Eric Broutman gives his picks for the Pitchers that belong in your lineups Saturday & Sunday.
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A full weekend of baseball, gotta love it. Bold = Start.
Saturday, June 15th
John Lackey (LAA) @ Freddy Garcia (BAL)
Lackey has pitched better of late, but not so much on the road. Against that Orioles lineup, no way I trust him with my ERA and WHIP.
R.A. Dickey (TOR) @ Josh Lindblom (TEX)
Talk about a fall from grace for Dickey. Zach, one of our fellow writers, was just showing us a stat that his knuckleball has been worse than David Murphy’s this year. Yeah, THAT David Murphy
Jeremy Guthrie (KC) @ Alex Cobb (TB)
After three poor starts Guthrie has followed that up with three quality ones. He is back on track. Cobb got bombed his last time out, but that was Boston, and KC, George Brett or not, is no Boston.
David Phelps (NYY) @ Tommy Hanson (LAA)
Outside of that one disaster against the Mets (go figure) Phelps has pitched very well this year. Hanson went from striking out 9.83 per 9 IP with the Braves in 2011 to a putrid 5.26 this year. Yet another fine move by the Angels.
Jordan Zimmermann (WAS) @ Scott Kazmir (CLE)
Zimmerman has been quality in all but two starts this year. WOW. Kazmir pitches pretty well at home and the Nationals don’t hit so much these days, but I’m still squeamish. If you need the strikeouts though I can see starting him.
Anibal Sanchez (DET) @ Samuel Deduno (MIN)
Sanchez is coming off a scratched start due a sore shoulder so owners will be watching with bated breath hoping nothing goes bad. If you saw Deduno pitch in the WBC you know there is a lot to like, but this is Prince, Miggy and the Tigers.
King Felix (SEA) @ A.J. Griffin (OAK)
Oakland pitchers at home are truly a beautiful thing. Start them all.
John Danks (CHW) @ Lucas Harrell (HOU)
The White Sox are tied for the second worst offense in baseball. They are great to pick on, and outside of a few terrible starts against the Tigers and Oakland, two much better offenses, Harrell has pitched pretty well. As for Danks, it’s a good matchup, he has an under 1.00 WHIP and there is always the possibility of a double digit strikeout game against the ‘Stros.
Scott Feldman (CHC) @ Jon Niese (NYM)
The bloom is coming off the rose with Feldman, but the Mets are so much fun to pick on. Niese is back on track with four great starts.
Chad Gaudin (SF) @ Mike Minor (ATL)
Minor has a 2.30 ERA since the All-Star break last year. The guy is good.
Clayton Kershaw (LAD) @ Brandon Cumpton (PIT)
This was supposed to be Burnett’s start, but a calf strain has him on the DL so good ole TBD steps in. As of this morning, that’s Brandon Cumpton. He’s no one to know for the time being.
Yovani Gallardo (MIL) @ Homer Bailey (CIN)
I’m starting Gallardo on his name alone. Nothing he has done this year says start. Bailey has totally reversed his splits from last year, and now pitches great at home. But, beware of the Brewers. They seem to kill him. Start anyway.
Jonathan Pettibone (PHI) @ Tyler Chatwood (COL)
Not much to say here, and if I did would you read it anyway with this pitching matchup?
Lance Lynn (STL) @ Tom Koehler (MIA)
I literally drool when I see my pitchers facing the Marlins.
Wade Miley (ARI) @ Jason Marquis (SDP)
Miley has turned back into a pumpkin. Over his last 4 starts he has a 7.72 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. Marquis was a late sub for Clayton Richard.
Sunday, June 16th
Stephen Strasburg (WAS) @ Corey Kluber (CLE)
Strasburg in his first start off the DL should be watched very closely. Kluber has pitched well lately and the Nats offense is barely a step above the Marlins these days.
Jon Lester (BOS) @ Miguel Gonzalez (BAL)
Lester scares me. He has been getting hit hard lately and giving up way too may walks. That leads to runners on base with Adam Jones, and Chris Davis at the dish. Like I said, Lester scares me.
Wade Davis (KAN) @ Roberto Hernandez (TB)
I have this soft spot for Hernandez. He strikes out a lot of guys, and doesn’t walk many. If you follow my advice and start him and he blows up feel free deluge me with very bad curse words.
Doug Fister (DET) @ P.J. Walters (MIN)
Fister is 0-3 in his last four starts despite throwing up a 2.67 ERA. Never thought I’d have to say this, but hopefully the Tigers score some runs.
Hector Santiago (CHW) @ Dallas Keuchel (HOU)
Keuchel has pitched really well his past three starts, and while the ChiSox can’t hit I’ll still pass. Santiago pitches around his walks and this is his second good year in a row.
Chien-Ming Wang (TOR) @ Derek Holland (TEX)
Toronto’s offense is not nearly as good against lefties or on the road. Makes for a nice matchup for Holland.
CC Sabathia (NYY) @ Jered Weaver (LAA)
While Weaver has pitched well, he hasn’t gone more than six innings in any of his starts. That’s a concern.
Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA) @ Bartolo Colon (OAK)
What would you have said to me if I told you in April that this would be a premiere matchup? Iwakuma is 2nd in the AL in ERA and Colon is 10th. Over his last 4 starts Colon has given up exactly one run.
Wily Peralta (MIL) @ Johnny Cueto (CIN)
Cueto returns from the DL and Cingrani owners curse Dusty Baker.
Matt Garza (CHC) @ Jeremy Hefner (NYM)
If you are a Garza owner or a Cubs fan you are really hoping Garza pitches well so he can get dealt. Maybe this way he can win a game or two?
Tyler Lyons (STL) @ Ricky Nolasco (MIA)
This was originally Wacha’s start, but he just got sent down to make room for Jake Westbrook. Total shame. Quietly though, Lyons has pitched really well. Just another great young player of which the Cards seem to have an endless supply.
Zack Greinke (LAD) @ Gerrit Cole (PIT)
Let’s see if Greinke can be a part of a third dugout clearing brawl this year. As for Cole, a nice way to break into the majors by facing the Giants then the Dodgers.
Ian Kennedy (ARI) @ Clayton Richard (SDP)
Kennedy is appealing his suspension, so he gets to pitch. Hopefully he uses his time well and rights what has ailed him.
Cole Hamels (PHI) @ Jhoulys Chacin (COL)
Hamels has pitched Hamels-like the past two starts. Coors is scary, but much less scary without Fowler and Tulo.
Tim Lincecum (SFG) @ Julio Teheran (ATL)
In my opinion Lincecum should no longer start — anywhere, anytime. Teheran has had his ups and downs this year, but a solid 3.62 ERA and 1.19 WHIP makes him a start. Plus, the Giants are missing Sandoval, Scutaro, and Pagan.
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