I bet some of you fine folks are wondering where your catcher rankings are, right? Well, I am alternating weeks with catcher rankings and corner infield rankings. At this point in the year, rankings won’t change much week to week, so this is a much better option.

Big Four
Evan Longoria
Alex Rodriguez
David Wright
Ryan Zimmerman

In all of my updates, the top spot has changed hands. I mentioned before that I was tempted to move Longoria up to the top slot, and I finally worked up the stones to do so. Zimmerman has shown he deserves to be mentioned with what used to be the “Big Three.”

Medium Four
Mark Reynolds
Scott Rolen
Casey McGehee
Jorge Cantu

If I owned any of these guys, I wouldn’t feel too bad. Rolen’s injury history still scares me, but I hate predicting that a guy will get hurt. McGehee is showing that his power is for real, but how long will he sustain peak performance? He’s already 27, so he may not be able to improve anymore.

Surprised?
Pablo Sandoval
Michael Young

Pablo’s BABIP may be catching up with him, but his lowered line drive rate isn’t helping matters. Is the power he showed last year a fraud?

I Am Jack’s Third Baseman
Ian Stewart
Adrian Beltre
Jose Bautista

Now that Jack owns a catcher and a first baseman, he needs someone to man the hot corner. If Bautista was capable of hitting .250, he’d be in a higher tier.

Prospect Alert!
David Freese
Kevin Kouzmanoff
Pedro Alvarez

At first, it looked like Alvarez would be up during this very week, but now it looks like the Pirates are going to hold off. He will, however, be up by the end of the month. Freese needs to add some power to his game, but the batting average is still nice and shiny.

The Rest of ‘Em
Casey Blake
Chase Headley
Chipper Jones
Edwin Encarnacion

Chipper’s latest injury problem and lack of overall production forces him to the lowest tier. He still might be worth holding onto in OBP leagues, but should be on the waiver wire in standard leagues.

I bet some of you fine folks are wondering where your catcher rankings are, right? Well, I am alternating weeks with catcher rankings and corner infield rankings. At this point in the year, rankings won’t change much week to week, so this is a much better option.

Gigantic Two
Miguel Cabrera
Albert Pujols

Dropping Albert to the number two spot doesn’t feel right, but Miggy deserves to be ranked above him.

Big Three
Justin Morneau
Adrian Gonzalez
Joey Votto

Remember when everyone got on my case for keeping Morneau down? Good times. After the top five, the rankings got really tricky. Here goes nothing.

Surprised?
Ryan Howard
Adam Dunn
Kevin Youkilis
Prince Fielder

I never thought I’d see Howard and Fielder down this far, but they’ve looked like mere mortals this season. Howard has an excuse (batting stance), but what’s Prince’s? Did he accidentally eat some meat?

I Am Jack’s First Baseman
Paul Konerko
Mark Teixeira
Garrett Jones
Troy Glaus

Jack has a catcher, so he should probably think about picking up a first baseman. I have no clue what is going on with Mark Teixeira, but it looks like he may have lost some pop in his bat compared to last year.

Writer’s Block
Billy Butler
Adam LaRoche
Nick Swisher
Luke Scott

If you want average, Butler’s your man. If you want OBP, Swisher’s your guy.

The Rest of ‘Em
David Ortiz
Carlos Pena
James Loney
Aubrey Huff
Lance Berkman
Justin Smoak
Derrek Lee
Russell Branyan

Pena falls really far, because I’m not willing to pay for his batting average to get his homers. He has some luck issues, but he’s not helping anything. This is a big group, but I felt like all of them belonged together. Could make good points for all of them being above each other. Papi might belong in the “Writer’s Block” group, but I’m not comfortable putting him there.

Glance at Clay Buchholz’s ERAs over the 2008-2010 seasons, and you’ll be inclined to believe that the former phenom’s major league performance has progressed from ghastly (6.75) to good (4.21) to great (2.52). That’s a compelling narrative — the hot-shot prospect tosses a no-no during a September ’07 call-up, gets his head handed to him the following year and then makes the necessary adjustments to blossom into a full-fledged ace.

It’s a nice story. But it’s also misleading. In truth, Buchholz neither fell to the depths of despair that his ’08 ERA suggests, nor has he risen from the ashes like a phoenix this season for a Boston rotation suffering greatly from injury and underachievement. Throughout his big league tenure, Buchholz has been pretty good, but hardly elite.

In 2010, Buchholz has 5.72 K/9, 3.78 BB/9, a 51.5 percent ground ball rate and a 4.33 xFIP in 78.2 frames. For comparison, his xFIP was 4.28 in ’08 and 4.09 last season. The big change in Clay’s ERA is due to factors largely out of his control — his BABIP is .268 (.302 career average) and his home run per fly ball rate is just 4.2%. His career rate is 11%, right at the big league average.

The 25-year-old’s K rate is down from the previous two seasons (8.53 K/9 in ’08, 6.65 in ’09). His swinging strike rate is basically the same all the years, ranging from 9.7% to 9.9% (8-9% MLB average), but the culprit for the lack of punch outs appears to be the rate of contact made against Buccholz’s pitches thrown outside of the strike zone. He’s throwing more off-the-plate pitches in 2010, and batters are swinging at plenty of them. But they’re also connecting more often against those offerings:

Buchholz has thrown just 43.8 percent of his pitches within the zone this year (47.3% MLB average). Batters have gone after his out-of zone pitches 31.5% (28.1% MLB average). However, they have put the bat on the ball 67.6% (66.4% MLB average).

That’s a sizeable increase from the previous two seasons — in 2008 and 2009, hitters made contact with Buchholz’s out-of-zone pitches at a rate that was about seven percent below the major league average. This season, they’re making contact on those pitches at a clip that’s two percent above the MLB norm.

Pitch selection has played a role in the K decline. Buchholz has a four-pitch mix: a 93-94 MPH fastball, a hard-upper 80’s slider, a mid-to-high-seventies curveball and a 79-80 MPH changeup. According to Pitch F/X data from Trip Somers’ site, Buchholz has increasingly gone to his slider this season, at the expense of some changeups and curves:

His fastball has never garnered many whiffs, and neither has his curve. Buchholz’s changeup has always gotten a healthy number of swing-throughs. His slider produced plenty of whiffs in ’08, but it’s not missing many bats this year:

So more sliders, and fewer whiffs on the slider. In our splits section on the player pages, we have pitch usage by count. Buchholz is going to his fastball and slider (two pitches with below-average whiff rates) more often in two-strike situations, in place of his curveball and whiff-generating changeup:

(note: the numbers are rounded, so not all columns add up to exactly 100).

These changes in Buchholz’s approach help explain why he hasn’t missed as many bats as expected. His minor league K rates suffered over this period as well. Buchholz spent much of 2007 pitching between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket, and he logged a good number of innings with the PawSox in ’08 and ’09. Buchholz’s major league equivalent K rates declined over the years — According to Minor League Splits, Buchholz’s work in the minors in 2007 translated to 9.8 K/9 in the big leagues, but that mark fell to 7.7 K/9 in 2008 and 6.7 K/9 in 2009.

Clay Buchholz has a fantastic minor league track record. He exhibits strong ground ball tendencies, and he was an elite strikeout pitcher during most of his days as a prospect. It wouldn’t be surprising if he took significant steps forward in the coming years. But the current version of Buchholz is more of a solid, low-four’s ERA-type than any sort of rotation messiah.

Here are three players with low ownership rates who could pay immediate dividends in fantasy leagues:

Pat Burrell, San Francisco Giants (owned in 2% of Yahoo! leagues)

It must be the National League cooking. In his last time in the senior circuit, Burrell put up a 33 HR season with a combined 160 R + RBIs. His time in the American League with the Rays is better off forgotten. But now back in the NL with the Giants, Burrell is batting .375 with 8 R + RBIs in 9 G. He has only hit 1 HR in that span but has earned additional playing time. And if Burrell gets the at-bats the HR will come sooner or later. He only has a 9.1 HR/FB rate this year (similar to last season’s mark) but in his career Burrell has a 15.9 percent rate.

Travis Hafner, Cleveland Indians (owned in 3% of Yahoo! leagues)

He has 3 HR in his last 5 G, including Sunday when he turned on a Stephen Strasburg fastball clocked at 99.7 mph. (R) ZiPS projects 10 HR for Hafner in 240 ABs. Both of those totals could be on the low side. He will not give you anything in SB and is unlikely to be helpful at all in AVG. But Hafner has big-time power and could contribute in three categories for the remainder of the season.

Ryan Spilborghs, Colorado Rockies (owned in 1% of Yahoo! leagues)

In 9 G this month, Spilborghs is batting .481 with 3 HR. Right now the only thing holding back Spilborghs is playing time and with the Rockies playing an Interleague series on the road against the Twins, Spilborghs should see lots of action in the week ahead. Previously, he has crushed LHP and been poor against RHP. But this season, Spilborghs has a .297 AVG with 4 HR in 64 ABs against righties.

Let’s round up the latest rotation ins-and-outs from around the league…

Jake Arrieta | Orioles | 2% owned

The O’s turned to one of their top prospects last week, and Arrieta rewarded them with a solid effort and a win against the Yankees. I don’t like his long-term outlook as much as I like his teammate Brian Matusz’s, but I think Arrieta can best his performance this year. He should be good for a low-to-mid-4.00’s ERA with close to 7.50 K/9 the rest of the way, so there’s value here in an AL-only or deep mixed leagues.

Matt Harrison | Rangers | 0%

Rich Harden hit the DL with a strained glute, which is fitting because opponents have been kicking it all year. Harrison is the leading candidate to fill in for him (start would be Saturday), but the team acknowledged that could change if they need him in relief before then. He’s posted a 4.97 ERA (4.65 xFIP) in six starts and three relief appearances this year, and (R) ZiPS projects a hideous 5.74 ERA with just 5.40 K/9 the rest of the way. Even with Saturday’s start coming at Houston, he’s not worth a roster spot. None of the other candidates sound appetizing either.

Jesse Litsch | Blue Jays | 1%

After missing most of last season with Tommy John surgery, Litsch returned to the mound last week with a pair of mediocre-at-best outings against the Tigers and Twins. He massively outperformed a dreadful strikeout rate in 2007 (3.81 ERA, 5.09 xFIP, 4.05 K/9), and we can’t expect that luck to continue after elbow surgery since command is usually the last thing to come back. Despite the sexy past ERA’s, I wouldn’t risk it even in deep leagues.

Brad Lincoln | Pirates | 2%

David Golebiewski already introduced us to Lincoln last week, so I’ll just send you that way. I guess all I have to add is that yes, he still has a job.

Joe Martinez | Giants | 0%

Martinez takes the place of the injured and ineffective Todd Wellemeyer, and will start on Tuesday at home against Baltimore. He owns a ~3.41 FIP in Triple-A this year, aided by a stellar 58.5% GB%. CHONE projected a 5.27 ERA in 21 starts before the season, though it doesn’t look like he’ll pick up that much playing time. I like him as a sneaky spot starter against the lowly O’s, but not much beyond that.

Daisuke Matsuzaka | Red Sox | 41%

Dice-K came down with a forearm injury during warm ups on Saturday and was immediately placed on the DL just to get another arm for the bullpen. The injury isn’t believed to be serious and Matsuzaka should be back as soon as he’s eligible to be activated on the 23rd, in which case he’d only miss once start (because of the off day today). The Red Sox haven’t announced who will replace him on Saturday, but Michael Bowden (0% owned) lines up to start that day down in Triple-A. He’s got a ~5.58 FIP (6.2 K/9, 3.9 BB/9) in Pawtucket this year, and the only way I’d start him (against the Dodgers at Fenway) is if you’re so far behind in the ERA and WHIP categories that you’re just gunning for W and K at the end of the week.

Ownership rates on based on Yahoo! leagues.

Here is the latest update to Week 11 two-start pitchers. Again this list is subject to change going forward.

Pitchers not listed on last update

PHI – Roy Halladay
SDP – Jon Garland
DET – Max Scherzer
OAK – Trevor Cahill
SEA – Luke French
STL – Jeff Suppan

Pitchers from Friday no longer scheduled for two starts

OAK – Dallas Braden
DET – Rick Porcello
PHI – Kyle Kendrick (much to the dismay of Phillies Red)
PIT – Zach Duke
SEA – Ian Snell

Halladay has a 1.96 ERA and four losses. The losses have been two that were deserved (12.2 IP, 11 ER) and two of the hard-luck variety (17 IP, 3 ER). In his first start, Halladay renews acquaintances with the New York Yankees, against whom he is 18-6 with a 2.84 ERA lifetime. In his second start, Halladay goes up against the Twins, a team he is 8-1 lifetime against.

Garland has given up 9 ER in his last 13 IP and picked up back-to-back losses for the first time since his first two decisions of the year. Still, his ERA is a nifty 2.84, even if it is a run and a half lower than his xFIP. Garland gets home starts this week against Toronto and Baltimore. This year in Petco, Garland has a 1.15 ERA in 39 IP.

Scherzer followed up his 14-strikeout performance with a mediocre effort, but in his last outing he went 7.1 IP, allowed 3 ER, 1 BB and had 7 Ks. He gets two home starts this week, including a game against his old Diamondbacks teammates at the end of the week.

Cahill is second on the A’s with 5 W and has picked up a victory in four of his last five starts. He has pitched a Quality Start in each of his last six games, including his last outing when he went a season-high 8 IP and permitted just 1 ER. Cahill is succeeding despite a 4.85 K/9 and a 1.58 K/BB. He has a normal HR/FB rate and is excelling thanks to a .235 BABIP and a 77.3 strand rate.

French is a soft-tossing lefty acquired by the Mariners in the Jarrod Washburn deal at last year’s trade deadline. His best pitch is his changeup and he also complements his 87.7 mph fastball with a slider. A flyball pitcher, French has very little margin for error. He has a road start in St. Louis and a matchup against the Reds this week.

Suppan is back with the Cardinals, hoping to recapture the form that earned him a $42 million contract following the 2006 season. In his three previous years with St. Louis, Suppan won 44 games and had a 3.95 ERA. In the last three-plus years with the Brewers, Suppan notched 29 Wins and had a 5.08 ERA. In 15 games with the Brewers this season, Suppan had a .399 BABIP.

Jonathon Niese (owned in 6% of Yahoo leagues)

Niese, 23, cobbled together a quality minor league resume (8.2 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, 51.8 GB%). The left-hander was on his way to establishing himself as a member of the Mets’ rotation last season when a torn right hamstring ended his season in August, requiring a surgical fix. He hit the DL this season with another, milder right hamstring injury. But when on the mound, Niese has impressed.

Tossing 57.1 innings, New York’s seventh round pick in the ’05 draft has 7.06 K/9, 2.98 BB/9 and a 3.94 xFIP. He’s showing strong a ground ball rate to boot, with a 52.2 GB%. Niese doesn’t blow batters away — his fastball hits 90 MPH on a good day. But he supplements the pitch with a mid-80’s cutter that tails in on the hands of righties, as well as the occasional mid-70’s curveball and low-80’s changeup. Niese’s four-seamer and cutter both have above-average strike and whiff percentages:

Four-Seamer: 66.2 Strike% (64.1% MLB Avg.), 8.1 Whiff% (6% MLB Avg.)
Cutter: 69.4 Strike% (68.3% MLB Avg.), 12 Whiff% (8.8% MLB Avg.)

For the rest of 2010, ZiPS projects 6.53 K/9, 3.36 BB/9 and a 3.93 FIP from Niese. He doesn’t possess one standout skill, but Niese makes batters chop the ball into the grass while amassing decent K and walk rates. He’s plenty useful in NL-only formats.

Troy Glaus, Braves (63%)

Signed to a one-year, $1.75 million deal over the winter, Glaus was picked up off the scrap heap as a Freddie Freeman stopgap. The former Angel, Diamondback, Blue Jay and Cardinal’s career looked to be on the ropes after a 2009 season ruined by a back problem and a right shoulder injury that required surgery. CHONE (.249/.359/.447, .356 wOBA) and ZiPS (.252/.358/.441, .355 wOBA) projected a reasonably productive season for Atlanta’s reclamation project, but that was under the assumption that the 33-year-old wouldn’t again fall to pieces physically.

So far, Glaus has stayed healthy and is surpassing those pre-season forecasts. In 253 plate appearances, he has a .279/.375/.474 line and a .373 wOBA. He’s drawing walks at a 13.4% clip, and while he’s not hitting for the mammoth power of years past, Glaus has a solid .195 ISO. Freeman (.249/.306/.422 in 185 AB in Triple-A) isn’t exactly tearing the cover off the ball for Gwinett, so Glaus’ job looks secure. ZiPS projects a .260/.363/.449 triple-slash from here on out, with a .361 wOBA.

Another summer weekend, and another couple of players for your pleasure. Enjoy!

Miguel Montero, Arizona (45%)
If you’ve been reading these Waiver Wire pieces, you know we usually talk about players owned in fewer leagues than Montero. In fact, we’ve even started specializing in single-digit players, to the consternation of some shallow-league owners. Well, here’s a player that, though he’s owned in a fair amount of leagues, should be owned in at least twice as many leagues as he is. Montero put up 670+ plate appearances from 2008 to 2009, and in those PAs, he showed a strikeout rate right at 20%, an ISO above .180, and a strong batting average for a catcher. Put those pieces together and he’s easily a top-twelve catcher and should be owned in all mixed leagues. Now that he’s due back this weekend and is practically begging his team to activate him, it’s time to make sure he’s not on the wire in your league.

David Hernandez, Baltimore (6%)
Don’t fall over yourself to pick up the latest Oriole to accrue a save – it doesn’t seem that others are either. They might have heard that Alfredo Simon was called Shutdown Sauce and that Hernandez couldn’t overcome a nickname like that. There’s even the forgotten footnote Michael Gonzalez rattling around in that bullpen too. Here’s the thing, though. There’s a new sherriff in town – “interim” manager Juan Samuel – and he just recently reported that Gonzalez only hit the mid-80s in his rehab start. Simon’s K/9 in the minor leagues was a mediocre 7.4, so he’s not an obvious candidate for the role. Of course, he racked up those numbers as a starter, and could be expected to bump them up in a short relief role, but still. He was more of a fill-in guy than a person being groomed for the role. So finally we get to Hernandez, who racked up a save and has been pushed to the bullpen by the better prospects coming up behind him. With his gaudy strikeout rates in the minors (10.4 K/9), and his inability to translate those rates to the majors (6.02 K/9 career), Hernandez was a conundrum wrapped in an enigma. He’s certainly a fly ball pitcher in the wrong park (29.2% groundball rate career), and he’s really not showing it as a starter. Here’s thinking that he can recover that nice strikeout rate in short stints and actually step forward as the closer of the future. If Gonzalez truly is only hitting the mid-80s in his rehab, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to hear surgery in his future. Again.

Unless you’re in a league that counts holds (I’ll admit, SV+HLD is one of my favorite fantasy stat categories) there’s not too many reasons to carry a setup man on your roster. Saves are always available in free agency, so there’s not really a need to waste a roster spot on a fungible middle relievers on your roster with an eye towards the future. That doesn’t mean there aren’t some non-closer relievers out there worth that roster spot, though.

Let’s take Michael Wuertz for example. Last year he struck out 102 batters while putting just 75 men on base and allowing 23 runs to cross the plate in 78.2 IP (2.63 ERA, 0.95 WHIP). If you had combined him with a mid-range starter, say Jonathan Sanchez, you would have ended up with 242 IP of 3.72 ERA, 1.23 WHIP pitching with 279 strikeouts. That’s not too far off from what Justin Verlander did last year, a top tier fantasy starter.

Of course, you’re using two roster spots to replicate the production of one, but this late in the season it gets tougher and tougher to find bargains. Everyone knows about Tyler Clippard and his league leading eight (vulture) wins (he’s owned in 66% of leagues), but here’s five other non-closer relievers worth a spot in a standard 5×5, 12-team league…

Daniel Bard | Red Sox | 22% owned

Last night’s blown save notwithstanding, Bard has been a workhorse out of Terry Francona’s bullpen in the early going. He’s appeared in exactly half of Boston’s 62 games, posting a 2.48 ERA (3.49 xFIP) with 9.64 K/9 and a 0.95 WHIP. Just six strikeouts behind starter John Lackey (who’s owned in 83% of leagues), Bard’s upper 90’s gas is sure to see plenty of action this summer as the Red Sox fight for supremacy in the AL East.

Luke Gregerson | Padres | 21%

Gregerson really has been a marvel for San Diego since coming over from St. Louis in the Khalil Greene trade last offseason, racking up 1.8 WAR in 75 IP with 93 strikeouts due to his slider heavy approach in 2009. He’s been even better this year, already compiling 1.4 WAR with 39 strikeouts in 32.1 IP, walking just one batter unintentionally. One! As you could imagine, Gregerson’s ERA is astronomically low (1.39) despite a 63.5% LOB%, and FIP (1.28), xFIP (2.02) and tRA (1.00) all back it up.

Arguably the most dominant reliever in baseball this year, Gregerson definitely has fantasy value since he’ll give you about four innings of damn near perfection per week.

Sean Marshall | Cubs | 22%

The Cubbies have been desperate for righthanded relief help, but Marshall’s got it locked down from the left side. Lou Piniella uses him as more than just a LOOGY, and why not? His strikeout rate is through the roof (11.27 K/9), the walks are low (2.67 BB/9) and so is the ERA (1.78), FIP (1.59), xFIP (2.94), and tRA (2.23).

Evan Meek | Pirates | 20%

Pittsburgh made a little noise this winter by signing a few veteran relievers to big league deals, but Meek has been their most valuable bullpener all season. His microscopic ERA (0.76) is propped up by an 87.4% LOB%, but batters have been unable to make solid contact off him, leading to just 21 hits allowed and a 0.81 WHIP in 35.2 IP. Meek has done most of the heavy lifting for the Buccos while the veteran guys get the saves and the glore, but rate stats that low and strikeouts that high (8.33 K/9) can definitely help mitigate those inevitable bad outings by a fantasy starter each week.

Joel Zumaya | Tigers | 19%

After battling injury for most of the last three years, Zumaya has finally been able to comeback and stay on the mound for Jim Leyland, amazingly with his triple-digit fastball still intact. Leyland’s been using him for multiple inning stints on occasion, and Zumaya’s rewarded his faith with 8.90 K/9, a 1.70 ERA (3.50 xFIP), and 1.02 WHIP. He has yet to allow a homer, thanks in part to luck, but also thanks to spacious Comerica Park. Zumaya’s only going to see more and more work as the summer progresses and Detroit’s games start to mean a little more.

Couple other relievers to keep in mind: Clay Hensley of the Marlins and Mike Adams of the Padres.

Ownership rates are based on Yahoo! leagues.

Everyone is happy when one of their pitchers is scheduled for two starts in a week. But that is not always a good thing. Here are five pitchers you may be on the fence about (or should be on the fence) putting into your lineup for Week 11.

Hiroki Kuroda – He has been a reliable pitcher for the Dodgers this season with eight Quality Starts. But on the road Kuroda has allowed 4 HR in 31 IP. This week he has road starts in Cincinnati and Boston. The Reds and Red Sox rank second and third in most HR hit this season. Put Kuroda on the bench this week if you have other options.

Shaun Marcum – Like Kuroda, Marcum has been a very good pitcher this year. But Marcum has struggled in his last two starts, allowing 11 ER in 12.1 IP. Additionally, Marcum has a pronounced home/road split. This year at home, Marcum has a 2.59 ERA but it is nearly two runs higher on the road at 4.42. With West Coast road games in San Diego and San Francisco, sit Marcum this week.

Justin Masterson – All season long Masterson has out-pitched his peripherals. Finally, in his last three starts Masterson is starting to see some positive results. He is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA and a 1.078 WHIP. Masterson still struggles with his control and versus LHB. But this week he faces the Mets and Pirates, who are both below-average in walks and neither team is dominated with LHB. Masterson is still on the waiver wire in most leagues and is worth an add this week.

Jonathan Sanchez – Despite great numbers, Sanchez has not racked up the wins this season. In his last four games, Sanchez has 20 Ks in 23.1 IP and a 2.31 ERA yet is only 2-2 in that span. A home game against the Orioles offers a nice chance for Sanchez to break into the win column. Ride the hot pitcher and make sure Sanchez is active this week.

C.J. Wilson – The Rangers’ lefty endured a tough stretch where he gave up 17 ER in 16 IP but has been much better in his last two outings, in which he has picked up two Wins with 10 Ks in 12 IP. Wilson does have two road games this week, but they are against the last-place Marlins and the 25-36 Astros. Activated Wilson for his two starts this week.

Other scheduled two-start pitchers in Week 11 are listed below. Please remember that these are projected pitchers and changes can and will happen between now and next week.

J. Santana, Wainwright, J. Johnson, Sabathia, Price, Buchholz, Pavano, Zambrano, Braden, Wolf, Saunders, Harang, Porcello, F. Garcia, Paulino, Cook, Kendrick, Tillman, Duke, Lincoln, Davies, Lannan, Snell.

Check back Sunday night for an update of two-start pitchers.

Now I want to provide some accountability and check in and see how previous recommendations turned out. There needs to be a two-week lag, since last week’s pitchers have not completed their second start yet. So here are Week Nine pitchers and how they fared.

Bonderman – Advised to start. 6.59 ERA, 3 Ks, 1.683 WHIP (2 starts)
Harden – Advised to sit. W, 6.30 ERA, 7 Ks, 1.700 WHIP (2)
Noalsco – Advised to sit. W, 4.38 ERA, 10 Ks, 1.541 WHIP (2)
E. Santana – Advised to start. 2 W, 1.39 ERA, 8 Ks, 1.308 WHIP (2)
Takahashi – Advised to start. 10.61 ERA, 6 Ks, 1.929 WHIP (2)