It is the middle of the fantasy baseball season? Anywhere from 35-60% of your team's production generally relies on starting pitching. Is your rotation solid enough for the 2nd half? Let's scout the top producers of the season and see how they'll do in the second half.
(http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2012/05/05/NL-roundup-Nationals-beat-Phillies-again-PU1E8DV8-x-large.jpg)
Using the fantasy scoring system based on the World Baseball Classic (http://www.profsl.com/leagues/baseball/wbcuscircuit/index.php) (you can sign up at the following board (http://www.profsl.com/smf/index.php?board=1237)), the following SPs have scored the most points as of June 7th, 2012.
#1 - Justin Verlander :DET: - 965.5 points - The reigning AL Cy Young and MVP is at it again with a monster season. He is sporting a sub-1.0 WHIP, but his past three decisions have been losses. His post-AS stats (3.89 ERA, 1.27 WHIP) are worse than his first half in his career. The trade market is always tough for pitchers since the position is so deep, but this is a very good opportunity to sell high. Buyers, use the stats to your advantage in order to acquire the pitching help.
#2 - Zach Greinke :MIL: - 930 points - Zach is putting it all together in his second season with the Brew Crew. His career doesn't have any season splits to make a decision upon, but he was a Cy Young pitcher in the 2nd half last year (after starting with a 5.45 ERA). If the Brewers get on a roll (and that should be expected at some point) then Greinke will continue to cash-in the wins and points.
#3 - Gio Gonzalez :WAS: - 902 points - What a breakout season for Gio. I don't even know I expected this out of him despite being a huge fan and signing him to a $6m extension in FGM (http://www.profsl.com/smf/index.php?board=9) this past season. His stats are generally worse in the second half and his best WHIP in his days with Oakland :OAK: was around 1.31. Expect some regression here as Gio could settle with a WHIP around 1.15.
#4 - Stephen Strasburg :WAS: - 867.5 points - The ace everyone expected to see in D.C. is doing just that. The only warning signs to go with Stras' are injury concerns. That's part of playing the game. If you are concerned about losing him to injury then you shouldn't be concerned about losing him to another team in a trade.
#5 - Cole Hamels :PHI: - 851 points - If the Phillies didn't have a productive Hamels this year then they wouldn't have much. His starts are keeping the team around .500 which should keep them in the pennant race. Does it get better? It could. Hamels career stats improve in the 2nd half with a K/BB over 4 and a 1.09 WHIP.
#6 - Matt Cain :SF: - 826 points - Cain, an official #2 starter in the Giants rotation, has been stellar this year with a 2.62 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. His season WHIP has not been above 1.08 since 2009 when it was just 1.18. All the attention goes to Lincecum (who has had a bad year) while Cain quietly produces. Second half career stats (lower WHIP by 0.09) suggest that this is here to stay.
#7 - Anibal Sanchez :MIA-MLB: - 821 points - I have always been a fan of Sanchez and his 7.69 career K/9 rating. He has always been a great fantasy start while pitching on the road. This year, he is a great fantasy start every outing. His career #'s suggest regression and a collapse in the second half. I am not eagerly selling as his stats (WHIPxBAAxERA) have improved every single year since 2007. This is just another year of improvement, but the runs will score, so for basic leagues and roto leagues who use ERA, keep an eye on those home starts.
#8 - James McDonald :PIT: - 812 points - What a breakout campaign for McDonald. As a Pirates fan, I am elated by his production. He is pitching longer into games this year. His season-splits do not suggest much, but it is tough to see a Pirate let alone a breakout pitcher finish in the top 15 of SPs this year. I am rooting for him. He could be an easy sell as he is young and he is at that key part of his career - the age 27 breakout year.
#9 - Felix Hernandez :SEA: - 797.5 points - King Felix is having a season like last year which was still decent but nothing to compare to his 2009 and 2010 seasons. He is having ongoing back trouble and will be tough to sell, but you never know until you try.
#10 - Jake Peavy :CHW: - 782 points - What a comeback season for Peavy who is making those who drafted him rich this year. He will produce as long as he is healthy. See my warning above (Strasburg) in regard to injuries.