Major League Baseball trades places with college basketball as the sports flavor of the month in April. And as we usher in America's favorite pastime, let's open the season with one of our favorite handicapping angles - good month pitchers.
Listed below are hurlers that have enjoyed a two-to-one (67%) or better success ratio in team starts the last three seasons during the month of April. On the flip side, we've also listed pitchers that struggle in April team starts, winning 33% percent or less of their efforts. To qualify pitchers must have made a minimum of 10 starts, with at least one start each April over the last three years. I'll be back next month with May's Good Month Pitchers. Until then, enjoy…
GOOD MONTH PITCHERS
A.J. Burnett - New York Yankees: 11-4
Notes - Looking for bounce back year with Yankees and a good start would certainly help.
Dana Eveland - L.A. Dodgers: 10-4
Zach Greinke - Milwaukee: 10-5
Notes - Currently on the DL for Milwaukee and is iffy to pitch this month.
"King" Felix Hernandez - Seattle: 12-4
Notes - When doesn't King Felix have a good month. He could be completely dominating on a club that scored runs.
Livan Hernandez - Washington: 9-4
Notes - The 36-year old throws a lot of junk and is typically strong in the first part of the year before wearing down.
Josh Johnson - Florida: 7-3
Tim Lincecum - San Francisco:11-4
Notes - Smart, intelligent hurler who knows how to pitch and keeps hitters off-balance with off-speed stuff.
Derek Lowe - Atlanta: 11-5
Notes - A consistent pitcher who forces batters to beat the ball into the ground.
Erwin Santana - Los Angeles Angels: 8-3
Notes - Had a good bounce back season in 2010 and usually helps Halos get off to good start.
Johan Santana - N.Y. Mets: 10-5
Notes - On the DL
Adam Wainwright - St. Louis: 12-3
Notes - On the DL
BAD MONTH PITCHERS
David Bush - Milwaukee: 4-9
Notes - Now a long reliever for Texas where he can't hurt anyone as starter.
Johnny Cueto - Cincinnati: 5-10
Notes - Starting the season on the DL, should be back late in the month.
Tom Gorzelanny - Washington: 2-8
Notes - Now pitching for Washington which is third team in three years. Always has solid strikeout to walk ratios but makes key mistakes.
Jeremy Guthrie - Baltimore: 4-11
Notes - Pitching in Baltimore hasn't helped and his stuff is dependent on good defense, not always an Orioles strength.
John Lannan - Washington: 5-10
Notes - Good for two trips around the batting order, but lacks enough sharp pitches and finds a lot bats.
Shaun Marcum - Milwaukee: 3-7
Notes - Let's see how Marcum does in Brewers uniform being away from AL East teams the opening month of the season.
