X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community!

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Digging Deeper into Starting Pitchers - 2013 Fantasy Baseball SP Rankings (Part I)

In this series, RotoBaller.com will take a look at the top 40 starting pitchers, beginning with numbers 1 through 20. Now, while the top 40 are important, the top 41-100 can provide you even more value, so ask the experts for in-depth advice on any player in the majors at the Ask Us section of RotoBaller.com, and be sure to read the full 2013 SP Rankings.

1. Justin Verlander – Verlander wants to be the first $200-million-dollar pitcher, and with his resume, you'd have a tough time arguing that he doesn't deserve it. Just look at his past two seasons, during which he's won 41 games and struck out 489 batters in 489 innings. He pitched to a 2.40 and 2.64 ERA in 2011 and 2012 respectively; he is the best pitcher in baseball right now.

Clayton Kershaw 2010 (1)2. Clayton Kershaw – Kershaw is a very close second to Verlander. He owns a career 2.79 ERA which is a very difficult thing to find among SPs in this day and age. For his career, he has averaged over a K/IP-- Kershaw is the National League's version of Verlander, in that they both get above-average run support, they show no signs of fatigue as the seasons go on, and they put up Cy-Young caliber fantasy and reality stats.

3. Stephen Strasburg – He was shut down on September 7th of last year, right when your playoffs began. It was brutal to deal with, but there should be no limits on Strasburg this year. He is one of the most dangerous strikeout pitchers in baseball, posting double-digit strikeout games on five separate occasions last season. There is nothing to suggest the Strasburg won’t improve on his stellar 2012 season.

4. Cliff Lee – Lee is falling in drafts a little bit because of the Phillies poor team performance in 2013, but you shouldn’t overlook Lee’s season. He leads off the second tier of the RotoBaller starting pitcher ranks. Entering his third season with the Phillies, Lee will be worth the value with this rejuvenated Philadelphia club.

5. David Price – He has been playing up to his rank as the #1 overall draft pick in the 2007 MLB draft. After very productive 2010 and 2011 fantasy seasons, he really put it together in 2012, winning 20 games and posting a career-best ERA of 2.56 in baseball's toughest division. While the division is much improved, Price can hold his own and keep the Rays in any game he pitches.

6. Felix Hernandez – When announced that extension, every fantasy keeper owner of “King Felix” screamed. The team just doesn't win ballgames, and since 2006 they have fallen short of .500 five times. They added some pieces on offensively, but the fact that they are in the same division as the Rangers and Angels just doesn't bode well for Seattle. But Wins are only a single stat to evaluate when looking at fantasy pitchers. “King Felix” will still pitch to a low ERA and WHIP while putting up gaudy K numbers.

7. Cole Hamels – The second Phillie to crack this list in the top seven, Hamels won a career-high 17 games in 2012 and struck out a career-high 216 batters. He should benefit from the improved offense and the team's offseason moves; expect similar numbers to 2012.

8. Matt Cain – Much like Felix Hernandez, Cain doesn’t get a ton of run support from his team. That didn’t stop Cain from having the best season of his career in 2012. He has pitched to a sub-3.00 ERA three times in the past four seasons. And you can’t forget about his perfect game last June, during which he struck out 14. Bid with confidence.

JeredWeaverAngels9. Jered Weaver – Weaver has been among the best pitchers in baseball over the last four seasons. In 2012, he was tied for the league lead with 20 W, while also leading in WHIP at 1.02. With the Angels lineup only getting better, it's possible that Weaver could perform worse than he did in 2012 and still rack up the wins, but we expect bigger things.

10. Madison Bumgarner – The Giants' young star suffers from the below-average San Francisco lineup, but you should have no reservations about Bumgarner's performance. His 2012 was much improved from a solid 2011 season in which he really came strong on the scene. In 2012 he had career high in W and K, and a career-low WHIP. Expect Bumgarner to get better as he continues to develop as a major league pitcher.

11. Zack Greinke – One of many Dodger additions, Greinke will fit right in to the rejuvenated roster. He holds a career ERA of 3.77, but has pitched well below that over the past two years, and RotoBaller.com thinks he will continue that trend in 2013. The Dodgers have one of the best offenses in the National League which will only assist Greinke in racking up the wins.

12. Carsten Charles Sabathia – The Indians, Brewers and Yankees have all ridden the 300-lb. southpaw, as he has averaged almost 200 IP in each of his 13 major-league seasons. Sabathia has been the beneficiary of a potent Yankees offense, averaging over four more wins per season during his time with the Yankees. While anyone throwing over 200 innings per season while carrying 300 lbs. of muscle, fat and dirty-water dogs would be subject to injury, Sabathia has missed very little time in his career. As he ages, though, keep an eye on his health.

13. R.A. Dickey – We am extremely skeptical of Dickey's arrival in Toronto. Dickey had flourished with the Mets since perfecting his hard knuckleball. But the Mets had been under so much scrutiny over the past few seasons, and Dickey was fairly old, so perhaps he was pitching with the reckless abandon of someone with nothing to lose. Now, he is the ace of an AL East ball club that plays fourteen games in April against the Red Sox, Tigers and Yankees. While Dickey won’t need to pitch those 14 games he will have a quick idea of just how tough the AL is compared to the softer NL.

14. Adam Wainwright – He picked up in 2012 where he left off in 2010. After Tommy John surgery, which forced Wainwright to miss the 2012 season, he gained form and only got better as the season progressed. While it took time to settle in, Wainwright pitched to a 3.28 ERA in the second half, just a tad off of his career ERA. Look for a very productive season from Wainwright.

15. Roy Halladay – Coming off the worst season of his career, the third Phillie pitcher on this list, Roy Halladay, might be the best. The early reports from Spring Training are that Halladay is in excellent shape and the velocity on his fastball is up (both very good signs).

Yu Darvish on March 13, 2012 (1)16. Yu Darvish – In his first season in the Majors, Darvish was solid. He is a strikeout pitcher, and with that typically comes a higher ERA and a higher WHIP. In 2012, that certainly was the case with Darvish. You will be taking a risk on the second-year SP, as we can’t predict how hitters with figure Darvish out, but his K and W potential make him worth the risk.

17. Max Scherzer – Similarly to Darvish, Scherzer is also a strikeout pitcher. He is the pitching version of Adam Dunn. Dunn’s high HR and depresed BA are an analog to Scherzer's high K total and elevated ERA. Nevertheless, Scherzer could figure things out as he did improve as a pitcher in 2012. You can expect high strikeouts with some substantial upside at his current draft position.

18. James Shields – Some say Shields will be hurt by pitching in Kansas City as opposed to Tampa Bay, but we think you can look for Shields to maintain his stats and fantasy value. Expect well over 200 K and an ERA in the 3.0-3.5 range. The Royals offense has some pop in it and they should not be overlooked.

Kris Medlen on June 14, 200919. Kris Medlen – Congrats if you were starting Medlen in August and September in which he earned 8 W and 81 K while allowing only 8 runs in just under 80 innings. You can’t expect that kind of production over a full season, but having those kind of stats during those months when it counts most is unheard-of. It will be interesting to see how Medlen performs in 2013 but drafting him here provides solid value.

20. Chris Sale – We all watched the midseason run in 2012 during which Sale was untouchable. He finished the season with 17 W and a 3.05 ERA. You could argue that Sale should be ranked higher, but given the possibilities of hitters making adjustments, and the potential for injury that the Sox harped on all through last season, we feel this is a good spot for Sale to balance the risk and the reward.

------

If you've missed them, be sure to also check out RotoBaller.com's other pre-season 2013 fantasy baseball positional rankings for more in-depth analysis:

 

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Nick Senzel2 hours ago

Expected To Miss 3-4 Weeks
Jon Gray2 hours ago

To Start On Sunday
Justin Steele2 hours ago

Likely To Go On Injured List
Anfernee Simons4 hours ago

Out Against The Heat
Max Kepler5 hours ago

X-Rays Come Back Negative On Max Kepler
Keldon Johnson5 hours ago

Questionable For Friday
Justin Steele5 hours ago

Has Left-Hamstring Tightness
Matisse Thybulle5 hours ago

Questionable For Friday
Davis Bertans5 hours ago

Listed As Probable For Friday
Jusuf Nurkic5 hours ago

Questionable Against Oklahoma City
Dario Saric5 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Friday
Noah Clowney5 hours ago

Probable For Nets Friday
Jonathan Kuminga5 hours ago

Questionable For Warriors Friday
Jerami Grant5 hours ago

Considered Doubtful For Friday
Dennis Smith6 hours ago

Jr. Probable For Friday
Lauri Markkanen6 hours ago

Questionable Against Houston
Toumani Camara6 hours ago

Will Not Play Friday
Justin Steele6 hours ago

Exits Thursday's Start
Richaun Holmes6 hours ago

Out Versus Pistons
Cameron Johnson6 hours ago

Out Against Chicago On Friday
Luka Doncic6 hours ago

On The Injury Report For Friday
David Bednar6 hours ago

Still Dealing With Lat Injury
Deandre Ayton6 hours ago

Is Questionable For Friday
Rudy Gobert6 hours ago

Might Miss Friday's Game
Tyus Jones6 hours ago

Unavailable For Friday
Zeke Nnaji6 hours ago

Ruled Out Against Minnesota
Jaden Ivey6 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Friday
Rhys McKee6 hours ago

Searching For First UFC Win
Anthony Edwards6 hours ago

Uncertain For Friday Night
Chidi Njokuani6 hours ago

Drops Back Down To Welterweight At UFC Atlantic City
Kyle Nelson6 hours ago

An Underdog Again At UFC Atlantic City
Bill Algeo7 hours ago

Eyes Sixth UFC Win
Joaquin Buckley7 hours ago

Gets Ranked Opponent At UFC Atlantic City
Vicente Luque7 hours ago

Gets Short-Notice Opponent At UFC Atlantic City
Eduardo Rodriguez7 hours ago

Could Throw Off Mound In 5-7 Days
Max Kepler8 hours ago

Leaves On Opening Day With Injury
Nick Senzel8 hours ago

Suffers Broken Thumb
Jason Foley8 hours ago

Earns The Save For Tigers
Tarik Skubal8 hours ago

Tosses Six Scoreless Innings On Opening Day
Corbin Burnes9 hours ago

Pitches A Gem On Opening Day
Royce Lewis9 hours ago

Exits With Quad Injury
Max Scherzer11 hours ago

Throws Bullpen Session
Clayton Kershaw11 hours ago

"Ahead Of Things" Timetable-Wise
Walker Buehler11 hours ago

Ahead Of Schedule
Corey Seager11 hours ago

Active On Opening Day
Oneil Cruz11 hours ago

Batting Sixth On Opening Day
Bryan Reynolds13 hours ago

In Opening Day Lineup
Jordan Romano15 hours ago

Not Expected To Be Out Long
Aaron Ekblad16 hours ago

Returning To Panthers Lineup Thursday
Nikita Kucherov16 hours ago

Establishes New Career High With 42nd Goal
Shane Pinto16 hours ago

Collects Career-High Four Points
Valeri Nichushkin16 hours ago

Nursing A Lower-Body Injury
Samuel Girard16 hours ago

Battling An Illness
J.K. Dobbins16 hours ago

Visiting With Chargers On Thursday
Oskar Sundqvist16 hours ago

To Miss Rest Of Season With Torn ACL
Ethan Bear16 hours ago

Enters Player Assistance Program
Mark Hubbard1 day ago

Coming Off A Career Performance
Davis Thompson1 day ago

Looking To Pay Off A Stellar Run Of Ball-Striking
Akshay Bhatia1 day ago

Coming Into Houston With Confidence
Thorbjorn Olesen1 day ago

Still Trying To Find Footing On U.S. Soil
Patrick Rodgers1 day ago

Fighting Inconsistencies Heading Into Houston
Malik Nabers1 day ago

Shines At Pro Day
Carolina Panthers1 day ago

Jadeveon Clowney Signing Two-Year Deal With Panthers
Wyndham Clark1 day ago

Battling Back Injury Ahead of Houston Open
San Francisco 49ers2 days ago

Talanoa Hufanga Expected To Return At Training Camp
Jayden Daniels2 days ago

Raiders To Meet With Jayden Daniels
Tank Bigsby2 days ago

Jaguars Want Tank Bigsby More Involved
Josh Reynolds2 days ago

Signs Two-Year Deal With Broncos
Doug Ghim2 days ago

Looks To Bounce Back At Houston Open
PGA2 days ago

Cameron Davis Seeking Consistency Ahead Of Houston Open
Thomas Detry2 days ago

A Gamble At Houston Open
Ryan Fox2 days ago

Lacks Upside Heading Into Houston Open
Andrew Novak2 days ago

Will Be Chalk At Houston Open
Josh Doan2 days ago

Scores Twice In His NHL Debut
Filip Forsberg2 days ago

Makes History In Big Comeback Win
Jamie Benn2 days ago

Scores In Fifth Consecutive Game
Sidney Crosby2 days ago

Collects Three Points Versus Carolina
Artemi Panarin2 days ago

Continues Scoring Tear With Three Assists
Joey Daccord2 days ago

Shuts Out Ducks
Sahith Theegala2 days ago

Showing Consistency This Season
Wyndham Clark2 days ago

Working Toward Star Status
Scottie Scheffler2 days ago

Heads To Houston At His Best
Sam Ryder2 days ago

Putting The Lights Out Of Late
Joel Dahmen2 days ago

All Systems Go For Joel Dahmen In Houston
Kurt Kitayama2 days ago

Ready For Houston Debut
Ben Griffin2 days ago

Finding Form Heading To Houston
Taylor Moore2 days ago

Continues Made-Cut Streak Heading To Houston
Adam Svensson2 days ago

Hoping For Consistency In Houston
Taylor Montgomery2 days ago

Looks To Bounce Back In Houston
Amon-Ra St. Brown2 days ago

Discussing Extension With Lions
Jared Goff2 days ago

Lions Discussing New Deal
J.K. Dobbins2 days ago

Cleared For Football Activities
Los Angeles Rams2 days ago

Tre'Davious White To Join Rams
PIT2 days ago

Sam Poulin Recalled From AHL
Jack Quinn2 days ago

Could Return Wednesday
Scott Mayfield2 days ago

Undergoes Season-Ending Surgery
TOR2 days ago

Mitch Marner Skates On His Own Tuesday
Trevor Zegras2 days ago

To Return Tuesday
Justus Annunen2 days ago

Inks Two-Year Extension
Nick Chubb2 days ago

Expected To Start Load Running Next Month
D'Andre Swift2 days ago

Bears View D'Andre Swift As Receiving Weapon
Cordarrelle Patterson2 days ago

Signing With Steelers
Sam Howell2 days ago

Seahawks Believe Sam Howell Can Be A Full-Time Starter
Tennessee Titans3 days ago

L'Jarius Sneed Agrees On Four-Year Contract With Titans
Dak Prescott3 days ago

No Indication A Deal Is Coming For Dak Prescott
Calvin Ridley3 days ago

To Have Big Role In Tennessee
Josh Jacobs3 days ago

To Be Used More In Passing Game
Brandon Saad3 days ago

Gets Another Goal In Monday's Loss
Logan Thompson3 days ago

Stretches Winning Streak To Three Games
Pittsburgh Steelers3 days ago

Cameron Heyward Expected To Be Healthy For Training Camp
Zach Wilson3 days ago

Jets Could End Up Keeping Zach Wilson
Amanda Ribas3 days ago

Takes Decision Loss
Rose Namajunas3 days ago

Snaps Losing Streak
Edmen Shahbazyan3 days ago

Scores Vicious Comeback Knockout
AJ Dobson3 days ago

Knocked Out In The First Round At UFC Vegas 89
Fernando Padilla3 days ago

Gets Back On Track With Submission Win
Luis Pajuelo3 days ago

Submitted In UFC Debut
William Byron4 days ago

Dominates For Victory At COTA
Ty Gibbs4 days ago

Grabs Another Solid Finish At COTA
Chris Buescher4 days ago

Texas Native Chris Buescher Finishes Eighth At COTA
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Kyle Busch Confronts Christopher Bell Following A Top-10 Finish At COTA
Justin Haley4 days ago

Disqualified After Strong COTA Run
Martin Truex Jr4 days ago

. Rounds Out Top Ten At COTA
NASCAR4 days ago

A.J. Allmendinger Worms Way Up To Sixth At COTA
Shane Van Gisbergen4 days ago

Shane van Gisbergen Comes Down to Earth After Mediocre COTA Run
Ross Chastain4 days ago

Ran Well at COTA as Usual Despite Late-Race Fade
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Furious Charge Falls Just Short at COTA
Tyler Reddick4 days ago

Scores Strong Finish of Fifth at COTA
Chase Elliott4 days ago

Finishes 16th at COTA After Lackluster Performance
Billy Quarantillo5 days ago

Suffers Submission Loss At UFC Vegas 89
Youssef Zalal5 days ago

Gets Submission Win In Return To The UFC
Cameron Saaiman5 days ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC Vegas 89
Payton Talbott5 days ago

Scores KO Win At UFC Vegas 89
Justin Tafa5 days ago

Drops To .500 In The UFC
Karl Williams5 days ago

Remains Undefeated In The UFC
Kyle Larson5 days ago

Is One Of The Optimal DFS Options For COTA
Denny Hamlin5 days ago

Should Denny Hamlin Be Rostered For DFS Lineups At COTA?
Kaz Grala5 days ago

Is A Serviceable DFS Play For COTA
Shane Van Gisbergen5 days ago

Will Start 12th In First COTA Cup Start
Todd Gilliland5 days ago

Is A Sneaky DFS Play With Upside For COTA
William Byron5 days ago

Is One Of The Top Favorites To Win At COTA
Christopher Bell5 days ago

Is A Comfortable DFS Play For COTA
Tyler Reddick5 days ago

the Favorite to Win at COTA
Ty Gibbs5 days ago

Looking for First Career Win at COTA
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 

2024 NFL Draft: Bold Predictions and Potential Surprises for Round 1

Football never sleeps at RotoBaller! With the 2024 NFL Draft fast approaching, we're digging into what might transpire on draft night. RotoBaller analyst LaQuan Jones previews the 2024 NFL Draft and makes some BOLD Predictions about possible surprises and potential landing spots for the first round of the draft. Win MORE in 2024 with RotoBaller!... Read More


George Pickens - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Early Look At Wide Receivers In 2024 Fantasy Football Drafts

The upcoming NFL Draft is less than a month away. While everyone is excited for the NFL Draft, fantasy players are looking forward to the regular season. While we won’t have meaningful NFL football for months, it’s never too early to prepare for your fantasy football drafts. Last year, the fantasy football world saw multiple... Read More


Spencer Rattler, College Football Transfers

Underrated Rookie Draft Targets - Early 2024 Sleepers for Dynasty Fantasy Football

We are a month out from the NFL Draft, meaning if you are here, you are probably looking for draft content and reading up on prospects. You probably have all of the information you need on stud prospects like Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. That’s not what you’re here for.  Rookie draft season for... Read More


Breece Hall - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2024 NFL Free-Agency Winners and the Fantasy Football Impact - Part II

The NFL's offseason, including trades and free agency, can strongly impact a player's fantasy football value. This effect can be positive or negative. For this series, we're focusing on fantasy football players who have seen their fantasy value increase. This can occur via a player's direct movement, such as a trade or signing with a... Read More


UFL RANKINGS, FANTASY FOOTBALL,

UFL Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 1: QB, RB, WR, TE Rankings and Analysis (2024)

It's finally here: the UFL season is set to kick off with two games on Saturday, March 30 and two games on Sunday, March 31. Saturday's games will be broadcast on Fox Sports while Sunday's matchups will be on ESPN. The most anticipated Week 1 matchup pits the 2023 USFL champion Birmingham Stallions against the... Read More


Jared Goff - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Will the Lions Extend Jared Goff's Contract This Offseason? 2024 NFL Outlook

Jared Goff's career in Los Angeles didn't take off like many expected after his appearance in Super Bowl LIII, and he was traded to the Lions for Matthew Stafford. Goff's first season in the Motor City was terrible, but he has completely turned things around over the last two seasons. In 2022, he almost led... Read More


Kyle Pitts - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2024 NFL Free-Agency Winners and the Fantasy Football Impact - Part I

Free agency symbolizes the start of a new NFL season. It's the first opportunity for NFL clubs to start addressing their weaknesses and considerably impacts how the upcoming season plays out. Just as free agency can improve or worsen a team's outlook, a player's fantasy football value is also impacted. Free agency marks the real... Read More


Malik Nabers - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, WR, NFL Draft Sleepers

Coach Knows Ball: Malik Nabers 2024 NFL Draft Film Breakdown of LSU WR

Welcome to Coach Knows Ball, an NFL Draft series analyzing the top prospects in the 2024 class. I'm a college football coach with nine years of NCAA experience and have been scouting NFL Draft prospects for over 15 years. This series will give a deep dive into the film of some of the top players... Read More


Avoid These Running Backs in 2024: Fantasy Football Outlook

Football never sleeps at RotoBaller! The staff is already looking ahead to the 2024 season to help our readers get the jump on their competition. RotoBaller analyst LaQuan Jones discusses five Running Backs that you should AVOID in 2024 fantasy football drafts. Win MORE in 2024 with RotoBaller! Be sure to tune into RotoBaller Radio... Read More


Brock Bowers - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers, NCAA College Football, Prospects

Brock Bowers 2024 NFL Draft Stock Update – When Will the Georgia TE Be Selected?

Georgia tight end Brock Bowers was arguably the top tight end in college football over the past few years. Bowers was outstanding his freshman year, totaling 56 receptions for 882 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Unfortunately, his production slightly slipped in 2022 as defenses started to game plan for the star tight end. Bowers had... Read More


Xavier Worthy 2024 NFL Draft Stock Update – When Will the Texas WR Be Selected?

Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy has been one of the top pass-catchers in college football over the past few years. The explosive receiver was outstanding his freshman year, totaling 62 receptions for 981 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Unfortunately, his production slipped in 2022. Worthy had 60 receptions for 760 receiving yards and nine touchdowns... Read More


Blake Corum - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, RB, NFL Draft Sleepers

Blake Corum 2024 NFL Draft Stock Update - When Will the Michigan RB Be Selected?

Former Michigan running back Blake Corum is one of the most popular prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft class. The 23-year-old is fresh off a College Football National Championship victory and a 2023 campaign consisting of over 1,300 yards from scrimmage. However, given the devaluation of the running back position and Corum not being an... Read More


Brandon Aiyuk - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News

Will The 49ers Trade Brandon Aiyuk?

Brandon Aiyuk had a career year last season, finishing seventh in the league in receiving yards (1342), second in yards per catch (17.9), and catching seven touchdowns. For his efforts, he was named to the Second-team All-Pro. However, despite many expecting them to do so, the 49ers failed to win Super Bowl LVIII and now... Read More