Time to arm yourself for the second half
The 162-game baseball schedule is grueling, especially for those guys that toe the rubber every fifth day. This is why major league clubs need every available arm they can afford to get them through this marathon stretch of ball games.
This principle holds true for your fantasy baseball stable of starters as well. It would be foolish to assume that all of your reliable arms in the first half will continue to carry your staff after the All-Star break and into September. Injuries, innings' limits and exhaustion will all take a toll.
I'm not saying that every pitcher that put up a solid first half will tank it in the second act, but be prepared to make the necessary changes to stay competitive. You should be constantly evaluating your collection of players to begin with, but the All-Star break (which is next week) will present you with some extra time to really zero in on your needs.
Younger hurlers are the obvious source for a drop in value in the second half. To preserve their arms for future seasons, teams are already adjusting their rotations to lessen the workloads. Jordan Zimmermann, Zach Britton, Alexi Ogando and Michael Pineda are all in this boat, to name a few.
Will Strasburg be whiffing hitters in '11?
If you currently employ any of these starters, know that you probably won't get much out of them from here on out. They are obvious trade candidates, but at this point it's no secret that they will be limited, so don't expect much in return.
Knowing your pitching deficiencies, whether it be innings, saves, K's, WHIP, ERA or quality starts, is the first step in determining your next move. With that in mind, start targeting arms that can help you in the second half.
Stephen Strasburg (elbow) and Johan Santana (shoulder) still have plenty of ground to cover in their rehab trails and it's not even a certainty that they will pitch this year, but if they do make it back to give you some innings in the final months, why not stash one of them on your DL if you have the room?
Strasburg is obviously more intriguing, but the Nats could opt to be cautious and save him for 2012. The news on his recovery is positive, and he may be looking at minor league rehab starts in the near future. Keep in mind, though, that an adjustment period following TJS - in velocity and command - will likely follow his return (see Joe Nathan), which could cloud his value.
There is no arguing that Santana is no longer a dominant lefty, but he did have a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts before going down last season. He is hoping for a mid-August return, and he is close to beginning a routine similar to what he would go through in spring training. Keep an eye on his progress.
Phil Hughes is finally back after a dismal start to the year. His velocity appears to be back, too, so don't count him out as a fantasy relevant starter.
Kyle Drabek looked good out of the gates, then hit a rough patch and was sent to the minors. After being told to back off his cutter, he has seen better results at Class AAA Las Vegas. The Blue Jays probably don't want to overwork him late in the season, but if they bring him back up, he's worth a look.
Pitching prospects should be on your radar as well, even though they might also be subject to innings' restrictions later in the year. Some notables that should peak your interest: Shelby Miller, Julio Teheran, Jarrod Parker, Alex White (finger), Mike Minor, Jacob Turner and Casey Kelly.
Tommy Hunter, Scott Feldman (knee) and Anthony Bass are some other notables that could receive opportunities with their respective teams. Take note, plan ahead and don't hold anything against pitching options because of poor performance or injury in the first half. July 14 is the beginning of a new season!
