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. However, an ERA of 2.58 in the second half showed the kind of potential he has. Pitching in his age-23 season, Rodriguez improved on most stats as the year went on.
A 156 OPS+ in the first half was followed by a 62 OPS+ in the second half. The Houston native gave up 13 homers before slashing that to three, all while facing almost 100 more batters in half number two. Rodriguez gave up 16 earned runs in his last 59 2/3 innings pitched, a far cry from the 37 earned runs he gave up in his first 45 1/3 innings.
He will probably pitch somewhere in the middle of those two extremes in 2024. His July may be a good projection for Rodriguez. He posted a 3.18 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 17 innings and a 1.11 WHIP. Though he had 129 strikeouts in 122 innings, the young righty was more effective when not striking batters out. If he can keep his K% near the 25% he finished the year with, and tamper the hard-hit balls like he did as the season progressed, there's no reason he can't finish as a top 25 starting pitcher.
More Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers
Hao-Yu Lee - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlook and Analysis (Week 8)
PROSPECT: Hao-Yu Lee, 2B, Detroit Tigers CURRENT LEVEL: Double-A 2024 STATS: 28 G, .273/.357/.436, Three HR, 18 RBI, 18 R, Four SB, 11.1% BB%, 20.6% K%, .329 BABIP, .366 wOBA, 128 wRC+ ANALYSIS: Lee is a former international signing from Taiwan who was acquired from the Phillies at last summer's trade deadline. He was swapped for Michael... Read More
Trenton Denholm - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlook and Analysis (Week 8)
PROSPECT: Trenton Denholm, SP, Cleveland Guardians CURRENT LEVEL: High-A 2024 STATS: Six G, Six GS, 3-0, 32.1 IP, 2.51 ERA, 2.60 xFIP, 10.02 K/9, 0.84 BB/9, 1.67 HR/9, 47.1% GB%, .217 BABIP ANALYSIS: Denholm was the Guardians' 14th-round pick in 2021. At 24, he's on the older side for High-A prospects, but there's still plenty... Read More
A.J. Puk - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 8)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ team leagues ROSTERED IN: 10% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Due to a rash of injuries to the Marlins rotation, left-hander A.J. Puk was able to snatch a rotation spot out of spring training, the first time in his big league career in which he would work as a starter. Needless to say, it... Read More
Connor Wong - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 8)
BALLER MOVE: Add in two-catcher leagues ROSTERED IN: 31% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong has enjoyed a torrid start to his 2024 season but fantasy managers may want to pump the brakes on his surface production to this point. The 27-year-old (28 in four days) is hitting a hefty .340 with five... Read More
Matt Manning - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 8)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 7% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Matt Manning became the casualty of a numbers game in the Tigers rotation out of spring training as the club added veterans Kenta Maeda and Jack Flaherty as rotation locks in the offseason alongside incumbents Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize. The final spot... Read More
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!