The Windup is a weekly in-depth look at pitching. We examine player news and trends that will have a heavy impact on your Fantasy team.

During the first weeks of the season, some pitchers have truly surprised us with their performances. Can these "overachievers" keep succeeding at a high level?

Joe Kennedy, Colorado: It's no surprise that he is pitching well enough to win, but who expected him to be 3-0 with a 3.49 ERA? Kennedy could sink to being an average pitcher once National League hitters become more familiar with him.

Carlos Silva, Minnesota: He has made a successful transition to being a starter and has pitched well in key spots. Silva has always had good stuff, and he should be a consistent winner for the rest of the year.

R.A. Dickey, Texas: He has been one of the most surprising starters on a staff that has pitched much better than expected. He has already been slammed for nine runs in a start, so Dickey could be in for more bad starts soon.

Ben Sheets, Milwaukee: He has always had good stuff, and now he is making fewer mistakes. Sheets is getting better offensive and defensive support from the scrappy, unknown Brewers, and he should continue to be a quality Fantasy starter.

Paul Wilson, Cincinnati: Wilson is still a smart pitcher who works hard to get every out and can battle his way to some victories. The Reds should start to slide soon, though, and Wilson might tumble along with them.

Ismael Valdez, San Diego: He snuck back into the rotation when Sterling Hitchcock went down, and he seems to be pitching better than he has in a long time. Valdez's best years are certainly past, but he can still be a reliable starter for the rest of the year.

Kenny Rogers, Texas: He's still crafty, and he's another surprising early season story out of Texas. Expect Rogers' ERA to jump up much from 3.96 as he gets engaged in some offensive battles, but he'll still win a good number of decisions.

Armando Benitez, Florida: He has been the most dominant closer in the majors, and he'll keep stacking up the saves. Benitez is pitching with less pressure in Florida, and it's still early in the season, so he should continue to pitch well for a while. Fantasy leagues don't use postseason results, so Benitez seems safe for at least a few more months.

Danny Graves, Cincinnati: Graves has been shaky at times, but he has converted on several opportunities as well. The Reds are sure to slow down, and so will Graves' save numbers, but he should still perform well enough to keep the job and remain a regular Fantasy starter.

Jose Mesa, Pittsburgh: He has yet to allow an earned run in eight appearances. Mesa has demonstrated good velocity and location, and even if he hits some rough spots in the months ahead, his final save numbers should still be more impressive than expected.

Braden Looper, New York Mets: He has just four saves, but Looper has not allowed an earned run in 10 appearances. He appears to be unfazed by the New York spotlight. Looper still might not be consistently reliable for the full year, but there's no apparent reason to give up on him yet.

Oliver Perez, Pittsburgh: He has won both of his decisions to the tune of a 1.74 ERA so far. Perez still has yet to work every fifth day and is still tinkering with his mechanics to improve even further. Expect a considerable amount of success from Perez for the rest of the year.