2007 Position Battle: NL Starting Pitcher

Chicago Cubs: 5th spot

Candidates:
Mark Prior
Wade Miller
Sean Marshall
Angel Guzman

Edge: Mark Prior--The Cubs have finally realized that the safest approach to their pitching rotation is not counting on neither Kerry Wood nor Prior to contribute anything of significance. That said, the battle for the Cubs fifth rotation spot comes down to Prior versus himself. If Prior can finally stay healthy, the job will be handed to him without much resistance. If he's unfit for the job, the Cubs will let Wade Miller, Sean Marshall, and Angel Guzman battle for the spot.

Los Angeles Dodgers: 5th spot

Candidates:
Chad Billingsley
Brett Tomko
Mark Hendrickson
Hong-Chih Kuo

Edge: Chad Billingsley--The Dodgers have developed a wealth of talented young pitching prospects over the last couple years and Billingsley is one of the best, but that doesn't mean there isn't a scramble for the fifth starter job. Billingsley will have to fend off Brett Tomko, Mark Hendrickson, and Hong-Chih Kuo. The reality of it is that manager Grady Little has already told MLB.com that the fifth starter will likely be skipped once during the first two weeks of the season because of days off. That alone may be enough reason for them to stick with Billingsley.

New York Mets: 3rd, 4th, and 5th spots

Candidates:
John Maine
Oliver Perez
Mike Pelfrey
Chan Ho Park

Edge: John Maine, Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey--Former ace Pedro Martinez isn't expected to pitch for months following shoulder surgery. The first two spots in the rotation are filled by Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez and his arthritic neck, but the last three spots are reportedly still up for grabs. Vying for those spots are Maine, Perez, Pelfrey, and Chan Ho Park.. Maine had stretches last season that he pitched pretty well and while Perez hasn't been able to rediscover the form he had while with the Pirates, both seem better than the alternative to fill two of the three open rotation spots. The real battle is between the promising 23-year old Pelfrey and the experienced veteran Park. On potential alone, it's obvious that Pelfrey would be a better call, but as a team trying to win now, veteran savvy could be preferred. The Mets decision determines whether their fifth starter is a viable option in fantasy leagues and if it's Park, fantasy owners would be wise to steer clear.

Philadelphia Phillies: 5th spot

Candidates:
Adam Eaton
Jon Lieber

Edge: Adam Eaton--There really wouldn't be a battle in Philly, had the Phillies been able to deal Jon Lieber this offseason. As spring injuries mount, they could still find a team interested in a veteran arm that has won 14 games in three of the last five seasons, including 20 back in 2001 with the Cubs. That's more than we can say for the 29-year old Eaton, who seems to have been all but handed a spot in the rotation by the Phils despite winning double-digit games just twice in his career. It seems as though the Phils will learn the hard way, what fantasy owners already know, Eaton is a mediocre pitcher.

Pittsburgh Pirates: 3rd, 4th, and 5th spots

Canidates:
Shawn Chacon
Tom Gorzelanny
Paul Maholm
Tony Armas
Marty McLeary

Edge: Shawn Chacon, Tom Gorzelanny, Paul Maholm--Despite being one of baseball's doormats for the better part of the last 12 years, the Pirates have themselves some nice young pitching talent. They have had two young pitchers emerge over the last two seasons—Zach Duke and Ian Snell—and they have a firm grasp on the first two spots in the rotation. Following them could be any combination of Chacon, Gorzelanny, Maholm, Tony Armas, Sean Burnett, Bryan Bullington, Marty McLeary, and John Van Benschoten. While he only won two of his nine starts after the All-Star break last year, Gorzelanny posted a 3.25 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, and seemingly has the talent to nab one of the open rotation spots. It also seems highly unlikely that the Pirates would spend guaranteed money to sign Armas only to toss him in their bullpen. Armas looked sharp in his first spring session, throwing 40 pitches with ease. The main competition standing in his way of the final spot in the rotation is Chacon and Maholm, but he appears to have as realistic shot as they do at claiming the spot. This is going to be a situation that fantasy owners will have to let develop throughout Spring Training. The Pirates could surprise people this season and if they improve at all, it will probably be because their pitching staff continues to mature.

Arizona Diamondbacks: 5th spot

Candidates:
Edgar Gonzalez
Enrique Gonzalez

Edge: Edgar Gonzalez--The battle for the fifth rotation spot in the desert doesn't seem worthy of fantasy owners attention unless you look a little deeper at Gonzalez. In 166 combined innings between the minor and major leagues, Edgar posted an impressive 3.5 K/BB ratio and 6.1 K/9IP. His competition, Enrique Gonzalez enjoyed some success prior to the All-Star break, but wore down late in the season and there is some question as to whether he can handle a full season's workload.

Atlanta Braves: 5th spot

Candidates:
Kyle Davies
Lance Cormier

Edge: Kyle Davies--A torn groin muscle greatly reduced Davies' ability to build upon his first major league experience in 2005. He's expected to get a chance this season and while the team is letting Lance Cormier push him for the fifth spot in the rotation, it's Davies job to lose.

Cincinnati Reds: 5th spot

Candidates:
Paul Wilson
Kirk Saarloos
Elizardo Ramirez
Matt Belisle

Edge: Paul Wilson--The pitchers vying for the last spot in the Reds rotation have a similar effect as Ipecac. Just when you think you're finally done losing your lunch, you come to the realization that Wilson, a non-roster invitee, is closing in on the job. Why wouldn't he be? After all, he has a winning record in one of his seven professional seasons. If for some reason he should stumble, Kirk Saarloos, Elizardo Ramirez, and Matt Belisle will draw straws to replace him.

Colorado Rockies: 3rd, 4th, and 5th spots

Candidates:
Josh Fogg
Byung-Hyun Kim
Brian Lawrence
Jason Hirsh

Edge: Josh Fogg, Byung-Hyun Kim, Brian Lawrence--The Rockies netted Taylor Buchholz and Jason Hirsh in the deal that sent Jason Jennings to Houston, but that doesn't mean they are locks for rotation spots. The potential Hirsh displayed throughout the minor leagues and the minimal success Buchholz enjoyed in Minute Maid Park last year certainly seem more intriguing than Fogg or Lawrence, but the Rockies probably figure they need veteran savvy over tantalizing young potential. Ubaldo Jimenez is also in the mix, but is on the outside looking in at this battle.

San Francisco Giants: 5th spot

Candidates:
Russ Ortiz
Jonathan Sanchez

Edge: Russ Ortiz--All indications are that the Giants would like Ortiz to win the fifth spot in the rotation. Yes, the same Ortiz who posted a 2.00 WHIP in 26 appearances (11 starts) last season and has a 1.48 career mark over nine seasons. The question with the talented youngster, Jonathan Sanchez is whether he can finally handle a spike in workload. The Giants are more comfortable letting him settle into a role permanently in order to figure that out. The role that will prove easiest to coddle him will probably be in the bullpen, which reduces any potential fantasy value he might have had.

Washington Nationals: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th spots

Candidates:
Tim Redding
Shawn Hill
Beltran Perez
Matt Chico
Jerome Williams
Jesus Colome
Jason Simontacchi

Edge: None--The only sure bet in the Nationals pitching rotation is John Patterson, and he's coming off a season in which he managed just eight starts between DL stints before finally being shut down completely and undergoing forearm surgery. The other candidates for rotation spots include: Tim Redding, Shawn Hill, Beltran Perez, Matt Chico, Jerome Williams, Joel Hanrahan, Jesus Colome and Jason Simontacchi, of which, Redding, Williams, and Chico probably have the most upside. By upside, we mean their game isn't quite as rancid as the others.
Source: Fanball.com