Houston Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris got his season off to a strong start by baffling the Texas Rangers last night and picking up the win. Who else will be getting starts this week? Check the list below. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
With real baseball starting last night in the Houston Astros 8-2 win over their in-state opponent the Texas Rangers, we can officially close the books on Spring Training. That means every team’s roster has been trimmed and pared down and final rotations have been set for Opening Day.
Each Monday, we’ll spin around the Major Leagues here on Fantasy CPR and take a look at what each team is adjusting in their rotation as the season goes along. Here you can find the rotation for all the teams in Major League Baseball with those that have changed from last week highlighted with a quick update:
AL East
Mar 3, 2013; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Chris Tillman (30) against the Philadelphia Phillies during a spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Baltimore Orioles
1. Jason Hammel
2. Wei-Yin Chen
3. Miguel Gonzalez
4. Jake Arrieta
5. Chris Tillman
UPDATE: The O’s will open the season with Chris Tillman and Tyuyoshi Wada on the DL and T.J. McFarland and Brian Matusz in the bullpen. They also decided to give Jair Jurrjens more time in Florida leaving Jake Arrieta as the fourth starter. The plan is to bring Tillman off the DL and have him start the team’s fifth game of the year.
Boston Red Sox
1. Jon Lester
2. Clay Buccholz
3. Ryan Dempster
4. John Lackey
5. Felix Doubront
New York Yankees
1. CC Sabathia
2. Andy Pettitte
3. Hiroki Kuroda
4. Ivan Nova
5. David Phelps
Tampa Bay Rays
1. David Price
2. Jeremy Hellickson
3. Matt Moore
4. Alex Cobb
5. Roberto Hernandez
UPDATE: The Rays opted to go with Roberto Hernandez (formerly known as Fausto Carmona) instead of Jeff Niemann. With Chris Archer apparently ready to go in triple-A, I doubt Hernandez holds the job long, but he will start the year in the starting 5.
Toronto Blue Jays
1. R.A. Dickey
2. Brandon Morrow
3. Mark Buehrle
4. Josh Johnson
5. J.A. Happ
AL Central
Mar 16, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) pitches during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago White Sox
1. Chris Sale
2. Jake Peavy
3. Gavin Floyd
4. Jose Quintana
5. Dylan Axelrod
Cleveland Indians
1. Justin Masterson
2. Ubaldo Jimenez
3. Brett Myers
4. Zach McAllister
5. Scott Kazmir
Detroit Tigers
1. Justin Verlander
2. Doug Fister
3. Max Scherzer
4. Anibal Sanchez
5. Rick Porcello
Kansas City Royals
1. James Shields
2. Ervin Santana
3. Jeremy Guthrie
4. Wade Davis
5. Luis Mendoza
Minnesota Twins
1. Vance Worley
2. Kevin Correia
3. Mike Pelfrey
4. Liam Hendriks
5. Cole De Vries
AL West
March 05, 2013; Viera, FL, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Brad Peacock (43) throws against the Washington Nationals during spring training game at Space Coast Stadium. Washington defeated Houston 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Astros
1. Bud Norris
2. Lucas Harrell
3. Philip Humber
4. Brad Peacock
5. Erik Bedard
UPDATE: Brad Peacock beat out Alex White for the fifth starter spot in Houston and is coming off a solid Spring Training. Peacock may be worth a look as a spot starter or streaming option in the right matchups.
Los Angeles Angels
1. Jared Weaver
2. C.J. Wilson
3. Tommy Hanson
4. Jason Vargas
5. Joe Blanton
Oakland Athletics
1. Brett Anderson
2. Jarrod Parker
3. Tommy Milone
4. A. J. Griffin
5. Dan Straily
Seattle Mariners
1. Felix Hernandez
2. Hisashi Iwakuma
3. Joe Saunders
4. Blake Beavan
5. Brandon Maurer
Texas Rangers
1. Matt Harrison
2. Yu Darvish
3. Derek Holland
4. Alexi Ogando
5. Nick Tepesch
NL East
Atlanta Braves
1. Tim Hudson
2. Paul Maholm
3. Kris Medlan
4. Mike Minor
5. Julio Teheran
Mar 9, 2013; Melbourne, FL, USA; Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez throws against the Washington Nationals during the bottom of the sixth inning of a spring training game at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Miami Marlins
1. Ricky Nolasco
2. Kevin Slowey
3. Wade LeBlanc
4. Alex Sanabia
5. Jose Fernandez
UPDATE: The Fish won’t have Nate Eovaldi or Henderson Alvarez to start the season giving Jose Fernendez and Alex Sanabia a chance to start the season in the rotation. Both youngsters have talent, but also are high-risk as they adjust to the Bigs.
New York Mets
1. Jonathon Niese
2. Shaun Marcum
3. Matt Harvey
4. Dillon Gee
5. Jeremy Hefner
UPDATE: With Johan Santana out for the year, the pressure on these five guys is ratcheted up a few notches. Shaun Marcum is also dealing with an injury which is much more minor, but it may cost him a start in the second game of the year.
Philadelphia Phillies
1. Roy Halladay
2. Cliff Lee
3. Cole Hamels
4. Kyle Kendrick
5. John Lannan
Washington Nationals
1. Stephen Strasburg
2. Gio Gonzalez
3. Jordan Zimmermann
4. Dan Haren
5. Ross Detwiler
NL Central
Chicago Cubs
1. Jeff Samardzija
2. Edwin Jackson
3. Scott Feldman
4. Travis Wood
5. Carlos Villanueva
Cincinnati Reds
1. Johnny Cueto
2. Mat Latos
3. Bronson Arroyo
4. Homer Bailey
5. Mike Leake
Mar 6, 2013; Peoria, AZ, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Mike Fiers (64) pitches during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee Brewers
1. Yovani Gallardo
2. Marco Estrada
3. Kyle Lohse
4. Mike Fiers
5. Wily Peralta
UPDATE: After signing Kyle Lohse late in Spring Training, the Brew-Crew sent Chris Narveson to bullpen while Wily Peralta and Mike Fiers slid back to the four and five spot.
Pittsburgh Pirates
1. A.J. Burnett
2. Wandy Rodriguez
3. James McDonald
4. Jonathan Sanchez
5. Jeff Locke
UPDATE: The Pirates opted to go with Jeff Locke over Kyle McPherson or Jeanmar Gomez for their fifth spot in the rotation to start the season. The Pirates have Jeff Karstens and Francisco Liriano working their back from injuries as well. Locke had a good spring and could be worth a look in deep formats or as a spot starter.
St. Louis Cardinals
1. Adam Wainwright
2. Jake Westbrook
3. Jaime Garcia
4. Lance Lynn
5. Shelby Miller
NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks
1. Ian Kennedy
2. Trevor Cahill
3. Wade Miley
4. Brandon McCarthy
5. Patrick Corbin
Colorado Rockies
1. Jhoulys Chacin
2. Jorge De La Rosa
3. Juan Nicasio
4. Jeff Francis
5. Jon Garland
February 25, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Chad Billingsley (58) throws against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers
1. Clayton Kershaw
2. Hyun-Jin Ryu
3. Josh Beckett
4. Zack Greinke
5. Chad Billingsley
UPDATE: The Dodgers don’t need a fifth starter for the first two weeks of the season so Billingsley should be able to fill the role even though he starts the season on the DL.
San Diego Padres
1. Edinson Volquez
2. Clayton Richard
3. Eric Stults
4. Jason Marquis
5. Tyson Ross
San Francisco Giants
1. Matt Cain
2. Madison Bumgarner
3. Tim Lincecum
4. Barry Zito
5. Ryan Vogelsong