Fantasy daily notes for April 22 – ESPN

Starting pitcher projected Game Scores for April 22
					2014 Statistics			2015 Statistics
GS	Team	Name	T	Opp	W-L	ERA	WHIP	W-L	ERA	WHIP
75*		Clayton Kershaw	L	@SF	21-3	1.77	0.86	1-1	4.42	1.53
70		Johnny Cueto	R	@Mil	20-9	2.25	0.96	0-2	2.14	0.81
69		David Price	L	NYY	15-12	3.26	1.08	1-0	0.40	0.81
67		Corey Kluber	R	@CWS	18-9	2.44	1.10	0-1	2.49	0.78
65		Madison Bumgarner	L	LAD	18-10	2.98	1.09	1-1	5.29	1.41
62		Cole Hamels	L	Mia	9-9	2.46	1.15	0-2	5.00	1.17
60		Sonny Gray	R	@LAA	14-10	3.08	1.19	1-0	2.11	0.98
59		Jeff Samardzija	R	Cle	7-13	2.99	1.07	0-1	4.29	1.19
58		Jimmy Nelson	R	Cin	2-9	4.93	1.46	1-1	1.50	0.75
56		Archie Bradley	R	Tex	—	—	—	1-0	1.42	0.87
55		James Shields	R	@Col	14-8	3.21	1.18	2-0	2.84	1.00
54		Jason Hammel	R	@Pit	10-11	3.47	1.12	1-0	5.11	1.30
53		Doug Fister	R	StL	16-6	2.41	1.08	1-0	0.69	1.15
53		John Lackey	R	@Wsh	14-10	3.82	1.28	1-0	2.77	0.92
51		Aaron Sanchez	R	Bal	2-2	1.09	0.70	0-2	6.23	1.96
51		Jered Weaver	R	Oak	18-9	3.59	1.21	0-2	6.61	1.53
49		Dillon Gee	R	Atl	7-8	4.00	1.25	0-1	7.59	1.41
49		Vance Worley	R	ChC	8-4	2.85	1.21	1-1	5.84	1.54
48		Jarred Cosart	R	@Phi	13-11	3.69	1.36	0-1	4.76	1.24
48		Yovani Gallardo	R	@Ari	8-11	3.51	1.30	2-1	3.45	1.53
46		Adam Warren	R	@Det	3-6	2.97	1.11	0-1	4.82	1.61
46		J.A. Happ	L	Hou	11-11	4.22	1.34	0-1	2.70	1.05
45		Joe Kelly	R	@TB	6-4	4.20	1.35	1-0	2.13	0.71
45		Nathan Karns	R	Bos	1-1	4.50	0.92	1-1	4.58	1.08
44		Ubaldo Jimenez	R	@Tor	6-9	4.81	1.52	1-0	0.00	0.47
42		Eric Stults	L	@NYM	8-17	4.30	1.38	0-1	6.30	1.50
42		Jeremy Guthrie	R	Min	13-11	4.13	1.30	1-0	5.54	1.08
42		Kyle Kendrick	R	SD	10-13	4.61	1.36	1-2	7.56	1.86
41		Roberto Hernandez	R	@Sea	8-11	4.10	1.39	0-1	3.38	1.22
35		Mike Pelfrey	R	@KC	0-3	7.99	1.99	0-0	4.50	1.50
GS: The pitcher’s projected “Game Score,” from Bill James’ original formula, which accounts for past history (three years’ worth as well as past 21 days), opponent and ballpark. A Game Score of 50 typically is typically regarded a quality start; anything over 70 is exceptional, anything under 30 poor. A “*” means that the author has adjusted the projections. T: Pitcher throws left-handed or right-handed. Opp: The pitcher’s opponent for the day. W-L: Pitcher’s win-loss record. ERA: Pitcher’s earned run average. WHIP: Pitcher’s average number of walks plus hits surrendered per inning.

Elite

For those of you that haven’t dropped Clayton Kershaw based on his slow start — we kid — take heed. A reasonable expectation was a 2.10 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP. All he needs to do to get there is toss 200 innings of 1.89-ERA and 0.90-WHIP ball, which is almost exactly what he did last season. So yes, Lloyd Christmas, I’m saying there’s a chance. After all, there’s no way a .422 batting average on balls in play and 25 percent home run-per-fly-ball mark persist. Are you off the ledge yet? Give the poor guy one more shot. Next up is the San Francisco Giants, a team that doesn’t fan much, but has struggled scoring runs. Sarcasm aside, there’s a slew of aces on the Wednesday docket so while Kershaw is still the best pitcher on the planet, there are better options if you dabble in DFS.

For Johnny Cueto, it’s as if the six months between the last day of the 2014 season and Opening Day 2015 didn’t exist. He’s picked up where he left off, throwing seven innings in each of his three starts, with an impressive 24 whiffs and only three walks. The strong start is likely to continue against an injury-depleted Milwaukee Brewers squad that is not only missing Carlos Gomez but which now will be without Jonathan Lucroy as well, not to mention showering victim Scooter Gennett.

David Price is also off to a strong start to the 2015 campaign, though to be fair, he’s had Lady Luck on his side. There’s little chance he’ll replicate last season’s ridiculous 9.8 K/9 and 1.4 BB/9, so an early-season 8.1 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 is just fine. The quirk is that Price has allowed one home run in his 22 1/3 innings of the season, and that’s the only run he’s surrendered. A single home run allowed is a result of a 4.8 percent home run-per-fly-ball mark; that’s sure to regress, but even more fortunate is the 100 percent left-on-base percentage. Price faces the New York Yankees, a tougher opponent than Cueto has to deal with, and that’s why Cueto is the better DFS option.

Corey Kluber is working Wednesday, and has earned matchup-proof status, so even his away date with the Chicago White Sox isn’t a concern. However, this is a day game, so while he’s a viable DFS option, it’s not worth using him on sites that lock the lineups when the game begins, risking anticipating the lineups for the night game slate.

Solid

The strikeouts are lacking, but everything else is status quo for Sonny Gray. The punchouts may not return in full force with the Los Angeles Angels on the other side, but the Halos are in the lower third in the league with respect to runs scored. Helping matters is the fact that Gray’s mound opponent is Jered Weaver, who’s off to a tough start to the season and facing an Oakland lineup that is in the top five in the AL in runs scored.

The start to Cole Hamels‘ season has been curious. His control is off, as evidenced by an uncharacteristic nine walks in 18 innings. Fortunately, he’s sporting a very low .132 batting average on balls in play. His hit rate is sure to ascend, so it would behoove the southpaw to get the bases on balls back under control. To that end, he’s facing a Miami Marlins squad with a rather pedestrian 7.7 percent team walk rate. In a vacuum, Gray’s date with the Angels is a better matchup that Hamels’ with the Fish, but the difference in salaries could render Hamels a better bang-for-the-buck option.

Streamers

On a day with so many strong options, Archie Bradley is a risk, but he’s certainly worthy of a start in traditional play. The Texas Rangers wrap up a quick two-game interleague series in the desert with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The visitors are middle of the pack in runs scored, but are devoid of their designated hitter in this matchup. Of course, their starter Yovani Gallardo can handle the stick. Still, if you own Bradley, his strikeout potential make him a streaming option at home. Not to mention, Gallardo could be a better hitter than pitcher.

No. 5 starters are often the forgotten men in a rotation, but the lack of attention being paid to Joe Kelly is bewildering. Thus far, the caboose of the Boston Red Sox rotation is outpitching the front four. The early-season success should continue in pitcher-friendly Tropicana Field. With the inconsistent Nate Karns on the bump for the hometown nine, the high-scoring visitors’ attack should provide run support for Kelly, making him an intriguing option in DFS play.