So it looks like last week was much much better than the week before, right? I don’t want to hurt my arm patting myself on the back, but if you went with my picks last week, you were probably looking good by week’s end. I mean, come on…..Ted Lilly? He got shelled in his first outing, scratched from his second and is now on the DL for an extended period of time. I haven’t seen a bust that big since my trip to Mount Rushmore! And how about Jorge De La Rosa as my Sleeper? A pair of wins with 14 1/3 innings with only 3 ER and 13 Ks? Even better was the sub 1.00 WHIP he did it with! Now my Start of the Week and Super Sleeper haven’t finished yet, but one is looking good so far and the other goes later on today. So enough accolades for me and let’s get on with this week’s calls. There are plenty of options here so here we go…
Green Light Pitchers
- Tim Lincecum — vs PIT; vs PHI
- Chris Carpenter — vs LAD; vs HOU **start of the week**
- CC Sabathia — @ TB; @ CHW
- A.J. Burnett — @ TB; @ CHW
- Adam Wainwright — vs LAD; vs HOU
- Felix Hernandez — vs TOR; @ TEX
- Cole Hamels — @ ARI; @ SF
- Carlos Zambrano — vs HOU; @ FLA
- Roy Oswalt — @ CHC; @ STL
- Josh Beckett — vs OAK; @ BAL
- Chad Billingsley — @ STL; @ ATL
- Ubaldo Jimenez — @ NYM; @ CIN
- Ricky Romero — @ SEA; @ OAK **sleeper of the week**
Yellow Light Pitchers
- Jered Weaver — vs CLE; @ MIN
- Jair Jurrjens — @ FLA; vs LAD
- James Shields — vs NYY; vs KC
- Joe Saunders — vs CLE; @ MIN
- Ricky Nolasco — vs ATL; vs CHC
- Mark Buehrle — @ MIN; vs NYY
- Randy Wolf — @ STL; @ ATL
- Jarrod Washburn — vs TOR; @ TEX
- Jon Garland — vs PHI; @ NYM
- Paul Maholm — @ SF; vs WAS
- Clay Buchholz — vs OAK; @ BAL
- John Danks — @ MIN; vs NYY
- Ryan Dempster – vs HOU; @ FLA
- Barry Zito — vs PIT; vs PHI
- Jason Marquis — @ NYM; @ CIN
- Bronson Arroyo — vs SD; vs COL
- Mike Pelfrey — vs COL; vs ARI
Red Light Pitchers
- Wandy Rodriguez — @ CHC; @ STL **bust of the week**
- Armando Galaragga — @ TEX; @ CLE
- Trevor Cahill — @ BOS; vs TOR
- Brian Bannister — @ BAL; @ TB
- Kevin Correia — @ CIN; vs MIL
- Carl Pavano — @ LAA; vs DET
- Tommy Hunter — vs DET; vs SEA
- Jamie Moyer — @ ARI; @ SF
- Oliver Perez — vs COL; vs ARI
- Vicente Padilla — vs DET; vs SEA **injury**
- Jeff Suppan — vs WAS; @ SD
- Glen Perkins — vs CHW; vs LAA **injury**
- Homer Bailey — vs SD; vs COL
- Vin Mazzaro — @ BOS; vs TOR
- Craig Stammen — @ MIL; @ PIT
- Tim Dillard — vs WAS; @ SD
- Josh Geer — @ CIN; vs MIL
- Jason Berken — vs KC; vs BOS
- Collin Balester — @ MIL; @ PIT
Side Notes:
So it’s not that I’m taking the easy route picking Chris Carpenter as my Start of the Week, it’s just that his overall numbers against both the Dodgers and the Astros have been that good. Now I know that Manny Ramirez returning to the lineup since the last time these two teams squared off brings a different element, but I think the Cards will be riding a super new high for a while with the acquisitions of Matt Holliday and Julio Lugo. Get ready for St. Louis, folks. They’re going to be tough to deal with the rest of the way.
I’ve actually been a fan of Ricky Romero all season long, so putting him in as a sleeper for the week isn’t a big surprise for those that know me. But in going through various leagues and hearing from some of you about who you can still pluck off the waiver wire, I’m going to give the Toronto lefty my blessing this week. Seattle just isn’t a tough team at all these days, and the A’s spent all of their energy and are now as punchless without Holliday as Shih Tzu at Michael Vick’s house.
My Bust of the Week probably comes as no surprise either. I’ve never been a fan of Wandy Rodriguez, and his matchups against the Cubs at Wrigley and against St. Louis are not going to do good things to his ratios. If I were a betting man….and you know I am…..I’d be betting against the Astros in both of those games. And if I’m making a psychic prediction, then I’m saying a total of 2 losses in 8 2/3 innings with 11 earned runs. And that’s just ugly….
Watch out for guys like Ryan Dempster, Glen Perkins and Vicente Padilla this week. Dempster is just coming back from his toe injury, so watch his first start. If it looks like it’s bother him and hindering his delivery, then keep him on the bench. If he looks decent in that first game, then he should be good to go for his second outing. Padilla is supposed to be ready for his first start, but he’s been diagnosed with the swine flu. He might be a late scratch or even just lose his 2 start status if he needs extra time between starts. And Perkins…..well, I don’t really know if he’s hurt physically or if he’s still reeling from that last outing against the A’s where he gave up 8 ER in 1 inning. I’d keep him down until he can string together a few good starts.
I am also reluctant about John Danks this week. You know I’m a fan. You know I have him on multiple teams. But his numbers against both Minnesota and the Yankees just aren’t that great. I’ve got him in the Yellow Light, because I can see him pulling one out against the Twins, but the Yanks will be tough. If you have better options, on either day, you might want to consider them.
No super sleeper this week as no one in the bottom end of the spectrum looked all that intriguing. I’m still not going to give up on Vin Mazzaro, but with those matchups this week, you better play it safe and avoid him.
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