Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers - Starting Pitcher (SP)

Christian Scott - 2024 Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlook and Analysis

PROSPECT: Christian Scott, SP, New York Mets ROTOBALLER'S LATEST PROSPECT RANKING: #9 CALL-UP ETA: May ANALYSIS: Christian Scott is the Mets' top pitching prospect and is coming off a season in which he posted an ERA under 2.50 with 104 strikeouts in 85 2/3 IP across High-A and Double-A. Us every time Christian Scott pitches... Read More

Jared Jones - Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Formats ROSTERED IN: 70% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jared Jones won a rotation job out of spring training and has been very good to fantasy baseball managers who scooped him up early off the waiver wire. The 22-year-old's 4.00 ERA in three starts is solid but his 2.24... Read More

Spencer Turnbull - Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 49% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Spencer Turnbull was non-tendered after a tumultuous 2023 season with the Tigers but has provided excellent early returns for the Phillies on a one-year pact. Through three starts, Turnbull sports a 1.88 ERA and a 26.2% K% in 15 innings of... Read More

Jack Leiter- Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 20% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Texas Rangers have promoted pitching prospect Jack Leiter from Triple-A Round Rock and will make his big-league debut on Thursday against the Detroit Tigers. It's unclear how long Leiter's first tour of duty in the leagues will last as the Rangers... Read More

Forrest Whitley - Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Leave on the wire ROSTERED IN: 0% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Forrest Whitley has finally received his long-awaited call to the big leagues, being summoned from Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday. The 17th overall pick of the 2016 MLB Draft was once the top pitching prospect in baseball but now, at 26, is looking to regain... Read More

Ben Brown- Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15-Team Leagues/ NL-Only ROSTERED IN: 5% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Chicago Cubs pitcher Ben Brown is worth adding in 15-team leagues and NL-only formats. The former Ward Melville Patriot has a 6.10 ERA and 1.45 WHIP across 10 1/3 innings. However, his ratios are heavily inflated by his major league debut, in which... Read More

Seth Lugo - Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Leagues ROSTERED IN: 32% of Leagues ANALYSIS: After being used as a reliever for most of his career, the San Diego Padres made Seth Lugo a starter in 2023. He rewarded them by going 8-7 with a 3.57 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 140 strikeouts over 146 1/3 IP. He's ridden that... Read More

Cody Bradford - Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ team leagues ROSTERED IN: 66% of leagues ANALYSIS: With his continued success to start the season and manager Bruce Bochy officially announcing that he will stay in the rotation, fantasy managers are left wondering what Cody Bradford's value will be moving forward. With a 1.40 ERA, 0.62 WHIP, 17 strikeouts in... Read More

Spencer Arrighetti- Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in AL-only Leagues ROSTERED IN: 13% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Houston Astros prospect Spencer Arrighetti made his major league debut on Wednesday against the red-hot Kansas City Royals.  The No. 3 prospect in the Houston pipeline struggled as he threw only three innings and surrendered seven earned runs, seven hits, and three walks.... Read More

Cade Povich - 2024 Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlook and Analysis

PROSPECT: Cade Povich, SP, Baltimore Orioles CURRENT LEVEL: Triple-A 2024 STATS: 2 G, 2 GS, 1-0, 11.0 IP, 0.82 ERA, 1.97 FIP, 11.45 K/9, 2.45 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9, 40.9 GB%, .136 BABIP ANALYSIS: The Orioles' Triple-A team can shut you down with their bats and their pitching thanks to their organizational embarrassment of riches. Cade Povich was no... Read More

Jared Jones - Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ team leagues ROSTERED IN: 61% of leagues ANALYSIS: Jared Jones was a surprise late add to the Pirates’ Opening Day roster. Their move quickly paid off. In his first start on March 30, Jones went 5.2 innings and racked up 10 strikeouts. The rookie was tagged for three earned runs... Read More

A.J. Smith-Shawver - 2024 Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlook and Analysis

PROSPECT: A.J. Smith-Shawver, SP, Atlanta Braves ERIC CROSS' LATEST PROSPECT RANKING: #16 CALL-UP ETA: May ANALYSIS: With Spencer Strider unfortunately hitting the IL for an extended period, A.J. Smith-Shawver's ETA has been pushed up a bit. It's looking like Bryce Elder will get the first crack at replacing Strider, but he was largely ineffective last season after his... Read More

Paul Skenes - 2024 Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlook and Analysis

PROSPECT: Paul Skenes, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates ERIC CROSS' LATEST PROSPECT RANKING: #2 CALL-UP ETA: April ANALYSIS: Through his first two starts of the season for Triple-A Indianapolis, nobody has been able to really touch Paul Skenes. In six innings, Skenes has allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out 11 of the 20... Read More

Drew Smyly- Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in NL-Only Leagues ROSTERED IN: 1% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Chicago Cubs will be without their ace, Justin Steele, through the entire month of April with a strained hamstring. As a result, the Cubs will need to look to their bullpen or their system to find a replacement. Drew Smyly, who began... Read More

Paul Skenes - 2024 Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlook and Analysis

PROSPECT: Paul Skenes, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates ERIC CROSS' PROSPECT RANKING: #3 CALL-UP ETA: May ANALYSIS: Our #1 pitching prospect to stash in 2024 redraft leagues is 2023 #1 overall pick, Paul Skenes. When we entered spring training, we didn't think Skenes was going to be up until the second half of the season. Well, that... Read More

Logan Allen - Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Adds for Week 2

BALLER MOVE:  Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 22% of leagues ANALYSIS: Cleveland has a well-deserved reputation for developing starting pitchers, and Allen could be the next in line. Allen pitched on Friday night against the Oakland Athletics and did fine: five innings, six hits, three earned runs, and three strikeouts. He did surrender... Read More

MacKenzie Gore - Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Adds for Week 2

BALLER MOVE:  Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 42% of leagues ANALYSIS: It feels like we have been waiting for Gore to grow into an opportunity at the MLB level, and with health, he's an interesting addition to your staff. Gore makes his first start on Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates and then gets the... Read More

Frankie Montas - Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Adds for Week 2

BALLER MOVE:  Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 32% of leagues ANALYSIS: Montas was a kind of under-the-radar signing for Cincinnati this offseason, and he got the Opening Day start for an up-and-coming Reds squad. Montas went six scoreless innings and posted four strikeouts against zero walks. He draws the slugging Philadelphia Phillies in his... Read More

Garrett Whitlock - Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Adds for Week 2

BALLER MOVE:  Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 26% of leagues ANALYSIS: Whitlock oozes potential but role uncertainty has impacted his rostership over the last few years. This year, he has a lock on a starting role in Boston. Whitlock gets the Seattle Mariners today, and then the Los Angeles Angels next weekend, which... Read More

Tyler Wells - Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Adds for Week 2

BALLER MOVE:  Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 45% of leagues ANALYSIS: Wells is often regarded as one of Baltimore's lesser starters, tucked behind the likes of Corbin Burnes and Kyle Bradish (when he returns). Yet Wells is a guy who could yield profit to knowing fantasy players. Wells won seven games last season and posted almost a... Read More

Garrett Crochet - Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Adds for Week 2

BALLER MOVE:  Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 41% of leagues ANALYSIS: Garrett Crochet drew the Opening Day nod for the White Sox and did not disappoint. Crochet surrendered one run over six strong innings with eight strikeouts and no walks. Crochet asked for and received an opportunity to move to the rotation, and he... Read More

Louie Varland (MIN, SP/RP) - Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Adds for Week 1

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 38% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Minnesota’s No. 5 spot is now Varland’s with Anthony DeSclafani’s injury. Disco never should’ve been ahead of him anyway. Louie Varland is ready to take the final spot in the #MNTwins starting rotation. 🔥⚾️ pic.twitter.com/8XKZVLUtxE — SKOR North - Minnesota Sports (@SKORNorth) March... Read More

Luis Severino (NYM, SP) - Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Adds for Week 1

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 43% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Severino only mustered 90 messy innings last year, posting a 6.65 ERA (6.14 FIP) and 1.65 WHIP with a career-worst 18.9% strikeout rate and 10.8% K-BB mark. The latter hadn’t been below 20% since 2016, for reference. Luis Severino, 98mph 🔥 pic.twitter.com/9ALBR58qV0 —... Read More

Gavin Stone (LAD, SP) - Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Adds for Week 1

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 43% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Due to injuries, Stone will open in the Dodgers’ valuable rotation after showing massive control improvements this spring. Gavin Stone is pleased with his spring performance.https://t.co/p9fmQ2OuDE pic.twitter.com/xIICS8ifFd — Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) March 26, 2024 His walk rate has sat around 10% since advancing... Read More

Chris Sale - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 127 CURRENT ADP: ~134 overall ANALYSIS: As with the last several seasons for Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale, 2023 was marred by injury. The lanky lefty missed more than two months with a shoulder issue, however, when he did pitch he showed he could still be very effective. His... Read More

Bailey Ober - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 142 CURRENT ADP: ~160 overall ANALYSIS: There's a lot to like about Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober, especially after a strong 2023 campaign. He finished with a 3.50 ERA, a 1.067 WHIP, 146 strikeouts, and 29 walks across 26 starts. Ober continues to pitch well when given opportunities... Read More

Kutter Crawford - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 271 CURRENT ADP: ~298 overall ANALYSIS: Kutter Crawford was a pleasant surprise in 2023, with a decent 4.04 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 1.11 WHIP, 25.5% strikeout rate, and 6.8% walk rate. His 284 ADP and previous numbers signal he can be a nice rotation cog, but there's a solid chance... Read More

Hunter Brown - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 136 CURRENT ADP: ~156 overall ANALYSIS: A surface-level analysis would suggest that Hunter Brown is a great sleeper for 2024. His 5.09 ERA masked a 3.52 xFIP across his 155⅔ IP, his 26.8 K% and 8.3 BB% were solid, and his .330 BABIP, 68.8% strand rate, and 21% HR/FB appear primed... Read More

Ricky Tiedemann - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Draft Values (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 372 CURRENT ADP: ~390 overall ANALYSIS: The hype surrounding the Blue Jays' top pitching prospect is building towards a fever pitch. The hard-throwing lefty also features a sharp, biting slider, and a plus changeup. His minor league numbers are pretty incredible; however, he's thrown only 78 and 44 innings... Read More

Bryce Miller - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 167 CURRENT ADP: ~181 overall ANALYSIS:  Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller is a sleeper that everyone should target in fantasy drafts this season. Miller, who is entering his second Major League Baseball season, has an ADP outside the top 180. His 2023 season might not have been the... Read More

Mason Miller - Fantasy Baseball Closer Draft Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 240 CURRENT ADP: ~286 overall ANALYSIS: Entering spring training, Mason Miller was a buzzy RP2 pick after it was reported that he was moving to the bullpen this season. We all just assumed that he would step right into the closer role, as Oakland's bullpen lacks many other exciting... Read More

Zach Eflin - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 65 CURRENT ADP: ~76 overall ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin had an outstanding first season with his new team in 2023. The 29-year-old went 16-8 with a 3.50 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 26.5% strikeout rate in 31 starts and 177 2/3 innings pitched. Eflin swapped his four-seam fastball... Read More

Anthony Volpe, Elly De La Cruz, Andrew Abbott: Fantasy Baseball Rankings Analysis (2024)

Although Opening Day kicks off the 2024 MLB season on Thursday, many fantasy baseball drafts still have yet to take place. Waiting until the last minute to draft gives fantasy managers the latest information and updates, so it's time to take a look at three intriguing draft targets. Anthony Volpe, Elly De La Cruz, and... Read More

Cedric Mullins, Bryson Stott, Bryce Miller: Fantasy Baseball Rankings Analysis (2024)

The bulk of the 2024 MLB season is set to get underway, but fantasy baseball drafts will take place up to the first pitch on Opening Day and beyond. There is still time to find and analyze which players are sleepers and which players have bust potential ahead of Thursday's action. Cedric Mullins, Bryson Stott,... Read More

Fantasy Baseball Sleepers Analysis - Christian Yelich, Carlos Rodon, CJ Abrams

The bulk of the 2024 MLB season is set to get underway, but fantasy baseball drafts will take place all the way up to the first pitch on Opening Day. There is still time to find and analyze which players are sleepers and which players have bust potential ahead of Thursday's action. Christian Yelich, Carlos... Read More

Yuki Matsui - Fantasy Baseball Closer Outlook (2024)

ANALYSIS: San Diego Padres reliever Yuki Matsui is a 28-year-old relief pitcher signed from Rakuten in the Japan Central League. The lefty has 236 career saves in the JPPL and is now in the rebuilt San Diego bullpen. Last season, Matsui had a career-high 39 saves with a tidy 1.57 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts in... Read More

Scott Barlow - Fantasy Baseball Closer Outlook (2024)

ANALYSIS:  The right-hander posted a 4.37 ERA, and 1.40 WHIP, with a 79/34 K/BB ratio and 13 saves last season. He had pitched extremely well during the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Kansas City Royals. His first couple of appearances were marred by Coors and the Dodgers, but his final 21 games yielded this... Read More

Shota Imanaga - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Draft Values (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 195 CURRENT ADP: ~205 overall ANALYSIS: With Yoshinobu Yamamoto the real headline free agent from Japan, there hasn't been much fanfare around Imanaga. After signing with the Cubs in January, he now seems to be garnering plenty of interest. If we take a look at his arsenal and his... Read More

Hunter Harvey - Fantasy Baseball Closer Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 285 CURRENT ADP: ~298 overall ANALYSIS: The Nationals will likely open 2024 with Kyle Finnegan as their closer, but Harvey remains the talent to side with. Remember Harvey’s 10-game window from June 21 to July 14: 9 ⅔ IP, 6 SV, 1 ER, 10:1 K:BB. But then he missed a... Read More

Robert Stephenson - Fantasy Baseball Closer Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 241 CURRENT ADP: ~256 overall ANALYSIS: The Rays traded for Stephenson to kick off June and promptly unlocked his next form. The 31-year-old started to show more life in June before becoming untouchable in July. His final 28 games saw 26 IP supply a 43:3 K:BB with four earned... Read More

Jason Adam - Fantasy Baseball Closer Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 271 CURRENT ADP: ~306 overall ANALYSIS:  Pete Fairbanks will open the year as Tampa's primary closer, but Adam should remain fantasy-relevant in leagues that count holds as a high-leverage, late-inning reliever Adam has proven to be a valuable commodity for the Tampa Bay Rays. The 32-year-old righty had four... Read More

Louie Varland - Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Draft Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 290 CURRENT ADP: ~335 overall ANALYSIS: The Minnesota Twins have one of the most robust rotations in all of baseball, and with Anthony DeSclafani (who was projected as their fifth starter) set to start the season on the shelf, we are about to see Varland crack the rotation out... Read More

Kenta Maeda - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 258 CURRENT ADP: ~275 overall ANALYSIS: The 2023 version of Maeda looked a lot more like what we had come to expect from him during his time in L.A. and his first season in Minnesota (2020). In his age 35 season, after coming off an entire missed season due... Read More

Aaron Civale - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 201 CURRENT ADP: ~243 overall ANALYSIS: Civale was dealt from Cleveland to Tampa Bay last year, finishing 2023 with 122 innings pitched across 23 starts. His 3.46 ERA was the best mark of his career since his rookie season and his xERA of 3.71 and FIP of 3.57 suggest... Read More

Tyler Wells - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 318 CURRENT ADP: ~413 overall ANALYSIS: Wells was slated to start the year in the bullpen for Baltimore, but injuries to Kyle Bradish and John Means have opened the door for him to be the fourth starter when the Orioles break camp for the regular season with Cole Irvin... Read More

Grayson Rodriguez - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 61 CURRENT ADP: ~73 overall ANALYSIS: Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez had an up-and-down year in 2023 but came into his own in the second half of the season. A 7.35 ERA in the first half of the season was a big blow to his overall numbers and fantasy prospects.... Read More

Bryan Woo - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 195 CURRENT ADP: ~203 overall ANALYSIS: Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo was drafted in 2021 and logged just 282 IP in the minors before being thrust into action last season. The former sixth-round pick pitched admirably despite the lack of seasoning, ending the season 4-5 with a 4.21 ERA (4.13 SIERA),... Read More

Griffin Canning - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 273 CURRENT ADP: ~317 overall ANALYSIS: Considering he was coming off an entire missed season due to arm surgery, 2023 was a pretty successful year for Canning, who is no longer a young prospect at the age of 27. Canning set a career-high in K%, whiffing nearly 26% of... Read More

Gavin Williams - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 164 CURRENT ADP: ~184 overall ANALYSIS: Williams made his debut for Cleveland last year after starting the season in Double-A and working his way up to the big leagues in a hurry. He doesn't quite have the velocity of a Bobby Miller, but he still brings it with authority with... Read More

Nick Lodolo - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 228 CURRENT ADP: ~242 overall ANALYSIS: Right down to the frame, mechanics, draft capital, and now injury-prone nature, Nick Lodolo can't help but come off as a Chris Sale clone. It feels like only a matter of time before Lodolo is producing near the level Sale did during the... Read More