Starting Pitcher Chart – May 17th

Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Daily SP Chart archive

The chart includes their season performance, their opponent’s wOBA versus the pitcher’s handedness over the last 30 days, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues, and then a note about them. Obviously, there are league sizes beyond those three so it’s essentially a shallow, medium, deep. If a pitcher only has an “x” in 15-team, it doesn’t mean there’s no potential use in 10s and 12s, but it’s basically a risky stream for those spots.

These are general recommendations, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. This is 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.

Wednesday, May 17th Starter Notes
RK PITCHER TM OPP THR 10 12 15+ NOTE
1 Spencer Strider ATL at TEX R x x x Might be the best start going right now
2 Gerrit Cole NYY at TOR R x x x After 7 HR-free outings to open the season, he’s allowed 2 HR in each of his last 2
3 Yu Darvish SDP KCR R x x x Has only allowed more than 2 ER just 2x this yr
4 Nathan Eovaldi TEX ATL R x x x HR suppression like won’t hold at this level (0.2 HR, 2% HR/FB), but sharp 23% K-BB makes him an Auto-Start while healthy
5 Sonny Gray MIN at LAD R x x x More than 1 ER allowed just once this yr (3 ER at CLE)
6 Eduardo Rodriguez DET PIT L x x x Just blazing hot right now: 0.25 ERA, 0.57 WHIP, 27% K-BB in 35.7 IP… there will be regression, but an easy Auto-Start right now
7 Corbin Burnes MIL at STL R x x x Toting a 1.73 ERA over his L6 despite a modest 14% K-BB in that time; weird season so far, but I’m nowhere near sitting him
8 Chris Bassitt TOR NYY R x x x Fantastic results since his ugly opener w/a 1.97 ERA & 0.95 WHIP, though just an 11% K-BB due to an uncharacteristic 12% BB
9 Matthew Liberatore STL MIL L x x Standout prospect made some key changes in spring that carried over to his AAA work (30% K, 21% K-BB, 3.13 ERA, 1.17 WHIP in 46 IP)
10 Drew Smyly CHC at HOU L x x Don’t love the 3 pt drop in SwStr but I’m starting virtually everywhere right now; also has an NYM/CIN 2-step lined up next wk so hold even if you pass on this start
11 MacKenzie Gore WSN at MIA L x x Just be mindful of the hideous WHIP you’re taking on w/Gore, but if you need Ks and a decent shot at quality ERA, he’s worth a look
12 Dustin May LAD MIN R x x Has completely lost his swing-and-miss w/just a 6% SwStr but still so tough to hit that he remains startable in most formats
13 Kyle Bradish BAL LAA R x x Has rebounded from the ugly 7 ER v. BOS w/a 3.45 ERA & 1.18 WHIP in 3 starts
14 Griffin Canning LAA at BAL R x x B2B duds (5 ER in both) w/HRs remaining a persistent issue (1.5 HR); still like the matchup and his 13% SwStr enough to stream
15 Taj Bradley TBR at NYM R x x This isn’t confirmed but there is an open spot with the Rasmussen injury… he’s had some bad AAA starts, but I’d still start him if he gets this start
16 Mike Clevinger CHW CLE R x x Wouldn’t say I really trust him, but it’s a juicy matchup and he’s been alright in his L3 (4.76 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 18% K-BB)
17 Peyton Battenfield CLE at CHW R x x 2 decent outings after a quick respite in the bullpen w/11 Ks and 0 BB in 13 IP
18 Brayan Bello BOS SEA R x Prospect arm has shown flashes of his upside, but has also allowed a 1 HR in every one of his 5 starts
19 J.P. France HOU CHC R x I can see a deep lg stream, but heed the 4.37 SIERA from his first 2 starts
20 Rich Hill PIT at DET L x Tigers hitting well vL of late and upside is limited here anyway so I’m not starting him in many spots
21 Ryne Nelson ARI at OAK R Not sure even facing OAK brings him much streamer value
22 Kodai Senga NYM TBR R Huge BB and HR rates make it nearly impossible to start against the Rays
23 Graham Ashcraft CIN at COL R I’m having a hard time trusting him in good spots w/the paltry 7% K-BB, let alone in Coors
24 Taijuan Walker PHI at SFG R 2 quality starts in a row including one in Coors isn’t quite enough to get me on board for this start
25 Edward Cabrera MIA WSN R Love the 30% K rate, but it’s hard to succeed with an 18% BB and 1.3 HR
26 Marco Gonzales SEA at BOS L Can’t trust Gonzales in Fenway
27 Luis Medina OAK ARI R Put up a decent QS last time out, but it’s not enough to get me on board here
28 Ross Stripling SFG PHI R HR machine has allowed multiple bombs in 4 outings, 2 of which were relief appearances
29 Carlos Hernández KCR at SDP R Has never been able to bring RP success (14% K-BB) to starting (3%)
30 Austin Gomber COL CIN L Never Gomber in Coors… or anywhere for that matter
Recommendations for Roto 5×5 Leagues

 

Wednesday, May 17th Starter Stats
RK PITCHER TM OPP THR 10 12 15+ IP ERA WHIP K-BB OPP L30 wOBA wOBA RK
1 Spencer Strider ATL at TEX R x x x 46.2 2.51 0.92 35% 0.339 6th
2 Gerrit Cole NYY at TOR R x x x 56.2 2.22 1.04 20% 0.316 13th
3 Yu Darvish SDP KCR R x x x 42.2 3.16 1.08 19% 0.297 22nd
4 Nathan Eovaldi TEX ATL R x x x 53.1 2.70 0.99 23% 0.309 15th
5 Sonny Gray MIN at LAD R x x x 45.1 1.39 1.08 22% 0.338 8th
6 Eduardo Rodriguez DET PIT L x x x 51.2 1.57 0.79 20% 0.360 8th
7 Corbin Burnes MIL at STL R x x x 45.2 3.35 1.12 11% 0.345 3rd
8 Chris Bassitt TOR NYY R x x x 49 3.49 1.08 10% 0.307 16th
9 Matthew Liberatore STL MIL L x x #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A 0.286 28th
10 Drew Smyly CHC at HOU L x x 44.1 3.05 0.97 16% 0.304 21st
11 MacKenzie Gore WSN at MIA L x x 41 3.29 1.46 17% 0.324 15th
12 Dustin May LAD MIN R x x 47 2.68 0.94 9% 0.339 7th
13 Kyle Bradish BAL LAA R x x 25.2 4.56 1.48 12% 0.340 5th
14 Griffin Canning LAA at BAL R x x 24 6.38 1.38 12% 0.295 24th
15 Taj Bradley TBR at NYM R x x 15.1 3.52 0.91 35% 0.310 14th
16 Mike Clevinger CHW CLE R x x 41.1 4.79 1.43 9% 0.269 30th
17 Peyton Battenfield CLE at CHW R x x 30.1 4.45 1.19 11% 0.292 25th
18 Brayan Bello BOS SEA R x 23.1 5.01 1.59 16% 0.307 17th
19 J.P. France HOU CHC R x 11.2 0.77 0.69 14% 0.317 11th
20 Rich Hill PIT at DET L x 41.1 4.35 1.48 13% 0.362 5th
21 Ryne Nelson ARI at OAK R 40.2 6.20 1.55 8% 0.289 27th
22 Kodai Senga NYM TBR R 37 4.14 1.51 12% 0.352 4th
23 Graham Ashcraft CIN at COL R 43.1 3.95 1.34 7% 0.322 9th
24 Taijuan Walker PHI at SFG R 40.2 5.75 1.38 12% 0.313 12th
25 Edward Cabrera MIA WSN R 35.1 5.35 1.67 12% 0.297 20th
26 Marco Gonzales SEA at BOS L 36.2 4.42 1.39 8% 0.322 17th
27 Luis Medina OAK ARI R 11 8.18 1.45 12% 0.364 1st
28 Ross Stripling SFG PHI R 29 7.14 1.59 12% 0.318 10th
29 Carlos Hernández KCR at SDP R 19 4.74 1.37 17% 0.291 26th
30 Austin Gomber COL CIN L 40 6.30 1.45 7% 0.297 24th
Recommendations for Roto 5×5 Leagues

 

Tuesday, May 16th Starter Review
RK PITCHER TM OPP T 10 12 15 NOTE
1 Clayton Kershaw LAD MIN L x x x Twins ran his count up & got him out after 4 so W, but results were fine (4 IP/2 ER/7 K)
2 Justin Verlander NYM at TBR R x x x I was never sitting him even in this tough matchup, but TBR took advantage of 10 base runners from the veteran righty
3 Kevin Gausman TOR NYY R x x x Didn’t get the W as TOR took over late, but 7 IP/2 ER/10 Ks is super useful
4 Justin Steele CHC at HOU L x x x OBI Syndrome (One Bad Inning) got him as he opened HBP, 2B, 2B & then allowed 2 more 2B, yielding 4 of his 5 ER
5 Cristian Javier HOU CHC R x x x Just 4 base runners in 6 great innings of work
6 Zack Wheeler PHI at SFG R x x x 4th start of 4+ ER already this yr after just 5 all of last yr
7 Luis Castillo SEA at BOS R x x x Knew it was a tough draw going in & they got him for 3 HRs which led to a poor outing… it happens, nothing to worry about long-term
8 Shane Bieber CLE at CHW R x x x Sunk by a disastrous 5th inning that opened w/a 1B & GIDP followed by 6 straight reaching & scoring incl. 2 HRs
9 Bailey Ober MIN at LAD R x x x Looked great in 6 IP, allowing just 1 run w/6 Ks… how is he only 61% rostered at Yahoo?
10 Jesús Luzardo MIA WSN L x x x Excellent job against the toughest tm to K for lefties (7 Ks, 16 swinging strikes in 93 pitches over 6 IP)
11 Josiah Gray WSN at MIA R x x x 6th HR-free outing after having just 5 in 28 starts last year
12 Jordan Montgomery STL MIL L x x x Definitely wanted more given how poorly MIL has done vL but it wasn’t a bad outing (5.3 IP/3 ER/7 Ks)
13 Seth Lugo SDP KCR R x x x 1st true dud of the yr as KC scored 5 of the 6 base runners Lugo allowed
14 Lance Lynn CHW CLE R x x Standing by him paid off in the 1st of this final straw 2-step (7 IP/1 ER/0 BB/7 Ks)
15 Dane Dunning TEX ATL R x x Great work here and sets up for an at PIT/at BAL 2-step next wk
16 Alex Cobb SFG PHI R x x 5 BB sank him as he was out after 3.3 IP
17 Michael Lorenzen DET PIT R x A 3rd straight gem, this time w/backing from his base skills (7 Ks, 2 BB) after just 4 total Ks in 14 previous IP
18 Luis L. Ortiz PIT at DET R x DET exploited command and control issues for 7 H and 4 BB en route to an early exit
19 Yonny Chirinos TBR at NYM R x b
20 Wade Miley MIL at STL L x A left lat strain took him out after 22 pitches, stay tuned to see if it’ll require an IL stint
21 Domingo Germán NYY at TOR R Merked for using a foreign substance & will almost certainly be suspended for 10 gms
22 Brady Singer KCR at SDP R 2 uneearned made this prettier than it was w/9 base runners and just 3 Ks in 6 IP
23 Nick Pivetta BOS SEA R Offensive support helped him snag a W despite 4 ER in 5.3 IP
24 Chase Silseth LAA at BAL R I like the idea of Silseth as I do believe he can be a good SP eventually, just not very trustworthy right now
25 Dean Kremer BAL LAA R 1 out shy of a baseline QS, but did manage the W so it paid off if you took on the risk
26 Tommy Henry ARI at OAK L See, Oakland doesn’t make everyone look good!
27 Brandon Williamson CIN at COL L I’m sure a debut gem in Coors (1 ER, 6 Ks in 5.7 IP) won’t push his waiver prices to silly levels
28 Kyle Muller OAK ARI L Another dud as expected
29 Chase Anderson COL CIN R OK Chase, I see you! (5 IP/1 H/0 ER)… still not starting him anywhere
30 Jared Shuster ATL at TEX L Wasn’t terrible but you didn’t miss anything sitting him
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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Anon
10 months ago

I kind of gave up on Bello after his rough start last year but looking at him again, he’s kind of interesting. Last year he gave up virtually no HR but got BABIP’d to death. This year he’s giving up an insane number of HR. There has to be a balance somewhere in the middle.

He’s the rare GB pitcher that also racks up Ks. Looking at just GB% and K/9 for all pitchers since 2000 his most direct comp is Logan Webb. McCullers isn’t too far off either. And while he has only thrown 80 IP in the majors, he was running high K & GB numbers in the minors also so this isn’t unexpected.

PIcked him up for the stream but I’m seeing pretty good potential long-term as well.