This week’s AL pitching matchups are pretty weak. We’ve got a few aces, a good grouping of middle-tier choices and a bunch of riksy picks.
King Felix Hernandez
As with the NL pitching planner, I am including the stats for each category for week 2, week 3 and YTD, so that everyone can follow my prognostication skills from week to week.
So, without further ado, here are the AL two-start pitchers and favorable matchups for week 5:
Two-Start Pitchers
No-Brainers
Felix Hernandez – 4/30 @ TB; 5/5 vs MIN – King Felix should always be in your starting lineup
C.J. Wilson – 4/30 vs MIN; 5/5 vs TOR – the only other “proven” ace doing double-duty this week
Yu Darvish – 4/30 @ TOR; 5/6 @ CLE – looks to build off of strong outing against the Yankees
No Brainer results
Week 2 – 8 GS, 4 QS, 4 W, 49.1 IP, 74 H+BB, 32 K’s, 19 ER, 3.47 ERA, 1.50 whip
Week 3 – 9 GS, 9 QS, 7 W, 68.3 IP, 57 H+BB, 58 K’s, 10 ER, 1.32 ERA, 0.83 whip
YTD – 17 GS, 13 QS, 11 W, 117.2 IP, 131 H+BB, 90 K’s, 29 ER, 2.22 ERA, 1.11 whip
Not too shabby
Hiroki Kuroda: 4/30 vs BAL; 5/5 @ KC – gets a couple nice matchups
Jeremy Hellickson – 4/30 vs SEA; 5/5 vs OAK – the A’s are the worst hitting team in the AL
Clay Buchholz – 4/30 vs OAK; 5/6 vs BAL – if it weren’t for the A’s, I probably wouldn’t recommend him
Ubaldo Jimenez – 5/1 @ CHW; 5/6 vs TEX – the Rangers are a tough matchup, but the Sox can be beat
Matt Moore – 5/1 vs SEA; 5/6 vs OAK – the A’s should help the youngster get back on track
Chris Sale – 5/1 vs CLE; 5/6 @ DET – Sale has a career 2.69 ERA and 3.12 ERA in his first 4 starts of his career
Tommy Milone – 4/30 @ BOS; 5/6 @ TB – Milone has been impressive so far, but faces the league’s best offense
Jason Hammel – 4/30 @ NYY; 5/6 @ BOS – this is a toss-up, Hammel is pitching well but faces the best two offenses
Not too shabby results
Week 2 -8 GS, 5 QS, 5 W, 53.1 IP, 57 H+BB, 38 K’s, 17 ER, 2.87 ERA, 1.07 whip
Week 3 -16 GS, 8 QS, 6 W, 99.1 IP, 133 H+BB, 78 K’s, 47 ER, 4.26 ERA, 1.34 whip
YTD – 24 GS, 13 QS, 11 W, 152.2 IP, 190 H+BB, 116 K’s, 64 ER, 3.77 ERA, 1.24 whip
Risky at best
Phil Huges: 5/1 vs BAL; 5/6 @ KC – not the same pitcher he once was
Luke Hochevar: 4/30 @ DET; 5/5 vs NYY – tough matchups for a below-average pitcher
Hector Noesi: 5/1 @ TB; 5/6 vs MIN – has yet to put it all together
Luis Mendoza: 5/1 @ DET; 5/6 vs NYY – see Luke Hochevar
Kyle Drabek: 4/30 vs TEX; 5/5 @ LAA – the Rangers own the 3rd best offense, Drabek struggles with command
Liam Hendriks: 4/30 @ LAA; 5/6 @ SEA – nice matchups, risky pitcher
Drew Hutchison: 5/1 vs TEX; 5/6 @ LAA – 2 homers in two starts and Texas is second in the league in homers
Jerome Williams: 5/1 vs MIN; 5/6 vs TOR – veteran journeyman is the model of inconsistency
Risky at best results:
Week 2 -18 GS, 5 QS, 4 W, 97.1 IP, 144 H+BB, 64 K’s, 54 ER, 4.99 ERA, 1.48 whip
Week 3 -13 GS, 6 QS, 2 W, 67.1 IP, 113 H+BB, 55 K’s, 41 ER, 5.48 ERA, 1.68 whip
YTD – 31 GS, 11 QS, 6 W, 164.2 IP, 257 H+BB, 119 K’s, 95 ER, 5.19 ERA, 1.56 whip
Other Favorable Matchups
Ricky Romero: 5/2 vs TEX
Yes, its the high-powered Rangers, but Romero owns them to the tune of an 0.92 ERA in 4 career starts
Justin Verlander: 5/2 vs KC
There are few teams that Verlander doesn’t dominate and KC is not an exception (career 14-2, 2.37 ERA)
Jeff Niemann: 5/3 vs SEA
Niemann doesn’t dominate many teams, but he is 4-0 with a 2.87 ERA against the Mariners
Jon Lester: 5/4 vs BAL
Despite his struggles this year, Lester is a perfect 14-0 with a 2.37 ERA against the Orioles
Other favorable matchups results:
Week 2 – 4 GS, 2 QS, 1 W, 28.2 IP, 31 H+BB, 29 K’s, 12 ER, 3.77 ERA, 1.08 whip
Week 3 – 3 GS, 2 QS, 1 W, 20 IP, 27 H+BB, 17 K’s, 5 ER, 2.25 ERA, 1.35 whip
YTD – 7 GS, 4 QS, 2 W, 48.2 IP, 58 H+BB, 46 K’s, 17 ER, 3.14 ERA, 1.19 whip
Good luck and see ya next week.
