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'09 Draft Prep: The age that's all the rage

Eric Mack
Senior Fantasy Writer
  •  

If you are like us -- intensely competitive -- you do the same exercise we do after every baseball season. You scratch your head and say, "I would have won my league if I had so-and-so."

Or better yet, you pat yourself on the back with a: "So-and-so won me a Fantasy Baseball title and some drinking money."

You play to win the game, as Herm Edwards so eloquently put it. You don't just play to play it.

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Choosing players who outperform their draft position or auction dollar is the No. 1 objective, in any Fantasy sport. That is why we are here; to help you find those individuals.

The owner that won your league a year ago was either a scoundrel who found the most suckers in lopsided trades during the season, or the genius who unearthed the most gems on Draft Day -- maybe even a combination of both. Since you cannot count on finding suckers -- and frankly shouldn't be out to rip off your friends or leaguemates -- we try to help you find those potential sleepers and breakouts on your own.

Start with players in their prime, our favorite Fantasy rule of thumb.

Obvious, right? Not necessarily ...

Name the Fantasy MVPs that helped win Fantasy Baseball leagues last year?

Got 'em?

Did you say Josh Hamilton and CC Sabathia, perhaps?

CBSSports.com's Winningest players
Rank Player WPCT
1 Tim Lincecum .561
2 Cliff Lee .560
3 Josh Hamilton .558
4 CC Sabathia .556
5 Rich Harden .548

You should have. That pitcher and hitter weren't picked atop their positions last spring, but they were among the top four winningest players in CBSSports.com's Fantasy Baseball Head-to-Head leagues. Save for sophomore sensation and NL Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum (.561 winning percentage) and injury-risk sleeper/comeback player of the year Cliff Lee (.560), Hamilton (.558) and Sabathia (.556) won the most games for Fantasy owners on our website last year.

None of the top five biggest winners, including injury-risk sleeper Rich Harden, were Fantasy first-rounders. Only Sabathia was rated remotely close.

Yet, some of the most indelible images of 2008 were provided by Hamilton -- hearing his name chanted during the Home Run Derby at old Yankee Stadium -- and big Sabathia, fist pumping and exulting as he pitched (on three days rest yet again) the Brewers to the postseason for the first time in ages.

Know what they had in common?

They both were 27 years old last season. It is not a coincidence to us.

All-27 breakthrough team
POS Player TM
C Ryan Doumit PIT
1B Conor Jackson ARI
2B Rickie Weeks MIL
3B Kevin Kouzmanoff SD
SS Alexei Ramirez CHW
OF Grady Sizemore CLE
OF Jason Kubel MIN
OF Rocco Baldelli BOS
SP Adam Wainwright STL
RP Tony A. Pena ARI

Age 27 is a great way to pinpoint a breakthrough. Were you surprised by the Rays last season? Maybe you shouldn't have been. The average age of the AL champion was 27.

The theory behind breakouts at that age is based on medical research that suggests a man's body reaches its physical peak at that point. Also, after years of seasoning and pro experience, everything comes together for career highs across the board.

It was certainly the case for Hamilton and the second-half world-beater Sabathia. They were good players going in, sure, but great ones coming out.

Moneymakers, in fact.

OK, hindsight is 20-20 and other 27-year-olds like Alex Rios, Curtis Granderson and Ryan Garko didn't quite live up to lofty expectations. There are exceptions to every rule. And some, including A's GM Billy Beane, define a player's prime as 26 to 31 years of age, a year earlier than we do.

"But you're right there; I am 100 percent with you on that," he told us last September.

You can't argue with Beane, or nature. The strategy of picking players entering their prime physical years is a great one if you are trying to choose between a veteran in decline or a comparable player statistically who is now just 27 and yet to be a true MVP (see No. 1 below).

Here are our top 10 27-year-olds to target on Draft Day:

Note: All of the players mentioned here are either 27 years old on opening day or will turn that age during the season.

1. Grady Sizemore
Outfielder | Cleveland Indians
27th birthdate: Aug. 2, 2009
Career highs by category: .290 AVG, 33 HR, 90 RBI, 134 R, 38 SB, 390 OBP, .533 SLUG

OK, this selection of a sure-fire Fantasy first-rounder atop this list looks like a copout. Of course Sizemore is going to have a big year, right?

The point is just how big.

"The sky is the limit for him," teammate Travis Hafner says. "There is really nothing on a baseball field that he can't do. He has already had some phenomenal seasons, but I think he just can keep getting better and better.

"He's put together pretty well. ... All kinds of athleticism in him."

Look at his career highs and compare those to the projections of our No. 1 player in our 2009 Top 300, Hanley Ramirez: (.308-31-75-120-40-.399-.553). Since Sizemore is just now reaching his prime, you could argue he will be the best pick of the first round in all leagues. Our modest Sizemore projections (.279-30-80-115-35-.378-.491) slot him sixth in our Rotisserie-leaning Top 300 -- behind only Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Jose Reyes, David Wright and Albert Pujols.

Sizemore is better than we are giving him credit for, especially at this age. We said years ago, whether you were listening or not, when he turns 27, he will be a 40-40 man, an MVP candidate and a potential No. 1 overall pick. Like Beane suggested, it could have happened in his age-26 season as Sizemore was cruising at last year's All-Star break (.273-23-54-60-22-.374-.539).

It didn't.

The Indians struggled in the second half, mostly due to the losses of Victor Martinez and Hafner, the guys Sizemore sets the table for from his leadoff spot. The Indians were well out of the race and, with a noncontender, Sizemore went just .261-10-36-41-16 after the break, falling short of that 40-40 pace he was on.

"Last year, with me and Vic out of the lineup for a good part of the year, he was the one guy that you didn't want to beat you," Hafner said. "He wasn't seeing the pitches that he normally does. I think with me and Vic back that's going to make a big difference for him. He is a guy you don't want to pitch around and put him on base because he's going to steal 40-50 bases as well."

While Sizemore leads off for the Indians and doesn't get the benefit of as many runners in scoring position as some of Fantasy's other sluggers and RBI kings, it cannot be overlooked he does get the added at-bats of hitting first in the order. He was third in baseball in plate appearances in 2008 for an offense that vastly underachieved. His past three seasons of plate appearances rank in the top 50 of all time. That is a lot of opportunities to score Fantasy points, or tally for Rotisserie leagues.

"I think his average will continue to get better and better," Hafner said of his table-setter Sizemore, whose average last season was weighted down by hitting .224 vs. lefties. "If you want to hit .300, you're going to have to hit left-handers."

You heard it here first: Sizemore will be more consistent at age 27, the Indians' supporting cast will be far better and Sizemore will be someone we consider ranking No. 1 overall next spring ... just as we projected years ago.

Everyday health, immense talent, great opportunity and the prime age make for an outstanding combination.

2. Ian Kinsler
Second baseman | Texas Rangers
27th birthdate: June 22, 2009
Career highs by category: .319 AVG, 20 HR, 71 RBI, 102 R, 26 SB, .375 OBP, .517 SLUG

When Kinsler was getting started, we called him the next Chase Utley -- the gold standard of second basemen for this generation, perhaps any generation. But Kinsler got started a lot younger, while Utley didn't breakthrough as a Fantasy star until he was 27, going .291-28-105-93-.376-.540 in 2005. Utley has continued to get better ever since.

Kinsler might even be better, in addition to being more accomplished at a similar stage of their careers. Kinsler has more steals potential of course, but he could very well prove to be a .300-30-100-100-30 star the year he is turning the prime age. This one.

Don't forget Kinsler's first half a year ago (.337-14-58-84-23-.397-.548). Those are Utley-plus numbers. If not for Kinsler's injury-plagued second half of .258-4-13-18-3-.300-.417, we might have been inclined to rank him atop the second base position this spring -- especially since Utley is coming off offseason hip surgery that could affect the start of his season.

As it is, Kinsler is a close No. 2 at second base but will be available a round or two after the more proven MVP candidate Utley goes off the board, injury risk and all. It is hard to find bargains in the top 25 hitters in Fantasy, but Kinsler can be one for you. That hitter's ballpark in Texas and the protection of Hamilton certain weigh in his favor.

3. Alexei Ramirez
Shortstop | Chicago White Sox
27th birthdate: Sept. 22, 2008
Career highs by category: .290 AVG, 21 HR, 77 RBI, 65 R, 13 SB, .317 OBP, .475 SLUG

Ramirez is one of the two-time 27-year-old breakthrough candidates, having celebrated his 27th birthday during last season and entering a season at 27 for the first time. It was quite a breakthrough for the Cuban defector, surging to Fantasy prominence after an April where he wallowed on the bench at .138-0-2-1-0-.138-.207.

You never know what you're going to get from players who don't have a minor league track record. Starting in May, we got quite a bit from Ramirez and might even get more this go around, especially since he is slated to pick up the added position eligibility at shortstop.

Merely writing this story led us to upgrade Ramirez's projections from being a top 60 hitter to one in the top 45. Take a look at Dustin Pedroia's Rookie of the Year campaign in 2007. He started real slow for a month and a half, only to take off and surge the rest of the way -- much like Ramirez did.

The Red Sox stayed patient with Pedroia and those splits post-slow start wound up being the type of numbers he posted throughout his 2008 AL MVP season. Now, we aren't saying Ramirez will have the same exponential Fantasy value growth, but if he truly is the player we saw after April, his full-season numbers could amount to a .300-25-100-100-20 monster.

Certainly a great consolation if you miss out on Sizemore, Utley, Kinsler or Pedroia in rounds 1-4.

4. Carlos Quentin
Outfielder | Chicago White Sox
27th birthdate: Aug. 28, 2009
Career highs by category: .288 AVG, 36 HR, 100 RBI, 96 R, 7 SB, .394 OBP, .571 SLUG

Someone in Arizona (everyone?) needs to be fired for letting this one get away before he was 27. The White Sox got a steal with this slugger who looks like a perennial MVP candidate. Had Quentin not gotten hurt last August, he would have won Pedroia's MVP.

Quentin came out of the gate mashing and he would have challenged those CBSSports.com Fantasy winning percentage leaders we talked about above. Instead, his loss crushed many Fantasy teams down the stretch.

We won't hold it against him, but we are guessing the Fantasy public will. See, the difference between Hamilton and Quentin at the outfield position at the time of the broken wrist was indeterminable. But this spring, and in our projections, Hamilton is a sure-fire first-rounder, while Quentin might be considered a reach in Round 2.

Perception might be the only reason we have Quentin so far away from Hamilton in our rankings. If you miss out on Hamilton in Round 1, you can get Quentin in Round 2 or maybe even Round 3 -- likely with the same kind of production.

5. Conor Jackson
First baseman | Arizona Diamondbacks
27th birthdate: May 7, 2009
Career highs by category: .300 AVG, 15 HR, 79 RBI, 87 R, 10 SB, .376 OBP, .468 SLUG

The top four on this list will be highly sought in all Fantasy leagues. They pretty obviously can carry a Fantasy team. Jackson, not so much.

This is where the 27-year-old strategy can be genius, finding a diamond in the rough. Jackson might not look like much, especially at his deep position that is filled with big-time sluggers, but he has far more power and run production potential than he has shown. Remember, when moving through the D-Backs system, there was a debate whether Jackson or Quentin would be the better masher in the major leagues. The D-Backs picked Jackson and sent Quentin out.

Clearly, that is a big fat oops right now, but Jackson can catch up now that he is reaching his prime. There were points last season Jackson actually looked like a 30-homer slugger. He went .348-5-24-24 in April and .343-5-15-20 in July. Granted he only hit only two homers in the season's other four months -- one in May, one in June and none in August or September -- but five homers a month is a pace of 30.

Baseball history has taught us that streaky young hitters become big-time stars later, because hot streaks get longer and cold streaks get shorter with experience.

Also, Jackson is a master at working the count, drawing walks and posting a strong OPS. You know all the Sabermetrics that say OPS equals run production, but Jackson was explaining his power surges by pitch recognition. When you take a lot of pitches and become more established in the league, you can sit on fastballs to hammer for homers.

We project just .287-15-91-85-5, because he has yet to prove consistent enough, but the hunch here is he proves to be a bargain in the middle rounds and proves more potent in the power categories than ever before.

6. Kelly Johnson
Second baseman | Atlanta Braves
27th birthdate: Feb. 22, 2009
Career highs by category: .287 AVG, 16 HR, 69 RBI, 91 R, 11 SB, .375 OBP, .457 SLUG

The Braves finally let Johnson play vs. left-handed pitching last season and all he did was hit .333 with a .366 OBP -- not too shabby. Granted, he hit just one of his 12 homers off lefties, but the point is Johnson is a burgeoning OPS hog hitting his prime and on the verge of becoming one of the game's stars at a thin position in Fantasy.

Like so many inexperienced hitters -- Johnson has only had two full seasons -- he is a bit streaky. As we said, that is good news and could mean big things in his prime.

It hasn't proven to be true yet, but Johnson is a better pick than Mark DeRosa and maybe even Robinson Cano -- two second basemen sure to be scooped up before Johnson. Our Johnson projections of .273-15-70-82-9-.355-.440 slot him 11th at his position, but frankly they are far too modest. He has the talent to go .300-20-90-100-15, which would make him a Fantasy MVP when you consider his modest draft position.

7. Rickie Weeks
Second baseman | Milwaukee Brewers
27th birthdate: Sept. 13, 2009
Career highs by category: .279 AVG, 16 HR, 46 RBI, 89 R, 25 SB, .374 OBP, .432 SLUG

Hmm ... this could be a really big year for breakthrough second basemen, eh? Four of the top seven 27-year-olds are second base eligible (although Ramirez is moving to shortstop).

You can player-hate on Weeks because of his strikeout rate, suspect defense and .245 career average, but you should not completely forget how big of a talent he is. The two-time NCAA Division I batting title winner can hit for a better average, and his Triple-A manager once went on record as saying Weeks has better power than eventual 50-homer man Prince Fielder. Oh, Weeks can also run.

In the not-so-impressive prediction category, when Weeks was called up, we said he could be a .300-30-100-100-30 player in his prime. We are still waiting, but only now is Weeks finally near that point.

Weeks has had wrist issues that hindered him the past few years, but he turned the corner after the All-Star break last year. After a hitting .217 in the first half, Weeks posted a more respectable .263 average, .378 OBP and .451 SLUG after the break. Those are reachable levels that can make Weeks a top five Fantasy second baseman because of his rare speed-and-power mix.

8. J.J. Hardy
Shortstop | Milwaukee Brewers
27th birthdate: Aug. 19, 2009
Career highs by category: .283 AVG, 26 HR, 80 RBI, 89 R, 2 SB, .343 OBP, .478 SLUG

Sticking with Brewers, middle infielders and notoriously streaky hitters, Hardy is every bit of those and capable of putting an even bigger year together. It is likely your opposing Fantasy owners think Hardy has reached his potential and is ready to plateau, but since when is a 26-year-old ready to level off?

Hardy had just two homers through June 1 of last year, but he surged with an amazing nine in July alone. He is a four-homers-a-month guy ordinarily, but do you remember his .280-18-54-48 first half in 2007, one that featured a six-homer April and a nine-homer May?

His homers come in bunches and we will continue to beat you over the head with the rule of thumb that streaky young hitters become big-time stars in their prime -- Jeff Kent-style. Kent once went from a 15-20 homer guy to an annual MVP candidate, not to mention a future Hall of Famer.

We project Hardy as a top 10 Fantasy shortstop at .272-24-75-93-4-.331-.447, but we would not be surprised in the least to see him produce more consistently great numbers and go .275-30-100-100. Those numbers would make Derek Jeter look like Rey Ordonez -- and you just know Jeter is going to go around five rounds earlier in most leagues on name recognition alone.

9. Jhonny Peralta
Shortstop | Cleveland Indians
27th birthdate: May 28, 2009
Career highs by category: .292 AVG, 24 HR, 89 RBI, 104 R, 4 SB, .366 OBP, .473 SLUG

It is pretty remarkable that Peralta is only now reaching his prime. It seems he has been around for years -- and productive at that.

When V-Mart and Hafner went down last season and Sizemore was tailing off a bit, Peralta became the heart of the Indians' order, becoming a rare shortstop that hits cleanup. There aren't many shortstops in baseball that hit cleanup right now, or in history for that matter.

Peralta thrived in the cleanup spot, going .300-12-58-63-1-.360-.506 in his 84 games there. Also, his batting average jumped from .261 before the break to .295 after.

We slot Peralta just behind Hardy in our top 10 shortstop rankings, but Peralta hits with more runners in scoring position, making it more likely he can tally 100-100. He has reached 89-104 and a full year of health from V-Mart and Hafner should only help matters.

"We got a lot of guys that can drive 80 to 90-plus runs in," Hafner said.

10. Jason Kubel
Outfielder | Minnesota Twins
27th birthdate: May 25, 2009
Career highs by category: .273 AVG, 20 HR, 78 RBI, 74 R, 4 SB, .336 OBP, .471 SLUG

Kubel was a prospect arguably on the level of AL MVP runner-up Justin Morneau when he was coming up through the Twins system, but a serious knee reconstruction curtailed his development. Only in the middle of last season did he finally look like a solid big league regular.

Kubel had a huge June, going .312-6-15-21-0-.409-.636. Those are Morneau splits.

"I know those were the best numbers I have had so far, but I know I can do a lot better than that," Kubel said. "It took me a while to get adjusted. I feel a lot more comfortable about it now and I'm just looking forward to putting up better and better numbers."

Now, Kubel might never hit more than 30 homers or .300 -- mostly because of his Sizemore-like struggles against left-handed pitching (.232) -- but his projections will get him picked real late at the deep outfield position. With his first 500 at-bat season possible in his age-27 season, Kubel can go .275-25-90-90. That makes him a bargain in the late rounds.

While these 10 are favorites to have career years, the list of 27-year-olds is quite large. Here is the list and sortable career stats of players who will be 27 at some point during the 2009 season, broken down by hitters and pitchers. You should print this list out, highlight these players on your cheatsheet and target them periodically during your draft. The odds are in their favor to be their best yet and outperform their Draft Day value.

27-year-old hitter stats
PlayerD.O.BGABAVGHRRBIRSBOBPSLUG
Melillo, Kevin5/14/198210---00001.000---
Whitesell, Josh4/14/198277.2861110.444.714
Stansberry, Craig3/8/19822323.3480350.423.391
Dickerson, Chris4/10/198231102.304615205.413.608
Carter, Chris9/16/1982918.3330350.400.333
Willits, Reggie5/30/1981246583.27304310733.379.319
Choo, Shin-Soo7/13/1982159509.2911794979.377.493
Sizemore, Grady8/2/19826822695.279111349479117.370.491
Hamilton, Josh5/21/1981246922.3005117715012.370.538
Jackson, Conor5/7/19824541525.2874422222613.367.443
Smith, Seth9/30/198274116.284415171.366.466
Morse, Mike3/22/1982107300.300337334.365.397
Ethier, Andre4/10/19824201368.2994419619011.364.482
Anderson, Josh8/10/198261203.3153233111.364.419
Napoli, Mike10/31/1981252714.2484612512614.362.493
Macri, Matt5/29/19821834.3241431.361.441
Kinsler, Ian6/22/19823711424.2905218726360.360.473
Snelling, Chris12/3/198193225.244720312.360.400
Quentin, Carlos8/28/1982268875.2625016314810.359.505
Johnson, Kelly2/22/19823841358.2733717722322.356.440
Murton, Matt10/3/1981317900.288281061278.354.438
Barton, Brian4/25/198282153.268213233.354.392
Duncan, Chris5/5/1981302887.266501431394.353.487
Weeks, Rickie9/13/19824451615.2455115830678.352.406
Gonzalez, Adrian5/8/19825382024.282973253110.349.494
Morneau, Justin5/15/19817322681.2811335233934.348.498
Doumit, Ryan4/3/19813351063.278361531445.341.456
Hill, Aaron3/21/19824751720.2842818822515.339.409
McLouth, Nate10/28/19814361305.2615116024557.338.461
Peralta, Jhonny5/28/19826812519.268853303838.335.437
Buscher, Brian4/18/1981103300.280657371.335.373
Murphy, David10/18/1981174542.2861890857.334.480
Fuld, Sam11/20/1981146.0000030.333.000
Bourgeois, Jason1/4/198263.3330000.333.667
Teahen, Mark9/6/19815321956.2684724327434.332.421
Taveras, Willy12/25/19815411973.2837109295169.331.337
Paulino, Ronny4/21/19813041021.278191281022.331.382
Young, Delwyn6/30/1982110165.267310141.331.394
Crawford, Carl8/5/19819253786.29370434559302.330.435
Hardy, J.J.8/19/19824561661.270642182265.329.446
Francisco, Ben10/23/1981146509.2671866754.329.446
Gathright, Joey4/27/19814081145.26319616878.328.304
Kubel, Jason5/25/19823651161.268431761568.326.445
Ryan, Brendan3/26/1982147377.2654226014.326.345
Baldelli, Rocco9/25/19814471736.2815223425558.325.445
Betemit, Wilson11/2/19814961098.260421511455.325.437
Hart, Corey3/24/19824061412.2775521220353.323.485
Tolbert, Matt5/4/198241113.28306187.322.389
Baker, Jeff6/21/1981219538.2622285916.319.468
Frandsen, Kevin5/24/1982151358.254738384.318.363
Cantu, Jorge1/30/19825141927.275743042428.317.460
Ramirez, Alexei9/22/1981136480.29021776513.317.475
Molina, Yadier7/13/19825291734.262292091444.316.360
Pagan, Angel7/2/1981179409.2599526112.316.406
Montanez, Luis12/15/198138112.295314180.316.446
Reed, Jeremy6/15/19813361061.257119813119.314.365
Kouzmanoff, Kevin7/25/19813151164.264441691321.311.442
Ortmeier, Daniel5/11/1981124255.255624255.309.412
Maier, Mitch6/30/198239104.26909120.309.298
Phillips, Brandon6/28/19815832177.2627428529584.308.425
Pena, Wily Mo1/23/19825601590.2537722519612.307.447
Raburn, Ryan4/17/1981153349.255848587.306.407
Mather, Joe7/23/198254133.241818201.306.474
Betancourt, Yuniesky1/31/19825251864.2822518023021.305.400
Infante, Omar12/26/19815901909.2603519423734.304.391
Velez, Eugenio5/16/1982112286.2621323719.303.392
Metcalf, Travis8/17/198280217.2491135360.300.475
Gwynn, Tony K.10/4/1982130242.2480152314.300.298
Gonzalez, Andy12/15/198177213.188313201.291.258
Costa, Shane12/12/1981154421.254542492.289.366
Sandoval, Freddy8/16/198266.1670000.286.167
Hollimon, Michael6/14/19821123.2611240.280.565
Aubrey, Michael4/15/19821545.2002320.280.333
Zobrist, Ben5/26/1981145478.2221557507.279.370
Quintanilla, Omar10/24/1981158442.226230533.278.301
Anderson, Brian N.3/11/1982269597.22118627610.277.379
Huber, Justin7/1/198271159.220215141.273.302
Quiroz, Guillermo11/29/198195234.201226181.266.269
Casto, Kory12/8/198182217.194219161.264.276
D'Antona, Jamie5/12/19821817.1760120.263.176
Chavez, Angel7/22/19811019.2630110.263.316
Reyes, Argenis9/25/198249110.21813132.259.245
Pena, Brayan1/7/198271127.228212160.252.315
Ruggiano, Justin4/12/19825290.200210112.250.311
Coats, Buck6/9/19824657.1931341.242.333
Koshansky, Joe5/26/19823550.18031050.236.440
Stewart, Chris2/19/19822448.1880340.235.229
Nix, Jayson8/26/19822256.1250221.234.161
Evans, Terry1/19/1982811.0911230.231.364
Barden, Brian4/2/19813244.1820160.217.205
Stavinoha, Nick5/3/19822957.1930440.217.211
Carroll, Brett10/3/19824966.15203150.200.197
Anderson, Drew T.6/9/198199.1110030.200.111
Fox, Jake7/20/1982714.1430130.200.286
Bellorin, Edwin2/21/198265.2000000.200.200
Lucy, Donny8/8/1982815.2000000.200.200
Molina, Gustavo2/24/19821934.1180110.162.147
Morton, Colt4/10/19821016.0630120.158.063
Brown, Matt8/8/19821524.0420301.148.083
Maysonet, Edwin10/17/198177.1430000.143.143
Santos, Omir4/29/19811110.1000000.100.100
Ellis, A.J.4/9/198143.0000010.000.000
Brown, Dusty6/19/198200---0000------
Palmisano, Lou9/16/198200---0000------
Powell, Landon3/19/198200---0000------
Snyder, Brad5/25/198200---0000------

27-year-old pitcher stats
PlayerD.O.BGGSINNWLERASOBBWHIPBAA
Zambrano, Carlos6/1/1981231210138296613.4811726201.287.228
Perez, Oliver8/15/1981175174999 1/355604.3910275281.425.240
Cabrera, Daniel5/28/1981147146841 1/348595.056514781.549.259
Peavy, Jake5/31/1981199199126186623.2512564071.186.232
Willis, Dontrelle1/12/19821701691046 2/368563.917753791.379.265
Snell, Ian10/30/1981113101612 1/331384.675242641.517.280
Harden, Rich11/30/1981109101612 2/341203.236122621.213.216
De La Rosa, Jorge4/5/19811256440425315.553242211.651.282
Maholm, Paul6/25/19829696601 1/330354.303872101.410.279
Maine, John5/8/19818481464 2/333274.183982021.306.233
Rodriguez, Francisco1/7/19824080451 2/323172.355871981.114.189
Gorzelanny, Tom7/12/19826765374 2/322254.782451721.511.273
Tejeda, Robinson3/24/1982884730016194.772261671.513.254
Gobble, Jimmy7/19/198123543423 2/322235.232751631.487.279
Marcum, Shaun12/14/19818964396 2/324173.953141411.283.244
McGowan, Dustin3/24/19827556353 2/320224.712851411.374.256
Villarreal, Oscar11/22/1981258533624153.862361351.372.256
Weaver, Jered10/4/19827777460 2/335193.713721321.253.252
Bruney, Brian2/17/19821861182 1/311104.341821301.547.228
James, Chuck11/9/19816455315 2/324194.482341281.372.256
Wainwright, Adam8/30/19811155241127163.482991271.282.254
Bergmann, Jason9/25/19819550339 1/310195.042571271.397.265
Bonser, Boof10/14/19819660391 2/318255.123171251.448.281
Loe, Kameron9/10/198110747343 2/319234.771801231.516.288
Saunders, Joe6/16/19816464385 1/332154.042271201.342.268
Cordero, Chad3/18/19823050320 2/320142.782921171.198.222
Marshall, Sean8/30/19827950294 1/316224.622021171.413.263
Burres, Brian4/8/19817939258 2/313185.881651171.655.297
Shields, James12/20/19818585554 2/332243.964481141.199.259
Baker, Scott9/19/1981787645328244.233371011.294.274
Miner, Zach3/12/198210630264 2/318154.221551001.413.269
Pinto, Renyel7/8/19821510153493.88148981.405.217
Gabbard, Kason4/8/19823431163974.53103961.546.257
Reyes, Anthony10/16/1981594425512254.91183961.337.254
Hammel, Jason9/2/19827328207 1/37155.90140961.640.295
Thompson, Brad1/31/198215324305 2/319114.24146941.397.281
Cabrera, Fernando11/16/19811250168 2/3875.02185921.506.255
Owings, Micah9/28/19825145257 1/314174.97193911.325.254
Aardsma, David12/27/19811280144 2/31035.29139901.652.269
Crain, Jesse7/5/19812490262 1/325163.26159871.239.242
Hanrahan, Joel10/6/19818111135 1/31164.72136801.567.254
Messenger, Randy8/13/19811610174 1/34114.90115801.675.305
Woods, Jake9/3/1981848162 1/3854.6099791.571.275
Wagner, Ryan7/15/19821480165 1/31194.79130791.591.281
Hirsh, Jason2/20/19823229165 2/38115.32110741.449.257
Kuo, Hong-Chih7/23/19818714175 1/37133.90204731.295.234
Nippert, Dustin5/6/19816111141 2/3586.42113731.680.286
Buchholz, Taylor10/13/19811262727318214.42194721.205.249
Kensing, Logan7/3/19821023125 2/3774.94124711.528.252
Germano, Justin8/6/198247352058165.27119701.444.279
Delcarmen, Manny2/16/19821770180 2/3323.49167691.262.236
Galarraga, Armando1/15/19823329187 1/31373.84132681.217.227
Sarfate, Dennis4/9/198172496 1/3534.39111671.484.218
Hill, Shawn4/28/19813737206 1/37154.93130671.459.286
Ramirez, Ramon8/31/19811540156 2/3973.62146641.277.236
Ray, Chris1/12/19821450149 1/310133.19138631.185.210
Burnett, Sean9/17/19827113128 1/3664.9172621.597.288
Rupe, Josh8/18/1982661128424.5773591.500.281
Accardo, Jeremy12/8/19811730178 1/37163.99132571.262.247
Pena, Tony1/9/19821720188 2/311104.05136561.246.251
Wilson, Brian3/16/19821180116674.34108561.431.253
Masset, Nick5/17/1982772110435.0768541.691.307
Dumatrait, Phil7/12/1981271796 2/3387.0861541.810.310
Henn, Sean4/23/198140566 2/3267.5647522.040.307
Guzman, Angel12/14/1981331496076.0096501.667.293
Moseley, Dustin12/26/19816120153 1/3775.5290491.552.309
Burton, Jared6/2/19811010101 2/3932.9294471.289.224
Perez, Rafael5/15/19821350149 1/3562.89163441.085.213
Boyer, Blaine7/11/19811260115 2/3685.06103441.409.267
Nieve, Fernando7/15/19825111107344.6382431.374.256
Johnson, Tyler6/7/1981116077354.3265421.416.233
Janssen, Casey9/17/19818917166 2/38133.8983411.266.263
Blackburn, Nick2/24/1982393320511134.26104411.385.296
Acosta, Manny5/1/198167076 2/3463.1753401.317.223
Littleton, Wes9/2/1982800102 1/3533.6955371.231.239
Osoria, Franquelis9/12/19811040136 1/3495.4872371.555.315
Gonzalez, Enrique7/14/19822718111 2/3475.9667371.424.279
Stauffer, Tim6/2/1982181794 2/3476.3757361.542.289
Banks, Josh7/18/1982201592 2/3364.9545341.500.294
Karstens, Jeff9/24/19822418108 2/35114.8944331.436.283
Ohlendorf, Ross8/8/198236569146.1358331.797.314
Bass, Brian1/6/198249489 1/3444.8445311.444.280
Sadler, Billy9/21/198138048 1/3014.2848291.407.223
Purcey, David4/22/1982121265365.5458291.477.267
Misch, Patrick8/18/1981341193 2/3075.0065271.409.285
Meyer, Dan7/3/198119746067.6332241.761.300
White, Sean4/25/198115035 1/3115.6016201.557.261
Cruceta, Francisco7/4/198119326047.9622202.038.317
Thatcher, Joe10/4/198147046 2/3265.2133191.586.293
Murray, A.J.3/17/198216435 2/3224.2923181.542.264
Rosales, Leo5/28/198127030114.2018151.567.271
Tata, Jordan9/20/198111328 2/3116.9114151.570.275
Livingston, Bobby9/3/1982131061 1/3336.3130141.630.330
Reineke, Chad4/9/19824318215.0013121.444.219
Threets, Erick11/4/198110012 1/3016.577122.270.327
Newman, Josh6/11/198214017 2/3008.1511122.208.351
Herrera, Yoslan4/28/19815518 1/3119.8210122.564.427
Ramirez, Ramon9/16/19825427112.6721111.037.183
Huber, Jon7/7/198125028212.5719101.179.228
Valdez, Merkin11/5/198119117 2/3104.0815101.585.265
Guevara, Carlos3/18/198210012 1/3105.841191.784.265
Espineli, Geno9/8/198215016205.06881.563.279
McCrory, Rob5/3/1982806 1/30015.63582.842.370
Martinez, Carlos5/26/198214013014.151371.538.271
Murphy, Bill5/9/19811006 1/3005.68272.526.346
Smith, Chris4/9/198112018 1/3107.851371.364.261
Wells, Jared10/31/1981808 1/3008.64572.160.314
Miller, Jim4/28/1982807 2/3021.17851.826.290
Bonine, Eddie6/6/19815526 2/3215.40951.538.333
Vasquez, Virgil6/7/19825316 2/3018.64751.920.360
Robertson, Connor9/10/1981909018.00442.000.359
Wells, Randy8/28/1982405 1/3000.0013.563.000
Motte, Jason6/22/198212011000.82163.727.139
Rundles, Rich6/3/1981805001.80631.600.263
Bisenius, Joe9/18/1982202000.00322.000.286
Coke, Phil7/19/198212014 2/3100.61142.682.160
Simon, Alfredo5/8/19814113006.23821.385.296
Pignatiello, Carmen9/12/1982602 2/3006.75322.625.417
Roenicke, Josh8/4/1982503009.00622.667.400
Gray, Jeff11/19/1981504 2/3007.71411.929.364

You can e-mail us your Fantasy Baseball questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: 27-year-olds in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses to all questions

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Player News
Justin Verlander wins despite rough outing, rain delay
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com
(12:35 am ET)
Tigers starter Justin Verlander was given a 2-0 lead to begin the game in Cleveland Wednesday night. By the end of the second inning he gave it back. 
Detroit then scored four times for him in the top of the third inning and three more in the top of the fifth as he suddenly had a 9-2 lead. Verlander uncharacteristically gave back some of those runs. He gave up an RBI single to Michael Brantley in the bottom of the fifth followed by a Carlos Santana two-run homer before the game went into a rain delay. 
Verlander came back after the delay to get the final two outs of the fifth inning as he ended up qualifying for the win and improving to 5-4 on the season. The ace gave up five runs on 10 hits and a walk over five innings with nine strikeouts over 110 pitches. His ERA is now at 3.66. 
Verlander has now recorded back-to-back poor starts and has gone 1-2 in his last three outings. He's given up 16 runs over a span of 12 2/3 innings in his last three starts. Verlander will hope to have a better outing when he next takes the hill Monday against Pittsburgh. 

Delmon Young provides power again
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
(12:03 am ET) Phillies outfielder Delmon Young had his second homer in as many days Wednesday against the Marlins.

Young opened the scoring with a solo home run to left center in the fourth inning, providing the winning run in a 3-0 final. He went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Young is hitting .233 but has raised his average 41 points in the last 24 hours. 


Josh Phegley making noise at Triple-A
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com
(12:03 am ET) Triple-A Charlotte catcher Josh Phegley has a .333 average, 11 doubles, 10 home runs and 28 RBI and the 25-year-old has impressed many in the White Sox organization.

Still, Chicago is OK with what they have at the major league level right now. 

"When you make a switch at an integral position like that, you have to look at sort of the potential of the unintended consequences," general manager Rich Hahn told MLB.com Wednesday. "It's not just an offensive change. There's also a very important defensive component. We are on a good roll right now from what our pitchers are doing. Nor is it reasonable to say, 'All right, Josh is hitting (.333) in Triple-A so come up here and do the same thing in his major-league debut and then take over this pitching staff and let's go. That being said, I do think that Josh is showing himself capable of potentially being an impact catcher at the major-league level."


Donnie Veal optioned to Triple-A
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com
(5/22/2013) The White Sox optioned reliever Donnie Veal to Triple-A Charlotte after Wednesday's loss to the Red Sox, MLB.com reports. Veal makes room for John Danks to be activated to start Friday against Miami. 

Veal has made 14 appearances for the White Sox with a 8.59 ERA. He had a scoreless performance over 2/3 of an inning with a walk Wednesday. 


John Danks confirmed for Friday
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com
(5/22/2013) White Sox manager Robin Ventura confirmed following the team's loss to Boston Wednesday that pitcher John Danks will start Friday against Miami, MLB.com reports. 

Danks will be returning from the disabled list, where he's been with a shoulder injury. He had a 3.18 ERA over his four rehab starts but also showed diminished velocity. He had 15 strikeouts and 13 walks in rehab.

Andrew Bailey back on mound for Boston
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com
(5/22/2013) Red Sox reliever Andrew Bailey pitched the ninth inning in a non-save situation as Boston led 6-1 in Chicago Wednesday night. 

Bailey, who was making his first appearance since returning from the disabled list, gave up a run on Paul Konerko's solo homer. He threw 11 pitches and struck out one.

The Red Sox do not want to use Bailey, who has a 2.03 ERA, on back-to-back nights this early in his return from a biceps injury. 


Hector Santiago Ks 9 in defeat
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com
(5/22/2013) White Sox starter Hector Santiago dropped to 1-3 with a loss Wednesday at home against the Red Sox. 

Santiago struck out nine but wasn't efficient, throwing 107 pitches over six innings. 

He gave up two runs on three hits and four walks. His ERA is 2.81. Santiago hasn't won a game since May 2 at Texas. He has 42 strikeouts over 41 2/3 innings. 


Bryce Harper provides big boost in win
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
(5/22/2013) Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper homered Wednesday against the Giants for the first time since missing time with a bruised left knee.

Harper went the other way with a solo home run in the sixth inning to open the scoring. He added a double in the 10th and came around to score the winning run in a 2-1 game.

Harper went 2 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored. He struck out once. He's hitting .288 with 12 home runs, 23 RBI and a .994 on-base plus slugging percentage. 


Clay Buchholz improves to 7-0
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com
(5/22/2013) Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz improved to 7-0 with a 1.73 ERA after allowing an earned run on five hits and three walks over 113 pitches against Chicago Wednesday. He struck out four and his ERA dropped from 1.78.

The win ended a streak of three-straight no-decisions. Bucholz's next start is Monday against Philadelphia. 


Curtis Granderson back in a big way
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com
(5/22/2013) Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson had a feeling he'd start hitting soon. He was right. 

With manager Joe Girardi starting him in the leadoff spot, Granderson immediately got things going with a single off Jason Hammel. He followed with his first extra-base hit of the year, a double.

Granderson then really started to sizzle with a solo homer off Hammel in the fifth inning. He walked in his last plate appearance. Granderson went 3 for 3 with a walk and a run scored with his first HR of the year and improved his average to .269.


 
 
 
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