55 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP since 2005.

 

17. Roy Oswalt, Philadelphia Phillies

It’s almost embarrassing how stacked the Phillies rotation is. Oswalt was 7-1 with a 1.74 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP with the Phillies. He finished 13-13 with a 2.76 ERA (8th in the league), 1.03 WHIP (2nd) and 193 Ks (18th). Like Lee, he won’t be facing many aces this year for the Phillies.

 

18. Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies

Hamels bounced back in a big way last season, going 12-11 with a 3.06 ERA (17th in the league), 1.18 WHIP (tied for 21st) and 211 Ks (11th). With the studs ahead of him in the rotation, he should have plenty of favorable matchups.

 

19. Yovani Gallardo, Milwaukee Brewers

Gallardo was 14-7 with a 3.84 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP and 200 Ks in 185 innings. He and Greinke form a solid one-two punch. 

 

20. David Price, Tampa Bay Rays

Price went 19-9 (tied for 4th-most wins) with a 2.72 ERA (7th), 1.19 WHIP (tied for 25th) and 188 Ks (20th). He was 10-2 with a 2.12 ERA against the AL East last season. I think he has a hard time coming close to those numbers, which takes a hit on his overall production. 

 

21. Chris Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals

He’ll turn 36 early in 2011, but after going 16-9 with a 3.22 ERA (23rd), a 1.18 WHIP (tied for 21st) and 179-K (28th) season, it’s hard not to imagine Carpenter as a solid No. 2 fantasy pitcher.

 

22. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics

He’ll have to stay healthy, but when he is, he can be downright nasty. He finished 7-6 with a 2.80 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP and 75 Ks in 112.1 innings. He was 4-1 with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP in September and October. 

 

23. Tommy Hanson, Atlanta Braves

Hanson had an odd 2010, sporting a solid 3.33 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP with 173 Ks, but finished 10-11. In 55 starts, he has a 3.16 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. 

 

24. Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants

Cain went 13-11 with a 3.14 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 177 Ks. In 170 starts, he has a 3.45 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He’s still unlucky, posting a 57-62 career mark despite those solid numbers.

 

25. Matt Garza, Chicago Cubs

Garza escapes from the brutal AL East and lands in the National League. The past three years he’s been very consistent, posting ERAs between 3.70 and 3.95 and WHIPs between 1.24 and 1.26. His strikeouts were down to 150 last season, but he won a career-high 15 games.

 

Also check out

• 2011 Fantasy Baseball Profiles
• 2011 Fantasy First Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Second Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Third Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Shortstop Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Catcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Outfielder Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Closer Rankings

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

MLB Fantasy Baseball Profile: Is Ryan Howard Beginning To Fade?

After averaging 46.7 home runs and 141 runs batted from 2007-2009, not factoring his ridiculous 58 HR, 149 RBI 2006 season, Howard hit just 31 HRs last year with 108 RBI.

While those are still solid numbers, they clearly aren’t the type of numbers that made him a star.

I know he was limited to 143 games and 550 at bats because of a sprained ankle, but his slugging percentage (.505) and OPS (.858) were career lows. He hit a home run every 17.7 at bats, which is a far cry from his career 12.8 mark.

Could this be the beginning of a downward trend?

I say “not so fast.”

He’s only 31 years old. If he were a few years older, I would be very concerned with his power drop, but he’s still plenty young to mash with the best of him. Plus, it’s not like his HR total was in the high thirties and low forties.

He hit between 45 and 58 HRs the four previous seasons. He had between 136 and 149 RBI. Those are ridiculous numbers.

While Jayson Werth is gone, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins have a chance to be in the lineup a ton more this year. J-Roll was limited to 88 games and Utley was limited to 115.

Losing two dynamic players like them will have an adverse effect on your RBI total.

If you look at the monthly breakdown of Howard’s numbers, you’ll see he had just one bad month, which came in August. He was limited to just one HR and four RBI. Every other month, Howard had at least 16 RBI, including three with 20+.

If you want Howard, it’s going to cost you. His average draft position, according to Mock Draft Central, is 16. That’s a decent risk, considering how deep the first base position is.

That said, there aren’t many players with legitimate 50 HR, 140 RBI potential.

I don’t think Howard is on the decline yet. I think he rebounds this year and hits 40+ HR with 120+ RBI.

What’s your take?

Also check out:

 

• 2011 Fantasy Baseball Profiles
• 2011 Fantasy First Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Second Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Third Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Shortstop Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Catcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Outfielder Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Starting Pitcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Closer Rankings

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Baseball Profile: Are Jimmy Rollins’ Days of Dominance Over?

It’s odd that Jimmy Rollins’ numbers have been on the decline in the Phillies’ two most successful seasons in recent memory. From 2004-2007 he averaged 125 runs. Compare that to the 88 he’s averaged the past years and it’s a wonder how they reached the World Series in consecutive years. OK, he’s had some help, but still.

Does that mean he’s no longer a dominant fantasy force?

Hardly.

Despite a paltry .250 average last year, he still managed to produce a quality line of 100 runs, 43 doubles, five triples, 21 HRs, 77 RBIs, 31 SBs, and a .719 OPS. 

He has a career average of .274 and hadn’t hit below .277 since 2003. I fully expect his average to bounce back. With the average back in place, and being at the top of the Phillies’ potent offense, the runs should return.

With an improved average, more runs, and a healthy amount of HRs, RBIs, and SBs, Rollins remains one of the elite players in a relatively shallow position (click to see SS rankings). His two year dip in production should make him a great value this year. 

Prediction:  .275, 115 runs,  18 HRs, 80 RBIs, 38 SBs

Past profiles:
Arizona Diamondbacks:  Brandon Webb
Atlanta Braves: Yunel Escobar
Baltimore Orioles:  Adam Jones
Boston Red Sox:  Clay Buchholz
Chicago Cubs:  Geovany Soto
Chicago White Sox:  Jake Peavy
Cincinnati Reds:  Joey Votto 
Cleveland Indians:  Grady Sizemore
Colorado Rockies: Ubaldo Jimenez
Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera
Florida Marlins: Cameron Maybin
Houston Astros: Lance Berkman
Kansas City Royals: Billy Butler
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Howie Kendrick
Los Angeles Dodgers: James Loney
Milwaukee Brewers: Corey Hart
Minnesota Twins: Joe Nathan
New York Mets: Jason Bay
New York Yankees: Robinson Cano
Oakland A’s: Kevin Kouzmanoff

Originally published at LestersLegends.com.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

All-Time Philadelphia Phillies

In honor of the late Harry Kalas, I present the World Champion Phillies, a look at the all-time team if once could be assembled.

Face of the Franchise:  Michael Jack Schmidt

C – Bob Boone
1B – Dick Allen
2B – Tony Taylor
3B – Michael Jack Schmidt
SS – Larry Bowa
OF – Ed Delahanty
OF – Richie Ashburn
OF – Chuck Klein
DH – Sam Thompson
Bench:  2B Chase Utley, SS Jimmy Rollins, OF Del Ennis, OF Cy Williams

Past Teams
Yankees
Red Sox
Rays
Orioles
Blue Jays
Twins
White Sox
Indians
Tigers
Royals
Angels
Rangers
Mariners
A’s

Originally published at LestersLegends.com