Which Pitchers to Start Tomorrow 10/2/15

Sadly, this is my last post of the week, which means it’s my last set of starting pitcher recommendations. Perhaps if you’re nice, you could convince another RotoGrapher to take the mantle for the last two games of the season.

Jake Arrieta @ Ariel Pena

Yeahhhhh, start Arrieta.

The 26-year-old Pena isn’t much of a prospect, but has posted a nice SwStk% during his short time in the Majors this year. Too bad he can’t throw strikes. Against a powerful offense and opposing a pitcher that will make it tough to earn a win, he’s a clear bench in all leagues.

Jaime Garcia @ Julio Teheran

This is what good fortune could do to a healthy Garcia, who already owned a strong skill set. The Braves have the second worst wOBA against lefties in baseball. Obvious start of Garcia in all leagues.

Teheran’s skills and luck deteriorated this season and although his strikeout rate has rebounded in the second half, his control has been worse than normal all year long. The Cardinals have an excellent offense against right-handers. Start Teheran in NL-Only, your call in 15-team mixed, but I’d bench in shallow mixed leagues.

Collin McHugh @ Rubby de la Rosa

McHugh’s strikeout rate has tumbled this year, but he’s still be decent and will get to oppose a team in an NL park and face the pitcher. The Diamondbacks have a good offense though, but he’s one I generally would start against most offense. He’s a close call in 12-team mixed, but start him in anything deeper.

RDLR will enter next year again as a nice sleeper given his solid control, ground ball tilt and impressive SwStk%. The Astros possess a ton of power, but strike out often as well. My recommendation is the same as for McHugh.

Gio Gonzalez @ Noah Syndergaard

Gio has offset a decline in strikeout rate with a ground ball rate spike. He’s a start against the majority of teams in all formats, included these Metsies.

I refuse to call him by his silly nickname, so start Syndergaard like you would have if you hadn’t read this column.

Mark Buehrle @ Chris Archer

It’s hard to ever recommend a pitcher you would never, ever own and the Rays hit lefties fairly decently. Bench Buehrle.

Second half slide aside, start Archer everywhere.

Jered Weaver (maybe) @ Martin Perez

Weaver is battling shoulder issues and may not start. If he does, he’s an obvious bench in all leagues.

Everything has bounced back for Perez upon his return from TJ surgery, except his strikeout rate is worse than the below average mark he had posted before. The Angels stink against lefties, but Perez has been a roller coaster all year and if you need to protect your ratios, he needs to be benched.

Henry Owens @ Danny Salazar

Owens is performing as expected though perhaps with better control. He’s a risk in each and every outing due to that inflated fly ball rate though and I’d recommend only starting him in AL-Only leagues.

Salazar is a start against everyone guy for me.

Alfredo Simon @ Chris Sale

Simon says no.

But he says yes to Sale.

Chris Young @ Ervin Santana

We need to invent a new ERA estimator just for Young. I’d start him in all leagues.

Despite a 7.11 ERA in August, Santana is pretty much what we expected upon his return to the AL. I’d start him in AL-Only and probably 15-team mixed.

Adam Warren (listed as TBD on the MLB sites) @ Wei-Yin Chen

As a starter, Warren succeeded this year despite a poor strikeout rate thanks to some good fortune. Since he has only pitched at least six innings in seven of his 17 starts, it’s difficult for him to pick up the win. In an away start in a hitter’s park, I’m benching him in all leagues.

Chen brings solid skills to a home start against a team that hits lefties well. Start him in 15-team mixed and deeper.

Justin Nicolino @ TBD PHI

Nicolino has 21 strikeouts in 67 innings. LOL.

TBD’s going to get lots of work in today apparently.

Keyvius Sampson @ Jeff Locke

No thanks Keyvius.

Funny how Lock’s ERA has jumped for two straight years, despite similar skills. I’d start him in NL-Only, that’s all. 15-team mixed if you’re really feeling adventurous.

Aaron Brooks @ Felix Hernandez

Sorry Mr. Brooks, I say no.

The King always remains active.

Kyle Kendrick @ Chris Heston

Uhh no to Kendrick.

I feel like a broken record for continuing to repeat that the Rockies stink outside of Coors. Start Heston in all formats.

Casey Kelly @ Alex Wood

Making just his second MLB start since 2012, I wouldn’t touch Kelly.

So much for the right-handed power of the Padres — they rank 23rd in baseball in wOBA against left-handers this year. Wood’s strikeouts have disappeared, but he remains a decent pitcher. In a home start, start him in all formats.