Getting an edge on starting pitching is very important for fantasy baseball owners. Because there are so many starting pitchers available for owners, it is advised that owners stash a few top tier pitchers and stream pitchers with favorable matchups for the backend of their rotation. Starting pitching prospects can give the wary fantasy owner a huge edge over all other teams because they grab pitchers other owners may not think to add. This year figures to be unusually great for pitching prospects coming up to the majors with many pitching prospects having ace potential. Big names like Tyler Glasnow and Lucas Giolito could have immense value for fantasy owners if they are wise enough to draft them late or snag them off the waiver wire before other teams can grab them.

These starting pitchers are going to have fantasy value in 2016. The level that you see in the parenthesis is the highest level they reached in 2015 and the stats will show the stats from that level (the only exception to that rule will be if the pitcher threw fewer than 20 IP at that highest level). The player description will also have a projected ETA describing when that player is likely to be promoted to the majors. There will also be a conclusion at the very end of the description that describes how to acquire the player (draft round, waiver wire, etc).

Don't forget to read all of our 2016 fantasy baseball rankings columns. There's lots of great rankings analysis including redraft, dynasty/keeper, prospects and positional tiers.

 

Top 10 Starting Pitcher Prospects for Dynasty Leagues

1. Tyler Glasnow (PIT, AAA)

Stats: 41.0 IP, 2.20 ERA, 2.82 FIP, 10.54 K/9, 4.83 BB/9, 0.22 HR/9
ETA: Early April
The Pirates are so loaded in terms of pitching depth. According to the Fangraphs’ Pirates depth chart, Tyler Glasnow is currently the sixth starter behind the likes of Jon Niese, Jeff Locke, and Ryan Vogelsong. The Pirates will try to salvage Ryan Vogelsong after what has been a very unsuccessful past three years, but for a competing team in a tough division, don’t expect them to stick with him for too long if he doesn’t pan out. They will give Glasnow some time in Triple-A to start the season, but expect to see him in the rotation before too long. Glasnow is a future ace and a rookie of the year candidate in 2016 and is worth stashing even if he is not given a roster spot straight out of the gate.

 

2. Lucas Giolito (WAS, AA)

Stats: 47.1 IP, 3.80 ERA, 3.18 FIP, 8.56 K/9, 3.23 BB/9, 0.38 HR/9
ETA: Early May
Lucas Giolito could turn out to be a better pitcher than Tyler Glasnow, but his situation is less than favorable for fantasy owners to start off 2016. The Nationals have a lot of young pitching depth with arms like Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Gio Gonzalez all locks for 2016 rotation spots and Tanner Roark, Joe Ross, and AJ Cole all competing for the fourth and fifth spots. Giolito has been invited to Spring Training, but since he only reached Double-A last season don’t expect him to break camp with the team. With the Nationals competing with the pitching-loaded Mets, the Nats will have short leashes on the fourth and fifth starters. Giolito does have a good chance to see time this season, but whether it be in May or September is currently not under his control. But his fantasy potential allows him to be high on the list in spite of his high risk.

 

3. Steven Matz (NYM, MLB)

Stats: 35.2 IP, 2.27 ERA, 3.61 FIP, 8.58 K/9, 2.52 BB/9, 1.01 HR/9
ETA: Opening Day roster
The only sure thing on this list, Steven Matz will enter the season as the Mets’ fourth starter barring any injury. The term ‘fourth starter’ sounds alarming until you consider who is ahead of him and that would be three potential Cy Young contenders. Matz proved last season that he is more than ready to face Major League hitters as he dominated all the way through the postseason. You can expect big things out of Matz next season and fantasy owners should consider taking him late in their fantasy drafts this season. He is too talented to pass up at this point.

 

4. Blake Snell (TB, AAA)

Stats: 44.1 IP, 1.83 ERA, 2.12 FIP, 11.57 K/9, 2.64 BB/9, 0.41 HR/9
ETA: Mid-April
Blake Snell does not have a guaranteed spot with the Rays, but with his name being added to the Rays’ 40-man roster, he will officially be given a chance to compete for a spot in Spring Training. Snell exploded onto the scene last season, a season which saw him begin in High-A and finish in Triple-A (not to mention he dominated at every level). He has one great pitch and three other above-average pitches that should help him to mix it up enough to keep most hitters off balance. He struggled with control early in his career, but has at least for the moment silenced most of the debate after he posted a 2.64 BB/9 in his 44.1 IP in Triple-A. He may not be worth stashing just yet, but if it looks like the Rays will promote him, immediately add him to your roster as he has the potential to be a future top of the rotation arm.

 

5. Jose Berrios (MIN, AAA)

Stats: 75.2 IP, 2.62 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 9.87 K/9, 1.67 BB/9, 0.67 HR/9
ETA: Early/Mid-April
Jose Berrios is not very high on his team’s starting pitching depth chart, but there is not a lot of stiff competition in front of him. Phil Hughes, Ervin Santana, and Kyle Gibson are virtual locks for the rotation next season, but then it is Berrios, Tommy Milone, Ricky Nolasco, and Tyler Duffey battling for the last two spots. Jose Berrios has top of the rotation talent and proved at Triple-A last season that he doesn’t need much more conditioning. This may be a bit bold, but I would not be surprised if he broke camp on the Twins’ Opening Day rotation. What most likely will happen is that he will start off the year at Triple-A and be called up later in April to preserve some eligibility years for him. He is currently too talented to be kept in the minors for much longer though and fantasy owners are encouraged to stash him early.

 

6. Jon Gray (COL, MLB)

Stats: 40.2 IP, 5.53 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 8.85 K/9, 3.10 BB/9, 0.89 HR/9
ETA: Opening Day
There is a legitimate chance that Jon Gray will start Opening Day for the Rockies. Rockies’ fans are clamoring over the idea that he could finally be the ace that has yet to be found at Coors Field. Gray’s 5.53 ERA was very concerning, but there were some major positives to be taken away from his season: he thoroughly dominated on the road (2.70 ERA, 2.63 FIP); he proved that he can strikeout Major League hitters (8.85 K/9); and he had a very high ground ball to fly ball ratio at home (1.90) which shows that he can improve in Coors Field. Fantasy owners may not want to take a risk on him as a full time rotation spot owner, but he is ownable and at the very least he would be a great guy to stream when he is pitching on the road. With his stuff and proven talent, he could be the first ever ace of the Colorado Rockies.

 

7. Robert Stephenson (CIN, AAA)

Stats: 55.2 IP, 4.04 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 8.25 K/9, 4.37 BB/9, 0.32 HR/9
ETA: Early May
Robert Stephenson will not be in the starting rotation right out of the gate, but the Reds still have a lot of young pitching that leaves a lot of room for Stephenson to force his way into the rotation. Stephenson has elite strikeout stuff with a fastball ranging in the upper 90s and touching the 100s at times with a complementary wipeout curve that has proven to be one of the best curveballs in the minors. Stephenson is not worth stashing, but if he is called up, teams in need of pitching help are advised to take a flyer on the young right-hander as he has the potential to rack up gaudy strikeout totals.

 

8. Archie Bradley (ARI, MLB)

Stats: 29.1 IP, 2.76 ERA, 4.81 FIP, 9.82 K/9, 3.07 BB/9, 1.53 HR/9
ETA: Mid-June
Archie Bradley would be higher up this list if it looked like he would be given an immediate rotation spot out of the gate, but what entered the offseason as a weak rotation now looks to be quite strong. With the newly acquired Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller joining Patrick Corbin, Rubby de la Rosa, Robbie Ray, and Chase Anderson, the Diamondbacks rotation looks more than filled out. He still has potential to produce if he is called up, but right now there is too much of a risk that it will take a while for him to be promoted that he is not stash worthy.

 

9. Brian Johnson (BOS, MLB)

Stats: (AAA stats) 96.0 IP, 2.53 ERA, 3.22 FIP, 8.44 K/9, 3.00 BB/9, 0.56 HR/9
ETA: Mid-June
Brian Johnson is another example of a guy who had a guaranteed spot with his team before the offseason began and now appears to be on the outside looking in. The acquisitions of David Price and Roenis Elias has put Johnson in a position where he will have to fight for a roster spot in Spring Training, but there may not be one for him unless the Red Sox decide to bump Elias from the rotation and put him and Joe Kelly into the bullpen. Johnson has a lot of potential to produce if given the chance, but right now he needs to be given more of a guarantee than he currently has for fantasy owners to consider stashing him.

 

10. AJ Cole (WAS, MLB)

Stats: 105.2 IP, 3.15 ERA, 3.90 FIP, 6.47 K/9, 2.90 BB/9, 0.77 HR/9
ETA: Opening Day
If you had any questions regarding the current status of the 2016 Nationals’ rotation, check out the Lucas Giolito paragraph in this article. Cole is more likely to break with the team than Giolito, but he does not have anywhere near the fantasy potential that Giolito possesses. Cole does not rack up insane strikeout totals, but he knows how to get outs. Fantasy owners in desperate need of starting pitching can turn to him, but don’t draft him and don’t stash him if he doesn’t have a guaranteed spot on the team.

 

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