2008 MLB.Com Fantasy Preview: Starters
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2008 MLB.com Fantasy Preview: Starters Stats listed are 2008 projections; dollar values based on standard 5x5 play, $260 budget per 23-man team Player TM $$ W SO ERA WHIP Notes Player TM $$ W SO ERA WHIP Notes Johan Santana NYM 35 20 251 2.81 1.02 Still the best in business. Dontrelle Willis DET 5 12 151 4.49 1.43 Best days may be behind him. Jake Peavy SD 29 17 220 3.08 1.17 Challenging Johan for No. 1 starter spot. Scott Baker MIN 5 13 118 4.17 1.37 Strike-thrower ready for more strides. Brandon Webb ARI 23 17 187 3.42 1.23 Consummate ground-ball pitcher. Barry Zito SF 5 10 142 4.32 1.36 Not helped by move to NL. Erik Bedard SEA 21 15 212 3.22 1.22 Wins not guaranteed, but excellent source of Ks. Jered Weaver LAA 5 13 132 4.35 1.34 Still overvalued after '06 production. Dan Haren ARI 21 17 192 3.33 1.20 Here to stay after standout year. Kevin Slowey MIN 5 12 130 4.00 1.23 With Matt Garza gone, has a rotation spot. C.C. Sabathia CLE 21 17 186 3.40 1.17 Cy Cy to continue at elite level. Homer Bailey CIN 5 11 135 3.99 1.29 Healthy and primed to start fulfilling potential. Josh Beckett BOS 20 17 190 3.45 1.20 Sox ace expected to return to action in early April. Clay Buchholz BOS 5 10 130 3.89 1.28 He's ready; only obstacle is opportunity Justin Verlander DET 19 18 193 3.37 1.26 Fireballer poised for next step forward. Franklin Morales COL 5 11 122 4.33 1.41 Showed toughness in postseason, ready to shine. Aaron Harang CIN 18 15 210 3.68 1.24 Only Peavy and Johan have more Ks in past two years. Boof Bonser MIN 4 11 144 4.30 1.34 Up-and-comer offers strikeout potential. Felix Hernandez SEA 18 16 190 3.44 1.27 On doorstep of greatness. Tom Gorzelanny PIT 4 13 143 4.08 1.34 Regression more likely than progress. Scott Kazmir TB 17 15 222 3.32 1.26 Could miss all of April with left elbow strain. Randy Wolf SD 4 12 149 3.92 1.33 Cheap source of Ks when healthy. Cole Hamels PHI 17 14 180 3.35 1.20 Stud lefty needs to overcome health woes. Andy Pettitte NYY 4 13 143 4.28 1.41 Steady vet to receive steady support. Rich Hill CHC 17 15 203 3.61 1.18 Underrated lefty an excellent source of Ks. Matt Garza TB 3 8 122 4.15 1.42 Diamond in the rough. Roy Oswalt HOU 17 16 161 3.54 1.27 Don't rely on Ks from stable workhorse. Shaun Marcum TOR 3 11 136 4.37 1.33 Capable mixed-leaguer. Roy Halladay TOR 17 15 144 3.36 1.16 Reliable vet keeps runs off board. Rich Harden OAK 2 7 102 3.37 1.32 Injuries cloud ace potential. James Shields TB 16 14 188 3.80 1.18 Control artist may be overlooked. Chuck James ATL 2 12 148 4.32 1.34 Likely to need more seasoning before making leap. Yovani Gallardo MIL 16 15 177 3.46 1.18 Knee surgery could delay start of phenom's season. Wandy Rodriguez HOU 2 11 146 4.06 1.36 Enticing sleeper play. Daisuke Matsuzaka BOS 16 17 206 3.65 1.28 Set to shine after adjustment year. Jason Schmidt LAD 2 6 83 4.49 1.41 Expect rust upon return from shoulder surgery. Tim Lincecum SF 16 12 199 3.73 1.21 Last chance to buy low. Mark Buehrle CWS 2 12 115 4.21 1.34 Innings starting to pile up for vet. John Smoltz ATL 16 13 174 3.59 1.23 Not your average 40-year-old. Greg Maddux SD 2 13 107 3.95 1.26 Not ready to ride off into sunset yet. Javier Vazquez CWS 15 13 197 4.16 1.20 Quietly effective in 5x5 play. Doug Davis ARI 2 12 153 4.42 1.44 Strands too many baserunners for comfort. John Lackey LAA 15 18 186 3.51 1.27 Triceps injury drops him out of elite. Nate Robertson DET 1 12 126 4.46 1.41 Numbers leave plenty to be desired. Chris Young SD 15 13 173 3.55 1.19 Injury-free season would vault him to elite. Ubaldo Jimenez COL 1 10 161 4.98 1.50 High-risk/high-reward option. Brett Myers PHI 15 13 181 4.02 1.28 Aspiring ace can put relief nightmares behind him. Andy Sonnanstine TB 1 11 135 4.44 1.33 Deep sleeper with control ability. Jeff Francis COL 14 16 168 4.12 1.29 Not affected by Coors Field. Hiroki Kuroda LAD 1 11 121 4.28 1.33 Worth speculating on. Carlos Zambrano CHC 14 14 180 4.26 1.31 Workload a major concern. Orlando Hernandez NYM 1 7 99 4.33 1.42 Useful across-the-board contributor when healthy. A.J. Burnett TOR 13 13 174 3.71 1.23 Power arm comes with injury risk. Micah Owings ARI 1 11 136 4.35 1.38 Set to build upon first full season. Ben Sheets MIL 13 13 154 3.71 1.19 Must show he can remain healthy. Jake Westbrook CLE 1 14 107 4.33 1.39 Servicable starter gets boost from lineup. Matt Cain SF 13 11 184 3.94 1.26 Could fly under radar after unlucky sophomore year. Shawn Hill WAS 1 7 79 3.70 1.28 All that separates him from breakthrough is health. Ted Lilly CHC 13 14 163 4.15 1.27 NL brings out best in power lefty. Jeremy Guthrie BAL 1 8 107 4.31 1.38 Could prove '07 success was no fluke. Fausto Carmona CLE 12 15 124 3.62 1.30 Unlikely to drop off much after '07 breakthrough. Chris Carpenter STL 1 4 46 3.91 1.33 Worth tucking away if you have roster space. Joba Chamberlain NYY 12 12 170 3.86 1.17 Golden arm to be eased back into rotation. Dave Bush MIL 1 9 114 4.22 1.27 One adjustment away from breakthrough. Ian Snell PIT 11 13 192 3.54 1.29 Great value pick. Jon Garland LAA 1 12 104 4.51 1.35 Mid-rotation vet offers win potential. Kelvim Escobar LAA 11 13 149 3.71 1.26 Frontline starter often banged up. Mike Mussina NYY 1 10 103 4.52 1.36 Starting skills slipping away. Chad Billingsley LAD 11 12 171 3.77 1.31 Immense upside but might not fully bloom until '09. Mark Prior SD 1 7 91 3.81 1.31 Second lease on life in San Diego. Tim Hudson ATL 10 16 125 3.81 1.28 Only if you can stomach the lack of Ks. Brian Bannister KC 1 10 84 4.45 1.33 Luck likely to take turn for worse. John Maine NYM 10 15 188 4.01 1.32 Won't catch anyone by surprise this year. Jarrod Washburn SEA 1 10 106 4.46 1.38 Innings eater not flashy. Dustin McGowan TOR 10 12 152 4.05 1.28 Set to build on promising second half. Roger Clemens FA 1 7 56 4.03 1.27 Little reason to hope for another comeback. Francisco Liriano MIN 10 10 135 3.46 1.33 Big talent coming back from big injury. Tim Wakefield BOS 1 12 104 4.86 1.38 Vet continues to chug along. Pedro Martinez NYM 9 12 141 3.62 1.25 Possible bargain, but don't count on 200 IP. Jeff Suppan MIL 1 12 109 4.48 1.46 Serviceable reserve with win potential. Brad Penny LAD 9 13 140 3.95 1.34 Likely to be overvalued. Adam Loewen BAL 1 5 102 4.15 1.43 Impressive talent coming off elbow surgery. Oliver Perez NYM 9 12 201 4.31 1.38 Ks come with risk. Carlos Silva SEA 1 11 81 4.59 1.36 Offers more value in 4x4 play. Jeremy Bonderman DET 8 14 158 4.09 1.34 Risky pick given health concerns. John Danks CWS 1 8 122 4.76 1.40 Likely to suffer more lumps this year. Chien-Ming Wang NYY 8 16 90 3.77 1.33 Could struggle if more grounders find holes. Carlos Villanueva MIL 1 10 115 4.29 1.42 Swingman on wait list for rotation duty. Derek Lowe LAD 7 14 145 3.79 1.30 Steady, solid role player. Ervin Santana LAA 1 8 88 4.69 1.39 No place like home. Curt Schilling BOS 6 11 140 4.06 1.26 Don't overpay for glory years. Johnny Cueto CIN 1 5 91 4.19 1.36 Will form quite the duo with Homer Bailey. Zack Greinke KC 6 12 150 3.89 1.36 Primed for breakthough year. Gio Gonzalez OAK 1 8 118 4.55 1.42 Trade to OAK could open door. Randy Johnson ARI 6 11 146 4.15 1.33 Injury risk may cause him to slip. Ian Kennedy NYY 1 4 82 4.12 1.36 Command artist may be shuttled in and out of rotation.