A.L. TWO-START STUDS
Erik Bedard (@Bal, LAA) – Bedard struggled with his command in his first start, but I expect him to right the ship against a bad Orioles team and in the commodious confines of Safeco against the Angels.
Rich Harden (@Tor, @Cle) – Harden allowed a total of one run in 11 innings against the Red Sox in two starts while striking out 15. As long as he’s healthy, I’m betting on him.
Justin Verlander (ChW, @ChW) – It’s hard to give up four runs on only six base runners, which is what happened to Verlander in his debut; don’t expect that to continue if he maintains a 6:1 K/BB ratio and strikes out a man an inning. I like his odds against the Pale Hose and Mark Buehrle.
A.L. TWO-START SCRUBS
Mark Buehrle (@Det, Det) – When Buehrle is off even a little bit, the results can be grisly, as his first start attests. The Detroit offense should rightly scare the hell out of him, and he’s at even more of a disadvantage matched up against Verlander both times.
Brian Burres (Sea, @TB) – Brian Burres is not very good.
Jason Hammel (@NYY, Bal) – Hammel against the Yankees has the potential to be a bloodbath. Get your tickets now if you enjoy spectacles like public hangings and people on fire.
A.L. TWO-START WILD CARD
Josh Beckett (@Tor, NYY) – You’ve seen the good (2007) and the bad (2006). Coming off an injury and facing two good offenses, it’s tough to know what to expect.
N.L. TWO-START STUDS
Matt Cain (SD, StL) – The Giants’ true ace gets two starts at run-strangling AT&T Park against two offensive offenses.
Ben Sheets (SF, @NYM) – Sheets flashed a vintage curveball and had good velocity in his bow against a good Cubs lineup. Expect him to dominate the hapless Giants and beat Oliver Perez in a game featuring plenty of strikeouts.
Rick VandenHurk (Pit, @Hou) – Yeah, I’m going out on a limb a bit here, but the Walking Dutchman is facing a pretty bad team in a good run environment and a really bad team in a good run environment. He’s a sleeper.
N.L. TWO-START SCRUBS
Tom Glavine (NYM, @Was) – Glavine is nearing the end of the road, and games against Wright, Reyes & Co. and a Washington offense featuring a healthy Nick Johnson will just serve to highlight the fork growing from between his shoulder blades.
Edgar Gonzalez (@Col, Col) – The Rockies have hardly been an offensive powerhouse thus far, but I think a double helping of the Ghostbuster will be just the tonic they need.
Barry Zito (@Mil, StL) – Disabuse yourself of any notion of Barry Zito as the ace of the Giants; if you’re feeling charitable, he’s the team’s third-best starter. Don’t expect him to start earning his salary any time soon.
N.L. TWO-START WILD CARD
Oliver Perez (Phi, Mil) – Perez looked great in his first start, but he had his three highest walk totals of 2007 against the Phillies, and the Brewers’ offense looks well-balanced and powerful. He’ll probably have one quality start and one near-meltdown, with plenty of both walks and strikeouts.
QUICK HITS
Mark Lowe is a hyena, and he’s going to fight for a lion’s share of the up-for-grabs save chances in Seattle with J.J. Putz on the DL.
Johnny Cueto is making fans in Cincinnati say “Homer who?” If he’s still available in your league, he is a must-add.
If you need help at catcher, Ryan Doumit is your man. Doumit entered spring as the backup at both catcher and right field, but he had a good spring and has multiple-hit games in his first three starts, so expect him to get a lot of playing time in the near future.
Acquired in the Dan Haren deal, A’s lefty Dana Eveland will get plenty of chances to stick with a rebuilding Oakland squad and perhaps get the chance to shine he never did with either Milwaukee or Arizona. You won’t find many lefties with his strikeout potential.