Top 10 Fantasy Starting Pitchers

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Tags: EXTRA INNINGS, BASEBALL, MLB, DIRECTV
Zach spends his time watching MLB Extra Innings and studying all things baseball. Keep reading for more fantasy baseball tips that will help you go from worst to first in your 2011 league.
Roy Halladay—Philadelphia Phillies
During his first year out of Toronto, Halladay posted his lowers ERA for a full season. For the third consecutive season, he also threw nine complete games and was on his way to a second Cy Young Award. His best start of the season was an October 6 no-hitter,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], which was only the second no-hitter in postseason history. Halladay has pinpoint precision, and he is the top starting pitcher in the Fantasy league.

Felix Hernandez—Seattle Mariners
The Cy Young Award winner for 2010, Hernandez,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], had a solid year. He boasted a high strikeout rate, control, powerful groundball tendencies, and the ability of stranding the few base-runners he allowed. Halladay is the only other starting pitcher who projects to have a better year.
Tim Lincecum—San Francisco Giants
In 2010, Lincecum lost his rank as a Fantasy elite player. He was ranked 16th in Fantasy points among all starting pitchers. The biggest reason for the ranking drop was his increase in homeruns allowed. With that said, a comeback from Lincecum is very likely. Once his home-run rate is back to normal,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], he should be back in the ranks with the top 5 starting pitchers.
Putting together a Fantasy baseball team is an art and science. Draft day is fast approaching,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], and if you are looking for a starting pitcher to have in your arsenal, this list displays the top 10 starting pitchers forecasted for the 2011 Fantasy year.
Matt Cain—San Francisco Giants
In the 2010 season, Cain ranked 12th in Fantasy points. This was primarily due to his improved control. His walks per nine innings ratio was lowered by more than a batter, and he also allowed very few line drives. As long as Cain can keep runners off of the base paths, he will have a productive year in 2011.
Clayton Kershaw—Los Angeles Dodgers
Kershaw pitched more than 200 innings in 2010, struck out 212 batters, and lowered his WHIP to 1.18. In 2011 he should come away with more than the credited 13 wins of last year, and that alone should give him higher rank.
Josh Johnson—Florida Marlins
For an almost three month stretch,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Johnson was arguably the best pitcher in baseball, with a 1.31 ERA in 16 starts. The final month of the season, he sat out with inflammation in his shoulder. Johnson has one of the best fastballs in baseball and a strikeout rate of one per inning. If he gets to throw 200 innings he may be a top 5 Fantasy pick.
Justin Verlander—Detroit Tigers
Verlander had a leading campaign in 2010. With a career-low 3.37 ERA in 33 starts, he actually had one fewer win than the prior year. The 2011 season might be the time Verlander earns his first 20-win season. He is a reliable and consistent pitcher, and should be an ace for Fantasy teams.
Adam Wainwright—St. Louis Cardinals
Wainwright’s best pro season was 2010. He also finished second in the National League Cy Young vote with a 2.42 ERA and 20-11 record in 33 starts. Last year was his first 20-win season and the second year in a row in which he won at least 19 games with an ERA under 3.00. With each of the four seasons he has played, Wainwright’s numbers only seem to improve, so he is worth consideration.
Cliff Lee—Philadelphia Phillies
It was hard for Lee to find a home in 2010. He had an amazing postseason at Texas, but when free agency started, he returned back to the Phillies. This year with Philadelphia he will get run support. During this full season in the National League, he may reach his Cy Young numbers from 2008, which makes him a definite top 5 Fantasy starting pitcher.
Jon Lester—Boston Red Sox
Last season, Lester came close to winning the Cy Young, but he finished at fourth place after a season-ending loss. He finished the season with a league-leading 9.7 strikeouts per nine. This was the second straight year which he struck out more than a batter per inning. He is a valuable starting pitcher.