Fast April starters aren’t created equal. For fantasy baseball owners, it’s an inexact science predicting who is on his way to a terrific season and who will slide to usual performance levels in May.

After pitching markedly better in 2007, Houston’s Wandy Rodriguez is off to a fast start this spring. In three outings, the 28-year-old left-hander has posted a 2.33 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 19 strikeouts in 19.1 innings. He’s settled in as the Astros’ third starter, and he’s teasing his fantasy owners with a possible breakout in 2008.

A breakout may depend on how Rodriguez performs away from Minute Maid Park. His home-road splits in 2007 were startling. In 15 home starts, Rodriguez was 6-3 with 2.94 ERA, .220 OBA and 1.11 WHIP. On the road, he was 3-10 with a 6.37 ERA, .287 OBA and 1.55 WHIP in 16 starts.

The southpaw is showing the same tendency in 2008. He’s allowed a single run in two home appearances, good for a 0.63 ERA while limiting hitters to a .157 average. In his only road outing, Rodriguez coughed up eight hits, two longballs and four runs at pitcher-friendly Petco Park on April 2. With a career 5.99 ERA away from home in three-plus big league seasons, Rodriguez has to find a way to succeed in less-familiar surroundings to take the next step.

An analysis of some of 2008's fast starters is featured in Friday's edition of “Thom’s Take,” a season-long source of fantasy and prospect news provided as part of STATS Fantasy Advantage. SFA offers 2008 player projections, latest player injury info, team depth charts and more, all for the reasonable price of $19.95 for the entire season. Find out more or sign up at stats.com.