RADIO
Matthew Vazin analyzes 3 rookie starting pitching sleepers who are impact MLB prospects for fantasy baseball. These SPs are waiver wire pickups if still available.
As fantasy baseball owners, we are always looking for the next big player to help improve our teams. Every year there are starting pitching rookies and prospects who can make an impact for fantasy baseball. Below I will be discussing three pitching sleepers who may still be available on your league's waiver wire, depending on the league format, including NL-Only and AL-Only leagues. These players are probably already owned in most keeper and dynasty formats, but based on their current ownership numbers these pitchers are still flying under the radar in many fantasy leagues.
Marcus Stroman, TOR (21% Owned)
Marcus Stroman is making sure the Jays do not regret moving him into the starting rotation. Since joining the team's starting pitching staff, Stroman has gone 12 innings (over 2 starts), giving up just 2 earned runs and striking out an impressive 13 batters. The offense has rewarded him with run production, as he won both of those starts.
Since the Blue Jays have been red-hot and producing many runs consistently, Stroman would be a great addition off the waiver wire to any fantasy baseball team. The opportunities for wins will be there as long as he continues to pitch well. Stroman has had both starts be at home, and will have his third start against the Twins. He likely won’t hold a 1.50 ERA as a starter throughout the season, but if he continues to pitch like this, expect Stroman to not only stay in the rotation, but to also be in line for many wins. Currently he is only 21% owned in Yahoo leagues.
Andrew Heaney, MIA (10% Owned)
It is only a matter of time until Andrew Heaney gets called up from Triple-A and joins the Marlins’ rotation. In 4 starts in Triple-A, the top MLB pitching prospect is 3-0 with an impressive 2.74 ERA. The stat that stands out is his amount of strikeouts. He has posted a 10.57 K/9, which is fantastic.
If fantasy owners have room on their rosters where they can temporarily stash Heaney off the waiver wire, it would be worth the risk. He is a strikeout pitcher, and if he can even come close to posting the numbers he has in the minors while in the majors, fantasy owners will be happy. In 199 total minor league innings, Heaney has struck out 198 batters, which shows the consistency he is capable of. Currently he is only 10% owned in Yahoo leagues.
Chase Whitley, NYY (5% Owned)
Masahiro Tanaka has deservedly received all of the attention from Yankees fans this season, but Chase Whitley is quietly putting together a string of good starts himself. In 5 starts where Whitley has filled-in for the hurt Yankees pitchers, he has not allowed more than 3 earned runs. He goes into Thursday’s start versus the Mariners with a 1-0 record and a 2.42 ERA. The strikeouts have been rare for Whitley thus far, but he has begun to go deeper into games, as he is coming off a recent start versus Kansas City where he went 7 innings.
Including Thursday’s start at Seattle, Whitley has been on the road for all but one start, which makes his 2.42 season ERA even more surprising and impressive. Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia will not be back in the rotation anytime soon, so Whitley will have even more time to make his case for a permanent rotation spot. If the Yankees can get their offense going again, look for Whitley’s win total to increase, making him a viable addition in all formats. Currently he is only 5% owned in Yahoo leagues.
