Who's going to be the first pitcher to win 10 games this season? There are currently 9 9-game winners in the major leagues, but this is the longest it's taken a pitcher to win 10 games since back in 2004 when Roger Clemens accomplished the feat on June 24th. So who are the candidates and who do they face next?
1. Roy Halladay - Philadelphia - 9-3, 2.56 ERA.
Halladay and the Phillies will take on Kyle McClellan (6-3 3.96) and the Cardinals tomorrow as he tries to get win number ten for the second time after taking a no decision against the Marlins on Wednesday. He catches a bit of break though as Albert Pujols will not be in the lineup after fracturing his arm on Sunday. Still, a lineup with Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday still isn't a walk in the park. Halladay did win his only start against the Cardinals last season allowing 1 earned run in 7 innings of work.
2. C.C. Sabathia - New York Yankees - 9-4, 3.39.
Sabathia beat the Cubs yesterday to win his second straight start so he'll have to wait until Saturday when the Yankees host Aaron Cook (0-2 4.67) and the Colorado Rockies. Sabathia has allowed 14 runs in his last 3 starts, but got 22 runs of offensive support over the last two.
3. Cole Hamels - Philadelphia - 9-3, 2.51.
Hamels missed an opportunity to get win number ten last night against the Mariners as he got no run support and fell 2-0. Hamels has gone 5 starts in a row allowing 2 runs or fewer, but the Phillies have only won 3 of those games. Hamels isn't in action until Saturday, so he might not even by the first pitcher on his team to get to ten wins with Halladay throwing tomorrow. Hamels will face Trevor Cahill (7-5 3.24) and the Oakland Athletics his next time out.
4. Justin Verlander - Detroit - 9-3, 2.54.
The ace of my fantasy team has won 5 straight starts and is coming off back to back complete games against Cleveland and at Colorado. Verlander will also not be in action until Saturday when he takes on rookie righthander Josh Collmenter (4-3 2.09) of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
5. Jered Weaver - Los Angeles Angels - 9-4, 2.01.
Another one of my fantasy aces (yet somehow we're in third place- i attribute this to poor managing), Weaver picked up win number nine tonight against the Marlins with 7 strong innings of one-run ball. After winning his first 6 starts, Weaver went on to lose his next 4, but has recovered nicely going unbeaten over his last 6. Next up is a Sunday rivalry game against Clayton Kershaw (7-3 3.01) and the Dodgers on Sunday.
6. Jon Lester - Boston - 9-3, 3.70.
Lester was outdueled by Randy Wolf his last time out in a bid to win game number ten on Saturday night. Just 2-2 over his past 4 starts, he does have a distinct advantage in that he's got the league's most potent offensive attack supporting him. He'll face off against a fellow lefty in Paul Maholm (3-8 3.29) on Friday night.
7. Jair Jurrjens - Atlanta - 9-3, 2.11.
The National League's ERA leader has seen his ERA rise from 1.51 to 2.11 over his last four starts, but he still managed to beat the Rangers and their high-powered attack his last time out. It gets a little easier for him on paper his next time out as they'll travel to pitcher friendly Petco Park to take on Dustin Moseley (2-6 3.02) and the San Diego Padres on Saturday.
8. Max Scherzer - Arizona - 9-2 4.32
Another beneficiary of a high powered offense, Scherzer was just 21-26 in his career coming into this season. He's won his last 3 starts, but he's been tagged for 5 or more runs 5 times this season. Like Halladay, Scherzer will go for win number ten tomorrow when he takes on Chad Billingsley (5-6 4.65) and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
9. Jake Arrieta - Baltimore - 9-4 4.50
Arrieta beat Charlie Morton and the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight to get his 9th win. As a rookie last season he won just 6 times in 18 starts, but he's been racking up the W's in 2011. While his ERA is the highest of all the 9 game winners, it would be better if not for a 3 1/3 inning disaster against the Rangers on April 9th during which he allowed 8 runs in a 13-1 loss. He had another rough one against the Nationals last month when he gave up 6 runs in 3 2/3 innings in a 17-5 loss. Still, he finds himself 9-4 and will go for double digits against Johnny Cueto (4-2 1.68) and the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
Prediction:
I'm going with Doc Halladay. I have a tough time seeing St. Louis beat him without Pujols in the lineup. We'll find out tomorrow!
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