MLB Showdown Cards

MLB Showdown 2011: Starting Pitchers 300-390 Points

            Now time for the oddball players. The guys who have a 300 to 390 point range. These guys are not going to consistently shut even the most inept offenses down. They also should not get chased for 7 or more runs unless you play in a strategy card rich league. You are not going to get consistent +6 IP length out of these guys so get that thought out of your head. Budget for 3 bullpen innings from these guys unless you have a good reason to think otherwise. Extreme hitting line ups may have to use one of these players as a first starter. That does not make them an ace but they still need to perform. Most players are going to see these guys as a 3 pitcher and pitching heavy to extreme may have them as cabooses to their rotations. No matter what you use them for it is important to understand the player you are getting.

            There are no 6's in this range and if there were they would not be worth mentioning. The 5s are not much better but they at least deserve a look. They are as much of a horse as you are going to get out of this point range. You have Jake Westbrook 5, 1-14 out with a decent ground ball 6-11. His small none advancing out makes him even more susceptable to small ballers then I would like. You get what you pay for I guess at 370 points. He has 6 IP barring he does not give 3 tallies. He looks like he fits better as a 4 pitcher for a slightly pitching heavy team. He can be stretched and neutralize power as much as could be expected. Colby Lewis only for the brave souls. He has a 1-15 out for 6 IP. Small GB with 7-9. Worst part 20 HR, 19 2B. Not a even worth the look. Even if he never gave up the advantage he is going to get hurt enough to lose.

            A better pick then both of those guys is Mike Leake at 380 points as a 4. He is a 1-16 out with a 1-6 none advancing out. Not great by any means but his 7-11 ground ball will do some good and his serviceable chart makes him a better look then the 5's. His 5 IP is easily supplemented by cheap relievers or strategy cards. Worst comes to worst just stretch him. The interesting pick here is Rick Porcello for 300 points. He may play as well as the 350 pointers if people are not stealing or if you play  in a league where the OF has a chance to throw runners out at home when trying to score from second on a single. If this is the case and you end up with a 5 or higher in the OF on defense then this guy has a chance to do good things for cheap late in the rotation at the cost.

            I like a 3 in this situation. There are a few players I think can do things at the point values. Michael Pineda at 340 points may be a tough customer to score runs against. He is most susceptable to power lines. As we have mentioned in countless previous articles those line ups are few and far between in this years class. For 340 he can pitch 6 innings on his card. He is a 1-16 out. The combo that makes him lethal? His 17-18 walk and 1-9 none advancing out. He has a microscopic groundball at 10-11 but the walks instead of hits and strike outs will keep people from touching home. Much better card then Phillip Humber at the points. Anibal Sanchez is much worse at 320 with the same none advancing out. The difference is the 18 is now a single instead of a walk. Even the 1 bigger ground ball does not sell me on him over Pineda but he is still a good pick at the points.

            The thought of a 2 or lower in this situation is something I would be somewhat scared of. Is John Lannan  a 2, 6 IP, 1-17 out with a 7-13 GB a useful pick in some instances? Of course a GB that big will solve problems. If you do that you better have ways of keeping people from stealing. Ether Pudge or cards. David Price at 360 is worth a look in a larger league. 2 for 7 IP and a 1-9 none advancing out may throw up enough shut out frames to be useful. In leagues that are NL rules only these guys will mow down pitchers really well.

            In this range it is all about knowing your league and your team. Pick these guys around your team. I do not recommend doing the opposite. With the low points and the high expectations these guys are going to need help from their teammates for maximum success. More expensive players just pay their way out of problems.