Fantasy Baseball 1.0: Starting Pitcher Rankings

1. Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies, Draft Projection: Late 1^st Round-Early 2^nd Round.

– Doc was easily the best pitcher in baseball last season in his first year with the Phillies. The former Cy Young winner led the national league in wins, innings pitched, complete games, shutouts, BB/9, and K/BB ratio. Even more incredible is that he improved every single statistical category from his 2009 season. At 34-years-old the right-hander keeps improving, if he’s not the first pitcher selected in your league you don’t deserve to be playing fantasy baseball.

2. Cliff Lee, Philadelphia Phillies, Draft Projection: 2^nd Round

– This is a tough call here between Lee and King Felix, I believe in many ways Felix will have a better season. However if you are playing in a league with wins as a statistical category Lee is the easy choice here as King Felix truly is a man amongst small boys playing for one of the worst teams in baseball. Lee didn’t make much noise until the blockbuster trade last season but he somehow compiled 10 times as many strikeouts as walks! As Mike Martz would say, “that’s stupid good!” In 2011 Lee will prove why he was the most sought after free agent this past winter and finish 2^nd in the Cy Young race to his new teammate, Roy Halladay.

3. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners, Draft Projection: 2^nd Round

– I don’t think there’s a professional athlete I feel worse for than Felix Hernandez. The man they call the King may be the best pitcher in baseball, but if he doesn’t pitch a shutout he’s probably going to get a losing decision. Put the fact that he’s the only worthwhile attraction at Safeco Field aside (except for the Ivar Dogs) and you have yourself a fantasy ace. He led the AL in era and innings pitch and was one strikeout away from forcing a tie for Major League strikeout champ with the Angels’ Jered Weaver. If you’re league favors quality starts over wins he’s ranked even higher, but even though he’s the ace on what’s not much better than a little league team he can carry any fantasy rotation no matter what the settings may be.

4. Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals, Draft Projection: 2^nd Round

– Wainwright is probably the least talked about super star pitcher in the game, but don’t try to sell too low his rapidly improving numbers have caught the eye of fantasy players and he won’t be the same bargain he was last year. The Cardinals ace was spotted at the top of the leaderboard in virtually every statistical category and there’s no reason why he won’t do that again in 2011. If the top three pitchers are gone when it comes time to get your ace don’t fear, Wainwright is by all counts an elite fantasy pitcher.

5. Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants, Draft Projection: Late 2^nd Round-Early 3^rd Round

– A lot of people are down on The Freak this year due to his autrocious August to end what was otherwise another solid season for the two-time Cy Young winner. However I’m high (literally and figuratively) on Lincecum for 2011 as he will make a push for his fourth consecutive strikeout crown as well as carry a Giants rotation defending its first World Series title. Don’t expect a championship hangover from The Freak this year, as he will end up in the race for his third Cy Young, that’s a guarantee.

6. Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox, Draft Projection: 3^rd Round

– The Red Sox ace is coming off the best season of his career and there’s no reason why that will stop in 2011. Look for Lester to rack up around 20 wins and finish in the Top 5 for total strikeouts coming off a 4^th place finish last year. Lester is definitely the most dependable pitcher outside of the top 5 and someone you should feel good about picking as your fantasy ace in the third round.

7. CC Sabathia, New York Yankees, Draft Projection: Late 3^rd Round- Early 4^th Round

– CC has averaged 20 wins, 197 strikeouts, 234 innings and a WHIP of 1.17 in his two seasons in pinstripes; that’s an excellent resume for a fantasy number one pitcher and don’t look for any regression from the 30-year-old big man in 2011. He could easily lead the AL in wins for the 3^rd season in a row so if your league has wins as a stat, Sabathia will not disappoint.

8. Zack Greinke, Milwaukee Brewers, Draft Projection: 4^th Round

– Okay so I know what you’re thinking, Greinke had an awful 2010 season and there’s no guarantee that a move to Milwaukee (only a slight upgrade from the Royals) will bring Greinke back to his ’09 Cy Young form. However even if Milwaukee isn’t the guaranteed playoff contender he was hoping for there’s no doubt a change of scenery will help Greinke rebound from his porous 2010 effort. He was almost unhittable in 2009, and with the potential for how much of a bargain he could be don’t let someone else in your league get the bragging rights for drafting him.

9. Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants, Draft Projection: 4^th Round

– Might be the most dominant pitcher against right-handed hitters in all of baseball, and no pitcher played better in the post-season. Cain is a slow starter but has managed to pitch over 200 innings for four straight seasons and be one of the most quietly, reliable pitchers in the game. Cain won’t pile up wins or strikeouts but he’s solid in every fantasy category and can carry any rotation.

10. David Price, Tampa Bay Rays, Draft Projection: 5^th round

– Surprisingly not too many so-called “gurus” have Price ranked in their top 10 this year. Meaning he probably won’t go as high as he should so if you can snag him up in the 4^th round or later you may be coming away with the most productive pick of the draft. The 2^nd place Cy Young winner finished among AL leaders in wins, ERA, opponents batting average, and strikeouts. The youngster was almost unhittable in September (when fantasy playoffs are typically played) and will undoubtedly build upon his early success to become one of the best pitchers in the game.

The Rest of the Pack:

11. Josh Johnson, Florida Marlins, Draft Projection: 5^th Round

12. Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies, Draft Projection: 5^th Round

13. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers, Draft Projection: 5^th-6^th Round

14. Ubaldo Jimenez, Colorado Rockies, Draft Projection: 6^th Round

15. Francisco Liriano, Minnesota Twins, Draft Projection: 6^th Round

16. Chris Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals, Draft Projection: 6^th-7^th Round

17. Matt Latos, San Diego Padres, Draft Projection: 6^th-7^th Round

18. Roy Oswalt, Philadelphia Phillies, Draft Projection: 7^th Round

19. Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels, Draft Projection: 7^th Round

20. Yovanni Gallardo, Milwaukee Brewers, Draft Projection: 7^th-8^th Round

21. Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers, Draft Projection: 8^th Round

22. Brett Anderson, Oakland A’s, Draft Projection: 8^th Round

23. Dan Haren, Los Angeles Angels, Draft Projection: 8^th Round

24. Clay Bucholz, Boston Red Sox, Draft Projection: 8^th Round

25. Phil Hughes, New York Yankees, Draft Projection: 9^th Round

26. Tommy Hanson, Atlanta Braves, Draft Projection: 9^th Round

27. Chad Billingsley, Los Angeles Dodgers, Draft Projection: 9^th-10^th Round

28. Matt Garza, Chicago Cubs, Draft Projection: 10^th Round

29. Wandy Rodriguez, Houston Astros, Draft Projection: 10^th Round

30. Shaun Marcum, Milwaukee Brewers, Draft Projection: 10^th Round