RADIO
What’s up RotoBallers. I’m here today to try and unearth some starting pitchers that you can get later in your drafts, and will also provide similar value to other outfielders who are being drafted earlier on average.
If you’re looking to make a splash on draft day, you should give RotoBaller’s ADP Draft Sleepers Tool a long, hard look. The tool allows you to compare a player’s expected production against his top comparables going later in the draft.
Frankly, it’s a great resource for identifying overvalued talents and hidden gems alike. To give you a glimpse into how it works, I’ve used the tool to scan through this year’s stock of starting pitchers. Ready to see what value picks the Draft Sleepers Tool unearthed? Let’s take a look:
Max Scherzer vs. Zack Greinke
| Name | ADP | Age | IP | W | K | ERA | WHIP | K/9 | FIP |
| Scherzer | 15.8 | 29 | 195 | 14 | 227 | 3.02 | 1.10 | 9.99 | 3.09 |
| Greinke | 41.8 | 30 | 192 | 13 | 180 | 3..02 | 1.11 | 8.47 | 3.33 |
There are two pitchers worth taking in the first two rounds. Their names are Clayton Kershaw and Felix Hernandez. Max Scherzer is an elite arm, one of the best in the game, but he doesn't make the cut. The types of hitters you'd be passing on in order to draft Scherzer are simply too valuable.
If you have your heart set on taking an ace, Greinke is the one to go with. Unlike Scherzer, he doesn't cost a top 40 pick. Furthermore, his 2015 projection is in near lockstep with Scherzer's with regard to everything save strikeouts, a much easier stat to chase later in the draft than power. Anthony Rizzo and Adam Jones are the two players being taken in front of Scherzer by current ADP. Troy Tulowitzki and Robinson Cano are the two being taken immediately behind him. Passing on one of these four to secure the rights to Scherzer is simply too much of a sacrifice.
Julio Teheran vs. Mike Fiers
| Name | ADP | Age | IP | W | K | ERA | WHIP | K/9 | FIP |
| Teheran | 69.6 | 23 | 182 | 10 | 157 | 3.80 | 1.23 | 7.77 | 4.10 |
| Fiers | 199.2 | 29 | 173 | 11 | 169 | 3.65 | 1.20 | 8.83 | 3.89 |
Julio Teheran is another prime example of why it rarely pays to pursue a pitcher early in the draft. Mike Fiers lacks the sleeper sheen that Teheran enjoys, but Teheran can't hold a candle to Fiers' strikeouts.
As long as his peripheral numbers remain average, Teheran won't be able to sustain the gaudy ERA he flashed last season. Rather than betting against regression in the seventh, take Fiers in the closing rounds of the draft. Your fantasy team will thank you.
Jeff Samardzija vs. Phil Hughes
| Name | ADP | Age | IP | W | K | ERA | WHIP | K/9 | FIP |
| Samardzija | 65.2 | 29 | 192 | 12 | 178 | 3.94 | 1.24 | 8.35 | 3.69 |
| Hughes | 139.8 | 28 | 192 | 12 | 160 | 3.91 | 1.20 | 7.49 | 3.89 |
Another pitcher, but the same story. The difference between Jeff Samardzija and Phil Hughes is 18 strikeouts and 8 rounds of the draft. Tend to your offense in the seventh with a player like Prince Fielder or Joey Votto. Hughes will still be there when you need him.
All RotoBaller readers can use the 2B/SS ADP Draft Sleepers Tool (also in the upper right corner of site). And to get full access to all other positions (SP, 1B, 3B, OF) you can just...
