RADIO
In order to stay relevant and competitive in MLB baseball, a team must have a constant flow of rising young pitching. Without this key element a team might as well yell over their PA system to their fans, "Expect fireworks before, during and after tonight's game. Direct your eyes upwards at all costs."
The following pitchers are young, talented, and suited to take that next step for their team and your fantasy team for 2015. It may not be a smooth ride out of the gate for all of them, but I believe they can have true breakout seasons by the time it's all said and done with.
Drew Smyly, Tampa Rays
After starting 36 games in 3 seasons with Detroit, Smyly was shipped to Tampa Bay in the David Price deal last July. He then started 7 games for Tampa Bay and had strong showing as a real contributor. By the end of 2014 he flashed a 3.24 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP and a decent 3:1 K/BB ratio.
Smyly posts a career 8.44 K/9 ratio and should be taken seriously as a true threat to dominate games. Smyly's ratio dipped slightly last year to 7.82 between two teams. However, owners need not worry coming into 2015.
What should worry owners about Smyly is the nagging shoulder tendinitis that has been plaguing him this spring. It will force him to miss a few turns in the rotation. It could also force him to miss a big chunk of April.
Tampa Bay is highly invested in Smyly and are hoping that he will round out a staff of strong arms in the Rays' arsenal. However with all of the injuries that have hounded their staff, the healthy return of Smyly will prove vital to the Rays success. Smyly could provide a big payoff for fantasy owners if the shoulder holds up.
Drew Hutchison, Toronto Jays
This true power pitcher has all the makings of a future ace in Toronto. With a K/9 rate approaching 9, the writing is on the wall for a breakout season for Drew Hutchison.
Hutchison flashed his brilliance during the 2014 season. He kept hitters to a .245 BAA starting 32 games last year. His GB/FB rate of .59 is concerning in a park such as Rogers Centre and is something to monitor.
With the loss of Marcus Stroman to an ACL injury, Hutchison must lead a group of young pitchers towards prosperity. Aaron Sanchez and Daniel Norris will be called on to keep the Jays competitive in 2015.
Make no mistake it will be Hutchison that will be asked to do most of the heavy lifting in Stroman's absence.
In just his second full season with the Jays, Hutchison should offer an ERA below 4 with K totals near 200. In a hitters division and great hitters park, Hutchison can be the pitching stalwart that he needs to be and should become a solid contributor for your team.
Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs
One word has described Kyle Hendricks at every level he has pitched: Brilliant.
Hendricks has dazzled opponents using five effective pitches. The ability to use all of these pitches, (sinker, cutter,curve,change and four-seam fastball), in any and all situations keeps hitters guessing constantly.
After four full seasons in the minors, Hendricks had an extended audition with the Cubs in 2014. He started 13 games and continued his dominance into Chicago posting a 2.46 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. If his K/BB ratio continues to trend upward, then Hendricks is bound to become an asset for the rotation for years to come.
The Cubs added John Lester to go along with Jake Arrieta and the returning Jason Hammel to bolster the staff this offseason. Hendricks has been penciled in as the team's fourth starter and should provide excellent production this year for the Cubs and for your fantasy team.
Danny Salazar, Cleveland Indians
At 25 years old, Salazar has plenty of time to refine his abilities. His recent demotion to Triple-A Columbus will hurt his immediate value though, but more reps will ultimately help Salazar's woes and make him a better pitcher long term. If you can stash him with an open N/A spot in your lineup, feel free to use it on Salazar.
When called up in August of 2013, Danny Salazar was making any typical Major League debut for the Cleveland Indians. Having a 5:1 K/BB ratio and giving real hope for the future was anything but ordinary.
He was then regarded as a front-line starter that could be a big piece of the puzzle for Cleveland to battle for an AL Central crown and more. And then the descent from the top came crashing down. Salazar gave up 117 hits in 110 IP including a staggering 20 HR during that span. He also got demoted to Triple-A and was not in serious consideration for the Indians for the rest of 2014.
The key for Salazar will be to slow himself down and make effective pitches on a more consistent basis. Salazar's BABIP numbers hit an alarming .343 rating last season. The strikeout totals took a small dip but the most encouraging statistic for Salazar was his 2.86 BB/9 rating. It means he is still not walking a ton of batters and should continue to improve upon that.
The Indians really need him to bounce back in a big way if they have any hope of competing in the wide open AL Central division. If Salazar can shore up some flaws in his game down in Triple-A, he could poised to build on his success and leave 2014 in his rear view mirror.
Perhaps Cleveland fans won't have to sing "Burn On" for another year waiting for the real Salazar to show up.
