Starting pitchers with RP-eligibility are a precious commodity in Head-to-Head points leagues. League settings vary, but in CBS standard head-to-head points leagues, you need to fill five SP and two RP slots. Given that a mid-tier starting pitcher will outscore a mid-tier closer in an average week, you give yourself an advantage if you can slot an RP-eligible starter into one of the RP slots. There is also the bonus that starters have far great job security than closers. There is no more volatile position in the game. As if that was not enough to convince you of the value of rostering a SPARP (starting pitcher as relief pitcher), the opportunity of two-start weeks could be the difference between winning or losing that week’s matchup. Unfortunately, the list of RP-eligible starters looks uninspiring this season, although few people would have predicted such an impressive season by last year highest-scoring SPARP, the Yankees’ Luis Severino.
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Robert Stephenson (SP/RP – CIN)
The former top-20 prospect made 11 starts in 2017 having reverted from the bullpen to starting after the All-Star break. He posted a 3.30 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 60 innings, which was a significant improvement on the 8.02 ERA in the first half of the season. The 24-year-old is expected to break camp with the Reds as their fourth or fifth starter, but he needs to address the issues of having one of the most-hittable fastballs if he is to offer any fantasy value this season.
Mike Minor (SP/RP – TEX)
The 30-year-old excelled from the bullpen last season with 88 strikeouts in 77.2 innings (10.2 SO/9), 2.55 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. His 95 mph fastball and electric slider fits the profile of an elite closer but Minor is destined to open the season in the Rangers’ rotation. The left-hander hasn’t started since 2014 (although he missed the whole of 2015 & 2016 through injury). If he can successfully transition from relief to starting, Minor could be a very valuable RP-eligible starter in fantasy this season.
Ty Blach (RP/SP – SF)
The left-hander fired a nine-inning shutout vs. Phillies in June but the rest of his season was uninspiring with a 4.81 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 149 2/3 innings covering 24 starts. The 27-year-old is a low strikeout option, having finished last among starters with 10.6% strikeout rate (min 100IP). Blach is expected to be part of the Giants’ rotation and he is surprisingly projected to be the highest scoring SPARP according to CBS.
Brad Peacock (SP/RP)
The 29-year-old produced the best campaign of his life in 2017 with impressive results both as a starter and from the bullpen. He is essentially a fastball/slider pitcher with a 30% strikeout rate. The right-hander will start the season in the Astros’ bullpen, but with veteran Justin Verlander, and the often-injured trio of Lance McCullers, Dallas Keuchel and Charlie Morton in the rotation, there is a strong likelihood that Peacock makes 10-20 starts. Don’t undervalue Peacock’s fantasy potential just because he will start in relief.
Bryan Mitchell (SP/RP – SD)
Only nine of this 49 appearances in the majors have been as a starter but the Padres acquired the 26-year-old with the intention of him joining their rotation. Mitchell made 13 starts in Triple-A last year with 3.25 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and an impressive strikeout rate of 9.3 SO/9. His results in the majors were not as impressive, but pitching at Petco Park will be an advantage, and the desire shown by the Padres’ to secure the services of Mitchell should not be underrated.
Mike Montgomery (SP/RP – CHC)
The 28-year-old has tossed 230 2/3 innings over the last two seasons with an ERA of exactly 3.00 and a 1.19 WHIP. Although the left-hander made 14 starts for the Cubs in 2017, his results from the bullpen were more impressive. Unless the Cubs make any further offseason acquisitions, expect the fifth-starter job in Chicago to have a revolving door with Montgomery sharing starts with Eddie Butler and their array of Triple-A starters. The left-hander possesses a four-pitch arsenal with an improving low-90s fastball and could easily be a 10-game winner this season.
Antonio Senzatela (SP/RP – COL)
Despite being a starter for all of his career, the Venezuelan was called upon to help the Rockies from the bullpen on 14 occasions last year, which along with his 20 starts, gives him both SP and RP eligibility. His 5.03 ERA as a starter was not a good reflection of his abilities, having posted 2.45 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 88 starts in the minors. With two options remaining, if Senzatela fails to make the rotation, he will likely to be kept stretched out in the minors. It’s not as if the Rockies’ bullpen needs any further reinforcements.
Ryan Borucki (SP/RP – TOR)
The left-hander sparkled at three levels of the minors last season after a disappointing 2016. He made 26 starts, the most impressive stretch of which was in Double-A with 1.94 ERA over 46 1/3 innings with 0.84 WHIP. In his solitary Triple-A start, the left-hander struck out six over six scoreless innings. The Blue Jays’ rotation needs strengthening, and the 23-year-old could be a surprise package this season.
Matt Strahm (SP/RP – SD)
After an excellent season in relief in 2016, the 26-year-old made three starts for the Royals in 2017, giving up five runs on two occasions without getting out of the fourth inning. Before he had an opportunity to make adjustments, he tore his patellar tendon to put him out of action for the final three months. He owns a 10.8 SO/9 rate across all levels regardless of whether starting or relieving, and the Padres are determined to develop the left-hander as a starter. He will be given a shot at the rotation in Spring Training and could return excellent value for his draft position.
Matt Bush (SP/RP – TEX)
He has never started a game in the majors, and has only ever started one game as a professional, back in 2010. Despite this, the Rangers are committed to giving the 31-year-old the opportunity to win the fifth rotation spot at Spring Training. The former first overall pick of the 2004 draft has made 115 appearances over the last two seasons, tossing 114 innings with 3.08 ERA and a 25% strikeout rate with 7% walk rate. He underwent a minor shoulder surgery during the offseason but is expected to be fully healthy for the start of Spring Training.
Steven Brault (SP/RP – PIT)
The Pirates have several openings in their rotation so monitor Spring Training for fantasy opportunities. The 26-year-old was awesome in Triple-A last season with 1.94 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 8.2 SO/9 over 20 starts. The four starts he made in the majors (4.67 ERA and 6.0 SO/9) did not reflect his talents but he is the only left-hander out of the nine rotation contenders, so he might have an advantage over the others.
Joe Musgrove (SP/RP – PIT)
Part of the package that arrived in Pittsburgh as part of the Gerrit Cole trade, the 25-year-old is expected to slide into the Pirates’ rotation. His MLB-stats do not paint a pretty picture (6.12 ERA and 1.51 WHIP as a starter last season), and his sinker, slider, changeup mix are uninspiring, but the Pirates are optimistic about the right-hander sticking in the rotation.
Jose De Leon (SP/RP – TB)
The former top-40 prospect will be given the chance to compete as a starter in Spring Training, although he might be more suited to the closer role if Alex Colome is traded. De Leon has an impressive strikeout rate of 12.0 SO/9 in the minors but injuries have restricted him to 103 innings in 2016 and 41 innings last year. If the Puerto Rican could bring his 2017 Triple-A form of 3.11 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 11.4 SO/9 over eight starts to the majors, he could finally realize his potential.
Max Fried (SP/RP – ATL)
After a rough start to the season, the former top-100 prospect finished the year in style with 2.36 ERA over his last 14 games (42 innings, including nine starts). He effortlessly flipped from Triple-A to the majors a couple of times, working as both starter and reliever. In four starts in the Arizona Fall League, the left-hander allowed one earned run with 23 strikeouts to five walks. He will be given the opportunity to fight for a rotation spot in Spring Training but the Braves have many candidates vying for starting jobs. It seems likely that Fried will make double-digit starts for Atlanta this season.
Erasmo Ramirez (SP/RP – SEA)
After his deadline move from the Rays, the right-hander made 11 starts for the Mariners last season (1-3 record) with 54 strikeouts in 62 innings and 3.92 ERA. The 27-year-old is expected to be Mariners’ fourth starter, but he offers limited value in fantasy, even with the potential for 20 starts. Expect an ERA of around 4.50 and less than a strikeout per inning.
David Phelps (SP/RP – SEA)
The 31-year-old underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow but is expected to be ready for Spring Training. He was acquired by the Mariners with the intention to revert to starting, despite working exclusively in relief last season with 3.40 ERA and 10 SO/9 in 55 appearances. If he can prove his health, the right-hander offers intriguing SPARP potential, having last started in 2016, with a strikeout rate of 11.8 SO/9 over five starts.
Sandy Alcantara (SP/RP – MIA)
The Marlins are projected for 69 wins but that might be optimistic. Regardless of their win-loss record, there will be lots of innings to be thrown in Miami, and Alcantara will get a share of them. The Dominican was the No.40 prospect according to Baseball Prospectus last season but took a step backward in 22 starts in Double-A, with 4.31 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.6 SO/9. The 22-year-old flirts with triple-digits but needs to improve his command before he can make the jump to fantasy viability.
Justin Nicolino (SP/RP – MIA)
The 26-year-old started the season as a starter, and after eight starts with 5.23 ERA and 1.84 WHIP, he transitioned to the bullpen with little improvement in results. He will battle for a rotation spot in Spring Training, but with an 11% strikeout rate, the left-hander offers nothing to fantasy owners.
Joe Biagini (SP/RP – TOR)
There are opportunities for starts within the Blue Jays’ rotation and, with the exception of 2016 when Biagini worked exclusively from the bullpen, the right-hander has made at least 20 starts in each of his six seasons as a professional. The 27-year-old will likely serve a variety of roles for the Blue Jays from starter to swingman to late-inning reliever. He induces a lot of ground balls, strikes out around 7.6 SO/9 and is worthy of your attention.
Miguel Castro (SP/RP – BAL)
There are lots of openings for starters in Baltimore with only Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy assured of a spot in the rotation. 23-year-old Miguel Castro will be in the discussion despite only one career start to his name, and that was a 3 1/3 innings outing in the Orioles final game of 2017. The Dominican possesses a 95 mph fastball, backed up with a useful slider and changeup. He is less appealing since his strikeout rate slipped down to just 14%.
Mike Wright (SP/RP – BAL)
Made 12 starts in 2016 with 6.22 ERA but worked exclusively from the bullpen in 2017. The 5.76 ERA was inflated by an HR/FB rate above 20% but the improved strikeout rate of 10.0 SO/9 was impressive, aided by a swinging-strike rate above 10%. The Orioles are desperate for starters so the 28-year-old will compete for a rotation spot in Spring Training and could offer intriguing deep-league interest.
Gabriel Ynoa (SP/RP – BAL)
The 24-year-old made 30 starts last season, including four in the majors. He possesses a 95-mph fastball and an impressive slider that generated 17.4 % swinging strikes. As with many young pitchers, if the Dominican can improve his third pitch he will be a very interesting starter for fantasy. Ynoa is a candidate for a spot in the weak Orioles’ rotation.
Alec Asher (SP/RP – BAL)
The right-hander was an exciting addition to the Phillies’ rotation in 2016 with 3.33 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over his five starts, but that came with a career-low 4.20 SO/9. Last season he flipped between starting and relieving for the Orioles with 5.25 ERA over 60 innings and an improved 7.20 SO/9. The 26-year-old will battle for a starter job for the Orioles in Spring Training.
Chad Green (SP/RP – NYY)
Yankees’ GM said Chad Green will enter Spring Training to compete as a starter. He was excellent in the bullpen last season with 41% strikeout rate, 1.83 ERA and 0.74 WHIP. The Yankees rotation looks set but Green could offer sneaky fantasy value if he gets the opportunity and can convert his relief form into a starter.
Francis Martes (SP/RP – HOU)
The former top-30 prospect will be a starter in Triple-A or a reliever in the majors in 2018. Astros’ GM Jeff Luhnow does not see him as “a starter in the big leagues this next year unless there are a few injuries.” The Dominican’s career hit a wall in 2017 as he stepped up to Triple-A and the majors, but he is still so young with tremendous potential, a devastating fastball and tarnished reputation in fantasy. Look out for the 22-year-old as buy-low candidate.
Trevor May (SP/RP – MIN)
The 28-year-old, right-hander was set to join the Twins’ rotation last year until he tore his UCL in his pitching elbow. He is expected to debut in May or June, but Tommy John surgery recovery timetables are often optimistic. He had a 32% strikeout rate in 2016, so could offer intriguing fantasy value as a SPARP if he is able to regain his form for the second half of the season.
Josh Hader (SP/RP – MIL)
Having worked exclusively as a starter in the minors, the 23-year-old left-hander thrived in relief last season with 2.08 ERA and 12.8 SO/9. GM David Stearns said that Hader will start the season in the bullpen and is unsure whether he will revert to starting this season.
Walker Buehler (SP/RP – LAD)
The first-round pick from 2015 is one of the top pitching prospects in the game. He struggled in relief in the majors last year but excelled in the minors as a starter with 3.11 ERA over 19 starts with 12.7 SO/9. The Dodgers’ rotation is fragile, so there is a scenario where Buehler is the top-performing SPARP at the end of the season.
Other SPARPs will materialize. In Spring Training last year, the Angels stretched J.C. Ramirez into a starter for the first time in his MLB career. He might not be the most exciting pitcher in fantasy, but he threw the same number of innings as Johnny Cueto (and outscored him in points leagues). He also outscored 22-save Aroldis Chapman, who was one of the first closers drafted off the board.
One final note is that the major platforms have different eligibility rules (CBS = 10 relief appearances, ESPN = eight relief appearances, and Yahoo just three). The players above are based on CBS-eligibility, so check your player pool.
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Gavin Tramps is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Gavin, check out his archive or find him @_tramps.
