Positional versatility is especially useful for hitters. However, in fantasy leagues that use starting pitcher and relief pitcher lineup spots, having a starter who can slot into a reliever role is a nifty bonus. RP-eligible starters are available throughout drafts, and this piece analyzes the most exciting choices. Below we take a deeper dive on Spencer Strider.
- Fitz’s Positional Primers
- Hitters to Avoid | Target
- Pitchers to Avoid | Target
- Latest Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft
RP-Eligible SPs to Target: Spencer Strider
Spencer Strider (SP/RP – ATL): 32.6 ADP & 31.5 ECR
Spencer Strider is a blue-chip fantasy hurler gamers can select as the headliner of their fake-baseball rotation. He was the premier pitcher highlighted in Fantasy Baseball Second-Year Player Primer: Pitchers (2023), and his average draft position (ADP) and expert consensus ranking (ECR) has largely remained stagnant since that article was published.
Strider had a 2.67 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 131.2 innings. Fortunately, his electrifying marks were supported by his underlying numbers. According to FanGraphs, Strider had a 2.39 xERA, 2.30 xFIP and 2.41 SIERA.
The rookie also had a blistering 38.3 K% and an acceptable 8.5 BB%. There wasn’t any smoke and mirrors pumping up his strikeout rate. Instead, Strider had a 15.5 SwStr% and 31.1 CSW%. The only fly in the ointment was an Injured List (IL) stint in September.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.