New York Mets Starting Rotation

July 10, 2007 @ 16:00:00

By Brad Berreman
Edited by Ryan Dodson

The New York Mets have lost two starting pitchers to injury recently. Lefty Oliver Perez (back) and righty Jorge Sosa (hamstring) have been lost to the disabled list. Perez was placed on the DL retroactive to June 27 and should be able to return after the All-Star break. Sosa, however, is out indefinitely. 

The Mets have turned to righty Mike Pelfrey to help fill the void left by Perez (7-6, 3.14 ERA in 2007) and Sosa (7-3, 3.92 ERA so far this year). Pelfrey, who is considered one the top pitching prospects in the Mets' farm system, has posted an 0-7 record and a 6.10 ERA in eight starts for the Mets this season. He has gone 2-2 with a 3.44 ERA in seven starts for Triple-A New Orleans this season. In Pelfrey's two most recent starts for the Mets, he has gone 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA. 

Star starter Pedro Martinez (rotator cuff) is still scheduled to return in early August. He has yet to pitch this season due to offseason surgery on his right shoulder. Martinez should be a factor in the Mets' drive for the postseason.

In the meantime however, the Mets are going to have to fill the void left by Perez and Sosa with someone other than Martinez. In the minors, playing for New Orleans, the Mets have two pitchers with prior major league experience. Right-handers Chan Ho Park (4-4, 5.57 ERA in nine starts at AAA this year) and Brian Lawrence (6-2, 3.81 ERA in nine starts at AAA in 2007). Lawrence himself has been recovering from a shoulder injury, having undergone surgery to repair a torn labrum last season. If Pelfrey continues to struggle, either Park or Lawrence may become options to get a start or two for the Mets.

From a fantasy perspective, replacing Perez and/or Sosa seems easy to do. Since Perez should return soon after the All-Star break, he can easily be benched until he returns. Sosa, on the other hand, seems like a candidate to go to the bullpen when Martinez returns. Assuming Sosa returns healthy this season. 

Some good options to shore up your fantasy team's starting pitching if you own Perez or Sosa include Chad Billingsley of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has good numbers but has been iffy as a starter. He is 1-0 with a 4.58 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 19.2 innings as a starter. He's available in 91 percent of leagues polled.

Jeff Weaver, of the Seattle Mariners, is another option as he has really turned it on since June. He has a 1.67 ERA in six starts in June and July. He is available in 99 percent of leagues polled.

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Brad Berreman
Brad Berreman has been a KFFL contributor since 2004.

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