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What a week to be a Nationals pitcher, you’re six games up in the division and you have the D-backs and the Giants rolling into town. So much of my focus this year has been on Daily Fantasy that I tend to see things through DraftKings colored glasses. If you’re unfamiliar with the format and scoring, pitchers have much higher floors than hitters and the scoring is laser focused on K’s and innings. Low strikeout/ good ratio guys need not apply. Both Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg have been good but I always seem to be a little underwhelmed by what I get from them. I’m hoping for a big week from both of them. The Diamondbacks and Giants are both in the bottom 1/3 of the league in wOBA over the past fortnight and both have a k% over 20%. Don’t be surprised if owners of the Nats frontline starters run the table in ratios this week.

Other than the aforementioned Nationals aces, Max Scherzer‘s week sets up to potentially be a monster one. The Tigers and the Scherz-nit travel to both Tampa and Minnesota, as he faces crappy offenses in pitchers parks. Reverse HodgePadre Ian Kennedy gets two road starts this week. I wonder if he’s the first Friars pitcher to be better away from Petco? It’s so confusing I devoted a chapter to it in my forthcoming book “Things That Don’t Make Sense”. Should be a best seller, Gary Busey did the foreword. Most of the content covers the last 5 years and a two week period in 1639. Diamondbacks Ace(?) Chase Anderson looks to continue his hot streak against Washington and San Diego. I don’t see any reason why he couldn’t come away with another two quality starts. Overall this week’s two start pitchers remind me of the stock at a Marshall’s, a couple of finds, a whole bunch of mediocre crap, and a few things so ugly they can’t be unseen.

Must Start:

Max Scherzer (@TB, @MIN), Chris Sale (vs. BAL, @ NYY)

Scherzer has been on fire of late. Look no further than his 14 K masterpiece against the Pirates on Thursday. This man can do no wrong. As for Sale the matchups aren’t nearly as cushy. Who cares, he’s Chris Sale God Damn it!

First Tier:

Stephen Strasburg (ARI, SF), Jordan Zimmermann (ARI, SF), Chase Anderson (@WAS, SD), Ian Kennedy (@LAD, @SD)

Pretty handsome group if I do say so myself. I considered Strasburg for the must start tier but he’s just not on Sale and Scherzer’s level. So I kept him here. All of these guys should be started in all formats.

Second Tier:

Ervin Santana (@PIT, @CIN), Bartolo Colon (CHC, @LAD), Tsuyoshi Wada (SF, BAL), Trevor Bauer (@MIN, HOU), Chris Archer (DET, @TOR), Ryan Vogelsong (@CHC, @WAS), Alfredo Simon (@STL, ATL), Jason Vargas (@MIN, @TEX)

I’m not sure why Santana is first he just is. I got a feeling deep down in my plums. I really like Trevor Bauer‘s matchups but never know what to expect from him, I wouldn’t be surprised if Wada has the best week of the group. He’s been pretty solid thus far posting a 3.15 ERA, 7.86 K/9 and 2.62 BB/9. I really like his matchup against the Giants a lot, but his second start against Baltimore at Wrigley scares me.

Third Tier: 

Jered Weaver (@BOS, @OAK), Vance Worley (ATL, @MIL), C.J Wilson (@BOS, @OAK), Kyle Hendricks (@NYM, BAL),Roenis Elias (@PHI, @BOS), Bud Norris (@CHW, @CHC)

Going back to my Marshall’s analogy this is a pile of nice clothes that are damaged or irregular. I mean you like the shirt, it just has one sleeve much longer than the other one. Or maybe it just gives up too many homers or walks too many batters. I don’t know it’s just not right. A couple of decent matchups in this group but no one you have to start each turn.

Fourth Tier: 

Aaron Harang (@PIT, @OAK), Kyle Gibson (CLE, DET), Mike Leake (@STL, ATL)

I could see starting these guys if you were looking for counting stats in a head to head league. Especially now that playoff time in many of those leagues is drawing near. I like Leake’s start against Atl the best of the six games in the tier. The Braves strikeout a ton and Leake has been pretty damn good this year(7.01 K/9, 2.06 BB/9, 3.59 ERA, 3.43 xFIP). I could see his Atlanta start being a big difference maker for some of the streamers out there.

Fifth Tier:

Justin Masterson (CIN, @PHI), Michael Pineda (HOU,CHW), Trevor May (KC, DET), Brett Oberholtzer (@NYY, @CLE)

This is just ugly stuff, if you need to start any of these guys do it at your own peril. Masterson faces two bad offenses but he is Justin King Of Suckitude. He’ll find some way to screw the whole thing up, then pitch a gem when you’ve lost all faith, and gotten to the point of avoiding him as a stream. I wouldn’t start any of them in Roto or H2H leagues. Maybe as a long shot in a daily league.

Don’t Start:

Vidal Nuno (@WAS, SD), Allen Webster (LAA, SEA), Brandon Workman (LAA, SEA), Jerome Williams (SEA, STL)

I’m putting Jerome Williams last because he’s played for three teams this year (Astros, Rangers, Phillies). Though it was tough picking the ugliest girl, in this list of beauties. I think he might be it. Allen Webster can compete for the title considering he finds ways to throw 100 pittches in 2 2/3 innings. Bottom line all of these guys are like a pair of hershey stripped draws. Throw them things out man. It’s poop, but old poop that’s no dried. Ewwwww….