Yovani Gallardo (SP-MIL) 9 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 12 K, W 

According to reports out of Milwaukee, there has been another sighting of “El Chupacabra” at Miller Park. This legendary creature, who traditionally lives in the minds of Latin American’s, is said to attack an array of wild stock and leave them for dead after consuming their blood.  

I know that Yovani Gallardo serves his victims a steady diet of fastballs, sliders, curveballs and changeups, but I’m not sure how this (or something else he has done in the past) has earned him a nickname who’s literal translation is “The Goat Sucker.”  Regardless, Yovani recorded his most impressive win to date in this 2010 MLB season this past week in Milwaukee against the Minnesota Twins, which prompted us to take a closer look into his young career. 

Originally drafted in the second round of the 2004 draft, Yovani started making noise when he led all minor league pitchers with 188 strikeouts in 155 innings in 2006 for Single-A Brevard County and Double-A Huntsville. 

In 2007, “El Chupa” was in and out of the starting rotation for the Brewers, filling in for the oft injured Chris Capuano and Ben Sheets. We saw flashes of brilliance in the 17 games Yovani started that season as he finished 9-5 with a 3.67 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 101 strikeouts in 110.1 innings pitched.  

Brewers management had high expectations for Gallardo heading into the 2008 season. However, Yovani spent the majority of the year on the disabled list with a torn meniscus in his left knee and a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. Gallardo only saw action in six Major League games in 2008, finishing 0-0 with a 1.88 ERA.  

Following the injury plagued 2008 season, Gallardo once again gave the Brewers’ brass reason to believe he was going to be the next ace in Milwaukee. In 2009 Yovani pitched his first career complete game, threw three two-hitters and struck out eleven or more batters on three occasions. Gallardo finished the season with a modest 13-12 record but struck batters at an impressive rate of 9.89 per nine innings and boasted a .233 BAA. 

Thus far in 2010, “El Chupa” is 7-3 with a 2.36 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 10.05 K/9 rate in 16 starts. He has recorded ten or more strikeouts on five occasions while allowing more than two earned runs only four times in sixteen starts. In comparison to his career numbers, Yovani has increased his K/9 and LOB%, while decreasing his ERA, BB/9, WHIP and BAA in 2010. 

This is the breakout year the Brewers management expected in 2008.  

Yovani Gallardo is currently owned in 97% of Y! leagues.  

The “Double Dipper” is a starting pitcher who will get two starts in the same week. Each  Sunday we will preview top three options in each league and highlight streaming options for players owned in less than 50% of Y! leagues. 

Top 3 NL Double Dippers: 

Ubaldo Jimenez/COL (@SD, vs. SF) – Frontrunner for NL CY right now. 13-1, 1.60 ERA  
Chris Carpenter/STL (vs. ARI, vs. MIL) – 5-0 in last eight. 7.80 K/9, 2.63 ERA 
Yovani Gallardo/MIL (vs. HOU, @STL) – 9 or more strikeouts in each of his last three starts. 

Top 3 AL Double Dippers 
  
Cliff Lee/SEA (@NYY, @DET) – Last Two: 2 W, 2 CG, 1 ER, 16:0 K:BB. Contract Year. 
Phil Hughes/NYY (vs. SEA, vs. TOR) – 5-0 in last five. Great match-ups, well-rested. 
Francisco Liriano/MIN (vs. DET, vs. TB) – 9.71 K/9, 3.11 ERA, 1.22 WHIP 

Warning: Streaming can be lethal. The following are owned in less than 50% of Y! leagues. 

Brandon Morrow/TOR (@CLE, vs. NYY) – Two or less ER allowed in last five. 9.86 K/9 
R.A. Dickey/NYM (@ FLA, @ WAS) – 6-0 in seven starts, 2.33 ERA  
Jason Hammel/COL (@ SD, vs. SF) – 5-1 in last eight. Solid match-ups. 

Don’t Touch ‘Em 

Nick Blackburn, Paul Maholm, Manny Parra, Bud Norris 

Week 13 One Start Stars Owned in 50% or Less

Jon Garland/SD 50% Y! – Thursday vs. HOU (Moeller)  – 4 Consecutive Scoreless Innings & 3 Wins vs. Houston
Trevor Cahill/OAK 35% Y! – Friday @ CLE (Talbot) – 6-0 in last eight. Plus ratios. .212 BAA 
Jonathon Niese/NYM 15% Y! – Friday @ WAS (Atilano) – 4-0/2.71 ERA in five June starts 
 
Is the Chupacabra real? Watch Video here, and here.
Who will be the best 2-Start Pitcher owned in 50% or less in week 13? 
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