Did you realize that there was an epic breakthrough in the world of baseball analytics this week? Well, it happened! We did it! On Thursday, Ken “The Hawk” Harrelson joined Brian Kenny on MLB Network’s “MLB Now”, offering his thoughts on these newfangled sabermetrics. According to Hawk, WAR, and VORP, and OPS+, and all other products of science and reason fall short of his fresh new statistic — something he calls TWTW, or “The Will To Win”. Evidently, Hawk understands how to quantify this unmeasurable attribute, and he truly believes it is the most telling component of player evaluation. You can check out the video here, but most importantly, please make sure you apply Hawk’s lessons to your two-start browsing this week. Before you grab one of these guys off waivers, ask yourself: Is this a TWTW guy, or is this a non-TWTW guy? We only want the TWTW’s here. Choose wisely.
As always, probable pitchers are subject to change. For a look at all fantasy baseball streamers, click that link.
MUST START
Adam Wainwright (CIN, @MLW); Stephen Strasburg (@ATL, @PIT); Yu Darvish (CWS, BOS); Matt Harvey (@MIA, @ATL); Jon Lester (@TOR, @TEX); Max Scherzer (MIN, @HOU)
- Not much to consider here. Start ’em if you got ’em.
FIRST TIER
Mat Latos (@STL, @CHC); James Shields (TB, CWS); Andy Pettitte (HOU, OAK); Jeff Samardzija (SD, CIN); Wandy Rodriguez (@MLW, WAS); Ian Kennedy (SF, @SD); Anibal Sanchez (MIN, @HOU); Roy Halladay (@CLE, MIA); Gio Gonzalez (@ATL, @PIT); Jose Quintana (@TEX, @KC); Alex Cobb (@KC, @COL); Jaime Garcia (CIN, @MLW); Jorge De La Rosa (@LAD, TB)
- Jose Quintana (28% owned in Y! leagues) and Jorge De La Rosa (17%) are your best chances to pluck from waivers in this first tier. Quintana faces a tough assignment at Texas to begin the week, but things ease up for him with a start at Kauffman Stadium next weekend. He wasn’t at his sharpest last time out, but his two outings prior were outstanding. I’m comfortable using him in the coming week. I’m also adding De La Rosa in weekly formats — he’s allowed only four hits and two runs through his last two starts, while whiffing 14. De La faces the Rays and the Dodgers, two offenses that are struggling in the early going this year. In shallower formats, you might be able to find Wandy Rodriguez (63%) or Jaime Garcia (63%), but I’m assuming the rest of this group is owned.
SECOND TIER
Lucas Harrell (@NYY, DET); Ricky Nolasco (NYM, @PHI); Yovani Gallardo (PIT, STL); Ted Lilly (COL, @SF); Wade Davis (CLE, CWS); Brett Anderson (LAA, @NYY); Tommy Hanson (@OAK, BAL); Tim Hudson (WAS, NYM); Kevin Slowey (NYM, PHI); Edwin Jackson (SD, CIN); Eric Stults (@CHC, ARZ); Hiram Burgos (PIT, STL); Garrett Richards (@OAK, BAL); Jason Hammel (@SEA, @LAA); Brandon Morrow (BOS, SEA)
- Looking for counting stats? Look no further. Seriously. Don’t look further than this second tier unless you’re desperate. But there’s plenty of value to be had here if you’re in a points league, and the majority of these guys are widely available on waivers. Ted Lilly (4% owned in Y! leagues), is the guy I’m most excited about here. Eric Stults (8%) has my interest too, with his 17/3 K/BB on the season. And of course, there’s always the potential for slow-starters like Gallardo and Morrow to rediscover their rhythm — I’d still use both in H2H formats this week.
THIRD TIER
Mike Pelfrey (@DET, @CLE); Julio Teheran (WAS, NYM); Zach McAllister (@KC, MIN); Zach Britton (@SEA, @LAA)
- It’s probably best to shy away from this group, but in deep H2H leagues and NL/AL-only, you might consider these guys. Julio Teheran is coming off of his best start of the season, and he always brings nice upside, given his pure stuff. Britton, too, brings a little bit of upside, pitching in two friendly ballparks next week. He’s been summoned from Triple-A Norfolk, where he allowed only three runs in three starts.
DON’T START
Clayton Richard (@CHC, ARZ); Joe Saunders (BAL, @TOR); Phil Humber (@NYY, DET)
- Just don’t.
