Ride The WAVE - AL West Starting Pitchers

BB per 9/hits per 9/K's per 9, followed by ERA/Wins/Sv/K's/WHIP:


LAA: Jered Weaver - 2.45/8.64/6.77, 3.88/14/0/152/1.233

LAA: Jon Garland - 2.21/9.51/4.46, 4.29/14/0/105/1.302

LAA: John Lackey - 2.46/8.48/8.38, 3.27/13/0/177/1.216

LAA: Joe Saunders - 2.53/10.64/5.67, 4.69/12/0/121/1.464

LAA: Ervin Santana - 3.15/9.51/6.77, 4.96/10/0/146/1.407

OAK: Joe Blanton - 1.93/9.66/5.51, 4.03/14/0/134/1.288

OAK: Chad Gaudin - 4.20/9.37/6.55, 5.17/10/0/142/1.508

OAK: Dana Eveland - 4.29/8.90/8.01, 4.60/8/0/153/1.465

OAK: Rich Harden - 3.94/6.35/9.16, 3.13/8/0/114/1.143

OAK: Justin Duchscherer - 2.16/8.66/6.66, 3.70/9/0/117/1.203

SEA: Felix Hernandez - 2.48/9.00/8.11, 3.66/15/0/173/1.276

SEA: Erik Bedard - 2.97/8.27/9.88, 3.50/13/0/203/1.249

SEA: Carlos Silva - 1.41/10.46/3.62, 4.41/12/0/82/1.319

SEA: Jarrod Washburn - 2.84/9.47/5.12, 4.36/10/0/108/1.368

SEA: Miguel Batista - 3.79/9.85/5.45, 4.74/11/0/115/1.516

TEX: Kevin Millwood - 2.89/9.77/6.64, 4.52/11/0/138/1.406

TEX: Vincente Padilla - 3.34/9.15/6.69, 4.63/10/0/130/1.389

TEX: Jason Jennings - 3.41/9.31/6.21, 4.66/6/0/100/1.414

TEX: Kason Gabbard - 3.89/8.17/5.45, 4.52/10/0/112/1.341

TEX: Luis Mendoza - 3.12/9.76/4.29, 4.85/5/0/62/1.431

Ride The WAVE - AL Central Starting Pitchers

As with all of the posts, if you see a player that is not projected, and would like him to be, simply let me know in the comments section. BB per 9/hits per 9/K's per 9, followed by ERA/Wins/Sv/K's/WHIP:


CHW: Javier Vazquez - 2.17/8.79/8.19

• K's and a decent WHIP should be a lock. Seemingly sports an 'unlucky' ERA every season, and won't get a ton of wins though. WAVE: 4.25/13/0/193/1.217 in 212 IP.

CHW: Mark Buehrle - 1.98/9.75/5.00

• Loses value when he's not winning games, and WAVE only has him down for 12. 3.95/12/0/114/1.302 in 205 IP.

CHW: Gavin Floyd - 3.68/9.66/6.09

• Floyd will get a crack at a full time rotation slot, and the likely results are more AL-only than mixed league. Once a top prospect, it wouldn't be completely surprising to see him best these WAVE projections, but his ceiling is limited at this point. 4.81/9/0/119/1.483 in 176 IP.

CHW: Jose Contreras - 2.95/9.89/6.00

• Mediocrity at it's finest, Contreras hasn't looked any good since '05, and had his best season in Yankee pinstripes in '03. WAVE is projecting 4.50/11/0/128/1.427 in 192 IP.

CHW: John Danks - 3.36/9.80/6.50

• Danks should get the occasional big strikeout game, but hasn't excelled in the high minors, and doesn't look quite ready to be a capable big league starter. WAVE has him at 4.53/8/0/122/1.462 in 169 IP.

CLE: CC Sabathia - 1.82/8.96/7.67

• It's doubtful that Sabathia will top 240 innings again in '08, making it likely that the K's will drop. In fact, 2007 was likely Sabathia's career year, and there should be significant decline in nearly every category in '08. That's not to say that he's still not a fantasy ace, just don't bid for the '07 numbers. WAVE likes him for 3.48/16/0/185/1.198 in 217 IP.

CLE: Fausto Carmona - 2.66/8.74/5.96

• Carmona broke out in a big way last season, posting 19 wins with a 3.06 ERA, leading some to even vote for him in the Cy Young balloting. The numbers should come back down to earth a bit this season, but with a great offense backing him, he could still rack up plenty of wins. WAVE is projecting 3.77/15/0/139/1.267 in 210 IP.

CLE: Jake Westbrook - 2.60/9.79/5.01

• Westbrook could surprise with a solid win total while pitching for an excellent offensive club. WAVE: 4.22/12/0/108/1.376 in 194 IP.

CLE: Paul Byrd - 1.38/10.72/4.33

• Byrd won't strike many batters out, and is quite hittable. His only positive attribute, as far as fantasy baseball goes, is his ability to win games. WAVE has him projected at 4.77/12/0/88/1.344 in 183 IP.

CLE: Cliff Lee - 2.93/9.57/6.12

• Lee spent much of last season in the Minors, struggling while in the Majors to the tune of a 6.30 ERA. He should bounce back somewhat in '08. WAVE: 4.58/11/0/119/1.389 in 175 IP.

DET: Justin Verlander - 2.79/8.63/8.25

• The ace of the Tigers staff should win plenty of games while getting plenty of K's. A fantasy ace. WAVE projects 3.42/18/0/198/1.269 in 216 IP.

DET: Jeremy Bonderman - 2.63/9.46/7.62

• Bonderman hasn't quite developed as was hoped a few years ago, but is still a solid fantasy option for wins and K's with the potential for growth. WAVE: 4.57/13/0/165/1.344 in 195 IP.

DET: Kenny Rogers - 2.74/9.47/4.34

• Crafy lefty. Wily veteran. Two good descriptions of the aging Gambler. Here's another: Best left for AL-only leagues. WAVE has him at 4.14/11/0/84/1.356 in 174 IP.

DET: Nate Robertson - 3.03/9.78/6.21

• As with all Tigers pitchers, Robertson is worth keeping an eye on in the hopes of garnering some wins for your fantasy team, but not much else should be expected. WAVE is projecting 4.30/11/0/127/1.424 in 184 IP.

DET: Dontrelle Willis - 3.33/10.07/6.65

• Willis was downright horrible last season, setting career highs in BB, ERA, and WHIP. Any improvements Willis might have had, based on an unfamiliar league dealing with his funky delivery, will probably be negated by no longer getting to face the pitcher. WAVE: 4.61/12/0/156/1.488 in 211 IP.

KC: Gil Meche - 3.40/8.91/6.90

• Meche turned in a surprisingly strong season for the Royals in the first year of his 5 year $55 Million contract, tying a career high with 156 K's, and setting one with a 3.67 ERA. Run support figures to be a problem going forward. WAVE pegs him at 4.10/10/0/148/1.368 in 193 IP.

KC: Brian Bannister - 2.71/8.63/4.33

• Bannister doesn't strike many batters out, and is likely to see some major regression in his second year in the Royals rotation. Not someone to bid aggressively for. WAVE projects 4.17/12/0/104/1.259 in 216 IP.

KC: Zack Greinke - 2.37/9.67/7.82

• Greinke saw an increase in velocity and K rate in the bullpen last season, but both should drop in '08. Still only 24 years old, Zack has the potential to be the ace of the staff. WAVE: 3.91/8/0/152/1.337 in 175 IP.

KC: John Bale - 4.63/10.27/7.35

• The success that Bale saw while pitching for Hiroshima of the NPB didn't translate well last season back in MLB. Someone to avoid in fantasy leagues. WAVE is projecting 5.58/5/0/116/1.655 in 142 IP.

KC: Brett Tomko - 2.63/9.64/5.57

• It looks as though Tomko will be in the rotation full time in '08, but expectations should be kept to a minimum. WAVE sees a 4.82/7/0/104/1.363 line in 168 IP.

MIN: Francisco Liriano - 3.72/8.01/8.13

• Liriano has looked nearly ready in the pre-season, but velocity, location, and success, should all fluctuate considerably in-season. He's likely to throw some gems, as well as get rocked in the first half of the season, but could find his groove by the All-Star break. A prime target in keeper leagues, WAVE has him at 4.94/11/0/140/1.303 in 155 IP.

MIN: Livan Hernandez - 3.31/10.63/4.27

• Hernandez looked terrible last year, and a move to the American League surely won't help matters. WAVE: 5.27/12/0/102/1.549 in 215 IP.

MIN: Boof Bonser - 3.00/9.69/7.06

• On the short list for coolest MLB names, Bonser should show some improvement in '08, and provides a decent K rate. WAVE projects 4.57/10/0/153/1.410 in 195 IP.

MIN: Scott Baker - 1.87/10.20/6.37

• Baker turned in 23 decent starts in '07, and WAVE likes him to show progress this season, posting a 4.21/12/0/133/1.340 line in 188 IP.

MIN: Kevin Slowey - 1.56/11.04/6.58

• Slowey just scratched the surface of his immense talent last season. Look for steady improvement over the next couple of seasons. Brad Radke is an excellent comparable for Kevin. WAVE has him at 4.69/12/0/139/1.400 in 190 IP.

Jonathan Sanchez

Jonathan Sanchez was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 27th round of the 2004 amateur draft out of Ohio Dominion College. Sanchez throws a fastball generally in the low 90's, but is capable of dialing it up to 95, a changeup, and a slider. His fastball is often described as being 'sneaky fast', in that his delivery tends to lull a batter to sleep before the ball explodes out of his hand. He pitches at a three quarter delivery arm slot, and is most effective when consistently repeating it, and staying on top of the ball. Sanchez was ranked as the Giants #2 prospect behind Tim Lincecum by Baseball America in 2007, and as the 59th best prospect overall, ahead of the likes of Carlos Gomez, Daric Barton, Kevin Slowey, and Joba Chamberlain.

Up to that point, Sanchez had posted a 7.36 hits/9, 3.50 BB/9, and 11.85 K/9 in 228.6 career Minor League innings to go along with a 3.58 ERA and 1.207 WHIP. He also had a brief stint with San Fran, with less than stellar results, going 3-1 with a 4.95 ERA.

2007 saw him in the big leagues, and the bullpen, for most of the season, again with mediocre results. While the K rate was much improved (10.73/9), he still ended the season with a 5.88 ERA, and 1.635 WHIP.

Seemingly a non-factor heading into the 2008 season, Sanchez got a spot in the starting rotation after an injury to Noah Lowry, and looked to make the most of his opportunity. He would have to battle Kevin Correia for the month of April to keep his rotation spot once Lowry was ready to return. His first start to the season didn't go so well, though, better than it looks on paper. Sanchez gave up 3 runs in the first inning, but settled down to pitch three scoreless, before falling apart in the 5th. Final line: 4 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, and the loss.

On to todays start. Facing the San Diego Padres, Sanchez went 6+ IP, allowing 3 hits, 2 BB, and striking out 10. No runs, no decision. The first hit of the ballgame was of the infield variety, while the next two were solid singles to the outfield to begin the 7th inning, ultimately getting Sanchez pulled after throwing 102 pitches, 66 for strikes. Don't let the 2 BB, or high number of balls thrown fool you, as Sanchez was haunted by an incredibly small strike zone from home plate umpire Gary Cederstrom, making the 10 K's all the more impressive. Sanchez induced 18 swings and misses on the day, looking dominant as he became the first Giants lefty to K 10 in a game in nearly 4 years (Noah Lowry, 2004). Also impressive, was Jonathan's ability to repeat his delivery and mechanics, pitch after pitch. He looked a little out of synch a couple of times while pitching out of the stretch, but that's to be expected when working out of the windup for the majority of the night.

Sanchez remains a high risk high reward 2 start pitcher for next week, but someone to target in keeper leagues with extra roster spots, and someone to keep an eye on in yearly formats. 200 K's aren't out of reach if Sanchez manages to stay in the rotation all season long.

Rejected T-Shirts

ESPN's page 2 has a funny bit on rejected baseball tees.

Ride The WAVE - AL East Starting Pitchers

BB per 9/hits per 9/K's per 9, followed by ERA/Wins/Sv/K's/WHIP:

BAL: Jeremy Guthrie - 2.32/8.82/6.19

• Guthrie broke through in 2007 with a surprise season, posting a 3.70 ERA and 1.209 WHIP in 175.3 IP. Without a hike in the strikeout rate, some regression should be expected. WAVE sees a 3.92/10/0/139/1.238 line in 202 IP.

BAL: Daniel Cabrera - 4.70/9.04/7.75

• I've lost all faith in Cabrera's potential at this point. All the skill in the world won't make up for the ridiculous amount of walks Daniel surrenders. WAVE: 5.37/9/0/173/1.527 in 201 IP.

BAL: Adam Loewen - 5.08/8.59/8.14

• The highest drafted Canadian in the history of the game still possesses major control issues, despite plus stuff. Much like Cabrera, his game won't improve until his command does. WAVE has him at 5.24/10/0/160/1.520 in 177 IP.

BAL: Steve Trachsel - 3.73/9.96/3.45

• The veteran righty has struggled with his command the past few seasons, and considering how hittable he is, the results have predictably been poor. BAL won't be providing Trachsel with much run support, and there's no upside to speak of, so he can be safely avoided in fantasy leagues. WAVE projects 4.74/8/0/72/1.521 in 188 IP.

BAL: Brian Burres - 4.06/10.17/6.61

• Not much to like in the 27 year old lefty, and not much upside either. WAVE: 5.56/7/0/119/1.580 in 162 IP.

BOS: Josh Beckett - 2.16/8.24/8.69

• The ace of the Sox, Beckett should continue to provide his fantasy owners with a Cy Young calibre season, posting plenty of strike outs and wins, pitching in front of an outstanding offense. WAVE has him at 3.60/18/0/193/1.155 in 200 IP.

BOS: Daisuke Matsuzaka - 3.30/8.14/9.04

• Control seems to be the only thing holding Dice-K back from being one of the truly elite. Odd, considering the extraordinary control he displayed while pitching in Japan, posting a 1.86 BB/9 in his last two seasons in Japan. Much is probably due to a smaller MLB strike zone, and better, more patient hitters, who don't swing at as many balls out of the zone. WAVE likes Matsuzaka to show improvement in his rate stats in year two, and he remains a bit of a sleeper due to his rookie season not meeting expectations. 3.90/16/0/211/1.271 in 210 IP.

BOS: Tim Wakefield - 3.02/8.95/5.70

• As a knuckleballer, Wakefield should age well. Despite turning 42 later this year, Tim should continue to get ample run support to provide AL-only owners with wins. WAVE: 4.57/13/0/121/1.330 in 191 IP.

BOS: Jon Lester - 4.28/9.34/6.58

• I feel like a bit of a broken record here, but as with most young pitchers, Lester's one area of concern is control. Between Clay Buchholz, Bartolo Colon, and Curt Schilling, it will be interesting to see how the back end of the Boston rotation shakes out. WAVE is projecting 4.67/10/0/117/1.513 in 160 IP.

BOS: Clay Buchholz - 3.92/8.06/8.56

• WAVE doesn't think Buchholz will be in the rotation for the whole season, but that by the end of it, he should be a serviceable fantasy starting pitcher while posting a solid K rate. Walks could be an issue. 3.99/6/0/118/1.331 in 124 IP.

BOS: Bartolo Colon - 2.43/9.79/5.93

• Colon looks like he may make a positive impact for the Sox and fantasy owners in '08 after all. He shouldn't pitch much more than half the season in the rotation, but will be a popular waiver wire pickup when he is recalled from the Minors, and should provide a decent number of wins pitching in front of Big Papi and M-Ram. WAVE: 4.29/9/0/83/1.357 in 126 IP.

BOS: Curt Schilling - 1.54/9.47/6.04

• Schilling is on the 60 day DL, and expected to miss at least the first half of the season. The jury is out on whether Schilling will ever again provide fantasy value, but WAVE likes him for 3.91/5/0/51/1.224 in 76 IP.

NYY: Andy Pettitte - 2.86/9.81/6.70

• So long as Pettitte remains healthy, he'll provide fantasy owners with wins. WAVE has him down for 4.01/15/0/157/1.408 in 211 IP in '08.

NYY: Chien-Ming Wang - 2.43/9.17/4.31

• I wasn't a believer heading into the 2007 season, but Wang, to his credit, put up nearly identical numbers in '07 as he did in '06. Despite a poor K rate, Wang manages to keep runs in check by inducing a large number of ground balls. The Yanks should provide plenty of run support. WAVE: 3.68/18/0/103/1.288 in 215 IP.

NYY: Phil Hughes - 3.75/8.69/7.88

• Hughes is a promising youngster that needs to be owned in all keeper leagues. There figures to be a learning curve, but the solid results will eventually come. WAVE: 4.06/11/0/126/1.382 in 144 IP.

NYY: Mike Mussina - 1.93/9.69/6.03

• Mussina followed up his impressive '06 campaign with a disappointing and inconsistent 2007. It's doubtful that Mussina will return to ace form in his age 39 season, but he should improve on his numbers from last season. WAVE: 4.05/13/0/122/1.291 in 182 IP.

NYY: Ian Kennedy - 4.34/8.67/7.74

• Kennedy impressed in '07 at every level: A, AA, AAA, and MLB. He's likely to have some growing pains in his first full MLB season, but is still someone to target in long term keeper leagues. WAVE projects 4.34/12/0/141/1.445 in 164 IP.

NYY: Joba Chamberlain - 2.30/6.91/9.28

• Chamberlain will start the '08 season in the bullpen, but is likely to pitch at least the second half of the season in the rotation. There's currently no reason to believe he won't be an ace once the move to the rotation is made, as evidenced by his BB, hit, and K rates. WAVE likes him to go 3.00/7/2/133/1.023 in 129 IP.

TB: James Shields - 1.87/9.12/7.47

• Shields broke out in '07 to the tune of a 3.85 ERA, 1.107 WHIP, and 184 strike outs. A solid K rate, excellent control, and a solid young supporting cast, all make Shields an excellent target in all fantasy formats. WAVE has him down for more of the same in '08: 3.73/14/0/180/1.221 in 217 IP.

TB: Matt Garza - 3.22/9.99/7.15

• Garza is a highly touted prospect, but likely not quite ready to put up mixed league stats. WAVE projects 4.69/11/0/151/1.468 in 190 IP.

TB: Andy Sonnanstine - 1.74/10.46/5.53

• Sonnanstine's 2007 MLB ERA was higher than his corresponding WHIP would indicate, so there is hope for improvement in '08. WAVE: 4.52/11/0/121/1.355 in 197 IP.

TB: Edwin Jackson - 4.66/10.69/6.99

• Jackson was once the top rated LA Dodgers prospect, but has floundered in several big league trials. Control seems to be his biggest liability, though he has been easy to hit in the Majors as well. The talent is there, but time is running out for the 24 year old to show that he's more than a 5th starter on a bad team. WAVE: 5.88/7/0/132/1.706 in 170 IP.

TB: Jason Hammel - 4.00/10.17/6.42

• Despite a solid Minor League track record, Hammel has yet to show anything that would make him appear to be more than an MLB middle reliever. WAVE is projecting 5.08/4/0/77/1.574 in 108 IP.

TB: Scott Kazmir - 3.87/8.40/9.87

• Kazmir begins 2008 with a left elbow strain, and it figures that he'll miss a fair bit of time to start the season. Regardless of the innings pitched total, the ratios should be there to make him well worth using in any format. WAVE has him at 3.60/10/0/181/1.364 in 165 IP.

TOR: Roy Halladay - 1.74/8.80/5.39

• It's doubtful that Halladay will ever strike out 200+ again, but he remains a fantasy ace, exhibiting excellent control, while racking up wins and innings. WAVE sees 3.57/16/0/133/1.171 in 222 IP for '08.

TOR: AJ Burnett - 3.36/7.73/8.64

• If only Burnett could manage to stay healthy. It wouldn't be wise to count on it, but if he did, you'd be getting ace numbers out of the 9th round. WAVE projects 3.76/11/0/170/1.232 in 177 IP.

TOR: Dustin McGowan - 3.20/8.35/7.52

• The oft injured McGowan managed to stay healthy for 191.6 pro innings last season, and will look to build off his breakout '07 season. He should show improvement, and if he can manage to pitch 200 innings, be a major sleeper. WAVE: 3.99/12/0/162/1.284 in 194 IP.

TOR: Shaun Marcum - 2.48/8.38/7.19

• Say hello to the new Derek Lowe. Only this Derek Lowe is 26 years old with room for improvement. WAVE likes Shaun as a sleeper for 2008, and to post a 3.90/14/0/151/1.206 line in 189 IP.

TOR: Jesse Litsch - 2.97/10.09/4.95

• Is it just me, or is the Jays rotation surprisingly stacked? Litsch looks like a fine #5, and could easily grow into more with experience. WAVE has him at 4.45/11/0/100/1.451 in 182 IP.

Ride The WAVE - NL West Starting Pitchers

BB per 9/hits per 9/K's per 9, followed by ERA/Wins/Sv/K's/WHIP:

ARI: Brandon Webb - 2.38/8.27/7.27

• The 2006 Cy Young award winner improved across the board in '07, but didn't receive any hardware to show for it. As the ace of a burgeoning high offense club, Webb should post high win totals, and be among the Cy finalists again in 2008. Not much to dislike here. WAVE: 3.27/16/0/189/1.184 in 234 IP.

ARI: Dan Haren - 2.10/8.96/7.52

• Haren gets another crack at the National League after coming over from the A's in the offseason alongside Connor Robertson, in exchange for Brett Anderson, Dana Eveland, Greg Smith, Chris Carter, Aaron Cunningham and Carlos Gonzalez. Haren has grown considerably as a pitcher since his days in a Cardinals uniform, and should continue to perform like an ace in 2008. WAVE sees him going 3.70/15/0/183/1.228 in 219 IP.

ARI: Doug Davis - 4.28/9.00/5.91

• Davis will undergo surgery for thyroid cancer after making two starts this season, and is expected to miss about six weeks before again joining the rotation. You have to admire Davis for making his first two starts of the season, and I'm sure he will work hard to come back as quickly as possible, but you have to think this will effect his game somewhat. WAVE is projecting 4.61/10/0/109/1.476 in 166 IP.

ARI: Micah Owings - 3.08/8.95/6.35

• Owings probably made more headlines last season with his bat than his arm (he batted .333 with 4 HR, 15 RBI, and a 1.032 OPS), but he's still a talented young pitcher. WAVE likes Owings to win a dozen games for the Baby Backs, going 4.33/12/0/132/1.337 in 187 IP.

ARI: Randy Johnson - 2.32/8.94/8.11

• The 44 year old Johnson is on the shelf with a back injury for the second time in the last year. There's nothing wrong with taking a flier on Johnson, but expecting the kind of dominance he showed a few short years ago would be foolish. I'm skeptical he'll even pitch the projected 151 IP that WAVE has him at , but if nothing else, the rate stats should still hold up in '08, however small the innings total ends up being. 3.87/10/0/136/1.252 in 151 IP.

COL: Jeff Francis - 2.67/9.59/6.37

• The young Canuck will once again lead the Rockies staff in '08. Francis showed progression in his K rate last season, but simultaneously, regression in his hit rate. If he can bring the hits allowed total back down again, it would help convince me that last season's win total (17) was more than a fluke. WAVE projects 4.25/15/0/150/1.363 in 212 IP.

COL: Aaron Cook - 2.24/10.28/4.11

• The Rockies locked up Cook for four more years in the offseason, despite him having missed time with injury in '07. That's pretty telling that Colorado isn't concerned about the missed time going forward. WAVE has projected Aaron to go 4.20/10/0/90/1.391 in 197 IP.

COL: Ubaldo Jimenez - 4.54/9.00/6.95

• Despite electric stuff, Jimenez hasn't displayed as strong a K rate as one would expect. Combined with erratic control, Ubaldo looks to be a few years away from developing into the ace this years fantasy owners are coveting (assuming he ever develops into an ace). WAVE has him down for 4.89/12/0/159/1.505 in 206 IP.

COL: Mark Redman - 3.09/10.50/4.97

• Redman made Colorado's rotation despite posting poor stats in Spring Training. More of the same should be expected in the regular season, and it would be a surprise to see him last the full season as a starter. WAVE: 5.63/4/0/53/1.510 in 96 IP.

COL: Franklin Morales - 4.30/8.41/6.33

• Much like Ubaldo Jimenez, Morales will need to harness his control in order to be effective at the Major League level. Should be a big time strike out pitcher if/when it happens. WAVE projects 4.45/10/0/128/1.412 in 182 IP.

LAD: Brad Penny - 2.58/9.18/6.55

• Penny made strides last season despite a fading K rate. Pitching in one of baseball's best pitching parks should help mask any inefficiencies that would otherwise be apparent. WAVE sees him going 3.83/15/0/147/1.307 in 202 IP.

LAD: Derek Lowe - 2.40/9.00/6.06

• Derek has been very consistent since joining the Dodger rotation in 2005, posting an ERA between 3.61-3.89, and a WHIP between 1.252-1.269, every season. WAVE expects more of the same from Lowe, an underrated fantasy pitcher: 3.83/14/0/144/1.266 in 214 IP.

LAD: Chad Billingsley - 3.61/8.44/8.90

• An ace in the making, Chad suffers from the same ailment that plagues most young starters: the walk. If he gets his free passes under control, Billingsley would vault into the upper tier of pitchers, but in the meantime should be counted on for a solid ERA and excellent K rate. WAVE: 3.56/13/0/175/1.334 in 177 IP.

LAD: Hiroki Kuroda - 2.01/8.86/6.37

• Kuroda is a big time sleeper. For whatever reason, most fantasy sites haven't drawn upon the stark contrast in park effects that Kuroda is about to experience. Chavez Ravine, one of baseball's most pitching friendly parks, has dimensions of 330 ft to left, 395 ft to center, and 330 ft to right. Kuroda's former home park, Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, has dimensions of 300 ft to left, 380 ft to center, and 300 ft to right. A bandbox to say the least. The fact that Kuroda was able to post a 1.85 ERA in '06 while pitching half of his games in that park, speaks volumes to the kind of potential he possesses. Also, unlike other Japanese imports, control shouldn't be an issue at all with Hiroki. If LA pushes him too hard however, you may see him falter at seasons end. WAVE: 3.93/12/0/133/1.207 in 188 IP.

LAD: Esteban Loaiza - 2.32/9.64/6.45

• Loaiza missed more than four months of '07 with a torn meniscus in his right knee, but is healthy to start the 2008 season. WAVE is projecting 4.65/9/0/111/1.329 in 155 IP.

LAD: Jason Schmidt - 4.09/9.25/7.12

• Schmidt is likely to miss a good portion of the season as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery. When he returns, he will likely bump Loaiza out of the rotation. Schmidt may be an option for '09, depending on how he performs once he returns this year. WAVE has him going 5.15/6/0/87/1.482 in 110 IP.

SD: Jake Peavy - 2.57/7.24/9.77

• Front line ace and potential Cy Young award winner. WAVE: 2.87/16/0/228/1.090 in 210 IP.

SD: Chris Young - 3.68/6.73/8.71

• Young is as unhittable as they come. If he could manage to cut back on the walks a bit, and break the 200 IP threshold, he would become a Cy Young candidate. His tall frame allows him to sneak high 80's fastballs at a different plane by batters time and again. WAVE is calling for 3.29/12/0/180/1.156 in 186 IP.

SD: Greg Maddux - 1.35/10.17/5.00

• Mad Dog gets away with allowing all those hits, by limiting the free passes he issues to virtually nil. Not what he once was, but the type of pitcher that ages well. WAVE: 4.28/14/0/111/1.280 in 200 IP.

SD: Randy Wolf - 2.59/10.16/8.11

• If Wolf can manage to stay healthy, he'll provide a decent amount of strike outs, and therefore, some fantasy value. WAVE: 4.57/8/0/119/1.417 in 132 IP.

SD: Justin Germano - 2.68/9.05/5.31

• Germano proved in '07 that he's capable of being a back-of-the-rotation-guy for San Diego. He should eat up some innings for the Friars, and anyone pitching in Petco needs to be watched closely in fantasy circles. WAVE projects 4.48/10/0/115/1.303 in 195 IP.

SF: Barry Zito - 3.75/8.10/6.10

• The general consensus seems to be that Zito is on the decline, and I tend to agree. He's looked awful in Spring Training, and a move to the NL has done nothing to help him out. Until he proves us wrong, it would be wise to stay away in fantasy leagues. WAVE has him down for a 4.39/13/0/143/1.318 line in 211 IP.

SF: Matt Cain - 3.55/7.57/7.70

• Cain had a solid second year in the Giants rotation, despite not getting any run support at all (7-16 W-L). His strike out rate dropped in '07, but since all the other numbers improved, it's probably nothing to worry about. WAVE: 3.59/10/0/178/1.236 in 208 IP.

SF: Tim Lincecum - 3.88/7.54/9.18

• Posted an elite K rate in his age 22 season, and should only get better. Poor run support will mean a definite lack of wins, but should provide solid value in three categories. WAVE: 3.93/11/0/201/1.269 in 197 IP.

SF: Kevin Correia - 3.79/8.84/7.00

• A bit of a sleeper if he can manage to stay in the rotation all season long, Correia posted a 2.54 ERA in eight starts down the stretch for the '07 Giants. He's improved each season in the Majors, and could suprise. WAVE has him at 4.21/8/0/133/1.404 in 171 IP.

SF: Jonathan Sanchez - 4.70/9.39/9.55

• A sleeper only because of his strong K rate. He has the stuff to dominate, but it usually takes lefties a bit longer to realize their potential. Sanchez will likely bounce back and forth between the bullpen and the rotation all season long. Control issues and poor run support make him someone to watch, not someone to draft. WAVE: 5.09/5/0/122/1.565 in 115 IP.

SF: Noah Lowry - 3.80/9.11/4.92

• Lowry somehow managed 14 wins in 2007 despite posting a 1.551 WHIP, and playing for a poor offensive team. Noah will start the season on the DL after surgery on his forearm. Expect major regression in wins and ERA once he returns. WAVE projects 4.75/9/0/88/1.435 in 161 IP.

Ride The WAVE - NL Central Starting Pitchers

BB per 9/hits per 9/K's per 9, followed by ERA/Wins/Sv/K's/WHIP:

CHC: Carlos Zambrano - 4.03/7.71/8.19

• Zambrano's WHIP rose for the third straight season in '07, despite winning a career high 18 games. He pitches for a contender, and should provide fantasy owners with wins, K's, and a solid ERA. WAVE: 3.94/17/0/191/1.305 in 210 IP.

CHC: Ted Lilly - 3.03/8.11/7.13

• Lilly took to the NL quite well, and seems destined for some regression (.270 BABIP in '07). The Cubs offense should still provide Ted with plenty of opportunities for wins, but don't assume a repeat is coming. WAVE projects 4.06/12/0/153/1.238 in 193 IP.

CHC: Ryan Dempster - 4.44/9.17/6.56

• Dempster hasn't pitched in a rotation consistently since 2003 with Cincinnati, and looks to make the switch back this season with the Cubs. Endurance figures to be a bit of an issue, though not as much so as general ineffectiveness. WAVE is projecting 5.33/10/0/118/1.512 in 162 IP.

CHC: Rich Hill - 2.93/7.63/8.47

• Hill enters his second full season in the rotation as a sleeper candidate for 200 K's. Good run support should make passing last years 11 win mark easy for Rich. WAVE is calling for a 3.77/15/0/191/1.172 line in 203 IP.

CHC: Jason Marquis - 3.46/9.19/4.64

• Most were stunned when Marquis, coming off a season in which he sported a 6.03 ERA, was signed to a 3 year $21 Million deal by the Cubs before the '07 season. Chicago couldn't have been happier with the first year results though: 12 wins, 4.61 ERA. WAVE is projecting a bit of a regression in '08: 4.74/11/0/98/1.405 in 190 IP.

CIN: Aaron Harang - 2.07/8.69/8.37

• Harang has been referred to as an under-valued ace so often, that he's almost become over-valued. Two straight fantastic years make me a believer, but an ERA over 4 would never surprise me at Great American Ballpark. Not only was Harang the first pitcher in the history of the game to lead his league in wins and strikeouts (2006) and NOT WIN the Cy Young award, he didn't get a single vote on the ballot. WAVE: 3.64/17/0/214/1.196 in 230 IP.

CIN: Bronson Arroyo - 2.52/9.37/6.19

• Arroyo posted a dismal 4.84 ERA and 1.478 WHIP before the All-Star break, but bounced back with a 3.55 ERA and 1.313 WHIP over the second half. Expect numbers somewhere in the middle for 2008. WAVE projects 4.13/13/0/150/1.321 in 218 IP.

CIN: Johnny Cueto - 3.33/9.21/8.43

• A suprising, if not well deserved, addition to the Reds rotation, Cueto starts the year off at 22, and with 4 AAA starts under his belt. His season will likely be filled with numerous ups and downs; proving dominant on some occasions, while getting beaten up on others. An excellent flier based on the potential alone, and a must have in keeper leagues. Johnny has shown impeccable control in the minors, and will likely improve on that aspect of his MLB game in year two. WAVE pegs him at 4.42/12/0/162/1.393 in 173 IP.

CIN: Josh Fogg - 3.05/10.63/4.79

• The Dragon Slayer is quite possibly the first man out once (if) Homer Bailey proves ready. WAVE sees a 5.20/8/0/91/1.520 line in 171 IP.

CIN: Edinson Volquez - 3.94/8.49/7.82

• Another youngster surprisingly in the rotation, Volquez was acquired in the offseason in the Josh Hamilton trade. Obviously the Reds think highly of Edinson. Volquez will need to harness his control if he is to have any lengthy success in the Majors, something he seemed to do in the high minors in 2007. WAVE: 4.44/10/0/139/1.381 in 160 IP.

HOU: Roy Oswalt - 2.27/9.42/6.86

• With his hit rate climbing, and his K rate falling, Oswalt will be hard pressed to continue to dominate the National League. Despite posting the highest WHIP of his career in 2007, Roy still managed to garner 14 wins alongside an impressive 3.18 ERA. For 2008, WAVE is projecting 3.28/15/0/163/1.299 in 214 IP.

HOU: Wandy Rodriguez - 3.25/8.86/7.28

• Rodriguez made major strides in '07, and is a bit of a sleeper for 2008. Could post solid K totals, and 12 wins. WAVE has him at 4.64/11/0/157/1.345 in 194 IP.

HOU: Brandon Backe - 3.97/9.06/5.21

• Backe gets the nod as the Astros third starter. Not much upside here, or value outside of NL only leagues. WAVE: 4.56/8/0/88/1.447 in 152 IP.

HOU: Chris Sampson - 2.13/9.69/3.92

• A poor K rate makes Sampson undesirable for fantasy purposes, but as a soft tossing journeyman, someone to cheer for as a baseball fan. WAVE pegs him at 4.33/9/0/68/1.314 in 156 IP.

HOU: Shawn Chacon - 4.56/8.94/5.51

• Has had some success in the past, posting low ERA's and okay strikeout rates. It's important to note that the low ERA's have never seemed to match the high WHIP's. WAVE projects 5.34/7/0/98/1.500 in 160 IP.

MIL: Ben Sheets - 1.63/8.64/8.19

• Undoubtedly an ace, the fear lies in the potential for injury. If Sheets can stay healthy for the full season (for the first time since 2004), he will likely be a Cy Young candidate. That seems unlikely at this point however. WAVE: 3.41/14/0/161/1.141 in 177 IP.

MIL: Jeff Suppan - 2.96/9.89/5.09

• It will be interesting to see how the Milwaukee rotation comes together when Yovani Gallardo comes off the DL in mid-April. I feel that while Suppan should be the one to go, Manny Parra is likely to get some more AAA time. Between all of that, and the likelihood of a Ben Sheets injury, all of the Brewers starters should get a fair share of innings this season. WAVE is calling for a 4.64/10/0/91/1.429 line in 161 IP.

MIL: Dave Bush - 1.88/10.02/5.41

• Bush had a disastrous season in '07, posting a 5.13 ERA after his breakout '06 campaign. His excellent control is nearly negated by his 'hitability', and a poor start to the season could see him as the odd man out in the Brewers rotation. WAVE is projecting 4.67/9/0/95/1.323 in 158 IP.

MIL: Carlos Villanueva - 3.14/7.88/7.28

• Villanueva is the owner of a career 3.86 ERA in 168 Major League innings, and a 3.25 ERA in 473.33 Minor League innings, making him a tremendous sleeper if he can hang in the MIL rotation all season. He also possesses a strong K rate, and 200 IP could make him the surprise of the '08 season. Carlos went 2-2 with a 2.06 ERA in six starts down the stretch for the Brew Crew in '07. WAVE: 3.85/9/0/123/1.224 in 152 IP.

MIL: Manny Parra - 3.79/8.64/8.14

• Parra is surprisingly older than Villanueva, but is considered to have the higher upside of the two. If Manny heads back to the Minors to make room for Yovani Gallardo, expect him to be back up for good by mid-season. WAVE sees 4.29/6/0/114/1.381 in 126 IP for '08.

MIL: Yovani Gallardo - 3.04/8.51/8.29

• Gallardo has started the season on the DL, but should be fine. By seasons end, he may in fact be the ace of the staff - his stuff is that good. WAVE projects 3.93/16/0/188/1.284 in 204 IP.

PIT: Ian Snell - 2.97/9.17/7.64

• Did anyone else get burned in keeper leagues by drafting and later dropping Ian Oquendo? Despite being a small guy, Snell dials it up there, and possesses a strong K-rate. If only he pitched for a better team. WAVE: 4.16/14/0/180/1.349 in 212 IP.

PIT: Tom Gorzelanny - 2.97/9.17/6.12

• The walk and hit rates are a little startling to look at, after just viewing Snell's. Strikeouts really are the difference between the two for fantasy purposes. Gorz did have some shoulder issues in '07 - something to keep in mind. WAVE pegs him at 3.93/13/0/140/1.350 in 206 IP.

PIT: Paul Maholm - 2.79/10.03/5.48

• Maholm hasn't progressed as many thought he would, though he does still have age on his side. WAVE calls for a 4.79/11/0/112/1.424 line in 184 IP.

PIT: Matt Morris - 2.56/10.52/4.88

• At age 33, Morris is clearly in decline. The new Pirates regime will hope he starts off hot and accumulate some trade value, the way he did in '07, and undo the mistake trade the previous regime made in acquiring him. WAVE is projecting 4.97/10/0/103/1.453 in 190 IP.

PIT: Zach Duke - 2.66/10.84/4.76

• Much like Maholm, Duke just hasn't progressed in the Majors. Zach missed most of the second half of '07 with elbow troubles. WAVE: 5.06/8/0/93/1.500 in 176 IP.

STL: Adam Wainwright - 3.07/9.04/6.70

• The ace of the Cardinals staff, Wainwright will look to build off of his breakout '07 season in which he posted a 2.56 ERA after the All-Star break. WAVE projects 3.84/15/0/157/1.346 in 211 IP.

STL: Braden Looper - 3.02/9.57/4.40

• A move to the rotation was largely successful for Braden Looper and the Cards, but still not much of a fantasy asset. WAVE sees a 4.79/12/0/92/1.399 line in 188 IP.

STL: Kyle Lohse - 2.78/9.79/5.38

• The man who was looking for a 3 year deal in the offseason, had to settle for a 1 year $4.25 Million deal in mid-March. He eats innings and was a solid value signing for the Cardinals, but again, not much fantasy value here. WAVE is calling for a 4.69/9/0/116/1.397 line in 194 IP.

STL: Todd Wellemeyer - 5.04/8.59/6.44

• Wellemeyer gets the nod in the starting rotation while Joel Pineiro is on the mend. Severe control issues don't portend solid results. WAVE: 4.71/6/0/78/1.514 in 109 IP.

STL: Brad Thompson - 2.92/10.03/4.20

• Thompson appears better suited for relief work, and if Pineiro and Chris Carpenter can both come back healthy, that's probably exactly where he'll wind up. WAVE: 4.56/8/0/69/1.439 in 148 IP.

STL: Joel Pineiro - 2.43/10.64/5.91

• Some are calling Pineiro a sleeper for '08, based on his results late last season for St. Louis (3.96 ERA, 1.272 WHIP). I'm not buying it. It was a small sample size, and Pineiro has looked strong for periods of time in the past. Joel is currently on the DL, but is expected back in a few weeks. WAVE has him at 5.26/7/0/90/1.453 in 137 IP.