5 years agoIn 32 starts between Toronto and New York in 2019, Marcus Stroman posted 159 strikeouts in 184 1/3 innings pitched to go with a 3.22 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, 10 wins, and 3.9 WAR. In July of 2020, Stroman went down with a calf injury prior to the beginning of the shortened season and subsequently opted-out due to COVID-19 concerns. It is unclear how a full year off will impact the 29-year-old's forthcoming season with the Mets. Looking at his 2019 numbers, Stroman's ground-ball rate declined due to a heavier reliance on his slider and cutter (and less on his sinker) to generate increased strikeouts. That said, his 2019 ground ball rate of 53.9% was still elite and he allowed only a 4.1% barrel rate which was in the top 6% of MLB. His 2019 3.99 xFIP suggests that his ERA should regress, though he is developing two new pitches and will most certainly benefit from the Mets acquiring Francisco Lindor to play shortstop. In addition, the impact of the Mets signing catcher James McCann, who posted a 61.8% strike rate in the lower section of the strike zone (sixth in all of MLB in 2020), should further help Stroman's ratios and, potentially, strikeout totals. Heading into 2021, Stroman will be a solid back-end fantasy starter who can give owners precious innings, an ERA and WHIP that won't ruin ratios, and modest strikeout totals around 140-150. He's off to a solid start this spring with a 2.70 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 14:2 K/BB ratio over 13 1/3 innings. With an ADP of 207, Stroman's price tag as a fifth, sixth, or spot starter is reasonable. The Mets may rely on him to go deeper into games early in the season as Carlos Carrasco, another expected innings eater, will be out at least six weeks with a hamstring injury. Stroman should provide managers with stability at the back end of fantasy rotations, with the potential for more.--Nick Ritrivi - RotoBaller