Probable 2-start pitchers:
Cream of the crop:
Cole Hamels, PHI (vs. MIL, @ ATL) – In two of his last three starts, Hamels has allowed five earned runs. However, they were on the road. At home, Hamels has a 2.30 ERA and struck out 50 batters in 47 innings of work this season. Even though his second start is away from Citizens Bank Park, it will be against the Freddie Freeman-less Braves. In the past week, Atlanta only scored 15 runs in six games (29th in baseball).
Jordan Zimmermann, WAS (@ ATL, vs. SF) – The Z-Mann will also face the Freeman-less Braves as one of his two outings in Week 13. His second start will be at Nationals Park against the Giants. At home, Zimmermann has a 2.39 ERA. Also, both starts are in the evening. For night games, Zimmermann is 4-2 with a 2.66 ERA (1-3 with a 5.20 ERA during day games).
Sonny Gray, OAK (vs. COL, vs. SEA) – When he starts at O.Co Coliseum, Gray has a 2.97 ERA in 31 career starts. Both of his games are at home this week. Plus, Gray is even more dominant against the AL West. For instance, Gray is 4-1 with a 2.14 ERA in nine total starts against the Mariners.
Chris Sale, CWS (@ STL, vs. BAL) – His matchups are tough, but I still feel the need to include Sale in the top tier of this post. He has tallied double-digit punchouts in seven consecutive outings. Insane. Also, on May 28th, this was Sale’s line against the Orioles: 7.2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, and 12 K.
Potential bargains:
Marco Estrada, TOR (vs. BOS, @ DET) – First of all, the Blue Jay have won the last five games in which Estrada started on the hill. In his last outing, Estrada pitched a near perfect game (8.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, and 10 K) against the Rays.
Mike Montgomery, SEA (@ SD, @ OAK) – He owned the defending AL champs in his last start (9 IP, 0 ER, and 10 K). This week, Montgomery will travel to San Diego and Oakland. In his lone-road outing, Montgomery allowed only one earned run against the Astros. As for his first opponent, the Padres struck out 66 times in the past week (third-most).
Kyle Hendricks, CHC (@ NYM, vs. MIA) – His last two performances were rough, allowing at least four earned runs in back-to-back games. However, the competition gets a little easier in Week 13. First, the Mets have only scored an average of two runs per game in the past week with a combined .180 batting average. Next, the Marlins could still be without Giancarlo Stanton. In the last six games, Miami has scored 16 runs with a .218 AVG.
I’ll pass:
C.J. Wilson, LAA (vs. NYY, @ TEX) – The Yankees led the way with 54 runs scored in the past week (.316 AVG). Also, Wilson doesn’t pitch well against his former team. When he faces the Rangers, Wilson is 1-2 with a 6.59 ERA in nine total starts.
