Starting Pitcher Chart – May 31st

May 31, 2023

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 31st Starter Notes

RK	PITCHER	TM		OPP	10	12	15+	IP	ERA	WHIP	K-BB	wOBA RK	NOTE
1	Mitch Keller	PIT	at	SFG	x	x	x	68.2	3.01	1.02	25%	21st	With each passing start it looks like this is the full on breakout
2	Zach Eflin	TBR	at	CHC	x	x	x	54	3.17	1.02	21%	24th	Weird start last time out with 0 Ks/2 BB while allowing just 1 ER in 7 IP
3	Hunter Brown	HOU		MIN	x	x	x	57.2	3.12	1.20	20%	15th	Proving to be worth the helium rise in draft price as he’s been the best of an excellent rookie crop of starters
4	George Kirby	SEA		NYY	x	x	x	63	3.43	1.10	18%	3rd	While the Ks haven’t jumped he has essentially cut his walk rate in half (2.4%)
5	Braxton Garrett	MIA		SDP	x	x	x	48	4.50	1.40	17%	9th	He’s been great since that ugly 11 ER dud: 2.91 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 22% K-BB in 22 IP
6	Shane Bieber	CLE	at	BAL	x	x	x	71	3.04	1.23	10%	20th	Still only one really bad start despite the massive 8-point K rate drop
7	Aaron Nola	PHI	at	NYM	x	x	x	68.2	4.59	1.12	16%	16th	He’s getting the ERA he deserves w/these skills… at least the 1.12 WHIP is helping
8	Alex Wood	SFG		PIT	x	x	x	25.2	3.51	1.44	11%	27th	5 BB outing is probably a blip as opposed to an issue
9	Dane Dunning	TEX	at	DET	x	x	x	43	1.67	0.98	10%	19th	Skills aren’t overwhelming but he’s getting the job done and this is a solid spot to stream
10	Louie Varland	MIN	at	HOU		x	x	34	4.24	1.24	19%	22nd	Still giving me 2021 Bailey Ober vibes with solid K-BB rate but a looming HR issue that leaves him susceptible if he doesn’t improve
11	Jaime Barría	LAA	at	CHW		x	x	29	1.55	0.93	18%	27th	Looked great in his start v. BOS and could be a solid streamer while he remains in the rotation
12	Clarke Schmidt	NYY	at	SEA		x	x	50	5.58	1.60	18%	13th	Quality skills are finally paying dividends & he’s allowed just 1 HR in 5 May starts after 7 in 6 April starts
13	Jared Shuster	ATL	at	OAK		x	x	25.1	5.33	1.34	5%	22nd	Was pretty good v. PHI after his gem v. SEA so I’d take this shot against the A’s (despite them winning the first 2 gms)
14	Austin Voth	BAL		CLE		x	x	26.1	4.10	1.25	16%	30th	Threw 62 pitches last time out so should be stretched enough for a full start if he’s pitching well enough; I’m down to stream in this spot
15	Justin Steele	CHC		TBR		x	x	65	2.77	1.11	16%	2nd	Now has two 5 ER outings in his L3 and TBR is still pretty scary… I’d be OK passing here
16	James Paxton	BOS		CIN		x	x	14	5.14	1.36	22%	6th	Thrashing at LAA doesn’t deter me from being interested; can be really good if the HRs drop & SwStr rises
17	Lance Lynn	CHW		LAA			x	63.1	5.83	1.45	17%	12th	QS from a definitional standpoint (6 IP/1 ER) but 5 BB is rough & he’s struggled w/control for the first time since 2018; OK skipping LAA w/many SPs
18	Alek Manoah	TOR		MIL			x	53.2	5.53	1.79	3%	25th	It’s a solid matchup, but you shouldn’t feel obligated to start him right now w/that hideous 3% K-BB
19	Blake Snell	SDP	at	MIA			x	50	5.04	1.56	10%	10th	Still 4 BB in his 5 IP/1 ER outing and MIA has handled lefties pretty well this yr
20	Tommy Henry	ARI		COL				34	4.50	1.38	3%	25th	The 5.87 SIERA keeps me away
21	Carlos Carrasco	NYM		PHI				25.1	6.75	1.42	3%	18th	Solid outing at CHC, but I’m not sure I’m ready to trust him just yet
22	Luke Weaver	CIN	at	BOS				38	5.45	1.37	17%	9th	I’m not comfortable streaming against BOS
23	Julio Teheran	MIL	at	TOR				5	1.80	1.00	20%	4th	He had a decent 16% K-BB in 40 MiLB IP, but was far too hittable (11.5 H, 1.6 HR rates)
24	Dinelson Lamet	COL	at	ARI				10.2	12.66	2.44	2%	2nd	Did look good in a pair of 4-IP starts at AAA in preparation for this but obviously we’re not taking this shot sight unseen
25	Noah Syndergaard	LAD		WSN				47.1	6.27	1.35	13%	11th	I can’t do it
26	Joey Wentz	DET		TEX				42.2	7.80	1.66	10%	4th	Just can’t string together consistent innings enough to be streamable
27	Patrick Corbin	WSN	at	LAD				62.2	4.88	1.42	10%	3rd	The 2-step worked out, but he gave a lot of it back at KCR and no shot I’d start him here
28	James Kaprielian	OAK		ATL				33	8.45	1.88	8%	17th	No thanks

Recommendations for Roto 5×5 Leagues