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MLB Tickets - All-Star Projections: NL Starting Pitchers
The National League has no shortage of excellent starting pitchers. While the top one or two aces are pretty clear, the battle to fill out the pitching roster in the NL is going to be a tight one. Which players look like they're the most likely to get an All-Star invitation? Here are the safe bets to make the roster.
Johan Santana, New York Mets
Santana has been the class of the NL the whole season through, pacing the field in ERA and strikeouts for most of the season thus far. Even if he falls apart in his next three starts (and there's no indication that he'll do any such thing) he should easily be the guy on the mound to start off the game for the National League. As of Sunday, May 17, 2009 Johan Santana leads the league in strikeouts with 67, and has the lowest ERA of any starting pitcher with more than three starts (1.358). He's ties with Bronson Arroyo, Ted Lilly, Chad Billingsley, Derek Lowe and Sharion Martis with five wins. If you were forced to put money on any one pitcher in the National League making the All-Star Game, it would have to be Santana.
Chad Billingsley, Los Angeles Dodgers
Billingsley makes a good case for a spot on the roster because he combines good numbers with a large fan base. The fact that the Dodgers are generally thought to be one of the best teams in the league also helps his case. Through Saturday, May 16th's games Billingsley is No. 6 on the league ERA list at 2.305. He has five wins, 56 strikeouts and has only give up one home run in over 54 innings of work.
Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants
The 2008 NL Cy Young winner came into the year with plenty of hype, and mostly he's lived up to the high expectations. Tiny Tim, at 66 Ks thus far, is just one strikeout below the league leaders. He has the highest strikeout rate per nine innings and has a 4.125 strikeout to walk ratio, one of the best in the league. His ERA (3.75) and 3 wins are nothing to write home about, though.
Dan Haren, Arizona Diamondbacks
Haren's stats are All-Star caliber. Fans who purchase MLB tickets to see Dan Haren have been awarded the opportunity to see a guy with a 2.089 ERA, and 56 strikeouts. Haren has pitched the most innings of any pitcher in the NL and has the highest strikeout to walk ratio (6.22) in the league. Haren has the lowest walks and hits per inning average (.857) of any starter with more than three starts.
Wandy Rodriguez, Houston Astros
Even though he gets lost in the shuffle sometimes, Wandy is putting together a fine season. At 1.904 Dub-Rod has the second lowest ERA in the NL behind Johan Santana. Wandy creates less excitement because he can't strike guys out as fast as Lincecum or Santana, and his team doesn't provide enough run support to get wins like Chad Billingsley. However, StubHub.com gets a spike in traffic whenever he's going to start, so he has to be doing something (and by that we mean a lot of things) right. Make sure you get to see Wandy this year-either in the All-Star Game or at a Houston home game.
About the Author Written by Brent Warnken. StubHub has sponsored this article. StubHub.com is a great place to get MLB tickets, as well as tickets for other sports teams, theatre performances, concerts and special events.
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