Adrian Houser (SP/RP, MIL) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~205

CURRENT ADP: ~225 overall

ANALYSIS: While nasty pitches and high amounts of strikeouts are fun, sometimes the pitchers who know how to get it done can help you the most. Adrian Houser can be your boring but productive pitcher for the 2020 season. In 2019, Houser posted solid numbers with a 3.72 ERA, 3.88 FIP, and 25.3 K% in 111.1 innings pitched. There is a lot of good in Houser’s profile that points to a much better future, and he has locked down a starting role in the Brewers rotation.

Houser isn’t the type of pitcher who will be getting you double-digit strikeouts in a game, as his 9.6 SwStr% and 27.5 O-Swing% do not show better days ahead. You can find viable fantasy options without strikeouts though, especially with a pitcher like Houser, who creates so much weak contact. Overall, he produced a 53.4 GB% which ranked ninth overall amongst pitchers with at least 15 starts.

There is one small adjustment that Houser needs to make, and it can certainly take his game to another level. When Houser faces left-handed hitters (LHH) he loves to throw his main pitch, the two-seam fastball. Alas, Houser should shy away from it because his four-seam fastball is far more effective. Against LHH, his four-seam produced a .182 batting average and .265 xwOBA, while his two-seam garnered a .277 batting average and a .288 xwOBA.

If Houser can make the small adjustment against LHH, he will be an effective fantasy asset in 2020. He is not the flashy pitcher we all love, but he can provide a lot of value on draft day at his current ADP of 230.