LAST week, C.C. Sabathia gave up five earned runs and got the win. Also last week – and if you read any trade story this week, you know this – Randy Johnson struck out 14, gave up zero earned runs and picked up the loss.
But such is life and rotisserie players should take notice of this particular injustice. At this point in the season, with so many innings logged, your team’s ERA and WHIP can’t be dramatically reduced or increased. But your wins total certainly can. So don’t ignore players simply because they have chubby earned-run averages. Right now, wins are at a premium for many fantasy teams. Here are a few guys you may be able to get for relatively nothing because of their horrid ERA and WHIP, but who will still get you plenty of wins because of their high run support.
Jarod Washburn, Angels: Washburn’s on the DL right now with an inflamed chest ligament, so you may be able to nab him for even less. He ranks sixth in the AL in wins, despite his ghastly 4.83 ERA. That’s thanks to the majors’ best run support (8.31).
Derek Lowe, Red Sox: Lowe may be able to be swiped off the waiver wire. His 5.56 ERA and 1.71 WHIP have terrified fantasy owners, but his 8.02 run support has gotten him nine wins. Another plus, the Red Sox play the Devil Rays another 13 times this season.
Kaz Ishii, Dodgers: Strange how all of a sudden a Dodgers pitcher is thanking their offense. Ishii (11 wins) has a 4.63 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP, but his offense has posted 7.69 runs per game for him.
Kenny Rogers, Rangers: We don’t recommend picking him up, but he falls under this category. He has an unbelievable 13 wins already (he hasn’t had more than 13 in a full season since 1998) and that’s with an adequate 4.20 ERA.
Ismael Valdez, Padres: Valdez has nine wins, but his 5.53 ERA frightens owners away. Don’t be shy, the Padres have built a potent lineup and the 5.88 runs per game they put up for Valdez should continue during a pennant race.
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Crystal ball: We don’t care that the Diamondbacks took two from the Astros this week after losing 14 in a row. They’re still a sorry team. We recommend starting Brad Penny, Dontrelle Willis and Josh Beckett, who came of the DL last week, for a few easy wins.
