Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers - Starting Pitcher (SP)

JP Sears: Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 20

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 9% of leagues ANALYSIS: 26-year-old Oakland A's starting pitcher JP Sears has been absolute money, essentially from his sophomore season at the Citadel and on. After going in the eleventh round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Sears moved through the minor leagues at a solid pace... Read More

Ryan Pepiot: Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 19

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 9% of leagues ANALYSIS: While the Dodgers may not need a ton of help this season, Ryan Pepiot has been a welcome recent addition to the LA rotation. A third-round draft pick in 2019, Pepiot earned his way into the top-100 prospect conversation before the start... Read More

George Kirby (SP, SEA) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 18)

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 38% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Seattle Mariners hold an impressive slew of former college arms among their top prospect ranks, one of whom being former Elon University ace George Kirby. The 6'4, 215-lb. blue chip made an impressive run through the minors after going 20th overall... Read More

Grayson Rodriguez (SP, BAL): Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 29% of leagues ANALYSIS: Consensus top-ten prospect Grayson Rodriguez is suspected to soon be making his MLB debut for the Baltimore Orioles, and the full body of his minor league resume screams at his potential to have an immediate impact. The 22-year-old Texan has pitched 266.2... Read More

Matthew Liberatore (SP, STL): Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 33% of leagues ANALYSIS: This is an amazing year to follow the top prospects and baseball and their potential big league arrivals, let alone the top pitchers of tomorrow like Grayson Rodriguez, Max Meyer, George Kirby, and most recently; Cardinals southpaw Matthew Liberatore. The 6'4, 200-lb.... Read More

Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 24% of leagues (Yahoo)/6% of leagues (ESPN) ANALYSIS: Cincinnati Reds fans have pinned their hopes on a somewhat-distant future, because they pretty much have to. While Hunter Greene quickly stole the spotlight with his extraterrestrial velocity and the combo of Jonathan India and Tyler Stephenson make... Read More

Huascar Ynoa (SP, ATL) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 245 CURRENT ADP: ~317 overall ANALYSIS: Huascar Ynoa pitched last year to a 4.05 ERA with a 4.30 xERA and a 3.40 xFIP, with a 27 percent strikeout rate, seven percent walk rate and a 1.11 WHIP. Ynoa has absolutely filthy stuff but his season was cut short when he... Read More

Joe Ryan (SP, MIN) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 180 CURRENT ADP: ~212 overall ANALYSIS: Ryan was part of the trade that saw Nelson Cruz head to the Rays and Ryan had yet to make his MLB debut prior to the trade. He only made five starts for the Twins (26.2 IP), but impressed with a 4.05 ERA, 0.79... Read More

Joe Ryan (SP, MIN) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~190 pick CURRENT ADP: ~217 overall ANALYSIS: Starting pitcher Joe Ryan made his Major League debut in September for the Twins after coming up as a pre-2020 top-100 prospect for the Rays according to Baseball America. His first four starts were solid but he ended on a sour note, allowing six runs to... Read More

Cal Quantrill (SP, CLE) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~240 pick CURRENT ADP: ~264 overall ANALYSIS: Quantrill is a former first-round pick of the Padres back in 2016 at age 21. He moved quickly through low-A ball but stalled out in Triple-A and didn't have the type of minor league success that you'd expect from a top prospect. In 2019,... Read More

Alex Wood (SP, SFG) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~195 pick CURRENT ADP: ~219 overall ANALYSIS: After failing to exceed 50 innings pitched in 2019 and 2020 combined thanks to a litany of back problems, the 2021 version of San Francisco Giants left-hander Alex Wood reminded us all of the pitcher who posted a sub-3.90 ERA in 6 straight seasons from 2013... Read More

John Means (SP, BAL) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~200 pick CURRENT ADP: ~220 overall ANALYSIS: Few pitchers started the 2021 season as hot as John Means did. Through his first 71 innings, Means posted a 2.28 ERA with a 0.85 WHIP, and he did that while striking out nearly a batter per inning (69 strikeouts in those innings). After that, an... Read More

Patrick Sandoval (SP, LAA) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 190 CURRENT ADP: ~211 overall ANALYSIS: In 2021, Sandoval made some major adjustments to his pitch mix. He had thrown just 76 innings in the big leagues prior to last season, about half of those innings coming in 2019 with the other half coming in 2020. During those two stints,... Read More

Tony Gonsolin (SP, LAD) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 290 CURRENT ADP: ~309 overall ANALYSIS: Heading into last season many thought Gonsolin could be a breakout candidate. However, he ended up battling a shoulder injury and when he was on the mound, was mainly used as an opener. He ended up making just 13 starts and only pitched 55... Read More

Dylan Bundy (SP, MIN) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 375 CURRENT ADP: ~412 overall ANALYSIS: After Bundy was traded to the Angels, he flourished during the 2020 season. In 65.2 innings, he posted a 3.29 ERA and 2.95 FIP, posting career-bests in strikeout rate, walk rate, and home-run rate. Heading into 2021, the expectation was that he had finally... Read More

Pablo Lopez (SP, MIA) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 110 CURRENT ADP: ~132 overall ANALYSIS: Miami Marlins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez was on his way to another solid season in 2021 before it was cut short in July. A rotator cuff strain in his pitching arm forced him to the 10-day IL and then a setback during rehab eventually resulted in... Read More

Nestor Cortes Jr. (SP, NYY) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 310 CURRENT ADP: ~339 overall ANALYSIS: Cortes rocks a five-pitch mix with three primaries (four-seamer, cutter, slider) and embraces his slot as a Mario Brother. What more could you ask for? Alright, we’ll go on. Cortes had bounced around the league, spending 2019 with the Yankees before a wayward 2020... Read More

Justin Verlander (SP, HOU) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 90 CURRENT ADP: ~105 overall ANALYSIS: Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander missed last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2020. The 39-year-old is expected to be ready by Opening Day, whenever that might be. He was terrific in his entire last season as a starter, owning a 2.58 ERA, 0.80... Read More

Charlie Morton (SP, ATL) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 80 CURRENT ADP: ~96 overall ANALYSIS: Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Charlie Morton bounced back in his first year in Georgia, posting a 14-6 record, 3.34 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 7.7 BB%, and 28.6 K% in 185.2 innings. His 3.18 FIP backs up his success, and he's now produced a sub-3.60 FIP the last... Read More

Tylor Megill (SP, NYM) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 285 CURRENT ADP: ~308 overall ANALYSIS: Megill offers sneaky strikeouts in a pitcher-friendly park, but even Citi Field couldn’t save him from an overall 1.91 HR/9 in 2021. We start with the good, as Megill posted a 3.92 xFIP and 3.85 SIERA underneath the 4.52 ERA in 89 ⅔ IP. ... Read More

Joe Ryan (SP, MIN) - Week 26 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 40% of leagues ANALYSIS: It's officially last call for boarding the Joe Ryan hype train. The rookie put on an absolute clinic on Wednesday night, striking out 11 batters in five innings of work. Though he was only at 86 pitches, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli is a cowardly man... Read More

Shane Baz (SP, TBR) - Week 26 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 23% of leagues ANALYSIS: As if the defending American League champions (and owners of the AL's best current record) needed any more help, Shane Baz made his major league debut on Monday and was excellent. Tasked with facing a red-hot Blue Jays squad, the 22-year-old earned a... Read More

Logan Gilbert (SP, SEA) - Week 26 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 40% of leagues ANALYSIS: With all the injuries to starting pitchers across the league, it's simply mind-boggling that Seattle Mariners rookie starting pitcher Logan Gilbert isn't almost universally rostered. The 6'6" right-hander has been coasting through September. Wherever that rookie wall is, he's not showing any signs... Read More

Mitch Keller (SP, PIT) - Week 26 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 14+ teams ROSTERED IN: 3% of leagues ANALYSIS: Given how much Keller has struggled this year, it's somewhat of a surprise to see him as a potentially viable two-start streamer this week. But he's looked pretty solid over his last three starts with a 3.38 ERA, 1.438 WHIP and... Read More

Erick Fedde (SP, WSN) - Week 26 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 14+ teams ROSTERED IN: 6% of leagues ANALYSIS: It's been a rough year for Fedde, but there have been some brief flashes of potential from him. He looked solid in his latest outing against Miami, where he held them to one run over five innings with eight strikeouts. He'll... Read More

Tyler Anderson (SP, SEA) - Week 26 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 12+ teams ROSTERED IN: 17% of leagues ANALYSIS: Anderson has shown up in this column several times this season, and while he has been inconsistent at times he has been one of the better pitchers in the league since the beginning of July, as he's gone 3-1 with a... Read More

Vladimir Gutierrez (SP, CIN) - Week 26 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 10+ teams ROSTERED IN: 39% of leagues ANALYSIS: Gutierrez has been inconsistent at times this year, but over his last 10 outings he's been pretty solid on the mound where he's gone 5-3 with a 3.52 ERA, 1.211 WHIP and 20.2 percent strikeout rate over 53 2/3 innings of... Read More

Nestor Cortes Jr. (SP, NYY) - Week 26 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 10+ teams ROSTERED IN: 50% of leagues ANALYSIS: It's taken several stints in the majors since 2018, but Cortes seems to have figured things out on the mound this season. Over 79 2/3 innings of work this year, Cortes has gone 2-2 with a 2.60 ERA, 1.054 WHIP and... Read More

Eric Lauer (SP, MIL) - Week 26 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 49% of leagues ANALYSIS: It can difficult to find good pitchers on the wire at this point in the season, as many fantasy managers are streaming like mad with the finish line in sight. That's why it's surprising to see Eric Lauer still available in half of Yahoo... Read More

Nestor Cortes Jr. (SP/RP, NYY) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 12+ teams ROSTERED IN: 44% of leagues ANALYSIS: New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. has been one of the team's nicest surprises on the mound this year. The lefty has carved himself a relatively safe role in the team's rotation and he could help fantasy managers -... Read More

John Gant (SP, MIN) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 14+ teams ROSTERED IN: 5% of leagues ANALYSIS: Gant is a bit of a stretch this week, but he's been looking better over his last two starts where he's allowed two runs on six hits and four walks while striking out 12 over 10 innings of work. He'll try... Read More

A.J. Alexy (SP, TEX) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 14+ teams ROSTERED IN: 11% of leagues ANALYSIS: Another rookie pitcher that's two starts into his career, Alexy has gone 2-0 and allowed just two hits and five walks with 11 strikeouts over 11 innings of work. He'll start off the week against Houston, and while they're averaging just... Read More

Joe Ryan (SP, MIN) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 14+ teams ROSTERED IN: 12% of leagues ANALYSIS: Over his first two career starts now, Ryan is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA, 0.417 WHIP and 22 percent strikeout rate over 12 innings of work. After just missing out on the perfect game in his last matchup, he'll face off... Read More

Rich Hill (SP, NYM) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 10+ teams ROSTERED IN: 39% of leagues ANALYSIS: Hill has done a solid job of proving that age means nothing this year, as the 41-year-old southpaw has gone 6-6 with a 3.82 ERA, 1.165 WHIP and 22.2 percent strikeout rate over 139 innings with the Rays and Mets. He's gone... Read More

Jake Odorizzi (SP, HOU) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 10+ teams ROSTERED IN: 40% of leagues ANALYSIS: Odorizzi has had a rather solid bounce-back season in 2021 after an injury-shortened season last year. Over 94 2/3 innings of work this year, Odorizzi has posted a 4.28 ERA, 1.215 WHIP and 21.4 percent strikeout rate while going 6-7 for... Read More

Alejandro Kirk (C, TOR) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 18% of leagues ANALYSIS: Streaming catcher in fantasy baseball can sometimes feel like a fool's errand, but other times it can lead to hidden gems like Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk. The 22-year-old prospect has been a nice boost to an already lethal Toronto lineup late in the... Read More

Bailey Ober (SP, MIN) - Week 24 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 14+ teams ROSTERED IN: 16% of leagues ANALYSIS: Out of the pitchers available in over 50 percent of leagues, you'd be hard-pressed to find one who had a better month of August than Ober. Over his last five starts he's recorded a 2.30 ERA, 1.098 WHIP and 23.9 percent... Read More

J.A. Happ (SP, STL) - Week 24 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 12+ teams ROSTERED IN: 19% of leagues ANALYSIS: Happ was not putting up great numbers with Minnesota this season, but since being traded to St. Louis he has shown some signs of improvement, as he's gone 3-1 with a 4.30 ERA, 1.330 WHIP and 18.7 percent strikeout rate over... Read More

Mike Minor (SP, KCR) - Week 24 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 12+ teams ROSTERED IN: 26% of leagues ANALYSIS: Yet another pitcher who has been inconsistent on the mound this year, Minor's overall numbers are not good this year as he is 8-12 with a 5.25 ERA and 1.258 WHIP over 152 2/3 innings of work. He's had some nice... Read More

Tarik Skubal (SP, DET) - Week 24 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 10+ teams ROSTERED IN: 47% of leagues ANALYSIS: Skubal enters Week 24 coming off a rough showing in his last start against Oakland, where he allowed six runs over five innings of work to fall to 8-12 on the season. Before that, Skubal had looked great over his first... Read More

Steven Matz (SP, TOR) - Week 24 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 10+ teams ROSTERED IN: 56% of leagues ANALYSIS: While inconsistent at times, Matz has been on a good run over his last nine starts where he's gone 3-3 with a 2.31 ERA, 1.286 WHIP and 17.2 percent strikeout rate across 46 2/3 innings. Matz kicks off the week against... Read More

Bailey Ober (SP, MIN) - Week 24 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 17% of leagues ANALYSIS: Since the All Star Break, Bailey Ober has produced excellent ratios (2.81 ERA, 1.08 WHIP) and struck out 40 batters while walking only six in his 41.2 IP. That he only has one win in that span is a reflection of the Twins... Read More

Carlos Hernández (SP/RP, KCR) - Week 24 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 29% of leagues ANALYSIS: Some scouts questioned whether Carlos Hernandez could be anything more than a middle reliever despite his ability to touch triple digits. Right now, he's doing a pretty good job in the rotation. Since July 29, he's made seven starts with sparkling ratios (1.91... Read More

Tyler Gilbert (SP, ARI) - Week 23 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 14+ teams ROSTERED IN: 16% of leagues ANALYSIS: While he hasn't repeated the performance from his first career start, Gilbert has still been solid on the mound over three starts now, going 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA, 1.000 WHIP and 14.9 percent strikeout rate over 19 innings of work.... Read More

Zach Davies (SP, CHC) - Week 23 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 14+ teams ROSTERED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS: It's been a rough year for Davies, who currently sports a 6-10 record, 5.00 ERA and 1.485 WHIP. He had a nice stretch through June and July, and after back-to-back disastrous starts to open August, Davies has posted a 3.24 ERA,... Read More

Edward Cabrera (SP, MIA) - Week 23 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 12+ teams ROSTERED IN: 29% of leagues ANALYSIS: One of Miami's highly touted pitching prospects, Cabrera put up decent but not great numbers in his major league debut on Wednesday, where he allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two over 6 1/3 innings... Read More

Austin Gomber (SP, COL) - Week 23 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 12+ teams ROSTERED IN: 34% of leagues ANALYSIS: Gomber has looked pretty solid on the mound in his first year with Colorado, going 9-8 with a 4.38 ERA, 1.198 WHIP and 23.9 percent strikeout rate across 111 innings of work. Interestingly enough, most of Gomber's struggles have come on... Read More

Tylor Megill (SP, NYM) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 12+ teams ROSTERED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS: Megill has put up some solid numbers in his rookie season with the Mets, going 1-2 with a 3.21 ERA, 1.161 WHIP and 25.9 percent strikeout rate over 56 innings of work. He'll open up Week 22 with what appears to... Read More

Eli Morgan (SP, CLE) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 14+ teams ROSTERED IN: 3% of leagues ANALYSIS: One of several rookies in line for two starts in Week 22, Morgan has started to turn things around in the month of August, where he's posted three quality starts in four outings with a 3.52 ERA, 1.043 WHIP and 22.1... Read More

Bailey Ober (SP, MIN) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 14+ teams ROSTERED IN: 4% of leagues ANALYSIS: After a rough stretch in June and early July, Ober is looking quite a bit better on the mound lately with a 2.81ERA, 1.130 WHIP and 23.3 percent strikeout rate over his last five starts. He'll open the week against the... Read More