FANTASY BASEBALL

5 MUST OWN SLEEPER PITCHERS

 

By Muntradamus

 

We are just about three weeks into the season, and a lot of fantasy teams have terrible pitching staffs.  Some people panic and just start picking up random starters.  Which in a way turns Fantasy Baseball, into a daily Betting game.  Which is very fun.  But when you are in the playoffs, you do not want to start Aaron Harang against the Giants to try to get a QS.  You want a stud who you know will be there for you in the end.

Today I am going to give you those 5 Studs that you should own now, who are still owned in less than 70% of CBS Leagues.
This will be a great article to refer back to throughout the season, and if you have any questions on who to drop.  Feel free to ask at the bottom.

 

SLEEPER PITCHERS to Grab off the Waiver Wire

 

#1. RICKY PORCELLO (Projection: 17 W. 120 K. 3.77 ERA)

 

Owned in 64% of Leagues.

Fantasy Baseball and Ricky Porcell go together like Peter Griffin and Homer Simpson hanging out at a bar.  Porcello has to show up, throw 5-6 quality Innings, and chances are he is leaving with the opportunity for a win, and his fantasy owners will be drunk with happiness.

Porcello is not a pitcher who will give you Ks, his career high was 104 last season in 182 INN.  In fact, you should not even expect a solid ERA from Ricky as his career high was in his rookie season when he threw it for 3.96.

So what makes Ricky Porcello so special?

 

What makes him special is his ability to win games.  In his first three seasons in the majors, Ricky has won 38 games.  That is almost 13 wins a season.  This year the Tigers are a better offensive team.  Prince Fielder is batting cleanup, Delmon Young, and Brennan Boesch are now there for a full season.  On top of that Ricky is dominating so far this season.  In two starts he has an ERA of 1.84 and 8 Ks in two starts.  So far he is 1-0, but I would not be surprised to see Porcello win 16+ Games this season.

 

 

 

 

#2. ERIK BEDARD (Projection: 155 K. 10 W. 3.21 ERA)

 

Owned in 62% of Leagues.

First of all, Bedard and his arm problems are not a concern anymore.  He is capable of going 8+ INN if he pitching out of his mind. BedardSanity.

Now that is out of the way, this is why you should own Erik Bedard:

1) His season totals so far: 10 Ks in 17 INN. 2.46 ERA in 3 Starts.

2) NL Interleague play Last Season: 24 Ks in 21 INN. 1.28 ERA in 3 Starts.

 

Now he did go (1-2) last season in those starts as he got terrible run support with Seattle.  Run support has also been an issue for Bedard this season with Pittsburgh as he is (0-3).  But the QS’s are too good to ignore, and he must be owned as he will give you amazing K totals along with a solid ERA.

 

 

 

#3 TREVOR BAUER (Projection: 14 W. 3.10 ERA. 120 K)

Owned in 42% of Leagues.

 

You look at that Diamondback pitching staff, and right away you notice Josh Collmenter is still in the majors.  The same Josh Collmenter who was not really that great last year, and after a lousy Spring is now currently sitting with an ERA at 10.22 as he has given up 14 runs in 3 starts.

So far in the Minors, Bauer is (3-0) with 20 Ks in 15.2 INN.  But most impressive is his 0.57 ERA.  

Once Bauer gets called up to play the weak NL West, he should be favored to win every start.  The Diamondbacks have the best offense in the division, when everyone is healthy.  They also are the reigning champs were they killed the division a year ago.  Bauer is due for an INN limit, but they will want his arm throughout the season to get him them in the playoffs.
Add Bauer now before he becomes must-add when he gets called up.

 

 

 

#4 JAKE WESTBROOK (PROJECTION: 15 W. 3.45 ERA. 102 K)

 

Owned in 31% of Leagues.

Westbrook is a great pitcher to own, simply because he pitches for the Cardinals.  This year the NL Central is very weak.  Pirates, Cubs, and Houston could be three of the worst NL hitting teams this season.  Then you look at the Reds and you think, “they are a nice darkhorse, but  definitely beatable any given night.”  The last team being the Brewers, Ryan Braun does not look the same with no steroids, and Aramis Ramirez is not a 1/4 of what Prince Fielder was at the cleanup spot.  The Cardinals should be able to not only win the NL Central, they should dominate.
So far this season, Westbrook owns an ERA of 0.64 with 2 wins in 2 starts.  As long as the Cardinals stay healthy, Westbrook will have a solid chance of winning any given start. 

Even if Carpenter comes back, which he has no timetable for.  It is more likely Lance Lynn moves back to the bullpen to give them a solid 8th INN guy.  Plus Adam Wainwright is not the healthiest of pitchers coming into the season.

 

 

 

#5 DANNY DUFFY (Projection: 12 W. 140 K. 3.89 ERA)

Owned in 48% of Leagues.

 

A lot of people are thinking, rookie hype on Duffy.  I would agree, but my opinion changed when he maned up to a start against Justin Verlander.  Duffy held a Tigers offense that was probably licking it’s chops coming into a game against a Royal 23 Year Old Pitcher.

Duffy held the Tigers offense to 3 ER in 6.2 INN, while K’ing 7.

In that start he K’d: Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Alex Avila x2, Brennan Boesch, Austin Jackson, Delmon Young. 

That is an impressive group of hitters to strikeout.  He also threw an 6 INN shutout against the A’s, but most impressive was his ability to get 8 Ks.

Duffy has a lot of upside, and the only concern is him being on an INN limit at such a young age.  One we do not even know about yet.