Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Top Tiger

For the week May 7-13

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Start 'Em

1. Clayton Kershaw - SF
2. Stephen Strasburg - @PIT
3. Cole Hamels - SD
4. Tommy Hanson - @CHC, @STL
5. Matt Cain - @ARI
6. Lance Lynn - @ARI, ATL
7. Roy Halladay - NYM, SD
8. Cliff Lee - NYM
9. Anibal Sanchez - @HOU
10. Edwin Jackson - @PIT, @CIN
11. Madison Bumgarner - @ARI
12. Mark Buehrle - NYM
13. Gio Gonzalez - @CIN
14. Ryan Dempster - ATL
15. Yovani Gallardo - CIN, CHC
16. Kyle Lohse - @ARI
17. Ian Kennedy - STL
18. Tim Lincecum - @LAD
19. Zack Greinke - CIN
20. Brandon Beachy - @STL
21. Josh Johnson - @HOU
22. Vance Worley - SD
23. Jordan Zimmermann - @CIN
24. Matt Garza - @MIL
25. Wandy Rodriguez - MIA, @PIT
26. Jaime Garcia - ATL
27. Jon Niese - @PHI, @MIA
28. Jeff Samardzija - ATL, @MIL
29. Johnny Cueto - @MIL
30. Ted Lilly - SF, COL
31. Mike Minor - @STL
32. Ricky Nolasco - NYM
33. Erik Bedard - WAS
34. Chad Billingsley - SF
35. Tim Hudson - @CHC
36. Ross Detwiler - @PIT
37. Shaun Marcum - CHC
38. Joe Saunders - STL, SF
39. Mat Latos - WAS
40. Jake Westbrook - @ARI
41. Trevor Cahill - SF
42. Chris Capuano - COL
43. Ryan Vogelsong - @LAD
44. James McDonald - HOU
45. Bronson Arroyo - @MIL, WAS
46. R.A. Dickey - @MIA
47. Adam Wainwright - ATL
48. Wade Miley - STL
49. Carlos Zambrano - @HOU, NYM
50. Joe Blanton - NYM

Borderline Depending on League Format

51. Chris Volstad - @MIL
52. Johan Santana - @MIA
53. Juan Nicasio - @LAD
54. Bud Norris - @PIT
55. Edinson Volquez - COL, @PHI
56. Kevin Correia - WAS
57. Drew Pomeranz - @SD
58. Anthony Bass - COL
59. Barry Zito - @LAD, @ARI
60. Randy Wolf - CHC
61. Patrick Corbin - SF
62. Paul Maholm - ATL
63. Homer Bailey - @MIL
64. J.A. Happ - @PIT
65. Dillon Gee - @PHI
66. Aaron Harang - COL
67. Randall Delgado - @CHC

Extreme caution advised

68. Lucas Harrell - MIA
69. Jamie Moyer - @LAD
70. Undecided COL - @SD, @LAD
71. Mike Leake - WAS
72. Marco Estrada - CIN
73. A.J. Burnett - WAS, HOU
74. Charlie Morton - HOU
75. Clayton Richard - @PHI
76. Chris Schwinden - @PHI
77. Undecided HOU - MIA
78. Jeremy Guthrie - @SD
79. Cory Luebke - @PHI (check status)
80. Jeff Suppan - COL

Notes: There's no better place for a pitcher to come off the DL than in San Diego, but Jeremy Guthrie still should be avoided in most formats this week. ... Ross Detwiler's 1.59 ERA is surprising, but considering he was once a top-six draft pick, it's not exactly out of the blue. ... With a solid 3.42 ERA, Ryan Vogelsong is proving last year's return to the States was no fluke. ... Erik Bedard has been fantastic this year with a 2.65 ERA and 37:14 K:BB in 34 innings. Maybe the Red Sox can trade for him again. ... Barry Zito walked seven in 3.2 innings last time out. Hope you all enjoyed the ride. ... I think the Nationals could win the World Series this year if everyone is healthy. Gio Gonzalez (1.82 ERA) has been better than advertised, particular with his 3.6 BB/9IP. If Mike Morse (back) can come back in early June and picks up where he left off last year, this team could be very tough to beat. One caveat: Stephen Strasburg's innings count. ... Among all major league starters, Jeff Samardzija's fastball ranks the second fastest (Strasburg) in baseball at 94.9 mph. His control as a starter (2.8 BB/9IP) has been far better than he showed last year out of the bullpen (5.1). ... Ryan Dempster probably wouldn't mind a trade. He leads the NL with a 0.95 ERA but is just 0-1 on the year. ... Joe Blanton has a 2.83 ERA, largely on the back of a miniscule three walks in 35 innings. ... If you don't think Lance Lynn (5-0, 1.60 ERA) is for real, keep in mind he was pretty good in St. Louis last year

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Start 'Em

1. Justin Verlander - @SEA, @OAK
2. Jered Weaver - @MIN, @TEX
3. James Shields - @NYY, @BAL
4. Ricky Romero - @OAK, @MIN
5. Yu Darvish - LAA
6. Felix Hernandez - @NYY
7. CC Sabathia - TB
8. Colby Lewis - @BAL
9. Dan Haren - @MIN
10. David Price - @NYY
11. Jake Peavy - @CLE
12. Jeremy Hellickson - @NYY
13. Doug Fister - @SEA, @OAK
14. Jon Lester - @KC
15. Jarrod Parker - TOR, DET
16. Neftali Feliz - @BAL, LAA
17. Brandon Morrow - @OAK
18. Justin Masterson - CHW, @BOS
19. C.J. Wilson - @TEX
20. Bartolo Colon - DET
21. Matt Harrison - @BAL, LAA
22. Dan Bard - @KC, CLE
23. Tom Milone - DET
24. Derek Holland - @BAL
25. Josh Beckett - CLE (check status)
26. Hiroki Kuroda - TB
27. Jeff Niemann - @BAL
28. Gavin Floyd - KC
29. Derek Lowe - @BOS
30. Brandon McCarthy - TOR
31. Andy Pettitte - SEA
32. Matt Moore - @BAL
33. Jeanmar Gomez - CHW
34. Kyle Drabek - @MIN
35. Drew Smyly - @SEA
36. Danny Duffy - BOS
37. Jason Vargas - DET
38. Philip Humber - @CLE, KC

Borderline Depending on League Format

39. Jake Arrieta - TEX, TB
40. Henderson Alvarez - @MIN
41. Josh Tomlin - CHW, @BOS
42. Ivan Nova - TB, SEA
43. John Danks - @CLE
44. Jason Hammel - TEX
45. Wei-Yin Chen - TEX
46. Felix Doubront - @KC, CLE
47. Rick Porcello - @OAK
48. Blake Beavan - DET, @NYY
49. Brian Matusz - TEX, TB
50. Clay Buchholz - CLE
51. Drew Hutchison - @MIN
52. Ubaldo Jimenez - @BOS
53. Bruce Chen - BOS
54. Carl Pavano - LAA
55. Ervin Santana - @MIN
56. Max Scherzer - @OAK
57. Tommy Hunter - TB

Extreme Caution Advised

58. Jerome Williams - @TEX
59. Dylan Axelrod - KC
60. Phil Hughes - SEA
61. Luke Hochevar - @CHW
62. Kevin Millwood - DET
63. CHW Undecided - @CLE
64. Jonathan Sanchez - BOS, @CHW
65. Felipe Paulino - @CHW
66. Francisco Liriano - LAA, TOR
67. Liam Hendriks - LAA, TOR
68. Nick Blackburn - TOR
69. Jason Marquis - TOR
70. CLE undecided - CHW
71. Tyson Ross - DET
72. Hector Noesi - @NYY

Notes: It appears Doug Fister is set to return from an upper body injury this week, likely on Monday in Seattle. Just be sure to monitor his player notes over the weekend before you set your lineup. ... It's not for certain yet, but I'm penciling in Andy Pettitte for his debut this week. Unless he gets bombed in his next minor league start, expect him to debut against the Mariners in Yankee Stadium. ... Daisuke Matsuzaka (elbow) could be looking at a mid-May return, potentially pushing Dan Bard to the bullpen or Clay Buchholz to Triple-A. ... There was some talk on Twitter that Danny Duffy was hitting 99 mph against the Yankees Thursday. That sounds high, but he is averaging 95 mph and appears to beyond the minor elbow soreness. ... Aaron Cook is starting in place of Josh Beckett (lat) this week, but expect it to be a one-shot deal before Cook heads to the bullpen. He is, however, a candidate to join the rotation at some point. ... Big changes in Chicago where Chris Sale has been moved to the closer role, with Dylan Axelrod joining the rotation. Axelrod isn't a big strikeout pitcher, but his groundball tendencies could allow for some AL-only value. ... Among 118 pitchers who qualify for the ERA title as of Friday, Clay Buchholz ranked 118th in ERA at 8.69.

MIXED LEAGUE TOP 100

1. Justin Verlander - @SEA, @OAK
2. Jered Weaver - @MIN, @TEX
3. James Shields - @NYY, @BAL
4. Ricky Romero - @OAK, @MIN
5. Clayton Kershaw - SF
6. Stephen Strasburg - @PIT
7. Cole Hamels - SD
8. Tommy Hanson - @CHC, @STL
9. Yu Darvish - LAA
10. Matt Cain - @ARI
11. Lance Lynn - @ARI, ATL
12. Felix Hernandez - @NYY
13. Roy Halladay - NYM, SD
14. Cliff Lee - NYM
15. Anibal Sanchez - @HOU
16. CC Sabathia - TB
17. Edwin Jackson - @PIT, @CIN
18. Madison Bumgarner - @ARI
19. Colby Lewis - @BAL
20. Dan Haren - @MIN
21. David Price - @NYY
22. Jake Peavy - @CLE
23. Mark Buehrle - NYM
24. Gio Gonzalez - @CIN
25. Jeremy Hellickson - @NYY
26. Ryan Dempster - ATL
27. Doug Fister - @SEA, @OAK
28. Yovani Gallardo - CIN, CHC
29. Kyle Lohse - @ARI
30. Ian Kennedy - STL
31. Tim Lincecum - @LAD
32. Jon Lester - @KC
33. Zack Greinke - CIN
34. Brandon Beachy - @STL
35. Jarrod Parker - TOR, DET
36. Neftali Feliz - @BAL, LAA
37. Brandon Morrow - @OAK
38. Justin Masterson - CHW, @BOS
39. Brandon Beachy - @STL
40. Josh Johnson - @HOU
41. Vance Worley - SD
42. C.J. Wilson - @TEX
43. Jordan Zimmermann - @CIN
44. Matt Garza - @MIL
45. Wandy Rodriguez - MIA, @PIT
46. Jaime Garcia - ATL
47. Bartolo Colon - DET
48. Jon Niese - @PHI, @MIA
49. Jeff Samardzija - ATL, @MIL
50. Johnny Cueto - @MIL
51. Ted Lilly - SF, COL
52. Mike Minor - @STL
53. Ricky Nolasco - NYM
54. Erik Bedard - WAS
55. Chad Billingsley - SF
56. Tim Hudson - @CHC
57. Ross Detwiler - @PIT
58. Shaun Marcum - CHC
59. Joe Saunders - STL, SF
60. Mat Latos - WAS
61. Jake Westbrook - @ARI
62. Trevor Cahill - SF
63. Chris Capuano - COL
64. Ryan Vogelsong - @LAD
65. James McDonald - HOU
66. Bronson Arroyo - @MIL, WAS
67. R.A. Dickey - @MIA
68. Adam Wainwright - ATL
69. Wade Miley - STL
70. Carlos Zambrano - @HOU, NYM
71. Joe Blanton - NYM
72. Matt Harrison - @BAL, LAA
73. Dan Bard - @KC, CLE
74. Tom Milone - DET
75. Derek Holland - @BAL
76. Josh Beckett - CLE (check status)
77. Hiroki Kuroda - TB
78. Jeff Niemann - @BAL
79. Gavin Floyd - KC
80. Derek Lowe - @BOS
81. Brandon McCarthy - TOR
82. Andy Pettitte - SEA
83. Matt Moore - @BAL
84. Jeanmar Gomez - CHW
85. Kyle Drabek - @MIN
86. Drew Smyly - @SEA
87. Danny Duffy - BOS
88. Jason Vargas - DET
89. Philip Humber - @CLE, KC
90. Chris Volstad - @MIL
91. Johan Santana - @MIA
92. Juan Nicasio - @LAD
93. Bud Norris - @PIT
94. Edinson Volquez - COL, @PHI
95. Kevin Correia - WAS
96. Drew Pomeranz - @SD
97. Anthony Bass - COL
98. Barry Zito - @LAD, @ARI
99. Randy Wolf - CHC
100. Patrick Corbin - SF

Regan, a five-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association award winner, was named the 2010 Fantasy Baseball Writer of the Year.

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