Fantasy Baseball Draft Strategy: Pocket Aces (2025)

The “Pocket Aces” strategy has gained significant traction in fantasy baseball drafts, particularly in competitive leagues. This approach involves selecting two elite starting pitchers within the first few rounds to create a dominant foundation for your pitching staff. But is this strategy viable in 2025? Let’s break down the pros, cons, and best practices to determine whether drafting “Pocket Aces” is the right call for your fantasy team.

What Is the Pocket Aces Strategy?

The Pocket Aces strategy is a draft approach where fantasy managers select two top-tier starting pitchers within the first three rounds. The goal is to secure elite arms that provide high strikeout rates, strong ratios (ERA and WHIP), and durability, giving your team a significant advantage in key pitching categories.

Why Consider Pocket Aces?

The modern MLB landscape has made dominant starting pitching harder to come by. Workhorse pitchers who consistently log 180+ innings are becoming increasingly rare, making top-end starters even more valuable. Here’s why you should consider the Pocket Aces strategy:

1. Stability in an Unstable Pitching Pool

Pitchers are inherently more volatile than hitters due to injuries and performance fluctuations.
By locking in two elite starters early, you mitigate the risk of relying on mid-tier or streaming options.

2. Elite Ratios Provide an Edge

Drafting two high-caliber pitchers helps secure strong ERA and WHIP numbers, which can be difficult to stabilize with later-round arms.
If your aces log 180+ innings each, their impact on your team’s ratios is significant.

3. Workhorse Volume Matters

Innings pitched continue to decline league-wide, making true workhorses even more valuable.
Many teams use openers or have strict inning limits on younger arms, making it harder to find reliable volume later in drafts.

4. Strikeout Dominance

Securing two elite strikeout pitchers early puts you in a strong position to win strikeout categories without having to chase high-K, high-WHIP arms later.

Potential Downsides of the Pocket Aces Strategy

Despite its benefits, the Pocket Aces strategy isn’t without its risks. Here are some potential pitfalls to consider:

1. Offensive Depth Takes a Hit

Using two early picks on pitchers means passing on elite bats.
If you miss out on early-round power hitters or five-category contributors, your offense may struggle to compete in key categories like home runs and RBIs.

2. Injuries Can Derail Your Plan

Pitchers have a higher injury risk compared to hitters.
If one of your “aces” gets injured, you’re left scrambling for replacement value in a shallow pitching pool.

3. Fewer Upside Arms in Later Rounds

Relying on mid-to-late-round pitchers can be risky, as they tend to be volatile or lack the volume needed to make a significant impact.
While there are always breakout arms, banking on finding them is a gamble.

Draft Strategy Tips for Pocket Aces

If you’re committing to the Pocket Aces strategy, here’s how to execute it effectively:

Target Power Hitters in Rounds 3-6 – Since you’re passing on elite bats early, focus on securing home run and RBI contributors in the middle rounds.
Draft High-Upside Hitters Late – Look for undervalued power/speed threats later in the draft.
Consider Late-Round Pitching Depth – Since injuries are a risk, adding quality depth (e.g., young arms with upside or veteran innings-eaters) is key.
Monitor the Waiver Wire Aggressively – Pitching trends shift throughout the season, so staying active in free agency is crucial.