X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Joe Boyle: Champ or Chump for Fantasy Baseball?

fantasy baseball prospects MLB prospects rookies call-ups

Is Joe Boyle a fantasy baseball sleeper, bust, or neither? Is he a flash in the pan or will he thrive? Rick Lucks' deep dive into Boyle's 2023 fantasy value.

We're down to the final week of the 2023 fantasy baseball season, and anything could happen. A great player could have a miserable week and cost you a fantasy title. An awful player could hit five homers and win you a title. Who knows?

Analyzing a player's track record is the best we can do right now, so we might as well take one last deep dive this season. Joe Boyle is a 24-year-old pitcher for Oakland slated to start against the Angels on September 29. He lacks prospect pedigree but put up outstanding strikeout totals throughout his MiLB career. That success has translated to MLB so far with a 0.00 ERA and 1.80 xERA over nine IP.

His xFIP is 5.02 and his SwStr% rates are middling at best, so Boyle is tough to project. Still, he might be worth rolling the dice on in fantasy. Let's talk about it.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Scouting Joe Boyle

Boyle was selected in the fifth and final round of the 2020 pandemic-shortened draft. He was known for big strikeout and walk numbers as an amateur, and the scouting report on him as a pro hasn't changed that much.

FanGraphs gives Boyle's heater a 60 with the potential for 70 in the future, his slider is a 50 with a chance to become 55, and his curve is a 60 already. However, his command is dreadful with a 20 that's only expected to improve to 30 in time. The result is a mildly interesting prospect that failed to crack the team's organizational rankings at the beginning of the season.

MLB.com's scouting report reads similarly. Boyle's fastball gets an 80, the highest possible score. His slider is a 55, while his curve is a 50. His control only earns a 40, sadly, leading to a ranking of 22nd in Oakland's system. There is also considerable reliever risk given Boyle's lack of command.

 

Joe Boyle: Strikeout Machine

If we rostered fantasy players based on scouting reports alone, Boyle probably wouldn't be on the radar. Fortunately, we don't, and Boyle put up some intriguing numbers on the farm that are worth a closer look.

Boyle first reached the High Minors as a member of the Reds organization, pitching 26 IP for Double-A (Chattanooga) in 2022. His 4.85 ERA and 5.92 xFIP weren't very good and his 21 BB% was way too high, but his 26.1 K% was something. Boyle's 11.2 SwStr% doesn't immediately jump off the page, but those strikeouts still count.

The Reds sent Boyle back to Chattanooga to begin the 2023 season, and his production improved slightly. Over 84 IP, Boyle logged a 4.50 ERA and 4.68 xFIP with a 31.5 K% and 19.4 BB%. The walks were still way too high and his 11.7 SwStr% didn't support the K% surge, but fantasy managers have to pay attention to 30+ K% numbers.

The Reds included Boyle in the Sam Moll trade at the deadline, forcing him to back his bags for Double-A (Midland). He pitched 17 1/3 IP for Midland with a 2.08 ERA and 2.38 xFIP, dominating opposing batters with a 40.6 K%. His SwStr% jumped to 13.8, making it easier to believe in his K% surge even if it came in a small sample. He also got his walks somewhat under control with a 10.1 BB%, earning him a promotion to Triple-A (Las Vegas).

Boyle only pitched 16 innings for Las Vegas before making his big league debut, and the results were mixed. His 2.25 ERA and 27.3 K% were good, and his 13.1 SwStr% was virtually identical to his Double-A mark despite more advanced competition. However, his 5.05 xFIP wasn't special and his BB% ballooned back to 16.7. Oakland has a severe shortage of good players though, so he got a shot at the Show.

With above-average strikeout rates at every stop, we cannot assume that Boyle is a total fluke. At the same time, Boyle usually got hit hard and he doesn't have as much swing-and-miss as you would expect given his strikeout totals. It's one of the most confusing profiles in the history of this column.

 

Joe Boyle's Stuff

Boyle features a three-pitch mix. His fastball offers excellent velocity, averaging 97.7 mph and hitting triple digits at times in the majors. Sadly, it hasn't fooled big league hitters if its 4.4 SwStr% is any indication. Furthermore, its 48.4 Zone% is shockingly low for a pitch that's supposed to get a pitcher ahead in the count.

Boyle's slider is supposed to be his putaway pitch, but its 14.3 SwStr%, 42.9 Zone%, and 39.3% chase rate are all below average for a wipeout offering. Boyle's curve stands out for its 50 Zone%, but its 0 SwStr% is obviously a problem.

The result is a 7.2 SwStr% that hasn't stopped Boyle from putting up a 25 K% as a big leaguer. His 8.3 BB% isn't that bad either. This arsenal shouldn't work, but it does.

 

Should We Stream Joe Boyle Against the Angels?

Who a guy is facing is just as important as how good he is this time of year, and the Angels make for a fantastic opponent. The team is without Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, and Anthony Rendon, so the lineup doesn't have the firepower it once did. Ohtani's pending free agency and deadline deals gone awry are black clouds hanging over the franchise, and subsequent efforts to use waiver deals to get under the luxury tax threshold also failed.

The Angels cannot wait for the end of the year, allowing even a supporting cast as bad as Oakland's to give Boyle a W. Since Oakland is nowhere near postseason contention, he should also get a long leash that contenders won't offer once their playoff seeding is determined. If you need innings, you'll probably have to turn to noncontenders.

This author has no idea why Boyle piles up the Ks with the stuff he has, but he does. You're always playing with fire if you don't understand how a guy is doing something, but the track record is there. If you're protecting ratios or have a comfortable lead, stay far away from Boyle. If you need to make something happen, why not roll the dice and see if Boyle can be a Champ? He's only rostered in 4% of Yahoo! leagues.



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!



More Fantasy Baseball Player Profiles




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Done for the Year With Torn ACL
Luke Hughes

Devils Optimistic About Signing Luke Hughes
Martin Fehérváry

Martin Fehervary on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Dylan Holloway

Good to Go for Start of Season
Nick Kurtz

Back in Action on Tuesday
Josh Morrissey

Fully Healthy for Start of Season
Dennis Hildeby

Signs Three-Year Extension With Maple Leafs
Nick Lodolo

Scratched With Illness
Dalton Kincaid

Role Not Expected to Grow?
Quinshon Judkins

Zero Chance Quinshon Judkins Plays Against Bengals?
Najee Harris

Says He's Expecting to Play Against Chiefs
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Departs Monday with Quad Injury
Franz Wagner

Collects Double-Double in Blowout Win
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Achieves Rare Numbers at EuroBasket
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Dominates Against Sweden
Stefon Diggs

Expected to Suit Up in Week 1
Kristaps Porzingis

Finding Form at EuroBasket
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Suffers Minor Injury at EuroBasket
DJ Moore

Bears Experimenting with DJ Moore in Backfield
Rome Odunze

Could Move All Around the Offense
Carolina Panthers

Dave Canales Comfortable With Panthers' Young Receivers
Quinshon Judkins

Not Considering NCAA Return
Dallas Goedert

Healthy for Week 1
Marvin Mims Jr.

Returns to Practice Monday
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Carted Off Monday With Knee Injury
Jason Adam

Diagnosed With Ruptured Left Quadriceps Tendon
Victor Wembanyama

Looking "Quite Stellar"
Fernando Tatis Jr.

Scratched on Monday
Matthew Stafford

Expected to Start in Week 1
Edward Cabrera

Heading to Injured List With Elbow Sprain
Najee Harris

Cleared for Contact, Could Play in Week 1
Denny Hamlin

Ends Eventful Day at Darlington in Seventh Place
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Almost Earns a Top-Five Finish at Darlington
John Hunter Nemechek

has His Best 2025 Performance at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

Has An Underwhelming Performance At Darlington
Josh Berry

Crashes Early and Suffers A Playoff Setback at Darlington
Harry Ford

Called Up for Major-League Debut
Victor Scott II

Activated From Injured List
Fernando Tatis Jr.

Dealing With Hamstring Tightness, Expects to Play Monday
Giannis Antetokounmpo

"Staying in Milwaukee"
Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Agrees to a One-Year Contract with Milwaukee
Kyrie Irving

"Healing Up Great"
Dante Exum

Mavs Agree on a One-Year Deal
Jaylen Warren

Agrees to Two-Year Extension With Steelers
De'Von Achane

Practicing Monday, on Track to Play in Week 1
Quinshon Judkins

Could Report to Browns This Week
Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs, Trent McDuffie Not Expected to Finalize Extension
Chase Elliott

Under Playoff Pressure After 17th-Place Darlington Finish
Kyle Larson

Despite Hendrick Mediocrity, Kyle Larson Remains Pretty Safe in Playoffs
Alex Bowman

Opening-Lap Crash and Botched Pit Stop May Have Sunk Alex Bowman's Playoff Hopes
Erik Jones

Darlington Master Erik Jones Comes Up Short but Still Finishes Third
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Impresses at Southern 500
Dameon Pierce

Ahead of Schedule, Ready for Season
Jordan Love

May Wear Thumb Brace During Season
Chicago Bears

Bears Head Coach Admits Offense Could Face Learning Curve
Matt Chapman

Leaves Early on Sunday, Expects to Play Monday
A.J. Brown

Says He'll Be Active For Season Opener
Luis Garcia

to Make Season Debut on Monday
Max Scherzer

Exits Due to Back Tightness
Taylor Ward

Exits Early After Collison
Braelon Allen

Says He Has a Lot Left to Prove
Sal Stewart

Reds Promoting Sal Stewart to Majors
Daniel Suarez

is A DFS Risk for Darlington Lineups?
Randy Rodríguez

Randy Rodriguez to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Noah Gragson

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Noah Gragson for Darlington?
Ty Dillon

is an Excellent Punt Option for Darlington DFS Lineups
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic to Miss the Rest of EuroBasket
Denny Hamlin

Picking Up Where He Left Off At Darlington
Kyle Larson

The Sky Is The Limit for Kyle Larson at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

a Strong DFS Play at Darlington This Weekend
Tyler Reddick

Shouldn't Be Overlooked at Darlington This Weekend
Alex Bowman

An Easy Place-Differential Play in DFS This Weekend
Ty Gibbs

Could Be Strong at Darlington This Weekend
Erik Jones

Has Best Darlington Qualifying Effort Since Last Win
Zane Smith

Hopeful For Another Solid Run At Darlington
Aroldis Chapman

Agrees to Contract Extension
Juan Soto

Homers Twice in Loss
Nick Kurtz

Avoids Serious Injury
MacKenzie Gore

Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Dallas Mavericks

Olivier-Maxence Prosper Waived by the Mavs
Lauri Markkanen

Dominant in Win Over Great Britain
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Leads Serbia to a Win
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Shines Versus Portugal
Jose Alvarado

"Good" After Recent Fall
Lauri Markkanen

Torches Sweden
Neemias Queta

Dominates in EuroBasket Opener
Kawhi Leonard

Clippers Not Allowing Kawhi Leonard to Play Back-to-Backs
Dallas Mavericks

Mavericks Looking to Trade Olivier-Maxence Prosper
Tyrese Haliburton

Expects to Return in 15 Months

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP