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Starting pitcher rankings for Sunday, July 5
<table style="margin: 0pt; width: 100%;"> <thead><tr><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Rk</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 30px;"><center>Team</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;">Name</th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>T</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 35px;"><center>W-L</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>ERA</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>WHIP</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>K/9</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>OPSA</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Opp</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>OPS</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>CT%</center></th></tr></thead><tbody> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Dan Haren</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7-5</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">2.19</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">0.81</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">8.84</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.533</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">@COL</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.774</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">77.1%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">2</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Chad Billingsley</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">9-4</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3.12</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.26</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">8.81</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.652</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">@SD</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.693</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">79.0%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Johan Santana</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">L</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">9-6</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3.34</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.26</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">9.15</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.700</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">@PHI</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.778</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">79.8%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Ted Lilly</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">L</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7-6</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3.35</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.13</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7.57</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.708</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">MIL</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.761</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">76.4%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">5</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Jon Lester</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">L</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7-6</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.35</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.31</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">10.33</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.720</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">SEA</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.719</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">82.2%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">6</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Roy Oswalt</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4-4</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.02</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.30</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7.09</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.759</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">@SF</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.698</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">78.4%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Ubaldo Jimenez</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">6-7</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3.75</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.33</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7.40</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.665</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">ARI</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.720</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">76.8%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">8</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Cliff Lee</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">L</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4-7</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3.39</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.38</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">6.47</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.722</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">OAK</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.677</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">81.4%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">9</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Chris Carpenter</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">5-3</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">2.42</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">0.82</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">6.75</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.532</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">@CIN</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.712</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">80.6%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">10</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Derek Lowe</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7-6</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.44</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.40</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.88</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.730</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">@WAS</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.746</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">77.2%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">11</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Nick Blackburn</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">6-4</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3.10</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.30</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3.77</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.712</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">DET</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.751</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">80.3%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">12</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Randy Johnson</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">L</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">8-5</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.70</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.32</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7.98</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.792</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">HOU</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.732</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">83.1%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">13</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Joe Saunders</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">L</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">8-5</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.24</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.30</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">5.21</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.759</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">BAL</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.754</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">83.1%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">14</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Ricky Nolasco</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">5-6</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">5.99</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.45</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">8.22</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.830</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">PIT</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.732</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">80.0%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">15</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Joba Chamberlain</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4-2</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3.89</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.47</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">8.11</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.769</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">TOR</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.779</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">83.6%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">16</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Scott Richmond</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">6-5</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3.69</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.20</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7.49</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.730</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">@NYY</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.823</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">83.0%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">17</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Ross Ohlendorf</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7-6</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.41</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.24</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.88</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.761</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">@FLA</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.727</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">77.0%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">18</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Rick Porcello</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">8-5</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3.90</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.42</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.77</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.771</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">@MIN</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.762</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">80.5%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">19</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Brian Bannister</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">5-6</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3.93</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.30</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">5.63</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.684</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">CHW</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.748</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">80.6%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">20</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Scott Feldman</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">6-2</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.09</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.18</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.63</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.684</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">TB</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.821</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">77.7%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">21</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Jeff Niemann</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7-4</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3.95</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.41</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">5.08</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.742</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">@TEX</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.775</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">76.7%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">22</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Bronson Arroyo</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">8-7</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">5.69</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.52</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.78</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.864</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">STL</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.735</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">81.7%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">23</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Joe Blanton</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4-4</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">5.08</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.47</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">8.12</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.827</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">NYM</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.749</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">83.6%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">24</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Mike Burns</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1-1</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3.31</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.29</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.96</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.719</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">@CHC</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.722</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">77.6%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">25</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Brett Anderson</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">L</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4-7</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">5.45</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.51</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">6.30</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.835</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">@CLE</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.758</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">77.5%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">26</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Clayton Richard</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">L</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3-1</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.48</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.51</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">6.85</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.792</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">@KC</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.712</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">80.5%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">27</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Rich Hill</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">L</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3-2</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">7.08</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.80</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">8.19</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.860</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">@LAA</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.775</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">81.5%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">28</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Brandon Morrow</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">0-3</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">5.14</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.83</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">9.77</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.787</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">@BOS</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.800</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">79.7%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">29</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Josh Banks</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">R</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1-0</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">3.38</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.05</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">4.05</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.700</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">LAD</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.748</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">80.9%</td></tr> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">30</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Scott Olsen</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">L</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1-4</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">6.56</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1.75</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">6.75</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">.952</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">ATL</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">.723</td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center">82.1%</td></tr> </tbody></table>Rk.: The author's ranking of that pitcher for that day only. T: Pitcher throws left-handed or right-handed. W-L: Pitcher's win-loss record. ERA: Pitcher's earned run average. WHIP: Pitcher's average number of walks plus
Selected notes for Sunday:
You can't really go wrong with any of the top three on our list: Dan Haren already has faced Colorado twice this year, with an 0.64 ERA, Chad Billingsley is 8-3 lifetime against the Padres with a 2.62 ERA, and Johan Santana, though he has been shaky of late, has never lost to Philadelphia. … Ted Lilly has struggled lately, with an 0-2 record and 5.21 ERA in his last three, otherwise he might be right there at the top himself. … Jon Lester is always a good play at Fenway Park, with his career 19-5 record there. … Roy Oswalt is also better than his 2009 numbers, and is 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA against the Giants in his past three starts against them. … Ubaldo Jimenez has a career 2.18 ERA against the Diamondbacks, earning the Rockies starter entry into our top ten, ahead of Cliff Lee who has struggled to get wins this season. Still, you have to like his 0.61 ERA against Oakland in his past three games against the team. Just as Derek' Lowe's 5-2 lifetime mark against the Nationals makes him the last member of our top ten for Sunday. … Nick Blackburn at the Metrodome is usually a winning combination. He's 11-3 with a 2.85 ERA there, but Detroit is hitting .270 over the last two weeks. … Randy Johnson is always good against Houston, with a 4-1 record and a 3.64 ERA, and while Joe Saunders gives up a few more runs (4.15 ERA) he has never lost to Baltimore in five decisions. … Ricky Nolasco has been lights-out of late, 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA, but we do fear he's due for a bit of a setback. Just being cautious here. … Brian Bannister falls to No. 18 due to an 8.15 lifetime ERA against the White Sox. … We're hesitant with Jeff Niemann because of the 100-plus temperatures in Texas, though still happier starting him than Bronson Arroyo and his 6.05 ERA in his past three against the Cardinals. … Others in the bottom third: Mike Burns needs a few more solid starts before we buy in on the 30-year-old; Brett Anderson is rocking a 6.28 ERA in his past three, which is only slightly better than Clayton Richard's 7.43; and Brandon Morrow plus Fenway Park equals disaster, as the Red Sox are slugging .667 against him there. Strikeouts or not, we don't like the matchup.
Starting pitcher rankings for Sunday, July 5
<table style="margin: 0pt; width: 100%;"> <thead><tr><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Rk</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 30px;"><center>Team</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;">Name</th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>T</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 35px;"><center>W-L</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>ERA</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>WHIP</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>K/9</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>OPSA</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>Opp</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>OPS</center></th><th style="vertical-align: bottom;"><center>CT%</center></th></tr></thead><tbody> <tr class="last"><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">1</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
Selected notes for Sunday:
You can't really go wrong with any of the top three on our list: Dan Haren already has faced Colorado twice this year, with an 0.64 ERA, Chad Billingsley is 8-3 lifetime against the Padres with a 2.62 ERA, and Johan Santana, though he has been shaky of late, has never lost to Philadelphia. … Ted Lilly has struggled lately, with an 0-2 record and 5.21 ERA in his last three, otherwise he might be right there at the top himself. … Jon Lester is always a good play at Fenway Park, with his career 19-5 record there. … Roy Oswalt is also better than his 2009 numbers, and is 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA against the Giants in his past three starts against them. … Ubaldo Jimenez has a career 2.18 ERA against the Diamondbacks, earning the Rockies starter entry into our top ten, ahead of Cliff Lee who has struggled to get wins this season. Still, you have to like his 0.61 ERA against Oakland in his past three games against the team. Just as Derek' Lowe's 5-2 lifetime mark against the Nationals makes him the last member of our top ten for Sunday. … Nick Blackburn at the Metrodome is usually a winning combination. He's 11-3 with a 2.85 ERA there, but Detroit is hitting .270 over the last two weeks. … Randy Johnson is always good against Houston, with a 4-1 record and a 3.64 ERA, and while Joe Saunders gives up a few more runs (4.15 ERA) he has never lost to Baltimore in five decisions. … Ricky Nolasco has been lights-out of late, 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA, but we do fear he's due for a bit of a setback. Just being cautious here. … Brian Bannister falls to No. 18 due to an 8.15 lifetime ERA against the White Sox. … We're hesitant with Jeff Niemann because of the 100-plus temperatures in Texas, though still happier starting him than Bronson Arroyo and his 6.05 ERA in his past three against the Cardinals. … Others in the bottom third: Mike Burns needs a few more solid starts before we buy in on the 30-year-old; Brett Anderson is rocking a 6.28 ERA in his past three, which is only slightly better than Clayton Richard's 7.43; and Brandon Morrow plus Fenway Park equals disaster, as the Red Sox are slugging .667 against him there. Strikeouts or not, we don't like the matchup.