Welcome to Mounds of Decisions, a new daily series where I’ll be dishing out starting pitching advice for owners in leagues that allow daily transactions. Not sure whether to start or bench a certain pitcher? Well, you’ve come to the right place. The format is simple. Each probable starting pitcher will be placed into one of four groups:
-Start in 12-team mixed leagues
-Start in deeper mixed leagues (13-15 teams)
-Start in very deep mixed leagues (16+ teams) and mono leagues
-Do not start in any league
Note that these articles will be posted a day in advance so that you can check your league’s waiver wire to see if any of the recommended plays are available.
OK, here we go.
Start in 12-team mixed leagues
Yu Darvish (vs. ATL)
Gerrit Cole (vs. TEX)
Zack Greinke (@LAD)
Luke Weaver (@CIN)
Steven Matz (vs. MIL) – Promising beginning to the season but he needs to cut down on the walks. He’s still worth starting based on the strikeout upside. The Brewers offense happens to rank among the top four teams in the NL in whiffs.
Mike Clevinger (vs. TOR) – He’s been flat-out dominant thus far.
Kenta Maeda (vs. ARI)
Jordan Montgomery (@DET) – Expect Montgomery to get back on track versus a Tigers offense that ranks in the bottom third of the majors in runs scored, batting average and OPS.
Tanner Roark (vs. COL) – Not an ultra-safe play though.
Start in deeper mixed leagues
Mike Leake (vs. OAK) – Lack of strikeouts limits his ceiling but I do like the matchup.
Zach Davies (@NYM) – Inconsistent so far but the strikeouts are encouraging.
Cole Hamels (@HOU) – I’m hesitant to even place him in this group for this matchup.
Tyler Mahle (vs. STL) – He could eventually become relevant in 12-team mixed leagues but his rough start on Sunday suggests that we should temper our expectations for the short-term.
Eduardo Rodriguez (vs. BAL) – Still needs to shake off the rust, so he’s a borderline start even in deeper mixed formats.
Reynaldo Lopez (@MIN) (PPD)
Andrew Triggs (@SEA) – He’s off to a fine start and the matchup is decent enough.
Start in very deep mixed leagues and mono leagues
Marcus Stroman (@CLE) – Better days are likely ahead but he can’t be trusted in most mixed leagues right now.
Jacob Faria (vs. PHI) – Stay patient with him, but he needs to be benched for the time being.
Jason Hammel (vs. LAA) – Coming off impressive outing versus a potent Indians lineup.
Chad Kuhl (@MIA) – Kuhl always risky but at least this is a favorable matchup.
Ty Blach (@SD) – Not enough strikeouts and too many walks, but he bounced back nicely in his last start.
Tyson Ross (vs. SF) – Appealing matchup versus a Giants team that ranks last in the NL in runs scored entering play on Thursday.
Do not start in any league
Andrew Heaney (@KC) – Bench for now but if healthy, he has the potential to serve as a useful deep-league starter going forward.
Anibal Sanchez (@CHC) – Not buying into Anibal yet and this is a dangerous matchup.
Mike Fiers (vs. NYY) – Ditto for Fiers.
Vincent Velasquez (@TB) – Keep an eye on him though.
Dillon Peters (vs. PIT)
Kyle Freeland (@WAS)
Chris Tillman (@BOS)
TBD Starter: Twins (PPD)
Thank you for reading
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