RADIO
BALLER MOVE: Target ~155
CURRENT ADP: 192
ANALYSIS: Last year was a roller coaster for Jameson Taillon on and off the field. On top of an up-and-down season on the mound (4.44 ERA), the Pirates right-hander missed over a month due to testicular cancer surgery. When healthy, the former top prospect went 8-7 with 125 strikeouts and 46 walks in 133 ⅔ innings.
His peripheral numbers (3.48 FIP, 3.89 xFIP) were much more promising than his ERA, however. Notably, his strikeout rate rose a full percentage point (20.3% to 21.3%), and although his walk rate increased from an elite 4.1% in his rookie year, it was still below league average at 7.8%. Most encouraging was his ability to limit hard contact. Taillon allowed an average exit velocity of 85.2 mph, ranking 25th out of 172 starting pitchers who had 200 balls put into play against them.
Now the ace of the Pittsburgh pitching staff after the Gerrit Cole trade, Taillon is in line for a bounce-back season. If the Pirates struggle to score runs again, it could limit his win total, but he will do enough to help you in other fantasy categories. He is worth a mid-round draft pick and can be taken a round or two later than his value dictates.
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