The Staff: Letting Go

MLB Ultimate Resources
Letting Go
by KFL Writer Min Lee

A staggering 84.8% of ESPN fantasy owners have currently invested in Bartolo Colon, 82.8% in Pedro Martinez. Owners seem to have been wooed by the two veterans’ winning records (Colon is 4-1, Martinez 2-0) but I also suspect that fans just haven’t let go of the pitchers’ glory days. The reality is, Colon has pitched over six innings on only one occasion since returning on May 21, and he left today’s game with tightness in his back. And despite holding the Rangers to one run in six innings of work yesterday, Martinez still has a 5.31 ERA and 1.57 WHIP.

Here are some pitchers still widely available in leagues and worthy of a spot on your rotation:

Francisco Liriano: Liriano keeps pitching better and better in his rehab starts, and it seems his days down at Triple-A are soon coming to an end. He surrendered two runs and fanned five in seven innings in Sunday’s start. He may lack the explosiveness in his arm, but he’s good enough to post decent ERA and strikeout numbers when he returns to majors.

Aaron Laffey: He has one ugly loss to the Rangers, when he gave up eight runs in five innings, but otherwise Laffey has been remarkably consistent this season. In May, he went 28 innings without giving up a run and did not allow a home run in his five starts. In seven of his last eight outings, Laffey has pitched six innings or more and given up less than two runs. The 23-year old rookie has a bright future ahead of him.

Kyle Lohse: The same Phillies offense that lit up the Cardinals for 20 runs the previous game was stifled to a quiet two runs by the 29-year old hurler. Lohse has won his last five starts, sporting a miniscule 2.03 ERA.

Tim Wakefield: Wakefield has been outstanding in his last four starts, giving up just seven runs and eight walks in 29 innings of work (2.17 ERA). His K:BB ratio is approximately 3:1 in that span.