By Kevin Kleps, Fantasy Correspondent
Starting Pitchers
Tim Lincecum, 24, Giants: He and Pedroia are the easiest calls of any position. Not a bad first full season for a pitcher who, at 5-11 and 168 pounds, looks every bit as intimidating as most golfers: 17-3, 2.43 ERA and 237 strikeouts in 207 2/3 innings. He will be among fantasy's best next season.
Francisco Liriano, 24, Twins: His agent made a fuss about the Twins leaving Liriano in Triple-A, and the pitcher made the front office look silly for keeping him away from the big-league club for so long by going 5-0 with 44 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings in eight starts since his belated promotion. He's back to being the Liriano of 2006, which means big things if he's on your roster.
Felix Hernandez, 22, Mariners: One of these years he's going to put it all together, and when he does, he'll be among the best. While pitching for a team that might lose 100 games, Hernandez is 9-10 with a 3.42 ERA and 163 strikeouts in 186 2/3 innings. Last season, he was 14-7 with 165 Ks in 190 1/3 innings. Pitching for Seattle keeps him from being a big help in the wins department.
Scott Kazmir, 24, Rays: He's struggled with his command (67 walks in 141 1/3 innings), preventing him from averaging even six innings in his 25 starts. But even a wild Kazmir can be an effective fantasy player – 11-7 with a 3.50 ERA and 153 strikeouts. Expect him to approach his 2007 total of 239 Ks next season.
David Price, 23, Rays: He has no major-league track record for us to go on, so we have to trust the reviews of scouts who know a heck of a lot more about the "real" sport than we do. The players who follow are more proven, but we'll go with Price and, cue Jay Bilas, his upside.
He deserves better: Edinson Volquez, 25, Reds: You might argue he should make this list instead of Price, and you might have a point. Volquez has hit the wall in the second half of his first full big-league season (a 4.92 ERA in 11 starts since the All-Star break), but a fireballer who is 16-5 with a 3.22 ERA for a bad team is definitely worth keeping around. Like Lincecum, Volquez is a strikeout machine (192 in 181 2/3 innings).
The rest of the "second string:" The Yankees' Joba Chamberlain, 23 on Sept. 23, is a future star, but the question is where: Starting rotation or bullpen? If it's the latter, his fantasy value is minimal as long as Mariano Rivera is showing no signs of age. Nos. 8-10 in order are the Phillies' Cole Hamels, 24; the Angels' Ervin Santana, 25; and the Dodgers' Chad Billingsley, 24.
Others of note: If the White Sox's Gavin Floyd, 25, a 15-game winner in his first full season, can’t crack the top 10, you know there are a lot of good young pitchers. ... Dimming Stars Department, Pitching Division: Justin Verlander, 25, has had a miserable year in Detroit. Before discounting him, remember that he won a combined 35 games in 2006 and 2007. ... Same for the Tribe’s Fausto Carmona, 24, a 19-game winner in 2007 who likely won’t reach double figures in victories this season. ... The Red Sox’s Jon Lester, 24, does it all except post Lincecum-like strikeout numbers. ... More young up-and-comers: the Angels' Jered Weaver, 25; the Braves' Jair Jurrjens, 22; the White Sox's John Danks, 23; the Tigers' Armando Galarraga, 25; the Marlins' Ricky Nolasco, 25; the Royals' Zack Greinke, 24; and the Rays' impressive Matt Garza, 24. ... Two 26-year-olds to protect: the Rays' James Shields and the Cubs' Rich Harden, who has finally spent more time off the disabled list than on it.
Closer
Joakim Soria, 24, Royals: Somehow, he's managed to save 38 games in Kansas City. That alone means he must be good, and Soria is much more than that. He has a 1.71 ERA, 63 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings and a 0.85 WHIP. He had 75 Ks in 69 innings as a rookie in 2007. Keep him until he signs with the Yankees in four or five years.
The runner-up: Matt Capps, 25, Pirates. He's saved 19 games this season, and he registered 18 saves with a 2.28 ERA and 64 strikeouts the year before. If you're in a deep keeper league, he's worth a spot.
Others of note: Dimming Stars Department, Closing Division: Huston Street, 25, saved 37 games for the Athletics in 2006. In 2008, he's been relegated to middle relief. If and when he goes somewhere else to close, remember his past success. ... The Dodgers' Jonathan Broxton, 24, has been very effective (13 saves and 83 strikeouts in 63 2/3 innings), but what happens now that Takashi Saito is back from the disabled list? ... If the Indians don’t sign a closer in the offseason, Jensen Lewis, 24, should win the job in spring training. ... The Cubs' Jeff Samardzija, 23, a former Notre Dame wide receiver, has a bright future, but it could be in the starting rotation. ... Two setup men worth remembering: The Cubs' Carlos Marmol, 25, who might be Chicago's closer of the future, and the Diamondbacks' Tony Pena, who could be the same in Arizona. ... It’s a good year to be a 26-year-old closer. The Angels' Francisco Rodriguez broke Bobby Thigpen’s all-time saves record and Brian Wilson has saved 39 games for a Giants team that has won 68 times.
