Fantasy Baseball – Draft Board Update:
If you are anything like me, you do not participate in just ONE fantasy baseball league. It’s similar to a March Madness Bracket. Come on…..you know you fill out AT LEAST two. That being said, your studies and mock draft preparation are coming to an end. Spring Training has just a couple weeks left and it’s time to really settle down on a few players to target come draft day. I’ve seen drafts all over the place after round 3 but don’t get rattled. Read up through all the Legion Report baseball articles and go in knowing full-well that you WILL draft a winning lineup. Baseball is a long season but nothing beats the first month of the season for me. Every team’s fan base has optimism and players are chomping at the bit to show what they can be. Well let’s get to it. Here are a few pitchers to keep an eye on. Depending on how big of a roster your league allows, there is a spot for each of these young guns.
Carlos Martinez SP – Going back to the end of last season, Manager Matheny stated that he saw Trevor Rosenthal as the closer for the Cardinals. Knowing that, the Cardinals have prepared Martinez for starting and he has grabbed the bull by the horns and seems like an obvious choice to be in the rotation when the Cards break camp. The sub-2 ERA and sub-1 WHIP has Cards’ fans rightfully excited. Look to take a flyer later on this guy. Could reap big rewards. Especially in leagues with K’s. He will average over a strikeout per frame.
Yordano Ventura SP – Another barely 6 ft stud that is giving his team no choice but to put them in the rotation. As with Martinez above, Ventura features serious heat from his small stature. His 9:1 K/BB ratio is what I find most encouraging this Spring. He impressed in his short stint last year with his ratio and to see it is only getting better is enticing. Look for him later in the draft to fill your last SP spot, because he won’t be last in anything the rest of the way.
Archie Bradley SP – Well Mr. Archie and his more traditional, front of the rotation, ace frame 6’4 230 is making Diamondback executives smile from ear to ear. I’ll be the first to admit that I’d be shocked if they let him open the season in the rotation, but he will make some noise this season in Arizona. Having not given up a run this spring with a nice K/BB ratio of 9:4, even the Kershaw’s of the world (Kershaw has a 10+ ERA this spring) have to tip their hat during this time when hitters are far ahead of pitchers. I’d look to take him with your last couple picks at most but make sure he is on your “watch list” for a quick free agent pick up.
Tyler Skaggs SP- MLB.com has Tyler tentatively penciled in as the Angels fifth starter over Joe Blanton and his 2 earned runs over 6.1 innings pitched this spring has fans hopeful he does win that race. We all know that Blanton is serviceable but the Halo’s are in it to win it this year. If the production happens from this talent, Angels fans are in for lots of W’s this year. I’d look for him in last couple rounds with a very real chance to be the fifth starter for a club that is an offensive juggernaut. Wins will be collected.
Zach Wheeler SP- Our first guarantee coming out of spring. Wheeler will most likely be the Mets 4th starter. And I couldn’t be more excited for him. His spring has been solid with late life on his fastball and maturity on the mound. He hasn’t been scored on yet which is impressive as we stated above. Mets have every right to be pumped to see Harvey, Wheeler, and Syndergaard in the very near future. I’d look for Wheeler around 16-21st round.