There are few elite five-category starting pitchers available in any given season. Landing one will automatically keep you in the race into September. True studs are easy to spot. But how you fill out the rest of your rotation will determine whether you finish in the money. Remember, pitching wins championships. UPDATE! let's you know who to take early, late and not at all.


Minnesota Twins
Comment: This one's pretty obvious — 2006 AL Cy Young winner and first to win pitching triple-crown (wins, K's and ERA) for all of MLB since 1985.

St. Louis Cardinals
Comment: ERA went up slightly, while strikeouts per inning went down from 2005 to 2006. Still finished third overall in ERA and second in WHIP.

Houston Astros
Comment: 2006 National League ERA leader has won 55 games over his last three seasons while also fanning at least 220 a year.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Comment: Among 2006 MLB leaders in ERA (fourth) and WHIP (fifth), reigning NL Cy Young winner and centerpiece of improved rotation.

Toronto Blue Jays
Comment: His 3.19 ERA and 1.10 WHIP are nice, but 132 strikeouts in 220 innings and injury history put dent in value.

Chicago Cubs
Comment: Cubs ace had solid 2006 numbers, but ERA has gone up each year since 2004. You also have to question the mettle of a guy who suffers a "Guitar Hero" related injury.

San Francisco Giants
Comment: Durable lefty brings reliable 3.55 career-ERA, 104 wins and devastating curveball to DH-less National League. Looks like this has all the makings of a huge season.

Seattle Mariners
Comment: Shed 20 pounds during off-season and King Felix seems poised to dominate. Seattle expects him to handle ace innings. Then again, the same hopes were there a year ago.

San Diego Padres
Comment: Disappointing 2006 campaign, but still led majors in K's per nine innings. Battled minor injuries and mechanics issues last year but he has the ability to bounce back.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Comment: This 23-year old enjoyed a breakout season in 2006 before being shut down as a precaution. Now, he has clean bill of health and green light to pitch an ace's load.

Florida Marlins
Comment: Relatively disappointing 2006 after stellar 2005. Good sign: he actually pitched better in second half of last season despite reputation as a pitcher whose numbers collapse after the first half.

Los Angeles Angels
Comment: Hard-throwing righty posted 3.56 ERA and almost recorded a perfect game in 2006 to assume the role of No. 1 pitcher in the Angels rotation.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Comment: Strikeout numbers have been down last couple of seasons, but he had an improved ERA and WHIP from 2005 to 2006. Scenery change can't hurt. Dodger Stadium is a pitchers' park.

Cleveland Indians
Comment: Hefty lefty had career highs in ERA (3.22), WHIP (1.17) and strikeouts (172) in 2006 despite having the fewest starts for a season in his career.

Los Angeles Angels
Comment: Star rookie didn't get as much attention as Verlander or Liriano, but Weaver shined in 19 starts. He went 11-2 with a 2.56 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.

Atlanta Braves
Comment: Will turn 40 in May, but posted 211 strikeouts, 3.49 ERA and 1.19 WHIP to remain one of the most solid pitchers in baseball.

New York Yankees
Comment: Sharp 2006 for 38-year old resulted in 15 wins, 3.51 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. No reason to think he can't post similar numbers in 2007.

Milwaukee Brewers
Comment: Oft-injured starter is currently behind Chris Capuano on depth chart. However, talent is there and if health issues are behind him, he is a strikeout force to be reckoned with.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Comment: Return to National League and comfort-zone could be just what Big Unit needs to again post big numbers. Buyer beware: Johnson is coming off back surgery.

Boston Red Sox
Comment: Like the Sox, he struggled in the second half last year after starting off hot. This 40-year-old is pitching in walk year with something to prove to Boston and potential suitors.

Philadelphia Phillies
Comment: Rookie got rocked early after call-up. But had a strong second half that saw him throw an obscene 101 strikeouts in just under 88 innings.

San Francisco Giants
Comment: After shaky start to the season, Cain went on to post a 3.26 ERA and averaged just under a strikeout per inning during impressive second half.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Comment: In-season call-up struggled out of gate, but during the second half of the season he cruised to a 3.16 ERA and 7 wins in only 11 starts.

Cleveland Indians
Comment: Crafty youngster started terribly, but his second half generated a sparkling 2.72 ERA to go along with 1.12 WHIP.

Chicago Cubs
Comment: Cubbies are exited about the development of Hill, who pitched some excellent games last September.

Minnesota Twins
Comment: Garza had ugly numbers in limited action in 2006, but the 23-year-old shot through the Twins minor league system for a reason. He'll be counted on to mature at an accelerated rate.

Texas Rangers
Comment: Talented pitcher never got his opportunity to be a full-time starter with Chicago White Sox. He'll get his shot this year with his new team.

Washington Nationals
Comment: Many draftniks projected breakout stats for him last year. But injuries derailed his season. He's fallen off a lot of radar screens but he has great strikeout potential.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Comment: He burned many fantasy owners who drafted him in 2006 after stellar play in limited action during 2005 season. But he pitched very well from September until the end of the season with a 2.30 ERA.

St. Louis Cardinals
Comment: Didn't live up to his hype with poor fantasy numbers after call-up. Now has assured rotation spot and is due to improve based on talent alone.


Boston Red Sox
Comment: The move from NL to AL was a rough transition. Sure, he had his first fully healthy season. But ugly 5.01 ERA and 36 home runs allowed are not what fantasy owners were expecting.

Chicago White Sox
Comment: Started 2006 season off so well and completely collapsed in second half, posting a 5.40 ERA during that time. Was 2005 a fluke?

St. Louis Cardinals
Comment: Cashed in on 2006 postseason play and some expect that to carry over to regular season. Just remember his pedestrian regular season career numbers of 4.60 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.

New York Yankees
Comment: Clutch performer is an injury risk. In previous nine-year stint with Yankees, he only tallied three regular seasons with an ERA under 4.00 — including a 3.99 ERA in 2001 — and one season with a WHIP under 1.30.

Oakland Athletics
Comment: Flame-thrower made just 31 starts in last two years combined. GM Billy Beane was offering him up during off-season and many think there is a lingering injury issue. Stay away at all costs.

Cincinnati Reds
Comment: Feel-good fantasy story of 2006 should not be counted on to produce similar numbers. He likely benefited greatly from AL to NL switch. Writer bias: I just can't trust someone who once had blonde cornrows.

Toronto Blue Jays
Comment: Injury hampered him last year and he pitched well in September, which has some fantasy owners intrigued. But it takes more than a 3.98 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 2006 to get me excited.

Boston Red Sox
Comment: Is a long shot to return to closer's role, so owners hoping to snag him for that reason should keep that in mind. That being said, starting and closing are two different worlds and you shouldn't expect stats from last year to translate into rotation success.

New York Mets
Comment: Emotional star actually cried in the dugout last season when injuries got the better of him. Taking a chance on Pedro this year is like taking a chance on Mark Prior. Who knows what you are getting?

Free Agent
Comment: Getting tired of his mulling-retirement routine. If he lands in the AL, watch out! His last two years with Yankees saw him post season ERA's of 4.35 and 3.91. If he signs with Red Sox or Yankees, expect inflated stats.