The Toronto Blue Jays starting pitching staff will have a great year in 2008. Led by one of the MLB’s best starters in Roy Halladay, these starters have the ability to be the be the best rotation in the tough AL East. Their top four starters all have #1 or #2 starter upside. Let’s take a closer look at one of the MLB’s great, and most underrated rotations for the 2008 season.
1. Roy Halladay
For this young Toronto staff, Halladay is the veteran presence that anchors the Blue Jays rotation. Despite minor health issues over the past few seasons, Halladay has remained a solid, fairly reliable option as ace. The Blue Jays certainly appreciate his great efforts, as he has won 16 games for them the past two seasons. He doesn’t strike a lot of batters out, so it is imperative that his control remains at a fairly high level. If any pitcher can do it, though, it’s Halladay. One of the best aces this game has to offer, he should find continued success in 2008 and win at least 15 games. Look for an ERA around 3.75, however, because he doesn’t seem to dominate hitters.
2. AJ Burnett
AJ Burnett has struggled with injuries throughout his entire career, but he had a great season last year accumulating 176 strikeouts in a mere 165 2/3 inning pitched. Simply put, this guy can dominate, and has incredible stuff. Expecting Burnett to pitch more than 175 innings could be a real gamble, but you can count on Burnett to dominate whenever he is able to pitch in ballgames. Some may say that Burnett may be a better pitcher than staff ace Halladay. If he can stay healthy, look for 11-12 wins with a 3.75 ERA. His strikeout numbers will be stellar as well, making him an attractive option for any fantasy team.
3. Dustin McGowan
McGowan pitched 169 2/3 innings for the Blue Jays last year, posting a 12-10 record. Seeing that he has been one of the most anticipated pitching prospects to come through the minors, McGowan looks like a great bet to step up and break out this season. He is a big time strikeout pitcher who has already developed the control needed to succeed at the MLB level. Anything less than 12 wins and a 4.00 ERA would be a major disappointment. He has 15 win-3.50 ERA upside for this season.
4. Shaun Marcum
Marcum is another solid, youthful option for the Blue Jays. Joining the rotation in May of last year, Marcum demonstrated solid strikeout numbers and decent control (3BB/9). As a starter, those numbers project to a nice stat line. Like McGowan, Marcum has some serious upside if he can continue to grow in his low-pressure role of fourth starter. Look for 10-12 wins with a 4.30 ERA, but even that seems a bit conservative. If Marcum has a breakout year this season, he could post 15+ wins with an ERA similar to that of McGowan.
5. Jesse Litsch
Litsch is no special fifth starter, but he is a decent player. His ability to induce ground balls is great for the Blue Jays, but he doesn’t strike out a lot of batters and struggles with his control at times. Though he is young and can make decent strides, Litsch doesn’t provide the same upside as that of McGowan and Marcum. He is an upgrade over Gustavo Chacin, however. Look for 6-8 wins with an ERA around 4.50.
