Probable 2-start pitchers:
Cream of the crop:
Clayton Kershaw/Zack Greinke, LAD (@ CHC, @ MIA) – This ridiculous one-two punch is at it again. They will both pitch twice this week in Chicago and Miami. Kershaw struck out double-digit batters in three straight games and four of the past five outings. As for Greinke, while his punchout prowess isn’t up to Kershaw’s level, his ability to keep his opponents off the scoreboard is his greatest strength. Greinke boasts a 1.81 ERA and he has made at least seven batters whiff in the past three performances.
Madison Bumgarner, SF (vs. SD, vs. COL) – The Mad Bum has pitched eight innings in three straight starts, so he’s got the innings-eater mentality going for him. Bumgarner has also struck out at least seven batters in three straight outings, which shows his killer instinct. Finally, the Giants ace has allowed no more than two earned runs in back-to-back performances. All three of these traits make Bumgarner the elite talent that his is.
David Price, DET (@ CLE, vs. CWS) – After back-to-back complete games, Price’s last start was shortened by rain. He will face the Indians and White Sox this week. In the last seven days, Cleveland only scored 18 runs (28th-most) and Chicago could only manufacture 13 runs (worst in baseball).
Potential bargain:
CC Sabathia, NYY (vs. PHI, @ HOU) – My, how the mighty have fallen. However, Sabathia seems to be on the rebound. The southpaw has sleighed at least six batters in three of his past four games. The Phillies scored 17 runs in their last seven games (29th-most). Houston struck out 84 times in the past week, which is the most in baseball.
I’ll pass:
Chi Chi Gonzalez, TEX (vs. OAK, @ TOR) – Even though he is named after one of my favorite childhood Mexican restaurants, I just can’t endorse him this week. Gonzalez will face two potent offenses in Week 11: Oakland and Toronto. The A’s scored 51 runs last week, which was the most in baseball. The Blue Jays produced the four-most runs in the past seven days (46 runs). Plus, Gonzalez will have to pitch in that band box of a dome, the Rogers Centre.
