Later-Round NL Breakout Candidates, Sleepers

Nicho's fantasy baseball breakout candidates and sleepers to target in 2025. His top National League picks for the 2025 fantasy baseball season.

Believe it or not, fantasy baseball drafts are not over and will continue through Opening Day and into next week. The term "sleeper" is a big buzzword in the fantasy sports world because, in addition to nailing your first few picks, one must take risks on late-round players who have shown signs of upside or "flashes" of success but perhaps haven't been consistent throughout a full season to garner a top-20 pick.

In this piece, I will focus on National League sleepers and late-round fliers to help you bolster your roster for the upcoming fantasy baseball season. I'll discuss one hitter and a few pitchers, each with an average ADP of 240.0 or higher, according to  NFBC.

RotoBaller uses NFBC because it's the most active platform for fantasy baseball. This ADP gives us a more informed look at the market because there have been hundreds of drafts in these high-stakes leagues. We also have RotoBaller MLB Rankings available for you to cross-reference to help make informed decisions. Be sure to keep following @RotoBallerMLB and me @NichoRoessler on X for more league-winning offseason content. Best of luck in your upcoming drafts, RotoBallers. Enjoy the rush we all get from drafts!

• Fantasy baseball trade analyzer
• BvP matchups data (Batter vs. Pitcher)
• PvB matchups data (Pitcher vs. Batter)
• Who should I start? Fantasy baseball comparisons
• Daily MLB starting lineups
• Fantasy baseball closer depth charts
• Fantasy Baseball live scoreboard
• Fantasy baseball injury reports

Joey Ortiz, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Joey Ortiz, who will be moving to shortstop this season, had a solid rookie year in 2024. He slashed .239/.329/.398 with 11 home runs, 60 RBI, 58 runs, and 11 stolen bases in 142 games.

Ortiz provides a lot of value because he has a reasonable walk rate of 11 percent and plays solid defense (96th percentile in Range OAA), which should keep him in the lineup every day and provide consistent opportunities. For the 2025 season, ATC is projecting Ortiz to slash .248/.316/.392 with 12 home runs and a 2.0 WAR.

In addition, he keeps his strikeout rate respectable (20.2 percent) and ranks in the 76th percentile for bat speed and the 89th percentile for whiff percentage.

There is only ONE player in the Major Leagues right now that ranks in the 80th percentile or higher in walk rate, strikeout rate, sprint speed, and bat speed.

Joey Ortiz.#ThisIsMyCrewpic.twitter.com/O3dGpnhmnV

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) June 5, 2024

Although Ortiz does not provide anything flashy, he provides fantasy managers with a solid floor if they are looking for some late-round value at the infield position. With an entire season of plate appearances, he can hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases.

According to NFBC, his current ADP of 286.0 makes him a solid draft pick. Fantasy managers should consider taking a late flier on him in 2025 drafts.

Justin Verlander, SP, San Francisco Giants 

San Francisco Giants right-hander Justin Verlander is no secret to the fantasy baseball world. He is highly regarded as one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history, but according to NFBC, he currently has an ADP of 346.0 in 2025, and I am ready to buy the dip. 

During the 2024 season, Verlander struggled greatly, going 5-6 and only logging 90 ⅓ innings with a 5.48 ERA, a 4.78 FIP, and a 7.37 K/9. Those are poor numbers for a three-time Cy Young Award winner. However, the change of scenery with the Giants may bring him back to form. Certainly not at his prime, but he is good enough to provide tons of value for fantasy managers looking for a steal at the end of their drafts.

If we rewind to his 2022-2023 seasons with the New York Mets and the Houston Astros, he had a 2.40 ERA in 337 ⅓ innings. Not too bad for a 40-year-old pitcher, wouldn’t you say? 

Justin Verlander threw five innings of one-run baseball to continue his strong spring 💪pic.twitter.com/EEVUkySbQC

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) March 12, 2025

Sure, his strikeout numbers have been down over the past few seasons from his prime years with the Astros and the Detroit Tigers, but even last year, during his poor season, he ranked in the 92nd percentile in hard-hit percentage. In addition, he only walked batters at a 6.8 percent clip. Not allowing loud contact and handing out free passes are generally a recipe for success. 

The bottom line is that he is a proven veteran on a new team in one of the most pitcher-friendly ballparks in the MLB. I don’t expect him to be your team's top-three or four pitcher, but by season's end, he should give you a ton of value at his current ADP.

Grant Holmes, RP, Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves right-hander Grant Holmes had an impressive 24.8 percent strikeout rate in 2024. Last year at the MLB level, Holmes made 26 appearances, seven of them starts, and pitched 68 1/3 innings to the tune of a 3.56 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.

Reports throughout Spring Training have been that Holmes and Ian Anderson were the favorites to start in place of Spencer Strider (elbow). On Sunday, Anderson was traded to the Los Angeles Angels, leaving Holmes the opportunity to be the No. 5 starter in the rotation.

However, Holmes may get moved to the bullpen once Strider comes back. Regardless, the Braves are unlikely to rush Strider back into action, and even if Holmes gets moved to the bullpen, he can help your team rack up holds in leagues that have scoring in that category. In the meantime, he provides plenty of value as a potential starter early in the year.

In addition, if any Braves starting pitchers get injured, Holmes looks to be a safe bet as the fill-in spot in the rotation. Although his 3.56 ERA was solid, his 3.37 SIERA suggests room for improvement should things go his way. His 2024 MLB percentile rankings are rock solid, as you can see below. 

According to NFBC, his current ADP of 304.0 makes him a solid late-round target, given his strikeout upside and the Braves' potent offense backing him up. Fantasy managers should add Holmes to their target list and not hesitate to draft him around his current ADP. 

Bubba Chandler, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler has the potential to be part of the Pirates' starting rotation following a rock-solid 2024 minor league season. Last year, he had a 3.08 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and 148 strikeouts in 26 appearances (23 starts) across Double-A and Triple-A.

The Pirates drafted Chandler in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft. He quickly moved through the minors and has succeeded at every level. Chandler has an elite fastball that averaged 96.7 mph and touched 99 mph in 2024, according to Synergy. Chandler also offers an 86-87 mph slider, a changeup in the upper 80s, and occasionally throws a curveball in the low 80s to go along with the electric fastball.

Bubba Chandler, MLB's No. 15 overall prospect, struck out a batter and touched 99.1 mph in one frame of work in his first Spring Training action this year.@Pirates | @YoungBucsPIT pic.twitter.com/6njjwLq7O0

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 23, 2025

Perhaps all of the hype is because of the success we have seen with other young Pirates pitchers, like Paul Skenes and Jared Jones, both of whom Chandler has worked out with over the past year. But when you combine Chandler's performance in the minors with the Pirates rotation being fairly open after Skenes, Jones, and Mitch Keller, it seems like a matter of when, not if, Chandler joins the rotation in 2025.

According to NFBC, Chandler's ADP is 299.0, so most high-stakes drafts feel the same way. I am willing to take the late-round pick and find out, and you should, too.

More Fantasy Baseball Advice