This season, Cliff Lee is looking more like pitcher who won 44 games for the Indians from 2004-2006. Right now, he is the ace of the staff.

The first two or three starts of the season can be shaky for any pitcher. C.C. Sabathia and Justin Verlander are proof that even stud pitchers can begin the season with a few clunkers. The flip side of that is that even mediocre pitchers can have a few amazing starts before coming crashing back to Earth, like Johnny Cueto this past week. However, there are several pitchers out there on waivers, who have a proven track record that have started off the season well, and merit consideration for addition to your mixed league fantasy team. With that in mind, I have two pitchers for you to consider that I expect will continue to pitch well. In addition, several closers are already struggling and in danger of losing their jobs, so I am also tipping you off on a couple of middle relievers who could end up in the closer role. The beauty of these pitchers is that even if they do not end up closing, they can still help your fantasy team be giving you vulture wins, strikeouts, and superb numbers in the ratio categories.

Mixed League Options

Cliff Lee – Cleveland Indians – Starting Pitcher – From 2004-2006, Cliff Lee won 46 games for the Indians.  His best year was 2005 when he had 18 wins, an ERA of 3.79, and he had the highest W-L% in the AL at .783.  After a frustrating campaign in 2007 that was marred by an abdominal injury that hampered him all season long, Lee came into this season having to fight for his place in the starting rotation.  Coming off a solid spring, Lee looks to have returned to the form that made him so successful in 2005.  So far, he is 2-0, with an ERA of 0.61, a 0.47 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts in just under 15 innings.  He cannot possibly keep up those kinds of numbers, but his peripherals all point to continued success.  He should be picked up immediately, before his value goes through the roof and the opportunity is lost forever in your league.

Brian Bannister – Kansas City Royals – Starting Pitcher – Bannister had a decent season for the Royals in 2007, with a record of 12-9, an ERA of 3.87, and a 1.21 WHIP, and that was for a team that ranked 13^th in the AL for run support.  This season, he is off to a 3-0 start with a microscopic ERA of 0.86 and a 0.71 WHIP, obviously unsustainable numbers, but indicative of his excellence on the mound.  His strikeout rate is a tad on the low side, but he has stellar control, and the improved run support of his team should add up to 15 or more wins this season.  Grab him now before the buy low window closes.

Salomon Torres – Milwaukee Brewers – Relief Pitcher – The Brewers signed Eric Gagne to be their closer this season, but he is no longer the “automatic” shutdown pitcher that he was back when he pitched for the Dodgers.  He’s already blown two saves this season.  Volatility and potential injury make for an opportunity if you know which pitchers to speculate with.  Salomon Torres is probably the Brewers best option for saves, should Gagne implode.  He has posted a dozen saves in each of his last two seasons with the Pirates, and has the strikeout skills and makeup to handle the role.  Torres has pitched well so far this season with a 2.89 ERA and 6 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings pitched.  He has already notched a save for the Brewers, and could get the call again, making him a worthwhile speculative pick. 

Chad Qualls – Arizona Diamondbacks – Relief Pitcher – Brandon Lyon is the current closer for the Diamondbacks, and he too, has been volatile this season, and is already on the hot seat and at risk of being replaced.  Chad Qualls, who has yet to surrender a run in 8 2/3 innings pitched this season, has already notched a save when Lyons was unavailable.  Qualls is another experienced closer having done the job in relief of Brad Lidge for the Astros.  He notched 5 saves in 2007.  Qualls is good for nearly a strikeout per inning, along with healthy ratio numbers, and a good chance of garnering vulture wins as the setup man for a contending team.  He makes a fine addition to your mixed league squad, and has a good shot at double digit saves this season.