Starting Pitcher Chart – April 6th

Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports

In past seasons I’ve done this Daily SP Chart down the stretch and invariably there are comments asking why I don’t do it all season. I’ve never really had a great answer for that so now I’m doing it!

Once the season gets going, the chart will include their performance over the last five starts, their opponent’s wOBA versus the pitcher’s handedness, my start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues, and then a note about them. At the outset, I will put their 2022 stats along with the note. The opponent wOBA will remain blank – or rather just not be included in the chart – for a while until we get some data (7-10 days at least) and because there is so much lineup turnover year-to-year, I’m not going to include last year’s mark.

These are general recommendations, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. These are for standard 5×5 roto leagues. The thresholds for H2H starts are generally lower, especially in points leagues so I thought there would be more value focusing on roto and then you can mentally widen the range for H2H formats.

Several games have already been postponed due to inclement weather pounding the East and Midwest, making an already-light Thursday very tiny after a near-full Wednesday!

Thursday, April 6th Starters
PITCHER TM OPP THR 10 12 15+ LAST YR STATS NOTE
Spencer Strider ATL SDP R x x x 2.67 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 30% K-BB Overall #1 SP upside if he pitches 160+ IP
Kevin Gausman TOR at KCR R x x x 3.35 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 24% K-BB His BABIP will be a major focus early on after last yr’s .363 mark
Lance Lynn CWS SFG R x x x 3.99 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 21% K-BB Uncharacteristic 4 BB in his debut; safe bet to rebound w/6% BB since ’19
Chris Sale BOS at DET L x x x 3.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 16% K-BB Ugly debut but can’t sit him in DET
Blake Snell SDP at ATL L x x x 3.38 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 22% K-BB 9 K/1 BB in debut, but .545 BABIP got him run after 4.3 IP
Dustin May LAD at ARI R x x x 4.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 12% K-BB Well removed from TJ, can he pick up where ’21 start left off?
Alex Wood SFG at CWS L x x x 5.10 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 18% K-BB Health & defensive support will be primary factors to his success
Spencer Turnbull DET BOS R DNP Brutal season opener (7 ER) & BOS not the best matchup to get right
Merrill Kelly 켈리 ARI LAD R 3.37 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 14% K-BB Had a 2.71 ERA in 176 IP if you removed his LAD gms; career 5.64 ERA v. them
Kyle Freeland COL WAS L 4.53 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 10% K-BB 6.00 ERA/1.52 WHIP at home last yr
Jordan Lyles KCR TOR R 4.42 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 12% K-BB Solid debut v. MIN despite just 2 Ks, downside is just so severe
Josiah Gray WAS at COL R 5.02 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 14% K-BB “Led” MLB w/38 HR last yr & opened up allowing 3 v. ATL… Coors could be wild
Recommendations for Roto 5×5 Leagues





Paul is the Editor of Rotographs and Content Director for OOTP Perfect Team. Follow Paul on Twitter @sporer and on Twitch at sporer.

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Greggmember
11 months ago

Personally I would sit Lynn and start Freeland instead

Greggmember
11 months ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

I agree with this as well