Phil Hughes and Jorge De La Rosa can help you with wins
By Mike Marteny
We are halfway through our series of available players than can help you chase specific categories in roto or H2H category leagues. The next few days will focus on the pitchers.
I will give you three players each for standard, moderate, and deep leagues. Standard league players will be available in 10-50 percent of leagues. Moderate league players will be available in 50-90 percent of leagues. The deep leagues will focus on players owned in ten percent of leagues or less.
The hitters that can help you in batting average are here. Runs scored is here. Home runs are here. RBI is here. Stolen bases are here.
This installment will focus on the pitchers that are racking up the wins. A lot of people hate having this category in leagues because it is not a true measure of a pitcher’s worth. I happen to agree, but unless this category starts changing in 5×5 leagues, we have to chase it, right?
Apr 29, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Alfredo Simon (31) works during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
Standard Leagues:
Alfredo Simon, Reds: His transitions from the bullpen to the rotation has gone better than the Reds could have ever hoped for. Aside from being hammered by the Rockies back on May 10th, all of his other starts have been quality starts. Those eight quality starts have yielded him six wins, yet he is still available in almost half of ESPN leagues. Two months is no longer a fluke, folks. While he may slow down some, he should continue to pitch well enough to keep his team in games.
Jason Hammel, Cubs: Hammel is another relative unknown that is having a great start to the 2014 season. The fact that Hammel has been able to win five games with the Cubs is no small feat in itself. He had a rough outing against the Cardinals on May 15th, but has given up three runs or less in all of his other starts. He should continue to get win opportunities if he can keep pitching well.
Tyson Ross, Padres: Ross had a rough stretch at the end of April, but has righted the ship in May. Ross has given up only one earned run in each of his four starts this month. That has only yielded him two wins, giving him five for the season, but how can you not ride the arm of someone pitching this well?
May 19, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Moderate Leagues:
Jorge De La Rosa, Rockies: His peripheral numbers are not great (4.14 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 41 strikeouts in 50 innings), but he plays for a team with a red-hot offense. That will net you wins. It has for De La Rosa. His five start winning streak came to an end yesterday after a rain delay tornado warning! ended his afternoon after three scoreless innings.
Phil Hughes, Twins: What does this guy have to do to get some respect? I understand that many of us are still burned by his horrid outings in a Yankee uniform, and again earlier this season. But he has figured it out. I promise! Hughes has unleashed six straight quality starts, tallying wins in five of those. Is that not impressive enough? He has not walked a batter in five consecutive starts. He is definitely worth taking a chance on, and he is still out there in 76 percent of leagues.
Dallas Keuchel, Astros: Keuchel has not given up more than four runs in a start yet this season. Playing for a team like the Astros will likely hamper his win total, but the Astros’ offense is showing signs of life. Keuchel is worth a look in most leagues right now.
May 16, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kyle Gibson (44) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Deep Leagues:
Jean Machi, Giants: Hey, at no point did I say all of these guys would be starting pitchers! In deep leagues especially, you will take a win wherever you can get it. Machi has five wins and a save this year, so the Giants are comfortable having him in there with the game on the line. That means there is no reason for you not to.
Wei-Yin Chen, Orioles: Chen gave up four runs in each of his first two starts, but has only give up three or more once since then. The lefty will not strike out a lot of batters, but if he continues pitching this well, he will continue winning. He has five wins since Tax Day.
Kyle Gibson, Twins: He is either really good (five starts where he has allowed one run or less) or really bad (three starts of five or more runs allowed). There is no in between. You never know which Gibson you are going to get, but he has won four of those five outstanding starts. He is worth picking up and playing matchups.
Come back tomorrow for the pitchers that can help you with ERA.
If there is a category that you would like to see covered that is out of the normal 5×5 spectrum, just leave it in the comments, and I will get to it when I am done with the standard ones!