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Major League Baseball Starting Pitchers: Fade Alert!

Jun 30, 2010

While starting pitching is often times overrated in handicapping circles, there are certain pitchers who simply do not belong in the majors.  Please find below a list of Major League Baseball starting pitchers who should be placed on your fade list from a betting perspective:

  1. Dontrelle Willis: Arizona southpaw Dontrelle Willis has issued 27 walks in just 21 innings pitched in June and owns a terrible 1.18 BB/K ratio this season.  Overall, Willis has garnered a 5.09 ERA and 1.901 WHIP in 2010, including a 5.97 ERA and 1.674 WHIP on the road and a 5.91 ERA and 2.188 WHIP over his last seven starts. 
  2. Armondo Galarraga: Despite pitching a near perfect game on June 2, Detroit right-hander Armondo Galarrage is a glorified Triple-A pitcher.  Indeed, Galarraga has a pedestrian 4.66 ERA and 1.252 WHIP this season, including a 7.78 ERA and 1.779 WHIP on the road and a 5.09 ERA and 1.279 WHIP over his last seven starts.  Based on those numbers, Galarraga should be placed squarely on your fade list.
  3. David Huff: Cleveland right-hander David Huff is 2-9 with a 6.04 ERA and 1.686 WHIP this season, including garnering a 7.51 ERA and 1.983 WHIP on the road and a 6.82 ERA and 1.848 WHIP over his last seven starts.  In short, Huff has no business taking the mound in a Major League Baseball uniform and, as such, you should fade him all the way to the ticket window. 
  4. Scott Kazmir: Once a promising arm, Kazmir has completely imploded in 2010 with a 5.42 ERA and 1.559 WHIP.  Moreover, Kazmir has compiled a dreadful 6.84 ERA and 1.640 WHIP at home, which means you should place him on your fade list when he takes the mound before the home faithful.  What makes Kazmir so frustrating to bet on is the fact that he has issued sixteen walks over his last 26 innings pitched (along with 24 hits).
  5. John Lannan: Washington starter John Lannan takes the mound with a 5.76 ERA and 1.853 WHIP this season, including a 6.16 ERA and 1.989 WHIP at home, a 5.48 ERA and 1.760 WHIP on the road and a 5.02 ERA and 1.753 WHIP over his last seven starts.  No, there are no silver linings with Lannan so look to fade him in the second half of the season, especially at home where the Nationals are overpriced.
  6. Daniel McCutchen: Pittsburgh starter Daniel McCutchen is 0-3 with an 11.65 ERA and 2.000 WHIP in four starts this season.  Enough said.
  7. Brian Moehler: Houston starter Brian Moehler won’t be in the rotation for long based upon his 6.37 ERA and 1.820 WHIP, including his 8.34 ERA and 2.345 WHIP on the road and 6.37 ERA and 1.820 WHIP over his last seven starts.  Moehler has made me a lot of money (fading him) this season, and I strongly recommend that you do the same the next time he toes the rubber.
  8. Ryan Rowland-Smith: The name alone tells you that he does not belong in the majors.  On a serious note, Rowland-Smith has compiled a 6.37 ERA and 1.708 WHIP over thirteen starts this season.  Frankly, Rowland-Smith belongs in the bullpen, although I will continue to fade him on the road where he boasts an 8.10 ERA and 1.936 WHIP in 2010.
  9. Todd Wellemeyer: Over eleven starts this season, Wellemeyer is 305 with a 5.82 ERA and 1.527 WHIP.  Even more disturbing is the fact that Wellemeyer is 0-4 with a 9.67 ERA and 2.105 WHIP on the road.  Fade this guy to the bank, especially when he has to pack his bags and travel to foreign soil.
  10. Jeff Suppan: Fade, fade, fade.  Enough said.

I hope you enjoyed my first installment of the Fade List, which highlights those starting pitchers who do not belong in the majors.  The next time you go to place a wager on a baseball game, check to see if one of these glorified Triple-A pitchers is scheduled to take the mound.  Then, fade them all the way to the bank!