2009 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Starting Pitchers

By Kevin Kleps, Fantasy Correspondent

The top 75 fantasy baseball starting pitchers for the 2009 season, with 2008 statistics in parentheses; WHIP is walks plus hits divided by innings pitched):

1. Tim Lincecum, Giants (18-5, 2.62 ERA, 265 K, 1.17 WHIP)
2. Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks (22-7, 3.30 ERA, 183 K, 1.20 WHIP)
3. Johan Santana, Mets (16-7, 2.53 ERA, 206 K, 1.15 WHIP)
4. CC Sabathia, Yankees (17-10, 3.08 ERA, 220 K, 1.11 WHIP)
5. Roy Halladay, Blue Jays (20-11, 2.78 ERA, 206 K, 1.05 WHIP)
6. Cole Hamels, Phillies (16-10, 3.42 ERA, 200 K, 1.08 WHIP)
7. Jake Peavy, Padres (10-11, 2.85 ERA, 166 K, 1.18 WHIP)
8. Roy Oswalt, Astros (17-10, 3.54 ERA, 165 K, 1.18 WHIP)
9. Dan Haren, Diamondbacks (16-8, 3.33 ERA, 206 K, 1.13 WHIP)
10. Cliff Lee, Indians (22-3, 2.54 ERA, 170 K, 1.11 WHIP)
11. John Lackey, Angels (12-5, 3.75 ERA, 130 K, 1.23 WHIP)
12. James Shields, Rays (13-9, 3.81 ERA, 170 K, 1.15 WHIP)
13. Francisco Liriano, Twins (6-4, 3.91 ERA, 67 K, 1.39 WHIP)
14. Josh Beckett, Red Sox (12-10, 4.03 ERA, 172 K, 1.19 WHIP)
15. Chad Billingsley, Dodgers (16-10, 3.14 ERA, 201 K, 1.34 WHIP)
16. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox (18-3, 2.90 ERA, 154 K, 1.32 WHIP)
17. Scott Kazmir, Rays (12-8, 3.49 ERA, 166 K, 1.27 WHIP)
18. Felix Hernandez, Mariners (9-11, 3.45 ERA, 175 K, 1.39 WHIP)
19. Joba Chamberlain, Yankees (4-3, 2.60 ERA, 118 K, 1.26 WHIP)
20. Yovani Gallardo, Brewers (0-0, 1.88 ERA, 20 K, 1.25 WHIP)
21. Adam Wainwright, Cardinals (11-3, 3.20 ERA, 91 K, 1.18 WHIP)
22. Rich Harden, Cubs (10-2, 2.07 ERA, 181 K, 1.06 WHIP)
23. Jon Lester, Red Sox (16-6, 3.21 ERA, 152 K, 1.27 WHIP)
24. Matt Garza, Rays (11-9, 3.70 ERA, 128 K, 1.24 WHIP)
25. Scott Baker, Twins (13-8, 3.88 ERA, 164 K, 1.18 WHIP)
26. Ervin Santana, Angels (16-7, 3.49 ERA, 214 K, 1.12 WHIP)
27. Justin Verlander, Tigers (11-17, 4.84 ERA, 163 K, 1.40 WHIP)
28. Ricky Nolasco, Marlins (15-8, 3.52 ERA, 186 K, 1.10 WHIP)
29. Carlos Zambrano, Cubs (14-6, 3.91 ERA, 130 K, 1.29 WHIP)
30. Edinson Volquez, Reds (17-6, 3.21 ERA, 206 K, 1.33 WHIP)
31. A.J. Burnett, Blue Jays (18-10, 4.07 ERA, 231 K, 1.34 WHIP)
32. Zack Greinke, Royals (13-10, 3.47 ERA, 183 K, 1.28 WHIP)
33. Aaron Harang, Reds (6-17, 4.78 ERA, 153 K, 1.38 WHIP)
34. David Price, Rays (0-0, 1.93 ERA, 12 K, 0.93 WHIP)
35. Ted Lilly, Cubs (17-9, 4.09 ERA, 184 K, 1.23 WHIP)
36. Derek Lowe, Braves (14-11, 3.24 ERA, 147 K, 1.13 WHIP)
37. Kevin Slowey, Twins (12-11, 3.99 ERA, 123 K, 1.15 WHIP)
38. Javier Vazquez, Braves (12-16, 4.67 ERA, 200 K, 1.32 WHIP)
39. Ryan Dempster, Cubs (17-6, 2.96 ERA, 187 K, 1.21 WHIP)
40. Chien-Ming Wang, Yankees (8-2, 4.07 ERA, 54 K, 1.32 WHIP)
41. Erik Bedard, Mariners (6-4, 3.67 ERA, 72 K, 1.32 WHIP)
42. Matt Cain, Giants (8-14, 3.76 ERA, 186 K, 1.36 WHIP)
43. Josh Johnson, Marlins (7-1, 3.61 ERA, 77 K, 1.35 WHIP)
44. Randy Johnson, Giants (11-10, 3.91 ERA, 173 K, 1.24 WHIP)
45. Jair Jurrjens, Braves (13-10, 3.68 ERA, 139 K, 1.37 WHIP)
46. Hiroki Kuroda, White Sox (9-10, 3.73 ERA, 116 K)
47. John Danks, White Sox (12-9, 159 K, 3.32 ERA, 1.23 WHIP)
48. Brett Myers, Phillies (10-13, 4.55 ERA, 163 K, 1.38 WHIP)
49. Fausto Carmona, Indians (8-7, 5.44 ERA, 58 K, 1.62 WHIP)
50. Jared Weaver, Angels (11-10, 4.33 ERA, 152 K, 1.28 WHIP)
51. Gavin Floyd, White Sox (17-8, 3.84 ERA, 145 K, 1.26 WHIP)
52. Justin Duchscherer, A's (10-8, 2.54 ERA, 95 K, 1.00 WHIP)
53. Gil Meche, Royals (14-11, 3.98 ERA, 183 K, 1.32 WHIP)
54. Mark Buehrle, White Sox (15-12, 3.79 ERA, 140 K, 1.34 WHIP)
55. Chris Young, Padres (7-6, 3.96 ERA, 93 K, 1.29 WHIP)
56. John Maine, Mets (10-8, 4.18 ERA, 122 K, 1.35 WHIP)
57. Brandon Morrow, Mariners (3-4, 3.34 ERA, 75 K, 1.14 WHIP)
58. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (5-5, 4.26 ERA, 100 K, 1.50 WHIP)
59. Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies (12-12, 3.99 ERA, 172 K, 1.42 WHIP)
60. Max Scherzer, Diamondbacks (0-4, 3.05 ERA, 66 K, 1.23 WHIP)
61. Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles (10-12, 3.63 ERA, 120 K, 1.23 WHIP)
62. Armando Gallaraga, Tigers (13-7, 3.73 ERA, 126 K, 1.19 WHIP)
63. Oliver Perez, Mets (10-7, 4.22 ERA, 180 K, 1.40 WHIP)
64. Andy Sonnanstine, Rays (13-9, 4.38 ERA, 124 K, 1.29 WHIP)
65. Chris Volstad, Marlins (6-4, 2.88 ERA, 52 K, 1.33 WHIP)
66. Johnny Cueto, Reds (9-14, 4.81 ERA, 158 K, 1.41 WHIP)
67. Manny Parra, Brewers (10-8, 4.39 ERA, 147 K, 1.54 WHIP)
68. Mike Pelphrey, Mets (13-11, 3.72 ERA, 110 K, 1.36 WHIP)
69. Joe Saunders, Angels (17-7, 3.41 ERA, 103 K, 1.21 WHIP)
70. Paul Maholm, Pirates (9-9, 3.71 ERA, 139 K, 1.28 WHIP)
71. Jonathan Sanchez, Giants (9-12, 5.01 ERA, 157 K, 1.45 WHIP)
72. Kyle Lohse, Cardinals (15-6, 3.78 ERA, 119 K, 1.30 WHIP)
73. Jesse Litsch, Blue Jays (13-9, 3.58 ERA, 99 K, 1.23 WHIP)
74. Dave Bush, Brewers (9-10, 4.18 ERA, 109 K, 1.14 WHIP)
75. Andy Pettitte, Yankees (14-14, 4.54 ERA, 158 K, 1.41 WHIP)

Short hops

The Mets' Santana says he’ll be ready for opening day, but concerns over a sore elbow bump him from the top spot. ... The diminutive Lincecum averaged 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings last season, and Webb is 56-25 in his last three seasons. ... Don't be fooled by Peavy's low win total. He was 19-6 with a 2.54 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and 240 strikeouts in 2007. ... Liriano was 6-1 with a 2.74 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings after the All-Streak break last season. ... The Angels' Santana would be in the top 15 if it weren't for an elbow injury, which will force him to the disabled list to start the season. ... The brittle Harden, at 148 innings, had his biggest workload since 2004. He struck out 89 in 71 innings after being traded to the Cubs. ... The 33-year-old Lilly has won a combined 32 games the last two years. ... The Giants' Cain is a top-30 pitcher on some sites despite a 15-30 record the last two seasons. ... Verlander could be a steal if he returns to his 2007 form (18-6, 3.66 ERA). ... Same goes for Bedard, who was a combined 28-16 with 392 Ks in 2006 and 2007. ... The promising Duchscherer might start the season on the DL because of elbow soreness. ... A possible sleeper: the Mariners' Morrow, a former reliever who struck out 75 in 64 2/3 innings last season. ... The Indians' Carmona is underrated because of a terrible 2008. He was 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA the year before. ... Two names to remember: John Smoltz, who will start the season on the DL in Boston but could be an asset in the second half, and Twins fifth starter Nick Blackburn, who won 11 games in his first full big-league season.