Health, Slump or Done?

It's Memorial day and just like I mentioned in Hitter Ranks earlier, it's time to panic. I think it's about time to bench some aces and pick up same veterans that are close to putting it all together.


May 28th Starting Pitcher Ranks
1. Justin Verlander DET (1)
2. Jered Weaver LAA (2)

Weaver did leave Monday's game early with a back injury. If this hinders him moving forward I would rank him about 4 spots lower.

3. Clayton Kershaw LAD (3)
4. Cole Hamels PHI (4)

The elite are beginning to separate from the second tier of top aces. The next few pitchers have some question marks but these 4 are on top of the world and I think this will be the same come October.

5. Matt Cain SF (8)
6. Cliff Lee PHI (5)

Cliff Lee still hasn't won a game all year (0-2 in 7 starts) but don't worry, when Howard and Utley return they'll score enough for Lee to challenge 15 wins despite being winless so far.

7. Felix Hernandez SEA (7)

King Felix has allowed 16 runs in his last 24.1 innings (last 4 starts). He does have 24 K's during that time period and his strikeout and walk rates are nearly identical from last season leading me to believe he'll bounce back.

8. Zack Greinke MIL (9)
9. Stephen Strasburg WSH (10)
10. CC Sabathia NYY (11) 
11. David Price TB (12)
12. Yu Darvish TEX (13)
13. Gio Gonzalez WSH (14)

Numbers 8-13 are having great years and are bonified fantasy aces. Keep an eye on CC as the Yankees heat up, he'll challenge 20 wins once again. 

14. Roy Halladay PHI (6)

We have to wait and see about Halladay, but for now I'm moving him down to 14 just ahead of some young guns. I think a DL stint isn't out of the question.

15. Madison Bumgarner SF (17)
16. Brandon Beachy ATL (16)
17. Matt Garza CHC (15)

A lot of small changes take place in numbers 18-33. Here is my last Pitcher Ranks.

18. James Shields TB (18)
19. Jordan Zimmermann WAS (19)
20. C.J. Wilson LAA (20) 
21. Dan Haren LAA (22)
22. Anibal Sanchez MIA (24) 
23. Brandon Morrow TOR (21)
24. Ricky Romero TOR (25) 
25. Ian Kennedy ARI (23)
26. Jake Peavy CHW (27)
27. Jon Lester BOS (26)
28. Johnny Cueto CIN (28)
29. Jeremy Hellickson TB (29)

Hellickson isn't striking out hitters at a high rate but the 25 year old hasn't allowed more than 3 runs in any game since April 14th.

30. Yovani Gallardo MIL (31)
31. Wandy Rodriguez HOU (33)
32. Johan Santana NYM (36)
33. Josh Beckett BOS (34)
34. Adam Wainwright STL (39)
35. Shaun Marcum MIL (35) 
36. Josh Johnson MIA (42)
37. Daniel Hudson ARI (43)

I think Hudson and Wainwright will have monster second halves. Josh Johnson has continued his recent success despite a .376 BABIP on the year. It seems to unlucky to continue.  

38. Tommy Hanson ATL (37)
39. Matt Latos CIN (38)
40. Lance Lynn STL (47)
41. Tim Hudson ATL (41)
42. Colby Lewis TEX (46)
43. Bud Norris HOU (45)
44. Jaime Garcia STL (44)
45. James McDonald PIT (NR)
46. Chris Sale CHW (50)

Sale and McDonald may shock a lot of you but I've been a believer all year. It's time they get their due. Pick them up and climb your roto rankings (Sale had 15 K's against the Rays on Monday).

47. Tim Lincecum SF (30)

Advice on Lincecum is as follows: If your in a keeper league, hold him. If your in a one year league, hold him unless you can find anyone else I have ranked higher than him on the waiver wire. If your in desperate need of pitching help drop him. I think there are 3 reasonable outcomes for Lincy this year: gets traded, has surgery or ends up in the bullpen. If he comes back and finishes in the top 40 I would be amazed.

48. Max Scherzer DET (NR)
49. Carlos Zambrano MIA (49)
50. Brandon McCarthy OAK (40)

McCarthy should pitch this Saturday against the Royals. This is the last opportunity I'm giving him before I say he's a replacement level guy. THE PRESSURE'S ON BRANDON!!!

Sleeper Pick Ups
Hiroki Kuroda NYY
Listen to the May 26th show to find out why I'm so high on Kuroda.

Matt Moore TB
I was down on him over the past few weeks but I think he;s beginning to figure some things out. Keep an eye on the kid, he just missed my top 50 this week. He will dominate interleague play.




Hit me on twitter if you want to discuss my rankings @Awies28

Alex Wiesner