Fantasy Baseball: Ray's Top 20 Starting Pitchers For 2010

by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 24, 2010 9:30 AM EDT in Baseball

As we approach draft day for many fantasy owners, we are winding down our rankings with the Top 20 starting pitchers for 2010.

Here are the Top 20 starting pitchers for 2010, with their 2009 stats:

Name	W	L	ERA	IP	BB	SO	K/9	BB/9	K/BB
Tim Lincecum	15	7	2.48	225.1	68	261	10.44	2.72	3.84
Zack Greinke	16	8	2.16	229.1	51	242	9.51	2.00	4.75
Felix Hernandez	19	5	2.49	238.2	71	217	8.20	2.68	3.06
Roy Halladay	17	10	2.79	239	35	208	7.83	1.32	5.94
Dan Haren	14	10	3.14	229.1	38	223	8.76	1.49	5.87
CC Sabathia	19	8	3.37	230	67	197	7.71	2.62	2.94
Jon Lester	15	8	3.41	203.1	64	225	9.97	2.84	3.52
Justin Verlander	19	9	3.45	240	63	269	10.09	2.36	4.27
Cliff Lee	14	13	3.22	231.2	43	181	7.05	1.67	4.21
Josh Johnson	15	5	3.23	209	58	191	8.22	2.50	3.29
Chris Carpenter	17	4	2.24	192.2	38	144	6.74	1.78	3.79
Adam Wainwright	19	8	2.63	233	66	212	8.19	2.55	3.21
Johan Santana	13	9	3.13	166.2	46	146	7.91	2.49	3.17
Javier Vazquez	15	10	2.87	219.1	44	238	9.78	1.81	5.41
Clayton Kershaw	8	8	2.79	171	91	185	9.74	4.79	2.03
Ubaldo Jimenez	15	12	3.47	218	85	198	8.17	3.51	2.33
Josh Beckett	17	6	3.86	212.1	55	199	8.44	2.33	3.62
Chad Billingsley	12	11	4.03	196.1	86	179	8.22	3.95	2.08
Ricky Nolasco	13	9	5.06	185	44	195	9.49	2.14	4.43
Yovani Gallardo	13	12	3.73	185.2	94	204	9.91	4.57	2.17

Lincecum has been the best pitcher in baseball the last two years, but something tells me he will have a bit of a down year this year. Maybe its because I own him in a keeper league.

The Phillies Roy Halladay has some lofty expectations pitching for the Phillies in 2010. I don't buy into the 20 win projections many have given him, and neither should you. Especially with the Phillies bullpen.

The Yankees CC Sabathia is a horse, but the K/9 below 8 was surprising to me. Hey, 19 wins is 19 wins.

The Tigers ace Justin Verlander probably should be ranked higher, but I am not sure if he can repeat the 19 wins and sub-3.50 ERA. The strikeouts make him a solid top 5-8 starter in 5 x 5 leagues.

Like I said in other articles, I think Cliff Lee has a down year for the Mariners in 2010, ala Cole Hamels in 2009.

I rank Johan Santana lower than many others, but he is a risk coming off elbow surgery. If healthy, he will be the Johan Santana we all are accustomed to.

As you can see, I think Ricky Nolasco and Chad Billingsley have bounce back seasons in 2010. Both are capable of becoming elite level starting pitchers in the very near future.

Poll

Who should be ranked higher in Ray's Top 20 starting pitcher rankings?

Johan Santana

23 votes

Cliff Lee

23 votes

Both

3 votes

Neither

28 votes

77 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

If Cliff Lee

gets past his abdominal strain and is healthy, I expect him to have an awesome season because the M’s defense does that to people.

I think Gallardo should be ranked higher also, is bb rate last season was uncharacteristically high compared to his minor league bb rate

"These are thin mints. I put them in the freezer. My favorites. So good."
--Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, on the girl scout cookies he keeps in his locker

by Resolution on Mar 24, 2010 10:31 AM EDT reply actions