Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
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1.
Jacob deGrom
NYM
deGrom barely missed out on winning his third straight Cy Young Award last year, but it was yet another dominant season. For the third straight year, he came in with a WHIP under 1.00, an ERA under 2.50, and a strikeout percentage above 31%. deGrom is getting up there in age, but it's worth remembering that he has fewer miles on his arm than most pitcher entering their age-33 season, given that he didn't transition to pitching until late in his college career and missed significant time with injuries during his time in the minors. deGrom has shown no decline in his game, and should hopefully (finally) begin to pile on more wins this year pitching for a better team in front of an improved bullpen. He should be the first or second starting pitcher taken and is an obvious first-round pick.
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2.
Gerrit Cole
NYY
Cole was pretty much as advertised in his first season with the Yankees. His ERA rose a tad, as did his home run rate as expected, and his strikeout rate fell a bit, though it remained at an absurdly high level. And, for the most part, all of his expected metrics fell off a tad from his 2019 season. But Cole's numbers from that season were so dominating that he could withstand plenty of regression and still be one of the best pitchers in fantasy. As such, he'll head into 2021 close to the way he came into the 2020 season: a dominant, high-strikeout, low-walk starter who will throw plenty of innings and who is more likely to finish as the top overall fantasy pitcher than he is to finish outside the top-10. It's a matter of personal preference between Cole and Jacob deGrom as the first pitcher off the board, but neither should fall outside the top-10 overall picks on draft day.
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3.
Shane Bieber
CLE
Bieber took the huge gains he had made in 2019 and kicked the into hyperdrive en route to a Cy Young season. He had a miniscule 1.63 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP, and took his strikeout percentage to 41.1%, which ranked first among qualified starters. Everything was exceptional for Bieber, as he held batters to just a .167 batting average, barely allowed home runs, and earned eight wins in just 12 starts. He may struggle to again find wins given the Indians' depleted lineup, but there is nothing else to think twice about with Bieber. He's part of the ultra-elite tier in starting pitching with Jacob deGrom and Gerrit Cole, and should be a first-round selection, especially since he seems to have had no ill effects from his battle with COVID-19.
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4.
Yu Darvish
SD
After a career year in 2020, Darvish moves to San Diego in a trade that shouldn't affect his strong 2021 outlook all that much. Despite his advancing age, Darvish built on the gains he had made over the second half of 2019, finishing with a 2.01 ER, a 0.96 WHIP, and a 31.3% strikeout rate. Darvish's walk rate has declined to a level once thought unattainable for the veteran, a mere 4.7%, which was in the top 8% of MLB in 2020. Although he'll be entering his age-35 season, there's simply nothing in Darvish's numbers, metrics, or statcast data that points to a decline. If you are desperate to find a negative, it's a move from the weak-hitting NL Central to the much stronger NL West, but that's hardly a reason to avoid Darvish. Draft him as an easy top-10 starter, and more like a top-5 option.
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5.
Trevor Bauer
LAD
Bauer capped off a Cy Young season by signing a massive deal with the Dodgers. There's no other way to describe Bauer's 2020 season other than utterly dominant. A 1.73 ERA, a 0.79 WHIP, and a 36% strikeout rate. Notably, the spin rate on almost all of his pitched jumped dramatically, and every single one of them was more effective than we'd previously seen. Bauer had an outstanding season in 2018 and followed it up with a sub-par 2019, so we shouldn't take for granted that he'll be the best pitcher in baseball for the second season in a row. But on the best team in baseball with a near bulletproof 2020 resume, he should be drafted as a top-five starter and a second-round pick.
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6.
Lucas Giolito
CWS
Giolito followed up his breakout 2019 season with a nearly identical 2020 season. His ERA was within .07, his WHIP within .02, and his strikeout percentage within a point and a half. Despite pitching in a homer-friendly park, Giolito has managed to limit home runs, which is a key to his continued success with the White Sox. He won't face quite an easy schedule this year (AL and NL Central pitchers had plenty of sub-par offenses to feast on in 2019), but entering his age-27 season, he should only continue to improve from a skills standpoint. Draft him as an SP1, albeit a low-end one.
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7.
Walker Buehler
LAD
Because the Dodgers wanted to closely watch Buehler's routine and workload, he got a late start to the shortened season, essentially using his first few starts as the end of his spring training. He also dealt with blisters late in the year. All that to say, Buehler's 36 2/3 regular-season innings are, for the most part, largely meaningless. He gave up a few more home runs and walked a few more batters than usual, and he won just a single game. But none of it matters. Value Buehler as you did after his 2019 season - as one of the true stud pitchers in the game. Once the big three of Jacob deGrom, Gerrit Cole, and Shane Bieber are off the board, Buehler should come under immediate consideration, as the type of starting pitcher who can be your fantasy ace.
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8.
Aaron Nola
PHI
Nola bounced back from his disappointing 2019 campaign, and looked much closer to the 2018 breakout version of himself last year. His set a career mark in strikeout rate (33.2%, which ranked in the top nine percent in the league) and swinging strike rate (13.4%), and brought his walk rate down to just eight percent. Nola also got batters to swing at pitches outside the strike zone at a rate of 38.1%, far better than he had ever done in his career, and they made contact less than ever, at a rate of only 59.1%. The reason for the change was Nola relying far less on his fastball and more on his changeup, which kept hitters off balance and made both pitches more effective. Nola doesn't throw particularly hard, so his success relies much more on command and finding the right pitch mix, both of which he excelled at in 2020. If he can keep that going in 2021, and it's a good bet he will, he should be considered a fantasy ace.
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9.
Max Scherzer
LAD
Scherzer had a decent season for a mortal, but for someone with his career track record, it was a major disappointment. His 3.74 ERA was his highest since 2012, his 1.38 WHIP the highest of his career, and his 7.8% walk percentage his worst in a decade. Scherzer still struck out plenty of batters but entering his age-37 season and with a ton of mileage on his arm, it's only fair to accept that the old Scherzer is gone for good. But though he may not be a consensus top-three starter anymore, he's still perfectly capable of being a fantasy ace. After all, Scherzer's velocity hasn't declined much, and his 31.2% strikeout rate was tied for 10th among starters. Scherzer likely won't reach 200 innings pitched again and his ERA seems destined to remain above 3.00 going forward, but he's far from someone to avoid in fantasy drafts.
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10.
Luis Castillo
CIN
Castillo turned in another excellent season last year, cutting his walk rate and striking out batters at a higher rate than he ever had in his career. His WHIP increased to a career-worst 1.23, but that was largely due to bad luck, as batters hit .232 against him despite an expected batting average of just .212. Nevertheless, Castillo kept runs off the board, largely because he was able to avoid home runs (just five in 70 innings) and limit free passes. Castillo is capable of fronting a fantasy pitching staff, though he's more of a low-end ace, and there are plenty of trade rumors following him around. But, given his reliable production and increased strikeout rate the past two seasons, he can be drafted with confidence.
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11.
Jack Flaherty
STL
Flaherty ended up with a 4.91 ERA, but that hardly represents his actual performance, given that he allowed nine runs in a three-inning start in September. If you take out that outing, Flaherty had just a 3.13 ERA, and he didn't allow more than three earned runs in any of his eight other starts. Given that Flaherty's season was shorter than most due to the Cardinals' COVID-19 issues, it's fair to essentially throw out at that one abysmal outing, considering his other numbers were relatively consistent from 2019. Indeed, his swinging strike rate improved, as did his K/9 rate and ground ball percentage. With his devastating slider, Flaherty should still be considered one of the top pitchers in the real and fantasy game, and is capable of fronting a fantasy staff.
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12.
Clayton Kershaw
LAD
Kershaw turned back the clock a bit in 2020, as the shortened season allowed him to let things go a bit more and add some of the velocity he had lost over the previous two seasons. The result was his best WHIP and ERA since 2016 and best strikeout rate since 2017. Kershaw isn't going to reach 200 innings pitched at this stage of his career, not with his injury history and the Dodgers' depth in their rotation and World Series aspirations. But even entering his age-33 season, he offers next to no downside. Consider this: Kershaw had probably the worst season of his career in 2019 and pitched to a 3.03 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP with more than a strikeout per inning. Draft him as a strong SP2 but bank on 160 innings. Anything more is gravy.
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13.
Brandon Woodruff
MIL
There were some skeptics after Woodruff succeeded in 2019 based largely on one pitch - his devastating fastball - but he put those concerns to rest in 2020. His ERA (3.05) and WHIP (0.99) were incredibly strong, particularly when you consider that he struck out more than 11 batters per nine innings. Woodruff's fastball hits rests at 96 MPH and is one of the better pitches in baseball, but his slider and changeup both made strides last year. The Brewers are reportedly planning to add about 100 innings to their starter's workloads last season, so pencil Woodruff in for roughly 175 extremely strong frames. You can survive with him as your fantasy ace, though he's best as an incredibly strong number 2.
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14.
Blake Snell
SD
Snell moves to the Padres fresh off a solid year, in which he pitched to a 3.24 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP, with a memorable early exit in the World Series. Snell has a checkered injury history and has pitched just 157 innings over the past two years, so don't expect him to be a big innings-eater in 2021. And, although he'll escape the dreaded AL East, he'll get a downgrade in park and defense, which largely makes the move a neutral one. All that said, Snell has plenty of talent as he's shown throughout his career, and should be able to pile up wins and strikeouts pitching for a strong Padres team. Draft him as an SP2 with upside.
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15.
Tyler Glasnow
TB
Glasnow is really a fascinating case study. He followed up an incredible 60-inning stretch in 2019 (1.78 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 33% strikeout rate) with a bit of a step back last year (4.08 ERA and 1.13 WHIP). But his xFIP in 2020 (2.75) was actually lower than in 2019 (2.94), and his strikeout rate jumped to a whopping 38.2%. The real issue for Glasnow is that he's a two-pitch pitcher, and although both his fastball and curveball are outstanding, they need to be superb at all times for him to have a dominant season. And last year, they were both just a bit worse than the season prior, particularly his fastball. With enormous strikeout upside and a spot in the rotation of one of the best and most pitching-savvy teams in the Rays, Glasnow makes a fine SP2 for a fantasy team. But his injury history, and his lack of a third pitch, make him a bit riskier than others going in his range.
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16.
Kenta Maeda
MIN
Fantasy managers rejoiced when Maeda was traded from the Dodgers to the Twins, but he surpassed even the loftiest of expectations. In the short season, Maeda went 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA, a 0.73 WHIP, and a 32.3% strikeout rate. In addition to simply being let loose with his innings, Maeda made a tangible change to his pitch mix, throwing far fewer fastball and more sliders and changeups (though his fastball was as effective as it had ever been last year, too). Maeda surely won't be able to repeat his numbers from 2020, as he allowed just a .208 BABIP, had an 80.2% LOB rate, and benefited from being able to feast on solely the NL and AL Central lineups. But even with some regression, he should still be a rock solid SP2, and should be drafted as such.
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17.
Lance Lynn
CWS
Lynn turned in another stellar year in 2020, leading MLB with 84 innings pitched, striking out plenty of batters, and keeping his walk rate and overall numbers in check. But there are a few warning signs under the hood, including his 4.19 FIP, his 4.34 xFIP, and his career-high 79.4% LOB rate. Of bigger concern is his trade to the White Sox and hitter-friendly Guaranteed Rate Field, particularly because Lynn had a 38.3% fly-ball rate in 2019 and a 42.3% fly-ball rate last year. That led to the worst HR/9 rate of his career and second-worst HR/FB rate (13.8%) in 2020. Countering those troublesome warning signs, however, is the fact that he'll be caught by perhaps the best pitch framer in baseball in Yasmani Grandal, and that will generally help with his numbers which, again, were excellent last year. Add it all up and Lynn's ERA should likely increase simply because of the additional home runs he'll allow if he can't turn around his trend in fly-ball rate, but Grandal's presence and Lynn's general aptitude on the mound should allow for another strong season and make him worthy of a selection as an SP2.
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18.
Corbin Burnes
MIL
Burnes's raw stuff was apparent to anyone who saw him pitch in 2019, but he simply couldn't stop giving up home runs (17 in 49 innings). The culprit was largely his four-seam fastball, which he threw more than half of the time and against which batters hit .425 with an .823 slugging percentage. In 2020, however, Corbin cut his four-seam fastball usage from 52.5% to just 2.5%. In its place, he relied heavily on a sinker and cutter, both of which worked better for the natural action on his pitches and which were highly effective. Considering that his slider, changeup, and curveball are also huge swing and miss pitches, Burnes's 36.7% strikeout rate from last year shouldn't be considered fluky. Even coming off a Cy Young-caliber season, there's still upside for the 26-year-old, and you should ignore entirely his 2019 disaster.
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19.
Hyun Jin Ryu
TOR
Fantasy managers expected some regression from Ryu after his career season in 2019 and with him moving to the Blue Jays, but it really didn't come. He continued to be among the best in the game at limiting opposing batters' quality of contact, and upped his strikeout rate to 26.2%, second best of his career. Ryu's 2.69 ERA was a bit higher than the 2.32 mark he put up in in 2019, but his FIP, xFIP, SIERA, and xERA were all the same or better than the previous year. In short, other than the potential for injury, which hasn't been a factor in the last two seasons, there's no reason to doubt Ryu at this point.
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20.
Stephen Strasburg
WSH
Strasburg was limited to just five innings in 2020, with an injury that eventually required carpal tunnel syndrome. Although that's a minor surgery, the truth is that fantasy managers have very little data as to the impact and/or successful recovery rate after that surgery for pitchers. Strasburg's a tricky draft pick in any given year - he always provides strong value when he's on the mound, but has only topped 200 innings pitched twice in his career. Now entering his age-33 season, Strasburg will likely again provide excellent overall numbers assuming he is healthy. He looks great in the spring, though he's currently battling a minor calf injury, though it shouldn't keep him out for long. Draft him as an SP2, but anything more than 160 innings is gravy.
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21.
Kyle Hendricks
CHC
Hendricks is the Rodney Dangerfield of fantasy pitchers in that he never gets the respect he deserves. He's had an ERA above 3.46 once in his career and he's never had a WHIP higher than 1.19. Yes, his strikeout rate is never going to help fantasy managers, but Dave Ross let him go deeper into games last year (Hendricks' 81 innings pitched were among the most in MLB), so he should make up for his lack of strikeout rate with some additional innings. The Cubs probably won't be a great team but the NL Central has mostly weak offenses, so Hendricks should find his way to enough wins to make a difference. Ignore the fact that he outperforms his expected metrics every year. Hendricks is a reliable, high-end SP3 for a fantasy team. Just be sure to take care of strikeouts elsewhere.
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22.
Jose Berrios
TOR
Berrios may not ever become the dominant pitcher many projected him to be, but he offers a strong floor for fantasy managers. Ignoring his 2016 cup of coffee, Berrios has pitched to a 3.89 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, and a strikeout per inning in his career. And although his walk rate went up a tad and he gave up a bit harder contact in 2020's shortened season, his numbers didn't vary from his usual output significantly. Bank on around a 4.00 ERA, a WHIP somewhere around 1.25, and plenty of strikeouts. In today's fantasy game, that's more than adequate for a strong fantasy staff.
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23.
Max Fried
ATL
In many ways, Fried regressed during his 2020 season. His strikeout rate dropped, his walk rate increased, and his xFIP and SIERA jumped significantly. Nevertheless, thanks to his ability to limit hard contact (his 83.4 MPH average exit velocity and 23.8% hard hit rate allowed were among the best in MLB) led to a massive drop in BABIP allowed, and kept both his ERA and WHIP in check. It's hard to buy a pitcher without an elite strikeout rate whose underlying numbers don't fully support his gains. Nevertheless, Fried was an elite prospect playing on an excellent team, and is just 27 years old. Don't pay for last year's numbers, but don't run away from him in drafts either.
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24.
Sonny Gray
CIN
Two dreadful starts late in the season severely hurt what was otherwise a strong 2020 campaign for Gray, though it was a bizarre year. His strikeout rate surpassed 30% for the first time in his career, while his walk rate jumped to 11.1%. He was also far more hittable, particularly his slider and curveball, which had been dominant pitches in 2019. But even if Gray simply repeats his 2020 season, his strikeout rate and decent ERA and WHIP should be enough to make him a borderline SP2 for fantasy leagues. He will likely begin the year on the IL after experiencing back spasms in mid-March, but the injury doesn't sound like it will keep him out for long. Considering we've seen much more than that from him in 2019, fantasy managers should have little hesitation drafting him.
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25.
Zack Wheeler
PHI
Wheeler's first season in Philadelphia was a success, in that he had the lowest ERA of his career (2.92) and a strong 1.17 WHIP. But his strikeout numbers plummeted, as he struck out just 18.4% of batters. The whiff rate on all of Wheeler's pitches, other than his "show me" curveball, dropped significantly, despite the fact that his velocity remained the same. If Wheeler can again excel at completely limiting hard contact like he did last season (his 85.7 MPH average exit velocity allowed ranked in the top 10% in baseball), then he can probably get away with the lack of strikeouts. Otherwise, he's unlikely to repeat his 2020 success. Given the shortened season, it's a good bet that Wheeler's strikeouts will bounce back, and you can slot him in as an SP3 without much worry.
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26.
Zack Greinke
HOU
Greinke is entering his age-37 season, but still somehow keeps getting it done. His ERA of 4.03 last year was certainly higher than fantasy managers are used to seeing, but it came with a 2.80 FIP and 3.51 xFIP. His strikeout rate was his best since 2017 and his walk rate of 3.3% was the best of his entire career. But his velocity was down about two ticks, with his fastball clocking in at just 87.9 miles per hour. Greinke is as smart a pitcher as there is but it's going to be difficult to succeed over the course of a full 162-game season if his pure stuff continues to diminish. He's one of the few pitchers in the game who is probably capable of pitching 200 innings in 2021, but expect a continued downward trend in his performance.
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27.
Charlie Morton
ATL
Morton's 2020 numbers were poor, without question. He was limited to just 38 regular season innings because of a shoulder injury, and pitched to a 4.74 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. His velocity was way down early in the season (when he got hit hard) and trickled up after he returned, but he got back to his normal 95 MPH fastball in the postseason and totaled a 2.70 ERA. Now 37 and with the Braves, the question is whether fantasy managers can write off Morton's down 2020 season considering his sterling post-season, or whether his age and injury history means they should avoid him. In reality, the answer is neither. Morton should still have gas left in the tank considering his playoff run, but should only be drafted as a value, meaning no earlier than a low-end SP3. Grab him there, at which point the risk-reward balance should reach an equilibrium.
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28.
Jesus Luzardo
MIA
Luzardo's 2020 campaign wasn't terrible, but it certainly left fantasy managers wanting more. The strikeouts were there, but not quite at the level that was expected. He rarely went deep into games. And he was just more hittable than he ever was in the minors or in his brief time as a reliever in 2019. Luzardo throws four quality pitches and is working to improve his arsenal as we head into the 2021 season, so there's little reason to downgrade your opinion of him too much from where it was prior to the 2020 campaign because of one nine-start stretch. He's an incredibly high-upside pitcher who carries with him plenty of injury risk, and the combination leaves him as a solid SP3 for fantasy leagues.
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29.
Zach Plesac
CLE
Plesac is getting a ton of love for his eight excellent starts in 2020, but there's plenty of reason to be cautious. His FIP, xFIP, xERA, and SIERA were all more than a run higher than his ERA, and both his strikeout rate and walk rate significantly outproduced what he showed he could do in the minors. Yes, Plesac altered his pitch mix, throwing fewer fastballs and instead more sliders and changeups, so if you're looking for a reason to buy the gains, you have one. But he had a ridiculous 91.7% LOB rate, and even with his ability to limit hard contact, his BABIP against should rise from the .224 mark last year. Plesac can help a fantasy staff, but manage expectations significantly.
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30.
Chris Paddack
SD
Paddack followed up his stellar rookie campaign with a subpar sophomore season, as his ERA rose to 4.73 and his WHIP to 1.22, while his strikeout rate dipped below one per inning. Paddack's bread and butter changeup was as good as ever in 2020 (and even better than in 2019), but his usually outstanding fastball just fell apart. After batters hit .204 with a .391 slugging percentage and .275 wOBA against the pitch in 2019, they hit .308 with a .658 slugging percentage and .407 wOBA against it in 2020. Paddack added a cutter in 2020, and it's possible that the addition of the pitch impacted the way he threw his fastball, as the vertical movement of it fell significantly. Either way, Paddack has too much talent to see his ERA hover around 5.00. There's risk given what we saw last year, but it's baked into his draft price.
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31.
Ian Anderson
ATL
After rising through the minor leagues, Anderson had an excellent debut season with the Braves in 2020, pitching to a 1.95 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a 29.7% strikeout rate. He was even better in four postseason starts, allowing just two runs over 18 2/3 innings while striking out 24. Anderson led all starters in barrel rate (just 1.2%), and has an excellent fastball, curveball, and changeup. His control isn't elite, but his raw stuff and prospect pedigree suggest that his 2020 season was no fluke. Draft him with confidence as a No. 2 starter.
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32.
Joe Musgrove
SD
Musgrove has been a popular sleeper the last two seasons and now that he's been traded to the Padres, his ADP is surely going to rise. In 2019, Musgrove continued to improve as a pitcher, upping his strikeout rate and adding velocity. But his 2020 season looked like a step back, until he returned from the IL strong, including finishing his season with back-to-back scoreless outings while getting back some of the lost zip on his fastball. Overall, Musgrove's 2020 numbers suggest a breakout waiting to happen, as he built significantly on his gains in 2019, increasing his strikeout rate to 33.1%. His chances for wins should improve dramatically in San Diego, and he's a fine fourth starter with upside.
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33.
Lance McCullers Jr.
HOU
McCullers made a successful return from Tommy John surgery after missing the 2019 season and looked almost exactly like the 2018 version of himself. His ERA (3.93) and WHIP (1.16) were within seven-tenths of a point of his 2018 numbers, and his walk and strikeout rates fell just slightly. McCullers relied a bit more on his sinker and less on his curveball than in past years, but the two work well together and he continued to throw them in combination about 80% of the time. In short, what you thought of McCullers heading into 2018 is pretty much what you should think of him now. Unfortunately, that includes concerns about his innings, because after a missed year and 55 innings last year, the chances of him topping 150 innings this season are remote. Buy him at his production, but understand that there's likely a hard cap on his innings total.
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34.
Dinelson Lamet
SD
Lamet had a dominant curveball in 2019 which he threw 31.7% of the time. Batters hit just .105 against it that year with a .193 wOBA. But Lamet ditched it entirely in 2020, and instead replaced it by greatly upping his slider usage, from 12.2% in 2019 to 53.4% in 2020. And somehow, his slider was even better than his curveball ever was. Batters hit 0.80 against it with a .120 slugging percentage and a .141 wOBA. It was, simply put, the best pitch in baseball last year. Unfortunately, Lamet's arm couldn't hold up to the stress, and he missed the end of the regular season and the playoffs because of an elbow injury. He underwent PRP therapy on his elbow in October and is progressing well, but the Padres' focus on adding starting pitching this offseason suggests that they are not expecting to have Lamet for the full season. Monitor his health this spring, but understand that even if he begins the year healthy, there are plenty of injury concerns.
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35.
Zac Gallen
ARI
Gallen has a hairline stress fracture of his right forearm at the radial head. He's reportedly going to be able to continue playing catch at a "low stress level" while recovering, though there's no indication of how much time he'll miss. When healthy, he's a solid SP2. He built on his excellent 2019 season with an even more impressive 2020 campaign. Not only did he drop his ERA slightly to 2.75, but he cut way down on his walks (10.8% to 8.6%), which led to a much-improved 1.11 WHIP. Gallen has a 28.5% strikeout rate in 152 MLB innings, and an excellent fastball, curveball, and changeup. There's just not much negative you can say about him when he's healthy other than he might again struggle for wins playing for a mediocre team in a good division. Because of the injury and surrounding uncertainty, you shouldn't draft him as anything higher than an SP4, but he should perform extremely well when he does recover.
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36.
Dylan Bundy
LAA
Bundy largely made good on the enormous amount of buzz that surrounded him after he moved from the Orioles to the Angels. He set career bests in ERA (3.29), WHIP (1.04), strikeout rate (27%), and walk rate (6.4%). Bundy's fastball, though it continued to trend down in velocity, was more effective than in years' past, in part because he cut way down on his usage of the pitch (just 33.6%, after throwing it at least 42.4% of the time in every previous season). His slider remained one of the best pitches in the game, and his remaining secondary pitches improved, too. At some point, Bundy's fastball velocity is going to become an issue, but there's little reason to expect that to come in 2021. Draft him as as an SP3.
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37.
Julio Urias
LAD
Urias had an interesting season (other than his postseason, which was dominant). His numbers overall were very solid, with a 3.27 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. But his strikeout rate dipped dramatically as a full-time starter, and his SIERA (4.88) and xFIP (5.06) suggest he got lucky. But the bottom line is that Urias is excellent at limiting hard contact, and he's allowed just a .257 BABIP over the last two seasons, which should keep his ERA in check. The Dodgers' rotation is overflowing, so it's possible they continue to limit Urias's innings. But for now, he should be considered an SP3, and as his playoffs showed, there's plenty of room for growth with his strikeout numbers.
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38.
Pablo Lopez
MIA
Despite his 5.09 ERA and mediocre strikeout rate in 2019, there was some buzz about Lopez heading into last season because of his outstanding changeup and his ability to keep his WHIP in check. He justified the expectations, cutting his ERA to 3.61 and striking out about a batter and a half more per nine innings than he had previously. He's still volatile, as he has seemingly random games where he lacks command with his changeup and gets hit hard. And he needs another pitch to complement his fastball and changeup. But if he can continue to develop either his curveball or cutter, he could be a true breakout candidate. Draft him as an SP4 with upside for more if his other pitches continue to improve.
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39.
Patrick Corbin
WSH
Corbin had a disastrous 2020 season, during which he went 2-7 with a 4.66 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. His strikeout rate plummeted, and his velocity dropped significantly, with his fastball seeing a dip of almost two miles per hour. Corbin leans heavily into his slider, and he needs it to be pristine to be an effective pitcher. And although it wasn't a terrible pitch in 2020, the swinging strike rate on it dropped from 28.1% to 21.2%, and the whiff rate from 52% to just 38.2%. If the loss in velocity and effectiveness of his slider were entirely due to the oddities of the shortened season, then Corbin is going to be a major value in drafts this year. But if not, then his days as a "set it and forget it" starter are likely over. Monitor Corbin's performance this spring, particularly with his velocity. If it's back up to prior levels, then push him up your board significantly.
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40.
Kevin Gausman
SF
Gausman had the best season of his career with the Giants last season, and accepted a qualifying offer to remain in San Francisco. Gausman not only put up an impressive 3.62 ERA, but he upped his strikeout rate by about nine points to 32.2%. He saw a nice velocity bump on his fastball and leaned into his excellent splitter a bit more than usual. The downside for Gausman is that he really is mostly a fastball/splitter pitcher, meaning that when his splitter isn't working, he's likely to get hit hard. But, we've now at least seen the upside over a full season, and he's a pretty ideal SP4/SP5 if you can get him in that range.
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41.
Sandy Alcantara
MIA
Alcantara continued to build on what was a pretty strong foundation heading into 2020. He lowered his ERA to 3.00 and his WHIP to 1.19, and improved in both his strikeout and walk rate while adding velocity. He pitched only 42 innings last year because of COVID-19 issues, but he dominated over the latter three-quarters of the season, pitching to a 2.30 ERA with 30 strikeouts over his final 31 1/3 innings. There's not a ton to dislike about Alcantara, and there's room for continued growth. Draft him as a fourth starter with upside for more.
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42.
Frankie Montas
OAK
Montas had a terrible 2020 season, but it was more than likely due to a back injury he suffered early on which probably bothered him throughout the year. He started off with four excellent starts (four runs and 22 strikeouts in 23 innings) before he was scratched with back tightness and returned with lower velocity. Yes, he had the PED suspension in 2019, but Montas's splitter was, and should continue to be when a healthy, a dominant pitch, and a healthy season should mean a return to being a starter you can "set and forget." If he can ever get away from throwing his sinker so much, and incorporate more of his splitter and/or four-seam fastball, he could be a monster. Montas was diagnosed with COVID-19 right at the start of spring training, but he has returned healthy and looked good in the spring, so he's an ideal sleeper.
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43.
Sixto Sanchez
MIA
Sanchez built on his strong 2019 season in Double-A with an excellent seven-start stretch in the majors, during which he put up a 3.46 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Sanchez throws really hard (his fastball velocity is in the 98th percentile), but he doesn't put up a ton of strikeouts, either in the minors or during his stint in the majors last year. But his outstanding changeup (.148 BAA, .148 slugging against, .158 wOBA against) keeps hitters off balance, and allows him to avoid giving up too much hard contact. Combine that with his well above-average control and his almost comical ability to avoid giving up home runs, and you have a quality pitcher who can slide into the middle of your staff.
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44.
Tyler Mahle
CIN
Mahle's solid 2020 season (3.59 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) will probably slip under the radar, but there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about him with a guaranteed spot in the Reds rotation. His strikeout rate jumped to 30% on the back of a 4.4% increase in his swinging strike rate, and he had just a .188 expected batting average against, top 10% in the league. The biggest change for Mahle was that he brought back a slider that he had shelved entirely in 2019, and batters hit just .180 against the pitch with a .249 wOBA. He could do well to cut down on his walks a bit, but still, as a fifth starter for your fantasy team, there's plenty of potential for profit.
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45.
Carlos Carrasco
NYM
Carrasco suffered a serious hamstring strain in mid-March which is likely to keep him out 6-8 weeks. It's a devastating blow to the veteran who returned strong from his battle with leukemia in 2019 to post a 2.91 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 2020. There was plenty to like about Carrasco in New York, including that the Mets will provide him with a better chance at wins, their infield defense should be above average, and Carrasco will play in a more favorable park. But at this point, he's nothing more than a bench starter for your fantasy team given his injury.
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46.
German Marquez
COL
If Marquez ever extricates himself from Colorado, you'd probably have a bona fide superstar on your hands. As it is, you have a very solid overall pitcher who won't really help you out tremendously in any category, but won't hurt you badly either. Marquez's control is above average, and although his strikeout rate has dipped in two consecutive seasons, he has the ability to miss bats regularly. His value rises in leagues with daily lineup changes as you can avoid him at home (career 5.10 ERA) and start him on the road (career 3.51 ERA). But, absent that, consider him a back-end of the rotation starter in deeper leagues.
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47.
Marco Gonzales
SEA
If you want to buy into performances from the 2020 season, then you'll have Gonzales significantly higher than you would otherwise. He made major gains last year, including up his strikeout rate to a career-best 23.1% and lowering his walk rate to a career-best 2.5%. Bu even with the gains, Gonzales's swinging strike rate was only 8.4% (below his career average), and his fastball velocity is close to the worst in the league. As a pure back end of the rotation starter, he's fine, but do not expect anything close to a 3.10 ERA again, and bake in regression for his strikeouts.
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48.
Marcus Stroman
NYM
Stroman missed the entire 2020 season after battling a calf injury and then opting out, but he'll return to the Mets after accepting the team's qualifying offer. Stroman's strikeout rate jumped after his trade to the National League, but with a career 58.7% ground ball rate, he'll need the Mets' infield defense to be better than it was in 2019. The trade for Francisco Lindor should help, as should his reported development of both a new split changeup and four-seam fastball. Stroman has always had a decent floor, but now out of the AL East and with some tweaks to his arsenal coming, he possesses plenty of upside as a late-round draft pick.
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49.
Corey Kluber
NYY
Kluber has pitched 36 2/3 innings combined over the last two years, and will now join the Yankees on a one-year deal. There's nothing to be gained from looking at his numbers since 2018, as the sample size is too small, and prior to that, he was a perennial Cy Young contender. There was a bit of a velocity drop at the end of his last healthy season, but he was also finishing up his fifth straight 200-inning season. In other words, his lack of innings over the last two years (due to injury) may wind up being a blessing in disguise for Kluber. His ADP has some helium based on how quickly the Yankees signed him, but so long as you bake in some pretty substantial injury risk, he's certainly worth drafting as an SP5 with upside.
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50.
Shohei Ohtani
LAA
Depending on your league settings, Ohtani has the potential to be a dominant force in 2021. There has never been any doubt about his talent, and he looks fantastic in the spring, hitting home runs at will and pumping in high-90s fastballs when on the mound. He's been batting on days he pitches, and Joe Maddon has suggested that he's going to throw out the old rules that led to Ohtani's decreased playing time. If you can move him between hitter and pitcher on a daily basis, then move him up your board significantly. Even if not, he should provide plenty of value when healthy as either a hitter or a pitcher, so make sure he's on your radar as you move into the double-digit rounds.
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51.
James Paxton
SEA
Paxton missed almost the entire 2020 season after straining a flexor in his pitching forearm. Any forearm injury is worrisome because of the connection to the elbow, and Paxton has hardly been the picture of health in his career. He'll try to jumpstart his career again back with the Mariners, and the reports from his workout, where he reportedly touched 94 MPH, were encouraging after his velocity drop last year. When he pitches, he's almost always effective, so he's worth a late-round pick for the potential upside. But the injury history should keep him relatively low on your draft board.
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52.
Mike Soroka
ATL
Soroka pitched in just three games last year before rupturing his Achilles tendon. He's progressing well but the best case scenario for him appears to be a late-April return. When healthy, he's someone who fantasy managers can rely on as an ERA and WHIP stabilizer, who should contribute plenty of wins. The strikeouts won't be there, however, and given that he's coming off a significant injury, the Braves will likely be extra cautious with him when he does start. All that to say, don't draft Soroka expecting much more than 100-120 innings out of him. If you do that, you'll likely be happy with your return on investment.
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53.
Aaron Civale
CLE
Civale fits the mold of the Cleveland pitcher over the last few seasons: start with the command, and let the team work on the rest. That's how Civale has found success the last two seasons, and continues to do so in the spring. He's never going to be a high-strikeout pitcher - he never was in the minors and his fastball sits in about the 91 MPH range. But his ability to limit free passes and hard contact means that he shouldn't hurt a fantasy rotation. He's a high-floor, low-ceiling starter, who is ideal for the back end of a fantasy staff.
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54.
Andrew Heaney
NYY
Heaney is a fine pitcher, but it feels like he has a lot more to him than his career 4.44 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. His fastball is hittable and he throws it often, and his curveball isn't quite good enough to offset the damage. He was outspoken about working this offseason to become less predictable, so hopefully that manifests itself in his 2021 performance. But there's no reason to draft him as anything but a pitcher who will give you decent strikeouts and mediocre ratios, hopefully as someone you can use on your bench and stream in the right matchup.
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55.
Chris Bassitt
OAK
Bassitt doesn't wow you with his raw stuff, and is never going to be a high-strikeout pitcher. But he has above-average command and is able to generally limit hard contact and home runs. If he were being drafted on the basis of his 2.29 ERA last year then he would be someone to avoid, but the fact is he is never going to be drafted on the basis of his actual numbers given his sub-par strikeout rate and his significantly higher FIP and xFIP (versus his ERA). He can add plenty of value on the back end of a fantasy rotation, so long as you have strikeouts covered elsewhere.
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56.
Jose Urquidy
HOU
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57.
Zach Eflin
PHI
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58.
Triston McKenzie
CLE
McKenzie had a very successful major league debut last year, pitching to a 3.24 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP, and a 33.1% strikeout rate. His talent isn't in question at this point, but his health certainly is. McKenzie has a very slight build and has missed time with injury in his minor league career, including all of the 2019 season. Even if he stays healthy all year, Cleveland is likely to put a hard cap on his innings. There's a reward, but there's plenty of risk to go with it. Draft him for the back end of your rotation and hope he gets to 140 innings.
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59.
Eduardo Rodriguez
BOS
Rodriguez missed the entire 2020 season because of serious complications from a heart conditions caused by COVID-19, but he looks to be healthy heading into 2021. Assuming he doesn't have any setbacks, he should be considered one of the safest pitchers in the game. You know what you're going to get from Rodriguez: an ERA around 4.00, a WHIP around 1.30, and solid strikeouts. Those numbers won't wow you, but Rodriguez has consistently limited hard contact throughout his career, so he should retain what amounts to a fairly high floor. Plus, the usual innings concerns shouldn't be as much of a factor for him, considering nearly every pitcher has similar concerns after 2020. For a late-round pitcher, he's hardly an upside play, but he should be someone you can stick in the back end of your rotation and not think much about it.
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60.
Dustin May
LAD
May has been named the Dodgers' fifth starter by Dave Roberts, a surprising twist given the presence of David Price and Tony Gonsolin. Given the Dodgers' depth and their history, it's unlikely that he'll remain in the rotation from start to finish, but if you haven't drafted yet, move him significantly higher on your board.
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61.
John Means
BAL
Means's 4.53 ERA and grotesque home run rate are probably going to scare the casual fantasy manager away, but there is a ton to like about him heading into 2021. First, Means had a weird year last season, as he dealt with arm fatigue early and then his father passed away, so his schedule was certainly thrown up into the air at the start. Probably because of those difficulties, his outstanding changeup wasn't effective earlier in the season, but it was back to being his money pitch by season's end. Add to that Means' increase in velocity, his strong finish (1.52 ERA, 30 strikeouts over his last four starts), and his excellent command, and there's a breakout waiting to happen, despite the tough division.
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62.
David Price
LAD
Price was traded to the Dodgers along with Mookie Betts, but hasn't yet made a start with the team after opting out of the 2020 season. He'll be back for 2021, but his role isn't yet solidified according to reports, especially considering the extreme depth of the Dodgers' rotation. When healthy, even at his advanced age, Price is still a quality major league starter, with above-average strikeout and walk rates. The issue for Price is really health, as he's averaged only about 120 innings per season over his previous three years. His average draft position reflects the risk, and assuming he does end up in the rotation, he offers as much upside as anyone going in his range. There's still juice left for Price when he's healthy, so monitor reports out of the spring.
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63.
Dallas Keuchel
CWS
Keuchel pitched to a remarkable 1.99 ERA last year, though that's hardly to be expected to repeat in 2021. His xFIP was nearly two runs higher, his BABIP against was nearly 40 points below his career average, and his already low strikeout rate dipped to just 16.3%. Having Yasmani Grandal as a catcher certainly helps a pitcher outperform his expected stats, but even if Keuchel were to repeat his 2020 performance, his strikeout rate is such a drain that it keeps his value in check. If your staff is dominant in strikeouts, then you can roll with Keuchel at the very back end of your rotation. But if not, just ignore him on draft day.
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64.
Jameson Taillon
NYY
Taillon has undergone Tommy John surgery twice, and has totaled just 37 1/3 innings over the last two years. And really, he's had only one truly notable year, which was in 2018. But what separated Taillon that year was his outstanding slider, which not only performed exceedingly well, but also buoyed the effectiveness of the rest of his pitches. Now with the Yankees, Taillon has plenty of upside. But, as always, health remains the concern, and is the reason you shouldn't draft him until you've filled out most of your staff.
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65.
Jordan Montgomery
NYY
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66.
Michael Pineda
MIN
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67.
Sean Manaea
OAK
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68.
Elieser Hernandez
MIA
Hernandez was excellent in his six starts last season, tallying a 3.16 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, and a 32.1% strikeout rate. But he allowed a lot of hard contact along the way, including a 91.8 MPH average exit velocity (bottom three percent in the league). He worked on his changeup this offseason in an effort to add a reliable third pitch (he threw his fastball and slider 94% of the time last year), and it has gotten rave reviews in camp. He's fourth in the pecking order of the Marlins starters, but if his changeup can be an effective pitch, he might be the one to provide the most value given his extremely modest ADP.
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69.
Brady Singer
KC
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70.
Ryan Yarbrough
TB
Yarbrough doesn't get a ton of respect in the fantasy community because he doesn't strike out a ton of batters, but he's quietly put together an excellent career. He's practically a wizard at limiting hard contact (he has allowed an average exit velocity of 84.8 MPH and an average hard hit rate of 26.3%, both remarkably low numbers), and he rarely issues free passes or home runs. In other words, it's really difficult to string together big innings against Yarbrough, especially as he's continued to use his excellent changeup more and more. The Rays will probably let him go a little more this year with their rotation, but even if they keep his usage the same, he'll be an excellent addition to the back end of a fantasy staff.
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71.
Nathan Eovaldi
BOS
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72.
Jake Odorizzi
HOU
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73.
Cristian Javier
HOU
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74.
Tony Gonsolin
LAD
Gonsolin doesn't have a guaranteed spot in the Dodgers' rotation to start the season, and with the team signing Trevor Bauer, it's unclear just how much he'll start this season. His stuff doesn't blow you away, but he's got a 2.60 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP in 86.2 big league innings. And there were gains last year, as he cut his walk rate down and upped his strikeout rate. Gonsolin is an ideal candidate to have on your bench, because if he does get a spot in the rotation, he'll be a popular waiver wire add, and he can add value as a reliever in the meantime. So draft him late, and likely reap the rewards.
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75.
Drew Smyly
ATL
If you're willing to buy into Smyly's 2020 season, then he's likely to come at a major discount in drafts. He added more than two miles per hour to his fastball, struck out 37.8% of the batters he faced, and leaned more into his excellent curveball. There's reason for optimism after the Braves offered him a substantial one-year deal. Of course, Smyly's real issue is his health, as he missed two full seasons because of Tommy John surgery and even last year was limited to 26 1/3 innings. But there's reason to believe his gains last year are sustainable, so taking him late in your drafts, is worth the gamble.
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76.
Griffin Canning
LAA
It's mostly about health with Canning, who offers a great deal of stability when he's on the mound. You can expect at worst a low 4.00 ERA, about a 1.30 WHIP, and roughly a strikeout per inning. But he did close last season notably strong, pitching to a 3.14 ERA, and a 1.19 WHIP, with a 14.5% swinging strike rate and a 10.4 K/9 mark over his final five starts. That's probably his ceiling, but it shows what he's capable of when he is healthy and gets into a groove. He's a fine pick at his cost (which is minimal), but bake in some injury risk.
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77.
Freddy Peralta
MIL
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78.
Yusei Kikuchi
SEA
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79.
Matthew Boyd
DET
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80.
Zach Davies
CHC
Davies has quietly put together two quality seasons, with a 3.55 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 2019, and a 2.73 ERA and 1.07 WHIP last year. Notably, he started throwing more changeups in 2020, which led both to an increased swinging strike rate and strikeout rate. But his xERA was still 5.01, and although he routinely outperforms his expected stats, it's a reminder not to get too high on a pitcher who amounts to a command specialist. The upside is that after a trade to the Cubs, he'll face mostly weak offenses, which should help to boost his floor a bit.
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81.
Chris Sale
BOS
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82.
Domingo German
NYY
German has won the fifth starter's job after a torrid spring, during which he didn't allow a run over nine innings pitched while walking one and striking out 13. German's off-the-field issues aside, he was a quality MLB pitcher in 2019, and he should be a decent contributor in four categories, especially considering his low walk rate. He's not risk-free, as a downturn in his performance could lead to Deivi Garcia coming back in the rotation. But he's a fine, late-round selection.
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83.
Framber Valdez
HOU
Valdez was shaping up to be a fine sleeper this year, after he had a highly successful stint in the Astros rotation last year. But he fractured his finger early in spring training and the expectation is that he'll miss significant time, though recent reports are far more optimistic than the initial season-ending variety. Drop him down a ton from where you initially had him ranked, but draft him toward the back end of your rotation where the risk/reward balance should equalize.
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84.
Mike Minor
KC
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85.
Diego Castillo
SEA
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86.
Taijuan Walker
NYM
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|
87.
Tarik Skubal
DET
|
|
88.
Noah Syndergaard
NYM
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|
89.
Justus Sheffield
SEA
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|
90.
Drew Pomeranz
SD
Pomeranz likely would have, at the very least, factored into the closer's mix for San Diego prior to the Mark Melancon and Keone Kela signings. After finally switching into a full-time reliever role last year, Pomeranz shined, with a 1.45 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and a 39.7% strikeout rate. Although he may still be in line for save opportunities, the presence of Melancon, Kela, and Emilio Pagan muddy the waters. That's especially true given that Pomeranz is currently the only healthy and reliable left-hander in the bullpen. Pomeranz is worth a late selection until and unless Jayce Tingler declares that he's not an option for the ninth inning.
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91.
Dane Dunning
TEX
Dunning had an interesting seven-start run in 2020. He started out relying heavily on his outstanding slider and his fastball, which led to a strong swinging strike rate and plenty of punchouts in his first few starts. He then abandoned that approach to focus more on his changeup, which led to him missing fewer bats and being less successful. Now with the Rangers, Dunning should get a chance to compete for a rotation spot right out of the gate. He has the tools and skills necessary to be successful, and the draft capital necessary to acquire him should be minimal. He's worth a late-round pick in nearly all formats.
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92.
Nate Pearson
TOR
Pearson is oozing with talent, but he just can't seem to stay healthy. Whether it was elbow soreness last year or the groin strain that is now going to keep him out of action for a bit, something seem to crop up to delay his success in the majors. He wound up pitching just 18 innings overall last year, but the stuff is there, without question. His fastball reaches triple digits, his slider is dominant, and his curveball and changeup are far above average. There's always a bit more uncertainty with young power pitchers, particularly when they've had elbow injuries like Pearson has. And, after trading for Steven Matz, the Blue Jays have plenty of rotation depth and shouldn't feel pressured into rushing Pearson back from injury. In keeper and dynasty formats, he's still a buy, but in redraft leagues, he's probably not worth a pick at this point.
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93.
Luis Severino
NYY
Severino is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, but the reports so far have been generally positive. He's already throwing off a mound in mid-March, and a June return isn't out of the question if he can avoid setbacks. Avoiding setbacks is the key, of course, and it's something that's rare in the world of returning from multiple serious issues, as Severino is trying to do. But, for now, draft him with one of your last picks and stash him in your IL spot, if you have the room.
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94.
Robbie Ray
TOR
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95.
Brad Keller
KC
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96.
MacKenzie Gore
SD
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97.
Mitch Keller
PIT
In his brief MLB career, Keller is the author of one of the unluckiest (2019) and luckiest (2020) seasons in recent memory. So, the best course of action is to essentially ignore his 69 major league innings and focus on his stuff and minor league career. If you do that, there's a lot to like. Keller has a mid-90s fastball to go along with an above average slider and curveball. Over more than 500 minor league innings, he had a 25.5% strikeout rate, a 3.12 ERA, and a 1.15 WHIP. He will likely struggle for wins on the Pirates, but he'll also get a long leash given the dearth of reliable options, and he should face mostly weak offenses in the NL Central. Keller likely won't be a star, but he'll probably outperform where you need to draft him.
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98.
Dylan Cease
CWS
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99.
Kwang Hyun Kim
STL
If you want upside with a late-round pitcher, you're looking in the wrong place with Kim. Although he put up a 1.62 ERA and 1.07 WHIP last year, his xFIP and SIERA were each about three runs higher than his ERA. He also struck out just 5.54 batters per nine innings, and never showed much strikeout potential in the KBO. That said, for a pitcher who is basically free in drafts, he offers some decent stability, and is worth taking late if you have an otherwise strong staff, particularly with strikeouts. Back tightness may put him on the IL to start the year, but there does not appear to be any long-term concerns.
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100.
Michael Kopech
CWS
Kopech remains one of the top pitching prospects in the game, but he hasn't pitched competitively in about two-and-a-half year at this point. His fastball and slider are more than MLB caliber, and he had a 31.2% strikeout rate in the minors. But after missing all of 2019 with Tommy John surgery and opting out last year, it wouldn't be wise to just expect Kopech to step right back into a rotation without any growing pains. The White Sox also have depth in their rotation after trading for Lance Lynn and signing Carlos Rodon, so Chicago can, and likely will, stick Kopech in the minors to start the year to continue his development. But given their championship aspirations, he should crack the rotation at some point during the season if he show he is back to form.
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101.
Caleb Smith
ARI
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102.
Madison Bumgarner
ARI
|
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103.
Luke Weaver
ARI
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104.
Spencer Turnbull
DET
|
|
105.
Adam Wainwright
STL
|
|
106.
Rich Hill
NYM
|
|
107.
Josh Lindblom
MIL
|
|
108.
Deivi Garcia
NYY
|
|
109.
J.A. Happ
STL
|
|
110.
Casey Mize
DET
|
|
111.
Adbert Alzolay
CHC
|
|
112.
Tejay Antone
CIN
Antone's role wasn't entirely clear at the outset of spring training, but he now looks destined for a starter's job, if he can stay healthy. With Sonny Gray and Wade Miley likely to begin the year on the IL, Antone should begin the year in the rotation, assuming he is healthy enough to do so. He's currently battling a groin strain, and his status is uncertain. When healthy, he's got a wipeout slider, enough to pile on the strikeouts, and has enough upside to be worth a late-round dart throw. Monitor his, Gray's, and Miley's health status closely heading into your drafts.
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113.
Spencer Howard
TEX
|
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114.
Trevor Rogers
MIA
|
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115.
Carlos Martinez
STL
|
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116.
Miles Mikolas
STL
|
|
117.
Ross Stripling
TOR
|
|
118.
Chris Archer
TB
|
|
119.
Seth Lugo
NYM
|
|
120.
Jose Quintana
SF
|
|
121.
Anthony DeSclafani
SF
|
|
122.
Jon Gray
COL
|
|
123.
Tanner Houck
BOS
|
|
124.
Chad Green
NYY
|
|
125.
Garrett Richards
BOS
|
|
126.
Lucas Sims
CIN
Sims had a fine 2020, going 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA a 0.94 WHIP, and plenty of strikeouts. He'll be in the mix for the Reds' closer job with Amir Garrett and Sean Doolittle, though his early bout with elbow soreness this spring doesn't help him. Monitor the reports out of spring training, but he's a late-round speculative draft pick at best at the moment.
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127.
Logan Webb
SF
|
|
128.
Carlos Rodon
CWS
|
|
129.
Randy Dobnak
MIN
|
|
130.
Danny Duffy
LAD
|
|
131.
Daulton Jefferies
OAK
|
|
132.
Dean Kremer
BAL
|
|
133.
Merrill Kelly
ARI
|
|
134.
Adrian Houser
MIL
|
|
135.
Alec Mills
CHC
|
|
136.
David Peterson
NYM
|
|
137.
Alex Wood
SF
|
|
138.
Matt Shoemaker
SF
|
|
139.
JT Brubaker
PIT
|
|
140.
Gregory Soto
DET
|
|
141.
Johnny Cueto
SF
|
|
142.
Adrian Morejon
SD
|
|
143.
Mike Foltynewicz
TEX
|
|
144.
Matt Manning
DET
|
|
145.
Brent Suter
MIL
|
|
146.
Joey Lucchesi
NYM
|
|
147.
Kyle Gibson
PHI
|
|
148.
Daniel Ponce de Leon
STL
|
|
149.
Steven Matz
TOR
|
|
150.
Matt Wisler
TB
|
|
151.
Logan Gilbert
SEA
|
|
152.
Kris Bubic
KC
|
|
153.
Nick Pivetta
BOS
|
|
154.
Cal Quantrill
CLE
|
|
155.
Keegan Akin
BAL
|
|
156.
Brendan McKay
TB
|
|
157.
Alex Cobb
LAA
|
|
158.
Michael Wacha
TB
|
|
159.
Jonathan Loaisiga
NYY
|
|
160.
Logan Allen
CLE
|
|
161.
Kyle Wright
ATL
|
|
162.
Josh Fleming
TB
|
|
163.
Kohei Arihara
TEX
|
|
164.
Masahiro Tanaka
FA
|
|
165.
Matt Strahm
SD
|
|
166.
Matt Moore
PHI
|
|
167.
Jon Lester
STL
|
|
168.
Austin Gomber
COL
|
|
169.
Chris Flexen
SEA
|
|
170.
Justin Dunn
SEA
|
|
171.
Vince Velasquez
SD
|
|
172.
Kyle Freeland
COL
|
|
173.
Collin McHugh
TB
|
|
174.
Jakob Junis
KC
|
|
175.
Brent Honeywell Jr.
TB
|
|
176.
John Curtiss
MIL
|
|
177.
Jaime Barria
LAA
|
|
178.
Patrick Sandoval
LAA
|
|
179.
Justin Verlander
HOU
|
|
180.
Dakota Hudson
STL
|
|
181.
Julio Teheran
DET
|
|
182.
Chase Anderson
TEX
|
|
183.
Chad Kuhl
PIT
|
|
184.
Tyler Clippard
ARI
|
|
185.
Antonio Senzatela
COL
|
|
186.
Tyler Chatwood
SF
|
|
187.
Jake Arrieta
SD
|
|
188.
Cole Hamels
LAD
|
|
189.
Felix Pena
LAA
|
|
190.
Tyler Alexander
DET
|
|
191.
Cam Bedrosian
PHI
|
|
192.
Josh Tomlin
ATL
|
|
193.
Tanner Roark
FA
|
|
194.
Steven Brault
PIT
|
|
195.
Jimmy Nelson
LAD
|
|
196.
Julian Merryweather
TOR
|
|
197.
Chris Stratton
PIT
|
|
198.
Shane McClanahan
TB
|
|
199.
Mike Fiers
OAK
|
|
200.
Bryse Wilson
PIT
|
|
201.
Noe Ramirez
ARI
|
|
202.
Daniel Lynch
KC
|
|
203.
Brett Anderson
MIL
|
|
204.
Tyler Anderson
SEA
|
|
205.
Jeff Hoffman
CIN
|
|
206.
Erik Swanson
SEA
|
|
207.
Michael King
NYY
|
|
208.
Devin Smeltzer
MIN
|
|
209.
Kyle Cody
TEX
|
|
210.
Clarke Schmidt
NYY
|
|
211.
Edward Cabrera
MIA
|
|
212.
Rick Porcello
FA
|
|
213.
Martin Perez
BOS
|
|
214.
Andrew Kittredge
TB
|
|
215.
Ryne Stanek
HOU
|
|
216.
Nick Lodolo
CIN
|
|
217.
Corbin Martin
ARI
|
|
218.
Zack Godley
FA
|
|
219.
Ljay Newsome
SEA
|
|
220.
Asa Lacy
KC
|
|
|
221.
Anthony Reyes
FA
|
|
222.
Taylor Clarke
ARI
|
|
223.
Trevor Williams
NYM
|
|
224.
Sean Newcomb
ATL
|
|
|
225.
Emerson Hancock
SEA
|
|
226.
Derek Holland
DET
|
|
|
227.
Grayson Rodriguez
BAL
|
|
228.
Daniel Norris
MIL
|
|
229.
Matt Liberatore
STL
|
|
230.
Shaun Anderson
SD
|
|
231.
Jose Urena
DET
|
|
232.
Alex Young
CLE
|
|
233.
Huascar Ynoa
ATL
|
|
234.
Hirokazu Sawamura
BOS
|
|
235.
J.B. Bukauskas
ARI
|
|
236.
Wade Miley
CIN
|
|
237.
Colten Brewer
BOS
|
|
|
238.
DL Hall
BAL
|
|
239.
Trevor Stephan
CLE
|
|
240.
Mike Montgomery
NYY
|
|
241.
Tyler Ivey
HOU
|
|
242.
Aaron Sanchez
FA
|
|
243.
Cole Irvin
OAK
|
|
244.
Homer Bailey
OAK
|
|
|
245.
Max Meyer
MIA
|
|
246.
Joe Ross
WSH
|
|
|
247.
George Kirby
SEA
|
|
248.
Austin Voth
WSH
|
|
249.
Jordan Lyles
TEX
|
|
250.
Adam Plutko
BAL
|
|
251.
Taylor Widener
ARI
|
|
252.
Trevor Richards
TOR
|
|
253.
Kolby Allard
TEX
|
|
254.
Ivan Nova
FA
|
|
255.
Trey Supak
OAK
|
|
256.
Tyler Beede
SF
|
|
257.
Shane Baz
TB
|
|
258.
Dylan File
MIL
|
|
259.
Reynaldo Lopez
CWS
|
|
260.
Simeon Woods-Richardson
MIN
|
|
261.
Brandon Finnegan
CIN
|
|
262.
Jordan Balazovic
MIN
|
|
263.
Heath Fillmyer
CLE
|
|
264.
Michael Fulmer
DET
|
|
265.
Jeff Samardzija
FA
|
|
266.
Ross Detwiler
SD
|
|
267.
Jordan Yamamoto
NYM
|
|
|
268.
Mick Abel
PHI
|
|
269.
Tyler Phillips
PHI
|
|
270.
Jon Duplantier
ARI
|
|
271.
Erick Fedde
WSH
|
|
272.
Joe Palumbo
TEX
|
|
273.
Jorge Lopez
BAL
|
|
274.
Yohan Ramirez
SEA
|
|
275.
Daniel Castano
MIA
|
|
276.
Josiah Gray
WSH
|
|
277.
Chi Chi Gonzalez
COL
|
|
|
278.
Ethan Hankins
CLE
|
|
279.
Ethan Small
MIL
|
|
|
280.
Reid Detmers
LAA
|
|
281.
James Marvel
PIT
|
|
282.
Nick Margevicius
SEA
|
|
283.
Luke Bard
LAA
|
|
284.
Hyeon-jong Yang
TEX
|
|
285.
James Shields
FA
|
|
286.
Sam McWilliams
SD
|
|
|
287.
Daniel Espino
CLE
|
|
288.
Trevor Cahill
PIT
|
|
289.
Rogelio Armenteros
FA
|
|
290.
Jason Vargas
FA
|
|
291.
Trevor Oaks
SF
|
|
292.
Andrew Cashner
FA
|
|
293.
Vladimir Gutierrez
CIN
|
|
294.
Alek Manoah
TOR
|
|
|
295.
Jared Kelley
CWS
|
|
296.
Braxton Garrett
MIA
|
|
|
297.
Blake Walston
ARI
|
|
298.
Paul Campbell
MIA
|
|
299.
Joe Ryan
MIN
|
|
300.
Joey Wentz
DET
|
|
|
301.
Nick Bitsko
TB
|
|
302.
Hunter Greene
CIN
|
|
|
303.
Cade Cavalli
WSH
|
|
304.
Trent Thornton
TOR
|
|
305.
Damon Jones
PHI
|
|
306.
Clayton Richard
FA
|
|
|
307.
Brennan Malone
PIT
|
|
308.
Jasseel De La Cruz
ATL
|
|
309.
Ariel Jurado
FA
|
|
|
310.
Cole Wilcox
TB
|
|
311.
Bartolo Colon
FA
|
|
312.
Eric Lauer
MIL
|
|
313.
Jackson Kowar
KC
|
|
314.
Grant Holmes
OAK
|
|
|
315.
Alex Wells
BAL
|
|
316.
Connor Seabold
BOS
|
|
317.
Brock Burke
TEX
|
|
318.
Brian Howard
OAK
|
|
319.
Touki Toussaint
ATL
|
|
320.
Zac Lowther
BAL
|
|
321.
Jhoan Duran
MIN
|
|
322.
Ryan Weber
SEA
|
|
323.
Matt Allan
NYM
|
|
324.
Jackson Rutledge
WSH
|
|
325.
Dedniel Nunez
SF
|
|
326.
Carlos Hernandez
KC
|
|
327.
Adam Kloffenstein
TOR
|
|
328.
Ryan Weathers
SD
|
|
329.
Thomas Szapucki
NYM
|
|
330.
Justin Steele
CHC
|
|
|
331.
Bryce Jarvis
ARI
|
|
332.
Travis Lakins Sr.
BAL
|
|
333.
Mike Leake
FA
|
|
334.
Brad Peacock
BOS
|
|
335.
Daniel Gossett
BOS
|
|
336.
Parker Dunshee
OAK
|
|
337.
Cody Ponce
PIT
|
|
338.
Angel Rondon
STL
|
|
339.
Chris Mazza
TB
|
|
340.
Dillon Peters
PIT
|
|
341.
Franklin Perez
DET
|
|
342.
Johan Oviedo
STL
|
|
343.
Packy Naughton
LAA
|
|
344.
Sean Reid-Foley
NYM
|
|
345.
Tyler Wells
BAL
|
|
346.
Jhoulys Chacin
COL
|
|
347.
Dario Agrazal
ARI
|
|
|
348.
Eric Pardinho
TOR
|
|
349.
Anderson Espinoza
CHC
|
|
350.
Zack Brown
MIL
|
|
351.
Tucker Davidson
ATL
|
|
352.
Robert Gsellman
NYM
|
|
353.
Felix Hernandez
FA
|
|
354.
Tommy Milone
CIN
|
|
|
355.
Josh Wolf
CLE
|
|
356.
Mickey Jannis
BAL
|
|
357.
Shelby Miller
PIT
|
|
358.
Keegan Thompson
CHC
|
|
359.
Garrett Whitlock
BOS
|
|
360.
Edwin Jackson
FA
|
|
361.
Paul Blackburn
OAK
|
|
362.
Anibal Sanchez
FA
|
|
363.
Jose Soriano
PIT
|
|
364.
Tyson Ross
TEX
|
|
365.
Sean Hjelle
SF
|
|
366.
Humberto Mejia
ARI
|
|
367.
Cory Abbott
CHC
|
|
368.
Mac Sceroler
CIN
|
|
369.
Wil Crowe
PIT
|
|
370.
Scott Moss
CLE
|
|
371.
Glenn Sparkman
FA
|
|
372.
Mike Baumann
BAL
|
|
373.
Jordan Zimmermann
FA
|
|
374.
Jose Suarez
LAA
|
|
375.
Wade LeBlanc
STL
|
|
376.
Aaron Ashby
MIL
|
|
377.
Chase De Jong
PIT
|
|
378.
Bruce Zimmermann
BAL
|
|
379.
Daniel Mengden
OAK
|
|
380.
Brandon Bielak
HOU
|
|
381.
Colin Rea
MIL
|
|
382.
Conner Greene
BAL
|
|
383.
Alexander Vizcaino
CHC
|
|
384.
Eli Morgan
CLE
|
|
385.
Ryan Castellani
COL
|
|
386.
Jefry Rodriguez
WSH
|
|
|
387.
Dakota Chalmers
CHC
|
|
388.
Jonathan Stiever
CWS
|
|
389.
Kyle Hart
BOS
|
|
390.
Asher Wojciechowski
SEA
|
|
391.
Adonis Medina
PHI
|
|
392.
Ronald Bolanos
KC
|
|
393.
Gray Fenter
BAL
|
|
394.
Tony Santillan
CIN
|
|
395.
Luis Oviedo
PIT
|
|
396.
Conner Menez
SF
|
|
397.
Matt Harvey
BAL
|
|
398.
Tyson Miller
TEX
|
|
399.
Michel Baez
SD
|
|
400.
Ervin Santana
KC
|
|
401.
Tony Cingrani
FA
|
|
402.
Chris Rodriguez
LAA
|
|
403.
Alec Bettinger
MIL
|
|
404.
Andrew Triggs
FA
|
|
405.
Jalen Beeks
TB
|
|
406.
Steven Fuentes
WSH
|
|
407.
Corey Oswalt
NYM
|
|
408.
Francis Martes
FA
|
|
409.
Jesse Chavez
ATL
|
|
410.
Derek Law
MIN
|
|
411.
Yennsy Diaz
NYM
|
|
|
412.
Neftali Feliz
LAD
|
|
413.
Gabriel Ynoa
FA
|
|
414.
Ryan Rolison
COL
|
|
415.
Sam Hentges
CLE
|
|
416.
Matt Peacock
ARI
|
|
417.
Braden Shipley
FA
|
|
418.
Wily Peralta
DET
|
|
419.
Jason Hammel
FA
|
|
420.
Edinson Volquez
FA
|
|
421.
Enyel De Los Santos
PIT
|
|
422.
David Hess
TB
|
|
423.
Mike Kickham
LAD
|
|
424.
Francisco Liriano
FA
|
|
425.
Jacob Waguespack
TOR
|
|
426.
Jake Faria
ARI
|
|
427.
Dylan Covey
BOS
|
|
|
428.
Jose Alberto Rivera
LAA
|
|
429.
Kohl Stewart
CHC
|
|
430.
Paolo Espino
WSH
|
|
431.
Robert Dugger
SEA
|
|
432.
Melvin Adon
SF
|
|
433.
Ben Braymer
WSH
|
|
434.
Thomas Eshelman
BAL
|
|
435.
Jordan Sheffield
COL
|
|
436.
Steven Wright
FA
|
|
437.
Antonio Santos
COL
|
|
438.
T.J. Zeuch
STL
|
|
439.
Dereck Rodriguez
COL
|
|
440.
Phil Pfeifer
SF
|
|
|
441.
Riley O'Brien
CIN
|
|
442.
Jerad Eickhoff
NYM
|
|
443.
Eric Skoglund
KC
|
|
444.
Max Kranick
PIT
|
|
445.
CC Sabathia
FA
|
|
446.
Artie Lewicki
FA
|
|
447.
Jharel Cotton
TEX
|
