There comes a time as a fantasy owner when you have to need to have that “come to Jesus” talk with yourself and realize that some of the “best” players you have are truly destroying your chances at winning a championship.
The great thing about these players is that no matter how bad they’re doing someone in your league will be crazy enough to take them off of your hands at almost double what they’re currently worth.
As long as you’re comfortable with cutting the fat loose and righting your ship, here are five starting pitchers who are owned in over 88 percent of all fantasy leagues who you should send packing immediately.
Stephen Strasburg Washington Nationals
In five starts Strasburg has made two quality starts, struck out 45 batters and has an ERA of 5.33; only one of these numbers is truly surprising. For some reason Strasburg has been displaying a weird balance of greatness and absolute misery every time he takes the mound, which makes him a huge liability for your fantasy team.
Only one time in Strasburg’s short career has he really been a dominant pitcher, and that was in 2012 when he went 15-6 with 197 strikeouts. There’s little-to-no doubt that Strasburg will teeter around 200 strikeouts in 2014; however, the real question is whether or not he’ll give up five or more runs per game AND lose each game in the process.
It may sound a bit dramatic, but based on his numbers this early in the season against teams that he will face several more time throughout the year don’t exact bode well. A lot of what you’ll be able to get out of him is contingent upon how your league scoring system is set up. By that I mean if your league rewards based on wins/losses or quality starts. If quality starts, you can probably yield a decent player or two in return including a solid starter. If wins/losses, it might be a little bit tougher.
Homer Bailey Cincinnati Reds
It’s kind of funny what throwing two no-hitters can do for your career, and Bailey is the perfect example of a mediocre pitcher who is surrounded by a mountain of hype. I’m not trying to dump on the guy, but the fact that he’s 50-46 with a career 4.29 ERA doesn’t exactly scream top of the heap.
So far in 2014 Bailey has started in four games, going 1-1 with 25 strikeouts, one quality start and a 5.25 ERA in the process. Averaging roughly six strikeouts per contest is relatively impressive; however, not being able to go the distance in a game and giving up a score of runs in the process is borderline insane.
Bailey will improve, but there really is not reason for you to take the brunt of his failures until he turns it around when the clouds clear and the sun comes out in June.
Matt Cain San Francisco Giants
For those who thought that Cain’s 2013 numbers were just a fluke should quickly be realizing that this isn’t the case. In five starts Cain is off to a dismal 0-3 with 25 strikeouts and a 4.35 ERA, but, like Strasburg, he has managed two quality starts.
The quality starts will be Cain’s only redeeming quality throughout the season as he is able to keep his earned runs at three or lower through at least six innings on a regular basis; however, there is something clearly wring with Cain’s game that can be pinpointed back to the tail end of the 2012 season.
There has been a weird curse that has haunted every pitcher who has tossed a perfect game, but somehow it hasn’t quite affected Felix Hernandez the way that it has clearly affected Cain. While a lot of this is merely speculation, superstition has been an intricate fiber of baseball since its creation. One shouldn’t knock it.
Francisco Liriano Pittsburgh Pirates
Whatever Liriano was eating, drinking and sleeping in 2013 has certainly turned sour on him in 2014. Liriano posted the second-best stats of his career as in his first season in the National League as member of the Pirates in 2013 (16-8 with a 3.02 ERA and 163 strikeouts), but so far his 0-3 start with 32 strikeouts, a 4.22 ERA and two quality starts hasn’t exactly raised the Jolly Roger in 2014.
Liriano and the Pirates are going though their fair share of struggles at the moment and now would certainly be a great time to see what you can get for him.
The thing to note about Liriano is that he is very streaky when it comes to great seasons. By that I mean the following season is the exact opposite. History hasn’t exactly been on Liriano’s nor the Pirates’ side.
Jered Weaver Los Angels Angels of Anaheim
Weaver is one of the few pitchers who is off to a bad start that you could yield the most in return for OR be better off hanging onto for a little bit longer. His three quality starts in five games started is the highlight of his statistical spread; however, his 4.11 ERA, 1-2 record and 22 strikeouts are a bit below par collectively.
Weaver’s strikeouts per nine innings ratio hasn’t peaked above seven since 2011 and his ERA has been progressively getting worse since that time as well. It’s obvious that Weaver isn’t the same pitcher that he used to be, but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad pitcher. Weaver really needs to reanalyze what his strengths are and how he can get back to the dominant form of his yesteryear. Until then, get as much as you can for him which will inevitably help your team in the long run.