When looking at pitchers to back or fade in MLB, it is important to look at how pitchers fit into a particular situation. If a pitcher has good variables surrounding him (defense, bullpen, offense, home park), then it is likely he will continue to have success. It is vital to identify these elements before the sportsbooks. If these circumstances can be tabbed early, valuable prices will be available when these pitchers to the rubber.

Buy

Scott Baker - Minnesota Twins: The 24-year-old Baker continues to show more and more improvement for the Twins.  The franchise gave him an audition last year with the parent club as Baker made nine starts featuring a 3.35 ERA.  Importantly, he's another Twins hurler that stays within the philosophy of not giving up the free pass.  Through 77 major-league innings, the young right-hander has allowed just 18 walks.  When backing a pitcher at the betting window, this is always a key attribute that you like to have on your side.  The fly-ball pitcher has given up just six home runs in his brief big-league career.  His stuff is also becoming sharper and sharper.  His fastball now reached the mid-90s, while also dealing a curve, slider and change-up.  His change-up is quickly becoming a plus pitch as the mentoring of Brad Radke has been essential in his development.  Baker has made four starts in 2006, and he controlled the Yankees back on April 14. He allowed just one run in seven frames, while using just 92 pitches in that terrific outing.  He'll look back on that start as a supreme confidence builder.  Baker's value has continued to be there, and with a solid bullpen behind him, he's a definite pitcher to buy.

Scott Olsen - Florida Marlins: Olsen fits perfectly into the face of the Baby Marlins at 22 years old.  He's another young gun to keep an eye on especially in terms of value.  The tall, lanky southpaw has impressed with strong strikeout numbers on his minor-league resume.  In every stop up the ladder, he averaged more  than a strikeout an inning.  In his brief stop with the Marlins in 2005, he garnered 21 punchouts in 20 1/3 innings.  He features a fastball that can click 95 mph on the gun, a deadly slider and developing change of pace.  Olsen has climbed the mound for three starts this season, showing a stellar 2.12 ERA.  His start in Philadelphia on April 21 was certainly one to like. He was visually impressive in that start, allowing just one run in Citizens Bank Park.  In general he'll hold more value and gain more victories pitching in his home park, which also suit his fly-ball ways. The best thing to like about Olsen is that each time he pitches is likely to yield a sweet price because of the Marlins struggles this season.

Aaron Cook - Colorado Rockies: Cook is looking to take a major step forward in 2006 as one scout stated he could be the first Rockies pitcher to reach the 20 victories in a season.  Yes, in a single season!  The 27-year-old Cook is a great story as he developed a blood-clotting problem in his lungs two years ago.  He had surgery to remove a rib, which has increased his blood flow.  Last year he made his way back to the major leagues during the middle of the year, and without his best stuff, he still continually mowed down the opposition.  Last season his power sinker roamed in the mid-80s, but this season the pitch has been consistently clocked around 92 mph.  The Rockies brass is still hoping his velocity will peak into the mid-90s.  That sinker is vital for his pitching in the thin air of Coors Field as opposing hitters have stated the pitch is like hitting a bowling ball.  Again, don't be concerned with his lack of strikeouts as his 3:1 GB:FB ratio easily makes up the difference.  In 13 starts last season, Cook pitched to a 3.67 ERA, while this season the number holds at 3.44.  The 3.44 ERA is even better than it looks.  He has toed the rubber five times this season with three of those in Coors Filed, while the other two in Philadelphia and Arizona.  The right-hander is going to improve as the season moves forward as will the Rockies in general. Even with the notable improvements from both Cook and the Rockies, I still expect Cook to have a reasonable price when he is on the hill, at least in the immediate future.

Sell

Jorge Sosa - Atlanta Braves: Sosa hit the mark in 2005 as he became yet another pitcher brought to life by pitching coach Leo Mazzone.  He finished the season with a superb 2.55 ERA, eventually making 20 starts.  The converted outfielder and relief pitcher was referred to as 'Houdini' by his teammates through the campaign in 2005.  He showed the knack to continually work his way out of trouble or escape any potential pitfalls, if  you will, with runners on base.  The dilemma with that type of luck is it's often just not in the cards the following year. In this case, there are two factors working against Sosa. Mazzone has jettisoned to the Baltimore Orioles and the Braves defense has regressed from a season ago.  This season Sosa simply hasn't been good.  He shows a 6.89 ERA in four starts as the right-hander has yet to pin down a quality start in the Atlanta rotation in 2006.  However, the bottom line here is that the Dominican native is a perfect example of a developing pitcher who'll miss the tutelage of ex-pitching coach Mazzone.  It cannot be stated enough how much Mazzone meant to this staff and especially young pitchers like Sosa. Remember Sosa dealt a 5.14 ERA with his former club, the Devil Rays, in three years on the mound.  His strikeout-to-walk ratio has never been a plus and with an 8/8 ratio this season, the struggles of 2006 look to continue.  With the Braves still a name team in the baseball world, the price will continue to be right in the 'fade' of Sosa. Go against Sosa until he shows you a sign that he’s back.

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