For starters
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Starting pitcher rankings for August 19, 2009
<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;"> Justin Verlander </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 13-6 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 3.28 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.16 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 10.43 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .660 </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"> .716 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 81.0% </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;"> Cliff Lee </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> L </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 10-9 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 2.86 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.25 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 6.65 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .672 </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"> .755 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 77.4% </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;"> Roy Halladay </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 13-5 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 2.65 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.08 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 7.49 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .648 </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"> .789 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 79.5% </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;"> Adam Wainwright </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 14-7 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 2.62 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.27 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 7.80 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .660 </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"> .762 </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"> 5 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Clayton Kershaw </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> L </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 8-7 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 2.91 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.26 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 9.40 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .596 </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"> .751 </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"> 6 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Zack Greinke </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 11-7 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 2.33 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.14 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 9.41 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .638 </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"> .758 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 81.2% </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;"> Jair Jurrjens </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 9-8 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 2.99 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.26 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 6.53 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .685 </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"> .728 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 83.4% </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;"> Jason Marquis </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 13-8 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 3.55 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.26 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4.46 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .677 </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"> .761 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 78.0% </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;"> Yovani Gallardo </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 11-9 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 3.52 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.27 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 9.68 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .680 </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"> .711 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 79.3% </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;"> Scott Baker </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 10-7 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4.54 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.14 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 7.29 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .707 </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"> 11 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Jered Weaver </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 12-4 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4.12 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.24 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 8.24 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .721 </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"> .771 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 77.9% </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 Wells </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 9-5 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 3.01 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.20 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5.62 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .660 </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"> .702 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 78.9% </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;"> Dan Haren </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 12-7 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 2.50 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 0.89 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 8.57 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .581 </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"> .781 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 79.2% </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;"> Jeff Niemann </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 10-5 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 3.86 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.32 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5.79 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .716 </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"> .751 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 82.5% </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;"> Kevin Millwood </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 9-7 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 3.31 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.30 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5.59 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .724 </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"> .769 </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"> 16 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Sean West </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> L </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4-4 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4.57 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.46 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4.98 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .758 </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"> .737 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 82.8% </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;"> Barry Zito </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> L </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 8-11 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4.44 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.35 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 6.97 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .733 </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"> .693 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 79.9% </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;"> Chris Tillman </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"> 4.88 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.42 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5.25 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .889 </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"> .798 </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"> 19 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Bobby Parnell </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 3-4 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 3.50 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.54 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 7.67 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .693 </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"> .745 </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"> 20 </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"> 11-11 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4.74 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.39 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4.98 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .794 </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"> .696 </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"> 21 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Mat Latos </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"> 4.01 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.16 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 6.42 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .707 </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"> .745 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 78.1% </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;"> Clay Buchholz </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1-3 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4.45 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.79 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5.57 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .842 </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"> .765 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 82.9% </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;"> Jose Contreras </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4-11 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5.40 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.42 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 6.82 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .743 </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"> .711 </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"> 24 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Chad Gaudin </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5-10 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5.13 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.54 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 9.03 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .738 </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"> .712 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 81.6% </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;"> Paul Maholm </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> L </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 6-7 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4.93 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.45 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5.66 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .774 </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"> .772 </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;"> Brett Anderson </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> L </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 7-8 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4.55 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.33 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 7.32 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .725 </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"> .832 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 82.3% </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;"> Jeremy Sowers </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> L </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4-8 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4.88 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.46 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4.12 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .751 </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"> .809 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 81.9% </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;"> Yorman Bazardo </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 0-0 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5.06 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.31 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 8.44 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .568 </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"> .750 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 77.4% </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;"> Collin Balester </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1-2 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 6.00 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.33 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 4.88 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .926 </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"> .785 </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"> 30 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center">
</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"> Ian Snell </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> R </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 2-9 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5.84 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 1.67 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> 5.84 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle;" align="center"> .883 </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"> .746 </td><td style="vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 242);" align="center"> 79.6% </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 hits surrendered per inning. K/9: Pitcher's average number of strikeouts per nine innings. OPSA: Pitcher's on-base plus slugging percentage surrendered to opponents. OPS: Pitcher's opponent's composite team on-base plus slugging percentage. CT%: Pitcher's opponent's success rate putting the ball in play (versus striking out).
Selected notes: Cliff Lee is already a perfect 3-0 with the Phillies including a 1.12 ERA and 0.92 WHIP, and he did it against some pretty decent teams (Giants, Rockies, Cubs). Arizona isn't quite as the stiff competition those squads are, and the left-hander is riding a personal six-start win streak. … Roy Halladay might have a 4.33 career ERA versus the Red Sox, but narrow the time span to just 2008 and 2009 and he's 4-2 with a 2.27 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in six starts against them, three of them complete games. He most recently dominated Boston behind a complete-game, one-run performance at home July 19, and he shouldn't be expected to be any less effective in the rematch. … Since July 1, Adam Wainwright has been practically untouchable, with a 6-2 record, 1.21 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in nine starts. That includes a victory versus the Dodgers on July 28 that spanned eight shutout innings, so while the road matchup against Clayton Kershaw does increase the difficulty of his matchup, Wainwright does remain a must-start. After all, he has nine wins in 11 road starts this season. … One day after Wainwright shut down the Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw shut out the Cardinals for eight innings on four hits on July 29. L.A. did lose that game in extra innings, but Kershaw confounded the St. Louis bats all day. There's a reason I listed this one as one of the more appealing pitchers' duels of the day. … A quick glance at Zack Greinke's 1-6 record, 6.70 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in nine career games (seven starts) at U.S. Cellular Field might indicate he should be benched for his Wednesday matchup. Not so. He tossed six shutout innings of three-hit baseball April 8 for his first career win there, and in four starts versus the White Sox this season, he is 2-1 with a 1.61 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 30 strikeouts in 28 innings in four starts. … Jair Jurrjens has quality starts in both of his matchups versus the Mets this season, including a 7 2/3-inning, two-run, seven-hit effort at Citi Field on May 12. For his career he's 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in five starts versus New York. … Jason Marquis is 7-4 with a 3.27 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 12 road starts this season, and he defeated the Nationals behind eight shutout innings of seven-hit baseball back at Coors Field on July 6. He continues to rack up quality start after quality start, seven in his past eight appearances, so keep him in there. … Since the All-Star break, Scott Baker is 3-0 with a 2.29 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in six starts, including a victory at Rangers Ballpark on July 18, when he went eight innings and limited Texas to one run on six hits. If the matchup scares you at all, that should help alleviate your fears. … Though Randy Wells did lose at Petco Park on May 23, in his third start of the season, he did manage a quality start of seven innings, five hits, three runs and seven strikeouts. Fantasy owners would be happy with that level of effort again here, because it would almost assuredly mean a Cubs win this time. … Dan Haren has never defeated the Phillies in three career starts (4.76 ERA, 1.24 WHIP), and none of those games were pitched at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park. Another concern: He has only two quality starts in six tries since the All-Star break, during which time he has a 4.15 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Don't be so hasty to expect an elite performance. … Sleeper alert: Sean West just defeated the Astros in his most recent start, behind six innings of one-run, five-hit baseball Thursday. His command has been much better since his demotion to Double-A earlier in the season than it was in his previous stint in the big leagues; he has 22 strikeouts compared to eight walks in his past six starts between the majors and minors. … The Brewers seem to have Paul Maholm's number; he's 0-3 with a 5.51 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in eight starts against them between this and last season. Most recently Milwaukee pounded the lefty for seven runs on seven hits, two of them home runs, in 4 2/3 innings July 22. Sit him.
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Starting pitcher rankings for August 19, 2009
<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: Cliff Lee is already a perfect 3-0 with the Phillies including a 1.12 ERA and 0.92 WHIP, and he did it against some pretty decent teams (Giants, Rockies, Cubs). Arizona isn't quite as the stiff competition those squads are, and the left-hander is riding a personal six-start win streak. … Roy Halladay might have a 4.33 career ERA versus the Red Sox, but narrow the time span to just 2008 and 2009 and he's 4-2 with a 2.27 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in six starts against them, three of them complete games. He most recently dominated Boston behind a complete-game, one-run performance at home July 19, and he shouldn't be expected to be any less effective in the rematch. … Since July 1, Adam Wainwright has been practically untouchable, with a 6-2 record, 1.21 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in nine starts. That includes a victory versus the Dodgers on July 28 that spanned eight shutout innings, so while the road matchup against Clayton Kershaw does increase the difficulty of his matchup, Wainwright does remain a must-start. After all, he has nine wins in 11 road starts this season. … One day after Wainwright shut down the Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw shut out the Cardinals for eight innings on four hits on July 29. L.A. did lose that game in extra innings, but Kershaw confounded the St. Louis bats all day. There's a reason I listed this one as one of the more appealing pitchers' duels of the day. … A quick glance at Zack Greinke's 1-6 record, 6.70 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in nine career games (seven starts) at U.S. Cellular Field might indicate he should be benched for his Wednesday matchup. Not so. He tossed six shutout innings of three-hit baseball April 8 for his first career win there, and in four starts versus the White Sox this season, he is 2-1 with a 1.61 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 30 strikeouts in 28 innings in four starts. … Jair Jurrjens has quality starts in both of his matchups versus the Mets this season, including a 7 2/3-inning, two-run, seven-hit effort at Citi Field on May 12. For his career he's 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in five starts versus New York. … Jason Marquis is 7-4 with a 3.27 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 12 road starts this season, and he defeated the Nationals behind eight shutout innings of seven-hit baseball back at Coors Field on July 6. He continues to rack up quality start after quality start, seven in his past eight appearances, so keep him in there. … Since the All-Star break, Scott Baker is 3-0 with a 2.29 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in six starts, including a victory at Rangers Ballpark on July 18, when he went eight innings and limited Texas to one run on six hits. If the matchup scares you at all, that should help alleviate your fears. … Though Randy Wells did lose at Petco Park on May 23, in his third start of the season, he did manage a quality start of seven innings, five hits, three runs and seven strikeouts. Fantasy owners would be happy with that level of effort again here, because it would almost assuredly mean a Cubs win this time. … Dan Haren has never defeated the Phillies in three career starts (4.76 ERA, 1.24 WHIP), and none of those games were pitched at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park. Another concern: He has only two quality starts in six tries since the All-Star break, during which time he has a 4.15 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Don't be so hasty to expect an elite performance. … Sleeper alert: Sean West just defeated the Astros in his most recent start, behind six innings of one-run, five-hit baseball Thursday. His command has been much better since his demotion to Double-A earlier in the season than it was in his previous stint in the big leagues; he has 22 strikeouts compared to eight walks in his past six starts between the majors and minors. … The Brewers seem to have Paul Maholm's number; he's 0-3 with a 5.51 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in eight starts against them between this and last season. Most recently Milwaukee pounded the lefty for seven runs on seven hits, two of them home runs, in 4 2/3 innings July 22. Sit him.