RADIO
Rich Hill 2020 Outlook: A Beneficiary Of The Delayed Season
4 years agoRich Hill hadn’t been expected to be ready for Opening Day, but the delayed season has given the 40-year-old enough time to get back to game-ready health. Injuries have taken a toll on Hill’s career, but he hasn’t posted a strikeout rate below 27% since 2012, and his ERA has surpassed 3.50 only once since 2013. Hill’s reliance on called strikes (21% called strike rate in 2018) suggests that his catcher with the Twins will make a significant difference in his performance, as Alex Avila is a significantly better pitch-framer than Mitch Garver. No matter who his primary catcher is though, Hill is likely to post an ERA below 4.00 with a strikeout rate above 25% this year, and his injury concerns are mitigated in a 60-game season as he only has to stay healthy for 10-12 starts. Daily fantasy players should invest in Hill when Avila is behind the plate, and full-season owners should be attracted to him at his 209 ADP (since May 1), where he’s likely just a little underpriced.
