Top MLB Pitchers To Play And Fade
By SEAN MURPHY
All season long, I’ll isolate two starting pitchers to play and two to fade in a two-week window. I’m looking for pitchers that boast value. That means I won’t always be targeting Cy Young candidates.
Here’s a look at this week’s list:
Money makers
David Price, Tampa Bay Rays
It seems like an eternity ago that David Price broke into the majors as the Rays closer during their improbable run to the World Series back in 2008.
After enduring an up-and-down 2009 season, his first as a starter, in which he went 10-7 with a 4.42 ERA, he’s now firmly entrenched as the staff ace. Price is 7-1 with a sparkling 2.41 ERA through his first nine starts this season.
The Rays are a perfect 4-0 in Price’s last four outings and that’s even more impressive when you consider three of those four games were played on the road.
Even when he struggles with his command, as he did this past weekend in Houston, the Rays offense is still capable of bailing him out. He earned the win despite allowing five earned runs over five innings of work Sunday.
He may be getting a little pricy (no pun intended) but as long as he keeps winning, we can handle laying the juice.
Tim Hudson, Atlanta Braves
Few believed that Hudson would serve as the staff ace in Atlanta this season, especially with sophomore stud Tommy Hanson kicking around, but to this point, Hudson has filled that role nicely.
Hudson is perhaps off to the best start of his career, posting a 5-1 record and a 2.09 ERA through nine starts. Over his last two outings he has worked 16 innings and allowed just six hits and one earned run.
It helps that the Braves have given him plenty of support. They’ve scored at least 10 runs in three of his last five starts. He can’t count on that type of cushion every night, but this Braves offense is as good as it’s been in years.
Hudson’s home/away splits are certainly encouraging, as he’s 2-1 with a 1.74 ERA at Turner Field, and 3-0 with a 2.27 ERA on the road.
Maybe this 34-year old right-hander will hit the wall at some point, but for now, he’s a play-on pitcher on a play-on team.
Bankroll burners
John Lackey, Boston Red Sox
The wheels appear to be falling off for John Lackey once again.
Over his last three starts, Lackey has given up 23 hits and 15 earned runs in just 18 innings of work. The Red Sox are just 4-5 in his nine starts so far this season.
Lackey hasn’t come close to harnessing his command here in 2010. After issuing just 47 walks in 176 1-3 innings pitched last season, he’s already up to 26 base-on-balls in 55 innings this year.
The Red Sox have shown some signs of life lately, winning three in a row and six of their last 10, but I still consider them a play-against team on most nights.
Lackey’s next start will come against the Tampa Bay Rays, a team that already lit him up for eight earned runs in 3 1-3 innings earlier this season.
Aaron Cook, Colorado Rockies
After winning 27 games over the last two seasons, Aaron Cook was expected to be a steadying force in the Rockies rotation this season.
He’s been anything but, going 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in nine starts.
Cook has allowed more hits than innings pitched, issued as many walks as strikeouts and lasted more than six innings only twice.
Surprinsingly enough, he has pitched fairly well at home, recording a 3.00 ERA in three starts, but he’s probably due for a correction in that regard. The Rockies home park is Coors Field after all.
It’s unlikely Cook will be going anywhere anytime soon, as the Rockies don’t exactly have a wealth of depth on the mound. For now, you can consider Cook a play-against pitcher on a mediocre team.