For those of you in head-to-head leagues, the playoffs are only a few weeks away. Maximizing your rotation is crucial to winning key categories and advancing you into the postseason. Let's get to the list and suggestions for mid-August...
Probable two-start pitchers:
Chase Anderson, MIL (@ CHC, @ SEA)
Jhoulys Chacin, LAA (vs. SEA, vs. NYY)
Bartolo Colon, NYM (@ ARI, @ SF)
Joel De La Cruz, ATL (vs. MIN, vs. WAS)
Jorge De La Rosa, COL (vs. WAS, vs. CHC)
Anthony DeSclafani, CIN (vs. MIA, vs. LAD)
Ross Detwiler, OAK (@ TEX, @ CWS)
Danny Duffy, KC (@ DET, vs. MIN)
Brandon Finnegan, CIN (vs. MIA, vs. LAD)
Yovani Gallardo, BAL (vs. BOS, vs. HOU)
Gio Gonzalez, WAS (@ COL, @ ATL)
Jason Hammel, CHC (vs. MIL, @ COL)
Felix Hernandez, SEA (@ LAA, vs. MIL)
Ian Kennedy, KC (@ DET, vs. MIN)
Dallas Keuchel, HOU (vs. STL, @ BAL)
Corey Kluber, CLE (vs. CWS, vs. TOR)
Kenta Maeda, LAD (@ PHI, @ CIN)
Matt Moore, SF (vs. PIT, vs. NYM)
Ricky Nolasco, LAA (vs. SEA, vs. NYY)
Daniel Norris, DET (vs. KC, vs. BOS)
James Paxton, SEA (@ LAA, vs. MIL)
Luis Perdomo, SD (@ TB, vs. ARI)
Martin Perez, TEX (vs. OAK, @ TB)
David Phelps, MIA (@ CIN, @ PIT)
Drew Pomeranz, BOS (@ CLE, @ DET)
Jose Quintana, CWS (@ CLE, vs. OAK)
Robbie Ray, ARI (vs. NYM, @ SD)
Eduardo Rodriguez, BOS (@ CLE, @ DET)
Jeff Samardzija, SF (vs. PIT, vs. NYM)
Ervin Santana, MIN (@ ATL, @ KC)
Max Scherzer, WAS (@ COL, @ ATL)
Braden Shipley, ARI (vs. NYM, @ SD)
Drew Smyly, TB (vs. SD, vs. TEX)
Noah Syndergaard, NYM (@ ARI, @ SF)
Josh Tomlin, CLE (vs. BOS, vs. TOR)
Vincent Velasquez, PHI (vs. LAD, vs. STL)
Justin Verlander, DET (vs. KC, vs. BOS)
Ryan Vogelsong, PIT (@ SF, vs. MIA
Cream of the crop:
Max Scherzer, WAS (@ COL, @ ATL)
I do worry about the start in Colorado (Scherzer is 0-3 with a 5.32 ERA at Coors Field), but he's pitched there one since 2010. Plus, Mad Max has tallied at least 10 strikeouts in three of the past four starts. As far as his career numbers at Turner Field, Scherzer is only 1-2, but sports a 1.77 ERA and has punched out 40 Braves' batters in 35.2 innings of work.
Corey Kluber, CLE (vs. CWS, vs. TOR)
THIS is the Klubot that Indians' fans know and love. Since the All-Star break, Kluber is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA. It will be a tough test at home this week against a powerful offense. In his last start against Toronto, the Blue Jays won 17-1 (3.1 IP, 5 ER). Kluber will be looking for revenge at Progressive Field. As for his upcoming start against the White Sox, Kluber faced them once this season (May 25th): 7.1 IP, 1 ER, and 9 Ks.
Potential bargains:
Anthony DeSclafani, CIN (vs. MIA, vs. LAD)
This season, DeSclafani is 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 28 innings at the Great American Ballpark. He's also allowed two earned runs or less in two of his last three outings. As far as strikeouts are concerned, DeSclafani has registered at least five Ks in nine of the last 10 performances.
Robbie Ray, ARI (vs. NYM, @ SD)
Here's the deal with Ray, he either: A) gives you a solid number of strikeouts with a high ERA or B) gives you a low ERA with low strikeouts. Sure, on rare occasions you get a mix of low ERA with high strikeouts, or vice-versa. However, for the most part, the high strikeout rate has been consistent. Ray has notched at least nine Ks in three of the past four starts. He even faced the Mets in his last outing: 7 IP, 0 ER, and 4 Ks.
Avoid at all costs:
Jorge De La Rosa, COL (vs. WAS, vs. CHC)
Two starts in Coors Field against two offenses in the top ten of runs scored? No, thank you. De La Rosa is 4-3 with a 5.06 ERA at home this season. Great for stacking DFS bats, though.
Jhoulys Chacin, LAA (vs. SEA, vs. NYY)
It was a rough outing for Chacin in his last start: 1.1 IP, 7 ER against the Indians. One of his opponents this week, the Yankees, already tagged him in a start, too: 5.1 IP, 5 ER. Also, Chacin's pitch count hasn't surpassed 66 since July 1st.
