Fantasy Baseball: Chin Music

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

You can crunch the numbers all you want, but for starting pitchers a real simple way to tell if a pitcher has the goods is to look at the win total. I know, sometimes pitchers get robbed of wins by shaky bullpens or are just plain unlucky and can't get the proper run support, but for the most part wins should let a fantasy owner know if a pitcher is getting the job done or that pitcher's offense is stepping up and putting runs on the board even when that pitcher might have an off night.

It's no surprise that a list of guys that headline the wins category are carrying fantasy teams right now, and a couple of surprises that weren't targeted on draft day that are still producing with wins.

Mr. I-Know-You're-Good-But-Never-Get-The-Proper-Respect ... ya, that's Toronto's Roy Halladay, has baffled hitters and teams all year and is at the top of the list with 8 wins.

Mr. Surprise, but one of my sleeper picks, Zack Greinke is right behind with 7. Imagine if your team had both these guys, I'd bet you'd be pretty good in the pitching department.

On the six-win list is Chad Billingsley, Johan Santana, Derek Lowe, Joe Saunders, Kevin Slowey, Jason Marquis, Bronson Arroyo and Mark Buehrle. I'd say the final three guys on the list are early-season surprises, although Arroyo's ERA is 5.79 and it's a slight problem.

This list will change, no doubt, over the course of the year, but bank on Halladay, Greinke, Santana and Billingsley staying in the top 10 all season long. They are winners.

HE'S KILLING YOU

Fausto Carmona (CLE): So much for Carmona being a sleeper pick because he's still sleeping on the mound (2 wins, 5.74 ERA).

Ricky Nolasco (FLA): You know it's bad when the Marlins ship you to the minors and you're suppose to be the ace of the staff, or No. 2 guy. Nolasco has a 9.07 ERA, yikes, and only 2 wins. How'd he get 2 wins? It's a miracle.

THANK YOU, SIR

Zach Duke (PIT): He may not be able to shatter glass with his fastball, but he knows how to get guys out, especially this year (5 wins, 2.77 ERA).

Rick Porcello (DET): This rookie just doesn't have an idea of how to pitch, he knows how to execute (5 wins, 3.55 ERA). Imagine what he'll be like in 2-3 years? Scary. Detroit fans should be worshiping his right arm right now.

Matt Cain (SF): Another one of my preseason sleeper picks, Cain has found a way to put his talents to use, finally. He's got five wins, 2.40 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.