Fantasy Baseball 2011: Breaking Down the Top 10 Starting Pitchers

There is no substitute for great pitching when trying to win the pennant.

The defending World Series champions San Francisco Giants proved that quite plainly. They pieced together a lineup of castoffs from teams like the Kansas City Royals and Florida Marlins and focused their attention to dominating the mound.

But is the same true for fantasy baseball? Is a lights out pitching staff the way to win a championship?

Rather than just debate the issue, let's investigate the top 10 pitchers according to ESPN's Player Rater. Note that the Player Rater is best applied to leagues that use rotisserie scoring.

I've compiled a quick profile of these pitchers and then listed their average draft position in ESPN drafts along with the player who is ranked at the same spot among hitters.

You might be surprised.

The Usual Suspects

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 03: Jered Weaver #36 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches against the New York Yankees in the seventh inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 3, 2011 in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Yankees 3-2. (Photo by Je

The point of my argument is to show you that top pitchers can be found on the cheap.

But if you just have to have one or two of the top five pitchers, it's true, you'll have to spend a lot either in the draft or in trading to get one.

The top five pitchers in fantasy are the usual suspects:

1. Jered Weaver - 7 W, 85 K, 2.14 ERA, 0.95 WHIP

2. Roy Halladay - 7 W, 91 K, 2.56 ERA, 1.07 WHIP

3. Cole Hamels - 7 W, 82 K, 2.83 ERA, 0.97 WHIP

4. Dan Haren - 5 W, 74 K, 2.29 ERA, 0.94 WHIP

5. Justin Verlander - 6 W, 83 K, 3.04 ERA, 0.95 WHIP

These guys are always expected to be ranked highly. Let's skip to the sixth through tenth ranked arms.

6. Alexi Ogando

This guy did the thing that Joba Chamberlain was unable to do: Parlay an excellent season as a bullpen pitcher into a bona fide starter.

Alexi Ogando was as dependable as any reliever in 2010 as he helped the Texas Rangers win their first ever American League Championship Series.

In 44 appearances, he sported a 1.30 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and seven holds.

With the recent news of yet another Brandon Webb setback (he's been hurt since 2009, I think), Ogando is set for at least two more months as the starter.

He is 6-0, has a microscopic 2.20 ERA and a beautiful 0.88 WHIP.

There is no "selling high" on Ogando. He's here to stay for 2011. Enjoy his run support, owners.

Average Draft Position: Undrafted

Sixth Ranked Hitter: Jay Bruce - .292, 39 R, 17 HR, 46 RBI, 4 SB 

7. Kyle Lohse

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

ST. LOUIS, MO - MAY 18: Starter Kyle Lohse #26 of the St.Louis Cardinals pitches against the Houston Astros at Busch Stadium on May 18, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Kyle Lohse is off to an incredible start. Almost too incredible, if you ask me.

In a previous article I wrote about the St. Louis Cardinals, I voiced my concern about the pitching staff's ability to keep up their terrific pace.

Though I don't think Lohse will continue producing his current statistics—2.13 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and seven wins—he's definitely a hot option right now. I don't see a reason why he couldn't keep this up until the All-Star Break.

But he qualifies as a sell high option, owners. At age 32, his career tendencies are well-documented.

After the All-Star Break, Lohse's ERA jumps more than one run, from 4.14 to 5.35.

You can't be too mad if this waiver wire pickup goes by the wayside, though. Imagine what the owners of Chris Carpenter, who was picked on average at No. 47, are thinking.

Average Draft Position: Undrafted

Seventh Ranked Hitter: Adrian Gonzalez - .340, 38 R, 12 HR, 50 RBI

8. Michael Pineda

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE - MAY 04: Starting pitcher Michael Pineda #36 of the Seattle Mariners pitches against the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field on May 4, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Young studs worry me.

I'm always afraid that they're bound to realize their youth, and then fall back to Earth. The Seattle Mariners' Michael Pineda fits the bill.

He's on 22, but his poise on the mound his very impressive. He's been smart to watch another young ace, Felix Hernandez, to see how he manages himself on such a stage.

Pineda was picked in round 23. Keep in mind that there are 26 rounds in ESPN drafts. What a bargain!

While many pitchers are able to put up solid ERA and WHIP numbers from time to time, rarely can a spot starter also acquire strikeouts. Pineda is sixth in the entire MLB with 9.34 strikeouts per nine innings.

That puts him in the same arena as Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum.

The Mariners' rookie came into the season with mild fanfare. It's just the Seattle way.

Fantasy owners know better, though. This guy is good.

Average Draft Position: 225.1

Eighth Ranked Hitter: Asdrubal Cabrera - .306, 38 R, 11 HR, 40 RBI, 7 SB

9. Jair Jurrjens

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATLANTA, GA - MAY 29: Jair Jurrjens #49 of the Atlanta Braves pitches to the Cincinnati Reds at Turner Field on May 29, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

As an Atlanta Braves fan, I've been really pleased with Jair Jurrjens' 2011 season.

After a stellar rookie season in 2009, Jurrjens struggled mightily last year with a 4.64 ERA and only seven wins. He has already reached that number of wins this year and did so with a much more negotiable 1.75 ERA, behind only Josh Johnson for the lowest ERA in the National League.

While the aforementioned pitchers have some questions about them (reliever, just a hot start, too young, etc.), Jurrjens has done this before. He's been a great pitcher in Atlanta.

That makes me as an owner feel very comfortable playing him in each and every start. Except in Philadelphia.

Jurrjens was drafted 227.5 overall in ESPN drafts then promptly dropped in most of them when he started the season on the DL. Now he's a top 10 pitcher.

Average Draft Position: 227.5

Ninth Ranked Hitter: Jose Reyes - .335, 39 R, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 19 SB

10. James Shields

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE - JUNE 02: Starting pitcher James Shields #33 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 2, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

I can't lie. I questioned the legitimacy of James Shields in an older article.

I think one of the readers said that my concerns were "pretty stupid." Naturally, I took offense. But as a closet Tampa Bay Rays fan (the secret's out), I'm happy to be wrong.

Shields has, at times this season, looked spectacular. To me, nothing spells dominance like double digit strikeout totals.

Shields has reached this benchmark twice in the past seven starts, while three other starts were close with seven, eight, and nine strikeouts.

The early season boom from the Rays lineup boosted him to five wins, which have been tough to come by lately. I worry about his opportunity to win a lot of games in 2011.

Even with a 2.77 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP, there will be games when he won't get the run support he needs.

If your league has Quality Starts as a scoring option, then you're in great shape with this pitcher who was taken during the 20th round.

Average Draft Position: 203.9

Tenth Ranked Hitter: Joey Votto, .341, 41 R, 8 HR, 37 RBI, 6 SB

Why Worry About Pitchers?

Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 04: Dillon Gee #35 of the New York Mets throws a pitch in the top of the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on June 4, 2011 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Christopher P

Spend your time and energy working on other positions. If someone offers you a hitter for a pitcher, jump at the trade.

Juxtaposing the rankings of the hitters and pitchers was eye opening to me. Clearly, fantasy is not as real as some might think it is.

Or wish it was.

Have fun, and win it all.