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2014 Quality Starts

Using Quality Starts When Choosing Daily Fantasy Pitchers
by Adam, DFBB Handicapper, RotoPicks.com

A starting pitcher earns a quality start in any outing in which he goes at least 6 innings and allows no more than 3 earned runs. It is a very simple, yet useful measurement of how consistent a pitcher is when you see how many quality starts the pitcher has thrown. When constructing head to head or double up lineups, I argue that quality start percentage is one of the most important factors to consider.

We've said it before and we need to say it again: double ups and H2H matches only require just enough points to beat out half the competition so you just want points from every position, and you do not need a tremendous amount of them. For pitchers, a quality start is usually good enough out of your pitcher slot if you want a winning team, especially if the salary was low. Guaranteed prize pools and league games that pay out only a small percentage need more than just a quality start; you would need plenty of K as well to score enough to place in the top 10% of the league. This is why quality starts are best used in the more conservative games of double ups, 50/50s, and head to heads.

Listed below is a list of all qualifying pitchers from 2014 in order of highest quality start percentage, listed along with the number of quality starts:

RankPlayerTeamQS %Quality Starts
1Clayton KershawLos Angeles Dodgers86.2%13
2Johnny CuetoCincinnati Reds85.3%29
3Cole HamelsPhiladelphia Phillies83.3%25
4Jon LesterBoston Red Sox81.8%27
5Chris SaleChicago White Sox80.8%21
6Felix HernandezSeattle Mariners79.4%27
7Alex WoodAtlanta Braves79.2%19
8Sonny GrayOakland Athletics78.8%26
9Corey KluberCleveland Indians76.5%26
10Aaron HarangCleveland Indians75.8%25
10Jordan ZimmermannWashington Nationals75.8%25
10Julio TeheranAtlanta Braves75.8%25
13Adam WainwrightSt. Louis Cardinals74.3%26
14Doug FisterWashington Nationals73.1%19
14Garrett RichardsLos Angeles Angels73.1%19
16Dallas KeuchelHouston Astros72.4%21
17David PriceTampa Bay Rays71.4%25
17Lance LynnSt. Louis Cardinals71.4%25
19Tyson RossSan Diego Padres71.0%22
20Yordano VenturaKansas City Royals70.6%24
21Jon NieseNew York Mets70.0%21
22Jeff SamardzijaOakland Athletics69.7%23
22John LackeyBoston Red Sox69.7%23
24Madison BumgarnerSan Francisco Giants69.2%27
25Scott FeldmanHouston Astros69.0%20
26Alfredo SimonCincinnati Reds68.8%22
26Wily PeraltaMilwaukee Brewers68.8%22
28Stephen StrasburgWashington Nationals68.6%24
29Kyle LohseMilwaukee Brewers67.7%21
29Rick PorcelloDetroit Tigers67.7%21
29Tanner RoarkWashington Nationals67.7%21
32R.A. DickeyToronto Blue Jays67.6%23
33James ShieldsKansas City Royals66.7%26
33Zack GreinkeLos Angeles Dodgers66.7%22
35Jered WeaverLos Angeles Angels65.7%23
36Hiroki KurodaNew York Yankees65.6%21
36Jose QuintanaChicago White Sox65.6%21
36Zack WheelerNew York Mets65.6%21
39Max ScherzerDetroit Tigers64.7%22
40Bartolo ColonNew York Mets64.5%20
41Jarred CosartHouston Astros63.3%19
42Alex CobbTampa Bay Rays63.0%17
42Matt GarzaMilwaukee Brewers63.0%17
44Chris ArcherTampa Bay Rays62.5%20
44John DanksChicago White Sox62.5%20
44Phil HughesMinnesota Twins62.5%20
44Scott KazmirOakland Athletics62.5%20
44Yovani GallardoMilwaukee Brewers62.5%20
49Ervin SantanaAtlanta Braves61.3%19
50Gio GonzalezWashington Nationals60.7%17
50Hisashi IwakumaSeattle Mariners60.7%17
52Mike LeakeCincinnati Reds60.6%20
52Nathan EovaldiMiami Marlins60.6%20
54Henderson AlvarezMiami Marlins60.0%18
55Edinson VolquezPittsburgh Pirates59.4%19
55Mark BuehrleToronto Blue Jays59.4%19
55Tom KoehlerMiami Marlins59.4%19
58Miguel GonzalezBaltimore Orioles59.3%16
59Jason HammelChicago Cubs58.6%17
60Chris TillmanBaltimore Orioles58.3%21
61Ian KennedySan Diego Padres57.6%19
61Jason VargasKansas City Royals57.6%19
61Wade MileyArizona Diamondbacks57.6%19
64Dan HarenLos Angeles Dodgers56.2%18
65Hector NoesiTexas Rangers55.6%15
65Jake PeavyBoston Red Sox55.6%20
67Chris YoungWashington Nationals55.2%16
68Justin VerlanderDetroit Tigers54.5%18
69Tim HudsonSan Francisco Giants54.3%19
70Jorge De La RosaColorado Rockies53.1%17
71Brandon McCarthyArizona Diamondbacks50.0%16
72Kyle GibsonMinnesota Twins48.4%15
73Francisco LirianoPittsburgh Pirates48.3%14
74C.J. WilsonLos Angeles Angels46.9%15
75Clay BuchholzBoston Red Sox46.4%25
76Jeremy GuthrieKansas City Royals45.7%16
77Wei-Yin ChenBaltimore Orioles45.5%15
78Jake OdorizziTampa Bay Rays45.2%14
79A.J. BurnettPhiladelphia Phillies44.1%15
80Eric StultsSan Diego Padres43.8%14
81Ryan VogelsongSan Francisco Giants42.9%15
82Shelby MillerSt. Louis Cardinals42.4%14
83Kyle KendrickPhiladelphia Phillies40.6%13
84Bud NorrisBaltimore Orioles40.0%12
85Roberto HernandezPhiladelphia Phillies37.9%11
86Colby LewisTexas Rangers27.6%8
86Roenis EliasSeattle Mariners27.6%8
88Drew HutchisonToronto Blue Jays0.0%12
88Josh CollmenterArizona Diamondbacks0.0%14
88Travis WoodChicago Cubs0.0%13

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Since quality starts do not include wins, here is the list of qualifying pitchers from 2014, ranked by winning percentage:

Rank Player Team Pos Value
1 Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers SP 0.808
2 Garrett Richards Los Angeles Angels SP 0.765
3 Max Scherzer Detroit Tigers SP 0.750
3 Chris Sale Chicago White Sox SP 0.750
5 Doug Fister Washington Nationals SP 0.739
6 Jordan Zimmermann Washington Nationals SP 0.737
7 Felix Hernandez Seattle Mariners SP 0.714
8 Chris Tillman Baltimore Orioles SP 0.700
9 Wei-Yin Chen Baltimore Orioles SP 0.696
10 Johnny Cueto Cincinnati Reds SP 0.690
11 Zack Greinke Los Angeles Dodgers SP 0.680
12 Adam Wainwright St. Louis Cardinals SP 0.667
12 Madison Bumgarner San Francisco Giants SP 0.667
12 Corey Kluber Cleveland Indians SP 0.667
12 Jered Weaver Los Angeles Angels SP 0.667
12 Bud Norris Baltimore Orioles SP 0.667
17 Henderson Alvarez Miami Marlins SP 0.632
18 Scott Kazmir Oakland Athletics SP 0.625
18 Hisashi Iwakuma Seattle Mariners SP 0.625
20 Edinson Volquez Pittsburgh Pirates SP 0.619
21 Phil Hughes Minnesota Twins SP 0.615
22 Wily Peralta Milwaukee Brewers SP 0.607
23 James Shields Kansas City Royals SP 0.600
23 Yordano Ventura Kansas City Royals SP 0.600
23 John Lackey Boston Red Sox SP 0.600
23 Lance Lynn St. Louis Cardinals SP 0.600
23 Alfredo Simon Cincinnati Reds SP 0.600
28 Jon Lester Boston Red Sox SP 0.593
29 Kyle Lohse Milwaukee Brewers SP 0.591
30 Sonny Gray Oakland Athletics SP 0.583
30 Ervin Santana Atlanta Braves SP 0.583
32 Tanner Roark Washington Nationals SP 0.577
33 Dallas Keuchel Houston Astros SP 0.571
33 Chris Young Washington Nationals SP 0.571
35 Mark Buehrle Toronto Blue Jays SP 0.565
36 Jorge De La Rosa Colorado Rockies SP 0.560
37 Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers SP 0.556
38 Josh Collmenter Arizona Diamondbacks SP 0.550
38 Hiroki Kuroda New York Yankees SP 0.550
40 Jason Vargas Kansas City Royals SP 0.545
41 Jarred Cosart Houston Astros SP 0.542
41 Dan Haren Los Angeles Dodgers SP 0.542
41 C.J. Wilson Los Angeles Angels SP 0.542
44 Stephen Strasburg Washington Nationals SP 0.538
44 Jeremy Guthrie Kansas City Royals SP 0.538
46 David Price Tampa Bay Rays SP 0.536
46 Bartolo Colon New York Mets SP 0.536
46 Rick Porcello Detroit Tigers SP 0.536
49 Chris Archer Tampa Bay Rays SP 0.526
49 Shelby Miller St. Louis Cardinals SP 0.526
49 Alex Cobb Tampa Bay Rays SP 0.526
52 Kyle Gibson Minnesota Twins SP 0.520
53 Julio Teheran Atlanta Braves SP 0.518
53 R.A. Dickey Toronto Blue Jays SP 0.518
55 Alex Wood Atlanta Braves SP 0.500
55 John Danks Chicago White Sox SP 0.500
55 Matt Garza Milwaukee Brewers SP 0.500
55 Miguel Gonzalez Baltimore Orioles SP 0.500
55 Ian Kennedy San Diego Padres SP 0.500
55 Tom Koehler Miami Marlins SP 0.500
55 Aaron Harang Cleveland Indians SP 0.500
55 Zack Wheeler New York Mets SP 0.500
55 Cole Hamels Philadelphia Phillies SP 0.500
55 Gio Gonzalez Washington Nationals SP 0.500
65 Tyson Ross San Diego Padres SP 0.481
66 Jason Hammel Chicago Cubs SP 0.476
67 Mike Leake Cincinnati Reds SP 0.458
67 Drew Hutchison Toronto Blue Jays SP 0.458
67 Jake Odorizzi Tampa Bay Rays SP 0.458
70 Roenis Elias Seattle Mariners SP 0.455
71 Jon Niese New York Mets SP 0.450
71 Jose Quintana Chicago White Sox SP 0.450
73 Kyle Kendrick Philadelphia Phillies SP 0.435
74 Clay Buchholz Boston Red Sox SP 0.421
74 Roberto Hernandez Philadelphia Phillies SP 0.421
74 Yovani Gallardo Milwaukee Brewers SP 0.421
77 Colby Lewis Texas Rangers SP 0.417
78 Francisco Liriano Pittsburgh Pirates SP 0.412
79 Brandon McCarthy Arizona Diamondbacks SP 0.400
79 Scott Feldman Houston Astros SP 0.400
79 Hector Noesi Texas Rangers RP 0.400
79 Wade Miley Arizona Diamondbacks SP 0.400
83 Tim Hudson San Francisco Giants SP 0.391
84 Ryan Vogelsong San Francisco Giants SP 0.381
84 Travis Wood Chicago Cubs SP 0.381
86 Jeff Samardzija Oakland Athletics SP 0.350
87 Jake Peavy Boston Red Sox SP 0.348
88 Eric Stults San Diego Padres SP 0.320
89 A.J. Burnett Philadelphia Phillies SP 0.308
90 Nathan Eovaldi Miami Marlins SP 0.300

Last but not least, quality starts do not factor in strikeouts, so here are all the qualifying pitchers from 2014, ranked in order by K%, for your viewing pleasure:

Rank Player Team Pos Value
1 Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers SP 32.2%
2 Chris Sale Chicago White Sox SP 30.4%
3 Corey Kluber Cleveland Indians SP 28.3%
4 Max Scherzer Detroit Tigers SP 27.7%
5 Stephen Strasburg Washington Nationals SP 27.3%
6 Felix Hernandez Seattle Mariners SP 27.2%
7 David Price Tampa Bay Rays SP 26.6%
8 Francisco Liriano Pittsburgh Pirates SP 25.3%
9 Zack Greinke Los Angeles Dodgers SP 25.3%
10 Johnny Cueto Cincinnati Reds SP 25.2%
11 Madison Bumgarner San Francisco Giants SP 24.7%
12 Jon Lester Boston Red Sox SP 24.6%
13 Alex Wood Atlanta Braves SP 24.5%
14 Ian Kennedy San Diego Padres SP 24.5%
15 Gio Gonzalez Washington Nationals SP 24.3%
16 Jake Odorizzi Tampa Bay Rays SP 24.2%
17 Garrett Richards Los Angeles Angels SP 24.2%
18 Tyson Ross San Diego Padres SP 24.0%
19 Cole Hamels Philadelphia Phillies SP 23.9%
20 Zack Wheeler New York Mets SP 23.5%
21 Drew Hutchison Toronto Blue Jays SP 23.4%
22 Jeff Samardzija Oakland Athletics SP 23.0%
23 Jordan Zimmermann Washington Nationals SP 22.7%
24 Jason Hammel Chicago Cubs SP 22.1%
25 Ervin Santana Atlanta Braves SP 21.9%
26 Alex Cobb Tampa Bay Rays SP 21.9%
27 Phil Hughes Minnesota Twins SP 21.8%
28 Hisashi Iwakuma Seattle Mariners SP 21.7%
29 Jose Quintana Chicago White Sox SP 21.4%
30 Wade Miley Arizona Diamondbacks SP 21.1%
31 Scott Kazmir Oakland Athletics SP 21.1%
32 Chris Archer Tampa Bay Rays SP 21.1%
33 Julio Teheran Atlanta Braves SP 21.0%
34 Lance Lynn St. Louis Cardinals SP 21.0%
35 Brandon McCarthy Arizona Diamondbacks SP 20.9%
36 Roenis Elias Seattle Mariners SP 20.6%
37 Sonny Gray Oakland Athletics SP 20.4%
38 A.J. Burnett Philadelphia Phillies SP 20.3%
39 Bud Norris Baltimore Orioles SP 20.2%
40 Adam Wainwright St. Louis Cardinals SP 19.8%
40 C.J. Wilson Los Angeles Angels SP 19.8%
42 John Lackey Boston Red Sox SP 19.8%
43 Yordano Ventura Kansas City Royals SP 19.5%
44 Jered Weaver Los Angeles Angels SP 19.2%
45 Tom Koehler Miami Marlins SP 19.1%
46 Ryan Vogelsong San Francisco Giants SP 19.0%
47 James Shields Kansas City Royals SP 18.9%
48 R.A. Dickey Toronto Blue Jays SP 18.9%
49 Dan Haren Los Angeles Dodgers SP 18.7%
49 Travis Wood Chicago Cubs SP 18.7%
51 Matt Garza Milwaukee Brewers SP 18.5%
52 Aaron Harang Cleveland Indians SP 18.4%
52 Wily Peralta Milwaukee Brewers SP 18.4%
54 Mike Leake Cincinnati Reds SP 18.2%
55 Jorge De La Rosa Colorado Rockies SP 18.1%
56 Dallas Keuchel Houston Astros SP 18.1%
57 Jake Peavy Boston Red Sox SP 17.9%
58 Clay Buchholz Boston Red Sox SP 17.9%
59 Yovani Gallardo Milwaukee Brewers SP 17.9%
60 Bartolo Colon New York Mets SP 17.8%
61 Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers SP 17.8%
62 Hiroki Kuroda New York Yankees SP 17.8%
63 Wei-Yin Chen Baltimore Orioles SP 17.6%
64 Jon Niese New York Mets SP 17.6%
65 Colby Lewis Texas Rangers SP 17.4%
66 Chris Tillman Baltimore Orioles SP 17.4%
67 Tanner Roark Washington Nationals SP 17.4%
68 Kyle Lohse Milwaukee Brewers SP 17.3%
69 Edinson Volquez Pittsburgh Pirates SP 17.2%
70 Hector Noesi Texas Rangers RP 16.8%
71 Shelby Miller St. Louis Cardinals SP 16.6%
71 Nathan Eovaldi Miami Marlins SP 16.6%
73 Miguel Gonzalez Baltimore Orioles SP 16.5%
74 Jason Vargas Kansas City Royals SP 16.3%
75 Josh Collmenter Arizona Diamondbacks SP 16.0%
76 Chris Young Washington Nationals SP 15.7%
77 Tim Hudson San Francisco Giants SP 15.5%
78 Alfredo Simon Cincinnati Reds SP 15.5%
79 Rick Porcello Detroit Tigers SP 15.4%
80 John Danks Chicago White Sox SP 15.1%
81 Jarred Cosart Houston Astros SP 15.0%
82 Doug Fister Washington Nationals SP 14.7%
83 Eric Stults San Diego Padres SP 14.5%
84 Roberto Hernandez Philadelphia Phillies SP 14.5%
85 Henderson Alvarez Miami Marlins SP 14.4%
86 Kyle Gibson Minnesota Twins SP 14.1%
87 Jeremy Guthrie Kansas City Royals SP 14.1%
88 Kyle Kendrick Philadelphia Phillies SP 14.0%
88 Scott Feldman Houston Astros SP 14.0%
90 Mark Buehrle Toronto Blue Jays SP 13.9%

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