Start ‘Em
Trevor Cahill (@SF, @SD)
Cahill’s 3.74 ERA and 1.28 WHIP may not seem that intriguing, yet the Arizona arm’s splits give a better endorsement for implementation this week. In five games on the road this season, Cahill owns a 2.76 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 2012 versus 5.16 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in Phoenix. With both starts away from Chase Field, Cahill should get the starting nod in almost all FOXSports.com formats. His jump in walks surrendered might be disconcerting, but with a reduction in homers and increase in ground balls, owners should feel safe in Cahill’s ability.
Ted Lilly (MIL, @COL)
The 36-year-old was blown up in his last outing against Arizona (3.1 innings, nine hits, five walks, eight runs), though still sports a 3.14 ERA and 1.13 WHIP on the season. While Coors Field is a pitcher’s nightmare, Lilly went six strong innings in Denver on May 1, surrendering just five base runners and two earned runs in six innings while racking up the W. Speaking of strong, Lilly has a 1.62 ERA with a ridiculous 0.78 WHIP at Chavez Ravine in six starts this season.
Bronson Arroyo (@PIT, @HOU)
After posting a 5.07 ERA and 1.37 WHIP last campaign, Arroyo is in the midst of a resurgence, rocking a 3.22 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in nine starts this season. Owners may be understandably skeptical that the former All-Star can continue this dominance, although his 3.72 FIP and .314 BABIP suggest Arroyo has not been the beneficiary of providence. Better yet, both starts for Arroyo this week come on the road, where he’s 2-1 with a 2.43 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. And for further confidence, Houston (21st) and Pittsburgh (30th) rank near the bottom of baseball in runs scored.
Other Start ‘Ems
Tommy Hanson (STL, @WAS)
Doug Fister (@MIN, @BOS)
Justin Verlander (@MIN, @BOS)
Jered Weaver (NYY, TEX)
Aaron Harang (MIL, @COL)
James McDonald (CIN, @MIL)
Jordan Zimmermann (@MIA, ATL)
Lance Lynn (@ATL, @NYM)
Chris Sale (@TB, SEA)
Wandy Rodriguez (@COL, CIN)
Cole Hamels (@NYM, MIA)
Sit ‘Em
Phil Hughes (@LAA, @DET)
The long-awaited rejuvenation of Hughes finally appears to be coming to fruition, going 2-1 with a 2.37 ERA over his last three starts. Alas, two of the three outings came against two of the more atrocious offenses on the Junior Circuit in Kansas City and Seattle. Worse, the hot-hitting Angels and the sleeping giants of Detroit are on the upcoming slate. The Bronx Bombers will give the necessary run support to make Hughes a candidate for wins, but it could come at the price of your team’s ERA and WHIP.
Kevin Millwood (@TEX, @CHW)
At 37, Millwood has been surprisingly effective for Seattle this season with a 3.72 ERA in nine starts, and has been especially assertive as of late, relinquishing just one run in his last three appearances. Don’t expect this mound magnificence to endure this week, as Texas and Chicago flaunt two of the more formidable lineups in the league. With Millwood possessing a 3.9 percent homer-to-fly-ball ratio (compared to a 14.8 mark in 2011 and 11.6 figure in 2010), it’s only a matter of time before opposing bats start doing work.
Jonathon Niese (PHI, STL)
Niese has held opponents to three earned runs or less in seven of nine starts this season, although a shellacking at the hands of the Blue Jays on May 18 (three innings, eight runs) did a number on his season ERA. A so-so Philadelphia offense and slumping St. Louis squad would seem to provide a platform for Niese to prolong this proficiency, but his .271 BABIP (compared to a .333 mark in 2011 and .324 number in 2010) suggest Niese has benefited from some fielding luck. Too much risk to employ Niese this week.
Other Sit ‘Ems
Tommy Hunter (@TOR, @TB)
Daniel Bard (DET, @TOR)
Travis Wood (SD, @SF)
Juan Nicasio (HOU, LA)
Alex White (HOU, LA)
Jordan Lyles (@COL, CIN)
Michael Fiers (@LAD, PIT)
Travis Blackley (@MIN, @KC)
Jeff Suppan (@CHC, ARI)
Drew Hutchison (BAL, BOS)
Use Caution
Felix Doubront (DET, @TOR)
Lost in the hysteria surrounding Boston’s slow start has been Doubront’s turnaround, as the 24-year-old has quietly put together four strong starts, going 3-1 with a 2.63 and 23 strikeouts in that time span. Not the greatest of matchups this week in the Tigers or Blue Jays, and I wouldn’t suggest starting Doubront in standard leagues. However, in deeper divisions or AL-only formats, his punch-out propensity and the explosive run support of the Red Sox makes Doubront worth the gamble.
Carlos Zambrano (WAS, @PHI)
Miami has been kind to Big Z, as the volatile pitcher has a 2.85 ERA and 1.12 WHIP through 60 innings in 2012. Yet there is cause for concern with Zambrano. Besides a beat-down at the hands of Colorado last week (five innings, five hits, three walks, seven runs), Zambrano’s sabermetrics point to trouble on the horizon, with a .233 BABIP, 3.79 FIP and 4.00 FIP. Throw in two meetings with NL East foes, and there’s too much not to like about Zambrano this week.
Nate Adcock (@CLE, OAK)
Adcock was admirable in his first start against the Diamondbacks last week, giving up just one run on five hits and a walk. Working mostly in relief, Adock boasts a 2.33 ERA on the young season, and pedestrian offenses in Oakland and Cleveland would seem to facilitate more success. But with the lack of run support, as well as career success, in his corner, Adcock is only a viable option in the deepest of leagues or desperate of managers.
Other Cautions
Josh Tomlin (KC, MIN)
Shaun Marcum (@LAD, PIT)
Matt Moore (CHW, BAL)
Scott Diamond (OAK, @CLE)
Barry Zito (ARI, CHC)
Matt Harrison (SEA, @LAA)
