Each week, we’ll look at a handful of players who fantasy managers should consider picking up in deeper fantasy baseball leagues. Many of these players will have the most value in larger leagues where waiver wire options aren’t as plentiful. Still, they could also occasionally be useful additions in other, more standard-sized leagues, depending on your options at each position.
All roster percentages mentioned in this column are via FantasyPros as of Friday afternoon.
Jason Alexander – 14%
For as long as Jason Alexander stays in the Houston Astros rotation, he’ll be worth a look as a rotation option for fantasy managers in leagues with 14 or more teams. Really, that could also apply to some fantasy managers in 12-team leagues.
Either way? His 14% rostered rate is decidedly too low.
The 32-year-old has made 10 appearances, including nine starts, for the American League West club this season, pitching to a 3.19 ERA and 4.44 FIP in the process. Along the way, he’s logged a 20.6% strikeout rate compared to a 7.5%.
Alexander has also added four wins and four quality starts in his 10 appearances for the Astros, while registering a save in his lone relief outing.
Assuming Houston’s rotation continues as is without any interruptions, Alexander’s next start will come on the road in Toronto against the Blue Jays, and while that’s hardly a fantasy-friendly outing, Alexander’s effectiveness so far this season in a Houston uniform makes him an ideal short-term rotation option for fantasy managers, with the fantasy ceiling of a starter who can stick on your fantasy roster for the rest of the fantasy season and throughout the fantasy playoffs.
Davis Martin – 4%
Davis Martin has struggled at times this season from a run prevention standpoint, pitching to a 4.06 ERA and a 4.86 FIP in 22 appearances (21 starts) for the Chicago White Sox.
He’s logged six wins and eight quality starts for the American League Central club, while registering a 17.4% strikeout rate and an 8.0% walk rate. The 28-year-old has particularly struggled with home runs, allowing 1.40 per nine frames while opposing batters logged a 10.1% barrel rate against him.
Still, he’s been a bit better as of late, both in terms of missing bats and from an ERA standpoint.
Martin has had two wins in his last four starts, a stretch in which he struck out 19 batters in 20.2 innings while pitching to a 3.48 ERA. His 5.41 FIP during that stretch suggests some unsustainability, but as long as the statistical regression doesn’t kick in too soon, the starter could be worth a look as a streaming option in the right matchup.
That matchup isn’t his next scheduled outing in Detroit on Sunday against the Tigers.
It could be in Martin’s next outing following that start.
Assuming Chicago’s rotation continues as is without any interruptions, the right-hander will follow up his start in Detroit with one in Cleveland against the Guardians.
As of the start of play on Friday, Cleveland has outscored just four other Major League teams this season.
Tyler Kinley – 1%
At first glance, Tyler Kinley’s 4.55 ERA in 61.1 innings doesn’t exactly suggest he’s the type of relief pitcher to add ahead of time to help keep your weekly ERA and WHIP numbers down.
However, the veteran’s 3.76 FIP tells a slightly different story.
Furthermore, Kinley has been excellent as of late in terms of keeping runs off the board. Since the start of August, he’s pitched to a 0.71 ERA and a 2.11 FIP in 12.2 innings for the National League East club. During that span, he’s logged three wins and a hold while striking out 14 batters and scattering four hits, four walks, and just one earned run.
Perhaps most notably for fantasy managers, the veteran has three wins since August 24. Just four Major League pitchers have three wins during that span, including Kinley. The other three, Carlos Rodón, Ryan Pepiot and Paul Skenes, are all starters.
With a 29.2% strikeout rate during that span, Kinley should not only be able to help keep weekly ERA and WHIP numbers down, but also chip in with added strikeouts and the potential for more wins.
Graphic by Carlos Leano.
