Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings & Projections

2009 Starting Pitcher Preseason Preview

 

Chad Billingsley

Billingsley is a hard throwing strikeout pitcher who also wins games, 35 in fact and he is only 24. Chad who? Get to know him. Don't let him slide in your draft.

15. Chad Billingsley - Dodgers - 2009 Preview:

The 24-year-old is just coming into his own and already has a lifetime 35-19 record with a 3.33 ERA and a 8.25 k-ratio. He is now the ace of the Dodgers pitching staff and is a strong #2 fantasy pitcher who has enough upside to finish as a low-end #1 starting pitcher.

2008 Statistics: 16-10 - 3.14 ERA - 201 K's - 200.2 IP.

2009 Projection: 18-7 - 3.23 ERA - 213 K's - 220 IP.

 

16. Scott Kazmir - Rays - 2009 Preview:

See Rich Harden. An ace who would be a #1 pitcher but has a history of injury problems. Kazmir didn't throw a pitch until May, but once he did he was excellent. One bad night against Boston saw his ERA raise from 2.99 to 3.50 where it settled in at. He is another strikeout pitcher (9.82 k-ratio) who plays on a winning team. if he could play a full season, he would be a top ten pitcher.

2008 Statistics: 12-8 - 3.49 ERA - 166 K's - 152.1 IP.

2009 Projection: 15-6 - 3.32 ERA - 205 K's - 195 IP.

 

17. Félix Hernández - Mariners - 2009 Preview:

At first glance it looks as if Hernández regressed in his third year and may even be a bit of a flop after all the hype. But he actually improved his ERA for the 3rd straight season. As a rookie in 2006 he posted a 4.52 ERA, in 2007 it dropped to 3.92 and in 2008 it dropped to 3.45. Add to that his very nice 8.01 lifetime k-ratio and it is hard to complain considering he is a 23-year-old pitcher. Their is a world of untapped potential in Hernández and if the Mariners can give him some run support and he takes another positive step, he is an easy top ten and maybe more.

2008 Statistics: 9-11 - 3.45 ERA - 175 K's - 200.2 IP.

2009 Projection: 17-6 - 3.22 ERA - 200 K's - 215 IP.

 

18. Erik Bedard - Mariners - 2009 Preview:

The lefty came into his own in 2007 posting a remarkable 10.93 k-ratio which was tops for major league starting pitchers but was beset by injuries in 2008 and only managed to go 6-4. He had back-to-back good seasons before the injury going 28-16 overall with 392 strikeouts in 378.1 innings. That is a proven fantasy starter. He will be 100% in 2008 and the only question is about his wins and how the Mariner team will play behind him.

2008 Statistics: 6-4 - 3.67 ERA - 72 K's - 81 IP.

2009 Projection: 15-8 - 3.45 ERA - 194 K's - 202 IP.

 

19. Edinson Vólquez - Reds - 2009 Preview:

The rookie sensation was brilliant from day one and even though he came back to Earth in the second half his overall stats are worthy of a top ten pitcher. His 5-3 second half record with a 4.60 ERA is a warning that he is young (25) and it is hard to project what a second year pitcher will do once the league has seen you pitch. In the end, you can't deny his 9.46 k-ratio and that along with his huge upside makes him a worthwhile gamble.

2008 Statistics: 17-6 - 3.21 ERA - 206 K's - 196 IP.

2009 Projection: 16-8 - 3.66 ERA - 209 K's - 207 IP.

 

20. John Lackey - Angel - 2009 Preview:

Don't forget Lackey went 19-9 in 2007 and would have had similar numbers in 2008 if not for an injury that kept him out of until Mid-May. His 7.17 k-ratio and the fact that he plays for a winner is good enough to make Lackey a strong #2 fantasy starting pitcher.

2008 Statistics: 12-5 - 3.75 ERA - 130 K's - 163.1 IP.

2009 Projection: 15-9 - 3.67 ERA - 190 K's - 219 IP.

 

Best of the Rest

 

Ryan Dempster - Cubs

Returned to the rotation an was excellent. 17-6, 2.96 ERA and 8.16 k-ratio. On the downside he is 32 and never pitched like that before and thus no proven record.

 

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Matt Cain - Giants

He is among the best young pitchers (24) in baseball, but has the worst luck when it comes to run support. After an 7-16 2007 he "improved" to an incredibly unlucky 8-14 which is not worthy of a 3.76 ERA and 186 K's in 217.2 innings.

 

Ted Lilly - Cubs

17-9, 4.07 ERA and 8.10 k-ratio. He is more proven than Dempster with 3 consecutive years of 15 or more wins.

 

Ervin Santana - Angels

Where did Santana come up with his 2008 performance? He always had the ability, but after a 7-14 5.76 ERA '07, who would have projected a 16-7, 3.49 ERA and a 8.79 k-ratio. THose are top ten numbers, but Santana must show consistency to move up.

 

Jon Lester - Red Sox

16-6, 3.21 ERA and a so-so 6.51 k-ratio. Should give you good win totals in Boston. (27-8 lifetime record.)

 

James Shields - Rays

In his 3rd season he went 14-8 with a 3.45 ERA and an average 6.7 k-ratio.

 

Chien-Ming Wang - Yankees

If your looking for wins, Wang is your man. He has posted an incredible 46-15 record over the last 3 seasons. He went 8-2 with a 4.07 ERA in an injured '08 season. His drawback is his awful 4.03 k-ratio.

 

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