Let’s see how the ‘bargain bin’ hurlers did last week:

6-0 record, 48 1/3 inn., 30 K’s, 1.49 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 50.25 Rotohog point average.

Not too shabby! As a matter of fact, the average price for the pitchers I recommended last week cost an average of $7.03, yet returned an average ‘value’ of $46.52 per start…talk about a bargain!!

Here are this week’s bargains:

Prediction: a rough estimate of the number of Rotohog points I feel the pitcher will put up.
Break Even #: the number of points the pitcher will need to put up in order to exceed his price.
Value: how much the pitcher is worth, based on my predicted number of points.

Mon. 6/23 – Jo-Jo Reyes ($3.53), Atl vs. Mil – Even though there are 5 games on tap for Monday, there are 7 legitimate ‘aces’ scheduled to start (Sheets, Haren, Beckett, Lackey, F. Hernandez, Johan Santana and…Jo-Jo Reyes?). Ok, so maybe Jo-Jo doesn’t deserve to be in that same sentence, but I think he is underpriced and has been solid in his last 3 starts (1-1, 2.82 ERA, 16 K’s)Prediction: 23.37 points - Break Even #: 13.92 points – Value: $14.71

Tue. 6/24 – Aaron Laffey ($4.51), Cle vs. SF – Getting Laffey for under $5 for this start is a STEAL. He has very good command and doesn’t give up many walks (2.28 BB/9). This means that the Giants are going to have hit the ball…hard…in order to get runs (which is asking a lot, considering Bengie Molina is their clean-up hitter!) Prediction: 27.15 points - Break Even #: 14.75 – Value: $19.18

Wed. 6/25 – Josh Banks ($3.70), SD vs. Min – Do I think Banks is as good as his 1.62 ERA?...no. Do I think that even Roseanne Barr could throw a ‘quality start’ at Petco Park?...yes. The Twins have the fewest HR’s in the league (46) and pose no real threat of punishing you for rolling with Banks here (i.e. a ‘negative’ point performance) *knocking on wood* Prediction: 19.69 points - Break Even #: 14.07 points – Value: $10.36

Thur. 6/26 – Scott Baker ($4.06), Min @ SD – Baker has been one of the better ‘under the radar’ pitchers so far this season. Aside from one bad start, against the Rangers, he has been effective all year. You have to roll with him here, considering his price is hovering around $4.  Prediction: 27.43 points - Break Even #: 14.37 points – Value: $19.51

Fri. 6/27 – Dana Eveland ($6.95), Oak vs. SF – As much as Dana’s 1.41 K/BB ratio makes me want to yack, I feel he will continue his surprising season (so far) with another solid start here. Prediction: 25.00 points - Break Even #: 16.81 points – Value: $16.64

Sat. 6/28 – Justin Duchscherer ($7.86), Oak vs. SF – I think it’s safe to say that NO one expected Duchscherer to have more points than Johan Santana nearly halfway through the season, yet he is nearly 5 ½ times cheaper. The only downside is that he will likely be facing Tim Lincecum, who happens to be the best pitcher in baseball (in my opinion)!!!  Prediction: 27.06 points - Break Even #: 17.58 points – Value: $19.08

Sun. 6/29 – Jeremy Guthrie ($4.48), Bal vs. Wsh – Guthrie is dealing right now. So far this June, Jeremy has thrown 26 innings, with 20 K’s and an ERA of 3.12. I would be tempted to start Guthrie against any team right now, but the fact that he gets the league’s worst offense (The Nats) in this start…it’s a no-brainer. Prediction: 26.62 points - Break Even #: 14.73 points – Value: $18.56