NL Starting Pitchers: April 6th

Notes on three starters in the senior circuit to end your Wednesday, including a Mike Minor update!

R.A. Dickey | 30% Owned (Y!) | 12% Owned (ESPN)
While Dickey only has one start under his belt, it was a good one for the Mets. Dickey went six innings, picking up a win while striking out seven. While a knuckleballer picking up a good number of strikeouts in a single start isn’t exactly rare, the biggest worry you’ll have with Dickey is his control, and he contributed three walks and a wild pitch to his season debut. Dickey is still a wild card every time you put him in your lineup, but it seems like you could be moderately confident playing him against teams who aren’t as prolific with the bat. We can’t tell a whole lot from one start, but seeing Dickey continue to succeed is a good sign.

Randy Wells | 7% | 3%
Wells was reportedly in a battle for his job this spring, prevailing when Carlos Silva went all, well, Carlos Silva on the Cubs. Facing the Diamondbacks earlier this week, Wells struck out a batter an inning, but his start wasn’t very good. He walked four batters in only six innings, and even allowed a leadoff homer to one Willie Bloomquist, a noted power hitter of the highest order. Wells was already on shaky ground in fantasy land, profiling as a spot starter in standard leagues. Wells is scheduled to face Yovani Gallardo and the Brewers this Sunday, so you’re WHIP could face a beating if you picked Wells up for a two-start week, even if you’re overall ERA number looks shiny.

Mike Minor | 5% | 0.4%
After losing the spring competition with Brandon Beachy (who had a nice 2011 debut), Minor is back rather quickly thanks to Jair Jurrjens landing on the DL. Minor has good stuff and plays for a team that should help him pick up wins, making him a virtual “must own” in standard leagues as long as he’s in the bigs. If you’re in a league that allows you to pick up a player and use him that same day, consider making a move for Minor, who starts tonight against the Brewers.