RADIO
Anthony DeSclafani 2020 Outlook: Intriguing Upside At An Affordable Price
5 years agoAnthony DeSclafani has a solid 2019 campaign, pitching to a 9-9 record and 3.89 ERA over 166 2/3 IP. His 4.30 xFIP wasn't quite as strong, but he did generate strikeouts at a solid 24% clip. Desclafani featured five pitches last season, including an above-average fastball (8.1 SwStr%, 51.9 Zone%) and a decent slider (14.5 SwStr%, 42.6 Zone%, 41.2% chase). His curve posted the highest SwStr% in his arsenal last season (15.7%), but was mediocre by both Zone% (31.1) and chase rate (34%). Luckily, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the 30-year old spent the offseason fine-tuning his delivery with a special emphasis on his curve, suggesting upside for 2020. He also threw more heaters (31.8% in 2018, 37% last year) at the expense of his terrible sinker (26.1% to 18.1%), a change that fantasy owners should always be excited to see. The Reds have tried to improve themselves this offseason as well, giving DeSclafani a better supporting cast to work with. Between last year's solid results and the possibility that there's still some upside here, DeSclafani represents a strong value at his current NFBC ADP of 256.8.
