Top 20 (+) MLB Starting Pitchers 1. Johan Santana (stats) NYM 2007 Total Rank: 2, 2006 Total Rank: 1 2007 5x5 Rank: 4, 2006 5x5 Rank: 1 Has to be the #1 choice now that he has a much better team around him. 2. Josh Beckett (stats) BOS 2007 Total Rank: 3, 2006 Total Rank: 2007 5x5 Rank: 3, 2006 5x5 Rank: Great fantasy season last year. And, dominant in the playoffs. Bodes well for this year. 3. Justin Verlander (stats) DET 2007 Total Rank: 12, 2006 Total Rank: 20 2007 5x5 Rank: 14, 2006 5x5 Rank: 24 Should be able to win 20 games this year with the offense the Tigers have assembled. 4. Erik Bedard (stats) SEA 2007 Total Rank: 4, 2006 Total Rank: 19 2007 5x5 Rank: 7, 2006 5x5 Rank: 22 Finished last season 9-1 in his last 13 games for a 69 win team. That says enough. 5. C.C. Sabathia (stats) CLE 2007 Total Rank: 5, 2006 Total Rank: 7 2007 5x5 Rank: 2, 2006 5x5 Rank: 11 Threw over 200 K's last year for first time in his 7 year career. Also, had the lowest ERA of his career, 3.21. 6. Jake Peavy (stats) SD 2007 Total Rank: 1, 2006 Total Rank: 21 2007 5x5 Rank: 1, 2006 5x5 Rank: 20 Which Jake Peavy will show up this season? Best to just bet on a repeat. 7. Brandon Webb (stats) ARI 2007 Total Rank: 6, 2006 Total Rank: 4 2007 5x5 Rank: 5, 2006 5x5 Rank: 3 Pitched 40+ scoreless innings in a row last July-August. The one concern will be the lack of offense in Arizona. 8. Aaron Harang (stats) CIN 2007 Total Rank: 10, 2006 Total Rank: 8 2007 5x5 Rank: 11, 2006 5x5 Rank: 10 Last year was his best yet. May not have too much upside from there, but shouldn't get any worse either. 9. Scott Kazmir (stats) TB 2007 Total Rank: 14, 2006 Total Rank: 16 2007 5x5 Rank: 27, 2006 5x5 Rank: 30 Developing into quite a force. Just about good for 10 K's a night. 10. Roy Oswalt (stats) HOU 2007 Total Rank: 25, 2006 Total Rank: 9 2007 5x5 Rank: 24, 2006 5x5 Rank: 6 Until proven otherwise, Oswalt's a safe pick. Opened last season 6-2 and finished last season 6-1. 11. Jeremy Bonderman (stats) DET 2007 Total Rank: 64, 2006 Total Rank: 17 2007 5x5 Rank: 69, 2006 5x5 Rank: 19 Bonderman was just about a superstar in 2006. 2007 was a dud. Good bet to count on something in between this year. Then, throw in the Tigers offense, and you can pick with confidence. 12. Carlos Zambrano (stats) CHC 2007 Total Rank: 21, 2006 Total Rank: 5 2007 5x5 Rank: 28, 2006 5x5 Rank: 8 Big dropoff last season. K's were down and L's were up. But, aside from a slow start and a rough 2nd half of August, Zambrano pitched well. 13. John Lackey (stats) LAA 2007 Total Rank: 7, 2006 Total Rank: 10 2007 5x5 Rank: 6, 2006 5x5 Rank: 13 Lackey isn't likely to light you up with consistent superstar pitching. However, over the course of the season, he delivers. 14. Roy Halladay (stats) TOR 2007 Total Rank: 33, 2006 Total Rank: 14 2007 5x5 Rank: 22, 2006 5x5 Rank: 9 Was dreadful at times last year, and rarely delivers many K's. Still, historically, Roy is a safe bet. 15. John Smoltz (stats) ATL 2007 Total Rank: 8, 2006 Total Rank: 3 2007 5x5 Rank: 10, 2006 5x5 Rank: 4 Entering his 20th MLB season. That means there are players that weren't even born yet when Smoltz started pitching in 1988. We always say, 'stay with em until they prove their no longer working'. But you're really playing with fire at this age. 16. Javier Vazquez (stats) CHI 2007 Total Rank: 13, 2006 Total Rank: 2007 5x5 Rank: 12, 2006 5x5 Rank: Dependable for 30 starts. Delivers K's too. 17. Cole Hamels (stats) PHI 2007 Total Rank: 11, 2006 Total Rank: 29 2007 5x5 Rank: 9, 2006 5x5 Rank: 46 Can be a big hit or miss. But, generally a solid, reliable choice. 18. Fausto Carmona (stats) CLE 2007 Total Rank: 18, 2006 Total Rank: 2007 5x5 Rank: 13, 2006 5x5 Rank: A big success last season as a starter. Plus, playing for the right team this year. 19. Dan Haren (stats) ARI 2007 Total Rank: 9, 2006 Total Rank: 26 2007 5x5 Rank: 8, 2006 5x5 Rank: 15 Could Oakland be developing a knack for grooming great pitchers only to 'sell' them at the right time? Last year Zito was a bust for the Giants. Haren will look to break the trend. 20. Chris Young (stats) SD 2007 Total Rank: 19, 2006 Total Rank: 15 2007 5x5 Rank: 19, 2006 5x5 Rank: 14 The upside here is the win column. Young's been as solid as they come the last 3 years, but hasn't ever topped 12 wins in a season. Only 9-8 last year, and was still a fantasy success (rarely pitches over 6-7 innings). Just Missed: Francisco Liriano (stats): Must watch his recovery. Top-tier pitcher potential. Daisuke Matsuzaka (stats): How will he settle in this season? Will he improve, like his Japan numbers? Chien-Ming Wang (stats): Has, thus far, been solid, though rarely sensational. Andy Pettitte (NYY) (stats): A true Yankee, and still hungry for a title. Adam Wainwright (STL) (stats): Could be in line for a big year. Ted Lilly (stats): Looking to be a career late-bloomer (kind of like Curt Schilling). Felix Hernandez (stats): Treading the line between hype and stardom. John Maine (stats): Good potential, but a lot of just terrible outings last year. Oliver Perez (stats): Inconsistent career, but overall solid season last year. Young with Upside Chad Billingsley (stats): Has been solid so far as a starter. Clay Buchholz (stats): Delivered upon arrival. Worth the risk. Joba Chamberlain (stats): Pressures on for the future of the franchise. James Shields (stats): Rays need to win games to bring value. Rich Hill (stats): Diamond in the rough this year? Started last season 3-0 with 1 ER in 22 IP. Will that Hill re-emerge? Yovani Gallardo (stats): It appears the Brewers have a new ace. Washed up, risks? or rewards? Barry Zito (stats): Not as old as people think (turns 30 in May). Randy Johnson (stats): Everyone is talking about how he needs 16 wins to get to 300-- seems like a long way away. Pedro Martinez (stats): Still posting over 1 K per IP. Tom Glavine (stats): Back in a familiar environment, read more. Ben Sheets (stats): Still riding the hype from his 2004 season. Derek Lowe (stats): Capable, but probably flat- as usual. More to Watch: Brett Myers (stats): Thus far, Myers is a bit unstable to be a top-tier player. AJ Burnett (stats): Sits on the edge of greatness. Jeff Francis (stats): Not consistent enough, but has been to the World Series. Kelvin Escobar (stats): Unreliable, though can't just write-off due to last season. Brad Penny (stats): Just continues to get. the. job. done. Rick Harden (stats): No telling how he will bounce back. Long-term value? Short-term risk? Anibel Sanchez (stats): Maybe not back until All-Star break. Dustin McGowan (stats): If McGowan does well it could be a surprising year for McGowan. Matt Cain (stats): In a tough situation with no offensive support-- need to pitch brilliant every night for a win. Ian Snell (stats): Still trying to pull his talent together.

Fanbay.net player rankings (starting pitchers only) are based on fantasy value expectations for the 2008 season and taking into account injury risks and team trends. Rankings will be continually updated. Last update: 2/3/08 · Fanbay.net Sports · MLB Notebook · MLB Stats (main page) More Fantasy Baseball · Top Player/Batter Rankings MLB Fantasy Sleepers · Jeremy Bonderman (DET): In a great position with the loaded Tigers offense. · Ted Lilly (CHC): Was super solid last year. Why not again? · Adam Wainwright (STL): The last man standing, so to speak, for the Cardinals. · Javier Vazquez (CHW): A good pick to fill in some innings and take some risk away on draft day. · Clay Buchholz or Joba Chamberlain (BOS or NYY): If you're gonna grab a rookie, do you take the Red Sox or Yankees up-and-comer? What to do? · Francisco Liriano (MIN): Must watch. Will he return with the same fire? Was just about as good as Santana himself, before Tommy John surgery. · Carlos Zambrano (CHI): May be slightly overrated heading into the season. But has the potential to be dominant. · John Smoltz (ATL): Been around forever. One of these year's someone will get caught holding the bag. · Andy Pettitte (NYY): Probably worth a chance given the offense backing him up. · John Maine and/or Oliver Perez and/or Pedro Martinez (NYM): One of these Mets will likely work out as a good steal on fantasy draft day. · Yovani Gallardo (MIL): Showed signs last season, but was it a one-hit wonder? Top 50 Statistical Ranking 2007 Rankings and Stats TRr Full Name 5x5-r FV/ip IP W K ERA WHIP 1 J Peavy 1 4.08 223.1 19 6 240 2.54 2 J Santana 4 3.69 219 15 13 235 3.33 3 J Beckett 3 3.87 200.2 20 7 194 3.27 4 E Bedard 7 3.93 182 13 5 221 3.16 5 CC Sabathia 2 3.63 241 19 7 209 3.21 6 B Webb 5 3.71 236.1 18 10 194 3.01 7 J Lackey 6 3.73 224 19 9 179 3.01 8 J Smoltz 10 3.6 205.2 14 8 197 3.11 9 D Haren 8 3.51 222.2 15 9 192 3.07 10 A Harang 11 3.43 231.2 16 6 218 3.73 11 C Hamels 9 3.65 183.1 15 5 177 3.39 12 J Verlander 14 3.63 201.2 18 6 183 3.66 13 J Vazquez 12 3.43 216.2 15 8 213 3.74 14 S Kazmir 27 3.62 206.2 13 9 239 3.48 15 K Escobar 15 3.65 195.2 18 7 160 3.4 16 O Perez 20 3.64 177 15 10 174 3.56 17 J Maine 23 3.48 191 15 10 180 3.91 18 F Carmona 13 3.55 215 19 8 137 3.06 19 C Young 19 3.45 173 9 8 167 3.12 20 T Lilly 16 3.29 207 15 8 174 3.83 21 C Zambrano 28 3.33 216.1 18 13 177 3.95 22 AJ Burnett 25 3.42 165.2 10 8 176 3.75 23 C Billingsley 30 3.67 147 12 5 141 3.31 24 D Matsuzaka 33 3.25 204.2 15 12 201 4.4 25 R Oswalt 24 3.33 212 14 7 154 3.18 26 J Shields 17 3.13 215 12 8 184 3.85 27 B Penny 21 3.41 208 16 4 135 3.03 28 R Hill 26 3.19 195 11 8 183 3.92 29 F Hernandez 40 3.35 190.1 14 7 165 3.92 30 T Hudson 18 3.24 224.1 16 10 132 3.33 31 J Francis 41 3.2 215.1 17 9 165 4.22 32 D Mcgowan 34 3.25 169.2 12 10 144 4.08 33 R Halladay 22 3.13 225.1 16 7 139 3.71 34 I Snell 42 3.03 208 9 12 177 3.76 35 D Lowe 32 3.05 199.1 12 14 147 3.88 36 O Hernandez 36 3.24 147.2 9 5 128 3.72 37 C Wang 31 3.24 199.1 19 7 104 3.7 38 M Cain 39 2.95 200 7 16 163 3.65 39 A Wainwright 44 3.13 202 14 12 136 3.7 40 B Sheets 38 3.33 141.1 12 5 106 3.82 41 J Blanton 29 2.94 230 14 10 140 3.95 42 G Meche 35 2.92 216 9 13 156 3.67 43 Y Gallardo 49 3.51 110.1 9 5 101 3.67 44 S Marcum 43 3.18 159 12 6 122 4.13 45 T Gorzelanny 47 3.12 201.2 14 10 135 3.88 46 T Lincecum 52 3.17 146.1 7 5 150 4 47 A Pettitte 50 3 215.1 15 9 141 4.05 48 J Weaver 53 3.22 161 13 7 115 3.91 49 Z Greinke 54 3.25 122 7 7 106 3.69 50 M Batista 62 3.09 193 16 11 133 4.29 51 M Buehrle 37 2.91 201 10 9 115 3.63 52 D Davis 73 3.01 192.2 13 12 144 4.25 53 C Villanueva 66 3.3 114.1 8 5 99 3.94 54 W Rodriguez 56 2.89 182.2 9 13 158 4.58 55 C Schilling 51 3.04 151 9 8 101 3.87 56 C James 57 2.99 161.1 11 10 116 4.24 57 J Guthrie 46 2.87 175.1 7 5 123 3.7 58 B Arroyo 60 2.76 210.2 9 15 156 4.23 59 C Gaudin 72 2.85 199.1 11 13 154 4.42 60 G Maddux 45 2.85 198 14 11 104 4.14 61 R Johnson 75 3.71 56.2 4 3 72 3.81 62 T Wakefield 58 2.89 189 17 12 110 4.76 63 S Baker 64 2.99 143.2 9 9 102 4.26 64 J Bonderman 69 2.79 174.1 11 9 145 5.01 65 B Bannister 48 2.9 165 12 9 77 3.87 66 N Lowry 82 3.15 156 14 8 87 3.92 67 B Zito 59 2.72 196.2 11 13 131 4.53 68 R Wolf 100 3.21 102.2 9 6 94 4.73 69 M Owings 63 2.85 152.2 8 8 106 4.3 70 C Silva 55 2.74 202 13 14 89 4.19 71 K Correia 79 3.03 101.2 4 7 80 3.45 72 J Washburn 65 2.72 193.2 10 15 114 4.32 73 C Buchholz 87 5.21 22.2 3 1 22 1.59 74 J Moyer 76 2.7 199.1 14 12 133 5.01 75 P Byrd 71 2.81 192.1 15 8 88 4.59 76 C Vargas 101 2.96 134.1 11 6 107 5.09 77 D Bush 77 2.66 186.1 12 10 134 5.12 78 J Marquis 70 2.71 191.2 12 9 109 4.6 79 K Lohse 74 2.61 192.2 9 12 122 4.62 80 J Garland 61 2.59 208.1 10 13 98 4.23 FV/IP = Fantasy Value per Innings Pitched. Fantasy Value = Earned Runs = -3, Shutout = 10, K = 1, IP = 3, Save = 5, Win =10 20 or more innings pitched * 5x5-r: Ranking for 5x5 Rotisserie Baseball. All players with over 20 innings pitched ranked for strikeouts, wins, saves, ERA, and WHIP. And all the players are ranked according to their average ranking for all 5 categories. * TRr: This is the Fanbay.net Total Rating ranking. This takes into account several factors (including 5x5 ranking and FV per at-bat and others).