Vicente Padilla, SP – TEX (UP) A Texas starting pitcher actually made a hot list. Padilla has been the one solid in the Rangers rotation to this point with five wins in eight starts. He also sports a solid 3.02 ERA and is looking more and more like the pitcher who won 15 games with a 4.50 ERA in 2006, as his vitals, a BABIP of .300, K/BB ratio of 1.83 and HR/FB rate of 10.0 percent are all right in line with career norms. The only exception is his LOB percentage of 81.1, which shows he has had some luck there, but Padilla looks like he could sustain a run for an ERA in the 4.25-4.50 range for the season He is a back of the rotation option for deep mixed leagues C.C. Sabathia, SP – CLE (UP) The reigning AL CY Young winner is returning to form. Over his past four starts, Sabathia is 2-2 with a 1.97 ERA and a 32 to 6 K/BB ratio in 27 and one-third innings of work.
His great control, which was his key to success last season, has returned. His overall ERA now stands at 6.55, but after his poor start to the season, it will take awhile for that to look respectable. Going forward, Sabathia looks to one of the top three starting pitchers in the American League. Kevin Millwood, SP – TEX (DOWN) Through April 20, Millwood pitched his way to a 2.53 ERA with four quality starts. Since then, Millwood is 1-1, but his ERA over this period is 9.98 with four home runs allowed. Plus, on Saturday Millwood left in the first inning of a start with a strained groin muscle that has landed him on the disabled list. If you happened to have owned Millwood I’d move on and find a new starter and stay as far away from Millwood as possible even when he returns.
Justin Verlander, SP – DET (DOWN) Something is not right. We have nearly hit the quarter mark of the season and Justin Verlander still has one win and an ERA of 6.43. There has been a lot of talk about dead arm and his arm angle upon delivering the pitch. Whatever it is, Verlander’s K/9 has decreased significantly from 8.17 to 5.51, shown a regression of his BB/9 back to his rookie year of 3.86 and seen a drop of nearly two MPH on his fastball. All of this adds up to more balls in play equaling more hits Add in more walks and you have a recipe for disaster. Although, he does have an unlucky 56.4 LOB percentage, which should help his ERA go back down when he begins stranding some of these runners Overall, Verlander is a player to hold for the time being. His value is very low, so you won’t get much in a trade, thus I’d just sit him during his starts until he shows improvement and regains some of his value.
Jered Weaver, SP - LAA (DOWN) After starting the season hoping to become the ace of the staff while fellow pitchers John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar were injured, Weavers’ season has quickly gone south. In four of his last six starts, Weaver has allowed four or more runs topping out at an eight runs against in his last start in Kansas City. A disturbing sign is that his BABIP is .323, LOB percentage of 66.5 and K/9 of 5.98 is down for the second consecutive year. These all are a little on the unlucky side as compared to his career, but when looking back at his rookie career , it looks as if it has helped to overvalue Weaver.
His BABIP that year was .246 and his LOB percentage was 86.2 percent! He will likely work his ERA back into the 4.00-4.50 range, but don’t expect ace numbers. INJURY REPORT Alex Rodriguez’ stint on the disabled list is looking like it could extend out if any problems are found in an MRI. The MRI will be taken this morning to ensure that his quadriceps injury has healed enough to begin his rehab assignment. If all is well, he will begin in extended spring training Tuesday and try to return by the weekend. Manny Ramirez did not start either game on Saturday or Sunday against the Twins to nurse some soreness in his right hamstring.