It’s getting to that point where most baseball drafts are going to be taking place very soon and with that in mind, we’re talking about everyone’s favorite topic, sleepers. Can you believe the season starts in just over two weeks!? Have you done your homework yet and prepared?

If not, we’re hoping the information below from our featured pundits will help get you started. After all, they do this for a living so it can’t hurt to see what they have to say. We asked them to provide us with their starting pitcher and hitter sleepers that are being taken later in drafts.

Q1. What starting pitcher outside the top 85 in our ADP do you like as a late round sleeper?

Dylan Bundy (SP – BAL)
“After starting his minor league career with 30 scoreless innings pitched, Bundy quickly became the top pitching prospect in baseball and was called up to the Bigs as a teenager. The only other starting pitchers to ascend that quickly since 2005 were King Felix, Mad-Bum and Julio Urias last season. To say he has been a disappointment is an understatement, but after three seasons recovering from various injuries, Bundy was back in the Majors last season. He struggled at first, but took his first-half .305 BAA and turned it into a .231 in the second-half. Likewise, his K/9 soared upwards and now this season he has added an impressive cutter into his arsenal. The upside Bundy possesses is that of a phenom, and he is still just 24 years-old.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

Daniel Norris (SP – DET)
“2016 was essentially a lost year for Daniel Norris. After missing the start of the season due to injury, he had to earn back his spot in the major league rotation. However, once he made it to the majors, he found quite a nice bit of success in 69.1 innings (9.22 K:9, 2.86 BB:9, 3.38 ERA). Norris gives up too many hard hits to qualify as a potential ace, but his strikeout prowess makes him a viable asset in deeper leagues.”
– Tim Young (Brewer Rat)

Robbie Ray (SP – ARI)
“Tied with Noah Syndergaard for ninth in strikeouts (218), Ray posted a K/9 rate of 11.25 last season. Among qualified starters, only the late Jose Fernandez (12.49 K/9) was better. Despite his elite strikeout rate, it was the other stuff — ERA (4.90), WHIP (1.47) and record (8-15) — that limited his fantasy usefulness in 2016. Even though he pitches in a hitter’s park, Ray’s FIP (3.76) was more than a run better than his actual ERA (4.90) last season. If the 25-year-old southpaw can improve his command and efficiency, he offers plenty of late-round upside for fantasy owners in 2017.”
– Kevin Hanson (EDSFootball)

Andrew Triggs (SP – OAK)
“I think that if Andrew Triggs, currently #108 at SP in the composite rankings, can make the roster in Oakland as the #5 starter, rather than out of the bullpen, he could surprise a lot of people. He performed much better last season as a starter, and induces a lot of ground balls while sitting down nearly a batter an inning.”
– Brad Jerde (Fantasy Team Advice)

Michael Wacha (SP – STL)
“The loss of Alex Reyes opened up a spot for 25-year-old Michael Wacha. If you check his stats from last year, all the key peripherals were in line with his terrific 2015 season. I believe the big jump in innings from 2014 (114 IP) to 2015 (180 IP) wore him out and led to his 2016 shoulder problems. You can get him with a late pick (299 overall) and he has SP2-3 upside.”
– Tim McCullough (RotoExperts)

Q2. What hitter outside the top 115 in our ADP do you like as a late round sleeper?

Randal Grichuk (CF – STL)
“Just two seasons ago, Grichuk broke onto the scene with a .272 isolated slugging, which was top five among all National League hitters. He rightfully received plenty of hype in 2016 as a 24-year-old expected to become a great young outfielder, but the Cardinals messed with his swing and the results were not good for fantasy teams. With that being said, he returned to his 2015 performance in the second-half after a minor-league wake-up call. Grichuk posted a .281 ISO in that time with top-notch exit velocities and could carry that momentum into 2017.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

Domingo Santana (RF – MIL)
“He’s been around the prospect block quite for a few minutes, but Santana is still just 24 years old. Because of his age, there’s still hope that he can lower his K%. Even if he can’t, it’s not the end of the world, because when he DOES hit the ball, he hits it really, really, uncommonly hard. He had the 6th highest exit velocity of all hitters last season. While the results may not have matched the peripherals, Santana put together a solid finish to the season (.852 OPS, .229 ISO) after returning from injury in August.”
– Tim Young (Brewer Rat)

Keon Broxton (CF – MIL)
“Not without his flaws (specifically a high strikeout rate and low batting average), there is also a lot to like about Broxton. In the equivalent of a half-season (75G and 244 PA) in the big leagues last year, Broxton hit nine homers with 23 steals and a .294 average in 46 games after the All-Star Break. Expected to hit near the top of the order this season, Broxton should hit 15-20 homers with 30-plus steals in 2017.”
– Kevin Hanson (EDSFootball)

Max Kepler (RF – MIN)
“He will have to show his power, as well as ability to take a walk, much more consistently; but current ADP composite #153 Max Kepler should get the chance to play on a daily basis this season… and the Twins are going to need it.”
– Brad Jerde (Fantasy Team Advice)

Gerardo Parra (1B/OF – COL)
“Injuries to David Dahl (back) and Ian Desmond (hand) have opened a path to regular playing time for Gerardo Parra. An ankle injury spoiled his first season in Colorado but Parra is healthy and at age-29 is still in his peak productive years. He’s capable of posting a 20/20 season with a full year of plate appearances, especially in the enhanced offensive environment of Coors Field. He’s definitely worth a late pick as a potential sleeper in the outfield and/or at first base.”
– Tim McCullough (RotoExperts)

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Thank you to the experts for naming their sleepers. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter and subscribe to our podcast below for all the latest shows.

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