Updated RAW Pitcher Ratings: New Names

These updated ratings are a bit behind schedule. Nonetheless, they have churned out some interesting trends and a few new names that have crossed the 80 innings pitched mark.

 

 

The Newcomers

 

Coming up through the Astro's system, Norris was known for having a plus fastball and big strikeout ability, but also inconsistency with his control. While his control has been up and down this season, it has also vastly improved since June. Now, with a K/9 over nine and a BB/9 below four, Norris has set himself up for a potential big month of September. He has allowed more hits than innings pitched this season, but he has also fallen victim to a .335 BABIP with little help from one of the league's worst defenses. Keeper league owners should try and strike a deal for Norris before the end of the month as 2011 could be his breakout season.

 

Padilla has been around for a while now, but this season marks his best K/BB rate ever. His new curveball is one of the slowest in the game. Actually, according to fangraphs.com, only Tim Wakefield has thrown a slower curve on average this season than Padilla. Keeping hitters off balance has been the key to his success this season (his fastball is still in the low 90's). However, he has only thrown 91 innings and is on the DL with a neck injury. When he does return, he could be a decent free agent add in the right matchup.

 

Here is your prototypical command/ground ball pitcher. Duensing will not over power anyone, by any means, but he has always had excellent command. With a ground ball rate over 50 percent and the ability to shut down left-handed hitters (.137 AVG against, 4.4 K/BB rate), Duensing is a fine player to add for some late season value.

 

Beckett has had mixed results since his return to the Red Sox. In his 36.2 innings since coming off the DL, he has compiled a 34/9 K/BB ratio, but also allowed 41 hits including six home runs. His command withing the strike-zone clearly has not returned and that could be a problem going forward. Those in need of a deep sleeper for September may want to roll the dice on Beckett as the velocity and strikeouts have been there.

 

I've never been a fan of Jurrjens for fantasy purposes due to a below average K/BB rate and league average whiff rate. If things continue on like they have this season, Jurrjens will have also seen a three year regression in his ground ball rate.

 

While Mazzaro is in possession of a heavy sinker that has the potential to generate ground ball rates of over 50 percent in the future, he walks too many hitters and doesn't miss many bats. He'll either need to improve his walk rate or raise his strikeout rate to become anything more than a league average pitcher in the future.

 

There was a little streak of high strikeout totals for Chen, but then he realized that he is indeed only Bruce Chen.

 

Galarraga fooled a lot of people with his near perfect game, but he's nothing more than a near back end major league starter and almost a complete non-factor in even the deepest fantasy formats.

 

If there is any pitcher that screams "Sell high!" it's Tommy Hunter. A real nice stretch of wins and only two losses alongside a 3.68 ERA may have some thinking the future of this 24-year-old is very bright. While Hunter may indeed be an asset to the Rangers as a fifth starter, his low .260 BABIP against and extremely high 88 percent contact rate against make it hard to imagine him not regressing and it could be a big-time regression.

 

Lannan has had some surprising sub-four ERA seasons in the past, but about the only thing he has going for him is a ground ball rate over 50 percent. His career 1.29 K/BB rate (well below league average) says it all.