Aces
Josh Beckett - Boston Red Sox - vs. Oak, vs. KC
Beckett has two solid match-ups this week at home, where he is 4-0 with a 2.87 ERA, 1.11 WHIP. Heading into the All-Start break Beckett should be able to log two quality outings and pick up two wins, as he’ll face the Royals in which he is 3-0 in five starts with a 2.41 ERA, 0.95 WHIP while posting a .192 batting average against the royals.
Yovani Gallardo - Milwaukee Brewers - vs. Stl, vs. LAD Gallardo will be at home against two solid opposing pitchers, C. Kershaw, and A. Wainwright. Though the match-ups will be tough, Gallardo is an Ace pitcher simply because he’s been dominate at home this year with a 2.47 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a K/9 of 11.3. Matt Cain - San Francisco Giants - vs. Fla, vs. SD Cain has been the most consistent pitcher throughout the first half of the season going 5-1 with a 2.44 ERA at home verses a 4-1 record with a 2.53 ERA on the road. Cain faces two shaky starters S West, and W Silva, what’s not to like about these match-ups? Nothing! In fact Cain is my top pitcher this week, as the Giants are batting .319 with nine homeruns in the last 7 days. CC Sabathia - New York Yankees - @ Min, @ LAA Adam Wainwright - St. Louis Cardinals - @ Mil, @ CHC Must Starts
Javier Vazquez - Atlanta Braves - @ CHC, @ Col Vazquez hits the road this week and head’s to Coors field where he has struggled over his career (7.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) but regardless of that. Vazquez has dominated over the course on the season with a 3.05 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and a K/9 of 10.4 and with two scoreless outings of 6.2 IP against the Cubs on June 22nd, and 5 IP against the Rockies back in May. Vazquez is a Must start despite his past problems in Coors Field. Jair Jurrjens - Atlanta Braves - @ CHC, @ Col Jurrjens is coming off his best start of the year, a seven-inning one-hitter against the Phillies. Sure pitching at Coors field is cause for caution, but Jurrjens has pitched quite well at Coors Field for his career (1-1, 2.45 ERA in 14.2 IP) Jurrjens is a must start this week as he’ll face the Cubbies in his other match-up in which batted a dismal .233 for the month of June. Erik Bedard - Seattle Mariners - vs. Bal, vs. Tex Bedard comes off the DL Tuesday to face a Baltimore team that he dominated back on June 2nd, throwing 6.1 innings while giving up one earned run. Bedard is pretty much a must start pitcher whenever healthy, as he’s K/9 is 8.9 to go along with a 2.47 ERA, 1.16 WHIP. Let’s just hope he doesn’t suffer any setbacks. Josh Johnson - Florida Marlins - @ SF, @ Ari Johnny Cueto - Cincinnati Reds - @ Phi, @ NYM Kevin Millwood - Texas Rangers - @ LAA, @ Sea Aaron Harang - Cincinnati Reds - @ Phi, @ NYM Scott Baker - Minnesota Twins - vs. NYY, vs. CWS Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers - @ NYM, @ Mil Ricky Romero - Toronto Blue Jays - @ NYY, @ Bal James Shields - Tampa Bay Rays - vs. Tor, vs. Oak Cole Hamels - Philadelphia Phillies - vs. Cin, vs. Pit Think Twice Jered Weaver - Los Angeles Angels - vs. Tex, vs. NYY Weaver has been horrible in two of his last three starts giving up six earned runs against the Dodgers and a whopping seven earned against the Rangers. While Weaver looks to redeem himself from those two poor outings, the timing couldn’t be any better. Weaver has a 5-1 record 1.83 ERA, 0.86 WHIP at home this year, where he’ll be on the mound for both starts this week. But beware as Weaver has a 6.11 ERA, 1.46 WHIP against the Yankees. Scott Kazmir - Tampa Bay Rays - vs. Tor, vs. Oak Doug Davis - Arizona Diamondbacks - vs. SD, vs. Fla Andy Pettitte - New York Yankees - vs. Tor, @ LAA J.A. Happ - Philadelphia Phillies - vs. Cin, vs. Pit John Smoltz - Boston Red Sox - vs. Oak, vs. KC Gil Meche - Kansas City Royals - @ Det, @ Bos Randy Wells - Chicago Cubs - vs. Atl, vs. Stl Ryan Dempster - Chicago Cubs - vs. Atl, vs. Stl Mike Pelfrey - New York Mets - vs. LAD, vs. Cin Kevin Correia - San Diego Padres - @ Ari, @ SF Jordan Zimmerman - Washington Nationals - @ Col, @ Hou Jarrod Washburn - Seattle Mariners - vs. Bal, vs. Tex Brad Bergesen - Baltimore Orioles - @ Sea, vs. Tor Hiroki Kuroda - Los Angeles Dodgers - @ NYM, @ Mil Jason Marquis - Colorado Rockies - vs. Was, vs. Atl Diggin Deep
Jon Garland - Arizona Diamondbacks - vs. SD, vs. Fla
Garland has lasted six or more innings in each of his past six starts, but with a SO/BB of 0.95 mixed in with a few rough outings, Garland can’t be counted on. Though when Garland faces the Padres and Marlins he’s pretty much lights out, as the Marlins are batting .222 in 72 at-bats against Garland, while the Padres are batting .196 in 97 at-bats against him. Deploy at your own risk!
Barry Zito - San Francisco Giants - vs. Fla, vs. SD There’s really no way you can count on Zito in any format, but let’s take a look at Zito’s numbers against the Marlins and the Padres. Over 12 starts (76 IP) Zito has posted a 3.43 ERA against the Padres, while against the Marlins he’s 3-0 with a 3.22 ERA and a .198 BAA in four starts. Not to mention both of Zito’s starts are at home where he has a 3.89 ERA this year. I’d take the chance and grab Zito this week, as he could very well get two wins with the Giants batting .319 over there last seven games Brian Moehler - Houston Astros - vs. Pit, vs. Was Brett Cecil - Toronto Blue Jays - @ TB, @ Bal Vicente Padilla - Texas Rangers - @ LAA, @ Sea Jason Hammel - Colorado Rockies - vs. Was, vs. Atl Armando Galarraga - Detroit Tigers - vs. KC, vs. Cle Sean West - Florida Marlins - @ SF, @ Ari Jose Contreras - Chicago White Sox - vs. Cle, @ Min Mike Hampton - Houston Astros - vs. Pit, vs. Was Walter Silva - San Diego Padres - @ Ari, @ SF Brett Anderson - Oakland Athletics - @ Bos, @ TB Virgil Vasquez - Pittsburgh Pirates - @ Hou, @ Phi Jeremy Sowers - Cleveland Indians - @ CWS, @ Det Craig Stammen - Washington Nationals - @ Col, @ Hou Bruce Chen - Kansas City Royals - @ Det, @ Bos Todd Wellemeyer - St. Louis Cardinals - @ Mil, @ CHC
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