Starting pitcher Rankings 7/1/13

By Matthew Pouliot 

Dropping off: James McDonald (No. 106), Trevor Bauer (No. 119), Justin Grimm (No. 123), Scott Diamond (No. 124), Scott Baker (No. 127), Cory Luebke (No. 130), Dylan Bundy (No. 132), Tyler Skaggs (No. 134), Josh Beckett (No. 138), Tommy Hanson (No. 140), Edinson Volquez (No. 142), Daniel Hudson (No. 144), Tyson Ross (No. 148), Jonathan Pettibone (No. 150)

• I've been overly harsh in accounting for Fernandez's innings limit in the rankings each month, but it is time to really start thinking about that now. He's a top-50 pitcher at the moment, but he's likely to get September off. Cashner might be in the same boat unless the Padres can stay in the NL West race. As is, the Padres are already working out ways to get him extra rest. Wheeler and Gibson are among the other youngsters likely to finish the season as spectators.

• Speaking of Gibson, he was pretty impressive in his major league debut Saturday against the Royals, throwing 93-94 mph with his fastball and recording five strikeouts in a victory. The Twins held him back so long in part because they're managing his innings in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, and since they're not going to make any noise this year, they may limit him to 10-12 more starts before shutting him down. Despite that, Gibson is still easily their top pitcher for fantasy purposes right now. He and Deduno are the only Twins pitchers to make the top 150 this month.

• Wandy Rodriguez's latest forearm/elbow setback resulted in a 20-spot bump for Cole in the rankings. It's starting to seem quite a bit less likely that he'll see Triple-A again this year.

• Cingrani is a top-50 starter until Cueto rejoins the Reds' rotation. Sounds like it'll be at least a month this time.

• Despite being sent down last week, Straily is still nominally Oakland's fifth starter. He was sent down because three off days enabled the team to go to a four-man rotation for a couple of weeks.

• If I were the Yankees (Hughes, Phelps), Braves (Maholm) or Rockies (Chatwood, Nicasio), I'd call the Royals and see if they'd trade Davis for a more reliable SP, with the idea of shifting Davis back to the pen. Davis looked like potential closer material in the Rays pen last year, but he's been a flop as a starter again this year and the Royals already have plenty of quality relief options.

Rank	SP	Team	2013	May	June
1	Clayton Kershaw	Dodgers	1	1	1
2	Adam Wainwright	Cardinals	10	5	3
3	Justin Verlander	Tigers	2	2	2
4	Yu Darvish	Rangers	16	7	5
5	Cliff Lee	Phillies	6	9	6
6	Felix Hernandez	Mariners	8	3	4
7	Stephen Strasburg	Nationals	3	8	7
8	Gio Gonzalez	Nationals	9	10	8
9	Madison Bumgarner	Giants	13	6	10
10	Max Scherzer	Tigers	23	15	13
11	Cole Hamels	Phillies	4	4	9
12	James Shields	Royals	12	14	12
13	Matt Harvey	Mets	44	17	14
14	Matt Cain	Giants	7	12	15
15	Mat Latos	Reds	25	18	21
16	Chris Sale	White Sox	19	24	26
17	David Price	Rays	5	11	29
18	Jordan Zimmermann	Nationals	24	19	22
19	Matt Moore	Rays	22	13	11
20	Jeff Samardzija	Cubs	29	22	23
21	Zack Greinke	Dodgers	14	29	25
22	Hiroki Kuroda	Yankees	32	27	27
23	Matt Garza	Cubs	45	41	36
24	Hyun-Jin Ryu	Dodgers	31	31	28
25	Lance Lynn	Cardinals	41	34	33
26	Mike Minor	Braves	42	32	19
27	Hisashi Iwakuma	Mariners	74	53	35
28	Jered Weaver	Angels	11	33	17
29	Patrick Corbin	Diamondbacks	129	62	42
30	Clay Buchholz	Red Sox	52	26	18
31	Shelby Miller	Cardinals	78	43	31
32	Jeremy Hellickson	Rays	34	39	49
33	Julio Teheran	Braves	51	74	56
34	Kris Medlen	Braves	18	23	46
35	CC Sabathia	Yankees	17	21	32
36	R.A. Dickey	Blue Jays	15	25	41
37	C.J. Wilson	Angels	27	47	38
38	Jon Lester	Red Sox	20	16	16
39	Derek Holland	Rangers	72	52	43
40	Doug Fister	Tigers	63	46	39
41	Anibal Sanchez	Tigers	53	20	20
42	Yovani Gallardo	Brewers	30	30	53
43	Josh Johnson	Blue Jays	36	59	55
44	A.J. Burnett	Pirates	50	42	37
45	Homer Bailey	Reds	48	44	44
46	Tommy Milone	Athletics	33	36	45
47	Mike Leake	Reds	88	104	62
48	Jarrod Parker	Athletics	43	78	59
49	Francisco Liriano	Pirates	91	82	58
50	Bartolo Colon	Athletics	124	95	74
51	A.J. Griffin	Athletics	83	77	61
52	Jake Peavy	White Sox	37	35	34
53	Justin Masterson	Indians	89	84	52
54	Ervin Santana	Royals	97	55	84
55	Tim Hudson	Braves	62	61	64
56	John Lackey	Red Sox	145	124	78
57	Alex Cobb	Rays	38	28	24
58	Paul Maholm	Braves	94	60	63
59	Andrew Cashner	Padres	75	71	67
60	Travis Wood	Cubs	158	98	73
61	Ryan Dempster	Red Sox	82	63	71
62	Johnny Cueto	Reds	21	37	30
63	Trevor Cahill	Diamondbacks	58	50	48
64	Tony Cingrani	Reds	105 RP	45	85
65	Gerrit Cole	Pirates	120	116	114
66	Jhoulys Chacin	Rockies	93	73	94
67	Erasmo Ramirez	Mariners	64	90	80
68	Kyle Lohse	Brewers	60	57	72
69	Edwin Jackson	Cubs	46	54	66
70	Tim Lincecum	Giants	47	56	69
71	Chris Tillman	Orioles	99	89	102
72	Jeff Locke	Pirates	164	150	90
73	Andy Pettitte	Yankees	57	65	65
74	Jose Fernandez	Marlins	86	75	76
75	Zack Wheeler	Mets	160	133	82
76	Kyle Kendrick	Phillies	108	92	95
77	Brandon Beachy	Braves	133	107	54
78	Eric Stults	Padres	182	NR	128
79	Jose Quintana	White Sox	69	66	70
80	Ian Kennedy	Diamondbacks	39	51	60
81	Miguel Gonzalez	Orioles	117	114	108
82	Rick Porcello	Tigers	68	106	83
83	Bronson Arroyo	Reds	119	96	89
84	Alexi Ogando	Rangers	49	48	57
85	Scott Feldman	Cubs	100	94	68
86	Wandy Rodriguez	Pirates	71	68	51
87	Phil Hughes	Yankees	73	67	75
88	Wade Miley	Diamondbacks	66	69	79
89	Ross Detwiler	Nationals	77	72	86
90	Jeremy Guthrie	Royals	95	85	91
91	Wei-Yin Chen	Orioles	80	88	103
92	Bud Norris	Astros	171	149	135
93	Felix Doubront	Red Sox	115	110	100
94	Ricky Nolasco	Marlins	116	109	96
95	Jason Vargas	Angels	55	64	50
96	Martin Perez	Rangers	233	NR	NR
97	Michael Wacha	Cardinals	148	130	40
98	Kyle Gibson	Twins	178	NR	141
99	Corey Kluber	Indians	213	NR	139
100	Michael Pineda	Yankees	149	129	115
101	Brandon McCarthy	Diamondbacks	61	87	97
102	Chris Capuano	Dodgers	76	79	101
103	Robbie Erlin	Padres	204	NR	137
104	Jorge De La Rosa	Rockies	131	118	109
105	Nathan Eovaldi	Marlins	165	NR	NR
106	Ted Lilly	Dodgers	98	102	87
107	Roy Oswalt	Rockies	102	113	116
108	Jacob Turner	Marlins	135	NR	NR
109	Dan Straily	Athletics	139	108	81
110	Joe Blanton	Angels	84	134	129
111	Ubaldo Jimenez	Indians	123	NR	120
112	Jake Westbrook	Cardinals	126	93	112
113	Colby Lewis	Rangers	122	105	117
114	Hector Santiago	White Sox	121	127	136
115	John Danks	White Sox	114	103	122
116	David Phelps	Yankees	146	126	118
117	Mark Buehrle	Blue Jays	111	139	133
118	Roberto Hernandez	Rays	141	138	121
119	Jason Hammel	Orioles	65	76	99
120	Dan Haren	Nationals	35	38	47
121	Scott Kazmir	Indians	163	NR	146
122	Ryan Vogelsong	Giants	67	80	131
123	Chris Archer	Rays	127	111	92
124	Esmil Rogers	Blue Jays	159 RP	NR	NR
125	Dillon Gee	Mets	96	144	145
126	Jordan Lyles	Astros	198	NR	NR
127	Marco Estrada	Brewers	81	101	107
128	Shaun Marcum	Mets	92	128	126
129	Kevin Gausman	Orioles	152	122	88
130	Jon Niese	Mets	59	70	77
131	Henderson Alvarez	Marlins	112	NR	NR
132	Carlos Villanueva	Cubs	103	83	104
133	Zach McAllister	Indians	159	132	113
134	Brett Anderson	Athletics	28	40	93
135	Erik Bedard	Astros	186	NR	NR
136	Aaron Harang	Mariners	169	NR	NR
137	Brandon Morrow	Blue Jays	40	58	98
138	Joe Kelly	Cardinals	168	NR	NR
139	Jeremy Hefner	Mets	153	146	NR
140	J.A. Happ	Blue Jays	130	119	149
141	Zach Britton	Orioles	140	NR	NR
142	Wade Davis	Royals	87	97	110
143	Roy Halladay	Phillies	26	86	147
144	Samuel Deduno	Twins	184	NR	NR
145	Carlos Martinez	Cardinals	203	NR	NR
146	Nick Tepesch	Rangers	232	125	111
147	Jerome Williams	Angels	187	NR	NR
148	Stephen Fife	Dodgers	241	NR	NR
149	Kevin Slowey	Marlins	154	100	125
150	Barry Zito	Giants	155	117	143

Detroit at Tampa Bay, 1:40 p.m. ET

The Tampa Bay Rays need to make a move before the All-Star break and taking two of three from the American League Central-leading Detroit Tigers would be a big boost. The Rays send Jeremy Hellickson to the mound in the rubber match of the three-game set against the visiting Tigers on Sunday. Tampa Bay’s top offensive threat, Evan Longoria, is likely out with a foot injury, but Ben Zobrist, Wil Myers and James Loney look to continue their red-hot hitting.

The Rays are six games out in the AL East while Detroit’s lead in the Central has shrunk to one game over Cleveland after going 1-4 in the last five. Miguel Cabrera is 26-for-55 during his season-best 14-game hitting streak for the Tigers, who have won 15 of the last 20 against Tampa Bay. Cabrera and Prince Fielder have combined for 37 of Detroit’s 84 homers and 143 of its 382 RBIs.

Porcello needs to turn things around after two straight rough starts, giving up 13 runs and 19 hits over 10 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old had allowed only two or fewer runs in five of his previous seven appearances, going 3-1. Desmond Jennings is 3-for-7 in his career vs. Porcello, who is 2-1 in four starts against the Rays with a 2.33 ERA.

Hellickson is 4-1 in five June starts, allowing five runs in the four victories over 24 innings. The right-hander yielded only one hit over seven innings in his last outing against Toronto and has walked only eight batters in his last nine games. Austin Jackson is 4-for-11 with a homer against Hellickson, who is 1-3 with a 1.96 ERA in four lifetime starts vs. Det

Tigers are 1-4 in their last 5 games as a road underdog.
Tigers are 1-4 in their last 5 overall.
Tigers are 2-8 in Porcellos last 10 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Tigers are 0-4 in Porcellos last 4 starts during game 3 of a series.
Tigers are 0-4 in Porcellos last 4 starts vs. American League East.
Tigers are 0-4 in Porcellos last 4 Sunday starts.
Tigers are 3-8 in Porcellos last 11 starts following a team loss in their previous game

Rays are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record
Rays are 6-0 in Hellicksons last 6 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Rays are 5-0 in Hellicksons last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Rays are 4-0 in Hellicksons last 4 starts with 5 days of rest.
Rays are 10-1 in Hellicksons last 11 Sunday starts.
Rays are 5-1 in Hellicksons last 6 starts.
Rays are 4-1 in Hellicksons last 5 starts as a home favorite.
Rays are 4-1 in Hellicksons last 5 starts as a favorite.
Rays are 8-2 in Hellicksons last 10 home starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Rays are 4-1 in Hellicksons last 5 starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Rays are 8-2 in Hellicksons last 10 home starts.

Under is 4-0 in Porcellos last 4 starts vs. Rays.
Under is 12-3-1 in the last 16 meetings in Tampa Bay.
Under is 19-6-2 in the last 27 meetings.
Tigers are 15-5 in the last 20 meetings.
Tigers are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Tampa Bay

Under is 6-0 in Carapazzas last 6 games behind home plate vs. Tampa Bay.
Road team is 4-1 in Carapazzas last 5 games behind home plate.
Road team is 7-3 in Carapazzas last 10 Sunday games behind home plate.
Under is 7-3 in Carapazzas last 10 Sunday games behind home plate.

MLB(917) DETROIT @ (918) TAMPA BAY | 06/30/2013 - 1:40 PM
Play AGAINST DETROIT using the money line in All games on the road with a money line of -100 to -125
The record is 9 Wins and 27 Losses for the last two seasons (-23.05 units)

MLB(917) DETROIT @ (918) TAMPA BAY | 06/30/2013 - 1:40 PM
Play AGAINST DETROIT using the run line in All games on the road when the run line is (+1.5, -190) to (-1.5, +130)
The record is 6 Wins and 30 Losses for the last two seasons (-22.00 units)

The longer you're on the road the harder it gets. Pitching advantage is on the home team for sure. Think we have a great opportunity at this one. Seems like we got a gift with this line as well. Let's get on the Rays today. Taking the ML but will have a small play on the RL too. Good Luck


TB RAYS -117 (2u)