Fantasy Baseball Tonight 5/17: Jimmy Rollins, Juan Pierre, Starting Pitching

Starting Pitching

Clayton Kershaw bucked the trend of being nearly unstartable on the road by shutting down the Marlins Sunday over seven innings. Kershaw allowed just one run and struck out nine, pushing his record to 2-3 with an ERA of 4.60. 

That ERA is a little misleading because he gave up nine runs in one start and six in another. Other than that, Kershaw has been more than I had hoped for this season, allowing one or fewer runs in five starts. 

To me, Kershaw is a must start, as he can shut down any team on any night. He will still have his rough patches, but is starting to show that he is worth the hype.

Sunday, Jake Peavy had one of his best outings of what has been an up-and-down season. He has been pitching well enough most nights to get the win. However, since he is on the San Diego Alimony Payments, he tends not to get enough run support. 

Not too many 3-5 pitchers have an ERA under 4.00. Peavy left none of that to chance Sunday.  He pitched a complete game, allowed just one run, and struck out nine.

Peavy might not be that top two or three option at the position, but he is still inside the top 10 and is valuable for his strikeout numbers.

John Lackey will start again Monday, after his “short” outing over the weekend. Lackey was ejected in his first start off the DL after just two pitches, both thrown at Ian Kinsler.

That makes him a two-start pitcher for this coming week. Get him activated for the start tomorrow.

Justin Masterson made the best of what is likely to be his last start in the Red Sox rotation for a little while. He didn’t get the win, but allowed only two runs over 6.1 innings and struck out six. 

Masterson was great in all but two of his six starts, and will certainly be available for the Red Sox if they were to suffer another short-term injury in the rotation.

Kevin Slowey continues to pitch very well after a slow start.

He had his way with the Yankees for seven innings before allowing two runs in the eighth.  His strikeout numbers (eight in 7.2 innings) were way better than they have been in recent starts, and his control is impeccable. 

In eight starts, Slowey has walked just four batters.  He is your WHIP’s best friend.  I know he isn’t the most popular pitcher in the world, but he is one of the more effective.

David Huff made his major league debut for the Cleveland Indians Sunday with terrible results.  Huff allowed seven runs over just 3 2/3 innings, walked four, and struck out only two. 

Huff was ranked the eighth best prospect in the Indians’ organization by Baseball America, so his first start may not be an indication of how things will go. 

Last year in the minors, he was 11-5 over two levels with an ERA around 2.00, but this season it had ballooned to 4.52.  He isn’t the kind of prospect I would go running out to grab, but he is worth keeping an eye on to see if he progresses.

Armando Galarraga needs to be dropped. He has allowed five earned runs or more in four-straight starts. Sunday, he couldn’t even get out of the first inning. He gave up four hits, walked three, and didn’t strike anyone out. 

As good as his first four starts were, his last four have been just as bad. In four starts, he somehow managed to jump his ERA from 1.85 to 5.62. He could turn it around, but I wouldn’t want to have him on my roster while he is working out his troubles. 

Gavin Floyd is another pitcher who looks unworthy of being on your team. 

He won 17 games last season with an ERA close to 4.00. His ERA is now 7.71 and his WHIP is hovering close to 2.00 after allowing six runs or more for his third straight start, and for the fourth time this season. 

Again, he might get hot again and be worth a roster spot, but right now it is time to let Floyd go and pick up someone else that can help you. He is only bringing all of your stats down.

Ubaldo Jimenez was very good again in his last start, but his bullpen blew it for him. 

"Baldy" allowed only one run over six innings and struck out seven, making it three straight starts that he allowed only one run. He has also 22 Ks in the month of May.

Jimenez looks like he is starting to live up to his potential. If he’s available, I would evaluate my pitching staff to see if he can help you.

Luke Hochevar needs to be gone from your team. 

He might have lasted longer than the two innings he pitched in his first outing, but he couldn’t get out of the fourth inning Sunday. He did allow only three runs (two earned), but walked three and struck out only one. 

Until he can show any kind of consistency whatsoever, I don’t see a need to keep him on your roster.

Manny Parra won his third start in a row after starting the season 0-4.  He only struck out three batters in six innings, but has been very close to one an inning for the season. 

He has allowed three runs or less in five straight starts, nearly cutting his ERA in half.

Parra is worth adding in your league if he is still available, though unlikely. He needs to get his 1.61 WHIP under control, but other than that, he is pretty solid.

Rich Harden continues to be less than the guy we knew last year. Even with the loss he took on Sunday, his record is still 4-2, but he just isn’t as dominant. 

Last year, he was putting up zeros in bunches on scoreboards all over the National League.  Sunday, he gave up four runs over six innings.  He did strikeout seven, but also walked four. 

Harden may still be a worthwhile pitcher, but his ERA is over 4.50 and his WHIP is at 1.35.

The Rest

Juan Pierre has been sensational since taking over for the suspended Manny Ramirez.  In the last 10 games, he has 20 hits (including seven doubles), nine RBI, and five stolen bases. 

I have picked him up in a number of leagues, and he has been worth the addition, but you have to remember one thing: At the end of the Ramirez suspension, Pierre goes back to the bench. I would try to maximize his value and see if you can get another owner to buy into this hot streak in a trade.

Cody Ross hit a grand slam and homered for the second time, giving him four hits and seven RBI this weekend. 

This is a very streaky hitter, and one I would stay away from.  He doesn’t give you a very good average, but will bring you decent pop.  Even with this great weekend, he is still hitting just .213. Unless you are in need of some power, I would try to find another option.

Jimmy Rollins is coming around now, and his owners are perhaps coming down off the bridge. He had his third-straight two-hit game, and has at least one hit in seven-straight games. 

Rollins also has a homer, four RBI, and three stolen bases over that time frame.  I’m still not 100-percent sold that he will be what he was last year, but some of my concerns are starting to ease.

Injury News

Josh Hamilton left Sunday’s game after crashing into the wall in the seventh inning.  He was able to finish the inning, but left in the eighth. 

Hopefully he is OK, as he just came off the DL earlier this week.  The fact that he didn’t come right out is a good sign, and chances are the Rangers are just taking precautions.

Rickie Weeks left the game Sunday and will see a specialist after experiencing pain in the wrist he had surgically repaired in the offseason.  Stay tuned to see what becomes of this. It is a concern, seeing it’s the same wrist that cost him the final two months of last season.

Carlos Zambrano was horrible in his final rehab start, allowing four runs in just 3 2/3 innings and walking three. However, he will be back for the Cubs Friday against San Diego. 

I would be willing to bet he won’t try to bunt for a base hit again this season.

Carlos Quentin won’t be back for the White Sox until Tuesday at the earliest, and it could be later than that. 

Quentin has been dealing with pain in his heel that has also moved to the middle of his foot.  A trip to the DL could still be a possibility, so sit him until you hear future news.

Elijah Dukes re-aggravated his hamstring injury in the first inning Sunday and was removed from the game. Dukes also had a tweak of the hammy Friday, and this one was apparently a little more severe. 

He has been declared day-to-day, so I would probably sit him tomorrow.

New Feature

For those of you who are regular readers, I would like to offer a new service. 

I am starting a mailing list. Sometimes, I see prospects coming up, injury news, closer movement, etc. during the day, but I wait until this nightly article to pass it along to you guys. 

Just send me an email to [e-mail] with “Mailing List” in the subject line and I will add you to the list. Then, whenever I find news that I feel is breaking and important, I will send it to you as soon as I find out about it. 

Hopefully, this is something that you all will find valuable to make a possible move before your competition.

Also, you can now follow me on Twitter for more updates.  Go to www.twitter.com/fightingchance.

Attention League Commissioners!  If you are looking to spice up your league some, go and visit Fantasy Sports Trophies. 

Tom Harkins has put together a great site with all kinds of different trophies to give the winner of your league something besides just bragging rights. 

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I’m also going to start mentioning the Fantasy Windup with Steve Gardner over at USA Today again. His blog is updated many times each day, and is always covering the stories you are talking about when it comes to fantasy baseball. Go check out the blog and be sure to leave him some feedback.

As always, your comments and questions are welcome at [e-mail]. I guarantee a response within 18 hours. Also, don’t miss the “Fantasy Baseball Tonight” podcast four nights a week from Monday-Thursday.  The Big Show on Wednesday is co-hosted by Todd Farino of fantasybaseballsearch.com, RC Rizza of junkyardjake.com and myself, Ryan Hallam at fightingchancefantasy.com.  To hear the show go to www.blogtalkradio.com/the_true_guru. You can also hear me weekly on the Tuesday Night show.  Join me with Jeff Mans every Tuesday night at 10pm EST for all the news, free agent pickups, minor leaguers, and injuries. A can’t miss if you plan on winning your league.