Tag: Edwin Jackson

Selling High- Vargas

Jason Vargas has a 3.25 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP this season. He’s also a thirty-one year old with a career 4.20 ERA, 4.58 xFIP and 1.31 WHIP.

Analysis: Yes, Jason Vargas is having a fine season but he will not sustain it. The 3.25 ERA is nice but his xFIP is 4.09. Vargas’ strikeout rate of 6.4 K/9 is average for a fantasy starter but there are other areas of concern. His strand rate is 8% above his career average and his fastball velocity is down which isn’t surprising considering he is 10th in baseball in pitches per game at 104.7 per. Over his last five starts he has averaged 109 pitches per start. In short- he is due for a drop off sooner than later.

This is the perfect time to maximize value/return on a fantasy pitcher with good numbers through 99.2 innings on 15 starts. Even when using the eye test he just doesn’t impress unlike an Edwin Jackson type(who by the way has a 5.12 ERA/3.65 xFIP with 83 K’s in 84 IP). Currently, Jason Vargas is available in 20-60% of fantasy leagues.

Big Start For E-Jax

Edwin Jackson makes his tenth start of the season tonight against the San Diego Padres.

Analysis: The thirty year old Jackson has always been known for his plus slider and erratic command. This year he still has the slider working and he has an 8.12 K/9 rate as a result but with minimal command issues. The knock on E-Jax has been his consistency but he has actually been a consistent and productive starter over the last few seasons. His xFIP has been south of 4.00 over the last four years and he’s pitched at least 175 plus innings each year during that span. Jackson is also striking out more than seven batters per nine over the last four years despite a loss in velocity.

Thus far this season Jackson has a 3.98 ERA, 3.64 xFIP and a 1.34 WHIP. Jackson has been hot as of late- he has 23 strikeouts in his last 20.0 innings pitched and he’s only allowed 4 earned runs in that three game span. His ERA and WHIP are stable but the strikeouts are worth it.

Edwin Jackson is available in 75-90% of fantasy leagues.

Kazmir To DL, E-Jax/Burnett Going Fast

The Angels placed Scott Kazmir on the 15 day disabled list earlier today with “tightness in the lower back.” This shouldn’t come as a surprise, Kazmir hasn’t put together a solid season since 2008 with Tampa.

Analysis: I wouldn’t consider outright dumping Scott Kazmir at this point, just put him on the disabled list and pick up a red hot pitcher off the wire. A few days ago I mentioned picking up Edwin Jackson and after his last outing with 13 strikeouts he going fast in every format. He already has a sub 2.00 ERA with 20 K’s and two wins in two starts. But there are two sides of Edwin Jackson, good E-Jax(2009) and bad E-Jax(2007) and it appears good E-Jax is with us right now. He’s throwing his slider more than ever this year but the biggest difference is with his command as he has only walked five batters in two starts, that’s pretty good for Jackson. Jackson’s ERA will come back up into the 3.8-4.1 range especially pitching in hitter’s paradise US Cellular Field but if his command is on point then his strikeouts, wins and WHIP will be the numbers that will help you the most in roto leagues. The other hot option isn’t necessarily a good one. AJ Burnett is pitching well for the Yanks but you cannot trust a guy who on any given night can give up seven earned runs. If he’s available on the wire you have to consider picking him up and packaging him in a trade. The only thing you can trust with AJ will be the win total he has by seasons end.

Ubaldo Jimenez To DL, Who To Pick Up?

The Rockies have placed fireballer Ubaldo Jimenez on the 15-day disabled list because of a cracked thumb cuticle on his pitching hand. This leaves many options so early in the season on who to pick up, here are some answers for you.

Analysis: Kevin Correia of the Pirates now has two wins in two starts. Correia has pitched 13 innings allowing just two earned runs. In deep, deep leagues the right hander is a solid choice as he is owned in less than one percent of fantasy leagues. Edwin Jackson of the ChiSox is another widely available interesting option. E-Jax threw six innings of two run ball while striking out seven batters last Saturday against the Indians. Jackson is due to start Thurdsay against a struggling Rays team, look to take advantage. Another deep league option is Clayton Richard of San Diego. Richard’s next start is in PETCO against the Dodgers on Friday night. Richard may have the best season of all the pitchers mentioned here thus far just because of where he plays. Richard had a 3.75  ERA last year with 14 wins but he still doesn’t get any love. Look for Richard to be a consistent presence in the Padres rotation as they will again try to push the action in the NL West. Obviously, if it’s not too late to pick up Kyle Drabek then pick him up. For more information on Drabek just scroll down the page. Drabek possesses the most upside with the nastiest stuff of all these guys next to Edwin Jackson’s slider.