My Hands Are Tied
August 30th Pitcher Rankings
Most every expert picked Kershaw and Verlander to finish as the number one and number two starting pitchers at season's end. I'm not saying I'm an expert, I'm just saying that I thought the same. The only thing that could vault someone in front would have to be a perfect game and a stretch of 25.2 innings where you only allow one earned run. Well for Felix Hernandez that's what happened. Not to mention throwing complete game shutouts in 3 of his last 5 starts. King Felix hasn't had a loss since June 12th (14 starts). And on top of all that, Hernandez leads the Majors in ERA and is top 5 in strikeouts. Can you say Cy Young?
This will be my last Pitcher Rankings of the season. Use this list wisely as it is filled with the key to winning your fantasy leagues this year.
This will be my last Pitcher Rankings of the season. Use this list wisely as it is filled with the key to winning your fantasy leagues this year.
1. Felix Hernandez SEA (5) 2. Clayton Kershaw LAD (2) 3. Justin Verlander DET (1) 4. Matt Cain SF (3) 5. Madison Bumgarner SF (6) 6. Cole Hamels PHI (7) 7. David Price TB (8) 8. Adam Wainwright STL (15) 9. Cliff Lee PHI (14) 10. Johnny Cueto CIN (16) 11. Jered Weaver LAA (4) 12. CC Sabathia NYY (9) 13. Roy Halladay PHI (21) 14. Yovani Gallardo MIL (17) 15. Gio Gonzalez WSH (10) | 
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There are a lot of big movers in my top 15. I feel good with Wainwright in my top 10 to end the year but I feel even better with Roy Halladay outside my top 10. I think this year was the beginning of the decline in Halladay's career. It's not that he can't be a top 10 pitcher, it's just the fact that his team is rebuilding and earlier this year he passed the 2,600 career innings pitched milestone. I know he's been hurt but through 19 starts he only has 8 wins. Call me skeptical, but Doc Halladay will not be on my love list entering 2013.
16. Matt Latos CIN (24) 17. Hiroki Kuroda NYY (22) 18. Jordan Zimmermann WSH (12) 19. Zack Greinke LAA (13) 20. Josh Johnson MIA (23) 21. Max Scherzer DET (32) 22. Matt Moore TB (35) 23. James Shields TB (39) 24. R.A. Dickey NYM (19) 25. Jon Lester BOS (30) 26. Chris Sale CHW (20) 27. Tim Hudson ATL (33) 28. Brandon Morrow TOR (NR) 29. Edwin Jackson WSH (41) 30. Wade Miley ARI (29) 31. Jake Peavy CHW (25) 32. Mike Minor ATL (40) 33. Kyle Lohse STL (49) 34. Yu Darvish TEX (31) 35. Doug Fister DET (28) 36. Ian Kennedy ARI (27) 37. Stephen Strasburg WSH (11) | 
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How can you not love Mat Latos down the stretch? He's been exceptional in 7 of his last 8 starts, except for his August 24th start against the Cardinals, he hasn't allowed more than 2 runs in any outing. He's been undervalued all year and players like that are what it takes to win fantasy leagues. Ironically I only own him in one league this year. But do you know who I own in all but one league this year?
Jhouly Chacin... More on him in a bit.
As for Stephen Strasburg, he'll take the mound 3 or 4 more times before the Nationals shut him down. His 7 runs (5 earned) last time out may have guaranteed his eventual lock down. Ranking him 37th really shows the value of him knowing he'll only get about 20 more innings... 60 outs.
Jhouly Chacin... More on him in a bit.
As for Stephen Strasburg, he'll take the mound 3 or 4 more times before the Nationals shut him down. His 7 runs (5 earned) last time out may have guaranteed his eventual lock down. Ranking him 37th really shows the value of him knowing he'll only get about 20 more innings... 60 outs.
38. Brett Anderson OAK (NR) 39. Jhoulys Chacin COL (NR) 40. Shaun Marcum MIL (NR) 41. C.J. Wilson LAA (18) 42. Jaime Garcia STL (NR) 43. Phil Hughes NYY (34) 47. Tim Lincecum SF (47) 48. Josh Beckett LAD (NR) 49. Ryan Vogelsong SF (26) 50. Ryan Dempster TEX (NR) | 
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If there is a chance for me to brag about one of my favorites, I'm going to do it. Chacin is a future ace who has been dealing with injuries all season. Over his short career (60 starts, under 400 innings) he has a 3.71 ERA and a very respectable 1.33 WHIP. Here's the kicker for me; he has a career 7.81 K/9 rate and he is a ground ball pitcher in Colorado. He is prone to the long ball but those numbers will decrease as he enters his prime years. He's only 24 years old. I'm a sucker for number 45 but one day it will pay off.
It seems fitting that I talk about Chacin for final Pitcher Rankings this year. It's more than likely (a near certainty) that I will start next year talking about the potential upside this Venezuelan ace has. It's been a fun year, if you have any questions for the final month ask me on Twitter @Awies28
Alex Wiesner
August 30th, 2012
Archives
It seems fitting that I talk about Chacin for final Pitcher Rankings this year. It's more than likely (a near certainty) that I will start next year talking about the potential upside this Venezuelan ace has. It's been a fun year, if you have any questions for the final month ask me on Twitter @Awies28
Alex Wiesner
August 30th, 2012
Archives
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